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UTM student turns pain into poetry


Despite enduring many personal trials, senior Communications major Carin Malone has become an inspiration to others in the pages of her first book Beneath the Shadow of My Wings, a book of chaos poetry offering a message of hope.

Malone will introduce her newly published book to the campus community at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20 in Watkins Auditorium in the University Center and will be hosting a book signing from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 21 in the University Book Store.

Malone said that the word “inspiration” is a word that others have used to describe her poetry. Malone calls it chaos poetry as the poems in the book are not listed in any particular order. All of the poems except for one were written while in attendance at UTM, then compiled within the contents of Beneath the Shadow of My Wings within the course of one year. Malone published her book with Trafford Publishing, a self publishing company.

“I have two choices,” said Malone, “I can limit my successes and fail or I can limit my failures and succeed. I just want the chance.” For Malone, failure is not an option. She believes that God has a purpose for her life.

Malone is donating ten percent of the earnings from her sales at the book signing to the hurricane relief fund to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

“Live and learn, then learn to live,” is the advice that Malone would like to give to others. Malone refuses to be the same as others and admits that she has a better understanding of life because of the trials that she has endured. “Somebody always has it worse than I do. I’m thankful to be this person, no matter how hurtful it has been,” said Malone. “I just want to be an inspiration to others.”

Malone said that writing has always been her creative outlet and, before she began writing inspirational poetry, she asked God to give her the gift. “I loved poems and I would pray to God to bless me with the talent to write my own poems, in my own style and with its own meaning,” said Malone.

“There will never be an iceberg big enough to wreck you as long as you keep God first in everything you do,” said Malone in a final message to her readers.

To reserve a copy of her book Beneath the Shadow of My Wings, prior to the book signing, call (731) 514-4874. The book will sell for $12.

As for herself, Malone said, “I’ve been inhaling for so long, but now I am at an exhale stage and it feels good. It feels real good.”