FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

William May’s Debut Poetry Chapbook ‘Blaze without Burning’ on Finishing Line Press Begins Its Pre-Sale Campaign

 [New York, New York] – [2.4.25] – William May, a rising voice in contemporary poetry, is set to release his debut chapbook, Blaze Without Burning, on May 30, 2025, through Finishing Line Press based out of Kentucky. The collection offers readers of poetry a deeply personal, intricately structured exploration of resilience, transformation, and human connection. The chapbook employs an innovative structure: each poem in the first section is paired with a “twin” poem in the second section. Sharing a title but offering distinct perspectives, these twin poems mirror and challenge each other, creating a dynamic interplay of meaning. This twinned structure forms the heart of the chapbook, allowing a thematic and emotional resonance that provides an opportunity for the reader to reinterpret and re-experience what has been presented.   As in life, nothing in these poems is singular or fixed, but every moment, emotion, and choice communicated within this work has its counterpart. William May’s Blaze without Burning exemplifies the ways poetry can illuminate and ultimately connect us all.

May speaks into resilience, a state of mind he knows all too well. Being diagnosed as Neurodiverse, at the age of 7, William shares why this debut is such a great achievement. “When I was first learning how to read in school, I had a great deal of difficulty, to the point that I came to believe I would never be able to do it at all; I believed that I was just too stupid. Once I was diagnosed and provided with the support needed, I went almost immediately from reading primers to reading chapter books, and, in a short amount of time, adult novels. My entire world opened up and my love of words began.”

To give readers an intimate preview of his creative process and insights, May recently hosted a special episode of his podcast, Argh! Not Another Book Publishing Podcast: Episode 10 - It’s Time to Be Braggadocious: Amping Up for the Blaze Without Burning Presale The episode features an engaging discussion with William, Denise Marsa, founder of Marsa Media Group; media strategist Meggie Dimitrova; and publicist Melissa Nastasi. Together, the panel delved into the intricacies of May’s work, the evolving literary landscape, and what lies ahead for independent publishing in 2025.

The cover of Blaze without Burning features a watercolor painting “Untitled” by Richard Frank, whose work depicts the natural world with meticulous precision, surrealism, and whimsy. A captivating composition, Frank’s evocative layering invites the viewer to look deeper, much like the book’s exploration of interconnected experiences and meaning. Currently housed in the permanent collection at the DeLong Museum in Delong, Florida, this piece sets the tone for a collection that embraces depth, transformation, and the unseen forces shaping our lives. Blaze without Burning advance copy / prepublication sales will be from January 27, 2025 - April 4, 2025, with a release date for mailings starting May 30, 2025.

About William May: William May currently resides in South Florida and is originally a fourth-generation native of New York’s Greenwich Village. He began writing poetry when he was 9 years old while a student at The Stephen Gaynor School, a pioneer in special education. There he received individualized support, allowing him to thrive academically, and, eventually, enabling him to attend New York City’s highly competitive Collegiate School. Self-described as a "Neurodiverse Language Wizard," his work has been featured in SoFloPoJo, Chameleon Chimera: An Anthology of Florida Poets, and The Centifictionist. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the University of North Carolina’s MFA program in creative writing, William shares his work through performances, newsletters, and his podcast, Argh! Not Another Podcast About Book Publishing. (Rated 5 stars on Podnews)

Link to pre-order Blaze without Burning and for more about William please visit: WilliamMayWrites.com

For more information about receiving an advance copy to review and for pre-sale questions, please contact:  Melissa Nastasi  / 646-820-4751/ keymediapublicrelations@gmail.com / https://keymediapublicrelations.com/