By Marissa Wells
Contributing Writer
“Coffee, A Sip of You and Me,” by Rachel Harty, is a unique poetry book that also serves as a coffee table book.
“It’s lying on your coffee table, reminding you that this was never about coffee,” Harty said. “Rather, it’s about coming of age through light-hearted humor, self-love, heartache and rediscovery.”
This is the author’s first book. Its inspiration came during her time in college.
“One day my college roommate entered my room and read aloud a quote that I was in dire need of (during a sad period of life), and it went like this: ‘The cream always rises to the top,’” Harty said. “My ears, which had been turned off for quite some time, became delighted, and that night I wrote the first of many poems until I decided it was time to turn what became a nighttime ritual into a book.”
It was important for Harty to create a book that would be relatable to readers.
“I wanted people to be able to relate to my words, because I know others have probably felt similarly; and what a shame it would be to keep it all in a notebook,” Harty said.
“Coffee, A Sip of You and Me” is artistic in nature and its typography makes it stand out, compared to other poetry books.
“I love the duality of my book. … It’s both a coffee table book and a poetry book,” Harty said. “It’s really so much more than what meets the eye.”
There are approximately 190 poems inside the book and each poem, metaphoric in nature, tackles emotions a person can experience while navigating the highs and lows of life.
“Coffee, A Sip of You and Me” is intended for teenagers and 20-somethings.
“By the end of the book, I hope my readers will feel that coffee is more than a drink; in this case, it’s the way I’ve felt, metaphorically, and I, too, hope they can relate to my coming-of-age prose and poetry,” Harty said.
In addition to being an author, Harty is a senior consultant in risk management. She is based in New York. For more information about the author and her work, visit rachelharty.com.
“Coffee, A Sip of You and Me” will be available in spring 2023 on Amazon and among other book- selling outlets.
