Fathers and daughters often drift apart as she enters adulthood, goes to college, and starts her own life, but Josh and Michaelah Hatcher, both of Bradford, found a new connection that has helped them grow closer together — in the form of the written word.
The pair are simultaneously releasing poetry books on the same day, after a year of writing and editing together. Their books will be released Saturday at a reading at the Bradford Area Public Library on West Washington Street starting at 3 p.m. A poetry slam/release party is also planned at On the Side Books on Kennedy Street beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Josh Hatcher said that when he found out his daughter had been writing poetry, he wanted to encourage her talents. He has written poetry since he was a teenager, but in the last 20 years, he hadn’t written much poetry. Last year, he assembled a short book of the poetry he had written since 1996 and self published it.
“Michaelah’s poetry was very inspiring to me. It made me want to write again. So we decided to challenge each other,” he said. “One poem a day for 30 days,” he said. “If we missed a day, we had to write two the next day. That accountability really got the creativity working. It helped us both.”
The pair continued to write enough to each self-publish their own books. According to Michaelah Hatcher, “To Turn The Pen: Begin Again Every Time” is a very personal book.
She said, “It tells a story. Most of the poems are arranged chronologically, and they show my personal journey into adulthood.”
For her, writing poetry serves as an outlet to overcome anxiety and depression. She said that the written word has assisted her in processing her feelings.
Josh Hatcher’s book, “American Poetry: Poems For a Wounded Nation,” addresses the political division that seems to be pervasive today.
“We have created a culture that hates their neighbor over something some news commentator or politician talks them,” he said. “My poems call that out, and they point to better things, like hope, and family.”
The books will be available to purchase at the event, or available on Amazon.com for purchase in paperback or e-book format.
