Coming Soon | Terrapin BOOKS

You Too Were Once on Fire


“Grief and relief / rhyme,” says a poem, and if there’s grief aplenty here, there’s a hundred times as much grace, as much elegance, as much unflagging splendor. ~David Kirby, The Winter Dance Party: Poems, 1983–2023

“Murphy is clearly still immersed in flames and invites us to share in the warmth, and the burn.” ~Grisel Y. Acosta, Wild

“These poems made me feel blessed to have read them and have a very real chance of being passed down from generation to generation.” ~Joel Dias-Porter, Ideas of Improvisation

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Enjoy this amazing video created by Michael DiGiorgio.

Advanced Praise

  • “Peter Murphy’s memoir is pure pleasure.”

    Jay Parini, author of Borges and Me, an Encounter

  • “A harrowing, hopeful, and unexpectedly funny book.”

    Paul Lisicky, author of Later: My Life at the Edge of the World, a Memoir

  • “Peter Murphy floods us with tenderness in this powerful memoir, opening the heart of the reader while taking us inside poverty, cruelty, and addiction. Surprisingly, this same voice brings a wealth of funny stories, offering us a way to be more human, more included.”

    Jan Beatty, author of Dragstripping

  • “I read it straight through―how can he possibly survive?―astounded by his persistence and courage. You will be too.”

    Terese Svoboda, author of Roxy and Coco and The Long Swim

  • “Murphy . . . marvelously deploys the ‘you’ voice to convey disassociation and gallows humor of his coming of age and addiction-recovery journey . . . Evocative observations and relatable struggles characterize this poetic remembrance. Our Verdict: GET IT.”

    Kirkus Reviews

Author Peter E. Murphy, who is smiling and wearing glasses, a red button up shirt, and a black suit

About

Peter E. Murphy

Peter E. Murphy is the author of a dozen books and chapbooks of poetry and prose including A Tipsy Fairy Tale, A Coming of Age Memoir of Alcohol and Redemption about growing up in Wales and New York City. The founder of Murphy Writing of Stockton University based in Atlantic City, he leads writing workshops around the US and in Europe.

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