Release Date Announcement

Release dates tend to be both exciting and anxiety-ridden for authors. There is something beautiful about finally sharing your work with the world, but there is also fear in it. You never truly know how your work will be received once it leaves your hands.

Something I have learned recently, though, is that creating becomes far less frightening when you stop writing for validation and start writing for yourself—and for the people who might see pieces of themselves reflected in your words. At that point, the work becomes less about perfection and more about connection.

This June, my debut poetry collection, Perfect Reflection, will officially be released, and I could not be more excited. Nervous? Absolutely. But this time feels different. I am trying not to place the same pressure on myself that I did with previous projects. Instead, I am allowing myself to enjoy the process and appreciate how far I have come as both a writer and a person.

This collection is especially meaningful to me because it is the first project I have fully navigated on my own. No company guiding me through the process, no vanity press helping me manage the moving pieces behind the scenes. Every step—from editing and formatting to planning and production—has been handled independently, and I could not be prouder of myself for seeing it through.

While there is still work to be done, particularly with formatting and final design details, the heart of the collection is complete. The poems are written. The developmental edits are finished. The countless rounds of revisions and late-night proofreading sessions are finally slowing down—though, if you are a writer, you know there is always the temptation to do “just one more” read-through.

Now, we are entering one of my favorite stages of the process: cover art and design. Watching the collection visually come to life has filled me with so much excitement and gratitude. Perfect Reflection is a deeply personal project centered around emotion, identity, perception, healing, and learning how to sit with every version of yourself—even the difficult ones.

So, for those interested in joining me on this journey, my debut poetry collection, Perfect Reflection, will officially be available for purchase on June 23, 2026.

This summer will be filled with reflection, vulnerability, growth, and learning how to reclaim our own narratives. My greatest hope is that those who read this collection feel seen within its pages and walk away knowing they are never alone in what they carry.

Until then, stay safe, take care of yourselves, and thank you for being here.

—Destany

A serene afternoon unfolds as a mother and daughter immerse themselves in a story, enjoying a peaceful reading moment together outdoors.