De Novo: Starting from the beginning; anew. by Kelly Anne

In De Novo, Kelly Anne explores what happens when caregiving, creativity, grief and joy occupy the same space. The title of her poetry collection is inspired by medical terminology conveyed by physicians upon the discovery of her first child’s rare condition. The chances of being born with this particular condition is 1 out of 125,000 births. “De Novo” means the condition was acquired spontaneously and not inherited. Coincidentally, De Novo is also defined as, “starting from the beginning; anew.” Kelly’s poetry honors her journey through the lens of disability parenting and its intersections of womanhood, grief, ableism and joyful curiosity. This collection speaks to anyone who has loved fiercely while navigating an unfamiliar landscape. Her work examines various roles and identities women inhabit throughout their lives and challenges the societal implication that creation, play and strife cannot exist at the same time. The collection is divided into IV sections which represent chronological seasons of life and its inextricable connection to the present. De Novo questions the tropes of caregiving and reimagines the spectrum of possibility—that vibrancy, nurturing, interdependence and artistry can radically exist simultaneously. Collectively, De Novo is a heartfelt reminder that the unique hats we wear—caregiver, parent, professional, creative—are timeless, purposeful and all worthy of their rightful place on the rack.

“De Novo: Starting from the beginning: anew” is a brave and quietly luminous collection. One that refuses to tidy narratives and instead honors the lived texture of love, grief, and motherhood as they actually unfold. Kelly Anne writes with an emotional precision that feels both intimate and expansive, holding sorrow and tenderness in the same steady hands. These poems do not ask for sympathy; they ask for presence, and they reward the reader with moments of clarity that linger long after the page is turned. This is a book that understands how beginning again is rarely clean, but often deeply human.”

-Theresa C., MA, MBA

“I’ve read these stirring and beautifully written poems one by one as they’ve been revealed. Seeing these personal and meaningful works come together in the wonderful collection is impressive.”

-Glen Allan Mitchell, Poet and Artist

“Kelly Anne has masterfully woven poems of grief, motherhood, resilience, and joy into a book that is both tender and unrelenting at once. De Novo is the story of her journey through womanhood, shaped by the lived realities of disability parenting, and reflects on how life’s lessons, pitfalls, and triumphs combine into a deeply human meditation on caregiving, identity, and becoming. These poems honor complexity, adaptation, and transformation as integral to love and survival. Each poem invites the reader into emotional movement, offering moments of recognition and connection, even for those who have not lived the same experiences. De Novo is a necessary and unforgettable collection and one that deserves to be read, shared, and returned to.”

-Amy S., MBA