Publications

Published in 2017 by Finishing Line Press, Kintsukuroi is Whitnee's debut poetry chapbook. This collection delves into what it means to be a woman and examines concepts of brokenness that, in the end, let in the beautiful light. Set in Kentucky to Zhangjiajie, this collection will stir common emotions of existence and ignite new experiences.

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Reviews

Whitnee taps the "floating colors" of memory to offer up poems that are historically-situated, transnational, matrilineal, and political. Her chapbook Kintsukuori contains no "fragile figurines," but poems that get the "heartbeat / thumping" before settling like "confetti / on / lashes". Thorp's poetic voice is at turns elegiac and ironic, curious and knowing. Kintsukuori is a gift.

--Cheryl R. Hopson, PhD, Author of Black Notes

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Whitnee does not flinch in the face of the brokenness that's all around us. Aging, PTSD, divorce, forced abortions, teen pregnancy, car accidents caused by drinking and driving--all of these appear in the poems. But the poems are pure gold, full of "tall-stemmed sunflowers / always watching, with hundreds / of black-speckled eyes" and "bodies on fire / extinguished only by each other". After reading Kintsukuori, you'll know that the world is more broken than you've ever realized--and more beautiful than you've ever imagined.

--Tom C. Hunley, author of PLUNK and THE STATE THAT SPRINGFIELD IS IN

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Whitnee's voice is down home electric. At all times intimate & universal, she spends time in small town Kentucky, and on bus stops in Zhangjiajie. These poems travel. Kintsukuori is a collection of repair & rejoice. Her images catapult off the page--they break their teeth on beer bottles, samba, heal, salvage, and pray--they root us deep into what it means to be a woman. Beautiful, jarring & alive, hers is a voice worth revisiting, writing down & remembering.

--Ellen Hagan, www.ellenhagan.com

'this deep, wide, dark world' by Whitnee Coy offers readers an intimate journey through intricatally weaving emotions. With each poem, Coy immerses us in the heart of her experiences, from the tumultuous highs and lows of childbirth to the tender joys of parenthood.

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What sets Coy's collection apart is her unwavering honesty and vulnerability. Through evocative language and vivid imagery, she lays bare the raw complexities of emotion without hesitation. Each poem serves as a testament to Coy's resilience and strength, offering glimpses of light amidst darkness.

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Whether reflecting on the transformative power of love in "Fatherhood" or celebrating the triumph of hope in "Halloween," Coy's words resonate with profound truth and authenticity. Through her artful storytelling and lyrical prose, Coy leaves an indelible mark on the heart of the reader.

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This illustrated children's book focuses on social-emotional needs through the lens of a narrative story and is geared for readers 4-10 years of age. Learn with Elsie how the different parts of your brain work and what to do when you start feeling your emotions swell up like an angry balloon.

Bonus pages offer resources for educators and families to practice mindfulness and emotional regulation.

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Reviews

Elsie and Granny Grace put the amorphous and abstract concept of emotional regulation into accessible terms that kids can understand and relate to. Including powerful imagery and lifelike characters, this book is memorable and is sure to be a new favorite. I am eager to share this gem with my students and children!

-Heidi Simons, Elementary Educator and Mom of two

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“Elsie's Adventures to Brainy Cove” explains the brain and the neuroscience of emotions to children and others so they can understand their meaning. It gives children ways to feel emotions by calming down and giving them ways to deal with them. This is an excellent book I will use in my classroom counseling sessions, along with individual and group counseling.

-Mary Nylander LPC, School Counselor

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"Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove" is a great book to teach emotional awareness to young students. As a special education teacher, I have begun using the terminology from the book with my students. My students were able to use the emotional regulation terms and imagery to identify what they were feeling. I am looking forward to incorporating this book into my lessons.

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-Jessica Goldhorn, Special Education Teacher

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This book is a must-read for all young people learning to navigate their emotions in a way that is accessible and easy to understand. All readers will indeed live a more mindful day with a “heart full of kindness and a mind filled with knowledge” after spending a day in Brainy Cove!

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-Tanaya Winder, Author, Singer/Songwriter, & Motivational Speaker

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Whitnee Coy’s “Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove” is a treasure. Elsie’s journey is filled with magic and science and will help children and adults manage and understand their big emotions.

-Lindsey Frantz, Educator, Mom, & Writer of “The Upworld Trilogy”

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Winner of the South Dakota State Poetry Society's 2017 Annual Chapbook Contest, judged by Fred Yannantuono, this collection of found poetry dives into perspectives from the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.