Time and Other Solvents - Paperback

by Claudia Gary (Author)

Poetry of Healing, Craft, and Musical Precision

Time and Other Solvents by Claudia Gary is a luminous full-length collection of formal poetry that transforms personal pain into beauty and resilience. Written primarily in sonnets and other traditional forms, this memoir-in-poems explores a daughter's journey through family trauma, her mother's electroshock therapy, bulimia, motherhood, and the redemptive power of art and music.

With exquisite technical mastery and emotional depth, Claudia Gary makes the sonnet feel fresh and alive-breaking lines into inventive stanzas while always returning to the volta with insight and wit.

• Masterful Formal Poetry Collection
  • A standout contemporary poetry book written in sonnets, villanelles, and other structured forms with musical language and rhythmic precision.
• Award-Winning Poet
  • By Claudia Gary, three-time finalist for the prestigious Howard Nemerov Sonnet Award, 2013 semifinalist for the Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize, and Pushcart Prize nominee.
• Deeply Personal Story of Healing
  • Reflects on youth, family, trauma, recovery, motherhood, and artistic redemption against the backdrop of mid-20th century American life.
• Perfect for Thoughtful Readers & Gifting
  • Ideal for lovers of literary poetry, formal verse, healing memoirs, and women's poetry. A meaningful gift for anyone on a journey of reflection, resilience, or artistic discovery.
• Independent Publisher
  • Published by Sligo Creek Publishing. This elegant 96-page paperback is not mass-produced making it a special addition to any poetry collection.

About the Author

Claudia Gary is a poet, visual artist, composer, and longtime teacher of formal poetry workshops. A three-time finalist for the Howard Nemerov Sonnet Award and 2013 semifinalist for the Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize, she has published poems widely in literary journals and anthologies. She leads workshops on the sonnet, villanelle, and using poetry for navigating trauma. Her work blends technical brilliance with rare emotional honesty.