Tell Me I'm Not On Fire

by Nicolette Daskalakis

Tell Me I’m Not on Fire emergency ejects the reader into a burning landscape populated by men in ski masks, televised beauty queens, ordained Elvis impersonators, and lonely arsonists. These poems set fire to the facade of “Everything’s fine!” and examine what’s hidden underneath. Dark humor, raw intimacy, and a host of pop culture references ultimately reveal the unending apocalypse of being human. We’re all on fire, but that’s alright. Buckle up, and let these poems rob a bank, throw you into an unmarked van, and high-speed chase a hurricane. Once you get to know them, you’ll find you have a lot more in common than you thought.

79 pages, Paperback

Published November 3, 2024

About the author

Born in the fog of San Francisco, Nicolette Daskalakis is a writer, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary artist based in Paris. She is the author of multiple books of poetry, including "Tell Me I'm Not On Fire" (2024). Her writing has been anthologized by HarperCollins, nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and published in numerous literary journals. Nicolette holds a BA in Film & TV Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and an MFA from the institut supérieur des arts et du design de Toulouse.

Reviews

[Bibliophilebakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was perfection! I was drawn in by the title- I’m not normally one for poetry but the narrative beauty of Nicolette’s prose kept me hooked. Sometimes hilarious and sassy and at others poignant, but always very relevant for the modern apocalypse dumpster fire of today’s world (while reminding us of the beating core of its humanity). Even if you’re not a poetry fan, I’d say it’s worth giving a try.