Visiting Hours

by Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum

Visiting Hours chronicles the cold, clear February morning, Mary Interlandi drove to the top of the Nashville Sheraton parking garage and leapt to her death, seven stories below. She was 19 years old. The author had known her and her family his entire life. Visiting Hours chronicles their friendship, her sudden death, and the psychological, social, and political aftermath of suicide.

96 pages, Paperback

Published March 12, 2020

About the author

Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum is a poet, editor, and educator. His first collection of poetry, "Ghost Gear," is forthcoming with the University of Arkansas Press and his anthology, "Apocalypse Now: Poems and Prose from the End of Days," was released on December 21, 2012. He also writes reviews, interviews established and burgeoning writers, edits journals, and produces a podcast.

Andrew's work recently appears or is forthcoming in journals such as The Writer's Chronicle, The Southern Poetry Anthology, Ascent, Glimmer Train, American Literary Review, The Spoon River Poetry Review, Poet Lore, The Missouri Review, storySouth, Blackbird, InsideHigherEd.com, Eclipse, Copper Nickel, New Letters, Hayden's Ferry Review, and Potomac Review among others.

He is Acquisitions Editor for Upper Rubber Boot Books; is editor of an anthology; writes a web-column, poetry=am^k, as a Contributing Editor for The Southern Indiana Review; and is Founder and Editor of PoemoftheWeek.org and Managing Editor of AdHominem.weebly.com.

Andrew is also an experienced freelance Writing Coach, Copy-Editor, Tutor, and Ghostwriter. He holds a Masters of Fine Arts Degree from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale and is an Instructor of Creative Writing and English at the University of Colorado - Denver.

Reviews

[Martha Silano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visiting Hours is a beautiful, bellowing cry of pain and anguish into the dark night of the soul. McFadyen-Ketchum has forged a sustained elegy both harrowing and haunting, a swan song to a childhood friend who spiraled into depression and jumped from a ledge. Often, the climate of this book is Arctic, a place where "subteen temperatures / And the solenoid click of dead car batteries" are the norm. But the author also let's in just enough light to remind us that "somewhere / Beyond the earth's backward bow, there's a certainty and silence / To be found, a purpose and an answered prayer." Some losses are never resolved, never laid to rest. McFadyen-Ketchum makes of this fact a sweet song of lamentation, self-examination, and redemption.

[Kelby Horne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a way that was totally unexpected and profound, I was able to learn more about myself as a person and as a writer through this work. I fully believe that one of the most important things I will ever read is Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum’s “Visiting Hours.” This collection has allowed me to process grief I wasn’t even fully aware that I was still holding on to. I also found that his style of writing specifically really spoke to me. I found many ways to be inspired while reading his work, and I continued to be surprised with new ways I wanted to try to write.

When Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum came to visit our poetry class in the fall, I found myself being continuously surprised by his demeanor. He was smiling and cracking jokes frequently. I remember him being so very different from what I had prepared for him to be. “Visiting Hours” was full of agonizing, grueling, dark poems that made me think Andrew would be weighed down by the cards that life had dealt him. However, this was not the case. I found myself being able to be equally inspired by Andrew’s joy as well. I then purchased his newest collection and continue to be grateful to be so affected by someone’s words.

As a writer, it was such a joy to discover Andrew’s work.

[Lisa Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum’s Visiting Hours this morning. It’s not a book to read in one sitting, but I can’t put it down. The first poem offers gut-punch preparation for the shock of this elegy for the poet’s friend who jumped off the top level of a parking garage in downtown Nashville in 2003: “My God ... what’s become of you, girl I loved? / My God, I hear her say back, boy who never said / I love you.”

To give myself breathing room, I googled. And found a skillfully-articulated, heart-baring discussion (on chapter16.org) of the process, the reason, and the resolution. Yes, Andrew — it is indeed beautiful.

[Anatoly Molotkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

'"There was nothing I could do,"/ He tries to convince himself/ when he cannot find sleep.' Visiting Hours broke my heart. What an elegant, thoughtful homage to a person who chose an early exit. A most reflective collection that is also a study of culpability and a cry of survival guilt, all in one. It's a testament of how we carry those we loved forever, in our memories and within the fabric of our personalities.

[Lynn Domina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly moving. Its craft is highly accomplished, and the voice(s) are persuasive and authentic. I expect to return to it time and time again. It's the first collection of poetry I've read in 2022, but it will definitely be one of my favorites this year. All I really want to say is Read It!

[Melissa Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is still haunting me. It's a deep, meaningful read of grief and hope. I highly recommend.

[Jacob Butlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-pounding book of poems with clear, exciting images. Everyone should read this book!