Cat Speranzini’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and a deep commitment to mental health. After navigating a toxic relationship and her own mental health struggles, she found solace and healing in poetry. This art form became her therapy, and through it, she not only healed herself but built a community of writers. As the founder of Grey Coven Publishing, Cat is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive space for marginalized voices. Her story is a testament to the power of vulnerability and the strength that comes from turning pain into purpose, both on the page and in the publishing world.
- What inspired you to write Calm in the Dark: A Collection of Poetry and focus on mental health and trauma?
I was inspired to write a book addressing mental health and trauma after undergoing a traumatic relationship shortly after my divorce. I have BPD and tend to define myself by my relationships, so when my marriage ended, I instinctively jumped into the first relationship that came along. Unfortunately, that relationship was a toxic one. My poetry is my own personal therapy and it’s meant to be therapy for others as well. Mental health is paramount for those of us who feel deeply and in this day and age, too many people neglect the necessary process of healing.
- Can you share how poetry has served as a tool for managing mental health challenges in your own life?
Poetry is my greatest tool for managing mental health challenges. Reciting poetry out loud has been proven to reduce anxiety. I read my own poetry at a local open mic and I have found this to be true. As for writing poetry: when I’m at my worst, I open my notes app and begin to write. Half of the poems I start don’t see the light of day. But, I don’t think I would be here today without writing poetry. There’s something so therapeutic about getting emotions out of your head and placing them on paper. The poems I do post have connected me with the most amazing community of people.
- What motivated you to start Grey Coven Publishing, and how does it align with your personal mission?
I was motivated to start Grey Coven Publishing after receiving a rejection from a traditional publisher. My goal was to create a space for marginalized voices. Specifically, marginalized voices using Instagram as their main platform. Traditional publishers aren’t equipped to deal with the age of social media. So many poets share their new poems online before submitting them to publications. At Grey Coven, we consider poems posted to your personal pages. In our first anthology, we have mostly women-identifying contributors. We publish poets regardless of race, disability, or orientation. We love diversity and unique takes on experiences. Our hope is that we can create a safe and inclusive space.
- What are some strategies you’ve found effective in funding your anthologies while keeping costs manageable for contributors?
Our first anthology was entirely funded by myself and my co-editor, Matt Pasquarello. We didn’t charge a reading fee and we are shipping a physical copy of our anthology to each contributor. For the upcoming anthologies, we will be offering “tip jar” submissions to help recoup the costs of our first issue. Tip Jar submissions are submissions that include an optional donation to Grey Coven Publishing. We, of course, do not base any decisions off whether someone has tipped. Additionally, we will be offering free ebook copies and offering 15% off physical copies to all future contributors. Our first anthology, and upcoming anthologies, will be available to the public for $15. The net profit from our anthologies is invested back into our company to promote our contributors.
- How do you balance your roles as both an author and a publisher, and what are some key lessons you’ve learned from each?
I balance my role as an author and publisher by building and fostering a community. As an author, connecting with fellow poets has been integral for reviews and sales. Fellow poets provide the most insightful and helpful reviews. As a publisher, I would be lost without my editor and volunteer readers. For both: community is key. Our first anthology wouldn’t have been possible without our readers: Timothy Imbriglio-Roy and Mia Pantano. We’re taking applications for volunteer readers for future anthologies. I am very excited to see the community we can create with our volunteers and contributors.
- Can you discuss a moment or experience that deeply impacted your journey in poetry and publishing?
A moment that deeply impacted my journey in poetry was coming across a quote by poet Kristina Mahr on social media. I deeply connected with her words and that was the moment I decided to join the Instagram poetry community. In my publishing journey, I came across Melissa Combs the owner of Octave Eight Publishing. Melissa built her poetry and publishing career using social media. She was a huge inspiration when I decided to start Grey Coven Publishing. I strongly believe in women empowering women and Melissa Combs is the queen of lifting other women up.
- What challenges have you faced in supporting and giving a platform to disabled and marginalized poets through Grey Coven Publishing?
So far, we haven’t faced any challenges in supporting disabled and marginalized poets. We are a very new company, but if anything, disabled and marginalized voices have provided us with some of the best contributions. We are thoroughly committed to celebrating these voices and we’re confident that their poetry will change lives.
- How do you ensure that the voices of contributors are authentically represented and valued in your anthologies?
We ensure the voices of our contributors are authentically represented and valued by listening to their unique voices. Once we accept someone into our anthology, we work with the contributor every step of the way in the editing process. Nothing is published without the contributor’s go ahead. We also include bios at the end of the anthology that the contributor writes themselves. They are able to highlight their individuality and accomplishments within these bios.
- How do you maintain your own mental health while managing the responsibilities of running a publishing company?
I maintain my own mental health by allowing myself grace. I set deadlines and do my best to meet them, but if for some reason things get derailed, we go with the flow. Not everything is a controllable variable. As someone with anxiety, I constantly feel pressure to have everything planned down to the minute. But I have found balancing a set schedule with days off to be beneficial. I also delegate responsibilities to my staff. The staff of Grey Coven have been a fantastic community. Every single person on our staff deals with mental health struggles, so we all have empathy for one another.
- What advice would you give to other women who want to use creative outlets like poetry to address personal struggles?
My advice to women who want to use a creative outlet, specifically poetry, to address personal struggles is not to hold back. Poetry is good when it’s authentic. You don’t necessarily need to use structure and rhyme schemes to create a worthwhile piece. As long as you are speaking your truth, your words will help someone. So, don’t be afraid to tell the truth. And don’t be afraid to share your truth. Someone out there needs to hear it.
- What future projects or goals are you excited about for your publishing company and your own writing?
I am excited for Grey Coven Publishing to accepting full length poetry collections in September. We are also opening submissions for the second anthology September 1st. In my personal writing journey, I am currently working on my third poetry collection expected to release at some point in 2025. We send out a newsletter once a month if you would like to stay updated on our future endeavors: www.greycovenpublishing.com
My Instagram: @catsperanzini.poetry
My Website: catsperanzini.com
Grey Coven Website: greycovenpublishing.com
Grey Coven Instagram: @greycovenpublishing
