Editor’s Note: The following is the first in a new series of bi-monthly articles from Angela Yarber of Tehom Center Publishing. Tehom specializes in creating spaces for feminist and queer authors, specializing in centering BIPOC voices.
As progressive churches respond to political attacks against trans kindred by reminding us that god is the original they/them, we are ever more in need of books penned by trans ministers who are transforming the world. So, I am thrilled to kick off our new “Belief Behind the Book” column with Anne Kinsey’s “Mosaic Hearts.”
Belief Behind the Book is a new feature that gives readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the beliefs—or what I call “the Why”—behind books written by progressive spiritual leaders. Inspired by the Ministry from the Margins Books program, Belief Behind the Book shines a spotlight on why authors write the books they write, offering practical tips for readers to apply to their own belief systems.
Step into the intersectional world of a queer, interracial family navigating love, identity and community in rural North Carolina. ”Mosaic Hearts” is more than a poetry collection. It’s an invitation for folx on the margins to feel seen, heard and understood.
These verses explore the pain, complexity and joy of being a mosaic family in a mostly monotone world. Periodic reflective pauses invite you to consider your own experiences, sparking healing, growth and a deeper sense of connectedness. This collection calls you to feel, connect and believe in the transformative power of love, inspiring social change while building community.
Anne Kinsey (they/them) is a trauma-sensitive neurofeedback and HRV biofeedback practitioner, trauma recovery coach, and human trafficking consultant based in North Carolina, where they live with their spouse, three kids, and service dog. Anne supports intersectional survivors of human trafficking, trauma and abuse, particularly within the queer community.
They also mentor practitioners in these fields. Committed to the power of voice and community-building, Anne believes in building connections that foster revolutionary social change.
When asked why they wrote this book, Anne responded:
“I wrote Mosaic Hearts for queer, intersectional folx who feel alone, scared, or overwhelmed, in hopes they might find a friend in this book, somewhere to turn for connection and care anytime. In a time of rising fascism, this book is a form of social protest that refuses to obey in advance, while building community that fosters healing for both writer and reader. Creating it incorporated profound spiritual practice. I hope it also gives allies a window into the experiences of intersectionally marginalized people in a way that doesn’t require additional labor on the part of the oppressed.”
Between poems, the book provides opportunities for reflective pauses, like a form of meditation or prayer during a devotional. Anne encourages the reader to “create intentional space to ponder, to become aware of how you feel and think, and to process that through words.”
When the world is on fire, sometimes poetry is precisely what we need. So, create that intentional space for pondering and check out Anne Kinsey’s “Mosaic Hearts.”
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Award-winning author of ten books, including The Authorpreneur Handbook. Founder and CEO of Tehom Center Publishing, a nonprofit press publishing feminist and queer authors, with a commitment to elevate BIPOC writers. Rev. Dr. Yarber’s work has been featured in Forbes, HuffPo, NPR, The Advocate, Ms. Magazine, the television show Tiny House Nation, and more. She travels the world speaking, preaching, publishing, and writing, but she can always be found at www.tehomcenter.org
