Point Pleasant, WV (WVDN) — Heathen Editions announces the launch of Heathen Poetica, a new imprint devoted to poetry in all its eras and edges — from contemporary voices carving new paths to classic works that still cut with original force. Its inaugural title, Jagged Edges by Jennifer Jones, presents eighty poems carved from the dark, intimate terrain of Appalachian truth‑telling — each paired with original artwork that shapes the book into an immersive experience rather than a mere collection.
In Jagged Edges, Jennifer Jones writes with a clarity sharpened by lived experience, drawing readers into the difficult work of tracing the hard contours of grief, endurance, and self‑reckoning. Her voice is steady, unguarded, and unwilling to disguise the emotional labor at the center of her craft. Each poem opens a wound with precision, and each image marks a threshold, revealing the fractures we carry and the ones we try to hide. The book creates a space where vulnerability becomes a form of strength, and where confronting the truth is treated not as a burden, but as a necessary step toward understanding.
“Being the first Heathen Poetica release is an absolute honor,” said Jones. “It is every author’s dream for their work to be recognized and embraced, and this partnership has fulfilled that dream. Poetry is a genre of the third‑eye — nuanced, layered, capable of tearing you apart and stitching you back together. It isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes someone willing to give it its due, and to do the work with care.
“What I love most about being an indie is the active choice to be relational. That’s also what I love most about being a Heathen. We’re a family. We value each other’s creativity, and we work together to bring out the best in what we do in a collective, collaborative way. Plus, we’re pretty punk‑rock‑WV‑kick‑ass, which feels amazing in a timeframe and culture that leans toward the vanilla — the one‑note.
“The Heathen dedication to the complete package of the work is what drew me in. It’s how I knew I was home. From the imagery to the fonts to all the little details — everything matters, everything works in tandem with the writing. The end result is overwhelming in the best way. I’m obsessively detail‑fixated, so finding that tribe was yet another dream come true.”
“Jennifer’s work carries a discipline that aligns perfectly with Heathen Poetica,” said Sheridan Cleland, founder of Heathen Editions. “She approaches the page with intention and respect, building a body of work that stands on its own strength — a strength that resonates with the enduring echoes of poetry’s long tradition.”
About the Author
Jennifer Jones is an author, reader, handcrafter, and accidental coffee snob. She hails from wild, wonderful West Virginia, where she resides with her husband and diva pooch. Appalachian to the core — and insistent you pronounce it apple‑at‑cha if you want to stay on her good side — Jones writes from the marrow of lived experience. Her earlier self‑published works laid the groundwork for the eruption that is Jagged Edges, a fusion of poetry and artwork that forces a reckoning with the parts of ourselves we hide, the griefs we cradle, and the truths we fear will rip us open.
About Heathen Poetica
Heathen Poetica is the newest imprint from Heathen Editions, dedicated to publishing poetry in its full breadth — work written now and work carried forward from generations past. Its purpose is simple: to give poems the space and seriousness they deserve. Guided by its imprint tagline, Verse That Burns, the imprint brings together writers whose voices challenge, endure, and refuse to fade, whether their lines were set down yesterday or centuries ago. Each title receives careful attention to craft, design, and presentation, carrying forward the narrative sharpness, mythic resonance, and graphic voltage that define the press’s broader catalog.
Availability
Jagged Edges is available for pre-order now, and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and digital formats through Heathen Poetica and all major online retailers beginning October 26, 2026.
