Thomas McRae published “Lyrical Revelations” earlier this year. Photo courtesy of Thomas McRae
Earlier this year, local author Thomas McRae published “Lyrical Revelations,” a collection of poetry inspired by his relationships and recent life events. A longtime Rockaway resident, McRae’s previous titles include “Pimp in the Pulpit” and “Poetry 4 the Soul.”
“I wrote my newest poetry book titled ‘Lyrical Revelations’ because, for a long time, I felt very uninspired and so unhappy because of a lot of personal events in my life from work to family,” McRae told The Wave. “I had to break myself free from that psychological monster, and the best way for me to do that was to start back writing.”
McRae, 40, recognized his knack for writing when he was 10 years old. His brother wrote a poem for their mother, and McRae said he will never forget the feeling he got from hearing those words. From that moment forward, McRae wrote poems and short stories to engage with the power of words.
“The way he expressed his love and admiration was very beautiful and inspiring,” McRae said. “After hearing my brother with his poem, I found myself more drawn [to] and interested in the craft.”
McRae’s poems reflect his recent life experiences. His grandmother developed dementia, and his brother was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which led McRae to think more deeply about family relationships. He notes that, along with relationships, work and music also heavily influenced his poems.
“My personal experiences, family and friends, my job, and – believe it or not – music played a big factor in getting my artistic flow up and running again,” McRae said.
Growing up and working in Rockaway also impacted McRae’s writing. He moved to Rockaway from Brooklyn in the 1990s upon graduating junior high school and attended Beach Channel High School.
Thomas McRae previously published “Fatal Impact.” Photo courtesy of The Wave Archives
After graduating in 1996, McRae started working in Brooklyn and now commutes between the two boroughs. Over the years, McRae has learned how to embrace change as an opportunity to see the world from another angle, from his home on Shore Front Parkway to his job at the New York Housing Authority.
“I didn’t like moving out here but eventually made it my home,” McRae said. “Far Rockaway is a unique place with a mixed variety of people…It’s filled with interesting characters,” he continued. “Being around Far Rockaway people has helped with my writing in regards to the politics that come along with being in this neighborhood, race relations, and different people’s perspectives on life in general.”
McRae said he expects to receive a Literary Titan Book award, along with some other writers, for “Lyrical Revelations,” which was released in March 2024.
“It is being given to me and several other poets courtesy of Literary Titan, who is a book reviewer, marketing, and publishing company that supports independent writers of all genres,” McRae explained. “They are acknowledging myself and others for our craft, uniqueness, and excellent style of detail and craftsmanship.”
McRae looks forward to adding this award to his collection of awards and certificates.
Lyrical Revelations can be purchased on Amazon Books and at Barnes and Noble.
