Totally Booked with Zibby Kate Baer, HOW ABOUT NOW: Poems
Nov 14, 2025
Kate Baer, a #1 New York Times bestselling poet known for her insightful explorations of motherhood and trauma, shares the inspiration behind her new poetry collection, HOW ABOUT NOW. She discusses a life-altering health crisis and how facing mortality influenced her writing. Kate reads poignant poems touching on body image, the complexities of marriage, and the intimacy of childhood memories. She reflects on the impact of technology on memory and candidly addresses themes of anxiety and resilience in her work.
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Crisis Sparked Creative Urgency
- Facing mortality reshaped Kate Baer's writing and urgency for this collection.
- Her 39-year-old health crisis pushed her to write with immediacy and prioritize now.
A Terrifying, Unresolved Health Scare
- Kate describes a pelvic floor prolapse and unexplained neurological symptoms during her health scare.
- Doctors even suggested visiting an ALS clinic, which terrified her and influenced the poems.
Body Image Is A Recurring Theme
- Body image appears throughout Baer's books; she included a poem about weight and power.
- She has lived in a larger body most of her life and feels it has always been discussed publicly.
