Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath

Your Own, Sylvia draws on Plaths writing and extensive nonfiction sources, chronicling Hemphills interpretation of Plaths life from infancy to her death by suicide at age 30. The poems are arranged chronologically and each conveys an experience in Plaths life told via the voice and perspective of family members, friends, doctors, fellow writers, etc.—as interpreted by Hemphill. Each poem is accompanied by an addendum that further explains the factual circumstances of that poems subject. The book also includes an Authors Note, some photos, a section describing the source material for each poem, and suggestions for further reading.

Stephanie Hemphill took her cue from Plath in composing Your Own, Sylvia, writing a poem every day, journaling, and writing frequent letters to her mother (a common practice of Plaths). She lives in Los Angeles, California.