Merokean Published in ‘Chicken Soup’

Like many aspiring writers, Samantha Nolan set a personal goal to be published by a certain age. After years of attending Jodi Picoult book signings, studying classics at Queens College and improving her poetry website, Nolan published her poem, “Midnight Prayer,” in the anthology, “Chicken Soup: Angels and Miracles.”

Nolan’s goal was to be published by the time she was 25. Her poem was in print by the first of November, just two weeks before she would turn 26.

Nolan wrote the poem four years ago during a time of personal tumult. In a phone interview with the Herald, she recalled the confusion and bereavement she endured after the loss of a high school friend.

“I started thinking a lot about the afterlife,” Nolan said, referring to her Catholic upbringing and the impact it had on her. That year she lost more than one family member and was able to find comfort in the idea that they were always watching over her. She channeled this conviction in her poem when she wrote, “and suddenly I heard a voice. God whispered, ‘There’s no hurry.’ He said, ‘Your angel waits for you. You’ll never have to worry.’ ”

“I wrote the poem without thinking about getting it published,” Nolan said. She hadn’t yet heard about the upcoming collection to be released by the Chicken Soup franchise. When she saw that the religious-themed anthology was accepting submissions she stepped into her past and opened up “Midnight Prayer.”

Chicken Soup looks for poetry that tells a story. Nolan’s poem was selected out of approximately 500 entries to be a part of a collection of 101 stories about faith and spiritual hope. The book prides itself on being written by “ordinary people who have had extraordinary experiences,” as written on the back cover.

Nolan currently works at a restaurant in the West Village of Manhattan. She is currently contemplating whether or not she wants to go back to school for her Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing. Regardless of where she goes on her career or educational path, Nolan says she will always be writing. To read more of her poetry, visit SamanthaJeanski.wordpress.com.