Meet Lily Valleau
Lily Valleau-Lowney is an emerging Young Adult fiction writer and poet pursuing a degree in Creative Writing and English at Southern New Hampshire University. Her fiction explores themes of grief, perfectionism, and resilience through emotionally driven narratives, while her poetry examines similar themes through an intimate and introspective voice.
Across both forms, her work is rooted in the belief that vulnerability is a writer's greatest strength. Drawing on her own experiences navigating identity and expectation, she has developed a voice shaped by vulnerability, reflection, and emotional authenticity. Her short story "Built to Be Perfect" and memoir "A Sliver of Light" examine identity, growth, and healing, while her poetry captures the nuanced emotional experiences that often go unspoken.
She is currently submitting individual poems to literary journals while developing her debut poetry collection, The Range of Emotions, with the long-term goal of publication. When she isn't busy writing, Lily enjoys photography, a creative practice that shapes the way she observes and interprets the world around her.
Notes From the Author
What do I write about?
I write about emotional experiences that are often overlooked, stigmatized, or considered taboo: feelings we tend to avoid discussing despite their profound impact on our lives. I believe these experiences play a crucial role in shaping who we are and who we become.
My work explores the internal conflicts people carry, particularly the tension between our authentic selves and who we feel we are expected to be. Through both fiction and poetry, I'm drawn to stories of growth, healing, self-discovery, and emotional honesty.
As humans, we are constantly evolving, learning, unlearning, and redefining ourselves. I'm especially interested in the transformative moments that arise from life's challenges, and I strive to create work that normalizes vulnerability, encourages emotional awareness, and invites others to embrace the full spectrum of their emotions.
Why poetry, prose, and photography?
I'm drawn to multiple forms of expression because I find that each one offers its own way of exploring emotion. Poetry allows me to capture the raw, unfiltered essence of a feeling, while prose gives me the space to sit with it, to explore its depth, context, and meaning. Photography allows me to freeze a moment in time, capturing the emotions and subtleties that often exist beyond words. Together, these mediums allow me to approach emotion from different angles, creating works that feel both immersive and honest, works that linger, even after the initial moment has passed.
What inspires my work?
I'm inspired by the complexity of human emotion, especially the quiet struggles people often carry beneath the surface. While I tend to approach life with optimism, I'm also aware of how deeply difficult and transformative its challenges can be. That tension between hardship and growth often informs my work, which centers on vulnerability, personal growth, and moments of self-discovery.
What do I hope readers take away?
I hope my readers feel seen, understood, and less alone in their experiences. More than anything, I want my work to create space for vulnerability and emotional honesty, places where people can reflect on their inner worlds without fear of judgment or ridicule. If a story, poem, or even a short quote I have written helps someone recognize their emotions more clearly or feel less isolated in them, then it has accomplished its purpose.
I know from personal experience how overwhelming and persistent our inner voices can be, and through my work, I hope to offer something that helps others better understand themselves and make peace with their thoughts and emotions.