Columbia Alum Chrissy Martin MFA ’17 Publishes Poetry Collection 'Whole, Holy, Hot'

Campus Communications Staff / May 27, 2026

photo of woman and cover of book of poetry
The debut collection of poems by Chrissy Martin, currently an assistant professor of English in Louisiana, explores everything from identity and disability to pop culture and love.

Alum Chrissy Martin MFA ‘17, who studied poetry at Columbia Collee Chicago, has released her debut poetry collection, “Whole, Holy, Hot.” 

Martin describes the work as “a mind and body on fire,” with the collection exploring identity, disability, mental illness, gender performance, religion, pop culture, love, and survival through formal verse, prose poetry, humor, and camp. According to Martin, the poems challenge traditional depictions of disability and mental illness while embracing joy and selfhood in all its complexity. 

“This book is the culmination of a decade of study, writing, revision, and mentorship, shaped by the intellectual and creative communities in which it took form,” Martin says. 

Martin credits her time at with shaping both her craft and her professional path as a writer and editor. 

“At Columbia, I honed my poetry skills through workshop, learned how to edit a journal through my work with Columbia Poetry Review, and learned to be a kind, supportive, and informed member of the writing community,” she says. 

Martin is currently an assistant professor of English at Centenary College of Louisiana, where she has taught since 2022. She is also a founding editor and poetry director of “Arcturus,” a literary journal published by the Chicago Review of Books. Martin earned a doctorate in poetry from Oklahoma State University, and her work has appeared in literary publications such as “Harpur Palate,” “Cherry Tree,” “Cream City Review,” and “the minnesota review.” 

“Whole, Holy, Hot” is available through , , and Amazon. 

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