until there is nothing to live for (Carnal Mind Editions) Paperback – February 15, 2026

Until there is nothing to live for is a collection that explores grief, identity collapse, isolation, lust, rejection, rupture, intimacy, hunger, and the events that shape our acceptance of the hand we are dealt in life—and more. My style leans into lyrical fragmentation, dream logic, and stark imagery, favoring a pared-down yet emotionally saturated form that doesn’t beg to be understood or preambulate. This is a deeply personal work, written over the past two years, and I believe it speaks in the kind of raw, arresting language best understood beyond the thresholds of resistance and denial that follow grief, when what once mattered to us vacates, and we are left unclaimed by former identities, people, and places. It champions a new, uncharted vision within a haunted psyche that refuses to dwell in pain, yet still remembers the shape of every shadow that forms, come dawn.My previous book, sad girl, published in December 2023, continues to resonate with readers, with steady sales and strong reviews. This second collection marks a turning point in my voice; it’s sharper, though I have gone through some excruciating events in my life that have removed any lingering arrogance and replaced it with an earnest elegy that’s more exposed, commanding, and committed to the body of being over form.I hope you take something meaningful away from this book.Sincerely,Assefa, Birhan Read more