Forthcoming August 2026

Poet E.C. Jay writes from the space between one who is and who one is still becoming. His debut collection, written while incarcerated in juvenile detention for two years, from age sixteen to eighteen, addresses confinement, not only as a place but also as a state of mind. Jay writes of the agony, claustrophobia, and isolation of a place where grief echoes off white brick walls.

These carefully written words, however, are what led the poet to grow, heal, and rise above the hopeless feeling of never gaining back his freedom. Let Me Correct Myself is to be read with much thought, by other incarcerated youth inspired to express themselves creatively, or by anyone interested in how the correctional system impacts youth.

POETRY | Paperback | 2026 | ISBN: 979-8-997503-0-6

About the Author

E.C. Jay is a formerly incarcerated poet and recent high school graduate originally from Bridgton, Maine. He recently found a passion for writing and is using it to navigate his process of self-discovery. Beyond writing, he enjoys being outdoors and traveling the world, especially to Spain. He would like his debut book of poetry, written through The Telling Room’s Young Emerging Authors program, to inspire others, especially other youth impacted by the corrections system.