Scott Holstad might seem to be a creation of turbulence; at least he certainly was when he wrote Cells. His words portray the torture of a disturbed soul.

In performing research for my coming interview with Scott, I found a very interesting titbit: Scott’s older books have become collector’s items already, one selling on eBay for $193.00. I noted also that used copies of Cells at Amazon.com sell for more than new. To enjoy this type of celebrity, many writers have to die first, yet Scott is still alive, young and healthy, and working on book number sixteen. At one time, Scott’s books were outselling those of his idol Charles Bukowski.

Taken individually, some of the poems in Cells may seem the ranting of a lunatic, a malcontent in an ongoing war ‘against the machine.' These are visceral, gut wrenching, blood-letting, even damning lines that will open you up, cut at your heart… Read this collection and you will never be the same.

Knoxville-native poet Scott Holstad … has just published his 15th collection of poems, entitled Cells (PublishAmerica, $19.95). I am a creation/ of turbulence, Holstad writes, and critic Robert Polito warns readers to “Hang on for your life.” Poems in this collection are thematically unified telling of Holstad’s struggle with bipolar disorder, dealing with such topics as psychiatric medications, suicide attempts, hospitalizations and jail. His collection Places was nominated for the 1995 Pulitzer Prize in Literature.

Cells is as grand as it is explosive. Scott Holstad’s urgent and unflinching honesty will leave you breathless. A brave and heartbreaking book written by a fearless poet.

When I finished reading ‘Cells‘, I felt I had taken a ride with Mr. Holstad, felt I knew the man quite well. Unlike many collections of poetry, this one contains more than a central theme… Each poem is more akin to a chapter and taken together they form a loosely-woven tale; or perhaps the experience is more like spirits of half-remembered nightmares that lead to a ghost of an understanding about oneself. Describe it how you will, this is poetry with a jagged edge, and it cuts deeply.

Powerful. That’s the first word that came to mind when I was able to once more create conscious thought after I started reading this book of poetry. A dark delving into a world most of us would rather decline insight, Mr. Holstad enlightens us with his downward spiral with his own demons and the path out… I won’t lie. These aren’t happy poems. No, they are the work of a survivor. And I applaud the raw vein he’s exposed in this book… If you read only one book of poetry this year, make it this one.