Wallpaper Dogs: A Collection of Poetry

What first pulled you toward poetry and art, and how did that lead you to Wallpaper Dogs?

Art has always been part of our life in some way — for a good part of our career we worked in film, TV, and comedy, and taught both children and adults for years. Once we became aware we were a system, art went away for a while. It came back through visual art, and became a form of communication even before we fully understood it. Poetry came later — an alter we didn’t know about began writing, and that’s what led to Wallpaper Dogs.

What line or passage from the book feels especially significant to you, and why?

It’s a tricky question when a system has contributed to the book — one particular alter wrote most of it. A standout for me is “Tightrope to Recovery.” It has an edge to it that’s a little different from the rest of the collection: “Self-loathing is a suitcase you can’t always put down.” I enjoy imagining that line playing out on the street — most of us carry a load like that every day, and we can’t know how heavy someone else’s is just by looking at them.

What perspectives, assumptions, or personal narratives did you find yourself questioning through this work?

The biggest thing we questioned was whether we could complete it at all. We’re a system that includes autism and ADHD, and we’ve carried the belief for years that we’re stupid — hard words to erase. Finishing the book at all was a real accomplishment. To this day, I’m still surprised we finished high school. Learning that we have alters who don’t question themselves the way the rest of us do has been an extraordinary lesson.

What does healing mean to you, and how did writing this book fit into that?

Healing for us is a continued growth in acceptance — of each other, and of our past. Writing this book, and continuing to fill notebooks, is part of that. Writing is how we’ve discovered each other. Two years ago, someone turned a key, and things started opening. Writing is the key, and the key is healing.

What do you hope readers experience when they read your book?

We hope anyone who reads or listens to it feels a connection — whatever that means for them. It might be a word, a sentence, an illustration. If they’re a system too, we hope someone inside feels seen, maybe for the first time. That they’re not alone. That’s the most important thing.

Do you believe books can influence or change society?

If we can shift our own inner dialogue through the words we write, that changes how we move through the world — and that can ripple outward. Stigma and disbelief stand on shaky ground. Truth is stronger than the fear of change.

What advice do you offer to others who want to process trauma through writing or art?

Pick up a pen. Put on music if that helps, or give yourself quiet time — even set a timer so you don’t feel pressure to fill too much space. Doodle, paint, collage, move. Any form of expression is storytelling. Starting with just three or four bullet points can help when there’s too much to hold at once. Try not to think about it too hard — let it flow.

What gives you hope?

Hope can be fleeting for us, so it lives in connection — in continuing to heal. Connection and creativity together equal hope.

What’s next for you?

We’re continuing to make art and write. Right now we’re focused on promoting Wallpaper Dogs and on some further training.