LAPLACE — Ali Vicknair of LaPlace has 107 notebooks filled with personal writings that have helped her find light in the darkness of everyday struggles.

Her favorite pieces are now available to the public in a newly published poetry book, “Thick Hair Thin Skin.”

From 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at PJ’s Coffee in LaPlace, Vicknair will sign copies of her book, which will be available for sale for $14.99.

Vicknair, 19, has always been fascinated with the way words uplift spirits when composed in the right way. Daily motivational texts to friends gave her the idea to publish the book more than two years ago.

She hopes her poems give a voice to the voiceless while the book catches tears and serves as a journal for 2 a.m. thoughts.

“There’s a lack of youth involvement in our generation, and I felt that writing would be a way to minister to those who feel alone and show them the normality of feeling loneliness,” Vicknair said.

“I wrote this in hopes of saving. You never know if someone can take my misery and see my message from it.”

Poems speak on overcoming small battles ranging from break-ups to social pressure.

“I want you to realize this,” Vicknair said, quoting one of her poems.

“If you keep looking over your problems rather than facing them, eventually they will start looking over you.”

Vicknair plans to promote the book locally before reaching out to bookstores or online vendors.

Thick Hair Thin Skin was printed and bound in LaPlace at Advanced Marketing and Promotions, owned by her father, Wayne Vicknair.

Wayne Vicknair said he wasn’t shocked when his daughter announced her plans to publish a book.

“She’s done so many things above her age level,” Wayne Vicknair said. “At first, I was hesitant, but I read a few poems and it blew me away. She has a unique mind, and she’s put in so many hours of her own time working on this.”

Vicknair said she wants to make residents aware of publishing opportunities that keep tax dollars within St. John the Baptist Parish.

According to Wayne Vicknair, Advanced Marketing and Promotions has team members who can edit a manuscript, design a cover, print and bind a book and market its release locally.