Lana Reid
Born July 8, 1969 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina this newcomer to the
poetry scene began writing at an early age. Laughing, she attributes her
rebellion to structure, punctuation and her relaxed poetry style to the strict
English teachers she had in her childhood years. She states, "In my mind, I chew
on a thought for a while and by the time I sit down to write them down on paper,
the result is for the most part the finished concept. I revise at times, but not
much."
Growing up as the child of a military father afforded Lana the opportunity to
live in countries such as Japan and Europe. The experience showed her the
difference in treatment of Blacks by other cultures vs. the inequality they
receive here in the United States. As a result, a large portion of Lana's work
focuses on issues in the Black community. Lana states, "That is the who and what
that has shaped me as an artist. The extended families Blacks in the military
make, the brothers "dissing" each other on the block, the pastors giving sermons
on Sunday morning, the grandmother sitting on the porch giving little life
lessons, and the double dutch sessions with cousins on summer afternoons." She
says that she constantly keeps in mind where her people were yesterday, where
they are today and where she would like for them to be going tomorrow.
When questioned as to why she writes under a pen name, Lana says, "There are
times (a lot), when I'm quite shy and I just like to sit back and observe scenes
and not be the center of attention. Also, there are some topics that I write
about, especially the last chapter of my current book, that are very risqu', you
know the type of stuff you don't want someone to mention while you're walking
down aisle five at the grocery store or during church service."
So where will you find Lana? She currently resides in Los Angeles, California
with her daughter, Rottweiler and two cats.
My
Love Notes to a Black Man
Click to order via Amazon
or Directly
from Publisher
ISBN:
0-9728091-0-4
Category: Poetry
Retail price: $14.95
Publication date: June 2003
Binding: 10" x 10" trade paperback
Illustrations: Original artwork
Publisher: CACHET PRESS
The dynamics of loving a Black man are often discussed by Black women. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health, Black women are less likely to marry or remarry, and more likely to have their marriages end in separation or divorce. Some attribute the woes of Black love to low income financial stressors, difference in educational attainment for Black women vs. Black men and even the lack of effort by all parties involved.
Lana Reid, a newcomer to the poetry scene announces her passion for Black men in her new book My Love Notes to a Black Man. A coffee table collection of forty poems with sensual but tasteful mixed media illustrations. Lana shares her up and downs and continuing devotion to her Black men through a fusion of poetry combined with light erotica.
Lana takes the reader on the journey that begins with the familiar hurdles of
loving a Black man. She then moves on to uplifting reflections that give Black
men comfort in her understanding of their personal battles while at the same
time exposing them to a Black woman's own personal struggles. She finishes off
the book by discussing the soulful and sensual elements that a Black woman
enjoys while loving a Black man.
Contact Information
Cachet Press
PO BOX 7004
Torrance, CA 90504
(310) 327-3274
fax: (310) 327-4085
email: info@cachetpress.com
website: www.CachetPress.com
