Speakers

Lynette will discuss her memoir, Wild Things: A Trans-Glam-Punk-Rock Love Story, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press in 2023. It's the story of her long relationship and forty-plus years' marriage (since 1983) to Venus de Mars and their romance. During this time, Venus develops awareness of her gender, and Lynette and Venus struggle to be themselves. It's also the story of how two people found the courage to be themselves through art and the surrounding arts community.

Author Information

Lynette Reini-Grandell is the author of two books of poetry, Wild Verge and Approaching the Gate, both published by Holy Cow! Press. She teaches English and creative writing at Normandale Community College and the Loft and has received support for her work from the Finlandia Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board. A multidisciplinary collaborator, she performs at spoken-word venues with the Bosso Poetry Company and the jazz collective Sonoglyph. Her poetry is part of a permanent installation at the Carlton Arms Art Hotel in Manhattan. The story of her marriage to Venus DeMars is highlighted in Venus of Mars, a feature-length documentary (2004) by Emily Goldberg that has toured film festivals around the world. Lynette and Venus live in Minneapolis.