Lynette Reini-Grandell and Loren NIemi are active, contemporary writers, both poets, each with several books of published poetry. They will read from their work and talk about their poems.

Presenter Bios:
Lynette Reini-Grandell is the author of Wild Things: A Trans Glam Punk Rock Love Story, (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2023) and the poetry collections Wild Verge (Holy Cow! Press, 2018); Approaching the Gate (Holy Cow! Press, 2014), winner of the 2015 Northeastern Minnesota book award for poetry. 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 artist, she performs at spoken word venues with the Bosso Poetry Company and the jazz collective, Sonoglyph, and her poetry is part of a permanent installation at the Carlton Arms Art Hotel in Manhattan. Her work is often inspired by Finnish folk culture and song, and she frequently collaborates with Nordic Roots artists in multimedia performances.

Loren Niemi is a Minnesota based poet, author and innovative storyteller whose work includes a 2020 Midwest Book Award winning short story collection, “What Haunts Us”, a poetic memoir “A Breviary for the Lost” and “Circus Rex” a novel of romance, catastrophe and offbeat humor. Over the last 45 years Loren has shared poems and stories in urban and rural communities, on fringe festival and cabaret stages, and in over 200 poetry and story slams. He was awarded the National Storytelling Network’s lifetime achievement award in 2016 and founded the American School of Storytelling in 2020.