In the 1970s, Lynette Reini fell in love witha fascinating, talented man named Steve Grandell. They married in 1983; five years later, Steve came out to her as transgender. Through the following decades, as her spouse developed a public persona as Venus de Mars and fronted the band All the Pretty Horses, the couple struggled to stay together. They navigated an often hostile, anti-trans environment; fractures grew between them as Venus pushed the band toward success. Against the backdrop of the art, literary, and indie rock worlds of Minneapolis and New York in the 1990s and early 2000s, through work and love, they invented a way of being who they truly are. In Wild Things, Lynette Reini-Grandell shares a deeply personal story of love and growth.

Lynette Reini-Grandell is the author of two books of poetry, Wild Verge and Approaching the Gate, both published by Holy Cow! Press. She has performed poetry and fiction at countless spoken-word venues and appears regularly with the Bosso Poetry Company. When not reading, she accompanies other writers and burlesque performers on jazz violin. As co-host of KFAI's "Write on Radio," she has interviewd local and national writers about their work since 1997. She has received grants for her work from the Finlandia Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board. An English professor at Normandale Community College, Reini-Grandell has served as president of the Minnesota Council of Teachers of English. 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.

A note about in person events:

We are very excited to bring authors and readers back together in our space, and we know you are too!

As we all navigate the transition back to congregating in person, we ask that you use honesty, care, and understanding in interacting with fellow event-goers, staff, and authors.

Please note that Magers & Quinn will always comply with current city and state regulations, and reserves the right to change the below policies at any time. These are guidelines only, and if you have questions about the most up to date information, you can always call us at 612-822-4611.

For information about how our in-person events work, please read on:

Q: Are masks required?

A: Masks are not required to browse in the store. However, we strongly encourage masking while seated in the event area and waiting in the signing line.

For the health and safety of others, we strongly encourage you to wear a mask or face covering, especially for longer visits to the store such as events.

Q: Are in store events free?

A: Yes, Magers & Quinn events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Q: Do I need to RSVP?

A: Yes, please. Each event will now include a registration link.

As we navigate this step back to in-person events, we will be limiting event capacity to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all attendees and authors. By requiring pre-registration, we can easily communicate event updates and policies with those who plan to attend, and can contact attendees after the event with follow-up information.

We strongly suggest registering via the Eventbrite link provided on our website, but if you are unable to sign up online, please call or visit the bookstore and register with a bookseller.

We may or may not be able to accommodate unregistered walk-ins, and seating priority will always be given to registered customers. We appreciate your understanding of this process!