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The Restoration of Orange by Nadia Hunter Bey 132 pages ~ 76 poems ISBN: 978-0-985-8659-7-9 Price: $20.00 Publisher:World Stage Press To Order: from World Stage Press ABOUT THE BOOK: The Restoration of Orange is an ode to women rediscovering self-love and regaining that innate glow that has been lost, stolen, or buried under the weight of life and collapsed relationships. This harmonious tapestry is comprised of voices from the depths of women villages. Turning the pages will reveal their bloody fight to regain their bodies; a cry yearn- ing for the reprieve of a bitten life; a growl warning off thieves; and a resoundinggrace and love praising the strength of the woman. Bey writes in proxy of the voiceless, in boldness for the weak, and in healing for the weary. ADVANCE PRAISE: “Nadia Hunter Bey's poetry is delicate and durable at the same time—words that will last but are sensitive to the touch, the ear, the heart. In her poem 'It Don't Add Up," she leaves us with the last line: "Being a secret broke me." I am reminded of all the secrets I kept, the secrets I was, and how keeping some of them, and being them, broke me. Her poetry is a mirror that she holds up to her readers, and she firmly asks us to see ourselves in her words. If we are really looking, we can see pieces of ourselves: our eyebrows, eyes, ears, a nose, when the mirror is held a certain way. By being so vulnerable, she gives us permission to let go as well. Hold this book in your hands and in your hearts." -Jaha Zainabu, Author of 365.2013 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Los Angeles-based poet Nadia Hunter Bey was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, in the city of Sylmar. The importance of reading was instilled in Nadia early on in life, and it soon blossomed into a love of reading and writing poetry after receiving her first Maya Angelou book at the age of 12. Now 37 and “quietly quite loud,”, this Season 2 , Community Literature Initiative alumni has crafted, her writing to become, her voice, and she uses it to share the stories of the voiceless and over- looked. A regular on the L.A. poetry scene, she has been known to frequent such venues as Vibrations in Inglewood, Shades of Afrika in Long Beach, S.W.A.A.M. in Los Angeles, and The Last Sunday at U.S.V.A.A. in Culver City. You can catch Nadia at the World Stage in Leimert Park, where she is currently the host of the Anansi Writer’s Workshop on the second Wednesday of the month. Nadia is the book production manager and layout designer for World Stage Press. Nadia is more than a writer; she is also a preschool teacher and has an all- natural personal-care line called 15 Deep, which specializes in the care of sensitive skin. FROM THE BOOK: For All of the MEN with Daughters by Nadia Hunter Bey You will be her first love The prototype of manhood all must be measured by Blueprint of strength and logic she will emulate when her emotions are in check One of life's toughest lessons will be that the majority won’t be like y’all but thinks it should rule Show her Her beauty before her body develops distractions That cultivate envy in the enemy and confusion in the inner me Show her how she should be treated by man Eloquence expressed without words Sincerity that will align her backbone, will be kickstand for proudest chin Forever your vibration Will support her Learn her song Sing it to her daily as a child Remind her of her song as she grows and makes mistakes When she thinks she is a woman The attention you give her cuts That lil sumthin extra in your hugs The way that only you will ever be able to say her name You will be her first love The opinion her life will be hinged upon until she realizes you are only human too She will love the ugly, dirty of your meanness Hurt feelings be damned; she will spend hours speaking highly of you to others during seasons she will not speak to you at all You will be the one to teach her how to love herself She will learn slowly The two of you will have tear-stained cheeks but never talk about it You will understand the beauty and necessity of woman the first time you look at her Again, the first time her heart is broken by a boy When she wipes your chin and bathes you gently, same way you'd done 36 years before Once again, when you must say goodbye but have no words Sing her song; teach her yours so she may sing to you on your departure Remind you of who you are, where to return home Where she can always find you and herself
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