Poet I. Renai Collins Renai Collins grew up in Palm Beach County, Florida where she began the journey to becoming an award winning poet. For fourteen years, she made her home in Plano, Texas and it is there that her poetry began to receive the notice that it deserves. In 1995, Ms. Collins received a Special Merit Award from the Ninth Annual Iva Mary Williams National Inspirational Poetry Program. The program, which is sponsored by Cooper House Publishing and Poet Magazine honored Renai for her poem, Can’t, Can’t Be. Renai was also heralded by the Plano Star Carrier newspaper for her outstanding poetry. Upon her return to Palm Beach County, Renai immersed herself into the area and continued to write and perform her phenomenal poetry. She started the Junior Poets of Palm Beach County in 1997 and served as vice-president of the Poets of the Palm Beaches from 1997 to 2001. In 1998 Palm Beach Magazine named Renai’s Open Mic Poetry group one of the top 25 best things to do from Boca Raton to Vero Beach, FL. In the April 24, 2002 issue of the Palm Beach Post, columnist Linda Haas wrote of Renai’s outstanding poetry in an article titled, Poet Tries to Inspire, Plants Positive Seeds with Her Words. In addition, Renai served as Poet Laureate and hostess of adult and children’s poetry events for Barnes & Noble, Book-A- Million, schools, libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs along with numerous churches. Renai is a member of the American Academy of Poets and the American Christian Writers Association. Her book Can't, Can't Be was released in November 2009 -- Renai's seconds book Transcend is due for release in November/December 2010. You will also find her poetry on Cross Way Publication www.christianpoetry.org “Proclaiming God’s Promise Through Poetry”