Raynetta Mañees

Raynetta Mañees is an African-American romance novelist.

Personal life

Mañees was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and is a graduate of Cass Technical (Honors) High School and Wayne State University, where she received a BA degree in Mass Communications. She is retired from a 28+ year career as a federal government executive administrator. Ms. Mañees now writes full time, as well as owning an antique and collectible shop, “Raynetta’s Romantiques”. She currently resides in Southfield, Michigan. Mañees has one adult daughter.

Work

Mañees had published several short stories and newspaper articles before "All for Love", her first novel, was published in 1996. "All for Love" was a finalist for the Best Contemporary Ethnic Romance of 1996, "Affaire de Coeur Magazine", and made Ingram's list of best selling romance novels.

Ms. Mañees’ second novel,"Wishing on a Star", was also a best seller and was critically acclaimed even before its official release.

Ms. Mañees’ third novel, "Follow Your Heart", was rated a 4 1/2 star Gold Medal Top Pick classic by "Romantic Times Magazine." The novel was also awarded the “Award of Excellence” from RomanceInColor.com

Romantic Times rated four stars to Ms. Manees' fourth release, "A Mother's Touch", May 1999, an anthology which contains Ms. Manees’ novella "All the Way Home." Also in 1999, Mañees released her fourth full length novel, "Fantasy."

Her fifth novel, "Heart of the Matter", reached the top ten of Amazon.com list of best-selling multicultural romances.

Other artistic work

Ms. Mañees’ love affair with the fields of entertainment and communication began at age five, when she began her performance career as a vocalist. She has performed as a solo artist in numerous venues in Detroit, Chicago, Lansing, and the Caribbean. Her singing rapidly led to stage performances in musicals, which in turn led to numerous non-musical acting roles.

Ms. Mañees was a 1994-1996 member of the Board of Directors of the Riverwalk Theater of Lansing, Michigan, and she has appeared on the Riverwalk stage in several productions, including "West Side Story", and was the leading lady in the Afro-American drama "Sty of the Blind Pig." She also appeared in the role of Mrs. Murphy in the Pulitzer prize winning play "JB" at the Spotlight Theater in Grand Ledge, Michigan.

Ms. Mañees’ acting led to an invitation to do commercial radio, and she was for two years an on-air personality on AM 1180, WXLA, in Lansing. Ms. Mañees has also performed in radio and television commercials.

Works

* "Heart of the matter," released January 2002, ISBN 1-58314-262-2
* "Fantasy," released August 1999, ISBN 1-58314-030-1
* "A Mother's Touch," an anthology containing Manees' novella, "All The Way Home", released May 1999, ISBN 1-58314-015-8
* "Follow Your Heart," released September 1998, ISBN 0-7860-0560-2
* "Wishing on a Star," released August 1997, ISBN 0-7860-0423-1
* "All for Love", released September 1996, ISBN 0-7860-0309-X

References

SOURCE: Raynetta Maees website and novel biographies,

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/9823/ Raynetta Mañees' website]