Randy Stern grew up in the community of Reseda, California - a working class suburb surrounded by the wealth, glamour, and affluence of the San Fernando Valley. Growing up the child of divorced parents, to later coming out as a gay man who did not fit society's "ideal" of Gay Culture, Randy shows us through his poetry, the rough edges of personal triumph, struggle, acceptance, comedy, and hope of life in The Boy From Reseda.

The Boy From Reseda is a collection of 21 poems, sometimes funny and witty, sometimes dark and dusty. Randy Stern weaves an interesting look at life growing up, facing challenges with coming out as a gay man, dating, gay culture, and personal struggle and achievement.

Welcome to Reseda (exerpt)

Under sunny California skies
Picture postcard memories
Of a place I once called home
Love, hate, indifference
A wintry mix unknown
To the average Valley Girl
No one sees the mountains in the sun
Old hangouts, too often unattended
Waxed poetic by Tom Petty
They came for a trinket, a memory
Amid graffiti-scrawled walls

About the Author

Randy Stern was born in the San Fernando Valley in 1964. He received his Bachelorʼs Degree in History from California State University, Hayward, in 1993. A community organizing activist, Randy is best known for founding the movement known as Gen-X Bears in 1995.

Randy was an editor, columnist, and feature writer for Midwest Ursine . His works also appear on QBliss.net , and the official web site of Major League Baseball. The Boy From Reseda is Randyʼs first published collection of poems, spanning many years of life experience. Currently residing in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, Randy continues to write in the venues of culture, sports, cars and the automotive industry, and of course, poetry.

Randy also has an online Reader's Guide to The Boy From Reseda.

Randy Stern can be contacted through Autumnbridge Media , and by E-mail at resedabear@autumnbridge.com .