About the Author

Natriece L. Spicer began writing at an early age and developed much of her material from coming of age in San Francisco's public housing development known as Sunnydale Projects. She first chronicled her perspectives on love, education, race and socio-economic disparities through Youth Speaks, where she also became a published author for the first time in a youth project titled: What It Took for Me to Get Here and other works with the organization including a composition titled City of One. She would continue to be published in local magazines and perform in various poetry slams. At 18 yrs., old Natriece performed in Washington DC alongside Nikki Giovanni and Quincy Troupe, where she would receive a standing ovation for her piece titled: Black and Fed Up, as well as procure an unplanned scholarship to attend Howard University in the fall of 1999. Throughout young adulthood Natriece, also known as MissTriece, would continue publishing various works in local markets and online in between living and dreaming. Her poetry has been noted in several online and member-based arenas including group studies and articles published by the University of Arizona for her early work titled Paint Me Paint Me Black. She has been often cited for her commentary on women's' rights, race relations, peace and justice. Recently, after gaining years more experience in living and loving she has thrust herself back on to the open mic scene and can be heard weekly at Speak Easy (Berkeley, Ca.) and other Bay Area venues. She spends the bulk of her time being supportive to others, spreading love and cherishing time with her mother and only living parent Patricia Spicer. She is a professional banker commonly known as Natriece, her literary supporters affectionately know her as Essence Mahogany.