AND I THOUGHT LADIES

Jade Dee and Wilnona Marie — Pop Poets, Speakers, Radio Hosts, and

Have you ever wondered where could writing lead you as an author? What door may possibly open to me? The and I Thought Ladies pondered that same question in 2016. They got an answer they weren’t expecting.

The Ladies consisting of Jade Dee and Wilnona Marie(as the founding members) have starred in their own reality tv show, built a fashion line, have their own wine, a board game based off their screenplay, and been the subject of three documentaries all from being poets. They are now venturing back into film making.

The and I Thought Ladies career started with Wilnona at ten years of age. She was published for the first time in pages of a children’s magazine thereby receiving her first check from writing. Writing became her love and she forsook her first passion of midline to pursue it fulltime. Yes, she was only twelve at the time so it wasn’t a great sacrifice. At this time, she created her first book series that still continues till this day. The series has been renamed to the Widow's debt series.

Jade joined her in writing a little more than a decade later. Jade asked Wilnona to write one last book of poetry before she quit the profession in 2016. Wilnona agreed to write one more book only if Jade would join her in writing. To Wilnona’s surprise she did write a poem. Together they have seventeen books to date.

Both poets have awards for their writings. Jade has the IALA Poet of the Year Award for 2019 and Wilnona has and advocacy award for her poetry. Wilnona’ focused her first works of poetry on overcoming financial and emotional abuse.