Meet Shantasha Naomi Laing, author of Not A Monolith: poems and musings of a black woman, her debut poetry book. Shantasha Naomi Laing was born in Brampton, Canada, but primarily raised in Orlando, FL. Shantasha, the eldest of six children, grew up in a Jamaican household surrounded by many matriarchs in her youth. She moved several times during childhood, attending 16 schools K-8th which attributed to her adaptability. Shantasha takes pride in being a daughter, granddaughter, niece, friend, confidante, and above all, the eldest sister and bonus mom. Shantasha graduated from the University of Florida, where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science while her diploma currently collects dust in the closet at her home in Tampa.