The Brooklyn Book Festival 2011

Tomorrow in Brooklyn, NY, the Brooklyn Book Festival of 2011 is a great festivity to check out. Sunday, September 18th from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. events will be taking place. Book lovers should plan to attend! All events are free, although some require tickets.

Look at the available schedule and plan your day. There will be many interesting guest. For more information, please make sure you visit the festivals official page. I hope to see you there. Enjoy & happy Sunday!

*Posts you may enjoy:

My Beauty in Pain Review Part I
My Beauty in Pain Review Part II

Reasons To Love Beauty in Pain

The Black Love Book Discussion

Reasons to Love Beauty in Pain

                                                                                                    

Yesterday's read, Michael Vey, inspired today's post, Reasons to Love Beauty in Pain. I decided to let you know some reasons I love my newly published novel.

Reasons to Love Beauty in Pain                                                       
1.  It is a story that everyone can relate to regardless of experience.
2.  It is a unique story.
3.  In its own way, it shows perception is everything. If you are willing to change your mind, you can change your life for the better.
4.  It is filled with life lessons.
5.  It identifies some characteristics of grief.
6.  It will enhance your life.
7.  It is supernaturally intriguing.
8.  It shows that anyone can overcome their personal struggles no matter what they are going through in life.
9.  It is both interesting and entertaining
10.It is an inspiring tale.



Theses are just a few reasons why you should love it too. Enjoy!

                                                                
*Posts you may enjoy:

Beauty in Pain - Available Now
Beauty in Pain Excerpt
Michael Vey

Happy Birthday Malcolm!

Today in 1925, African-American civil rights activist leader, Malcolm X was born.  He would be 86 years old.  May God bless his family.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X is one of my favorite books.  The reason being, it not only tells an interesting story, his story, but it showcases inspiration.  The story of Malcolm X, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, is the story of an everyday man.  Your beginning and middle may get you to where you're going, but in the end you can still reinvent yourself.

Malcolm was a life learner that expanded his knowledge base whenever possible.  His mind was forever changing.  Many people have had varied and excitable opinions when it came to him, but his willingness to continue learning, by any means necessary (as Malcolm was known for saying) made him unique.

Malcolm widened his perception of the world and mankind. According to a PDF entitled, Malcolm X: Life and Death 1925-1965, found on www.wesleyan.edu, after Malcolm's pilgrimage to Mecca he directed his work toward all races and ethnicities.  He preached to them about human rights, freedom, etc...

May we all continue to cherish the rights of all humans and the beauty of freedom.  Blessings always...


*Posts you may enjoy are Black Love Poem Sample 2 - Change, Iyanla Vanzant and World Changer.

Rose Hester-Lavenburg & Poems for Benjamin

Rose Hester-Lavenburg’s first book is Poems for Benjamin, A New Mother's Journey. She began writing it when her handsome little boy, Benjamin, was just three months old. He is an inspiration to his mother. Rose has been writing poetry since she was a child. Ms. Hester-Lavenburg is enjoying the self-publishing process, which consisted of help from Geri Hearne of Joy Media out of Chicago.

If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift consider Poems for Benjamin. It will be released on Mother’s Day 2011, but copies can be purchased now.  When Rose was asked about the  message of her book she said, “I want parents to feel that they are not alone in the trials and tribulations of child-rearing. And I would like people who are not themselves parents to enjoy reading about expressions of love, joy, loss, and frustration which are so universal in nature.”

Mrs. Hester-Lavenburg often incorporates unique poetry into her day job.  She’s a teacher that uses poems to assist children in learning and hopes society will continue to embrace poetry.


*Posts you may enjoy:

Buying the Perfect Gift
Carefully Measure Your Success
National Poetry Month

On The Rise Magazine & Me!

I, Alice Benton, am being featured in an online publication called On The Rise Magazine.  Please take a look.  The piece is entitled She Has a Way With Words: Poetress Alice Benton.  April has been showering many wonderful things.  I cannot wait until next month to enjoy the fragrant flowers of May.


*Posts you may enjoy are Alice Benton's Blog Reader Appreciation, VDAY Santa Monica 2011 and Zazoo's World & Me!

The Spirit of April - Maya Angelou

This is in spirit of National Poetry Month.  I am posting one of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets, Maya Angelou.

Still I Rise

BY MAYA ANGELOU

You may write me down in history   

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt   

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?   

’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells   

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,   

With the certainty of tides,   

Just like hopes springing high,   

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?   

Bowed head and lowered eyes?   

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,   

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?   

Don't you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines   

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,   

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds   

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,   

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,   

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.   

I rise

I rise   

I rise.

*Posts you may enjoy are Black Love Poetry Sample 1 - Waking Up and God's Gift. 

Chris Rock

Comedian, Chris Rock, is as funny as they come.  One reason that many like him is because while his jokes are funny, they also speak the truth.  Lessons can be learned through Rock's approach to life through comedy.

Chris Rock has been expanding his entertainment reach for a long time.  His list of successes include movies, television, a documentary& book called Rock This!

Once again, fans of his get a new treat.  Chris Rock's Broadway debut starts this month.  The Mother F**ker With the Hat opens April 11, 2011.  The show is only running fifteen weeks.  Act fast if you're going and remember it is not suggested for children fourteen or younger because of language.


*Posts you may enjoy are Iyanla Vanzant and Who Is Gwyneth Paltrow?

Social Media Place's to Find Alice

While I also would like you to always visit me here on Alice Benton's Blog, I can be found other places as well.  They are the following:


Facebook Fan Page - Search for Alice V Benton, Writer and Author to "like" my page.

Twitter - Follow @AliceBenton

Myspace - Friend me at Myspace.com/Author of Black Love


Also, my website is coming soon - alicebenton.com


* Posts you may enjoy are Old Fashion Social Networking, Pages on Alice Benton's Blog, and Social Networking.

Iyanla Vanzant

Originally, I was going to do another relationship piece, but I watched Oprah today and was captivated by Iyanla Vanzant’s story. 

Iyanla has come a long way.  It would seem that she has been gathering her testimony for world.  She’s gone through so much, both personally and professionally.  I have missed hearing her truths and now there is more.

 

Ms. Vanzant's newest book, that I am sure will be my next read, is called Peace from Broken Pieces.  I truly cannot wait to read her story.  May Iyanla Vanzant continue to be blessed and may her lovely daughter rest in peace.












*Posts you may like are Lou's Cafe and The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.