Kevin Benoit learned the power of voice early. Since age 12, he has helped others find and use their own. This Black History month, SBC highlights and explores the contributions of the 39-year-old self-starter who founded Parlé Magazine over two-decades ago, and, more recently, its arm nonprofit organization, Parlé Endeavors.
Benoit was born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Originally named Kerven, his parents legally changed … Read the rest
Amanda Henke had dabbled in creative writing before, but did not take it seriously until she was encouraged to do so. Having had success in marketing and business ( she co-owned the Oprah-approved Annie B’s) the writer was ready for something new.
In 2017, she conceived the children’s book Not A Book About Bunnies illustrated by Anna Daviscourt (Starry Forest Books) while in a graduate program for children’s writing. She … Read the rest
There are levels to the craft, something fitness mogul and songwriter-turned filmmaker Barry Jay and Emmy-winning television and film professional Mike Manning understand well. The two recently appeared on So Booking Cool to promote their new multi-award-winning film The Way Out, which is now available on digital, demand, and DVD.
With The Way Out being his third film, Jay decided to take a bit of a different approach. “People … Read the rest
Aside from trying to get published, writer’s block is a common challenge among writers. An issue that often prevents people from even writing at all is self-doubt, something romance novelist Devyn Bakewell has noticed through her visits and work with younger writers. “The advice that I’ve really been asked a lot for is this belief in your own voice,” the Greater Love and Greater Life (New Degree Press) author tells … Read the rest
The relationship that young people have with books and reading help shape who they become. Entrepreneur, speaker, and debut author Tiffany Lanier reflects on how her beginnings with literature made her the woman she is today. The defining moment arrived when she was in the third grade at one of her parent-teacher conferences.
“The teacher told my mom she felt like I was illiterate,” The Morning Shift Co. founder tells … Read the rest
When it comes to manifestation, some prefer to keep their goals private while others believe in publicly claiming them. Mindfulness and meditation coach, Responding to Life: Talking Health, Fertility & Parenthood podcast host, and author Josephine Atluri remembers when she shared her desire to become a writer. Though the experience caught her off guard, it was life-changing.
“I was speaking to a life coach,” the self-proclaimed IVF Mama coach recalls … Read the rest
When Absolution creator Rachelle Storm writes the supernatural series, is she exclusively writing for longtime fans of the genre or also hoping to attract new fans? The novelist, who released the second book Revelations earlier this month, reveals it has been tricky to even categorize it due to the books’ various elements. At times, the four-part story leans into fantasy and romance and at times it does not.
“It’s this … Read the rest
Hope Goins‘ mission is to make a difference in America whether through her role as a senior congressional staff member under Homeland Security or the new picture book series The Adventures of Chloe and Chris. The series, published by Priceless Publishing, debuted (and placed number one on Amazon’s New Releases, Children’s Government Books, and Children’s Politics and Government lists) this past spring with the first installment The Three … Read the rest
A songwriting technique that singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ava Della Pietra has applied is the art of concise storytelling. “In a song, you don’t really have that much room to say that much,” the 17-year-old tells So Booking Cool. “So, you kind of have to figure out how to make it concise while also not making it feel like it’s concise…also, little things like figuring out where to get rid of the little … Read the rest
How can a writer be unique on the page when emulating another writer? Multi-hyphenate and doctor, Omar Mora, explains how this is possible. He uses his new book Ancient Explorers: The Lost City of Peru (Moras Productions; illustrated by Miguel Guzman and Edwin Estrada), which launched at this past 2022 Comic Con, as an example. “Ancient Explorers is inspired by stories like Indiana Jones, The Goonies… Read the rest
