Just so you know the format shall be bold text for my questions and regular text for his response.
Hi Stephen, can you give the readers a little background about yourself?
I'm a young author of 3 self-published books; The Enchanting Excerpts, The Last Enchantment and Hindsight. I have a 7-yr old daughter whom I dedicated my first book to.
I write and perform different types of poetry, was elected (about 2yrs ago I think) as a Role Model for youth by the National Youth Council and was part of a drive to motivate young people.
I won 2nd price at the M&C Fine Arts Spoken Word in 2007 and was part of Ken Hardy's band Soul Dreadz, along with Ras Isley, Emile, Sky from Amate, and Nyah. I left the group to embark on a solo mission.
How did you get involved in writing? What style did you begin with and how did you grow from there?
I got started pretty strangely, but I think I should jump straight into the part where I got inspired to write my own book after reading a fellow poet's work who is from my community. I had been penning down poems and writings so I collected them and put them in a book.. and I think I took a small loan to add to money I already had and then published my first book.
My first two books were pretty much a collection of poems, thoughts, feelings, words of wisdom, prayers, excerpts to a novel I'm working on, and any other thing I saw would capture readers and a small list of growing fans. I went to Barbados to do some promotion and tv and radio interviews.
It was after my second book in 2004, that I started taking the Art seriously and started performing and networking. There was a 5 year hiatus after my 2nd book during which I did lots of research and performances.. it was then I teamed up with Ken Hardy and Kensley Charlemagne.
And it has been no going back from there.
How do you find inspiration to write? Is it through personal experiences or hopes and dreams you hold for example?
Inspiration comes from every thing that happens around me... the good and bad world, but mostly the struggle of the average boy or girl, man or woman, even babies. The things I see and hear everyday. Life and death.
My motivation comes from the people who read them and the feedback they give.
What is your favourite piece of writing and why?
My favourite piece of writing: I have 3 favourites
1. Recreating History from my book Hindsight
2. Rude Boy Reality from Hindsight
3. Like Father, Like Son from the soon to be released eBook for Georgia, USA
I like Rudeboy... and Recreating... because they both speak to the world about the world; our mental enslavement and modern day reality which ties into the persona of the 'voice for the youth'.
The 3rd, Like father..., is new and unreleased, and I like it because it is my best piece tailored for the American market... it will be posted on my website soon.
What advice can you give someone who wants to pursue writing whether recreational to perform at open mics or writer forums, or who wants to become a full fledged writer by profession?
Well frankly I haven't reached the pinnacle in my career and don't think I'm in a position yet to answer. So let's just say, that you can ask me that question anytime if you find out that I made a million dollars.
Hahaha I shall remember that. And don't forget the little people like me when you make it big!
Much thanks to Stephen for this fabulous interview! If you want more information on Stephen Dantes including a video of him performing Rude Boy Reality, visit his website http://www.stephendantes.net or email him at pr@stephendantes.net
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