With the power of the pen, Pat and LaJuana Barton are breathing life into the memories of their loved ones through their book Faithful Remembrances: Volume I.

“ The book was just a knee jerk reaction to a series of events that happened in our lives. We had quite a few friends, family members, and loved ones that were terminally ill, died naturally or were killed in some type of accident. When I can’t understand something or I don’t want to deal with it…I write,” stated Barton, who has teamed up with her mother to turn her poetry into a ray of hope for those that are mourning the loss of loved ones.

Pat and LaJuana

Turning their pain into purpose, the mother and daughter team decided to combine over one hundred poems that they had written over the years into a book of hope. The poems selected were organized into sections honoring the lives of parents, children, friends, co-workers and soulmates.  Their ultimate motivation was  to help bring healing to those in depression due to the transition of someone that is close to them.

“We wanted people to know that they were not alone. We may never really understand death. The Bible tells us , ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’ (Proverbs 3:5 NIV) Yet,  there is no way that you can interpret anything about terminal illness, sickness and death. You just don’t understand it. It is such a dark place to be in,” stated LaJuana.

Every  aspect of their book has been designed to bring light to a very dark situation. Even the cover which is black, white and red was very carefully  planned out.

“Black represents the  depth of the despair that you will be in after the death of a loved one. The white  is symbolic of  light, because eventually you will get to the light. You will find yourself, and get back to who you are. The red, is there  because you will always be marked from that point on.  A death always leaves a final date of before that person passed and after that person passed. It is an everlasting mark,” stated LaJuana. Read the full story »

Connecticut up and coming personality Claudette  Rothman has had many exciting careers.  She has been in fashion, real estate and technology industries, and is now in the publishing industry.  Claudette’s latest endeavor is as co-author of the book Greenwich Secrets with Gerald L. Jones.  The book is about sex and murder in tony Greenwich, Connecticut.  USmile Magazine interviewed this busy rising star to discuss her latest projects.

USM:  Tell us about your background:

Claudette:  I was born in St Vincent and the Grenadines and migrated to the US in 1970. As a young girl, I always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer so it was no surprise to my family and friends when I enrolled in FIT to study design.

After graduation, I began my career working in the fashion industry for many different designers and was kind of living the dream.

USM:  Why did you leave the fashion industry?

Claudette:  I didn’t really have the opportunity to do the things I wanted to do so I developed a love hate relationship with the fashion industry.   After being in the fashion industry for a number of years, I decided to take a break from the industry.

USM:  What was your next endeavor?

Claudette:  I decided to follow my husband into technology industry.  At that time the technology industry was growing rapidly so I took full advantage of it.  Once the industry stopped growing, it was my queue to exit because it was not exciting to me anymore.

USM:  What did you do next?

Claudette:  I wanted to do something that was fulfilling and rewarding.  I focused all of my time and attention on taking care of my niece and nephew.  I wanted to make sure that they received a good education so I got involved with the PTA at their school and the local community in Greenwich. Read the full story »

Planning your wedding can be the most stressful time of your life even though you may have a wedding planner.  The best advice for planning your wedding is to keep simple, make if fun and beautiful.  Although, it is your special day, you want to make the event enjoyable for all of your guests.

Here are some wedding planning tips to help you get started:

Start with a plan for your wedding: Determine how many guests you would like to invite, the budget, and location.  Think about whether you want a casual or formal affair.  There are many wedding planning tools on the internet to help you get started. Read the full story »

Summer time is all about barbecue and dining outside.  Get creative with your outdoor entertaining space by creating a warm a welcoming environment for your family and friends.

Here are some tips to inspire you:

Start by cleaning your patio/deck and patio furniture.

Add a fresh coat of paint to your deck and patio furniture to give them a fresh new look.  For paint and cleaning supplies visit your local home depot.

Change the cushions or recovers on your outdoor chairs to spice up your decor.  You can pick up a few new cushions at patio.com or crate & barrel or you can DIY, if you are a arts and crafts person.  This project will take less than a day to complete. Read the full story »

It’s Spring Again-Spring Has Sprung

It’s that time of year where we all say the term spring has sprung. Where the April showers bring in the May flowers. Is that the terminology for life itself? Are the tears that we shed only preparing us for better to come? Sometimes that seems to be the plan. Often too many times we spend crying over a relationship that was not meant to be. When in all actuality we should just shed those tears as to purify our system for the better times to come. Read the full story »

Marcia Davis is the lead singer and songwriter of the Marcia Davis and Outro band.  The band is about to release its new CD and launch its first major tour in the U.S.  The Reggae Diva spoke to USmile Magazine about her new book, CD and love.

USM: When did you first start singing?

MD: I started singing as a child with my brothers.  I always knew in my heart that I wanted to be a singer. My parents enrolled me in a performing arts school when I was around nine years old because they saw how much I loved to perform.  The school taught me how to sing, dance and do theater.

UMS:  Tell us about the first play you wrote and produced?

MD:  When I was seventeen, I formed my own theater company and wrote two musical plays.  My first play was Ella, which was extremely successful.  After the success of my first play, I was inspired to pursue my passion of becoming a performance artist.

USM: When did you get your first major break into the business?

MD: In 1987, I came to America and started working at Super Power Records.  I got the opportunity to work as a backup singer for Laury Webb and that’s how I got my first major break into the business.

USM:  Do you plan to write any more plays in the future?

MD:  I am hoping to write more plays in the future.  I have a great idea for a play that incorporates everything that I do; singing, dancing and theater.  The play will be based on what goes on behind the scenes when you are putting a show together.  It will take you through all of the success and failures that come with the business.

USM:  Tell us about the 1650 campaign to stop the violence in Jamaica?

MD: The 1650 campaign was created to help stop the violence and murders in Jamaica.  Laury Webb and I came up with the idea to produce a few songs such as “Young Man” to help with the campaign.  I was deeply affected by what was going on in Jamaica because so many kids were dying senselessly that were the same age as my son.  I wanted to put out a positive message that would reach these kids make them aware of the damage and pain they were causing.

USM:  Can you explain why you record two different genres of music (Reggae and Urban/R&B)?

MD:  I have a great love for music. I see myself as an artist and performer.   My main genre of music is reggae but I also write R & B songs for other people.  I don’t like to be placed in a box or other people putting me in a box.  I am an artist, therefore I can do anything.

USM: What do you do to balance work and family?

MD:   It is extremely challenging being a woman with children in this business.  I don’t like to leave my children alone so I tend to take them with me everywhere I go.  I receive a lot of help from the people in the band, everyone pitches in to help me and I am very grateful for their support.

USM:  How did you get the name Reggae Diva?

MD:  My brother started calling me Reggae Diva and the name stuck.  Everyone else started calling me Reggae Diva shortly thereafter.  I am really not a diva; I am actually a nice person.

USM: What current projects are you working on?

MD:  I am currently working on a book called Jamamer English Girl, which is based on my life.  The book is due to be released summer.  I have also just finished writing and producing four singles, which will be releases this summer as well.

USM: Where will you be touring this summer?

MD:  I will be touring in the U.S. this summer.  We will be kicking off our tour in Northern California.

USM:   Where can your fans learn more about your tour dates and current projects?

Everyone can go to my MySpace page or go to marciadavisband.com to learn more about my tour dates, book release and new CD.

USM: Are you currently in love with anyone at this time?

MD: Well let’s just say I am in love and I am very happy. I don’t really talk about my personal life.

USM:  What else do you want your fan to know about you?

MD:  I truly feel that music can unite everyone together and heal us all.  When I am on stage, I forget about everything that’s going on in the world and my life.  I feel very free when I am on stage; it is a very spiritual experience for me.

USmilenow.com

Sylvia Dunnavant, author and photographer who wants to inspire and
motivate women and girls all over the world to live the life that God
has intended them to live.

USmile Magazine interviewed the writer/poet Ms. Dunnavant about her
upcoming projects and her passion to help other women.

USM: What inspired you to start writing?

SD: It all started as a result of my involvement in the 4-H, which is a youth organization, which helps young people to reach their fullest potential while helping them develop. It was as a result of my work with this organization that, I got the opportunity to start public speaking and to begin my love for photography.

I actually developed my desire to write around this time as well.  But it wasn’t until I heard Nikki Giovanni read her poem, “Ego Tripping“, I really became committed to be a writer.  I found that through writing I was able to capture my imagination and share my feelings. I came out with my first book poetry, “An Affair of the Heart,” when I was a senior at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

USM: What type of poetry do you like to write about?

SD: I like to write poems that encourage and inspire people especially
women and young girls. I use people and life events as my motivation to write.

USM: What led you to publish your book “Celebrating Life: African American Women speak out about Breast Cancer”?

SD: As a writer and photography, I wanted to put a human face on breast
cancer survivors.  I wanted to profile women who had survived the
disease and portray them in a beautiful way. As the result of this project we reached women around the world.

USM: Why did you start your foundation?

SD:  About fourteen years ago, my aunt was diagnosed with terminal
breast cancer.  The news of her illness impacted me very deeply and I
became inspired to help other women.  I wanted to show the world how
breast cancer was affecting the minority community.  My goal for the
foundation was to put a face on breast cancer in the minority
community.  For years breast cancer has had a stigma in the minority community; we
don’t like to talk about it.  Thus, we have a higher mortality rate, a
lack of information and awareness about the disease.

USM:  Tell us about your publishing company?

SD:  I started Black Pearl Publishing company to write and share
stories that will inspire and change people lives.  Thus far, I have
published seven books that have been a part of our mission.  We have
published:  ”The Love Clinic There is a Doctor in the House,” by Rev Sheron Patterson, “Abby’s Between Girlfriends: A Sharing a Marital Secrets,” “Unless Two Agree,” by Co-Pastor Susie Owen, “A Divine Difference,” by Jean Warner “Essence of Faith,” by Sarah English “The Pastor’s Pen,” by Rev J. Lee Foster, “Golden Memories to Golden Moments,” by Ann Williams (The Dallas Black Dance Theatre.)

USM:  What projects are you working on currently?

SD:  I am currently redoing my first book, “Still Celebrating Life,” because it
was so successful and people wanted to know more about the women who
survived breast cancer.  I also have another book coming out called
“Diamond Don’t Beg, What Every Woman Needs to Know.”  Both books are
expected to be out next year.

The Celebrating Life Foundation will be hosting a breast cancer awareness walk on October 2, 2010 at the Cedar Hill Recreation Center. This will be our Ninth Sister to Sister Fitness Festival. For more information, people can go to www.celebratinglife.org

USM:  How are you able to balance work and family?

SD: My son, Jaysen is 22 years old and is currently attending the University of North Texas in Denton.  My 16 year old nephew, Julian is also staying with me. I don’t look at it as a challenge, I feel it’s my call in his life to him any way that I can.  I am happy to help and mold him into the man God him intended him to be.

USM:  What advice do you have for young women who are thinking of
becoming a writer?

SD:  I always advise young women to take all the limits and boundaries off
anything they want to do.  It is God’s desire that we will walk in abundance.

USM:  Where do you see yourself in five years?

SD:  I would like the opportunity to empower and inspire women around
the world.  I would like to share the love of God with them.  My
desire is to walk in the call that is on my life.  It is my ultimate desire to help lift women
up all over the world. I am currently working with a group of powerful women that will be touring the country this summer.

To read more about Sylvia Dunnavant go to  http://www.celebratinglife.org/index.html.

USmile Magazine

As a young girl, Amy Bethea was always interested in photography and the ability to tell stories through pictures.   She began her career working as a photo researcher for book illustrations.  Amy wanted to motivate and influence children through her work so she decided to start a photo research company for the k-12 and higher education market.  Amy felt that she was impacting the minds of children through pictures.

Amy was inspired to start a full service editorial and book packaging company because of a growing demand from publishers to have a vender that could put an entire book together for print.  In January 2010, she decided to start a company called The Research Masters.  Amy used her knowledge of photo research and teamed up with other publishers, illustrators, copy editors and graphic designers to form the company.

Like most businesses in today’s economy, Amy faces many challenges in growing the business.  Thus, Amy has joined with other competitors to market her company’s products and attract new clients.  Through her hard work, The Research Masters has been able to work on many different educational text and trade books in all disciplines such as, world history, social science, languages, geography, animals and marine life.

Amy is looking to broaden her capabilities in the K-12 and higher education market with various educational tools in multi-media interactive courses, eLearning, eBook and web courses.  Amy keeps in touch with her customers through her monthly newsletter, which talks about her latest projects and any new services that she is offering.

Amy’s long-term goal is to become a publishing company and launch an on-line educational magazine for teachers who can subscribe and utilized the curriculum.  She hopes that through her magazine she will get to educate students all over the world.

As a mother, Amy sometimes finds it very challenging to balance work and family.  But finds comfort in the fact that she is always there for her kids whenever they need her.  When she is not working on her business or being a mom, Amy takes time out of her busy schedule to enjoy the arts, a bit of dancing and traveling.

Amy thinks women need to be determined and focused if they are going to succeed in business.  She encourages women to go after their dreams and never listen to the negative things people have to say.

To learn more about The Research Masters go to www.theresearchmasters.com.

USmile Magazine

www.usmilenow.com

By: C. Worrell

Hello friends and family all over the world. Here we are in another new year celebrating Black History Month. As a young child growing up in school I often wondered about that. Why do we celebrate Black History Month in February? History amongst African Americans did not only take place in February. There are stories that takes place all year round yet for the month of February it’s the only time it’s celebrated.

Now I’m not trying to ruffle any feathers here but I think it should be on a broader scale. Our children need to know that it’s just not one month that things should be celebrated on. I feel each month an African American should be represented to let the kids be aware of the diversities each person made in life and or history. Read the full story »

Ms. Dirkson is the CEO of KD Enterprises, a public relations firm offering relationship management, business consulting, speaking services, and event planning for major corporations and the community.   Ms. Dirkson, along with Purvis and Robinson, and Digital 21 have joined forces to launch a new innovative global networking platform called N2M. Read the full story »