May 07th 2011
Stephen Alexander Dantes - The Voice for the Youth

“The more you tell people about you, the less of you, you become,” is one of the few original quotes by Stephen A. Dantes that can be found in his books, heard in interviews and even seen on his website; www.stephendantes.net. The name of this young man is increasingly becoming known in households around St. Lucia for his poetic endeavours both nationally and internationally.
Born Stephen Alexander Dantes to a strong-willed mother, Marcella Dantes of Darban Saltibus, he has traversed through the realms of poetry and free-writing, and made a name for himself, as a voice of the youth. This young man presently boasts seven published titles – three with Mayer’s Printing Co. Ltd St. Lucia, and four with Amazon’s eBook Kindle Store for 2011. The latter publications are part of a movement he is working on called “Project 90days”, which we will get some more info on in a while.
Dantes attended the Choiseul Secondary School from the year 1994 - 1999 and sampled the working world soon after in the same year, upon graduation. However, he felt that the experience was discouraging and that his employer was oppressive and exploited the young workforce, so he applied and got into SALCC where he majored in Mathematics, Economics and Accounts at A’ Level from 2000 - 2002.
Upon completion, he was offered a teaching job at Saltibus Combined where he taught for two years and was then called to Choiseul Secondary where he taught for one year before going to the Division of Teacher Education and Management Studies at SALCC, to become a research-awarded, and certified Mathematics and Social Studies secondary school teacher.
During this journey in career choice, he recalls writing his first poem in Form-3 and later, the second, at A’ Level. But it was not until he had started teaching at Saltibus Combined that he had been motivated to write more and aspire to get his work published.
At first, he started off as just a twenty year old boy compiling some literary work together out of the obsession for publication. His understanding and proficiency in the field of Poetry left room for considerable improvements. At the time, this young man wasn’t going for expertise. His writings were tailored for readers - his readers - and they were relational and sentimental – works that most people could identify with.
His first book was entitled, “The Enchanting Excerpts” and the second, published at twenty-one, was called “The Last Enchantment”. He then took a five year hiatus before publishing his third book called Hindsight, which happens to be the most favoured collection as professed by many of his readers and fans, and also is an elevated level to what he started off with at first.
The release of Hindsight brought about a new age and newly found desire for perfection and mastery of the art-form. Stephen decided to create an identity for himself and define his own writing style. He researched and bettered his poetry writing as well as free-writing. And it was with this personal development that he started the movement called, “Project 90days.”

“Project 90days” is a literal ninety day period where Stephen works on four poetry books, one novel and a Spoken Word audio album. The days are not ninety consecutive days, but all works are proposed to be completed within the confines of ninety individual days.
April 4th marked the release date of his four poetry collections – The Alter Ego, Silent Defeat Bitter Confrontation, The Love Doctor and Lucian Chronicles – that completed the first thirty (30) days of the ninety, and also a new era in his growth. Each book varies in style and level, and some poems from The Alter Ego and Silent Defeat Bitter Confrontation boasts a level on par with some of New York’s greats.
The remaining sixty (60) days will usher in his long awaited novel entitled, “Is It Love”, and his premiere audio project, still untitled. Dantes recently resigned from his teaching profession at VBSS in 2010, to embark on a writing journey to make “Project 90days” a reality.
Up until March 31st, he was in New York performing at Open Mics in Manhattan on stages with some of America’s best and well known poets. At one such performance, at the popular “Mike Geffner’s: The Inspired Word”, a stage for award winning poets and Def Poetry’s best of the best, Stephen received a resounding applause with some audience members welcoming him with a standing ovation, some with finger snaps and others with shouts and screams, as he walked off the stage after an electrifying performance of, Recreating History – version 2. He was subsequently invited to The Bronx to perform the said poem, and an open stage at “The Inspired Word” remains for any future appearances.
Dantes has put the other 60days on pause so as to memorize the poems in The Alter Ego, for some upcoming performances, both in St. Lucia and New York. As part of his effort to get young people involved in the art-form, he is planning a school tour and media campaign in St. Lucia. Nevertheless, he proposes that “Project 90days” will be completed by the summer of this year.
Copies of his books are available on Amazon for all Kindle Devices and free Kindle Apps for Blackberry, Android, iPad, iPhone, PC, iPod and MAC and can be easily accessed from his website www.stephendantes.net . Demos of his audio project are also available on his website.
Fans and supporters can stay informed by visiting the website of joining his Facebook group.

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