Additional information
by Alice Faye Manuel (Author), Vanessa Brown-May (Foreword by)
Alice was a caregiver for both of her grandparents and shortly after assumed primary care of her parents. It took a toll on her when they passed away.
Overwhelmed with the grief from these consecutive painful life events she witnessed firsthand, poetry gave her freedom.
The Beauty of My Heart is proof that Alice has used poetry as a medium to start over and take control of her life. This collection is carefully curated; Each page gives the reader a deeper look into her intimate thoughts and real life experiences. It examines relatable topics such as love and relationships, motherhood and caregiving and spiritual growth through faith in a higher power.
In Poetic Words of a Poet, she vividly details her writing process:
"The poetic words of a poet are filled with grace. They flow with rhythm, like a dance performed in pace.
The words of a poet are elegant as they overflow with charm. The words are delightful and enchanting, also precise in their tone.
The expressions fashioned by a poet are stylish yet uniquely tasteful in pitch.
The words of a poet are explicit and sometimes misconstrued.
But the words of a poet are truly from the heart, filled with zeal and occasionally laced with a little rage.
The poetic words of a poet linger, while they flow with simplicity."
By the grace of God, Alice was able to overcome a difficult time in her life. Through this beautiful collection of poems, she courageously shares her story.
Be touched and entertained...become inspired and empowered by
The Beauty of my Heart by Alice Manuel.
Author Biography
I was blessed to be reared by my loving parents and grandparents who truly loved the Lord. I thank them for providing me with the knowledge of the Holy Bible and for inspiring me to do God's will. The loss of my father, Rev Joe Manuel on December 8, 2006, grandmother Mrs. Jimmie L. Bither on May 23, 2006 and the loss of my mother Shirley J. Manuel on March 29, 2014, took a toll on my strength. Nevertheless, through my faith in the almighty God my strength was renewed. My dad had a special connection with God. He taught me to put God first, and all things would happen in the proper time according to the will of God. I saw a light in my father, which made my faith even stronger. My dad was a remarkable man who was a servant for the Lord. As a father, he was my preacher, teacher, provider and protector. My mother whom I love and adore; was the core of my being. My mom always showed love, compassion, and support; she never questioned who I would become. She was the greatest mom ever. She gave me life on February 4, 1962, in Jackson, Mississippi. My parents relocated our family to Los Angeles, California when I was seven years old. My grandmother was the driving force in her families' lives. She never held her tongue; she encouraged when encouragement was needed. She was connect to God in a profound way, she was a praying grandmother. Being in her presence I felt safe, as if angels were always dancing around my head. What an awesome feeling! Also, my son Marvin who lights up my life through his determination to seek the best life possible; his quest for education is phenomenal. With the guidance of my parents, I know that I encouraged my son to put God first in all aspects of his life and he would reap the benefits of prosperity. Through my journey, I found it amazing how the death of my father, mother and grandmother inspired me to express myself through poetry. In many of the phases throughout this book, I found myself searching for answers related to my losses. My answers were in my heart, they were pure and simple, they corresponded through the faith that I have in God. I now spend time getting to know myself. As you see, I have a true love for God.
