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Community Corner

A Dad and Daughter Publishing Powerhouse

Ephraim Benton and his daughter, Amber, are about to release a children's book together.

Bed-Stuy resident Ephraim Benton is a multi-faceted person: He's an actor (he has appeared in Precious, "NYPD Blue," and "Chapelle's Show," among others); he's a producer (he has produced several short films); he's a writer (he wrote the films he produced); and he's a father.

But it's that last dimension — as parent — that has lead Benton to add yet another skill to his already full resume: He's about to be a published author... Well, he and his seven-year-old daughter, Amber, that is.

Together Benton and his daughter are about to release a self-published children's book that takes on issues such as friendship, safety and self-confidence. The stories, "Nail and Hammer" and "Bill and His Adopted Siblings Cup, Blender and Blanket," will be released on June 13th from Benton's DaddyDaughter Publishing company.

Benton says it all started when Amber came to him with a set of interesting stories and drawings.

"Amber is the one who gave me the idea. She's a very smart young lady, and she likes to read and write," said Benton. "So when she gave me these abstract drawings and stories, I asked her if she wanted other people to read her stories. Well, she smiled so big, so I knew right then this was something I had to do."

He says that he took Amber's thoughts and molded them into more concrete ideas, then set about raising the money to get the book published.

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"I wanted the first book to be self-published, because I wanted it to be more of a grassroots thing," said Benton, who plans to bring the book to schools once it's published.

"There's always a bigger picture, you know? It's bigger than just Amber and me, it's a way to shine the spotlight on urban illiteracy."

Helping fathers in Bed-Stuy — where he's lived all of his life — has always been a driving force, he explains: "Black fathers usually get the negative end of things. [Publishing the book] is part of the mission to change that perspective."

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