Sharmeka BallardSharmeka Ballard was born January 20, 1986, in Miami, Florida. She was born and raised in the Liberty City area, where most people would call the projects or the ghetto. Ballard was raised by her mother and grandparents. Her father was not around. Grwing up for Sharmeka was hard, and part of what she went through is the reason she began to write. She always knew she had a gift and was determined to become a successful writer. Sharmeka loved reading urban novels as a teenager, which inspired her even more to become a writer. She began writing in her early teenage years. Her success as a young writer led to her creation of Soul of A Teenager, which was published in 2009. Soul of A Teenager is a collection of poems about a journey through a teenager's life, filled with different emotions. She was recognized in many different publications. She continues her unending pursuit and commitment to furthering her opportunity in becoming a successful and aspiring writer. Read More Read Less