Wanda Sykes, born in Tuskegee, Alabama, is the second oldest of 14 children. Born a twin, and premature, she grew up as an introverted girl on the dusty dirt roads of Deatsville, Alabama. Her twin was stillborn. She currently lives a few miles down the road from there, in Prattville, Alabama. Wanda's passion for narrative writing stems from growing up in such a large family where there is no shortage of memories-turned- stories.In high school, she dealt with rejection which caused her to struggle with low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, and the inability to put words to her emotions; therefore, she found solace in silence and thepen as she wrote her cousin seven-page letters back and front. When her classmates wrote about their summer vacations, Wanda used her vivid imagination to write about her "make-believe" beach vacation.In her early 30's, her writing gift began to emerge as she attended Auburn University Montgomery and made A's and B's on every college essay she wrote. This inspired her to compose two articlestitled, "an Unfair Trade" published in The AUMnibus, AUM's newspaper, and "How I knocked down Goliath: How to Succeed in Math" published in AUM's Student Support Newsletter. Then in 2005, she went to her college professor, and told him she wanted to write about her first sermon, "Hope in a Hopeless Situation." She then entered the Annual Durr Essay Competition, winning 2nd place, and a $200.00 prize. The essay was published in the 2006 AUM Filibuster. This accomplishment not only increased her confidence in her gift, but solidified the fact that she wrote well enough that others would read and financially support her work. She loves to write from her life experiences and enjoy the challenge of finding "just the right words" to relay her message.Wanda is the first ordained Evangelist/Preacher in her family. Her successful ministry of 22 years has earned her the respect of many. Her friends and family have been instrumental in her voice travelingto multiple states and countries by sharing her messages that bring out her transparency and comedic side. She serves her local church as an Associate Minister, Psalmist, and Lead Intercessor. Academically, in 2007, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, was chosen to be a part of Who's Who in Colleges &Universities Honor Society in 2006 and 2007, and awarded a Nonprofit Leadership/Management 501c3 Certificate in 2008, all from Auburn University Montgomery. She is currently employed with the State of Alabama. She has been married to Minister John Sykes, Jr. for 29 years, and is the mother of four daughters; Minister Danielle (29), Shavon (24), Taylor (20), and Shekinah (19), as well as the Step-Mother of two, son, Arsenio (35), and a daughter, Vynitta (33).Besides spending quality time with family, Wanda enjoys live music, singing, laughing, bowling, theatre, and being in new environments.
