At twenty-four, Felder Shackleford Jr. feels like he's lived long in his less than thirty years of life. After nearly a quarter of a century, he's had experiences that are made for reality television: he's been kicked out of school, was a teenage father, served his country as a soldier, gotten engaged, doubled his fatherhood status, and become an author and performer of the spoken word. All those experiences are the catalyst behind his writing. Now the author, known to most as Junior, is taking his writing public so that other young people-even younger than himself-can hear his story in dramatic, poetic fashion and perhaps learn a few life truisms along the way. Says Junior, "I want young people to know that poor choices shouldn't put you in such a place of despair that you can't function. Learn from your mistakes, forgive yourself, share your experiences with others, and get on with your life. You have purpose." He has self-published this first book of poetry to show that he's found his. "Life is full of love, disappointments, and victories, and there is much to be learned while we live. I want young people especially to know that," he says. The NC native lives in Durham with his fiancée and children.
