My name is Terry L. Harden. I live in Orlando, Florida, just minutes from Disney World, so my neighbors are Mickey and Minnie Mouse. I'm 31 years old. I'm a full-time writer for a major publishing company.　

　　 I've always enjoyed music from as far back as I can remember. But I couldn't sing a lick. My singing voice is horrible but that hasn't kept me from enjoying music. When I was in school I wrote a series of poems, songs, and plays. I especially enjoyed lyrics, verses and rhymes. I just loved the way a good song was constructed. My fondest memory is when my fourth grade teacher told me I was going to grow up and either to be a poet, an author, or a songwriter. Her encouragement has stuck with me until this very day.　

　　 When I was twelve years old I got my first set of turntables for my birthday. From that moment I never got a full night of sleep until I went to college. I enjoyed mixing music and recording the mixes and giving them to family and friends. I also pretended to be a radio deejay. And everybody thought I was pretty good! Plus, I continued to write poems with melodies. I guess you can call them songs.　

　　 When I made it to college I finally fulfilled my dream. I became a weekend deejay. I got to play whatever I wanted. Plus I was playing for the entire campus. I was finally playing music for more than just me and my family. I also wrote a weekly R&B column for the campus newspaper. I heard it was well read and respected. But that's all hearsay. I continued to write, and thought about becoming a songwriter or a music producer. 　

　　 After college I floated from job to job. I worked as a clerk / cashier in a record store, an usher in a movie theater, and a deejay at an ice skating rink, just to name a few. I got bored with my mediocre salary and I finally found steady work as a hotel inspector supervisor. In other words, I kinda gave up on the dream. I still continued to write, but more as a hobby than a dream.　

　　 Then one day a friend showed some of my poetry to a publishing company. They fell in love with my work, and offered me a contract. Of course I accepted it! I am now a full-time published poet and horror writer. My first book is due out by the end of this year.　

　　 NEVER give up on your dreams. No matter how hard it gets. No matter how bumpy the road may get! Never give up. NEVER! 　

(455 words)