In-Between Times

The In-Between Times: Informative, Inspirational and Motivational Poetry, is a personal testimony of a man who was naïve about life. In the year of 2010, Charles was hired as an Assistant Professor of Art at a Historical Black College and University (HBCU) in Georgia, in the United States of America. It was there that Charles would learn the capricious atmosphere of academia. Befriended by a colleague, Charles was duped by his hospitality only to discover the envious nature of his colleague towards him. Through false accusations from his colleague, Charles was released from his job where his unemployment tenure would last nearly three years.

During his unemployment, Charles would encounter many more obstacles and challenges, but this time, from his kindred. With his mother's ailing health, Charles's renewed belief system in God caused a rift with certain family members. Because of his religious stance, they assume that he is in a religious cult. As a result of false accusations from certain family members, Charles is now a victim of ostracization.

Charles Parham was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia as the youngest of eleven children. Though his early years were filled with much turmoil, that being centered on the untimely death of his father, these years were also the central influence in his artwork.

It was only natural that later in life, Charles would meet great success as an illustrator - even having one of his children book designs to be accepted in an international competition. In the 15th Annual Teatrio Competition entitled, "Dodgeball", Charles was one of 30 finalists to represent the Savannah College of Art and Design in Italy in 2009. It wasn't long before his passion for uninhibited expression led him to painting.

It was just recently that Charles was led to poetry. After suffering unemployment for almost three years, and the tragedy of losing his mother to kidney disease, Charles found poetry as an outlet to express his faith and pain. Charles used the turmoil he encountered not as a way to lash out at his enemies, but to empower his faith by writing poetry that would help inspire, motivate and inform the reader that there is hope. Charles expresses that his poetry is not written for entertainment, but is written for those who are experiencing hardships, chaos and doubt. He says that he was once wounded by these emotions, but his faith in GOD pulled him from the muck and mire, and inspired him to write this book.

In spite of the negativity that encircles him, Charles decided to use those traumatic experiences for his good. Instead of being angry with those who have tried to defame his character, he has decided to use these experiences as a platform to encourage, and inspire individuals who are experiencing similar hurt and disappointments. The book you are holding is his formula on how he channeled his anger, disappointments and frustrations into positivity and forgiveness.