Around the Table Productions was founded by Sharonda Sheppard, an avid writer of novels, short stories, poetry, children’s
books, and stage productions. To date, she has won several awards and recognition for literary submissions of all forms, though most notably for children’s literature.  However, her passion has always been play writing and production.

Sharonda is the fourth of thirteen children. She and her 12 siblings were raised in a 2-bedroom /
1-bath home in the rural town of Snow Hill, NC.  Countless childhood misfortunes including the her parents divorce caused her to use writing as an escape as she contended with being forced to grow up faster than she wished. "When you grow up being the 4th of 13, you’re poor, and the only working parent in the house bails out, what other choice do you have but to grow up fast. It was a fly by night deal. After my dad left, my 3 older brothers and I had 9 younger siblings that we had to help my mother raise; I was only 12.”

It was at that point Sharonda began to earnestly realize what she was made of. “Even though it was tough for us kids, I could only imagine what it was like for my mother. I watched her faith and willingness to move forward in life and she instilled that same fortitude in us. She always reminds us that we are special; that we were set apart for a reason. God doesn’t take us through trials and tribulations for nothing; it’s to prepare us for something much greater. So, every time I hit a rough patch, I have to remind myself who I came from and to whom I belong."

After months of planning and budgeting, Sharonda successfully debuted her first stageplay, The House That Joy Built(c) on September 9, 2006. “Was it the audience turn out that I imagined? No.  Was it the monetary return to that others would call successful?  Definitely not. Did things go wrong that night?  So many that I lost count after Scene 2.  But what made it a success was once that night concluded, even with the mounting disappointments that came with it, I knew for a fact that this was where I was suppose to be and the option to quit didn’t exist. And even before that night, God has held my hand and carried me over the hurdles and bumps and bruises but I know it’s just a proving period... it’s part of the process.” 

So, why are they called Around the Table Productions? “Because that’s where I started writing when I was kid. We had a huge oval kitchen table in our house and my mom made all of the kids sit there to do our homework; that’s where I composed my first short-story - I was in the 4th Grade. To this day, I still work around the table.  When we were working to arrange the show music, we did it at my mom’s house around the table -- except it’s a square table now and of course in a different house. Old habits die hard; but some are worth keeping.”

Sharonda currently resides in Atlanta, GA with her son, Orion.

©2008 Around the Table Productions, Sharonda Sheppard, All Rights Reserved