Life's Unexpected Ways

Elena Belias was born on August 2, 1966, in Manhattan, New York. She was born to a family of five children; a middle child, she was the only girl. Her parents are Greek and Puerto Rican. She started writing in elementary school, as far back as in sixth grade. One teacher encouraged her to write to express herself. Ms. Michelle Shielier was the sixth grade teacher who taught her to write stories, which made her interested in writing and in poems. Elena started mixing reality with make-believe to create stories. By the time she was in tenth grade, her English teacher introduced her to poetry. Her first poem or song was written in 1983. Creativity is a part of her family; two of her brothers write. Poetry comes from within her and from lifeas happenings and dreams.