Behind the Pen : 9781504932226 : 04 Dec 2015 : Lamar M. Betts was born on November 5, 1985, in San Francisco, California, and raised most of his childhood in Baltimore, Maryland. His inspiration for poetry began at the age of fourteen after the passing of his father. At the age of sixteen, his passion grew even stronger after the passing of his mother. Ever since his parents' passing, Lamar has expressed life as it is through poetry. Lamar graduated from Olympic High School in Concord, California. Lamar is currently a member of the Empowerment Temple Church in Baltimore, Maryland, where Dr. Jamal Harrison-Bryant is the founder and pastor. The pastor has inspired Lamar to make positive changes in his life. Now at the age of twenty-nine, Lamar is sharing his poetry with the world.