Sharon Flake says her objective as an artist is to write books to encourage young people to read, and to use her talents to open up new avenues for young people to express their creative talent.

Her passion for young people is evident in her books, The Skin I'm In, Money Hungry, and Begging for Change. In The Skin I'm In, the main character is tormented because of her dark skin and suffers from low self-esteem. In Money Hungry and Begging for Change, impoverished thirteen-year-old Raspberry is confident, focused, and determined to build a nest egg for herself and her mother.

What has surprised Ms. Flake is that her readership includes men and boys, even though her books are mainly about young girls who live with their mothers.

She began her writing career in college as an English major, which parlayed into writing positions at the University of Pittsburgh's Katz Graduate School of Business. Ms. Flake admits that her employment at the University has helped her to rely on herself because "you have to stand behind your work." As a published author, she also has to stand behind her work because there is no one to hide behind.

Ms. Flake's honors include a Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book for Begging for Change in 2003 and mention in The New York Times Book Review in July 2003. In 2002, Money Hungry was on the Los Angeles Times Recommended Summer Reading List for Teens; Ms. Flake was named the ALA Coretta Scott King Honor Award winner for the same book. The Skin I'm In has been named Best Book for Young Readers by the ALA and chosen as a "Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers."

Ms. Flake received the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Fellowship in 2001.

She has also been the featured author for national on-line chats with the book club event called "Kids Who Read K-12 Literacy Project" and with the New York City Public Library.