Tanika L. Lynch was born on the East side of Detroit, Michigan to her 15-year-old mother, Gyra, and her much older father, Lloyd, who left before she was born.

Tanika is the eldest of three siblings, and also the black sheep of the family. After being inflicted with severe abuse, abandonment, betrayal and rejection from the hands of loved ones, she was forced out onto the streets at the age of 12 to make a new home. In order to survive, she was introduced to the dope game. It wasn't long before Tanika was caught up in the street life, and all the drama that came along with it. This life eventually landed her in prison on murder charges at the age of 16, and pregnant.

The penitentiary became her turning point. Within two months of incarceration, Tanika received her G.E.D., attended college full time with hopes of receiving a degree in psychology, received vocational certificates in Culinary arts and Building trades and pursued her life long dreams of becoming an author, after endless encouragement from a prison guard.