Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ms. Cheryl Ricker…
***
Tell us about your gift book.
I’d love to! A Friend in the Storm is a healing treasury of quotes, Scripture and poetry that leads to lasting hope. The quotes speak to the mind; the Scripture, to the spirit; and the poetry, to the heart. The three flow together to walk people through the stages of grief. The book is mostly written from Christ’s point of view and addresses the difficult question, “why would a good and loving God allow this to happen?”
What is the basic message of your book and what do you want readers to grasp?
I want readers to know that God hasn’t forgotten them. He feels what they feel. He’s holding them. He’s not going to waste their pain. He’s crazy about them.
Can you give us an example from a poem?
You
You’re forever on My mind
and in your presence I rejoice;
Singing out your name with angels,
all your sweetness fills My voice.
Keeping loved ones in My keeping,
I embrace a constant calm.
Whole and holy, I will hold you,
ever-after in My palm.
What do you enjoy most about writing poetry?
I like communing with God while I write. Nothing beats those ah-ha moments when He gives fresh insight. I love when truth collides with metaphor and rhyme. I also like drawing word pictures that make truth more memorable.
What is your writing day like?
I write a lot in the middle of the night. It’s frustrating, but that’s often when I get a lot of my ideas. They’re like little babies crying in the night.
How do you organize your writing? (outlines/note cards/post-its)
I write on anything I can get a hold of ~ notebooks, napkins, the backs of Kleenex boxes… I then try to stick them in a binder so I can transfer them to my laptop before they’re gone forever.
What does your work space/office look like?
Ready for a funny answer? When I’m not writing in bed, I often write in the bathroom. But please let me explain before you tune me out. It’s not an ordinary bathroom. We live in a small house so I converted an oversized bathroom into an office by hanging up a cool, beaded curtain. I stuck my treadmill in there so I can walk as I type; that is, if I don’t end up just standing on it.
What is your go-to snack when writing?
I don’t have a specific one, but I will say, I’m a big gum chewer. I sometimes wind up with a whole pack in my mouth. Especially when I’m desperate for an idea.
If you could only recommend one NOVEL, what would it be? Why?
I really enjoyed Healing Stones by Nancy Rue. It deals with forgiveness and trying to figure out where the heart goes wrong in its descending path toward sin. I also like it because it shows how mercy triumphs over judgment.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Just thank you so much for featuring me here.
Please visit me on my website at http://cherylricker.com. That will also take you to my Facebook and Twitter sites. I’d love to get to know you!
I’d love to! A Friend in the Storm is a healing treasury of quotes, Scripture and poetry that leads to lasting hope. The quotes speak to the mind; the Scripture, to the spirit; and the poetry, to the heart. The three flow together to walk people through the stages of grief. The book is mostly written from Christ’s point of view and addresses the difficult question, “why would a good and loving God allow this to happen?”
What is the basic message of your book and what do you want readers to grasp?
I want readers to know that God hasn’t forgotten them. He feels what they feel. He’s holding them. He’s not going to waste their pain. He’s crazy about them.
Can you give us an example from a poem?
You
You’re forever on My mind
and in your presence I rejoice;
Singing out your name with angels,
all your sweetness fills My voice.
Keeping loved ones in My keeping,
I embrace a constant calm.
Whole and holy, I will hold you,
ever-after in My palm.
What do you enjoy most about writing poetry?
I like communing with God while I write. Nothing beats those ah-ha moments when He gives fresh insight. I love when truth collides with metaphor and rhyme. I also like drawing word pictures that make truth more memorable.
What is your writing day like?
I write a lot in the middle of the night. It’s frustrating, but that’s often when I get a lot of my ideas. They’re like little babies crying in the night.
How do you organize your writing? (outlines/note cards/post-its)
I write on anything I can get a hold of ~ notebooks, napkins, the backs of Kleenex boxes… I then try to stick them in a binder so I can transfer them to my laptop before they’re gone forever.
What does your work space/office look like?
Ready for a funny answer? When I’m not writing in bed, I often write in the bathroom. But please let me explain before you tune me out. It’s not an ordinary bathroom. We live in a small house so I converted an oversized bathroom into an office by hanging up a cool, beaded curtain. I stuck my treadmill in there so I can walk as I type; that is, if I don’t end up just standing on it.
What is your go-to snack when writing?
I don’t have a specific one, but I will say, I’m a big gum chewer. I sometimes wind up with a whole pack in my mouth. Especially when I’m desperate for an idea.
If you could only recommend one NOVEL, what would it be? Why?
I really enjoyed Healing Stones by Nancy Rue. It deals with forgiveness and trying to figure out where the heart goes wrong in its descending path toward sin. I also like it because it shows how mercy triumphs over judgment.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Just thank you so much for featuring me here.
Please visit me on my website at http://cherylricker.com. That will also take you to my Facebook and Twitter sites. I’d love to get to know you!
***
Thank you Cheryl for taking the time to visit with us today! I truly enjoyed getting to know you.
If you’d like a chance to win a copy of her book, or if you have a question for Cheryl, leave a comment (and don’t forget to include your email address!).
Thanks for stopping by – have a great day!
Leave A Comment