home / bio / books / bonus / Q&A / romance quiz / news & reviews / tour dates / links / blog / contact

click here to view

BRAND NEW VIDEO INTERVIEWS with Cheryl

***I was born in New York City and raised in Durham, North Carolina. I’m the middle child of five kids with three brothers and one sister. My undergraduate degree is from Duke University and my master’s degree in psychology is from the University of California, Berkeley.

***Growing up, I was told I was “too sensitive” and a “dreamer.” At the time, I took offense at those labels. Now I’m proud of them. They’re who I am. If I could go back and give my childhood or teenage self advice, I’d say, “Just be who you are – whoever that is -- and feel good about it.”

Even though I had many friends, I never quite felt like I fit. But my summers were spent at a camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where I found myself totally at home and accepted. It saved me.

***When I was 13, I met an older guy at camp who I thought was cute and sweet. The next summer, when we got to know each other better, I fell head over heels for him, although the grown-ups around me were sure it was just “puppy love.” He moved far away. But we kept in touch and eventually started visiting each other.

When I was 21, we got married. . He’s a pediatrician now and we have two kids. In 2009, just after BREATHING comes out, we’ll be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. And we’re still in love! (Which probably explains why Savannah is such a hopeful romantic.)

***I liked writing poetry and in a journal in junior high and high school, but I didn’t think I had any talent at it. I didn’t like writing stories because I believed I had no imagination. Years later, after my daughter was born, I started writing again – pouring out creativity that had been locked inside for many years. I learned to quit trying to come up with ideas and just let them find me instead. It works much better that way.

When I was a teenager, my favorite thing to do was to sit on my bed, listen to music, daydream, and write letters to my boyfriend or friends from camp. I thought, too bad I can’t earn money doing this. Guess what I do now. I sit on my bed, listen to music, daydream, and write! So just remember… you never know.

I’m extremely excited and grateful to be publishing BREATHING. I hope you enjoy Savannah and her story!