cherylwyattpromopic Cheryl, describe yourself for our visitors.

I am a Registered Nurse who left her 15+ career to stay home with her children and write. I love crafting of any kind and anything action-adventure. I have a heart for orphans and the elderly. I love to worship God and count it a blessing to honor Him with my writing. I have an addiction to cheese and pecan spinwheels, and a phobia of Popsicle sticks. :-) I love to laugh and make others laugh.

How do you find time to connect with God?

I try not to even get out of bed without telling him hello first. Then throughout the day, I try to stay in constant back and forth thoughts with Him. I try to make a conscious effort to stay connected because things unravel otherwise and I start feeling out of sorts. In short, He’s everything to me and not connecting with him is like trying to get a flashlight to work without the batteries. No go. LOL!

Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?

Hard question since there are so many. I read as much secular as I do Christian. Favorite non-fiction author is Max Lucado. Fiction…I like anything action-adventure or military. Fav books are the Count of Monte Cristo, and Dee Henderson’s Uncommon Heroes series as well as Suzanne Brockmann’s Navy SEAL series. I like anything by Bob Mayer and all of his pseudonyms. LOL! I just discovered I LOVE historical author Julie Lessman’s voice. Fabulous! I also love Camy Tang, Mary Connealy, Missy Tippens, Debby Guisti and Janet Dean…whose first historical will release from Steeple Hill later this year.

Tell us about your journey to publication.

It took me seven years to get published and by the time The Call came, I had penned over 15 novels, six or so of which had garnered acclaim in numerous writing contests. Early on, rejections alerted me that I had no clue what I was doing. LOL! So I’d finished many novels before learning craft. I learned to write best by writing a lot and reading a lot. I’d been targeting one house and am fortunate to be writing for them (Steeple Hill) currently. I learned a lot about the craft of fiction from Christian Writer’s Guild as well as ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and RWA (Romance Writers of America) and Faith, Hope and Love (FHL) their Inspirational Chapter. Contests also benefited me along the journey.

COVER_ART_ASP Tell us about your current book?

Right now, my debut novels are releasing. It is a romance series titled Wings of Refuge about a team of US Air Force PJs (Pararescue Jumpers) who are based in the fictional town of Refuge, IL. Each story is about one man on the seven man team, and of course about the women who capture their hearts.

Book one is A Soldier’s Promise and released in January.

Cover_A_Soldier's_Family Book two is A Soldier’s Family and will release March 1, 2008

Book three is tentatively titled A Soldier’s Sonnet and set to release early 2009.

Blurbs can be found on Amazon or eharlequin, as well as first chapter excerpts of the released books. Steeple Hill Love Inspired is my publisher. So far, both books in Wings of Refuge have earned Top Picks from Romantic Times Magazine.

How did you come up with ideas for this book?

I’ve always had a fascination with the military since my dad served in Vietnam. I was raised with a tremendous amount of respect for our military. I see a lot of military authors write about Special Forces Navy SEALs, but I haven’t seen a lot write about Air Force PJs who are Special Operations airmen.

What’s next for you?

I am finishing up book three in the Wings of Refuge Series, and getting to turn in book four through seven in that series in hopes they will sell.

Where can visitors find you online?

My Web site is www.CherylWyatt.com

I also have a presence on most online communities such as My Space, Shoutlife, Facebook, Edgy Christian Fiction Writers, Xanga, etc. etc.

My blog is www.scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com

I also frequent Steeple Hill’s message boards on eharlequin. www.steeplehill.com It is a wonderfully supportive community for readers and writers and I’ve met some of my closest friends there. I’m known as “Scrollsquirrel” there.

I am also involved in a group blog of 15 authors who spent a couple of years finalling against each other in contests. We decided to ban together and form a group and start praying one another into publication. Since that time, over half of us have contracted. Would love folks to visit our Seeker blog where we have giveaways for readers and writers alike. Our emphasis is on contests and improving craft, but we also have guest bloggers who range from contest entrants to publishing industry professionals. www.Seekerville.blogspot.com

I would love to see folks there!