At the recent Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, Cheryl Ricker won the poetry award, sponsored by WinePress.

A lifelong poet, Cheryl has a degree in creative writing and worked as a staff writer for Campus Crusade for Christ. She’s published articles in ministry magazines and has won poetry awards in fine arts and literary magazines.

In addition to being a pastel and watercolor artist, Cheryl enjoys participating in drama at her local church where she also sings on the worship team. Cheryl lives with her husband and sons in Rochester, Minnesota.

Her passion to draw people closer to Jesus led her to Christ For The Nations Institute, Dallas, where she continued to express her evangelistic heart by ministering on the streets, on stage, and in prisons.

While visiting a young mother with terminal cancer, Cheryl discovered she could share peace, assurance and comfort using personal poetry from Christ’s point of view.

After nearly five years of writing and praying, Cheryl’s poetry was turned into a life-changing, Zondervan gift book, A Friend in the Storm, is available in stores on the first of September, 2010.

With fun, flair and transparency, Cheryl writes and speaks about God’s big-picture hope. She is passionate about helping people in pain keep their eyes on Jesus so they’ll experience Him in a deeper, more personal way.

I’ve known Cheryl for several years through Mt. Hermon and her spirit and inner beauty shines out, not only in her writing, but in person. Find out more about Cheryl at www.afriendinthestorm.com