From the back cover:

Soothing quotes,

Scripture and poetry

combine to point the

reader to Heaven’s

healing arms.

A Friend in the Storm unleashes the wisdom of great minds to accompany us through the dark periods of life.

~Gary Thomas,

bestselling author and speaker

God’s warm hand of friendship reaches into the heart of every weary soul who picks up A Friend in the Storm.

~Cheri Keaggy,

Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter

An interview with author Cheryl Ricker:

We’d love to know more about how you came up with the idea for your book.

It’s a moving story.  In 2005 I was part of a Mothers of Preschoolers group.  That’s where I met a very special lady who influenced my life. 

We went around a circle introducing ourselves, and when we got to Chantale, she told us she was dying of stage four lung cancer.  

For some reason she took a liking to me, and asked if I could meet with her on regular basis.  I was honored, but nervous about what I’d say.  God reminded me that I could encourage her with my poetry.  I hadn’t written for months, but decided to give it a shot.

I was excited that my poems gave Chantale and husband peace. I kept writing over the span of a year.  Then one day she asked it I’d read them at her funeral.

A month after she passed away, I attended a writer’s conference where someone suggested I turn them into a comfort gift book. 

After a lot of prayer and a lot of trial and error, I decided to rework the poetry as a dialogue between Christ and a hurting person.  It addressed the difficult question: “Why would a loving God let this terrible thing happen?”  Under God’s leading, I connected poetry with quotes and Scripture to make everything flow together, drawing people closer to Christ in the midst of their storm.

What is your favorite poem in A Friend in the Storm?

Sweet Dreams

When the night is long I’ll praise You,

raising prayers against the storm,

letting truth direct my thinking,

breezing peace through my weak form.

Safe inside Your Spirit’s blanket,

wiping tears like mourning dew,

I will whisper in the shadows,

“Lord, I’m still in love with You.

Tell us about the quotes. Can you give us an example?

Hunting for quotes was like digging for gold:  Tedious, but rewarding.

I quote a wide range of leaders, past and present.

Here are a few examples:

When filled with holy truth the mind rests. 

– CHARLES SPURGEON

When Jesus takes your hand, He keeps you tight. 

When Jesus keeps you tight, He leads you through

your whole life. When Jesus leads you through your

life, He brings you safely home.

– CORRIE TEN BOOM

Mastered by Christ, you can handle anything. 

– RICK WARREN

There is strength …

       There is peace …

             There is hope …

                    There is power …

                           There is life in the voice that sounds

                                  like rushing water.

– ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ

Throughout the book, you also give Scripture verses. Which one is your favorite? Can you describe what it means personally to you?

I’d have to say Zephaniah 3:17 because it’s my book’s theme.  I love it because it gives us a beautiful visual of what God thinks about us.

The LORD your God is with you,

he is mighty to save. 

He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love, 

he will rejoice over you with singing.

ZEPHANIAH 3:17

What do you want your readers to take away from your book?

I want them to know God hasn’t forgotten them.  He feels what they feel.  He’s holding them.  He’s not going to waste their pain.  He’s more crazy about them than about life itself.

This is best illustrated in the poem, You.

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.

Are you working on another gift book?

Not yet, but I feel like I have a few fresh ideas I could easily throw in the slow cooker.

For fun, tell us what you like to do in your spare time besides write amazing poetry.

Ah, you’re too kind, Sherry.  I like to spend time with my husband and boys.  We go biking, swimming and fishing.  I also like when we quiet ourselves around the table to reflect on God’s goodness.

He’s certainly given me a lot more than I deserve!

About the author:

Cheryl Ricker is a prize-winning poet who resides in southeast Minnesota with her husband and sons. Born and raised in Canada, she graduated from York University in Toronto with a degree in Creative Writing. With fun, flair and transparency, she writes and speaks about God's big-picture hope. Cheryl is passionate about helping people in pain keep their eyes on Jesus so they will experience Him in a deeper, more personal way.

You can visit Cheryl on the web at: www.cherylricker.com