Author: Cheryl Tyler
Located in: Nashville, Tennessee
Submitted: January 01, 2009
Tell us a little about yourself. I'm married and the mother of two daughters. We've lived in Nashville (more or less) for the last twenty years. I'm also a school counselor.
What was your motivation behind this project? Our landlord was dying of AIDS and a large, conservative church where he was very active did only go to the hospital one time during his last days even though I had detailed the immense family issues surrounding his illness and forthcoming death. As the daughter of a preacher I always believed that a pastor should be with the person/family during times like this. It took about a year to process this and begin on the book.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? The thing that sets apart Christianity from all other religions is grace, and we fail to practice it on a daily basis. This is a book about unconditional love in the most difficult of circumstances.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? Everything changed within me. I had been a hard-core fundamentalist who wanted the God of rule following instead of the God of grace and mercy.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? I enjoy Christian fiction and just wrote. All the glory goes to God, because he led me through valleys to learn grace for my own life.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: Give this book a chance. It is different from anything you've ever read, about a subject that is a current controversial political subject. Many people express that once they read this book their eyes are opened to their failings with family and friends.
