Author Name:
Cheryl Landes
Book Titles:
Rainbows in the Snow
The Best I Can Do
Website URL:
Link to book page on Amazon:
Rainbows in the Snow – https://www.amazon.com/Rainbows-Snow-celebration-journeys-discoveries-ebook/dp/B0CTZT2XHF
The Best I Can Do – https://www.amazon.com/Best-Can-Navigating-Complexities-Homelessness/dp/B0D3FD8B5C
Social Media Links:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/clandes
X – @landesc
Instagram – cheryllandes
What is your book about?
I’ve released two books in 2024: Rainbows in the Snow in January and The Best I Can Do in March. Both books are self-published.
Rainbows in the Snow is a collection of short stories and my photos based on the theme of journeys. In this context, journeys don’t always refer to simply going from one location to another; they can be the experiences, discoveries, and revelations along the way.
The Best I Can Do is a memoir about my experiences as a caregiver for my late husband, who had an undiagnosed mental illness that resulted in our marriage falling apart and forcing us into homelessness.
What inspired you to write your book?
For Rainbows in the Snow, I wanted to share upbeat stories accompanied by beautiful pictures that would help readers unwind and hopefully laugh off and on. We all need some lightheartedness in our lives, and it’s more important now than ever before.
With The Best I Can Do, I wanted to spread awareness about aspects of mental illness that we don’t often hear about in the news. Mental illness and homelessness can affect anyone, and the struggles are real. In this story, I’ve attempted to paint a vivid picture of our experiences during the last 20 years of my husband’s life.
If you have a business related to your book, tell us about it:
I’m a full-time technical communications consultant, but I write in other genres, such as travel and non-fiction. I started my business, Tabby Cat Communications, in 1995.
What is a typical day like for you?
In the morning after breakfast, I allocate three hours to personal writing and book marketing tasks. Then I work on my technical communication clients’ projects until 5-6 p.m. Sometimes I’ll resume working on personal projects after dinner; it depends on my energy levels.
What do you most enjoy about what you do?
I was attracted to writing because I love learning. Writing requires research, and I’m constantly learning new things.
What are some favorite books you’d recommend to our readers?
Some of my recent favorites are:
- There’s No Coming Back from This, by Ann Garvin (fiction)
- Willa’s Grove, by Laura Munson (fiction)
- Daisy Wordworm Changes the World, by Melissa Hart (young adult fiction)
- The Golden Web, by Tiffany Dickinson (young adult fiction)
- All the Things We Never Knew, by Sheila Hamilton (memoir)
- Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens (fiction)
What advice do you have to offer our readers?
Follow your dreams and never give up!
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I bowled in a league when I was in college.
What’s next for you?
My latest book project is Misty: An Angel with Four Paws. It’s about a cat a friend that I rescued behind a restaurant one night after dinner, who helped in my healing from the struggles with my late husband’s mental illness. I’m expecting to self-publish this book next spring.
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