About The Author Cheryl Lynn (Ford) Iszard is a “Distinguished Member”of the International Society of Poets. Cheryl has received the “Poet of Merit Award” for 2005 and 2006, as well as the “Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Award ” for 2005 and 2006. She has been honored with the prestigious “Editors Choice Award” from the International Society of Poets on several occasions and is featured in the upcoming “2007 Who’s Who in Poetry”. Cheryl has had the distinct honor and privilege of not only writing, but presenting a personalized poetic peace for the United States Congressional Club's 100th First Lady's Luncheon honoring First Lady Laura Bush. She has wrote theme pieces for several events as well as Congressmen. Since coming to Atlanta Cheryl has become an active member of the premier writers group, Indigo Ink of Atlanta. She has been featured on various radio stations in Georgia and performed with the Southeastern Organization For Jazz Arts, Inc. (S.O.J.A) just to name a few. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Cheryl is the youngest of three siblings. She moved to Southern California at the age of eight where she attended school in South Central Los Angeles. Cheryl graduated from Manual Arts High School with honors. After which she went on to furthered her education at West Los Angeles College and the University of California at Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.) where she studied Business and Sociology. She is a member of the Honorable Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Cheryl is a Christian woman, the mother of three beautiful young adults and one beautiful grandson who calls her his “pretty little butterfly”. Cheryl has been in the banking field for over thirty years; Twenty-seven of those years was with one employer as a Corporate Officer and Financial Center Manager. After much soul searching, prayer and support from family and friends, in 2005 Cheryl decided to retire from banking and stepped out on faith and follow her dreams. She is now doing what she loves to do... following her passion and dream of writing poetry and sharing her poetry with the world. Cheryl has written poetry for many years for family, friends and the church where she worships. Her poetry and creative skits have been use for many programs in Southern California and now in Georgia. Cheryl works closely with the music and drama ministry at the Simpson Street Church of Christ where she currently worships. At Simpson Street Cheryl utilizes the gift that God has given her on a regular basis providing inspirational poetry and skits. Cheryl has completed her first book of Inspirational Poetry entitled “Inspirations From The Heart - A Beauty From Within” and is currently working on her second book. Once you have heard Cheryl recite her poems you will find yourself captured in a moment of peace and tranquillity. You will find yourself feeling the joys, the pain, the hope and the love that she has released from her heart and soul onto the scripted pages of poetry. Her poems will pull at your heart strings and open your mind to some of the simplest things around us that we tend to take for granted. Cheryl states: I remember a quote which resonates in my mind, “Do what you love to do and the money will follow”. So, I decided to step out on faith and to follow my dreams and passion for helping others through the gift that God has given me, the gift of writing poetry. I invite you to take a journey with me into the art that can comfort you in a time of storm, give you peace beyond understanding, teach you how to love and inspire you to keep going even when times get hard… The Art Of Poetry Cheryl Lynn Iszard