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Cheryl has a MHSc, Speech-Language Pathology and a HBSc, Psychology. Over her twenty-five year career as a child/teen Speech-Language Pathologist & therapist, and then as a CEO/medical entrepreneur*, Cheryl always enjoyed bringing creativity and story-telling into her daily work and interactions.
After a TBI (traumatic brain injury) brought about the decision to leave the Canadian health care company she founded so she could focus on her recovery, Cheryl was able to return full-time to her first love, writing.
While Cheryl enjoys the challenge of crafting a full novel, she also creates poetry, short stories, flash fiction, long fiction and creative nonfiction pieces (and occasionally, photography). Cheryl began submitting her work to journals, magazines and competitions in late 2018. Her work have been published online and in print in journals across Canada, US, and the UK and she has multiple PushCart Prize nominations. Her work placed in fifty-one competitions across 2019-to date. She has also volunteered at literary journals: Contributing Editor, Flash Creative Nonfiction at Barren Magazine, and Reader at Reckon Review.
She is currently working on her first screenplay (she enjoys a new challenge!). She also presents as a guest author/speaker on a variety of topics to schools and book clubs in the GTA. In her spare time, Cheryl is a passionate chef who enjoys experimenting and discovering new recipes, as well as a horrible gardener (although she still loves cooking with fresh herbs from her struggling garden each summer).
- To learn more about Cheryl, check out her past Blog on her Reflections Page, or her 'virtual coffee chat' contributor interview at BlankSpaces Magazine (note her Blog page is currently on hiatus given other time commitments)
- Read samples of Cheryl's flash fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry (links on applicable pages and on the "Read" page)
- 2021 & 2023 Pushcart Nominee (link to pieces on Creative Nonfiction Page )
*RE past life: Cheryl founded the home healthcare rehabilitation services company, "Exceptionalities Inc." Her team of 55+ therapists (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers and speech-language pathologists) serviced clients in homes, schools, and long-term care settings across York Region, South Simcoe, and parts of Toronto (Canada). She acted as CEO, Manager & Supervisor, as well as interviewed and personally selected all staff for seven years before selling the business in 2013. Exceptionalities held the Ontario record for its entire existence for the highest ratings/success in providing safe, compassionate, quality care, with superior client & staff satisfaction ratings.
Cheryl launched her writing career by submitting her YA fantasy novel manuscript Habitan, to the 2019 Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Awards, making the Longlist. Next , it was a quarterfinalist in the 2023 Screencraft Cinematic Book Competition, and semifinalist, 2023 Launch Pad Prose Writing Competition. Her second novel's manuscript, gods Playground, advanced to the Semifinals of both the 2019 ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition and the 2022 Launch Pad Prose Writing Competition.
*see Novels page for synopsis, reviews & judges comments on both novels
MG FANTASY NOVEL, "HABITAN" - Acquired by Chicken House Press--release date late summer 2025!!!
Longlist- Pulp LIterature's "First Page Cage Match" -Dec 2023
Contributor and Shortlist, Blank Spaces Fiction Anthology Competition, 2023 (publication April 2024): "Will There be A Sunset Anthology" - link to this short story collection on Amazon will be shared upon publication
Shortlist (top 20 short stories) & Contributor, Aesthetica Magazine's Creative Writing Award-print pub in 2024 Anthology-Dec 2023
"Flash 405: 2022 Issue" (collection of winners & runner-ups, Exposition Review Flash 405 Competitions) - released Apr 2023
Contributor & Shortlist, 2022 Amy MacRae Award for Memoir Anthology - Spring 2023 print publication.
Quarterfinalist, ScreenCraft 2023 Cinematic Book Competition (novel, Habitan)
Second Round (semi-finalist) 2023 Launch Pad Prose Writing Competition (novel, Habitan)
Second Round (semi-finalist) 2022 Launch Pad Prose Writing Competition (novel, gods Playground)
Contributor and Shortlist, Blank Spaces Fiction Anthology Competition, 2021 (publication April 2022): "The Things We Leave Behind" - link to this short story collection on Amazon
Contributor, Blank Spaces Magazine: Just Words Anthology, 2020 (Flash FIction piece)
Longlist, 2019 Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Awards (novel, Habitan).
Semifinalist, 2019 ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition (novel, gods Playground).
New novel (currently under consideration)
*links to several pieces on Flash Fiction page
Shortlist- (winner tba)-Blank Spaces Magazine, Writing Prompt Flash Fiction Contest -winter 2025
Winner-Pulp Literature, 2024 Hummingbird Prize (Flash Fiction)-July 2024 (print publication Winter 2025 Issue 45
Longlist Pulp Literature, BumbleBee Flash Fiction Contest- March 2024
Shortlist (top 20 short stories)- Aesthetica Magazine's Creative Writing Award-print pub in 2024 Anthology-Dec 2023
Shortlist-Blank Spaces 2023 Fiction Anthology Contest - Nov 2023
Longlist-entry #1-Pulp Literature-Raven Short Story Contest-Nov2023
Longlist-entry #2-Pulp Literature-Raven Short Story Contest-Nov2023
Publication -The Bulb Culture Collective-Nov 2023
Longlist-WestWord Prize-Aug 2023
Shortlist-Blank Spaces Writing Prompt Flash Fiction Contest-Summer 2023
Longlist-Pulp Literature Hummingbird Flash Fiction Prize 2023
Publication -The Phare -Summer Issue July 2023
Publication - WestWord (Retreat West) -Issue 3-publication August 2023
Publication - Paddler Press - Issue 9 - publication July 2023
Silver Medal/2nd place-Blank Spaces Writing Prompt Flash Fiction Contest-Spring 2023
Longlist- entry #1 Pulp Literature Bumbleebee Flash Fiction Contest 2023
Longlist- entry #2 Pulp Literature Bumbleebee Flash Fiction Contest-2023
Top 20%, Oxford Flash Fiction Prize WInter 2023
Shortlist Blank Spaces winter 2023 Flash Fiction Competition
Longlist-entry #1) Pulp Literature Raven Short Story contest 2022
Longlist-entry #2 Pulp Literature's Raven Short Story contest 2022
Top 10%, Oxford Flash Fiction Prize 2022 (piece #1)
Top 20%, Oxford Flash Fiction Prize 2022 (piece #2)
Honorable Mention & Publication (3rd place), Exposition Review, Flash 405 Competition, Apr2022 (pub June, 2022)
Publication (online), Barren Magazine Issue 20, March 2022
Runner-Up (2nd) and Publication (print), Pulp Literature 2022 Bumblebee Flash Fiction Contest-pub in Autumn Issue 36
Shortlisted, Solstice Literary Magazine, 2022 Annual Literary Competition-Fiction, July 2022
Longlisted, Pulp Literature 2022 Hummingbird Prize (Flash)
Publication (online and print), Nightingale & Sparrow Issue 12, "L'appel Du Vide"-Feb 2022
Longlist, F(r)iction Magazine 2021 Fall Literary Contest, Flash Fiction
Shortlist (top 8), 2021 Blank Spaces Magazine Fiction Anthology Competition-two separate pieces longlisted- one top 8 shortlisted
Shortlist , 2021 Five South Short Fiction Prize
Semifinalist, 2021 Ruminate Magazine’s The Waking Flash Prose Prize
Semi-finalist, 2021 River Styx Micro-fiction Contest
Publication (print) - Blank Spaces Magazine- Vol 6 Issue 1-Sept 2021
Publication (online)- Fatal Flaw Literary Magazine - June 2021
Publication (online) - Second Chance Lit Issue 3-July, 2021
Publication (online) - The Ekphrastic Review - June 2021
Publication (online) Flash Flood Journal/National Flash Fiction Day 2021 (10th anniversary, June 26, 2021)
Gold Medal Winner & print Publication, March 2020 Blank Spaces Flash Fiction Contest-Write Prompt Challenge (Quarterly)
Longlist, Pulp Literature, 2020 Hummingbird Flash Fiction Prize
Honorable Mention & online Publication, Spider Road Press 2020 Spider Web Flash Fiction Prize
Finalist, Exposition Review, Flash 405 (April) 2020
Silver Medal Winner & online Publication, Nov 2020, Blank Spaces Flash Fiction Contest-Write Prompt Challenge (Quarterly)
Longlist, Pulp Literature, 2020 Bumblebee Flash Fiction Contest
Shortlist, Fall 2019 Blank Spaces Flash Fiction Contest-Write Prompt Challenge (Quarterly)
Shortlist, Spring 2019 Blank Spaces Flash Fiction Contest-Write Prompt Challenge (Quarterly)
Anthology Selection-2023 London Independant Story Awards (had to delcine pub due to peice advancing elsewhere)
*links to several pieces on Creative Nonfiction page
Publication-
Publication- Sugar Sugar Salt - March 2023
Shortlist & publication (anthology out spring 2023) International Amy MacRae Award for Memoir 2022
Publication (reprint online) Oranges Journal (UK) - Jan 2023
Publication (online) -Reckon Review -Nov 2022 issue *2023 Pushcart Nomination
Publication (online)-SFWP Quarterly-Issue 30, Dec 2022
Publication (reprint online)- SugarSugarSalt Magazine - Mar 2023
Publication - Sonora Review (Issue 79/80) - online Apr 2023- print pending summer 2023
Publication (print & online) - Glassworks Magazine (Spring Issue 24) -March 2022
Quarterfinalist, Ruminate Magazine -2021 William Van Dyke Short Story Prize
Publication (print) - Blank Spaces (Vol 6, Issue 1) - Sept, 2021
Publication (online & print) - Nightingale & Sparrow Literary Magazine (Woodland Issue VIII)- Nov, 2020
Finalist & Publication online, Longridge Review Barnhill Prize for Creative Nonfiction - 2020 *2021 Pushcart Nomination
Semifinalist, Ruminate Magazine - 2019 Vandermey Nonfiction Prize
Shortlist, Hippocampus Magazine- 2019 'Remember in November' Contest for Creative Nonfiction
*links to several pieces on Poetry page
Longlist - Pulp Literature Magpie Award for Poetry 2023
Publication-print-Photography-Stanchion Zine- Issue 12, June 2023
Publication -Second Chance Lit- Issue 5- Jan 2022
Publication- online - La Piccioletta Barca - Issue 16-2020
Finalist & publication (print), Public Poetry, Enough Anthology 2019 Poetry Contest
Shortlist, 2019 Erbacce Prize for Poetry
Publication - online - La Piccioletta Barca- Issue 12- 2019
Publications pending - will post once permitted
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