Marriage Matters by Cheri Swalwell: Author Interview

About the Book

Book:  Marriage Matters

Author: Cheri Swalwell

Genre: Non-fiction/Christian Biblical Marriage

Release Date: November 22, 2019

Marriage joins two imperfect people who pledge to love, honor, and commit to each other for life. Eleven couples graciously chose to share their stories within the pages of this book because they believe in the sanctity of marriage. None of the couples are perfect, but they come alongside you and your spouse with experience and encouragement as you pray about how to live out your own marriage. Some of the couples work in full-time ministry, others have chosen the military as their career. Some couples have faced the issue of infertility while others have had to deal with sickness or death. Some couples have been remarried, others married later in life, and others have dealt with seemingly more than any one couple should have to face in a lifetime. All of the couples have one thing in common – their love for God and their commitment to marriage God’s way.Grab your favorite beverage in a comfy chair and get ready to be encouraged. Buy your own copy today, and one for a friend, because Marriage Matters!

Click here for your copy!

Interview

What do you owe the real people whom your characters are based on?

Since my books are nonfiction and based on my life and the life of my family, I owe my family so much. They have allowed me to share our everyday lives with others because that’s the way God speaks to me. He gives me life lessons through our day-to-day activities. For instance, one summer my husband decided to plant trees and God downloaded to me how growing apple trees was similar to parenting. A different season we were growing squash and God showed me the correlation between marriage and summer vegetables. Another lesson God taught was how important it is to equip our teenagers with a tool belt while they are growing their independence. Lastly, a Mother’s tea at school reminded me about the importance of community. Everyday life; yet God shows me the biblical truths hidden inside. I truly am so thankful to my family (and friends) for allowing me to take our life and share it with others to point them back to God.

How does writing non-fiction affect you personally?

I love writing nonfiction. I have found I have to go through the trials and learn the lessons before I can put those lessons into words that will encourage someone else who might be going through the same thing. I had to learn how to trust before I could talk about how to fully trust God. I had to walk through miscarriage before I could truly empathize with another about losing a child. My husband was sick for over a decade and we walked the road of caregiving which taught me the ways to (and not to) take care of someone I love and myself as well.

So because of the learning curve aspect, nonfiction writing is hard for me, while I’m learning the lessons God wants me to learn. Sometimes, writing about the lessons I’ve learned is also difficult, especially if the lesson was a tough one. But I’m always grateful in the end that God brought me to a deeper level of intimacy with Him through the lesson, and that He allows me to share that encouragement with others.

If you’ve written more than one book, which one is your favorite?

Oh my goodness. With 27 books published, that’s a really hard question. I might have to say the Spoken from the Heart devotional series where I share how God healed me from a 17+ year fear of winter driving, healed almost immediately the blanket of depression that had covered my soul for over a decade, and then taught me the tools to fight anxiety/panic attacks so that I walk in victory with them too. The reason those are so special to me is because the God of yesterday, Jehovah Rapha (the One who heals) is the same today and still heals us emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Three different healings within the same year; three different ways. And all three ways were purposefully done the way they were to teach me a different lesson each time.

I also love the compilation books I’ve published because I get to share other people’s stories with readers; telling in their own words the hope, peace, and biblical truths God has taught them when dealing with the loss of a child, cancer, or building a strong marriage. I’m so thankful for each couple or individual who took the time to share their story and allow me the privilege to wrap it up in a package and present it to the readers.

What do you like to read?/What books are on your nightstand at the moment?

I read many different genres of books. I usually have one fiction book I read at night (my reward after a long day) and one nonfiction book that I read a chapter a day to supplement my Bible reading for the day. Currently, I’m reading a book about learning how to be free by Rebekah Lyons and a Christian suspense book by Cara Putnam.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love spending time with my family. I love being outside and active too. Hiking, working outside, bonfires, taking walks, and reading. And drinking coffee. Although I drink coffee when I’m writing too. Because I sit so much writing and with my other jobs, I love being up and active when I’m not writing, doing life with those God has blessed me with!

About the Author

Cheri Swalwell is a Christ follower who thoroughly enjoys her calling to be a wife, mother, and writer, in that order. Cheri loves to encourage people through her Spoken from the Heart devotionals, Bible study Caring for the Caregiver and other compilation books dealing with the subjects of miscarriage and cancer. For a full list of books and where they are sold visit http://www.cheriswalwell.com. If you want to sign up to her newsletter to stay updated on all the latest news, you will also receive a full-length devotional free, as her way of saying thanks for joining!

More from Cheri

Back in 2007, long before writing was even on my radar, I had a conversation with God about writing a book that would offer hope to those who had lost a child. We had lost our baby the December prior, and I needed to know I would smile again someday. Little did I know that conversation 12 years ago would result in a series of compilation books encouraging others about various topics. The first one, Hope During Heartache was published in 2014, and it’s 13 different men and women’s stories about how they found hope after dealing with the death of a child.

In early 2015, I had another conversation with God and asked Him … “What’s next? Do You have any other compilation books you’d like me to share with others to bring encouragement?” In 2018, Peace During the Pain was published (a book about how to find peace after the diagnosis of cancer) which is 12 different men and women’s stories either about their own personal journey or the journey of a family member.

The goal for 2020 is to publish Joy During the Journey, a compilation of people who have found joy despite living with chronic illness.

During my 2015 conversation, I asked God if He would allow me to write a compilation book about a “happier” topic than death, cancer, and chronic illness. And in His goodness, He said yes! That is when He told me I could write about the topic of marriage, a topic I truly love because being married and having children has always been my heart’s desire. Not only do I get to share encouragement, support, and wisdom from 11 different couples with you in this book, an added bonus is that one of the couples is my parents, another is my youth pastor and his wife, whom I’ve admired for over 25+ years, and yet another is my present pastor and his wife. All three of these couples have significantly modeled biblical marriage for me throughout the years. But that’s not all. There are also military couples, couples who have suffered circumstances no couple should ever have to face, and new friends I’ve met through the writing of this book. I believe you will enjoy as much as I have the encouragement and wisdom from each and every couple who took the time to share a little about their life with you. I’m excited to share the stories between these pages … so sit back, grab your favorite beverage and be prepared to get encouraged!