Cheri Hardaway's "Worth Every Tear"

We're happy to have Cheri Hardaway with us today talking about her book, Worth Every Tear. To learn more about Cheri and her book, read on!

Title: Worth Every Tear ~ Forever and for Always
Publisher: Xulon Press.


Cover blurb: Most parents have heard of the prodigal son, but few expect their precious child – the one who wraps himself around their hearts and them around his little finger – might one day make them doubt themselves at every turn.
This book is for any parent who has ever gazed into a child’s eyes and fallen in love . . . who has poured heart and soul into that child, that he might have the best in life. It is a book for parents who have stared into their own tortured eyes in the mirror and asked, “Why?”

“In a day when ‘expert’ advice about parenting abounds, Cheri Hardaway’s Worth Every Tear is a gem. It’s an honest story of Christian parents who try hard and feel failure. Yet God leads them back, so beautifully, to an understanding that He is as sovereign in the lives of their children as He is in their own. Worth Every Tear will bring tears to your own eyes, as it encourages parents who struggle with doubt and disappointment.”
—KAREN DEIKUN, fellow parent and contributing author to FaithWriters anthologies

1) How did this story come to you?
Five years ago, in an interview with FaithWriters, I stated that I felt like I was born with a pen in my hand. I’ve kept a journal for as long as I can remember; writing is my way of processing life’s ups and downs. Fifteen years ago, I had the distinct impression that God had a purpose for my writing, and that one day I would write something for Him. As the years of our lives unfolded and we lived our story, my husband and I had a growing conviction that we were supposed to share our testimony with other parents, to share with them the same hope and love God had so graciously poured into our family. Worth Every Tear is the culmination of that conviction, the true story of our family’s journey with God. Though the book is non-fiction, I chose to write it like a novel, changing the characters’ names for privacy’s sake. Readers have shared that they were hooked by the story line and found the book difficult to put down. For a sneak preview of the prologue and Chapter One, you can go here: http://blog.cherihardaway.com/p/our-book.html.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As I worked on the book, I also researched publishing options. The market for memoirs is a bit different than most; the plain fact is that traditional commercial publishers are reluctant to take a chance on an author who is relatively unknown. I did learn, however, that little known authors have been known to find a traditional commercial publisher, if they have a remarkably unique story. I struck out on both counts; I’m not well-known, and a family impacted by drug addiction isn’t a new or unique phenomenon in this day and age. Yet, every person has been created a unique individual by God, with a purpose in life and a story to tell. And my husband and I still had the conviction that our story needed to be told. For that reason, we researched the avenues of subsidy and self-publishing and chose to publish our own book with Xulon Press, trusting that God would see that it gets into the hands of those readers who need to hear His message of grace and hope.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1.) I hate to be the center of attention, yet I’ve written an entire book which shares the intimate details of my life.
2.) I am actually a fan of the “blind date,” having met my husband on one. In fact, my daughter met her husband on a blind date arranged by me and “his” mom.
3.) During my college years in Texas, weekends usually found me in a “kicker” club, garbed in cowboy hat and boots, two-stepping to the latest country-western hits.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
In December 2008, while the writing of Worth Every Tear was in progress, my husband and I began a blog called Glass House Ministries, as a vehicle to connect us with others who could use some hope and encouragement. As the blog has grown, God has also used it to develop a ministry of prayer. My current focus is on keeping the blog up-to-date and on being faithful to wherever else God may take the Glass House ministry. At some point, if God opens the doors, hubby and I are open to accepting invitations for speaking engagements; our desire is to pass along to others the same hope and peace we’ve found with God.

5) Parting comments?
God is faithful. If you are feeling hopeless, He can bring hope to the bleakest of circumstances. During the writing of my book, I had several titles in mind. During my quiet time one morning, I came across Psalm 126:5: “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” As I meditated on the Scripture, I found myself thanking God for the path we’d taken as a family, telling Him that it was “worth every tear” to be where we are today. It was then that He whispered to my heart that He had just given me the title for my book. My life’s journey as a woman … as a wife … and as a parent has forever etched the hope and love of God in my heart, and it’s my desire to share that hope and love through the pages of Worth Every Tear.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I can be found on my website: www.cherihardaway.com, or on the Glass House Ministries blog: http://blog.cherihardaway.com/. I’m also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Cheri-Hardaway/728073316, and Worth Every Tear has a fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Worth-Every-Tear/343241642931.