Sherry E Engler’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Sherry E Engler. Check out our conversation below.

Sherry E, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Perhaps, the calling I feel to do now is the calling to complete a book I have written repeatedly in my mind, repeatedly, again and again for many, many years. And yes, the inner creative voice of my soul says, “Do it! Write this book! Complete this book!” I have always put completing this book on the back burner because the timing wasn’t right, or I didn’t have the time to work on it, mainly because the main topic and the contents of this future book will be controversial. Finding the courage to overcome doubts is one of the biggest obstacles for me as a writer and an author. To face the scrutiny which may come upon the completion of my future book seems more trivial now than years ago. The voice of my inner imaginative self is calling me to trust my instincts and overcome the fear of acceptance from others and Write It! Write the book! This future book is a work of fiction; however, I realize the main character as well as the content will raise questions from readers. As a person, writer and author, I feel I am prepared to go forward, accept criticism and Write the Book!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My passion for writing and illustrating has taken me on a passionate journey of creating books from the heart. For example, I wanted to share with law enforcement officers’ supporters my thirty-three plus years of experiences of living with my family of law enforcement officers, my husband, my daughter and my son in hopes that I might offer helpful suggestions in coping with the ups and downs of everyday life living with LEOs (acronym for law enforcement officers). Thus, my book, Living with LEO: Law Enforcement Officer, recounts my challenges in a positive and often humorous light providing solutions with a comical flare. Because I feel it is important to be optimistic in life, I have tried to write not only this book, but all my books as a spark of hope and lessons for goodness. For example, my first preschool children’s book, Daisy Doo! Daisy Doo? What? Who? centers around a little green caterpillar trying to find her identity. As she wiggles through her world, she realizes she is not like Leroy Lee, the ant, or Pooter, the skunk but she does not give into hopelessness. In Holden’s Magical Blue Marble, I relate how finding a magical blue marble helps Holden cope with some of the challenges he faces as a young teen. Holden soon finds that believing in good things makes good things happen. And in Princess Dixie, Princess Ella, and 7 Crazy Hens, Ogre Greedy finds stealing is not worth the agony of the spell Witch Jokester casts on him. My books are dear to my heart as I have enjoyed the process of not only writing them, but illustrating them to breathe life into Ogre Greedy, Princess Dixie, Princess Ella and others.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was in fourth grade, my teacher, Mrs. Jones, started every morning with a song. Every day, she put forth great effort to get her students excited about the lessons which lay ahead, excited about school and excited about uniting in one major effort – to sing. And not just to sing, but to sing loud, to sing proud, and sing with might. She even had body motions to accompany the words, and she bravely and enthusiastically performed them every morning, motivating me and all the other students to perform along. Some days were better than others; however, there were NO obstacles to interfere with the song. Even though she was somewhat on the elderly side of life and it was obvious that she did not feel well some days, that did not stop her from enthusiastically singing to motivate her students. Everyday, Mrs. Jones and her chorus of fourth graders sang, “Skippity do dah, skippity-day. My oh my, what a wonderful day! Plenty of sunshine headed my way! Skippity do dah, skippity day!” To this day, I marvel at her compassion to instill a happy moment into every school morning, regardless of any circumstance. I admire her for her positive spirit and vibrant motivation. I recall her words, “Let’s sing!” I have since tried to be as inspiring as Mrs. Jones, and yes, there are mornings to this day that I find myself singing, “Skippity do dah….”

When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
My Granny Mac, my paternal grandmother, often took care of me while my parents were at work. She not only took care of me, but numerous other cousins ranging in ages from toddlers to young teens. To this day, it is a monumental mystery how she did it and kept her sanity. But my Granny Mac was a firm believer in Faith, God and Jesus. Whenever she encountered a problem, (and you can only imagine with this many kids running around) she would hold her hand up in the air and declare, “In the name of Jesus!” Somehow, this gave her great comfort, and she taught us kids one of the most important lessons if not THE MOST important lesson to pray and rely on God. She read us the Bible. (We all needed that) She taught us no matter how big a problem, no matter how scary the make-believe monsters might be, and no matter what was bothering you, “If you pray, the Good Lord will hear you, take care of you, and you will have no worries. You need to Pray and Believe.” This advice has helped me weather many storms, some big and some small. It’s been invaluable and I am beyond grateful for her. I conquered many fears as a child and an adult, and do to this day by praying and believing. Faith, God and Jesus!

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
Growing up as a baby boomer, there was very little technology around. Gradually, we were thrown into a technological world. We progressed from the slow home computers in the 1990’s to having a Smart Phone, the smallest computer with all types of knowledge, above and beyond any human expectations and sometimes human comprehension. After all, we now encounter AI, artificial intelligence. Every time I write or say artificial intelligence, I giggle. The meaning of the word “artificial” is listed as “synthetic, fake, imitation, man-made, simulated.” My point is when I first started reading anything on the internet, I fell for it. It had to be true! It was on the internet! It was on social media! I realize how naïve and wrong this belief was. Now, if anything, I have become overly skeptical. And even though I too rely heavily on social media, I have concerns of all the false interpretations and representations there are in our everyday life because of our dependence on our phones, i-pads, and computers. Thus, I will never be as intelligent as AI, but I am glad I am no longer so naïve about all the information on the internet.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope my story will be one of Faith, one of family, and one of inspiration. When people tell my story, I hope it will shed a ray of hope on having Faith and depending on prayers to get through the down times in life. In my book, Living with LEO: Law Enforcement Officer, on page 212, I state, “Pray. Even if you do not believe in a Higher Power, pray. Pray for LEO, pray for yourself, pray for family, pray for others, pray for strength, pray for peace, and pray for serenity. Pray for the less fortunate, pray for a better world, pray for less crime on our streets, pray for the young people, just pray.” This is a legacy I feel is crucial, as is the legacy of family. My family: my husband, Don, our daughter, our son, and grandchildren are truly gifts from God, my blessings. I struggle to put into words the love I feel, to put into description the cherished moments we spend together. Family is my inspiration, my cheerleaders of life. When living with law enforcement officers, every day is a gift. I hope my words of inspiration, “Cherish each day as a blessing. Cherish each laugh and giggle. Cherish the happy times, knowing they will make you smile when you get older and cherish the sad times knowing they will make you strong. Open your heart for unpredictable experiences and stretch your patience for changes of inconsistencies,” will help a law enforcement officer supporter, and perhaps others as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://sherryengler.com
• Instagram: SherryEngler
• Linkedin: Sherry Engler
• Twitter: SherryEngler
• Facebook: Sherry E Engler Author/Illustrator & Living with LEO: Law Enforcement Officer