Laura Sohl-Cryer

From the time I was very young, writing poetry and stories based on my own life experiences - and then sharing them with others - has been something that was simply woven into the fabric of my very being. ​In addition to the absolute gift of being a wife and mother, I've had many professional roles throughout my life: a collegiate communication instructor and tutor, a children's ministry leader, a chaplain for a retirement community, a mega-church director of communications and teaching team member, a marketing manager for a Christian bookstore, a traveling pastor, and more. Even so, I have always felt a deep and clear calling from God to write about His presence in my life, to share my stories, and to encourage, empower and equip others to do the same. ​The very first sonnet I published about life on the farm was The Best Things. This poem was the first-place sonnet from the Iowa Poetry Association in 2015 and was published in the 70th edition of Lyrical Iowa that year. Since then, my poetry and other writings have received numerous awards and have been included in multiple publications including Focus on the Family Faith Conversations, Telepoem Booth, and more. Following the unexpected death of my mother in 2021, I took some time off to manage her complicated estate. And, during those months, God once again called me to write. It was then that my first book - Remembering the Home Place - emerged. In a flurry of typing and tears, I recalled with gratitude God's unfailing presence in my life. It is for Him that I write. It is for Him that I tell the stories. It is for Him that I share the sonnet in my soul. ​---- I have a Master's Degree in Communication Education from the University of Northern Iowa and live in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with my family. I love traveling and baking. And I never met a hiking trail that didn't bring me pure joy.