Cheryl Williams Shares How Her Life as a Nurse Fuels Her Powerful and Healing Writing for Adults and Children

Photo: Author Cheryl Williams brings empathy and insight to life through her poetry and children’s books, inspired by her journey as a caregiver and nurse.

Blending Compassion, Creativity, And Healing Through Literature

Cheryl Williams channels her life experiences and professional caregiving background into stories that heal, comfort, and inspire. As both a registered nurse and award-winning author, Williams merges compassion with creativity, using poetry and children’s literature to help readers navigate themes of grief, resilience, and self-discovery. Her work touches hearts across generations, offering solace and insight in equal measure.

Williams’ literary debut, A Collection of Poems: A Journey Through Life, introduced a deeply introspective voice — one unafraid to confront both sorrow and beauty. The collection explores the emotional highs and lows that mark the human experience, uniting themes of pain, hope, and the restorative power of nature. Her intention was clear: to provide readers with strength during challenging times, and to remind them that storms, however fierce, eventually pass.

Cheryl Williams writes with honesty, compassion, and grace, using her life experiences to uplift, heal, and inspire readers of all ages.

Her transition into children’s literature with A Lesson A Day: A Child’s Way grew organically from her role as an elementary school nurse. While treating young patients, Williams often took the opportunity to share gentle wisdom and life lessons. These moments inspired a collection of fable-style stories, each imbued with valuable messages. Using animals and inanimate objects as central characters, she created a comforting and relatable format that resonated deeply with young readers. The book’s visual appeal and heartfelt narrative earned it first place in Children’s Poetry and an honourable mention in the Fable category from Bookfest, as well as a feature on a Times Square billboard.

In The Brightest Star that Shines Tonight, Williams turns her attention to childhood bereavement — a delicate subject approached with empathy and grace. Through this book, she offers solace to children dealing with loss, continuing her mission to nurture through words.

Much of Williams’ storytelling stems from her own personal journey. At just eleven years old, she became the primary caregiver for her ailing mother. Under the guidance of a neighbour who was a registered nurse, she took on significant responsibilities — from administering medication to monitoring blood pressure. This formative experience not only led her into nursing but deeply informed her writing. “Writing was always my safe space,” she reflects. “So it made perfect sense to combine it with nursing.”

For Williams, poetry and the arts are not only tools for self-expression but vital forms of healing. Having discovered poetry at the age of four, she turned to creative writing as a refuge during times of hardship, including the emotionally taxing demands of her nursing career. Music, too, has played a significant role in her journey. A lifelong singer, she describes music as a hopeful headspace — a gateway to emotional clarity and creative energy.

Recognition came in 2019 when she received the Top Female Author award. The honour affirmed her talent and boosted her presence within the literary community. “It placed me in the category of an ‘Award Winning Author’ and opened many doors,” she says, noting the respect it garnered from readers and peers alike.

Her motivation remains rooted in the impact her books have on others. “People’s lives have been touched in positive ways because of my writing,” she explains. “That motivates me to continue making a difference.”

To aspiring writers, Williams offers a message of encouragement grounded in honesty: “Follow your heart and never be afraid of being vulnerable. Someone out there needs to connect with your story.” She acknowledges that not every reader will connect with every voice but urges consistency, resilience, and authenticity.

Cheryl Williams’ literary journey is one of strength, empathy, and boundless creativity. By blending the care of a nurse with the soul of a poet, she has carved out a unique and necessary space in contemporary literature — one where readers, young and old, find healing and hope.