I’m Sheri Yutzy, and I’m a storyteller who believes that words hold unimaginable power. I’m passionate about writing life-changing literature for young people. I edit for Daughters of Promise, an Anabaptist women’s magazine, and am working to get my first two young adult fantasy novels published. In the meantime, I write short stories and articles for blogs and online magazines.
I grew up as a conservative Mennonite and still practice that way of life. I live with my husband Dan in Huntsville, Arkansas, and attend a small church in town. My Mennonite background has given me a unique approach to vital Christian issues like love for enemies, family, and community. I love to write stories that explore these issues.
I’m also passionate about encouraging creativity in people of all ages, because God created us in His image, and we owe our creativity to Him as pure worship. The beautiful thing about this worship is that God increases our creative power when we give it to Him.
I started writing stories as soon as I learned to write. When I was 8, I remember playing “Town” with my siblings; my job was always the newspaper reporter. I scribbled made-up news stories on paper and stapled them together. Never was a best-seller, sadly.
I knew I wanted to be an author when I grew up. I’ve never questioned that since. I started a lot of stories, never finished them. Until Seal up the Stars began growing in my mind when I was fourteen. The story has changed so much over the years that the only things that remain the same are the female protagonist and the young adult fantasy genre. My family will agree, I’m sure.
I love reading young adult because it’s driven by three dimensional, real-life characters and a gripping story. And despite our technological era, young people are reading. A lot.
I want to write stories that bring light, life, and healing to people of all ages. I want them to find truth and transformation in the worlds I imagine. I am blessed beyond compare to be able, in a very small way, to create like my Father does.
Everyone can do that. Not just stories with words; stories with paint, music, food, wood, landscaping. Everything God has made can be shaped into beautiful stories of redemption and love. He created beauty and gave us a love for it and the imagination and talent to shape what He has made. Don’t be afraid to let it out. You’re only acting like your Father. I love The Curator’s words about this. Find it here: https://thecuratorblog.org/about/
Thank you for coming. Please read more about Seal up the Stars, and join my email list if you want to read an excerpt of my writing.