Author Archives: Finally One
Potter Knows Best – A Dream Becomes a Book
To follow is a reposting of a blog I wrote for my writing website, Purple PenWorks. I wanted to share with my Finally One followers what I’ve been up to lately:
Hello friends,
I can hardly believe I get to write this post: Potter Knows Best: Who Am I? has officially been released into the world!
This little book began as a story tucked into my heart over 10 years ago—a picture of the Potter shaping clay into something beautiful and useful. I wanted to share with children (and the adults who love them) that same truth:
We are each wonderfully and purposefully made by God.
In the story, we meet Daisy, her cat Socks, and the curious Little Bowl who longs to understand her place in the Potter’s shop.
Through whimsical adventures, we discover that every piece of pottery has a purpose, just like every child does. (And when the Potter’s away, the pots will play–and speak!)
One of the things that makes this book extra special to me is that it’s personal.
The artwork is inspired by my own family—Daisy is based on me as a child, the Potter is modeled after my father, and Socks the cat is drawn straight from my real-life pet. Even my mom plays Grandma (the Potter’s wife) and my sister plays Daisy’s older sister, Heather. (I also try to work my sister’s name in to just about every script I write.)
Here’s a peek into a few of the photos used for inspiration:
These familiar faces made the illustrations come alive in a way that felt both intimate and joyful. In fact, over a decade ago, I had this storybook illustrated, but the characters never looked quite right to me. So I shelved the project…for such a time as this.
A time when messages about self-worth, purpose, and value for children are so important.
This is more than just a book release for me. It’s the beginning of a series I hope will encourage families, spark imagination, and open conversations about faith.
I have some free downloadable giveaways on my website: (scroll to the bottom of the site)
Books 3 and 4 are coming in October 2025, “The Breakable Crackables,” which is where I get the chance to add my husband to the Potter Knows Best family. And let’s just say Socks has a much bigger (and mischievous) role.
If you’d like to get your own copy, Potter Knows Best: Who Am I? is now available through the series link on Amazon: (The storybook is available on both Kindle and Paperback. The coloring and activity book in paperback only.)
Coming soon will also be the narrated audio book version with one of my favorite actresses. More news on that to come.
It’s perfect for storytime, bedtime, or gifting to the little ones in your life.
I’d love for you to join me on this journey! This is just the beginning—more books are planned, and even dreams of audio dramas and animation down the road.
Thank you for celebrating this milestone with me. I pray that this story brings joy, wonder, and a reminder that the Potter knows best.
With gratitude,
Cheryl
PSALM 139:14
P.S. Here’s a peek into an illustration from early on, when first establishing the settings and styles, that didn’t make the book. But it’s one that I love seeing the likeness of my 3rd grade self hanging out with my mom and dad.
Coming Sept 5th to UP FAITH & FAMILY
THESE STONES: TV SERIES Coming September 2024
Stone Impact Media
I am very excited to have launched a new production company, where our team’s desire is to make a positive impact through inspired stories. It’s been a long-time dream of mine to write projects that I can see through from start to finish.
Our first project will be a new streaming series, These Stones:
When her mother is killed, a wayward daughter takes over a supernatural program to help others. Though she struggles to believe in God, she finds herself matching mysterious visitors from the past to those facing challenges today.
We are starting with the first season of 6 episodes, hoping the show can run for many seasons to come. Principle Photography will be Fall 2022. To read more about our project, my incredible teammates and those involved, visit the series website:
https://www.stoneimpactmedia.com/current-project/thesestones
Joy comes in the morning
Here’s my latest ‘work in progress,’ a wonderful true story I hope to make as a film.
It’s unusual for me as a screenwriter to come across someone’s life story that I feel so compelled to chase on my own. Normally, producers find stories, option the rights, then hire to me to help draft the scripts. Two recent movies I co-wrote were Extraordinary and Indivisible both based on true stories. One comes out in Fall 2017 and the other in 2018. Even though I love coming up with original works of fiction, there’s just something about working on true stories. People relate to them because of that raw honesty that can come from people’s life experiences.
Marcus and Maryann Kauffman
What has turned into the screenplay, Joy Comes, is the story that captured my heart and hasn’t let go since I started working on it.
It’s about firefighter, Marcus Kauffman, who was shot in North Carolina during a home invasion robbery in Dec. 2013 when his…
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Indivisible: Based on a True Story
Here’s a blog about one of my upcoming films, that I co-wrote, Indivisible.
As a writer, every movie that gets made is a dream come true. I believe stories have the power to change hearts and the world.
I had the extreme privilege of working on a feature film based on a true story about a U.S. Army Chaplain, Darren Turner. I got to work with David Evans, the co-writer and director of Indivisible. (He also did the movie The Grace Card.) I have a new love for movies about marriages.
From IMDB story synopsis: “Upon returning from serving in the U.S. Army, Chaplain Darren Turner faces a crisis that shatters his family and faith in God but through the help of former soldiers, they help him return to his faith and family.”
It’s always neat to see what you envision on the page come to life. Through the cast, set design, locations etc. Movie making takes a lot of people and…
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Extraordinary, the Movie
I wanted to share about my next film, Extraordinary, since it ties to themes of marriage and family.
We had a wonderful time in Lynchburg, VA visiting the set of my next movie. I co-wrote Extraordinary, which is the true story of Ultra-Marathon legend, David Horton. It was such fun to see the talented cast and crew bringing the story to life.
Scotty Curlee (producer, director, co-writer) has such great vision and innovative ideas for visuals. My husband and I learned a lot just watching him and his team work.
David Horton is being played but Canadian actor / comedian, Leland Klassen. (We enjoyed discussing the story of my dual citizenship between US and Canada.)
David Horton’s wife, Nancy, is being played by Shari Rigby (who we loved in the film, October Baby. I’m currently reading her riveting autobiography, Beautifully Flawed.) What a wonderful lady, inside and out.
I was so happy Karen Abercrombie was cast in this film as Nina. I’ve written a project for…
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Stop Waiting on Hollywood To Tell Your Story
If you are anything like me as a writer, you don’t like waiting to see your work come to life. It’s often a long wait between movies getting filmed. I have one movie I co-wrote that is in production right now, but it’s been years since that’s happened. I’m thankful that during those years between I get the opportunity to work in novelizations. And that’s the process where my scripts get turned into novels.
I’m so thankful I was able to get to know the talented novelist, Rene Gutteridge, after she novelized my script for The Ultimate Gift. We went on to work on Never the Bride, Greetings from the Flipside, Love’s a Stage and O Little Town of Bethany. I also novelized Song of Springhill on my own, a story I’ve been working on since the late 90s. I so appreciate having an outlet to share stories, instead of…
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Merry Christmas
Christmas. It’s my favorite time of year. And my favorite type of story to write involves Christmas. That’s a good thing this year since I worked on quite a few projects with Christmas themes. One was an episode of CBN’s Superbook, a Bible series for kids. I wrote what will be their 2016 Christmas episode.
The other was a script, then a novella called O Little Town of Bethany. This story is near to my heart as it captures the life of a girl who needed to figure out how to live a life worth remembering. Making memories is one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season. Traditions within my family drives my excitement this time of year. And the older lady in the story, Bethany, is losing her memory. I can’t imagine what I would be like to one day not remember it’s Christmas. These were…
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Finally One 