Sherri Graves Smith is an award-winning author of children’s books and a popular, motivational speaker. She currently has three picture book series with more than 50 titles in print: the Lil’ Sherri series, the Game Day Rules series, and a series of counting and alphabet books.
Is My Cup Empty? (Mascot Books, 2014), the first book in the Lil’ Sherri series, is about hope, optimism, and perseverance. Sherri’s inspiration for this series is very personal and best understood in her own words, which also provide some biographical information: “Many lessons instilled during my childhood prepared me for the adversity that I faced as an adult, including books that I read such as Happiness is a Warm Puppy and The Little Engine That Could. The lessons in my book stem from my outlook on life after battling Stage IV cancer for the past eight years. I was only 36 years old when I was diagnosed. I found out that the cancer had metastasized one week after returning from my honeymoon, and I found myself in a position where all of my hopes, dreams, and plans were empty.”
“Lil’ Sherri is me when I was six years old. Is My Cup Empty? takes different things in life that are empty and shows how they can be filled with good things. I wanted to write something for children that could instill a lesson of hope and optimism in the face of adversity. I wanted to write a book that would be uplifting for a child, but also lend a helping hand for whatever adversity he or she may face in the future. My wish is to instill lessons in hope and optimism at an early age so they may be relied upon and strengthened as children grow and mature. In addition, I thought that even if an adult is reading the book to a child, the adult also can be uplifted.”
Is My Cup Empty? was honored as a Phillis Wheatley Book Awards Nominee and a New York Book Festival Awards Runner-Up in 2015. Sherri was kind enough to share her thoughts and passions with us. We are very honored to have her as an Author Sponsor for MCCBD2016!
What was your inspiration for Is My Cup Empty?

GIVEAWAY! TWO lucky winners will receive one of Sherri’s lovely Is my Cup Empty hardcover books and delightful inspirational card-making activity kit for kids!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
TWO winners will receive one copy each of Is my Cup Empty hardcover books and delightful inspirational card-making activity kit for kids.
Giveaway begins 2/10/16 and ends 2/27/16
• Prizing & samples courtesy of Author of the above book
• Giveaway open to US addresses only
• ONE lucky winner will win one copy of each of the above books.
• Residents of USA only please.
• Must be 18 years or older to enter
• One entry per household.
• Staff and family members of MCCBD and Audrey Press are not eligible.
• Winners will have 48 hours to claim prize
• Winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter on 2/28/16
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sherri, we met signing books at Coldwater Books. We talked a great deal and you encouraged me to keep writing and I have. My second novel is just out and I am working on a third. I pray you are doing well and tell your husband hello. I hope we can sign together again sometime. GOD BLESS, Leroy Willis
What a nice coincidence!