Cherise Wyneken was born in South Dakota in 1928.  She moved to California in 1939, to Florida in 1973, and back to California in 2003.  She resides with her husband in Albany, CA -- mother of four, grandmother of eight, former teacher.

Cherise Wyneken has had the pleasure of sharing her thoughts and experiences with readers
through stories, articles, and poems in over two hundred publications. She has received prizes for many of her poems and hosted and participated in several television productions featuring poetry --Selkirk in Ft. Lauderdale and WLRN Miami. While living in Florida she hosted the Open Mic Poetry Night at a Barnes & Nobles Bookstore. Readings of her poetry have been given in Florida and the San Francisco East Bay in bookstores, libraries, churches, social and literary events, and various open mics.

Since moving back to California in 2003 she has been invited to be the featured reader at Poetry Express, which is held every Monday night at a local restaurant and WORD BEAT, formerly held at the Mediteraneum Caffe in Berkeley. Her memoir, "Round Trip," was presented at the 1st Wednesday Forum, Albany Senior Center, February 2005 and Changemakers For Women, February 2005, and the Lakeview Library in Oakland on December 17th 2005. She and her work were featured in Clara-Rae Genser's column in THE JOURNAL, December 2004. She joined three other local contributors to "Still Going Strong," The Haworth Press, for a reading at Black Oak Books on March 19th 2006. Her novel, "Freddie," came out from PublishAmerica in October 2006. Her poetry chapbook, "Old Haunts," was featured Monday, February 4,2008 at POETRY EXPRESS,Pryia Indian Cuisine, Berkeley CA and on February 8, 2008 at NEFELI CAFFE, Berkeley, CA. Her work can be heard regularly at the Albany Library Open Mic, 1st Thursday each month, and at Bay Area Poets Coalition, held at Strawberry Lodge, Berkeley, CA on the 1st Saturday each month.

SAMPLE POEM FROM "OLD HAUNTS" -- "The Vist" You stand there/ at the foot of the escalator/ waiting with your welcome,/ you silver hair/ combed for a change,/ a frayed back pack/ slung across your shoulders./ Do you still carry Colgate's in it/ like the time you brought it home/ for me to mend?/ You -- my Hippie son/ who gave up modern amenities/ but kept his teeth tantalizing clean./ I feel love/ crush me with your hug/ and drown in the blue of your eyes/ that even now take in the scene/ creating mental cartoons/ waiting to be sketched./ A ripped pocket/ sags from a faded shirt,/ your hearty laugh spills out,/ and I know why I have come./ **** Her stories, "Moving On," and "Tide Pools" are included in the Adams Media editions of SACRED STONES & SACRED WATERS. Her article,"Mama's Move" appears in HEART BY HEART, an anthology of stories about mothers and daughters listening to each other. "I bring my book--prepared to wait..." is included in DOROTHY PARKER'S ELBOW, edited my Kim Addonizio & Cheryl Dumesnil. "Miss 'H'" is included in GIFTS FROM OUR GRANDMOTHERS, Crown Publishers. Her poem, "Cutting Event" was published on the CD "Tree Magic." Her article, "Stir-fried Genes," is included in FAMILIAR, by The Peoples Press. Her piece, "Dear Miss "H" is included in LETTERS TO MY TEACHER, Adams Media. Selections of her poems have appeared recently in Potomac Review, Hurricane Review, American Dissidents, Bear Creek Haiku, Thema, Blue Collar Review, and Pegasus Review. Her article, "Losing Control," was published in an anthology, "Surviving Ophelia," Perseus Publishing. "Dear Doctor" and "What If?" were published in the anthology, "Life Stories: Casework in the First Person," by The Haworth Press, Inc. Her poem, "Litany," was included in the publication of "Exquisite Reactions," Andrew Mountain Press. Her poem, "At Sea Ranch Beach" is included in Milkweed Editions: "Stories From Where We Live: California Coast." Her children's story, "Sam's Happy Halloween" won a prize in the Fairy Tale Contest sponsored by Wildchild Publishing. EXCERPT FROM "ROUND TRIP: Reflections On My Life and Rebellion” A quiver went up my spine like a tremor deep inside the earth and woke me. Am I really dead: a spiritual skeleton? I do all the right things. Attend services regularly, teach Vacation Bible School, help in the office, serve as chairman of the women’s group. Is that just a veneer – the white side painted on? There used to be a saying, “Please God – on the morrow we’ll do such and such.” I seem to have it turned around – do such and such and please God. Like a soup bone simmering in a crock-pot, I had become immersed in religion. The church was everything to me – flavoring every aspect of my life: choice of mate, child rearing, education, relationships, use of time. “Who can calculate the orbit of his own soul?” says Oscar Wilde. Perhaps it’s time I try. Get away from the noise of the church’s liturgical party. Go into the cellar of my sub-conscious – like my dream suggested and find out who I am. Why I do the things I do. What I believe. What it is I’m objecting to. God or the church? Did the church set me on the wrong track or was it my own failing? And creeping in along the edges came my old doubt – is there really such a thing as God? Lots of fish to chew on.

Round Trip: Reflections On My Life and Rebelion
In Round Trip the author travels a path in search of a right reltionship with God. She relates events in her life -- major moves, family life, jobs, aging parents, and travel -- as she comes to a peaceful resolution.

Old Haunts
"Old Haunts" is a collection of poems that deal with experiences in the author's life that still haunt her -- in good or bad ways. It may be ordered through the author at cwyneken@sbcglobal.net Or send a check for $12.50 to Pudding House 81 Shadymere Lane Columbus, Ohio 43213 Or through VISA/MC at 1 614-986-1881 or through email at info@puddinghouse.com

Freddie--Look under Cherise Wyneken
"Freddie" is the story of a young woman who seeks to unravel the mystery of her paternal roots. Her search is paralleled on another level as she tries to come to terms with God. Joyce Sweeney, author of PLAYERS (Marshal Cavendish), writes, "Cherise Wyneken has told a powerful tale of self-discovery and redemption. Freddie's journey to a new life in Florida after the death of her husband, is really a journey in search of herself. Wyneken bravely asks and faces the questions of whether life is fair and what lies beyond this existence. Without dogma, the novel is filled with a spiritual power that comes from the ordinary events of life ... and how we deal with them. Brief Overview: “Freddie” In a world steeped in hate and acts of revenge, “Freddie” offers readers a timely story of reconciliation. The multicultural novel involves a mystery, a romance, and a spiritual struggle. Alone, wracked by grief, and angry at God when, Gene, her young black husband dies, white Freddie feels the need to find her father and establish a relationship. She knows nothing about her background except that her single mother brought her to San Francisco from Florida as a toddler. She eventually finds her grandfather and is devastated when she discovers he is her father as well and vows never to forgive him for his incestuous act. After struggling with hate, Verleen, an African American friend and mentor, encourages her by saying, “You been walkin’ around here with your heart draped for a funeral. You locked yourself in prison with your pout and barred your view. And you ain’t goin’ to be free till you forgive. Hatin’ is like internal bleedin’. It drains the life blood of its power.” Her good sense and advice help Freddie become reconciled to her situation and eventually she is able to forgive her fathers – God and man.

Round Trip
This article is presented on the above blog which deals with stages of religious belief.