From the Booking Desk:

The first time I heard the name Cheryl A. Head was in early 2018 from Greg Herren who mentioned that this author was going to attend her first Malice Domestic. Knowing that I was interested in LGBTQ+ crime fiction and that I lived in the DC area, he thought I might want to connect with her. I reached out to Cheryl to welcome her, tell her I was excited to meet her, and to offer any convention advice she might need. Turns out, she immediately fit right in and the rest is history.

Since then, I’ve seen Cheryl at a number of other events, including this LGBTQ+ panel I wrote about here on BOLO Books. I’ve become a fan of her books and we regularly communicate via social media. I wanted to introduce her to as many of you as possible, so the Composite Sketch series seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. I think each of you will enjoy “meeting” Cheryl.

Name: Cheryl A. Head
Location: Washington , DC

This person from my personal life is such an inspiration:

My kid, AJ, who has taught me so much about patience, love, and being open to all expressions of gender and identity.

One of the people I admire most in the crime fiction community is:

This is a toss up between Walter Mosley and Barbara Neely. I guess, if I have to choose, I’d say I have such a fondness of Neely’s Blanche character. After I read her first book in the Blanche series: Blanche on the Lam. I could envision myself writing a strong, African-American female crime solver who also had compassion and mother’s wit.

STALKER ALERT! If this fictional character were real, they would likely need to get arestraining order against me:

Phryne Fisher. I’m attracted to women with edge. It’s been my downfall. LOL

People are always surprised that I am a fan of this individual (singer, actor, or artist):

John Wayne. I know. He’s a guilty pleasure. I’m a huge fan of the western genre, and his multi-decade pre-eminence in cinema westerns is unchallenged. I especially like the John Ford-directed westerns starring Wayne. The Searchers is my favorite.

My personal catch phrase is (or should be):

Pace yourself.

Find out more about Cheryl here
(Photo Credit: Leigh H. Mosley)