Carlsbad Grad Shares Her Gift Through Writing

By Misty Cryer

Jeri Lynn Strong grew up in Carlsbad, graduating from the class of ’89. She recently authored and published her second book, “Strong: The Word of My Testimony.” She shared the story of her journey to becoming an author.

Jeri started writing poetry at a very young age as a form of therapy. “I had some things happen in my childhood, and it was a way for me to release some things,” Jeri said. “I never intended to share it with anybody, ever. It was very personal.”

Around 1998, Jeri said the Lord wanted her to use her gift of poetry and rhyme to start writing the book of Psalms in rhythm and rhyme. She began to write in a red spiral notebook at that time, getting through about 61 chapters of Psalms before setting it down. “Life got in the way, I got distracted, and I kind of forgot about it for the next two decades,” she said.

When some things were going on in her life, Jeri said she really felt like the Lord wanted her to finish that book. “I remember when he impressed upon me in 2021 to finish it, I said, ‘I don’t even know where that old spiral notebook is,’” she said.

“No joke, the very next morning, I was looking for something else, and there it was,” said Jeri. She said she took that as a sign to finish the book, which she did.

Her book, “Modern Day Psalmist: The Book of Psalms in Rhythm & Rhyme,” was released in 2023. Through that, she said, “I just felt like that is what he wanted me to do, that was just to write.”

The most recently released book, Jeri said, is her testimony. “Just kind of what God has brought me through from childhood until now,” she said. The title of the new release is “Strong: The Word of My Testimony.”

When asked what she is doing now, Jeri said, “This is going to be a lot about Jesus. He is really the answer to all of that.” She said she is currently working as a landman, doing land research, which she does from home or from anywhere.

“He has just really blessed me with the type of work that I can do and write,” said Jeri. “I don’t have a set schedule. I can work in the evenings, or on the weekends, or just whenever I want, and then I can write as well, so he has kind of just worked that out to where I’m able to do both, and it has just been a huge blessing,” she said.

Jeri’s books are currently available in the bookshop at BookBaby.com in paperback and e-book format (https://store.bookbaby.com/profile/strong). Use the coupon code TESTIMONY to order the newest book at 10% off until April 17. Jeri said ordering through Book Baby is her preference.

Currently, “Modern Day Psalmist: The Book of Psalms in Rhythm & Rhyme” is available at major retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and “Strong: The Word of My Testimony” will be available at major retailers on April 17.

Presently working on a 365-day devotional titled “Devotion in Motion,” which she hopes to release by November 1, Jeri said, “They are daily poems from Father God to us as his children, and there is scripture to go along with that.” She said she wants people to be able to order it as a gift or for themselves to start on January 1.

Also on the radar is a book titled “The Green-Eyed Monster,” which Jeri said is about jealousy and things that people struggle with but don’t really talk about. “That’s something that I have definitely struggled with, and God has brought me through that,” she said.

The other one is “Little Rebel,” said Jeri. “I was rebellious growing up; of course, I am Gen X.” She said she was born in 1971 and grew up in the 80s. “I was definitely a rebellious little rocker, but I’ve come full circle.”

Acknowledging that God has allowed her to write in the “nooks and crannies” of her life, Jeri said, “I can tell when I don’t work on it and don’t spend time in the Word; my stress levels are a little bit higher, and I run out of time to do things. But when I put him first, he just kind of works it all out, and I have enough time to do what I need to do.”

Sometimes people don’t discover what they are meant to do until later in life, Jeri said. “I just happen to be one of those late bloomers. I find a lot of joy in writing and sharing, and that’s what I’ve been doing,” she said.