I write memoir, essay, and history. My vocation as a writer is to testify about what I know of life, especially where the particular meets the universal and private and public intersect. I think of myself as the solo voice rising out of the chorus, singing candidly about experiences that are somewhat unusual--though certainly not unique to me--and thus easily misperceived. I write about being invisibly but chronically ill, an internationally adoptive parent, an unexpectedly single mother, a working-class kid away from home, a third-generation Danish American, and a proud Midwesterner. When I research and write history, I am drawn to suppressed or forgotten stories that involve ordinary, unsung people. To me, a book is a conversation starter, never the complete, final word on a topic. I love hearing from readers, especially those who offer their own insights into our shared experiences. Please visit my website and blog at www.cheriregister.com.