Meet Cheryl Northern LeGrand, 1 of 12 authors with featured book covers in NYC-TIME SQUARE for the month of April - ROUND 2...... STAY TUNED,

 

From Pain to Purpose: Seeing My Book in Times Square

When I heard that my book was going to be featured in Times Square, I was overwhelmed with excitement. It felt like a dream come true — not just for me, but for my family and the next generation. In that moment, I realized this was more than an achievement. It was a living legacy.

My initial reaction was pure joy. I was amazed, grateful, and humbled. To see something I created displayed on such an iconic stage was a reminder that even the deepest pain can be transformed into purpose.

As a survivor and warrior, this achievement means everything to me. My journey has not been easy. I have faced lupus, breast cancer, divorce, and many other life challenges. I have endured physical, emotional, and mental pain. But through it all, I have learned that trauma does not have to define you — it can refine you. What was once a painful experience became a tool for both personal and professional transformation.

Seeing my book in Times Square is bigger than visibility. It is a powerful visual representation of success that breaks traditional barriers and inspires other women to believe that they, too, can rise. I want women to know that their stories matter, their voices matter, and their healing matters.

My life has been anchored by faith, purpose, and resilience.

Faith has provided me with trust and hope. During my journey with lupus, breast cancer, and other trials, my faith became my foundation. Instead of seeing my suffering as meaningless, I chose to believe that God can use even the most challenging circumstances for good and for His glory.

Purpose has given meaning to my struggles. I now understand that everything I have gone through has prepared me to encourage, uplift, and empower others.

Resilience is what carried me through. It is the ability to endure, adapt, and grow through adversity. My story is proof that even in broken places, strength can rise.

I am Cheryl LeGrand — a woman of influence whose strength is rooted in faith and perseverance. I am a breast cancer survivor, a lupus warrior, and an advocate for women healing from divorce, abuse, and life’s unexpected challenges. I am also a self-taught author and a trusted voice in my community. Guided by God, I believe my calling is to motivate others and show that faith and endurance can overcome any battle.

One of my greatest motivations is my children. I have three beautiful young adult children who inspire me daily. My oldest is graduating from graduate school, my middle child is preparing for graduate school, and my youngest is pursuing music while attending school online. They are part of my “why.” Everything I do is rooted in leaving them a legacy of strength, courage, and faith.

Writing has become a major part of my healing journey. Daily writing helped me transform emotional turmoil into clarity. Through divorce, illness, and recovery, I found peace in simple, short writing sessions — sometimes just 20 minutes a day. Writing gave me a safe place to process pain, release emotion, and rediscover my voice.

Today, I also support others who are hurting. Many women I encounter are dealing with physical and emotional abuse. I support them by listening without judgment, believing them, and helping them develop a safety plan. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do for someone is to let them know they are seen, heard, and not alone.

When someone is overwhelmed by adversity, I encourage them to focus on what they can control and break large problems into smaller steps. Healing does not happen all at once. It happens moment by moment, decision by decision, day by day.

And when someone is struggling to find hope, I remind them of this truth:

You are not alone. It is okay to not be okay. But it is also possible to heal, rise, and become empowered through your journey.

My story is one of survival. My story is one of faith. My story is one of resilience. And now, my story is one of legacy.

Seeing my book in Times Square was not just a personal milestone — it was a declaration that pain can produce purpose, that healing is possible, and that women can overcome anything with faith, endurance, and courage.

This is my story. And I pray it inspires someone else to keep going.

— Cheryl LeGrand