Chi Phi played a large part of Shawn Cerra’s college years, and according to his wife, Kerry, it played just as large a part in hers (particularly in light of her being a Chi Phi Little Sister!). After college, the two got married, and while both of them have worked in the public school system, only Shawn remained in the educational system (serving as a principal now at JP Taravealla High School in Broward County). Kerry, who was a high school history teacher, has left that career behind her to become a published author, with her first book, Just a Drop of Water, set to hit the shelves next month (September 2, 2014).
Set in Coral Springs Florida, Just a Drop of Water tells the story of two thirteen-year-old boys – Jake Green and Sam Madina – 
and how their friendship is tested in the wake of September 11th. Jake and Sam are best friends, and that friendship is put to the test when Sam is pummeled for being an Arab Muslim by a classmate bully. When Sam’s father is detained by the FBI and Jake’s mom begins to doubt the innocence of Sam’s family, Jake is forced to choose between his best friend and his parents. Then Jake not only finds out that Sam has been keeping secrets, but his own family’s past is revealed, and suddenly everything he ever knew to be true feels like one big lie. Kerry’s debut novel is aimed at middle school age children.
Kerry revealed a bit about what inspired her to write this book. “Pretty quickly after the attacks, it was discovered that Mohamed Atta—the lead hijacker of the plane that flew into the north tower in New York City—lived in our town. Fear was already heightened throughout America, but this information almost paralyzed me. 
I had three small kids, and I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d seen Atta at the grocery store, a restaurant, the park, the bank. At the same time these scenarios were running though my head, I discovered that a close college friend and Chi Phi brother—who is Muslim—was having a difficult time, and that his parents, who lived in the town where the terrorists took flight lessons, were being questioned. I wish I could say I believed their innocence in that moment, but it would be a lie. I’ve never really forgiven myself for that, even though he has. I didn’t like myself for doubting my friend and his family. Once my head cleared and the fear subsided a little, I knew—with all that is in me—that they were innocent. These were people who had welcomed us into their home in England a few years prior. They weren’t just acquaintances. Their son was one of my very best friends! I started to wonder why I doubted them in the first place. And, I wondered if my kids, at their young ages, would have ever doubted their friends. At what age do we go from trusting and innocent, to fearful and jaded? I wanted to explore that, and Just a Drop of Water is the result.”
Kerry hopes that the theme of peace, that is threaded throughout the book, shines though. While the terrorist attacks on September 11th were tragic, it is Kerry’s hope that we can learn from them. “Acceptance is the key to peace,” she believes, “and that begins with children. I certainly don’t mean acceptance of terrorism, but acceptance of religious, cultural, racial, and all other differences to eventually create a world where we can live side by side, peacefully. When I see and hear stories about children in the Middle East being brainwashed and trained to hate at such young ages, it breaks my heart. Why can’t we be doing the same thing but with the opposite message? I hope that Just a Drop of Water is a step in that direction.”
Kerry is currently revising her first middle grade novel titled The Sacredness of Spit Swears. It’s been sitting a drawer for several years now, and Kerry knows that it needs quite a bit of work before she can finally submit it to her agent and editor. It has themes of sibling rivalry, loyalty, and friendship—all centered around a middle school basketball team. She is also toying with a new middle grade book titled A Gentle Breath of Wind, which she is really loving. Her first two books have male protagonists, but this third one will be told from a girl’s point of view. She describes it as having an interesting mix of components like surfing, theater, family issues, euthanasia, Hawaiian culture, and learning how to let go. She is anxious to get back to it.
When asked how her husband, Delta Zeta’s own Shawn Cerra, supported her through the writing of the book, she was quick to respond, “He has been incredibly supportive. When we got married,” she explains, “we both agreed that I’d eventually stay home and raise our kids–which finally happened after our second one was born.
During those stay-at-home years, I found myself writing short stories and learning all I could about the craft. Once I discovered The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, I knew I’d found my niche. Writing wasn’t something I’d gone to school for, but I’d found my passion, for sure. Shawn could see that and once the kids were all in school, he supported my decision to continue to stay home, volunteer at school, and keep writing. It took me eight years to finally sell a book, and yet he never doubted that I would.” Brother Cerra is even helping his wife plan a book signing for September 13th, and she jokes that he is quickly becoming her manager, with which she is completely fine. “I just want to write,” she says. “He can take care of business!”
If you want to support Brother Cerra and his wife’s new career, you can find Just a Drop of Water on Amazon or at your local bookseller (and if they don’t carry it, tell them to order it!).
