Welcome to My Little Corner of Yonder Creek

Come on in, friend. I’m Cheryl A. McKenzie, and I’m so glad you’ve found your way here to my new online home. I’ve been dreaming about a place where all my stories could live together under one cozy roof, and this website is exactly that: Yonder Creek adventures, family memory books, and my own memoirs, all in one welcoming spot.

I’m a retired author tucked away in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where misty mornings and tall trees make it very easy to imagine talking animals and winding creeks. Over the years I’ve written the Yonder Creek children’s books featuring Ohno the Opossum (there are twenty-nine of them and counting!), The Together Collection of interactive family memory books, and two memoirs: Moments Along the Way and Deeper Moments Along the Way.

People often ask, “Where on earth did Ohno the Opossum come from?” Honestly, from everyday life. I noticed how often I’d say, “Oh no!” when something went sideways—spilled coffee, missed turn, muddy paw prints. One day I heard myself say it and thought, that sounds like a character name. Ohno! The kind of name that makes kids grin and adults chuckle. Before long, Ohno had a home along Yonder Creek, a circle of friends, and a whole lot of curious, slightly clumsy adventures to share.

While Ohno was busy tumbling through the woods, another idea began tugging at me: what about the stories we don’t want to lose—our own? That’s where The Together Collection was born. I wanted to create guided, interactive books that families and friends could fill out together. Pages that invite you to remember, to laugh, to say, “I’d forgotten all about that,” and to capture it before it slips away. These aren’t just books; they’re conversations in print, keepsakes you build side by side.

And then there are my memoirs, where I turn that same light inward: moments of joy, grief, faith, doubt, and the quiet in-between spaces that shape a life. Moments Along the Way and Deeper Moments Along the Way are my way of saying, “Here’s my story—maybe you’ll see a little of your own in it.”

As you look around, I hope you’ll wander through Yonder Creek, flip through The Together Collection, and take a peek at my memoirs. You can browse all books, follow along on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and X, and if something here stirs a memory or makes you smile, I would truly love to hear from you on the contact page.

I write for children who still believe anything is possible, for families who cherish their shared stories, and for anyone walking through life carrying both joy and ache in the same heart. If that’s you, you’re in the right place. Thank you for being here, for reading, and for letting my words keep you company along the way.