Published Books:
Chapman, Sherry. How Much Big Is the Sky: A Memoir of a Mother's Love and Unfathomable Loss. Pedigree Publishing (Conn.), 2019.
Literary Awards and Honors Include:
Winner, Gold Medal, non-fiction, 2021 Kindle Book Awards
Winner, Gold Medal, adult non-fiction, 2020 Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Winner, Outstanding Memoir, 2020 IAN Book of the Year Awards
Winner, Memoir, 2020 NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award
Winner, Grief, 2020 National Indie Excellence Award
Winner, Silver Medal, non-fiction – Grief/Hardship, 2020 Readers' Favorite
Winner, second place, non-fiction, 2020 IAN Book of the Year Awards
Honoree, 2020, B.R.A.G. Medallion
Task Force Appointment
Appointed by Governor M. Jodi Rell to serve on Connecticut's Teen Driving Safety Task Force (contributed to Public Act 08-32, which was adopted into law and served to strengthen Connecticut's graduated licensing laws). Read the Final Report.
Officer and Director Positions
Aetna International, Inc., former Assistant Corporate Secretary
Captain Noah Grant Chapter, CT DAR, former Vice Regent
Mourning Parents Act, Inc., co-founder, former President and Board Member
Ryan A. Ramirez Memorial Fund, Inc. (RyansFund.org), Founder, President, and Board Member
Principal
Owner and operator of 1 Stop Genealogy, offering professional genealogy services.
Former Advisory Board and Commission Positions
Allstate Foundation Teen Driving Safety Advisory Board (former member)
American Trauma Society Consumer's Advisory Board
Connecticut DMV Advisory Committee on Teen Safe Driving
Connecticut Teen Driving Safety Partnership
Connecticut Underage Drinking Collaborative
Coventry Cemetery Commission, Chairwoman
Massachusetts RMV Junior Operator License Advisory Board
National Conferences and Press Conferences
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety Releases 2013 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws, National Press Conference on Highway Safety Priorities, National Press Club, Washington DC, January 2013.
Advocates Push for Enactment of Federal Law to Protect Teen Drivers in Every State. Washington, DC – west front of the U.S. Capitol building, April 23, 2009.
Lifesaver's Conference. !MPACT's Approach to Teen Driving. 2007, Portland, Oregon.
National Video
Featured in Injury Free Coalition for Kids video - Teens Driving Smart and Safe.
Television
Interview with Fox CT News for Connecticut Safe Teen Driving Awareness Week - December 8, 2014
Interview with Fox CT News for National Safe Teen Driving Awareness Week - October 21, 2014
Interview with WSBC - July 26, 2013
Interview with NBC News - December 7, 2011
ABC News - Congress Targets Teen Driving, Mulls Federal Driver's License Standards, June 2, 2010.
Featured in Teen Driving News Briefing on Efforts to Promote Safe Teen Driving with the Dept. of Motor Vehicles and Lt. Governor Fedele - CT-N, State Capitol, CT. Recorded April 28, 2010. Broadcast May 2, 2010.
Connecticut Cracks Down on Teen Drivers, NECN Boston Brian Burnell, July 9, 2008
Mothers Who Lost Kids Seek To Reach Teens - WFSB Channel 3, November 22, 2007
Beyond the Headlines - Teen Driving Discussion with !MPACT and Legislators (Fox 61), October 14, 2007
Program to Fight Teenage Driving Deaths - Members of !MPACT Hope to Become a National Model (Fox 61 News Coverage), September 24, 2007
NBC 30 News Coverage , September 24, 2007
WFSB Channel 3 News Coverage, September 24, 2007
Fox 61 News Coverage of !MPACT Presentation in Newington, CT, May 2007
Radio
AM 1220 WQUN with John D'Andre, Teen Driving Discussion, July 2017, June 2016, June 2015, June 5, 2014
WDRC, The Talk of Connecticut with Shelly Sindland, Distracted Driving, January 4, 2014.
WNPR National Public Radio, Where We Live with John Dankosky, The Road Safely Traveled: Driving Safer in the New Year, January 2, 2014
AM 1220 WQUN with John D'Andre, Teen Driving Discussion, July 24, 2013
AM 1220 WQUN with John D'Andre, Teen Driving Discussion, May 27, 2010
WATR, Talk of the Town with Larry Rifkin, December 15, 2009
WQUN CT with John D'Andre, Teen Driving Discussion, December 11, 2009
Nancy Barrows Show - Hot 93.7 - In Depth Interview, August 29, 2009
Hot 93.7, CT - !MPACT Interview, August 5, 2009
WNPR National Public Radio - Teen Driving Discussion, October 25, 2007
Speaker
Key speaker at Cherish Our Children event in Newington, CT:
Families And Friends Mourn The Deaths Of Their Children
Distinctions
2017, Safety Champion Award, presented by CT Children's Medical Center, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, CT DMV, CT DOT, American Academy of Pediatrics (Hezekiah Beardsley CT Chapter), Office of the Child Advocate, Safe Kids Connecticut, and AAA
2014, Highway Safety Hero Award; Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Washington DC
2014, Excellence in Community Service Award; National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution
2013, Liberty Bell Award; Tolland County (CT) Bar Association
Editor
1999–2009 Connecticut Maple Leaf (bi-annual publication of the French-Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut)
Memberships
Association of Gravestone Studies
Association of Professional Genealogists
National Genealogical Society
National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, National #897547
New England Historic Genealogical Society
Connecticut Gravestone Studies
Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council, Inc.