Meet Cher Terais | The Queen of Wanderlust Romance

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cher Terais and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cher, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind mine and my brand’s success is adaptability. As an author and publisher, I write and publish stories that center perfectly imperfect black women and the men who chase them around the world.

They are stories of black romance, multicultural romance; it’s wanderlust romance. These stories are born of my own travels around the world, my passion for beautiful spaces, places, people and culture, and my own failures and successes with love.

I have been able to morph all of my life experiences from very humble beginnings where books were an escape, to my experiences in the military where the places, people and cultures in all those books I read became a part of my reality. And from there, the world became my oyster! A degree in Interior Design and Architectural history as well as a Master of Science in technology helped me hone my writing craft too. It’s all a backdrop for the creative settings in my books. Years as a successful Program Manager and Adjunct Professor gave me the tools and skills needed for publishing; taking a spark of an idea from conception to successful publication and all of the steps in between.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I write and publish Wanderlust Romance! Again, these are stories that center perfectly imperfect black women and the men who chase them around the world. Our stories are beautifully rich and go so far beyond Atlanta, DC and Miami! No diss to any of these places at all. In fact, I write stories that take you from Atlanta and places like it to some of the most stunning and exotic places around the world. Throughout my years of travel, I have found that I was the only woman/person of color there. I also had many friends and family members saying they wanted to travel but couldn’t because they didn’t have the time and/or resources to do so. This was the catalyst for me to create what I’ve coined the Wanderlust Romance genre. I wanted to share black love and the world through my books.

I am most proud of the responses that I’ve received from those who have read my books! Comments like, “Successful black women solo travelling the world and finding soft love is my favourite trope,” or “Great story, great characters and great detail about Bali. Ready to book my trip there!!!”

There are so many comments that I get about my stories transporting the reader to the place they are reading about and I truly believe it’s because I actually travel to and experience all of the places I center in each story. I can give a real experience of the place, people and culture. It is how I merged my passions and life experiences into my craft. I think this is the major reason my stories are set apart from most.

I am currently helping other authors craft their novels and memoirs using my proven process.

I want all of my readers, new writers and anyone who wants to expand their world to know that it all starts in the mind. Once that is understood, there are no limits to where your life or stories can take you.

So GET BOOKED and go on a journey with me! My Wanderlust Romance series, Bali Blue [Bali], Mess on the Mara [Kenya], and my newest book, Tempest in Tulum [Mexico] are available now. Oh, and next stops, Turkey and Paris!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In Atlanta?!?! Ohhh, let’s go!!! I have a whole list on my IG that I’ve been waiting on an opportunity to show out with it. Come through, BOOKies!!
So let me be very clear, we will NOT be out every night because your girl needs her sleep, but she also has to write… and book these trips… Outside will consist of a light itinerary with plenty of time for us to relax and kee-kee in between.
Monday
Atlanta Harvest – to stock the refrigerator for the week and get some eye therapy. There are some fine men that work on that farm.
Sunday
We’ll start the day off at Toast Noir Cafe, because it is super cute and I’m always looking for great places to write.
Then we’ll head over to Crystal Blue in Little Five Points to get our Zen on and connect with the universe.
I have to take you to Tulum Kitchen & Bar in the evening, Because we’ve got to rep “Tempest in Tulum” my latest book, baby! Staying on topic with the book, we are going to end our night at Vesper, my favorite neighborhood bar that has James Bond inspired drinks and the vibe for the night is Okiyo Bamdi. He is the ex MI6 Officer with a black James Bond essence and is the main man in my latest book, Tempest in Tulum.
Thursday
Dinner at Poor Calvin’s followed up with drinks at The James Room because I’m in my speakeasy era!
Saturday
We are kicking the day off with some bookish retail therapy out in Conyers at The Book Cellar, the most beautiful black owned bookstore in a converted Victorian mansion… We are both working up an appetite and satisfying a bit of girlish daydreaming! The place is stunning. Then we will head to brunch @ Huskey’s Kitchen. The French Toast and shrimp and grits are to die for. Later we’ll head to dinner at Gumbos out in Douglasville at the recommendation of my best friend Andree because afterwards we are heading to his house to take over his pool and bar. Sinse he’s a chef, he’ll have to cook for us if we get hungry again!!!
That’s it. That’s the itinerary.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Sheesh! The list is long but in memoriam, I have to shout out Marie “Rhi-Anne” and Waymond, my mother and father. Even though it wasn’t an easy upbringing, my mom [may she rest in peace] definitely instilled in me a love of books and the ability to see the beautiful colors of a world of my own making. My dad; he is still here and my biggest inspiration and hero. If a phoenix were a person… He not only taught, but showed me and my four siblings the true definition of love- self love. He loved us and himself enough to pick up his broken pieces and get the help needed to mend himself back together to be the strong patriarchal leader that we all needed. He is my heart and my blueprint!

Website: https://www.cherterais.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cher_terais_author/

Twitter: https://x.com/cher_terais

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherterais

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AsWrittenbyCherTerais

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cher_terais_author

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cherterais/

Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cher-Terais/author/B09G8GYPQ6?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Image Credits
Kurt Holder – IG @iskinnylove
Cher Terais – Photo of me with hat only