Interview: Sheri Fink and Kellie Gerardi

Lori talks to bestselling children’s author Sheri Fink and astronaut and science communicator Kellie Gerardi about their collaboration on Sheri’s new children’s book, “Beyond Words,” from which the net proceeds support pediatric cancer and blood-disorder research and treatment.

Sheri Fink and Kellie Gerardi (2025)

SIDEWALKS host Lori Rosales talks to children’s author Sheri Fink and research aerospace professional / science communicator Kellie Gerardi about their book, “Beyond Words.”

PLEASE NOTE: This online version of the interview is slightly different than how it appeared on the TV episode with host segments rearranged.

Mini-Biographies:

Born in Culpeper, Virginia, Sheri Fink, a #1 best-selling, award-winning children’s author and inspirational speaker, is known for writing books that focus on social-emotional learning, self-esteem, and kindness. Fink’s books, which are part of the “Whimsical World” brand she co-created with her husband Derek Taylor Kent, aim to inspire and educate children through engaging stories that convey positive messages. Along with “Wishing You Rainbows” and “Magenta,” some of her popular books are her “The Little Series, which include titles “The Little Rose,” “The Little Unicorn,” “The Little Dragon,” and “The Little Gnome.” “Beyond Words,” written in collaboration with Aflac, is a picture book that helps children learn empathy, coping skills, and ways to support friends who are going through health challenges. “The net proceeds from the book’s sale go to childhood cancer research and treatment. Beyond her children’s books, Fink has authored several popular titles for adults, including the contemporary romance and women’s fiction novel, “Cake in Bed”; the empowering self-help book “InstaGrateful: Finding Your Bliss in a Social Media World,” and the motivational self-help journal “My Bliss Book: An Inspirational Journal for Daily Dream Building and Extraordinary Living.”

Born in Jupiter, Florida on February 16, 1989, Kellie Gerardi is an American aerospace professional, researcher, author, and influential science communicator who made history by flying to space as a payload specialist with Virgin Galactic in 2023. She has built a prominent career focused on bioastronautics research while using her platforms to transparently share her professional and personal journeys with a broad audience. She is the author of books like “Not Necessarily Rocket Science: A Beginner’s Guide to Life in the Space Age,” and “The Luna Muna” series, as well as “Beyond Words,” where she provided the foreword and the voice for the audiobook version. Gerardi currently serves as the Director of Human Spaceflight and a Test Flight Director at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS).

Interview Credits:

• Recorded: November 18, 2025
• Host / Producer: Lori Rosales
• Editor: Richard R. Lee
• Special Thanks To: Aflac, Whimsical World