Sheryl Leă Ferguson

* * * U p c o m i n g E v e n t s * * *

3 Children's Stories! Reading & Signing at the Book Gallery in historic Winchester, Virginia.

Plan ahead and then go live fully! This empowering station turns end-of-life preparation into an uplifting, essential life skill. Inspired by Sheryl Ferguson’s practical handbook, Falling off the Perch: A Guidebook on How to Prepare for Death, this station offers an approachable, positive, and stress-free planning opportunity.

Stop by to learn how to:

• Look beyond a basic will to protect what matters.

• Get a handle on your assets, accounts, and digital legacy with ease.

• Outline your final wishes to protect and ease the future burden from your loved ones.

When: Saturday, September 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where:
Handley Library
100 West Piccadilly Street
Winchester, Virginia

October 3, 2026

September 26, 2026

Handley Library 2026 How-To Fest

October 4, 2026

Featured Station: How to "Fall Off the Perch" Well and Plan your Estate

Meet author Sheryl Leă Ferguson: Learn how you too can prepare for death with her guidebook, Falling off the Perch.

Humor and practicality meet in this book that covers the nitty gritty like, what you own, what are your accounts, your internment wishes, special gifts and much more. Preparation is essential for your executor. Let's deal with the practical side of it so we can stop worrying about it and get back to actually living.

Preparing for the inevitable isn't necessarily about becoming obsessed with death. It's about creating enough peace of mind that you can actually enjoy the life you still have. In other words, handle the paperwork now so Future You doesn't leave everyone else playing an extremely unpleasant scavenger hunt.

When: Sunday, October 4th from Noon to 2:00 p.m.

Where:
The Winchester Book Gallery
7 North Loudoun Street
Winchester, Virginia

Bring the whole family to meet and listen to Sheryl Leă Ferguson and Susan Parker Lauer. The authors bring their books to life by reading stories about friendship, courage and finding purpose in their stories Apples for Henry, Sir William's Wild Wombat Walkabout and The Walking Stick.

We will share live readings and wrap up with a special book signing where your little ones can get free coloring sheets and their book copies personalized.

When: Saturday, October 3rd from
              11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Story Times:
Apples for Henry - 11:30 a.m.
Sir William's Wild Wombat Walkabout - noon
The Walking Stick - 12:30 p.m.

*Coloring sheets and books will be available while supplies last.

Where:
The Winchester Book Gallery
7 North Loudoun Street
Winchester, Virginia

Books Available on Amazon.....

Sir William’s Wild Wombat Walkabout - Author

Falling off the Perch – A Guide on How to Prepare for Death - Author

Apples for Henry - Illustrator

The Walking Stick - Illustrator

Free Digital Versions hosted by the Library of Virginia*

Sir William’s Wild Wombat Walkabout - Author

Falling off the Perch – A Guidebook on How to Prepare for Death - Author

Apples for Henry - Illustrator

The Walking Stick - Illustrator

There are many sayings that mean you are no longer alive. My favorite is the Australian version which says you have 'fallen off the perch'. Other phrases say: you are dead, you are pushing up daisies, you have passed away, you are forever in our

An unlikely friendship between a dog and a horse is made stronger with the gift of an apple. The book also takes the reader through the growth of an apple tree from blossom to tiny fruit to juicy treat.

A thunderstorm rips through a park, tears a branch from its tree and throws it to the ground. The branch is sad that it is no longer part of the tree and wonders what it will do next.

Not William, he was restless. He decided to head out on a "walkabout” to the rugged mountains of Tasmania.

Listening to his Mum's bedtime stories gave him guidance, but little did William know what awaited him on his adventure. From listening to the pig squeals of the curious Cape Barren Geese to surviving a rough ride as a ferry stowaway, William’s adventure is filled with strange sights, explorations and unlikely new friends.

He’s a young explorer whose spirit is as big as his serious craving for Silver Tussock Grass. As the road grows long, this rotund traveler must rely on his wits and have the courage of a lion—or at least a very fearless marsupial. What will it take for William to find his ultimate destination?

Will William find a new ‘wisdom’ at Cradle Mountain? Is the true wisdom found in the courage it took to begin on his adventure? Or will he find out that the greatest wisdom of all was the courage it took to leave home?

Follow William along on his inspiring journey across the sea and the Land Down Under to discover where true wisdom really hides.

hearts, you are deceased, etc.

Whichever phrase you may choose, death is a certainty and we need to be prepared.

This is a delicate topic. Many people feel that they have done their part once they have prepared their will. Probably not! This book is intended to help the executor be well prepared with all the information they will need to make their function the least challenging and fulfill your wishes. This book covers the nitty gritty like, what you own, what are your accounts, your internment wishes, special gifts and much more! Preparation is essential for your executor.

Not only does this book offer emotional, practical and legal reasons why you ought to prepare, but there is guidance on what processes may happen along the way.

This book has templates that should be completed for your executors benefit. Once you have filled out the templates in this book, your executor or executrix will have all of the documentation they need to be successful. You will have provided a way to ensure your loved ones know what your decisions were and they will be certain they are making the decisions you wanted. It allows you to have some control of where your precious things will go and how they will be distributed. You can help your loved ones now by ensuring you are prepared.

In addition to the delightful story, a
ladybug is hidden in each of the photographs challenging young readers to practice their visual discrimination skills.

Now just a stick, the branch is ushered around the park by its animal residents and human visitors. Each stop brings the stick closer to figuring out how, even separated from its tree, it can be useful.

What happens to a branch that falls off a tree? Follow the stick's adventure as it embarks on an adventure to find a new purpose.

Not every adventurer wears boots—some have a bare nose and tough claws.

William is no ordinary wombat with a little round belly. Was he content to graze on Maria Island after being raised on the sunny shores of Maria Island?

Get in touch

I am grateful for your time spent reading. I am looking forward to your questions, comments or suggestions, Thanks!

E-mail:

desertnbcom@gmail.com

Mary R. : Yes! Even death needs a checklist. Please email again, as I was not able to respond to your email. Feel free to introduce Falling off the Perch: A Guidebook on How to Prepare for Death to readers who appreciate practical guidance, thoughtful life discussions and books that can make an uncomfortable subject a little easier to face. Because if we're all eventually going to fall off the perch, we might as well make sure the paperwork isn't waiting until then to fall apart too.

About the Author

Trading a pair of combat boots for hiking boots, Sheryl Leă Ferguson loves a good adventure. A United States Marine Corps veteran, she served four years in the Marines before earning her Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership.

She finds inspiration from her love of hiking, photography and traveling. Sheryl lives in Virginia with her husband. Her purpose in life is to bring beauty to the world. She hopes that by reading her books, it too brings happiness and beauty to your life.

This webpage is sponsored by Living Beyond PTS, Inc. a 501(c)(3) organization.

*Digital Versions hosted by the Library of Virginia are free to Virginia Residents

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Living Beyond PTS, Inc.