Cheri is a writer of memoir and essay who regularly teaches creative non-fiction writing at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. Packinghouse Daughter, her memoir about growing up working-class in a meatpacking town, won a Minnesota Book Award and an American Book Award and was a BookSense 76 selection. Its opening chapter was listed as a Notable Essay in Best American Essays.

She has published two pivotal books on intercountry adoption, Beyond Good Intentions: A Mother Reflects on Raising Internationally Adopted Children and Are Those Kids Yours?  American Families with Children Adopted from Other Countries.

She is the author, as well, of Living with Chronic Illness: Days of Patience and Passion (revised and reissued as The Chronic Illness Experience: Embracing the Imperfect Life) and of many essays, articles, and book reviews.

Her work has been supported by grants and fellowships from the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Jerome Foundation, the Dayton-Hudson Foundation, the Minnesota Historical Society, The Loft Literary Center, the American-Scandinavian Foundation, and residencies at Ragdale and Norcroft.