I am a writer, journalist, artist, photographer, musician and an author.
My Education:
Degrees held: Bachelor's degree in communication and mass media with an emphasis in journalism from the University of Wyoming. Associate's of arts degree in communication from Western Wyoming Community College. I have five museum collections based on my career.
C.J. Box, who is a New York Times Best-Selling author of a series of books about Game Warden Joe Pickett, as well as stand alone thrillers, talked about his latest Pickett book, “Off the Grid.”
The Wyoming based author will be doing a book signing tonight at 7 p.m. at the Laramie County Library. He was kind enough to do a question and answer session about his latest book for Life is as Sweet as Cotton Candy.
According to his official website “Off the Grid” is about Nate Romanowski, who is off the grid, recuperating from wounds and trying to deal with past crimes, when he suddenly is confronted by a small team of elite professional special operators. They’re not here to threaten him, but to make a deal. They need help destroying a domestic terror cell in the Red Desert, and in return, they’ll make Nate’s criminal record disappear.
But they are not what they seem, as Joe Pickett discovers. They have a much different plan in min and it just may be something that takes them all down, including Nate and Joe. And if there is other collateral damage? That’s just the fortunes of war.
Here is Box’s Q and A session:
Q: Did you spend a lot of time in the Red Desert in order to do research for your new book?
Box: “I’ve been to the Red Desert several times over the years so I’m familiar with it (although by no means an expert). I once witnessed a herd of wild horses running across the desert and we spotted desert elk as well. It’s a fascinating and very remote location.”
Q: When you created Joe Pickett for your first book did you ever imagine that he would be such a great character that helped create such a long standing series of books for you? How does that feel?
Box: “Nope — when I wrote OPEN SEASON I thought I was writing a stand-alone that I hoped would be published and appreciated by people in Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain region. I didn’t have a series in mind at the time but I’m glad it worked out that way. When the last book, ENDANGERED DEBUTED AT #2 New York Times bestseller list I was thrilled. I never expected the books to do as well.”
Q: What do you like the most about writing?
Box: “Portraying the modern west and the issues that dominate it.”
Q: Any interesting news about movies or TV shows about your books?
Box: “Nothing to announce yet although there are some really exciting prospects out there.”
Kirby Maurier, an R & B artist was one of this year’s winners of the Grammy Amplifier Program
Hard rockers, American Bombshell was one band that was chosen from 4,000 entrants of the Grammy Amplifier Program
Adley Stump, who was a season two The Voice Blake Shelton team member, was a Grammy Amplifier Program winner for this year.
According to a press release from PFA Media, Kirby Maurier, an R & B artist, hard rocker band American Bombshell, and Adley Stump, who was a Blake Shelton team member on season two of The Voice, are all winners of this year’s Hyundai and the Recording Academy’s fourth annual Grammy Amplifier Program.
These winners were chosen from 4,000 entrants and they won one of three prize packages, a studio recording session with a Recording Academy producer, a live performance showcase series opening for a noted artist, or the filming of a music video with a celebrated director.
Maurier, American Bombshell and Stump were named winners by Big Sean , Lzzy Hale and Sam Hunt on February 22.
American Bombshell is hailed from Indiana and they recently released a music video for their song, “No Regrets.”
“Winning Grammy Amplifier is an incredible honor for us. It’s allowing American Bombshell … five dudes from Greenwood, Indiana, an opportunity to spread our pure, unfiltered unadulterated brand of in your face rock and roll, far and wide. We look forward to kicking in every new door presented to us,” the band stated in a press release.
Maurier started with the music business at a young age. She is a founder of the Miami Music Museum, which preserves the music history of Miami. “Doing the Most” is her first album and it was the highest selling indie album in the South Atlantic Region for last year.
“I’m so overcome with excitement!” Maurier said in a press release. “Having this opportunity to not only increase my exposure, but to gain what is essential for my development as an artist, my goal is to use my gift to express myself and make music to which everyone can relate. This platform will undoubtedly enable me to reach a broader audience and connect with music lovers across the country, who may not know who I am. With the support of the Grammys and Hyundai I fell so much closer to achieving those goals.”
If it wasn’t for a dare, Stump, wouldn’t have auditioned for season two of The Voice. She can be proud of her Top 40 iTunes Country Chart spot, for a couple of her releases. She is recording an album now and was also a contributor to the book “How They Sell Music.”
“What an immeasurable honor,” she was quoted as saying in a press release. “I’m so thankful to the Grammy’s for front-running this initiative that recognizes and fosters independent talent. I couldn’t be more humbled to have been acknowledged, there is no better organization from which to learn and grow, not only as an artist, but as a person and member of the creative community I love so much.”
Craig lives in Ucross, Wyoming and is known for his mystery novels that feature the character, Sheriff Walt Longmire.
The TV show, “Longmire,” used to air on A & E, until they stupidly cancelled it. Now Netflix calls the show its home.
Viewers are happy and the Long LIve Longmire Twitter campaign worked!
With that said Craig talked about what it’s like seeing his characters larger than life on TV, what he likes best about book signings and you can learn what he has in the works right now!
Q AND A with Craig Johnson
Q: What’s it like seeing your characters come alive on Netflix? And isn’t it great they picked the show and idea up? Yay!
Johnson: “It’s kind of like having a house-plant for seven years and suddenly it starts talking, were but wonderful. The deal I got from Warner Brothers was a package deal in which I got to meet the producers, directors and writers, which gave me an opportunity to gauge their interest in the material. They were really great folks who were really knowledgeable of the books and characters and had track records of how they’d gotten things done. That’s generally the problem with being optioned by Hollywood, you never know if the people you’re dealing with will ever get anything made. I’m a Cowboy author from a town of 25 in northern Wyoming, so for me it will always be about visibility for the books. Our producers were responsible for shows like The Closer and Nip/Tuck so I felt relatively confident—as confident as you can feel in Hollywood.
“I think the casting was crucial and when they made me a Creative Consultant, I figured they were serious. Warner started sending me dvd’s of the actors they were considering, so I wasn’t shocked by them—pretty much every actor I was rooting for got the roles.”
Q: What do you like the most about book signings and meeting your fans?
Johnson: “You pretty much said it yourself, meeting the folks that read my books and having the opportunity to talk with them in person. Email and social media are great, but I’m a face to face kind of guy. I’ve established tons of friendships over the years with people I only get to see once a year, if I’m lucky. These people are important to me in that they know the innermost workings of my mind by reading my books—and they still want to meet me? That’s pretty great.”
Q: What’s next? What are you working on next?
Johnson: “The next Walt Longmire novel is called, An Obvious Fact, and should be out in May. It takes place up in Hulett, Wyoming, (population 396, police force 1), the sister city to Sturgis and once a year it has about a half-million bikers in it… That seemed like something Walt, Henry and Vic should be involved in. Then I’ve got another novella akin to Spirit of Steamboat, The Highwayman that concerns a Highway Patrol-Person who is transferred to the Wind River Canyon and begins getting Officer-In-Need-Of-Assitance calls from another Highway Patrolman every night—the problem? He’s been dead for thirty years.
Life is as sweet 🍬 as cotton candy 🍬 is back on and I will be writing entertainment articles like I used to do at the newspaper.
I have story ideas or want to be mentioned please let me know.
Writer’s block I’ve discovered is a real thing unlike other lucky authors that I’ve interviewed on this blog before: C.J. Box and Craig Johnson who dont ever get writer’s block.
Look for updates..karencottonwriter@gmail.com email for article submissions!
Karen Cotton yay!!!!🎆 so excited
My book is also available in stores at Sierra Trading Post, Barnes and Noble Booksellers in Cheyenne, Wyoming, City Newsstand and Pipe Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the Wyoming State Museum store, the University of Wyoming Bookstore in Laramie, Wyoming, and Hastings in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Please be sure to check it out. Reviewers let me know if you would like a review copy.
Thanks!
Karen Cotton
I did it. I published the book that I have been working on. It is called Vedauwoo:Hidden Faces in Mysterious Places.
It is about Vedauwoo, Wyoming USA
Vedauwoo is a mountainous area located between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming directly off of Interstate-80. Its unusual rock formations often look like faces or shapes, like of a puppy dog or bear. The book tells about the history of the area, the animals and plants that you can find there, as well as some of the recreational things you can do there.
You can find it at http://www.sierratradingpost.comsierra Trading Post
By typing in Vedauwoo
Or Barnes and Noble
OrAmazon.com
Happy reading!
If you are a blogger who would like to review my book contact me at karencottonwriter@gmail.com
Review of Matthew West’s concert in Cheyenne, WY, April 25, 2014
Matthew West Contemporary Christian singer
By Karen Cotton, editor of Life is as Sweet as Cotton Candy
karencottonwriter@gmail.com
It’s safe to say that Matthew West is a master storyteller and musician after seeing him in concert last night in Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA.
The Christian musician and pastor’s son, had a sold out audience at Cheyenne Hills Church captivated with his acoustic show on his birthday.
The four-time Grammy nominee is on tour promoting his latest album “Into the Light.”
During the first part of his show he talked about his first concert, at Barnes and Noble, when he was an independent artist.
West said he was so excited, even though the only audience members were his parents. The book store manager even got his name wrong on the poster “Mark West.” His payment — a complimentary bag of coffee and a 20 dollar bill that his father had put in the tip jar to attract more tippers. Those were his humble beginnings.
Now he is best known for his songs that are huge hits on contemporary Christian radio; “Strong Enough,” “The Motions,” “My Own Little World,” “More,” and “You Are Everything.”
Recently his song “Hello My Name is …” spent 17 weeks at #1 on the National Christian Artist Chart, according to the updates page on his website, http://www.matthewwest.com .
“Do Something,” is his current hit single and is found at the number ten spot on KLOVE radio’s Top Songs list.
Some of his songs are written from personal experiences like “My Own Little World,” yet since 2010 they have been based on true stories of his fans from all over the world.
He laughed when he talked about his call for submissions of stories on Twitter and Facebook for his 2010 album, “The Story of Your Life” and he thought nobody would respond. But, on a more serious, note he was in for a much different outcome —more than 10,000 stories flooded his inbox. So, many that those stories also inspired his latest album’s songs, “Into the Light.”
Throughout his show West showed videos of the people behind the stories that inspired his latest albums’ songs. A drug addict, Jordan, who recovered at Teen Challenge, a woman, Renee Napier, who lost her child in a car accident, a young woman from Colorado, Andrea, who created an orphanage in Uganda, and more. Check out the show to get the whole scoop, or if you can’t make it to his show read about the stories here, http://matthewwest.com/the-stories/
He also has a link on his website where you can submit your own story to him. http://matthewwest.com/yourstory/
West had this to say about his last two albums from his press release, “On every level it has been the single most fulfilling thing that I’ve had a chance to be a part of in my career,” West says. “It’s just the added element of emotion that I feel by having a chance to be a part of this person’s story and to share their story with an audience. Something really special is taking place and I’m along for the ride for as long as it needs to go. As long as those stories come in, I think I’m going to keep making these kinds of records.”
Before intermission West was presented with a birthday surprise — balloons, two cakes, a banner, cards from his fans at the concert and a loud “Happy Birthday” chorus from the audience. http://youtu.be/r03ff9Urejc
Throughout the concert, West’s band member, David “Chili” Childress, joined him on stage playing various instruments and singing background vocals.
Mid-concert West showed a video of Haiti, a place where he and his band have visited. Haiti is also where 70 percent of the citizens are unemployed, and it’s where West and his family sponsors a child.
The child lives in a shack and sleeps on boards that are on cinder blocks with rags on top of them for bedding. The program is called Compassion International. Audience members were able to choose a child that they could sponsor in order to provide healthier lives and education for impoverished children.
Compassion International, West said at the show, is one of the sponsors he always dreamed of working with if he ever became famous as a musician.
He learned about the program when he went to concerts in his youth, Toby Mac, DC Talk and Steven Curtis Chapman.
His wife and two daughters went through the audience and handed out the packets. Many of the audience members became sponsors.
Not only did West’s show in Cheyenne wind up with successful sponsors for children all over the world, some of the proceeds of his April 25th show went toward the Boys and Girls Club of Cheyenne.
West had a special guest at his show, Taylor Gibson, 23, who joined him on stage. She has Down-syndrome and inspired a song, “The Last One,” on West’s “The History” CD. Taylor and her parents, Jeff and Bonnie, who were also at the concert, are from the Kansas City and they drove all of the way to Cheyenne to see him.
Taylor, Bonnie and Jeff Gibson Photo by Karen Cotton
“I was running sound in Kansas City and I took Taylor with me,” Jeff said. “The concert was with a kid that was coming in from Nashville to perform and wasn’t signed with any record label.”
That was 12-13 years ago when West and the Gibsons met.
“Taylor talked to him and they started to kid around and the kid turned out to be Matthew,” Jeff said.
Bonnie added this, “He is a remarkable man and the most genuine person I’ve ever met.”
The Gibson’s son now lives in Nashville and when they visit their son they also visit Matthew West regularly.
Jenn and Joe Grenier and Bill Wixted Photo by Karen Cotton
Bill Wixted, 25 had this to say about West and his concert, “I like his personality. He is very engaging to the crowd. He is a very good singer – his voice and music. I didn’t know his music coming in, now I like all of them (his songs).”
Wixted’s friends that were seated next to him, Joe and Jenn Grenier, 29, also commented on West’s performance.
Joe said, “I knew all of the songs, but I didn’t know they were Matthew West’s. They’re cool songs. I hear him all of the time on KLove and WayFM.”
Jenn added, “Matthew West’s songs are super uplifting stories. They are encouraging stories. He is personable and relates to everyone. There’s a story with every song and that makes faith more real.”
The main message of West’s concert is people are given labels of some kind, which is where the premise for “Hello My Name Is,” came from.
Those labels are filled in by other people, but God’s vision for all of his children of the world is much different. Everyone is a child of the one true king and they are loved by Him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuJWQzjfU3o
See him tonight in Gillette, Wyoming https://www.facebook.com/events/487226864737957/
Review of Matthew Wests concert in Cheyenne, WY, April 25, 2014
By Karen Cotton, editor of Life is as Sweet as Cotton Candy
Karencottonwriter@gmail.com
It’s safe to say that Matthew West is a master storyteller and musician after seeing him in concert last night in Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA.
The Christian musician and pastor’s son, had a sold out audience at Cheyenne Hills Church captivated with his acoustic show on his birthday. The four-time Grammy nominee is on tour promoting his latest album “Into the Light.”
During the first part of his show he talked about his first concert, at Barnes and Noble, when he was an independent artist. He said he was so excited, even though the only audience members were his parents. The book store manager even got his name wrong on the poster “Mark West.” His payment — a complimentary bag of coffee and a 20 dollar bill that his father had put in the tip jar to attract more tippers. Those were his humble beginnings.
Now he is best known for his songs that are huge hits on contemporary Christian radio; “Strong Enough,” “The Motions,” “My Own Little World,” “More,” and “You Are Everything.”
More recently West’s song, “Hello, My Name is” spent 17 weeks at #1 on the National Christian Artist Chart, according to the updates page on his website, http://www.matthewwest.com . “Do Something,” is his current hit single and is found at the number ten spot on KLOVE radio’s Top Songs list.
Some of his songs are written from personal experiences, yet since 2010 they have been based on true stories of his fans from all over the world.
At his show he laughed when he talked about his call for submissions of stories on Twitter and Facebook for his 2010 album, “The Story of Your Life” and he thought nobody would respond. But, on a more serious, note he was in for a much different outcome —more than 10,000 stories flooded his inbox. So many, that those stories also inspired his latest album’s songs, “Into the Light.”
Life is as Sweet as Cotton Candy 