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.
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.”
One quote from fan Bill Wixted,25
“I like his personality. He is very engaging to the crowd. He is a very good singer. I like his voice and music. I didn’t know his music coming in now I like all of them (his songs).
Even though The Daddy of ’em All is over you will be able to see videos of people who make Cheyenne Frontier Days magic happen ..coming soon
G’night
Karen Cotton
Don’t forget to check the weather forecast, dress appropriately, drink plenty of water, and don’t drink and drive. Choose a designated driver. Be safe out there!
On July 20th, Alan Jackson may not have “Rocked the Jukebox,” but he certainly rocked the Cheyenne Frontier Days Night Show crowd, a cross-section of young and old, city and country. Jackson stepped onto the stage and asked “How are y’all doin’ tonight?”. He shrugged his guitar strap over his shoulder and launched into “She’s Gone Country!”
The crowd was his for the next hour, as they sang along with his long list of number one country hits. He introduced “Livin’ on Love” as a reflection of his life and one of his favorites. This classic song of young love and growing old together brought smiles and tears to more than one of us!
Instrumental solos leading into various favorite songs showcased the talents of his band members. The crowd roared every time he slipped “Wyoming” or “Cheyenne” into his familiar lyrics. From his iconic “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning” (a tribute to 9/11), to his Zac Brown Band duet, “As She’s Walking Away,” and the rocking “Chattahoochee,” Jackson never slowed down. He closed with “Where I Come From,” enhanced with video taken around Cheyenne. What a nice personal touch and one that was appreciated by the crowd. They brought him back to an encore of “Mercury Blues.”
Jackson has been recognized and honored by the industry and his fans throughout his career of two dozen years. This week he released his first blue grass album.
The Jackson concert was up to CFD’s “Daddy-of ’em-all” standards in every way!
A couple of band opener reviews for 2013 Cheyenne Frontier Days’ Night Shows
by Virginia Wakefield , reporter for Life is as Sweet as Cotton Candy
Randy Houser opened for Alan Jackson on July 20th
Talented newcomer, song-writer and performer, Randy Houser, opened for Alan Jackson. Houser’s contemporary style showcased heavy bass, but still achieved a pleasing balance of guitars and percussion. His steel player’s fringed leather jacket and feather-decorated top hat caught the eye more than once. He puffed on a pipe throughout the show, but never lost a beat! His finale was perfect for Houser’s new hit, “Like a Cowboy,” to all the CFD cowboys and cowgirls out on the road.
Houser showed the crowd why his star is on the rise in country music. He opened with “Sunshine on the Line,” went into his #2 hit, “Boots On,” and rocked the CFD arena with his latest album hits, “How Country Feels” and “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight.”
While the opening crowd was lukewarm, Houser and his band were red-hot. He was on his way out of Cheyenne to perform on July 22 with Dierks Bentley and the Band Perry in a concert for the Prescott, Ariz., firefighters.
Wyoming talent opened for Dwight Yoakam on July 21st
Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers band, proved that Nashville has nothing over Wyoming, when it comes to country music talent.
Williams and his drummer, Travis DeWitt built their career after performing at their high school talent show in Moorcroft. Lead guitarist Wyatt Springsteen of Saratoga and fiddle player Brooke Latka of Casper came on board in 2008. Laramie bass player Jack Robbins joined the band in early 2013.
On July 21st they mixed songs from their May 2013 album, “Echoes,” with tunes from their “Honky Tonk Road” and “Highway Junkie” albums. They did justice to country favorites such as “Seminole Wind,” enhanced with Latka’s plaintive fiddle.
“If You’re Gonna Play in Texas,” showcased Latka’s fiddle, but rocked the crowd with the drum lead-in and talented guitar riffs. It was fun watching the band have so much fun with this one!
Williams’ vocal style shows traces of Wyoming cowboy-singer Chris LeDoux, with a touch of George Strait.
While the opening crowd was supportive, this band deserves its own star venue.
The Buckin’A Saloon is located at the north end of the carnival midway between B and C-Stands. Dance the night away to Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band. Nightly concert ticket giveaways and beer specials. Let the fun continue on into the night with the promise of a Western good time! Join us every night and see what all the talk is about!
Saloon is open daily at 11:00 a.m if you want to grab a cold one in the middle of your Cheyenne Frontier Days experience. Bands also play daily from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m to closing (Midnight).
Life is as Sweet as Cotton Candy 