Woman promotes children's book

Deciding what to write a book about can become overwhelming, but for former Green River resident Karen Cotton this was not the case.

Writing and taking photos was something Cotton had always done. Cotton can still remember when she developed an interest in photography. She was seven-years-old and in the Girl Scouts. She used a camera for some Girl Scouts project and never stopped using one.

Cotton said she was one of the fortunate children who always had a nice camera, which was usually given to her by her parents or grandparents.

At 18, Cotton started to take photos professionally. She graduated from Green River High School in 1994 and started attended Western Wyoming Community College where she obtained an associates degree in communication, emphasizing in mass media and journalism. After graduating from WWCC, Cotton went to the University of Wyoming where in 2000 she graduated with a bachelors degree in communication, again empathizing in mass media and journalism.

While in college, she worked for the school newspaper and wrote freelance for various papers.

Cotton then spent almost 12 years working for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle as a features and entertainment reporter until 2011. She decided to pursue her music and writing endeavors. Cotton said it has always been a goal of hers to become self employed.

For the past 10 years, Cotton has been working on a book about Vedauwoo, which is located along Interstate 80 between Cheyenne and Laramie.

Cotton’s book “Vedauwoo: Hidden Faces in Mysterious Places,” was inspired by Cotton’s love of rocks, including Mansface and Kissing Rock.

On a trip to Vedauwoo, Cotton and her friend were walking through the Vedauwoo Recreation Area when her friend said to her how much a certain rock looked like a person’s face.

Soon, Cotton and her friend noticed a lot of rocks seemed to take on different shapes, including a dog, bear, and Native American faces.

Cotton not only wrote the book, but took all of the photos in it. She said it took her about 25 trips to Vedauwoo to get all of the photos. Cotton wanted to take photos during all four seasons of the year.

It took about five years for Cotton to research and obtain all of the information she needed to write the book.

“It was difficult finding information on Vedauwoo because it’s not really written about,” she said.

The book, which is written for a second through fourth-grade reading level, is attracting the attention of parents also.

“All ages seem to like it, especially adults for some reason,” she said.

The book not only has facts about Vedauwoo, but the photos on each page that have a hidden face, animal or person in them. At the back of the book there is a key to show readers what they were looking for if they didn’t already find it.

“It acts as a tour guide for a book of that area,” she said.

Cotton is excited about the book and excited to share it with the community.

Library program set

Cotton is scheduled to host a photography class, a possible short book discussion and book signing and sale at the Sweetwater County Library Tuesday, starting at 4 p.m. Children first through the fourth-grade who are interested in photography will have the opportunity to learn the basics from Cotton.

Cotton is a professional photographer who learned about photography through classes and her experience as a journalist. Cotton’s professional work can be viewed at karencotton.net and lifeisassweetascottoncandy.wordpress.com.

Cotton said the hands-on class is designed for children, but the children must be accompanied by an adults. Children must bring a digital or disposable camera to the class, she said.

“It’s something they can do and it teaches them a skill,” she said.

Cotton’s photography work has been on display in a lot of different locations in Cheyenne. Since Green River is her hometown, she wanted to give something back to the community.

During the workshop, students will remain busy.

“They’ll learn how to use a camera, how to frame a picture, what a flash is for, how to shoot inside pictures, outside pictures, close up, far away and action pictures,” Cotton said. “Then I’ll let them loose and let them take pictures.”

After the class, Cotton will have a book signing for her nonfiction book about Vedauwoo. Cotton hopes to have the book on sale for $10 at the library. She said she is supposed to receive the paperback books on Friday, which is cutting it close to the event.

Her books will also be available for purchase on the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites. The Sierra Trading Post in Cheyenne will also have her book for sale.

Cotton will not stop with just one book. She is currently working on another children’s book and is also working on an adult nonfiction book as well.