Please join me in welcoming author Carrie Cotten to the blog to chat about her new book Dreamwalker!
Carrie is a recent transplant to the Appalachian mountains where she and her family are trying their hand at homesteading in the tranquil community of Grassy Creek, North Carolina. By day she is a homeschooling mom of four and by night, a writer of intense, emotional and intriguing Christian fiction novels.
You can connect with Carrie on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.
DREAMWALKER
SERIES: Dreamwalker #1
GENRE: Inspirational Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2020
PAGES: 365
Andromeda Skye Stone has always been different. She didn’t even fit in among her nomadic, free-spirited caravan family. Her feelings of being a misfit were only made worse by her unusual gift. For as long as she could remember, Andy could go to sleep and walk in the dreams of others. Andy had spent her life feeling like she was different, like something was always missing.
When she began working in a top-secret government research organization known only as “The Agency,” Andy thought, perhaps, she’d finally found her purpose using her unique talent to help people and save lives. Little does she know, her next mission will be the greatest, most dangerous challenge of her career.
If she survives… will this mission finally help her discover her true identity and who she’s meant to be? Will her greatest enemy end up being her own weakness?
Dreamwalker is the emotional and intense story of an outcast girl’s journey to faith, redemption, and strength through surrender.
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Also available to read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
bonus goodies!!
Free autographed bookplate sticker for every paperback purchased through October 31st! (US only)
Rules: Readers can tag @authorcarriecotten, on either Facebook or Instagram, in a selfie post with their copy of Dreamwalker and she’ll send a personalized bookplate sticker for free 🙂
Be sure to tag!
Hi Carrie! Welcome to the blog! And may I say you have the very best name ever?!? 🙂
Carrie: Coffeeeeeeee!!! And with flavored creamer… mmmmm. Nothing better.
MeezCarrie: It’s always during fall & winter that i wished i loved coffee so i could take advantage of all the yummy sounding creamers 😀
Carrie: Hallmark Channel in months October-December because I love a cozy romance especially in the holiday months. Netflix the rest of the year!
MeezCarrie: I am the exact opposite – i get annoyed with Hallmark during October-December because they preempt my mysteries on the Hallmark Mysteries channel for Christmas movies lol.
Carrie: I guess I’m one of those really weird people who really, really doesn’t care. I don’t even notice. I am, however, always thankful when there IS toilet paper because it’s quite a shock when you realize too late that there isn’t.
MeezCarrie: Hahahahaha that is so true
Carrie: I love a good sandwich! A very well done grilled cheese is my absolute favorite. I know, I’m six years old, but it’s the ultimate comfort food.
MeezCarrie: mmm yes! I’ll be six years old right along with you when it comes to the yummy comfort of grilled cheese 🙂
Q: Around here I like to say that reading is my superpower. If YOU had a superpower, what would it be?
Carrie: Such an interesting question because my MC has a superpower and even she sometimes wishes it was something else. I think if I had a superpower, I would want it to be teleportation. I always wish I could just already BE somewhere instead of having to get in the car or on a plane to get there. Maybe my real superpower should be patience because I obviously am lacking in that!
MeezCarrie: LOL i seriously do think teleportation would be so handy though!
Q: Tell me some good books you’ve read recently.
Carrie: Since starting this “writing” thing, one of the best parts has been getting to know other writers and having the insane privilege of reading some of their works in progress. It feels so VIP to read an unpublished work – the ultimate backstage pass. I’ve really enjoyed reading Heather Wood’s new work Until We All Run Free, which is releasing October 27th and also Jamie Ogle’s incredibly well written historical fiction account of the real Valentine. I’m also reading Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy.
MeezCarrie: those all sound great!
Q: If I sneaked a peek in your purse right now (which I would never do, I promise!), what would it tell me about you?
Carrie: I carry no less than four notebooks in my little Kavu cross body so I guess that would tell you I am always prepared to take notes! (and I’m not a traditional purse carrier) You’d also find mini deodorants, toothbrushes, hair ties etc. hidden in there because as a mom of four, I’m usually sprinting out the door late to be somewhere and it never fails that I (or someone else) forgot some manner of self-care in the rush.
MeezCarrie: hahaha
Q: Were there any songs that inspired you as you wrote Dreamwalker?
Carrie: Depending on what was happening, if it was action or drama or emotional, I have specific Pandora stations for each. I throw on headphones and get to clickity clacking on the keyboard. The best station for action writing is Escala radio!
MeezCarrie: ‘clickity clacking’ – i cannot properly express how much i love (and will now use) this description!! 🙂
Q: Did you have the whole plot outlined before you started writing Dreamwalker, or did you let the characters dictate what came next?
Carrie: So, this is a long-story-short answer, but when I first began writing my novel (over a decade ago), I thought I knew the plot. I had planned to just write a straight secular fiction novel about a girl with an ability to walk in dreams. Because of the supernatural element, I didn’t think I “could” bring my faith into it. Turns out – shocker!- that I couldn’t separate my faith from my fiction writing and after a ten year battle, I finally gave in – was true to myself and my faith – and the story wrote itself within a few months!
It’s the craziest feeling when you’re writing and all the sudden you look up and say “Whoa! I did NOT see that coming!”
MeezCarrie: First, I love that testimony!! And second – I will never understand how authors can write something they don’t know they’re about to write … but I love that about y’all 🙂
Q: What is something God taught you while you wrote Dreamwalker?
Carrie: Oh He taught me soooo many things! I learned, along with my MC, that there is such freedom in surrender! God’s ways are so much higher, so much better – His plan is perfect. When I try to make my own way, even if it seems successful, it will never be as successful – as wonderful, fulfilling and productive – as His way. He taught me to be bold, to write the story in my heart and not what I “think” people want to read. He taught me to be humble and confident at the same time and He taught me that, through Him, I can do hard things.
MeezCarrie: Amen. I love that. He’s so faithful, isn’t He?
Thank you so much for taking time to talk with me! 🙂 Before we say goodbye for today, tell us what‘s coming up next for you.
Carrie: Up next for me is the sequel to Dreamwalker! I never imagined I’d finish one novel and actually hold a physical copy of it in my hands, much less TWO novels! It’s really exciting. Dark of Night is the sequel to Dreamwalker and is number two in a planned trilogy. It’s the continuation of Andy’s story, as she searches for the truth of her past, learns to navigate a new life, new faith, and new love. She faces the new threat of an old enemy. It’s action, suspense, drama, romance, and as is my trademark – intense and emotional! Right now, my beta team is faithfully reading and it’s on track for an early 2021 release.
I also love to mention this bit of trivia – My oldest daughter is the gorgeous model on the cover and will make another appearance on the cover of Dark of Night!
Carrie: oh how fun! I bet you are so proud of her – and she of you!
I am offering a $5 Amazon gift card to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read Dreamwalker by Carrie Cotten?
I’d like to read this because the plot sounds fascinating. And I LOVE it when a plot surprises the author. As they say, no tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. I’m guessing it works the same way with surprises. I love how the author ended up writing about this unusual ability without compromising her faith.
The story sounds very intriguing.
Wow! This sounds like such a fascinating story.
Thanks for the chance to win!
I always like to read YA and adult fiction in different genres…..keeps this old lady up to date….
The story sounds fascinating! I love the premise!!
Thanks for the giveaway chance.
The title.
sounds so good.
What makes me want to read Dream Walker is the book looks interesting and intriguing and I want to see how she deals with her problems and solves them. I also want to see if the way she deals with her problems and solves them can be used in real life. The feeling she never fit well I can relate to that so I really want to read the book.
Would love to read and review the book in print format.
Hope I Win.
It sounds good and the cover is pretty.
pretty cover. I like the genre. thanks for the chance. It sounds good.
I enjoy trying new-to-me authors that come recommended by reader friends!
I’d like to read this because I know what it’s like to not fit in.
Nice cover. I liked the blurb. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
I like the idea of her “walking” in the dreams of others. It would be interesting to see how she can have a job that uses this unique skill/gift.
I love the cover! It sets the tone for the book.
Sounds like an interesting book.
Marilyn
I’m immediately drawn to this cover, so that is the big selling point in making me want to read this book.