TGIF (23): Promote an Author

TGIF at GReads is a feature by the fabulous Ginger, who asks us a fun question to answer every week. It's always a joy to be a part of this, and I think everyone certainly should try it out!

Is there a particular author you wish got more recognition? Pick one author & tell us why we should read their work.

This is such a difficult question for me to answer, since I have discovered a great many wonderful authors out there over the years, especially after book blogging. But I think one author who really deserves even more recognition is Cheryl Rainfield.

I believe Ms. Rainfield deserves to be highlighted in this particular feature for a few reasons:

1. Despite the abuse that she endured as a child and the other issues she had to face in her life, she has managed to react in a way that turns her negative experience into a tangible item (her novels) that can truly be positive influences in the lives of others.
2. Apart from writing stories that touch on these issues, Cheryl is also very active in reaching out to people who may be suffering from these issues. I admire her tenacity in helping people.
3. Her stories might be born from personal experience, but it is apparent through the writing that they are meant to be stories that other people can relate to.

For more of Cheryl, check out my author interview, her blog and her Twitter.

I was very fortunate to receive a copy of Cheryl's novel Hunted for review I also won a copy of her novel Scars, which I will be starting on soon. For more information about her novels, please check out the rest of this post.

Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail-- her abuser's identity. Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life. To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it's her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who's becoming a friend and maybe more. But the truth about Kendra's abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences. Scars is the unforgettable story of one girl's frightening path to the truth.

Caitlyn is a telepath in a world where having any Paranormal power is illegal. Caitlyn is on the run from government troopers, who can enslave, torture, or even kill her, or make her hunt other Paranormals. When Caitlyn settles down in a city, she falls for Alex, a Normal (someone without Paranormal powers), which is dangerous because he can turn her in. And she discovers renegade Paranormals who want to destroy all Normals. Caitlyn must decide whether she's going to stay in hiding to protect herself, or take a stand to save the world.