An Inspired Chat with Carrie Peters of Rural Iowa

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Carrie Peters. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Carrie, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Who are you learning from right now?
Oh boy, I’m learning from everyone! I take online classes several times a week, through YouTube, Coursera, Udemy, Phlearn, and more. I learn AI, Photoshop, Etsy, Canva and more. If there’s something I don’t know how to do, I will find someone to teach it to me, or I’ll find a way to learn it for myself. Sometimes a 10 minute YouTube will teach me exactly what I need to know, sometimes it’s a 30 second Reel. I learn a lot from the people I work with and the customers I have in all of my jobs. And I learn a lot by listening. Sometimes you think someone is “just telling a story” but then you realize you’ve learned an important lesson. That’s golden.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Carrie, from Cheeky Covers. I design book covers for people all around the world. I offer a variety of designs, from romance to historical and non-fiction to thriller. I also do Facebook banners, ads and teasers. I design websites as well.

Cheeky Covers. Ebook covers at cheeky prices.

Everyone should have a beautiful book cover at a price that’s affordable. =)

My clients range from retired police officers to a great-grandmother in Nebraska. I have clients in England and Australia. And it’s such fun to get to know them through their emails and book covers.

I have four cats, so sometimes it’s a bit of a mad house here. =) One of them is diabetic and I’ve just finished writing a book on that one, next we’ll illustrate it with AI and hand it out for Christmas. =)

I do like to use AI for original covers, especially for historical romances. If a customer requests no AI, no problem. I’ve taught myself Photoshop over the years, and I’m not afraid to use it. =)

This week I worked on a thriller cover, a newsletter and a website banner. Every day something new pops up and I just love the variety.

Some people come to me with an idea already in mind, some come with just a vague idea. I always give them a variety of test covers to choose from, maybe some with ideas they didn’t think of yet. Having been a rabid book reader for many years, I picture an image in my head of what the blurb is about and will sometimes show them the product I imagine.

I had one lady cry that I could make the image she so wanted. =) She had it made into a canvas for her home.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My mom. Definitely. She worked in a nursing home, ran a cake decorating business, and helped my dad out at the golf course. From her I learned you can do many jobs and do them well. I currently manage a restaurant, do a website for a car dealership, and design book covers and websites. Everyone asks “what do you do to relax?” =) I design book covers. For me, that’s as entertaining as watching a movie.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I’m a people pleaser. Luckily that works well with most of my jobs, But I can see (now) where people have abused my niceness. Some people will never like me, and that’s ok. Back then it wasn’t. You learn a lot in therapy. =) Fear of having an argument, fear of confrontation, sometimes just the fear of saying no to someone and then them hating me. If you have to hate me because I said no, I can’t work that shift, then that’s something I’ve learned to live with.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Humor. You just gotta have a sense of humor. If I can make my customers laugh via what i’ve said or emailed, then it makes me happy. My friend in Boston says I’m “wicked funny”, I once worked at the restaurant with a young man who was a comedian, and actually performed on stage. If I could make him laugh, it was a bonus. And I did, every day. Always try to see the humor in every situation you can, it makes life so much more bearable!

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes, my second husband. =) I thought he was everything I wanted in a man. He most certainly was not. =)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cheekycovers.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheekyCovers