Q: When did you begin to write your first story?
I was a big Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew fan in elementary school so in third grade, I started writing short story adventures about a girl being where she shouldn’t be and getting into trouble, just like my book idols. The stories weren’t very good, but you have to start somewhere.
Q: Did your life experiences/travels help shape your stories?
I believe a little bit of all writer’s life experiences make it into their narratives. In the case of Whiskers Abroad: Ashi and Audrey’s Adventures in Japan, it relied heavily on my what I saw and did when traveling in Japan. The places in the book are all places I have been to, and a lot of what occurs, actually happened to me.
Q: Tell us, readers, what your travel fiction novel, Whiskers Abroad, is about.
Whiskers Abroad is about a woman who scores a fantastic opportunity to travel to Japan and to
write about it, but she is so attached to her cat that she can’t leave him behind, so she does what
any sane person would do, takes him with her. It’s told in two voices, Audrey the owner, and
Ashi the cat, diary style, and recounts their adventures and opinions as they journey through the
country. The places are real, and you can use the book as a travel guide. The advice in it is
legitimate, the advice useful and the graphics and photos in the book inspiring.
Q: How would you describe your protagonists?
Audrey is the type of person full of wonder at anything new. She is easily excitable and up to
trying just about anything. She reads her horoscope faithfully, and although doesn’t like to admit
to it, will shape her day around the daily Virgo horoscope. Ashi, the cat, is way more suspicious
of anything new. He’s positive he won’t like it or that it’s dangerous. But he can be coaxed into
doing it, and once he experiences it, becomes a fan. He feels it is his cat duty to watch over and
protect Audrey. He loves attention and being petted.
Q: What themes will readers find in your novel, Whiskers Abroad?
Be open to new places, foods, experiences and then go do them. Even the seemingly mundane
might have a life altering impact. An example from the book is when Ashi eats ramen for the
first time. It’s just noodle soup, but the tastes are mind-blowing and changes his perspective on
what a meal should be.
Q: What other projects are you currently working on? I was going to write the sequel to Whiskers Abroad, but the pandemic put a halt on traveling so, I had to rethink my plan. I need to go to the country to make sure my notes are still accurate. I made some modifications. Right now, I am outlining Ashi and Audrey’s adventures in South Korea, since the country is currently open to tourists. In a different writing category, I’m half-way through the rough draft of a screenplay about a woman who sees a samurai ghost. He only appears when she’s on a date, and as a result, he ruins any chance she has at a relationship. Her goal is to get rid of him.
Q: How did you get into the fiction genre?
There was only one other kid my age that lived near me growing up so, I had no one to play with
except my sister, who thought she was too mature for me, being a grand two and a half years
older. Since I was alone, I read, a lot. You could say I was an avid reader of fiction at a young
age and have continued into adulthood. It makes sense that I would want to write fiction as a
result. Do what you love!
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers in your genre?
Write, write, write, and write some more. Get your first draft on paper, set it aside for a few
weeks. Return to it and then rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. The second part is to read in your genre.
It helps to know what else is out there. Hearing other voices and styles can help you develop
your own, as odd as that may sound.
Q: Using three words, how would you describe your writing style?
Playful, quirky, observant
Q: Where can readers find you and your books online?
My book is on pre-sale right now on Amazon.com. It launches October 6 and the physical book
can be ordered then. It will also be on IngramSparks. Readers can find more information out
about me at carriecarterwrites.com.
Author Bio:
Carrie Carter has a profound love for Japan, cats, sumo, dioramas, and eating unusual foods. She has traveled with her husband Jim to Japan fourteen times, so her numerous holidays across her favorite country were the inspiration for her first book, Whiskers Abroad: Ashi and Audrey’s Adventures in Japan. Carrie has run multiple marathons including the Tokyo Marathon and as expected Carrie and Jim live with an adorable cat named Frenemy, who was unhappy at not being selected as the model for
the book.
She started and has been playing in an ‘80s band, Molly and the Ringwalds, for over
two decades now! In addition to playing the keyboard, Carrie also plays the recorder
and bagpipes.
Carrie lives in Houston, TX, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. At
home, she loves to cook, design/create Halloween costumes, daydream about meeting
Jacques Pepin, and watch Elvis movies, although not necessarily at the same time. She
dislikes overly dramatic music used in reality TV shows. Currently, Carrie is working on
her second book, a sequel to Whiskers Abroad, where Audrey and Ashi explore further
into Japan and get themselves into even more interesting predicaments.
Urban Book Reviews 