Carrie Carter

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.

Uncaged welcomes Carrie Carter

Welcome to Uncaged! Can you tell us more about your latest book, Whiskers Abroad? Is this your first published novel?

There are a lot of firsts with Whiskers Abroad. It’s my first published novel, Audrey and her cat Ashi’s first time in Japan, and the first time to do a project of this size with my sister, who was the graphic designer for the book. With Whiskers Abroad, the reader gets to experience the land of the rising sun through the eyes of a human and a cat, via diary entries and lots of photos. You get two different perspectives of the same events. No, Ashi does not talk, but he can type. The book also serves a guidebook because you can follow the links and advice in the book, and visit each location in real life.

I struggled with the Tsukiji Fish Market chapter. It wasn’t coming together, and it read rather stilted and lacked pizzaz. I originally had them going through the market together and seeing the same things. It simply wasn’t working. Then I thought about the market: how chaotic, slippery, and noisy it was, how you had to be aware of your surroundings at all time not to get hit by a 3-wheeled turret/lorrie, how overwhelming it could be. How would a cat react to this place? In all honesty, Ashi would have been terrified. Once I realized this, my indecision and sloppy writing melted away, and a better chapter emerged.

The ramen chapter was the easiest to write because I love Japanese ramen and my enthusiasm poured out of me. I couldn’t help it. Even while I wrote the haiku about ramen, I swear I could smell the enticing broth in the air and taste the flavors on my tongue. In fact, now that I’m thinking about ramen, I can’t wait to go back to Japan and have a bowl of the glorious soup.

What are you working on now that you can tell us about?

I’m outlining a sequel to Whiskers Abroad right now. I was leaning towards South Korea because the Japan boarders were still closed to tourists, but they open back up on October 11. This made me think maybe Audrey and Ashi should return to Japan. However, South Korea is an amazing country to visit and Ashi and Audrey haven’t been there yet, plus Korea produces k-dramas, kimchi, top-notch b-boys, and has an A+ tourist board. Let the flip-flopping commence! Right now, I have two outlines, one for a return trip to Japan and one for South Korea. I’m at a crossroads and need to decide soon. I’ll have to go to the country for more research, so I suspect the cost of airline tickets will be the deciding factor.

Do you base any of your characters on reallife people?

Audrey and I have a lot in common, from our likes and dislikes to how much we look alike. We both get excited over trying new foods, flying on airplanes, and seeing a cat on the street. We have a weakness for pretty chopsticks, and ogle over umbrellas. Unlike Audrey, I have no problem leaving my cat behind when I travel.

Ashi is my sister’s cat. I imagined what he would be saying if he traveled to Japan. He modeled for all the photos.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

A photograph of me is hanging up in the City of Houston Downtown Police station. I didn’t even know it until a police officer told me one day. Before your mind goes crazy and starts

| cHrISTy cOOPEr-BUrNETT |

creating stories about me being on the most wanted list, I used to play the bagpipes for police officer funerals and for the Houston Police Pipe and Drum Core. The photo was me playing at a graveside service.

Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages?

For Whiskers Abroad, I had a vague idea of what the book was about, but my first stages had more to do with Audrey and Ashi and their personalities. Once I had this, I knew how they would react to the different places and situations they’d see in Japan, and then I could focus more on the plot.

7. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

There’s a professional dance group in South Korea called The Ambiguous Dance Company. They have several videos on Youtube, from dance performances, how-to videos, and even their hour-long practice sessions. I’ve been watching them and attempting to dance along, hoping that one day I might look as good as they do when they dance. Then I can bust out with the dance moves at Christmas and delight (embarrass?) my college age nieces. OK, we all know that won’t happen, but maybe I can work up to a fraction of their talent? Even though I look stiff and awkward, it’s enjoyable to move around to music. I also love to read cookbooks and watch old Jacques Pepin videos.

What’s your favorite holiday? Do you have any special traditions?

Christmas!. You get to spend it with family and be surrounded by Christmas decorations and Christmas lights while giving yourself an excuse to eat too much. My big tradition is to hunt for the biggest, best Christmas tree I can find. I drag my poor husband with me so he can hold up the various trees so I can study them. He must twirl it around while I scrutinize it, and then hold the final contenders side by side. If we have to, we go to another location, or maybe even a third or fourth tree lot. Once I decide on the perfect one, the tree is purchased, and brought to the house, ready for the next phase, where I pour a glass of wine, put on Herb Alpert music, and decorate the tree. I can spend hours staring at a decorated tree. Maybe tree gazing isn’t the best use of my time, but it is one of my favorite pleasures in life.

Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now?

I’m old school. I prefer reading a physical book. There’s something about holding an actual book in your hands that’s thrilling. I’m currently reading Michelle Hillen Klump’s A Dash of Death. I haven’t read many cozy mysteries so I’m excited to delve into that world. Plus, it takes plus in my home city of Houston, and it’s always fun to read books that take place where you live.

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

I hope the readers love Whiskers Abroad as much as I did researching and writing it, and that maybe it will inspire their own vacation to Japan. I have a website Carriecarterwrites.com along with the Facebook page Carrie Carter

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carriecarterwrites.com Enjoy an excerpt from Whiskers Abroad

Whiskers Abroad Carrie Carter Travel Fiction

Whiskers Abroad is a lively travelogue featuring a trip to Japan shared by two main characters, Audrey and her cat Ashi, who alternate recounting their versions of events. During a twelve-day trip, the pair visit several cities. Adventures abound. Audrey is still trying to find her place in the universe, while Ashi believes Audrey would sink beneath the waves were he not present to rescue her. Audrey’s daily horoscope offers tantalizing clues as to what’s in store for the pair. Written by Carrie Carter and designed by Stacy Vickers, Whiskers Abroad is both an amusing travel story with unforgettable characters and a useful guide for tourists going to Japan. Lavishly designed, Whiskers Abroad will delight both your eyes and your sense of adventure.