Tracy Carter
Author Interview - Tracy Carter
Author of Dogged Pursuit
The debut book in the Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery series opens with escalating suspense and intensifies into a resilient fight for survival. With its engaging combination of canine and human personalities, thrilling plot, and gorgeous Colorado backdrop, DOGGED PURSUIT will appeal to dog lovers, outdoors enthusiasts, and mystery lovers alike.
Veronica Kildare cannot believe her luck – being shot at, again, by the bad guys. The sound, the feel of the bullet, and the hatred resonate for more than just the transitory moment of impact. She has relocated to a new state, but brutality has rampaged into this life as well.
As the survivor of a senseless act of violence in her former life, Veronica struggles to recover from the lingering physical and emotional scars by working as a dog handler near Boulder, Colorado. Empowered by her intense bond with her search and rescue and drug detection dog, Leda, she finally begins to shake off the pain of her past. Then Veronica is drawn into the puzzling search for a scientist who has vanished near Rocky Mountain National Park. Dr. Randy Jeffers has inexplicably disappeared on the eve of his testimony in the high profile murder trial of a pro basketball player and the police are baffled.
As Veronica and Leda traverse rugged Roosevelt National Forest in a desperate search testing the limits of their abilities, it is not initially clear who has targeted Dr. Jeffers, or why. But it becomes shockingly obvious that someone will stop at nothing to silence him forever. The kidnappers with murder on their mind have guns, but Veronica has Leda and her own blossoming resilience as her weapons in their struggle for survival.
Author Interview - Tracy Carter
Author I draw inspiration from:
I love Mary Stewart for her strong female characters and ability to set a scene. The sense of atmosphere she instilled in her mysteries is unparalleled in my opinion. I am especially fond of AIRS ABOVE THE GROUND due to the great plot twist, and of course, the horse connection!
Author Interview - Tracy Carter | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
My absolute favorite reading spot is curled up in a chair in front of a fireplace as the snow falls outside. (And I saw, and shoveled, plenty of snow in 50 years of living in my beloved hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.)
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
I would love to have time to chat with Elizabeth from Richard Osman's THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB. She is a mature woman, in her 70s, living in a retirement community, who is sharp, witty, and perceptive. It would be great fun to try to decipher exactly what job she did for the government prior to her retirement—but she would probably cleverly deflect those questions!
Author Interview - Tracy Carter | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I always loved writing and I wrote A LOT of papers as a History and English major. Mysteries were my favorite genre for pleasure reading. In my early 30s, I became intrigued by the possibility of writing a mystery series myself, which also pulled in dog training and the wonderful relationships between people and their dogs. One day (several years ago), I was hiking in the woods with my retrievers and the kernel of the plot which drives DOGGED PURSUIT just came to me. All I had to do then was flesh it out!
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
I still love to hold a hardback or paperback in my hands when I am reading at home, but appreciate an ebook for plane rides. It is quite handy. Audiobooks are perfect for car trips or working out. Nothing helps you forget where you are, or how many more minutes you have left on the treadmill, like listening to an engaging story.
The last book I read:
The Angel Makers: Arsenic, a Midwife, and Modern History's Most Astonishing Murder Ring by Patti McCracken. It is a wonderfully researched and compelling historical non-fiction book. It is a true crime story which has to be read to be believed.
Author Interview - Tracy Carter | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
I write on the computer because I can quickly edit as I go back and read what I have come up with each day. But I do keep a notepad by the bed to write down new ideas for the book. They have a strange way of coming to me just as I am about to fall asleep!
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
This would absolutely be Kate Hamilton from the mystery series by Connie Berry. As soon as I read her debut book, A DREAM OF DEATH, I felt like Kate was a person with whom I could share good times, a lot of laughs, and interesting discussions about history and antiques. She is a wonderful character and I eagerly await each new installment in her story.
Author Interview - Tracy Carter | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
I was a legal assistant for over 30 years, but that career is in my rear view mirror now. If I were not an author, I would be a full-time dog trainer. I previously worked as an assistant trainer for a highly-respected dog obedience school and have trained numerous dogs over the years. One facet of my books which I emphasize is having my main character, Veronica Kildare, teach obedience, but also train service dogs for a variety of roles. It is astounding what a well-trained dog can do, and I enjoy working that research into my books.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
The 1950s. I love the look of the outfits worn by women in movies from that era—although it all actuality, they don't look super practical, especially if you need to run from danger!
Place I’d most like to travel:
The island of Rhodes. It is visually stunning with a rich history and the beautiful Aegean Sea just made for swimming.
My signature drink:
Diet rootbeer. There's nothing better than a cold one on a hot, humid day.
Favorite artist:
Thanks to my extraordinary high school French teacher, my favorite artist is Degas, famous for paintings of dancers or horses. However, if we are talking about music, Bob Seger has been my favorite since I was a teenager. I have lost count, but I have been to over two dozen of his concerts.
Number one on my bucket list:
I would love to see the pyramids in Egypt. So many fascinating archaeological discoveries are made there every year and, as a big fan of Elizabeth Peters, I would treasure the opportunity to see the sights in person.
Anything else you'd like to add:
I have just completed the second book in my series, LAWYERS, DOGS, AND MONEY. As the book unfolds, Veronica joins her search and rescue partner, a Deputy Sheriff for Boulder County, in trying to ascertain the source of threats against Kadri Ilves, a co-worker of Sgt. Donovan's daughter at a high-end import/export business. The woman being targeted is a native of Estonia and has a long history of advocating for social justice issues. Veronica's father assists the investigation by researching Kadri's background, including her work to end racial disparity in prison sentencing, and legal claims she has filed relative to disputed lands in Estonia—a cause which may have put her in the crosshairs of the California branch of the Russian mafia. The book concludes with a stunning showdown involving all the main characters, and a shocking final twist related to the central mystery. It will be released later in 2023.
Research has begun for the third book in the series, which will include Veronica training a dog to provide emotional support to 911 dispatchers. I suspect that dog will be a Golden Retriever, but I am open to suggestions!
Author Bio:
Tracy Carter graduated from the University of Glasgow, Scotland with a Master's degree in History. Her lengthy career as a legal assistant has included stints at international law firms and Prosecutors' offices, followed by jobs as the Horse Identifier at two thoroughbred racetracks – all while training dogs in obedience and rally. She lives near Santa Fe, NM with her husband and Llewellin Setter (aka the diva).
