Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written quite a few books in the past twenty years, and have actually had seven of them published. I am an old timer (83 in May) who grew up in San Diego, moved around a few times, and now live close to the ocean in Port Orford, Oregon, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I am a horticulturist by trade, having been in the business the last 45 years or so, owning three different wholesale nurseries, one in San Diego, one in Fresno and one here in Port Orford for 14 years before retiring (ha) two years ago.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “The Beginner’s Guide To Growing Herbs And Their Culinary, Medicinal and Mystical Properties”, a best seller on Amazon a while back. I did Farmer’s Markets here on the southern Oregon coast for many years, and grew a lot of herbs to go along with everything else. People used to ask me about the herbs I grew, wanting to know not only how to grow them but how to cook with them, what were their medicinal properties, etc., which I knew very little about. So, I decided if I was going to have to learn those things to please my customers, I needed to start studying and, since I was going to have to do one hell of a lot of research, I decided to write a book about them and hopefully make a buck or two in the process.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes I think all my writing habits are unusual.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ayn Rand, Tom Clancy, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and John Grisham to name a few. I have to say that I don’t think there’s a book I’ve read that didn’t influence me in one way or another, especially gardening books, science fiction, military, political and historical.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a novel with the title “Generations” which explores the trials and tribulations of two farming families starting in 1897 until the present and what they have to deal with all those years, including the Spanish Flu, the great depression, dust bowl, WW1, WW2, drought, floods, grasshoppers, plant diseases, romance, good years, bad years, terrible years, etc. Just sold another sci/fi novella “Mars Calling” which should be out soon.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My homemade, not too spectacular website is garycarterbooksherbs.com, where you can learn a lot about me and my books. Some of of my best methods for promoting my books are book signings, author readings and gatherings, etc. Probably the best method is I solicit just about all the bookstores and libraries in the United States. It’s a lot of work but it works on selling books. For instance, two of my books are science fiction, so, I check out bookstores on the internet who take an interest in promoting science and solicit them with those two books, bookstores that promote poetry get my poetry books solicitations, etc. Also, it helps a lot to have great publishers, of which I am lucky enough to have two who love (their words) my writing and promote them like crazy.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it. Don’t get lazy. The more you write the better you will get at it. I wrote around 24 short stories before I ever sold one. Set a time every day to do your writing and stick to it. Isaac Asimov said it best in an online writing course I took from him many, many years ago. He said “You must make time to write”, and so I do. I set aside two-three hours a day, in the mornings when I’m not tired and my mind is fresh (hopefully).
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You must make time to write.
What are you reading now?
We have a lot of local authors on the south coast and I support their writing, of which everyone writes differently and in different genres. Currently it’s a poetry book by Weld Champneys titled “Wirds”, a guy who has a great sense of humor in his work, along with heartbreak and you name it. Just finished “Midnight Beach” by local author Kay Jennings, a murder mystery.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing “Generations” and getting it published. I also write garden articles for a couple of national gardening books.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My own. I love my stories. I think an author has to love what s/he writes or s/he is not going to be very good at it.
Author Websites and Profiles
Gary Carter Website
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