Carrie L Carr became interested in story telling after listening to her grandfather tell stories about working in the oil fields and of working most of his life on a ranch. Texas born and raised, Carrie now lives with her wife, and spends her days writing stories and learning about history. Together, they have several animals and love the small town life.
Carrie with her barrel racing horse, Stormy, in 1977.
Your 10th book, Diving Into the Turn, came out on April 9, 2021. What was the inspiration for the story?
The story was inspired by when I was a pre-teen and learned to barrel race. We lived in a rural area and my best friend had horses and rode in playdays (local rodeos). I was interested, and her dad taught me how to ride and compete. He gave me a lifelong love and respect for horses and other animals.
Give us an insight into your main character. What does she do that is so special?
Rebecca works and lives in a very small town, so she’s well-known and knows just about everyone. I think she’s special because while she’s content with her life, she also realizes she doesn’t have to settle for someone who doesn’t love and respect her. She has a strong work ethic and family means a lot to her, but she won’t allow them to hold her back when she sets her mind on something or someone, like Shelby. I wish that I had her strength of character at that age.
What is your favourite movie of all time? The one where you can watch it and still get affected at the same spots each and every time?
Wow – that’s like asking which is my favorite dog! Very hard to come up with just one that I could watch like that. One of my all-time favorite movies is The Quiet Man, with Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne. She was absolutely breathtaking and brilliant, and I get choked up every time I see it. I like that even at the time the movie was made, she was a strong woman and didn’t take any crap from the men. When she gets teary in the film, so do I. (Not that I’d admit it, though)
If you could go back in time for a year, which historical era would you choose to live in?
For an entire year? Wow. To be honest, I’m not sure I would. I’m a big history nerd, so I’m a little leery of most of the eras that fascinate me, due to the way women were treated. Although to be around when Susan B. Anthony fought for Women’s Rights would be an interesting time, as well as being older during the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s.
If you had an entire week to do whatever you wanted, with no consequences, what would you do?
Travel off the grid in Alaska. Just have some peace and quiet.
Blurb for Diving Into the Turn
Bull riding is all that Shelby Fisher has ever known. She’s lived her entire life on the small rodeo circuit, winning barely enough to eke out a living. She travels the backroads of Texas in her worn-out truck and ancient travel trailer, searching for a human connection through short affairs with women on the circuit.
Rebecca Starrett has wanted to be a barrel racer most of her life, learning the craft through local playdays. Her hometown’s annual fair and rodeo is her big chance to show her close-knit family and her boyfriend that she’s not wasting her time.
Sparks fly when Shelby literally runs into Rebecca at the rodeo grounds. Rebecca’s kindness draws Shelby to her, while Rebecca is fascinated by the sullen bull rider. Their time together causes Rebecca to recognize certain truths about herself.
Against a backdrop of mysterious accidents at the rodeo, will Rebecca back away when Shelby is considered the prime suspect? Or will she stand strong and save the stubborn bull rider from mob justice?
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