Meet Kait Carson | Mystery writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kait Carson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kait, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’d wanted to write since I was nine and read Little Women. As a child I’d dress in my mother’s wedding gown to emulate Jo March. These early stories were written with a flowing ink pen and decorated with balloon exclamation points. College, family, and day job intervened, but the need to write never waned. Crafting novels and short stories filled my after-work house. As small presses proliferated, I found a home for my books. Covid made it possible for me to see a life as a full-time writer. I’ve never looked back.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I love what I do and can’t imagine myself doing anything else. I get to spend my working life telling stories and entertaining people. It’s a great life.

My stories are mysteries. Classic who-dun-its with a romantic twist. My protagonists are amateurs who are driven by a desire to help others find justice. I’m proud that readers often comment on the humanity of my characters and ask if the stories are based on true events and people.

Ernest Hemingway has been quoted as saying” “Writing is easy, you sit at a typewriter and bleed.” There is some truth to that quote. One of the key elements of a compelling story is emotion. Characters have to be believable, and they have to care before readers care about them. That means that writers are constantly putting themselves on the line. They need to face their biggest fears, sorrows, and joys in a public arena. It can be exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. In the end, it’s worth it to tell stories readers love. Learning to trust yourself and not hold back is the hardest lesson to learn.

At the end of the day, I want my readers to look forward to my next book. I love hearing from readers. Their enthusiasm is what drives me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d hop into the car and head for the Fabulous Florida Keys. First stop would be Alabama Jack’s a waterfront restaurant/bar on the Card Sound Road. There’s no better introduction to the Keys than a stop at Jack’s for live music and conch (pronounced konk) fritters. Then it would be over the Card Sound Bridge and on Quiescence to book a dive trip later in the week to the Spiegel Grove. Quiescence is a legend among divers. Their boats are small, but comfortable, no more than six divers. The level of service top notch. The Spiegel Grove dive can be challenging. Currents can rip, or not, but whether you to take it 130′ to the sand, or stay at the 65′ deck, it’s a fabulous dive with lots of fish.

Our trip would continue on U.S. 1 through the Keys. Along the way we’d stop to admire the way the road cuts between the green water of the Gulf of Mexico and the cobalt blue of the Atlantic Ocean. Next stop would be in Islamorada at Rain Barrel Village. An artist’s village, Rain Barrel is the perfect place to pick up a unique souvenir of a trip to the Keys. It’s impossible to resist the temptation to take a selfie with the giant lobster that sits in front of the group shops. A little past Rain Barrel we’d stop off to pay our respects at the Hurricane Monument. The monument serves as a grave marker above the crypt that holds the cremated remains of many who lost there lives in the 1935 Hurricane. Life is fragile in the Keys. Hayden Kent, a fifth generation Conch and the protagonist of of Death By Blue Water, Death by Sunken Treasure, and Death Dive, knows that well. She often stops at the Monument for a moment of reflection.

After a moment at the Monument, we’d continue to Marathon on Vaca Key and check into the Isla Bella Beach Resort. Marathon is the perfect place to base a trip to the Keys. It’s more or less mid-way between Key West and Key Largo and it’s home to my favorite dive sites. On our first night, we’d dine at the Island Fish Company. It’s right on the Gulf and offers the opportunity to catch the famous green flash at sunset. After a night of relaxation, we’d head to Tilden’s Dive Shop for a dive on the Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt lies upright in 120′ of water. We’d head for the sand and a view of the propellers before rising slowly to look for the two goliath grouper that frequent the site. We’d finish our dive with a visit to the wheel house where Hayden Kent discovered Richard’s body in Death by Blue Water. Then we’d go to the cable wheel before ascending to our safety stop.

Following our dive, we’d head to Cudjoe Key and the Square Grouper restaurant for lunch before traveling to Key West to enjoy the night life and the sunset festivities on Mallory Dock. Our trip to the Keys would be complete with a visit to Pigeon Key. Located at the end of the remaining portion of Old 7, the original Seven Mile Bridge. Pigeon Key served as a residence island for the men who built Henry Flagler’s overseas railroad. Although it enjoyed a later incarnation as a research station, many of the original Flagler era buildings are restored. It’s a true piece of Keys history and the body of Hayden’s mentor’s son was found in full scuba gear under the access bridge to Pigeon Key in Death by Sunken Treasure.

Before we returned home to Miami, we’d stop off at Crane Hammock Park to learn about the gorgeous foliage and to enjoy a fish pedicure.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This is a large question! I always say that writing is far from a solitary profession. In my case, I have to shout out to Sisters in Crime (SinC) and especially the Guppy chapter. SinC is an inclusive community of mystery, thriller, and suspense writers who work hard to promote all aspects of the profession. They’re best friends, mentors, co-celebrators, and teachers. The Guppy Chapter once existed to assist unpublished writers. These days, many Guppies are published and eager to show their fellow fish the way. The water is always warm and welcoming. I can’t imagine writing without them.

Website: www.kaitcarson.com,

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