Today, I welcome Carter James to my blog. Carter is Allison’s main squeeze (most of the time) from The Resort series. This series started about a year and a half ago, when Allison and Carter met while she was trying to sneak into the exclusive high-end resort and Carter was just doing his job by keeping out the riffraff. Since then, they’ve encountered would-be murderers, obsessive artists, his con-artist ex-wife, and a slutty wedding planner who was more concerned with hooking up with Carter than doing what she was paid to do. That’s all beside the attentions of hot detective Dan McIntyre, who, in the final book of the series, finally makes his move on Allison. Will Carter get the girl in the end?
This interview was featured on another blog just a few days ago, and I thought Carter did such a great job, I figured I’d feature him on my blog too. Enjoy, and don’t forget to click on the buy links at the bottom.
What’s your name?
Carter James
How old are you?
Thirty-two
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m in security. I own a security firm. My brother, Ben, is my partner, although he doesn’t really do much other than shmooze the clients. Which I suppose is necessary because I’m not really good at that sort of thing. Like this. Not my thing. I’m not a fan of being in the spotlight.
Anyway, we started J&J Security about seven years ago in Dallas, which is where I’m from. About, oh, two years ago, I was given the opportunity to move up here to northern Michigan to oversee security for The Resort. It’s this exclusive resort where the wealthy and sometimes famous go to basically hide from the rest of the world. My job is to make sure they’re kept safe and hidden for as long as they want to be.
Describe your appearance in 10 words or less.
Yeah, this is kind of awkward. Can we move on to another question? …Okay, fine. My girlfriend Allison says I’m sort of like James Bond. I mean, that’s cool, if it’s true, but I don’t know. I just try to take care of myself and those I love and do the best I can, you know?
Would you kill for those you love?
This is a loaded question because my sister was killed during a random shooting at a nightclub about ten years ago. That’s actually what inspired me to get into the security business because that club had shit for security. If they’d had someone like me or someone on my team there, that shooting never would have happened and my sister would still be alive. So would I kill for someone I love? Used to be not a day went by that I didn’t imagine killing the asshole who shot my sister.
What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses?
My weakness is definitely my girlfriend, Allison Bell. I don’t know why but that woman got under my skin the very first time we met, and my affliction just gets worse every day. If she knew that I would figure out a way to pull the moon from the sky for her, well… She probably wouldn’t believe it (laughs), which I guess is part of what makes her so damn irresistible.
In the same vein, I think Allison is my strength too. She is so caring and loving and smart. She inspires me every day. Which is also funny because she truly has no idea about that either. In case you haven’t noticed, she’s a little naive too. But I guess that just adds to the overall package.
Do you have any relationships you prize above others? Why?
Definitely my relationship with Allison. Despite the fact that she keeps trying to spread her wings or whatever bullshit she comes up with when she picks a fight just so she can be “free” for a little while. But the thing about Allison is, she needs someone to watch over her, to protect her, mostly from herself. Remember when I said she was naive? Well, that naivety tends to get her into hot water all too frequently. I spend half my day worrying about whether or not she’ll inadvertently get caught up in some stupid crap that she shouldn’t. And with Allison, it’s never easy to disentangle herself from whatever the hell she got mixed up in.
Do you have any phobias?
Fear of losing Allison. Is that a phobia?
Please give us an interesting and unusual fact about yourself.
I’m just a guy. A guy who loves a girl and runs a business. Seriously. I’m not really all that complicated, despite what Allison thinks.
Please give us a little information about the world in which you live.
I live in this tiny town in northern Michigan. The winter population’s around five hundred. During the summer months the tourists’ll push it up to a thousand, maybe fifteen hundred. I’m from Dallas, so you can imagine the culture shock I experienced when I first moved here. For the first few months, I admit, I thought a lot about moving back. But if I’d left, I’d never have met Allison, so it was definitely worth staying. Even if everyone in this damn town knows your business practically before you do it.
Do you travel in the course of your adventures? If so where?
Once a month, back to Dallas, which is where my company’s main office is located. Before I took on this contract with The Resort, I used to travel all over the country to meet with other clients, but managing security for The Resort is a full time job, so my brother does most of the traveling now.
Name and describe a food from your world.
(Laughs) Well, I’m from Texas, and we have the world’s best Tex Mex, hands down. And now that I’m living in northern Michigan, I can tell you, there is nothing like a good Tex Mex restaurant. It’s just about the only thing I miss about Texas, to tell you the truth.
Does your world have magic? If so how is it viewed in your world?
If I were some other kind of guy I’d make a crack about the magic happening in my bedroom. But I’m not that guy.
What form of politics is dominant in your world?
Oh, this place is like a world of its own. Gossip is their politics. Small towns are like that, I’ve learned. You want to know anything about anybody, just go hang out at the local ice cream parlor. These people have turned gossip into an art. In the wintertime, it’s all they do. Seriously. That’s why I don’t like doing this publicity type stuff. I don’t like to be the one they all talk about.
Name a couple of myths and legends particular to your culture/people.
This is a small town. These people probably believe the loch ness monster lives out there in Messenger Lake.
Is that it? Well, thanks for asking me to do this interview. What’s this for again? You aren’t going to make me look like a sap in Allison’s eyes, are you? I mean, not that I buy into her whole James Bond theory (nervous laugh), but you have to admit that’s a nice stroke for a guy’s ego. So just make sure I sound Bond-like, okay?
Okay?
Want to learn more about Carter? Purchase the books below:
The Resort – Artist’s Obsession: http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Obsession-Resort-Tami-Lund-ebook/dp/B00C45BTBS/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0579H19GQR6K0MCJAE9F
The Resort – Holiday in Dallas: http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Dallas-Resort-Tami-Lund-ebook/dp/B00DPN3Z5G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1399425497&sr=8-2&keywords=tami+lund
The Resort – Valentine’s Day at The Resort: http://www.amazon.com/Valentines-Day-at-The-Resort-ebook/dp/B00HO2YMT2/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0R80P12TJVBRY1X6Y3BW
Coming in June, 2014: Summertime at The Resort!
Where, besides here, can you stalk the author?
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTamiLund?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/TamiLundAuthor
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