Welcome to the website of Fantasy Author Patrick W. Carr
Hi. I’m so glad you dropped by. I’m fantasy author Patrick W. Carr, math teacher by day, and novelist by night. I love being both. Being a math teacher fills my need for community and being a writer fills my need for solitude and creativity. I currently reside in Nashville, TN with my wife, Mary, and a ridiculous little dog named Mel. Picture a fifteen pound, poofy ball of white fur with legs. That’s Mel. Mary and I have four grown children spread across the country and we love hearing about their adventures!
I write character-driven fantasy, which has a different genesis than plot-driven fantasy (though there are some amazing plot-driven fantasy books out there). My methodology is to craft my characters first, picturing how they look, how they think, their fears, hopes, aspirations, etc. This takes a while, but by the time I’m done, I know them as well as any real person in my life.
Then, I begin the book with the inciting incident. From that point on, I’m not so much telling the story as I am taking dictation from the characters. Their reactions lead me through the rest of the plot. I can’t count the number of times I’ve looked at the page in front of me and thought to myself “I had no idea they were going to do that!”
If you’re new to my work you may wonder where to start. Here are my recommendations:
If you’re a teenager or a fan of YA, then I would start with “A Cast of Stones,” which is the first book in The Staff and the Sword trilogy, followed by “The Hero’s Lot” and “A Draw of Kings.”
For older readers, or people who like their fantasy a bit more serious, then begin with the short introductory novel to The Darkwater Saga, “By Divine Right.”
If it’s Christmas time and you want something on the comical side, I would suggest “It’s A Wonderful Christmas Carol.” If you’re looking for something more historical, then check out “The End of the Magi.”
If you would like updates and announcements, including upcoming releases, sign up here.