Meet Carter Pugh

We were lucky to catch up with Carter Pugh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carter , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I don’t think purpose is something we have to chase—it kind of finds us, usually when we’re not even looking. It changes as we do. For me, writing showed up at exactly the right moment—when I wasn’t expecting it, but when I needed it most.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m an indie author who writes mystery, romance, fantasy, and a little spice—because why not mix all the good stuff together? I live in North Carolina with my husband and our puppy son, Cheese. My debut novel, Death Rattle, came out in 2023 and kicked off the Death Book Series.

When I’m not writing, I’m probably lost in a fantasy, romance, or sci-fi book. I love connecting with other writers, hitting up local bookish events, or hanging with my family. Right now, I’m working on Death Twitch, the sequel to Death Rattle, which is coming summer 2025.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I’ve learned that marketing is a lot of trial and error—figuring out what works (and what really doesn’t). I’ve tried a bunch of different strategies and now team up with a few awesome social media PAs to help keep things fresh and engaging. Connecting with other authors and readers has been a huge part of the journey—your community really is your support system. From the beginning, branding was something I took seriously, and social media has been a big part of building that brand and creating real connections with readers.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

As an indie author, one of the biggest challenges I face is getting my books in front of more readers. Doing all the promoting on my own can be a lot, and there’s only so much I can manage. I’m currently looking for literary representation and hoping to partner with a traditional publisher to help bring my stories to a wider audience.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @carterpughwrites

Image Credits

@austentaylorphoto