After recently looking up my name in Google search, I have discovered that people are confusing me with the actual published author, also named Rae Carson. It said so on the FAQ of her website at http://www.raecarson.com/faq/ . I am not her and she is not me. We are two separate individuals who happen to love writing fantasy.

I felt only right that I should contact her, (as we are each aware of each other's existence) and she responded to me! She said she would have her publicist link this page to her FAQs. So if you've wound up here from her page, thank you for your interest! And I hope you enjoy my stories!

Rae Carson =D

Basic Stats

Hair: Wavy, poufy, dark brown rather difficult to do anything with it; that's why hats are my bag, baby
Eyes: Myopic Grey
Gender: Yes
Age: 34
Height: 5' 10" ish, depending on the yardstick
Weight: slightly less than a metric ton
Car: 1998 Chevy Metro, white
Pets: Not any more...sigh
Occupation: Misc.
Loves: HP (erm, like duh?), best mates, Star Trek, X-Files, Doctor Who, reading, listening to and composing music, my siblings esp. Beka, writing, drawing, singing, Uh-oh Oreos, and my NEPHEWS and NIECES!! Actually, pretty much all kids rawk, seeing as how they aren't mine...
Hobbies: Harleys-watching--Shovelheads VRRROOOMMMMM, lowriders, superglides... siiiigggghhhh, toll painting, cooking (I LURVE spicing up Italian dishes), four-tracking (four-wheeling,) off-roading (trucks are my LIFE!), camping, snow-machining, making up song parodies...the list goes on, really...
Food Dislikes: CAKE (BLEAH! I can totally agree w/Radcliffe on this one--because when one eats cake, they must generally eat frosting...which I also HATE...eeeccchhhh), nearly all fish (except red snapper and brook trout), brussels sprouts, milk ick, almost anything bland. Gimmie spicy! I put pepper on EVERYTHING...eggs, soup, broccoli, corn, pasta (marinara), and garlic toast...
General Dislikes: people who are disrespectful of my clients, ditto w/family and friends (bullies at all I guess), idiotic politicians (Ex. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld), people who cut me off in traffic, people who steal my "Support Our Troops" yellow ribbon magnets off my car (YES, this really HAPPENED!) "Reality" TV/TV in general, rap music (rap is "crap" with a silent C--except Will Smith, Beastie Boys, Rage/Machine), hip hop (most, not all), pop music (Britney, J. Lo, any Boy Bands, Hilary, Celine--you can all kiss my ruddy wand)
Favourite Music: I have waaaaay too many favey bands/songs, so I'll name the basic genre instead; ones I can remember, anyway: Indie/Brit Rock (The Killers/Muse) Old-School Punk (Ramones/Pistols), Heavy Metal (old-school Metallica), Acid Rock (Motorhead), Death Metal (Suicidal Tendencies), Hard Rock (AC/DC), Big Hair Bands--until they get too whiny (Poison), New Wave (Depeche Mode), oldies (60s and 70s), 80s Butt Rock, and basic weirdness/avante garde in general: KISS, Twisted Sister, Bloodhound Gang, Weird Al, Tom Lehrer, Bob Rivers, etc, some classical/romantic (Brahms, Verdi), SOUNDTRACKS...and a bit of inspirational...on occasion. But by far, the best band EVER--would have to be...the Monkees! HAHAHAHAAHAAAA! Unsung brilliance in my opinion.
Tattoos/Unusual Scars: No tattoos; too many scars to count, really. I do have one on my left ring finger that looks like a heart...it was from a case of chicken pox when I was 9. I've also got a long one across the bridge of my nose from when I glass smashed on it when I was 15, oh yeah and I also have one down my stomach which looks like a zipper because of the 33 staples used to hold it together...snigger Zipper Chic!

I enjoy doing fan chat, fan art, fan fiction, composing Harry Potteresque music...you get the idea. Living out here in the American Northwest, there's not loads to do...hrm. I'm a latecomer to the franchise; until April 2004, I was a certified card-carrying member of the Harry Potter Loathers Society. Then I actually READ the books...facepalm The rest is history! In college, I wrote fiction for a published scifi zine so I know more than a bit of what I'm doing here...=

All I ask is that you give my work a read, and let me know what you think. I'm open to CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, but if you have loads to say, please use my email on this page. I have a wide variety of work, as I write in just about every genre.

Many, many people have repeatedly asked me where I get my ideas, and how I am able to write about Harry the way I do. In a rather blanket way, I feel it only fair that I reply. Quite honestly, however, there is no single answer for this question. And I must unequivocally state it is definitely more inspiration than personal talent or ability. In other words, I don't write these stories: THEY write ME. So I suppose in some ways, especially since it was not me who created Harry Potter, it feels nearly...arrogant to call these stories "my writing", but for the sake of argument, that's how I shall refer to them. Here are just a few of the resources/reasons from which my imagination springs:

1) J. K. Rowling
2) Dan Radcliffe
3) Jim and Oliver Phelps
4) Bonnie Wright
5) Rupert Grint
6) Emma Watson
7) personal experiences/emotions
8) fellow HP enthusiasts/friends
9) music
10) drawing/sketching
11) life in general

I would like to think one can find inspiration in anything, even amongst the bad--for without it, one would never be able to truly appreciate the good they experience. All we need to do is look with the right attitude.
Okay, sorry--off the soapbox.

How to tell if you are a real writer: (Stolen from LaTashaMalfoy, with some minor changes!)

1. You get extremely grumpy and unpleasant if there is more than a 12-hour break between the times that you're sitting at your computer writing.

2. You sometimes act out your story ideas by yourself.

3. If you don't have your laptop, you are begging desperately for it.

4. You occasionally speak with adverbs such as 'wistfully' or 'reluctantly'.

5. You get super duper excited every time your fanfic gets a new review.

6. You live off of sugar and caffeine (And chocolate.)

7. You constantly talk in third person and past tense.

8. If someone bugs you while you're writing, you either completely tune them out or jump up and pounce on them until they leave.

9. You bring either your laptop or your notebook EVERYWHERE.

10. Your favorite sentence to hear from a person is "Can I read it" when they are talking about your stories.

11. Plot bunnies multiply in your head faster than tribbles.

More getting to know me...

Are You Obsessed With Harry Potter?
Yes, although I'm not nearly as obsessed as I've been in past years, despite claims to the contrary.

Could You Prove That Statement In Court?
Easily.

Do You Know Any Of The Characters Middle Names?
Indeedy I do.

What's Your Ship?
Harry/Ginny, Tonks/Remus, and maybe a bit of Narcissa/Snape during their Hogwarts years

What's Not Your Ship?
Harmony and Snarry. YUCKYUCKYUCK. Oh, and anything incestuous. WROOOONG.

If Your Ship Doesn't Happen What Would You Settle For?
Both of my major ships did happen although JKR did some KILLING OFF, which I will NEVER EVER forgive her for doing. Call me bitter, but it ain't gonna happen.

Have You Seen All The Movies?
ROFL. What, they made MOVIES? =P

Read All The Books?
More times than I rightly remember, some books reread waaaay more than others.

What Do You Think Of JKR?
She's a beautiful woman, intelligent, a great mother, an inspiring writer and philanthropist. It is because of her creations that I have found out many good things about myself I never knew beforehand. I've also met some amazing people because of the Potter fandom. However, I believe she is still very human and fallible, too, just like the rest of us, nor do I agree with everything she says just because she happens to be the one who says it.

Favourites

Character, Overall?
I love Harry the most. He became like a best friend to me during a particularly dark time during my life and I relate to him on so many levels.

Female Character?
I cannot possibly decide! I love Hermione for her loyalty and Tonks for her individuality and devotion, and Lily for her loving sacrifice and Luna for her bravery and quirkiness, and McGonagall for being so indefatigable and Ginny for her hidden powers and sense of humor...etc etc. See, I could go on...

Male Character?
Neville Longbottom. The most maligned, misunderstood, and brushed-off character stood up to Voldemort in front of an entire audience, yet he refused to be cowed. Even when everybody thought Harry had been killed, his body laid out in front of them for all to see, even when Voldemort began burning Neville alive with the Sorting Hat, Neville still would not back down. NEVILLE IS A BAMF!!

Group Of Characters?
The Weasleys, The DA, the Order of the Phoenix

Adult?
Remus Lupin

Professor?
Tie between Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Lupin.

Spell?
Protego!

Sweet?
That's easy--wizard chocolate. =D Preferably administered by Remus Lupin. ;-)

Place?
The Burrow Product?
Chocolate Frogs =D

Shop?
Honeydukes!!

Least Favourites

Character, Overall?
Dolores Umbridge

Female?
Tie between Umbridge and Rita Skeeter

Male?
McClaggen, the idiotic meathead Gryffindor Keeper stand-in who wouldn't keep his mitts off Hermione and who caused Harry to take a Bludger to the head.

Adult?
Marvolo Gaunt

Student?
Tom Riddle

Spell?
Cruciatus Curse

Book?
The Half-Blood Prince

Sweet?
Cockroach Cluster.

Death Eater?
Alecto and Amycus Carrow. Evil evil evil.

Shop?
Borgin and Burke's.

Place?
Anywhere Voldemort is located.

Professor?
Not a professor, but staff-- Argus Filch

Couples

Ron/Hermione?
FINA-FREAKING-LY!

Harry/Hermione?
growls

Harry/Ginny?
Yayz. 4eva. :3

Harry/Luna?
I love this one, too, even though I love H/G.

Harry/Pansy?
GROSSEY.

Ron/Lavender?
She's sooo beautiful and sweet and lovely, but she really needs to learn more about herself before getting into relationships. She's far too clingy. Also, Ron doesn't deserve her.

Ron/Luna?
Uhhh...Ron's not mature enough to appreciate how awesome Luna is. Again, he doesn't deserve her.

Ron/Pansy?
Ok, that one just left a nasty taste in my brain.

Ron/Fleur?
Wrong wrong wrong.

Hermione/Krum?
I enjoyed this pairing immensely. Hermione was fortunate enough to have found somebody who was enough of a man to appreciate her for her mind. Though I knew it would always be Hermione and Ron who eventually paired up, I think I would've been even happier if Hemione and Viktor wound up together as well.

Hermione/Draco?
The unrequited love, from Draco's point of view, makes this one a very good ship to write. I never used to enjoy this on a serious level, but after reading some really excellent fics with this ship, I may have to do some of my own now...

Hermione/Fred or George?
Haha, never. They're too fun-loving and she's too much of a disciplinarian.

James/Lily?
They make beautiful people. ;-)

Lily/Snape?
Unbreakable devotion which transcended death. In a way, this is even more poignant than Lily and James, since Lily was no longer attracted to Severus by the time she died.

Lily/Sirius?
Blargh. I just can't fathom it. =\

Lily/Remus?
Exceptionally sweet, especially considering the way Remus describes Lily to Harry in the Azkaban movie. But still...it would largely be unrequited.

Tonks/Lupin?
Yes, please!

Draco/Pansy?
I don't know, I think they were only with each other because nobody else would go out with them...and that's just kind of sad to me.

Fred/Angelina?
Definitely!

Bill/Fleur?
Proof that a pretty face doesn't necessarily equal an arrogant fluff-headed brain.

Harry/Cho?
major hurlage

This Or That?

Ron or Harry?
Harry

Hermione or Ginny?
Ginny

Neville or Seamus?
Neville

Snape or Slughorn?
Snape

Fred Or George?
George

ButterBeer or Fire Whiskey?
Fire whiskey.

Zonko's or Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes?
The Wheezes, man.

Hog's Head Or The Three Broomsticks?
Hog's Head, all the way. Secret portrait portals and barmy old codger barkeeps FTW.

Hogwarts or Hogsmeade?
Hogwarts

Hogsmeade Or Diagon Alley?
Diagon Alley

Malfoy Manor or Knockturn Alley?
Malfoy Manor

Bertie Bott's or Fizzing Whizbees?
Fizzing Whizbees

Witch Weekly Or The Daily Prophet?
Blah, neither one. Give me the Quibbler any day!

Rita Skeeter or Barty Crouch?
The actor who portrays Barty Jr, plz

Gyrffindor or Ravenclaw?
Ravenclaw

Random Fandom Stuff

Have you Been to A Release Party?
One, for the final novel. And it kinda sucked.

Ever cried while reading one of the books?
Definitely. I cry even more now when I read them than before.

Cried during the movies?
Yup.

Books or Movies?
Books

Had A Dream About Harry Potter?
Dozens and dozens of them.

Been To A Fansite?
Dozens and Dozens.

Been to JKR's Site?
You bet...but it's been years since I last checked it.

Have You Ever Roleplayed?
You aren't a true fanatic unless you've role-played!

If So, Who were you/are you?
More characters than I can count. Main characters, sub characters, original characters. I can be anything I need to be.

Did you use to have an absurd theory?
Yes, I had many of them. Funny thing is the majority of them wound up being accurate.

What was it?
The main one I had: That Harry would die and yet return because of his blood-connection through Voldemort.

Did you/do you hide your obsession?
At first, yes, because so many people mocked me horribly for it.

Did it/ does it work?
No. So I decided I didn't care what people thought and let my enthusiasm blossom. If they don't like me because I like HP, then they can just go Splinch themselves. ;P

Ever dressed up like a Character?
Harry, Tonks, generic witch, Yule Ball attendee

Ever noticed That You can't "spell Hermione without Ron"?
Uhhh, no.

Did you just try to prove that wrong?
Nope. Because I don't care. XD

Notice hat if Harry & Hermione got married they'd have the EXACT same initials?
LOL Nope. Because I HATE Harry/Hermione. =P

Did you just try to prove that wrong?
I don't have to--it was Jo herself who said that H/Hr shippers are delusional!

Have you noticed That Lily Evans And Ginny Weasley are alot alike?
It's rather difficult not to.

Do you find it weird that Harry & his dad fell in love with girls so alike?
Not at all. There's nothing abnormal or weird about somebody thinking their mother is beautiful, and then that translating to their attraction of girls. Harry may not have known his mum, but he idolized her. I think it's only natural he wound up with somebody who's similar to Lily, yet different enough to be her own person. He is a Potter, after all!

Do you know what fanfiction is?
No, because I've lived under a rock for the last 20 years.

Ever Been To A Fanfiction site?
I've submitted to them.

Do you read fanfiction?
Some, yes.

If so, do you like it?
As long as it's good, yes.

Are you a member of a fanfiction site?
Many

What site?
Why, are you planning on stalking me?
fanfiction.net
harrypotterfanfiction.net
and about a half dozen others I can't currently recall

Do you write fanfiction?
Indeedy I do.

Ever had Harry Potter Candy?
Yes, Bertie Botts and Chocolate Frogs.

Do you own a lot of Harry Potter Stuff?
Lol no. Honestly, I don't.

Do you have Harry Potter Scene It?
Yes, an old one though which only includes stuff through movie 4.

Do You Have A Harry Potter Shirt?
Yes, one.

What Character Are You Most Often Compared To?
Harry, Luna, Hermione

Do You Agree With This?
Sometimes

Do You Have Any Nicknames That Have To Do With Harry Potter?
Yes

What Are They?
Adonna Tonks, Tonksy, Harry

Do you object To being Called By them?
No way. I love them!

Are your friends supportive of your obsession?
Yes, nearly all of them are. =

Do you have any inside jokes that relate to Harry Potter?
Only a million. XD

What's One?
If I told you, then it wouldn't be an inside joke anymore, would it? =P

Do you relate a lot of things to Harry Potter?
Yeah, much to my own annoyance.

Have you ever read a Harry Potter Musical?
Nope, but I've watched one. Everybody I know is willllld about AVPM.

Have You Ever Written One?
Lol Nope, but I would LOVE to!!

Do You Want To?
See above.

Have you ever entered A Contest TO Win Something Harry Potter?
Yeah.

Do you wish that you went to Hogwarts?
Yup.

Have you re-read the books?
Yes. Many, many times.

Have you had A Harry Potter Themed Party?
Yeah, a few of them. Although the best one was the High Tea Party I threw for Chan on New Years of 2006. Wow, that was AWESOME!