Carrie Pepper

Carrie Pepper always knew she wanted to write. Her first published article — on bald eagles — landed the cover of Forestry Magazine and launched a 20-year career with bylines in Entrepreneur, American Forests, and Chicken Soup for the Soul books. A member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors, she has also penned a regional column, The Pepper Mill.

A lifelong cat rescuer, Carrie has welcomed many felines into her home, including her current companions Lilly and Henry. New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hall calls her a “heart writer,” a gift evident in her memoir Missing on Hill 700: How Losing a Brother in Vietnam Created a Family in America. She has shared her story as a keynote speaker for veterans’ groups across Northern California.

Carrie lives in West Sacramento, California — and is the kind of person who keeps kibble and a water dish in her trunk, just in case.