Whether it was while she was growing up outside of San Francisco or when she moved to Plymouth in 2004, writing has always been something that Carrie Atkins considered doing more seriously.
“I realized when I started writing my first book that I couldn’t do it without Minnesota, without that emotional connection,” Atkins says.
Atkins has written three books: My Next Dance, My Last Dance? and My First Dance. All are categorized as young-adult paranormal romance and feature Becca Cooper, a 17-year-old ballet prodigy who lives in Plymouth and has dreams about her past life as a New York City prima ballerina.
“The last book’s title is a metaphor about the first life of Cassandra the ballerina,” she says.
According to readers of the series, it’s Atkins’ ability to describe the Minnesota scenery that stands out. “I absolutely love all the winter activities Minnesota brings,” she says. “Ice hockey, skating, sledding, all the snow covering the trees. I wanted to have my readers imagine being here.”
Atkins plans to continue writing for young-adult readers, because her teen and tween daughters—Taylor, Samantha and Morgan—give her input and ideas.
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Purchase Carrie Atkins’ paperback or ebook at mynextdance.com.
