Joey Carter was raised in the swamps and bayous of southeastern Louisiana. After a stint in the Navy, he hitchhiked across the U.S. and settled in Hawaii, where he went to college, worked as a mountain trail guide, and met his wife. He taught college and at-risk youth for 20 years, and has written several books on philosophy. Carter now lives back in Louisiana, where he works freelance as an artist, writer, teacher, and handyman.