At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our authors as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Kern Carter!
About the Author:
KERN CARTER is the author of Boys and Girls Screaming, along with two self-published novels, Thoughts of a Fractured Soul (novella) and Beauty Scars. In addition to his writing, Kern is a filmmaker and also teaches professional writing at a local college, committed to supporting emerging writers and helping them find their voice. He lives in Toronto.
Fast Five with Kern Carter:
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
This is a tough question, so I’m going to cheat and give a couple of different answers. If I could live anywhere in the world, I would live part of my life in Grenada. My mother and grandmother were both born there and the stories they tell me speaks to my soul. The other place I would live is in Laguna Beach, California. I spent a few days there and you’re literally in between the ocean and these gorgeous mountains. I didn’t want to leave.
What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?
One thing that instantly makes my day better is eating my first meal. I absolutely love food, good food, and eating usually puts me in the best mood.
Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner is definitely my favorite meal. There are so many options and I get the most excited thinking about all the different possibilities. Plus all of my favourite dishes are dinner dishes.
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
The best concert I’ve ever been to was Kanye’s West’s Yeezus tour. I’ve never seen a production like that in my life. I also want to give a shoutout to Jill Scott. I saw her perform in New Orleans and her show was probably the most memorable. Her voice and stage presence was all she needed to command the audience.
Who do you consider a fashion icon?
When I was growing up, I remember waking up on Saturday mornings and flipping the TV to a show called Raw hosted by Jeanne Beker. Jeanne would take you behind the scenes of fashion shows all across the world and do these unscripted, random interviews and it was my first exposure to that level of fashion. So to me, Jeanne Beker is a fashion icon because she gave kids like me access at a time when it was limited.
Books by Kern:
And Then There Was Us
By Kern Carter
232 Pages | Ages 14+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774883402 | Tundra Books
Coi is just eighteen years old, but has already survived years of physical and verbal abuse from her mother. After being kicked out of her mother’s house at age fourteen, Coi has lived with her father, and together they’ve created a peaceful life. That peace ends suddenly when her mother dies. While Coi struggles to find kindness in her heart for the woman who only hurt her, she starts having lucid dreams, forcing her to relive moments of abuse and emotional trauma that eventually led to Coi’s abandonment. Her mother’s passing also reopens the door to her mother’s side of the family, including her beloved younger half-sister, Kayla, her stepfather and her grandmother. Each of them challenge Coi’s long-held views about her mother, especially Kayla, who, Coi realizes, is taking their mother’s loss hard. As she reconnects with her family, Coi learns to see parts of her mother she never experienced, and for the first time since she was abandoned, opens her heart to forgiveness.
