Season 4, episode 7 is here!
Kern Carter knew he wanted to be an author at eight years old. What followed was about as non-linear as it gets: self-published novellas, indie publishers, Penguin, Scholastic, ghostwriting, a short film, school tours, and more books out before the year is done. This one covered a lot of ground.
What we discussed:
- How Kern deliberately treated becoming an author like a trade profession, and what that mindset meant for the steps he actually took.
- Why he self-published his first two books before ever approaching a publisher, and what those books were really for.
- The surprising reason it can be easier to sell a $15,000 ghostwriting service than a $30 novel, and what that tells you about how readers actually think.
- What Kern learned about book marketing the hard way at his very first launch, and how he changed his approach for every book since.
- The moment during a school tour in Manitoba that he says he will never forget for as long as he lives.
- Why getting a traditional publishing deal is not what most aspiring authors think it is.
- The advice he’d give specifically to first-time authors that he would not give to anyone else.
You can find out more about Kern on Substack at Writers Are Superstars and on his website.
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