407: He wanted to be an author at eight - now he writes for Penguin (with Kern Carter)

How to Write for a Living · May 24, 2026 · 41m

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.-…