Bess Kercher Weaves an Adventure-Filled, Faith-Driven Middle Grade Tale in “Now and At the Hour”
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In this episode 183, we visit with Bess Kercher, author of “Now and At the Hour,” a compelling middle grade novel which follows 12–year-old Albert Davidson through a challenging year in his life. With faith, compassion, love, adventure, and friendship, Albert tries to accept his mother’s cancer diagnosis, all while learning to let go of the secrets and lies he tells to protect her.
After saving a baby shark from the surf, a video of the event goes viral and Albert uses his newfound popularity to help his mother find a path to healing. A quieter adventure unfolds with the boys and a mysterious stranger, whose unsafe circumstances lead Albert to double down on his secrets and lies.
Kimmery Martin, author of “The Queen of Hearts” and “The Antidote for Everything” has this to say about the book “Bess Kercher’s debut novel brilliantly captures the singular world of a middle-school kid. Albert Davidson is an endearing, compelling hero, forced to navigate his mother’s distressing diagnosis and his own newfound celebrity at the most awkward and uncertain of ages. ‘Now and At the Hour’ is the best kid lit I’ve read in a long, long time.”
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About the Author:
Bess Kercher indulged her love of stories at Davidson College, where she majored in English and dabbled in creative writing. She later graduated with an M.A. in Organizational Communication from Queens University of Charlotte 2and began freelance writing shortly thereafter.
She contributed to charlotteobserver.com from 2013-2017 on their MomsCharlotte platform, authoring parenting essays and the blogs Worst Mom Ever, Miracle on Curbstone Street, Mom and Pop, Because Friends, Team Mom, and A Few Good Moms: Can you handle the truth? She once won a writing contest as a blogger for skirt.com and her prize was a copy of the book My Formerly Hot Life, which seemed cruelly apropos, but still made her day…because there’s nothing like putting yourself out there and then feeling like someone gets you.
She currently enjoys a cozy lukewarm life in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and family mascot/dog, Maddie.
Additional Endorsements
“Bess Kercher’s new middle grade novel will truly touch your soul. Her intricately woven words illuminate the beauty of compassion, courage, and community arising from unexpected circumstances. The fruitful conversations stemming from this beautifully written novel will bring life and love into your teen’s world…a family must-read!’
Catherine Farley, author of the EXPLORE WITH MIMI picture book series
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