About Laurie

Laurie Carter BioAward-winning author Laurie Carter has made it her personal mission to introduce Canadian icon Emily Carr to a wider audience — to new generations — while continuing to highlight Carr’s legacy for those who already appreciate her work.

Carter’s stories and photographs, which appear in books, newspapers, magazines and online, reflect a broad range of interests. But since 2012 Carter has devoted her travel and research to beloved artist/author Emily Carr.

Inspired by Carr’s life and work, and sharing her interest in nature and First Nations culture, Carter has travelled across British Columbia with single purpose. Along the way she’s learned BC history, met fascinating people, and gained even greater admiration for the woman she regards as an important role model for our times.

Carter lived in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley for more than twenty-five years before returning to Ontario to settle in a quaint village where she shares a cozy home with her husband, writer/photographer Bruce Kemp, and two rescue kitties.

Books

Carter’s latest book, Timeless Emily Carr: Quotations for Life, honours the 150th anniversary of Emily Carr’s birth (1871-2021) with a selection of the author/artist’s wit and wisdom; observations that remain relevant to this day. Including notes on each quotation and a brief bio for those new to Carr world, this project grew from a single incident. When Carter was asked to sign her Emily Carr’s BC trilogy for the 18th birthday of a friend’s daughter, the search for a quote to finish off the inscription led to her conclusion that people might appreciate a collection of Carr quotations.

Three of Carter’s previous books were inspired by her travels in search of Emily Carr. The ground-breaking trilogy, Emily Carr’s BC, explores Carr’s life in the context of the province she loved. Book One: Vancouver Island was released in 2015 and became a finalist for NATJA Travel Book of the Year. Book Two: Northern BC & Haida Gwaii was released in 2016 and was a finalist in the Whistler Independent Book Awards. Book Three: South Coast to the Interior was released in 2019.

Carter has also carried her interest in travel to her Taylor Kerrick mystery novels. Published by Sands Press, there are currently two books in the series: The Ivory Express and Bear of a Honeymoon.

Other books include Grandma Wears Hiking Boots: A personal guide to the Okanagan Valley and Gifts of the Okanagana coffee table photo essay produced in collaboration with her husband, Bruce Kemp.

Awards

Laurie Carter’s stories and photographs have been recognized with many travel media awards. The first book in her Emily Carr’s BC trilogy — Vancouver Island — was a finalist for Travel Book of the Year in the North American Travel Journalists Associations Awards. The second book — Northern BC & Haida Gwaii — was a finalist in the Whistler Independent Book Awards. 

Freelance

Carter served for many years as senior editor of Okanagan Life magazine and has written for a variety of publications and websites. Her freelance credits include: BC Living, Westworld Saskatchewan, West Magazine, Harbors, Okanagan Life, HelloBC.com, Thompson Okanagan Vacation Guide, Horizon Air, UP! magazine, The Province, National Post, Georgia Straight, Montreal Gazette, Calgary Herald, Canadian Traveller, West of the City, Good Times, Country Discoveries, Where-Thompson Okanagan, MotorHome, Northwest Travel, Okanagan Life Annual Valley Guide, Okanagan Real Estate and Relocation Guide, Thompson Life Two Rivers Guide, Boat Guide, Spokane Spokesman-Review, Event, Red Deer Express, Okotokes Western Wheel, Contact, The Globe and Mail.