Kerri wrote the poem
TURTLE, EARTH MOTHER
Kerri Mullen (she/her) is a mother to three wonderfully different, creative, and spirited children who inspire her daily to continue learning and advocating on their behalf.
She’s an avid reader of all genres but particularly enjoys historical fiction.
An outdoors enthusiast, Ms. Mullen is a Biology Instructor at Stonehill College in Massachusetts.
Kerri’s poem, TURTLE EARTH MOTHER was inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s recounting of the Native American creation story of Turtle Island in Braiding Sweetgrass.
Her first children’s book, Eli’s New Clothes (Dorrance 2020), tells the story of a gender-nonconforming doll character, inspired by parenting a trans child.
She’s also published several peer-reviewed journal articles and one book chapter on corals.
Absol’s Q&A with Kerri:
Delighted to meet you, Kerri! Thanks for being our LEGEND of the WEEK!
If you could be any magical or legendary creature, who or what would you be?
I would be a winged unicorn, of course! Who wouldn’t love to be a magical unicorn that can fly!?
Gnomes. Gnomes who like their feet on the ground. But I get it.
Can you tell us a little about how you came to be a part of Gnomes & UnGnomes? How did you hear about the Loft and this project?
I learned of The Writer’s Loft at Aesop’s Book store in Holliston, MA during an event for a previous children’s poetry anthology, An Assortment of Animals. When I read Friends & Anemones with my little one, I fell in love with the idea of writing poems for children. I knew that I wanted to be part of the next anthology, and was thrilled when this new anthology was announced!
Tell us about your anthology poems and how you came to choose Gaia?
My poem in this collection, Turtle, Earth Mother, was inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s recounting the Native American creation story of Turtle Island in her book, Braiding Sweetgrass. As both a biologist and environmentalist, I find Kimmerer’s work as a botanist as well as her science and natural history communication from her Indigenous perspective inspiring. I decided to write about the Turtle after reading her book and visiting the Ithaca Children’s Garden, which features a larger-than-life natural land sculpture of a snapping turtle. This sculpture garden, named Gaia, is a tribute to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) indigenous peoples’ tale that the entire world was formed on a turtle’s back.
Wonderful. Thank you for your time!
writersloftpress.com 