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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, author Claire Carey shares what inspired her to write her book about the life of an abandoned child, Homeless Bear, and her creative writing process.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed Claire Carey about her life and career, and what inspired her to write her new book, Homeless Bear, about Sean who grows up experiencing the army, abandonment, violence and homelessness.
Tell me a bit about who you are?
I was born in the mid 70s in Coventry both my parents was travelling Showmen on the fairground. I was named Claire after my grandmother Clara. My parents brought me home to the Fairground which that week was taking place on Hearsall Common Coventry for the Easter holiday a very famous Fun Fair that still takes place today.
As I got older, Coventry was not only the place of my birth but also, one of my favourite place for the Fun Fair to visit. Â Purely because almost every year, Coventry was the place I celebrated my birthday, depending on how Easter fell.
I’m very proud of my background. Life on the travelling Fairground has been great and I feel very lucky to had such a unique upbringing. I like to call myself Claire Carey The Travelling Author.
When did you to start writing?
Back in 2018 whilst attending a wedding party I was attacked and badly beaten. Following the attack I started suffering with PTSD. After several visits to my doctor and counselling, the PTSD was festering and nothing seemed to work. My doctor recommended a course of anti-depressant. I myself felt horrified at the very thought of Medication.Â
Deep down I felt if I started taking medication the person who put me in this awful situation would be attacking me again, from within. I was not going to let that happen to me. It was by pure accident that I started writing, an accident that would prove to be probably one of the best things that had ever happened to me. I’m truly grateful that I found the pleasure in writing.
The writing has undoubtedly helped me survive my PTSD an illness that never really leaves, you just have to learn to live with it and find your weaknesses so when they appear, you know how to handle them.
When did you first want to write Homeless Bear?
The idea homeless bear came to me whilst on Holiday in the states with my family. Before I had ever considered writing 7 years ago whilst on holiday in San Francisco. Has we are all aware Homelessness is all around the World.
I will have to confess I’m not one of those people who drops money to the Homeless person sat on the street, I am the person that will just pass you by without paying you any attention, I do not apologise for this, because my life has always been on full throttle, so when I do find the time to visit the Town it’s because I have jobs to do and not much time to get them done. I believe it’s safe to say that many people all around the World are just like me.Â
So whilst in San Francisco on holiday with my family, like many people we enjoy the open top bus tours, and after covering the all the day time routes we decided it might be nice to do a night time tour. The tour got under way and I remembered how interesting it was, until we got to the Town Hall, setting up out side the Town Hall was two gazebos standing in front of the gazebo’s was a, two or maybe three hundred foot Queue of people waiting for the soup kitchen to open. When we got back to our hotel that night the only thing I remembered is the Queue of people in front of the Town Hall waiting for there soup.Â
Then whilst on holiday again this time in New York a very similar scenario happened again. This time it was a couple male and female sat in the door way, I watch hundreds of pass them by no-one stopping, this time the situation reminded, me” of myself and how I would just keep walking by without paying any attention.
And again after the night time tour, on the open top bus, the only thing I remembered was the Homeless couple. I thought to myself why is this bothering me now? And then I realised because I have time to see I’m away from my daily Grind and my mind is free to absorb this situation.Â
Once I started writing I knew that I would have to, at some point cover a story that touches this delicate situation. The story it’s self is about a guy, Ex Military who is made homeless twice in his life through no fault of his own. My fingers have been crossed that the story makes for good reading and hopefully make a decent amount, to help people who want to get off the streets. Any profit I receive from to sale of this book will be passed on to charity.
How long did it take you to complete Homeless Bear from the first idea to release?
Just under two years I wrote the story twice. The first attempt was completely different to the finished product that is homeless bear today. Homeless Bear was also my first adult story. Writing for adults is far more challenging than writing children’s books to say least. And I have to confess I almost gave up, and when that dark shadow appeared I would remind myself of my reasons for writing Homeless Bear and that would get me motivated again.
What made you want to write Homeless Bear?
The general idea was to help and assist in raising money and raise awareness, which is the pandemic of Homelessness around the world.
What we’re your biggest challenges with writing Homeless Bear?
Homelessness comes with all works of life and can be a very delicate situation especially with already so many people trying very hard to help. So getting to right story line that wouldn’t offend anyone was most important to me.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?
The military has always been something that I’ve admired and I suppose that’s because like my lifestyle it’s a very logistical. The military has to be focused at all times organized and hard working the Fairground is pretty much the same. I love to see the tanks and vehicles being transport, be heavy haulage lorries in the same way the fun fair is transported. The Military has to be well turned out, and present themselves immaculately. And a good Fun Fair operator will be exactly the same.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?
Life in general, can be our biggest battle, and how we deal with the daily grid determines how good or bad our lives can be. I believe we are capable of creating our own hells, but if we look for good and make better we are all capable of finding our own little piece of heaven. My very own belief is heaven is something we make and hell is something we create.
What is the inciting incident of Homeless Bear?
Once a person unknowingly finds themselves on that downward spiral, despite doing everything possible to try and slow down the process it can be just to hard, but the real problem only occurs if a person stops trying to stop the downwards trend.
What is the main conflict of Homeless Bear?
It has to be selfishness of the human spirit. Selfish actions can course so much upset and anxiety. Selfishness is something that we all have to learn to deal with daily.
Did you plot Homeless Bear in advance or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?
For me it’s the best of both, I with starts with my imagination and then once I have developed the characters, the Characters write the story for me. Sometimes I feel like the by stander just filling in the gaps. Writing story’s can sometimes feel like an adventure for me it’s the part I enjoy the most watching the characters create the story.
Did you get support with editing and how much editing did Homeless Bear need?
Yes editing is a most, I’m dyslexic so editing is essential. I will read through my work over and even listen to my work on audio and still I cannot achieve perfection, so without an editor I would not achieve publication of any of my work.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?
Don’t be afraid, life is only a story and we can write our own glory.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
I have several in mind one being another magical children’s book set in Wales. But what I would really like to do is write a thriller which I’ve attempted twice already. I find writing to thrill very challenging because, creating a character to that what’s to live on the dark side of life hasn’t arrived yet. Getting in to that frame off mind isn’t easy I very much doubt at this stage I will ever succeed in writing a thriller.
And finally are you proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
Yes very proud of what I have achieved. I have published six books so far, two more out this year. Writing for me is my second best Life and hobby best of all, a form of therapy for my PTSD.
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3S1SRjv
https://www.facebook.com/travellingauthor
https://www.instagram.com/travelling__author?igsh=MXEwNmY3aXFwdTV
https://twitter.com/clairecarey2022?t=XdbxgSUkRu_CzfIzniAeGA&s=09
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