About Karen Crear
Karen Crear is a bestselling author, publisher, public speaker and passionate champion of the written word. With a love of storytelling, a wicked sense of humour and a firm belief that everyone has a story worth telling, Karen is on a mission to get more people reading, writing and discovering the magic of books.
As the co-founder of Crear Publishing, Karen is passionate about offering authors an ethical, supportive route to publication. She believes that incredible literary talent exists right here in the North East and is determined to help give it the platform and recognition it deserves. Through Crear Publishing, she works to nurture new voices, celebrate independent authors and prove that you don't need to live in London or have the backing of a major publishing house to tell a brilliant story.
Karen is also the driving force behind two annual literary celebrations, the North East Indie Book Fest and the North East Children's Indie Book Fest. Both events shine a spotlight on the wealth of independent literary talent in the region, bringing authors and readers together to celebrate books, creativity and storytelling. The North East Indie Book Fest also offers something rather fabulous alongside the literary delights: amazing charcuterie, delicious cakes and fizz. Because, let's face it, books and bubbles are a pretty perfect combination!
The children's festival is particularly close to Karen's heart. Concerned about poor literacy levels among children in the North East, she wants to encourage youngsters to put down their tablets, step away from their screens and discover the sheer joy of getting lost in a good book. As a child, reading was Karen's escape from everyday life, opening doors to extraordinary worlds and endless possibilities. She believes books offer something truly magical: the chance to be anyone, go anywhere and experience a thousand different lives, all without leaving your armchair.
Karen also runs creative workshops for children, encouraging them to unleash their imaginations and discover the storyteller within. Her own writing journey began at the tender age of nine, when she wrote and illustrated her very first book, Where There's a Wheel There's a Way. Remarkably, she still has the original handwritten and illustrated manuscript, although more than forty years later it's looking rather battered and worn — much like its owner!
The story follows Humphrey, a little tortoise who struggles to keep up with his friends because he simply can't walk fast enough. But beneath this charming tale lies a timeless message about friendship, kindness, acceptance and the importance of recognising that we are all perfect exactly as we are. It's a message that mattered when Karen first put pencil to paper over forty years ago and one she believes is every bit as important today.
And now Humphrey’s story has been published for a new generation and is embarking on a rather special adventure of his own. Karen donates to the Newcastle-based Dragonfly Cancer Trust from every sale of the book, and a copy will also be included in every sibling box provided by the charity, offering a little comfort, kindness and escapism to the brothers and sisters of seriously ill children. For Karen, who has battled cancer twice herself, this partnership is particularly poignant. The charity provides vital support to young people and their families facing devastating cancer diagnoses, and Karen is proud that a story created by her nine-year-old self can now play a small part in helping others through such difficult times.
Giving back to the community is a huge part of Karen's life. She also works closely with Newcastle Women's Aid, which receives a donation from every sale of Playing with Fire, a powerful true-life memoir about deception, survival and resilience. Donations from sales of her other books also support Dragonfly Cancer Trust, ensuring that her passion for storytelling can make a positive difference beyond the pages.
Alongside her writing and publishing work, Karen is a public speaker who loves connecting with audiences, sharing experiences and encouraging people to embrace life, whatever it throws at them. She is a firm believer that a good sense of humour is one of life's greatest superpowers. Having faced her own share of challenges, she knows that laughter can be a powerful weapon against adversity. Her philosophy is simple: if you can still find something to laugh about, even in your darkest moments, then those moments haven't defeated you.
Above all, Karen believes in the power of stories to entertain, inspire, heal and bring people together. Whether she's writing her next novel, helping another author achieve their publishing dream, championing a local charity or encouraging a child to pick up their very first book, her mission remains the same: to make a difference, celebrate creativity and spread a little joy along the way.
Preferably with a good laugh thrown in for good measure.
