Meet Chara Bowie | Children’s Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chara Bowie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chara, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
As I embraced my career as a registered play therapist, I often searched for children’s books to integrate into my counseling practice. I found the most rewarding books were stories I created with my clients. Finally, I decided to create my own personalized children’s book. SURVIVOR has been a true family endeavor. This book written by me, illustrated by my husband and plenty of critiques from our daughters, was a worthwhile family challenge. The purpose of Survivor is to help children express their thoughts and feelings and to understand the relationship between the two.​As they read the book, they’re invited to fill in the blanks within the story to describe how they feel in various situations. The illustrations throughout the book depict coping skills that can be utilized along with activities pages to write down their thoughts and feelings. Then they can use what they have learned and build their own toolbox so they can be a SURVIVOR!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a professional, we often become engulfed in our full-time employees that may or may not utilize all of our skills and talents. We can truly love what we do full-time. However, we must continue to aspire towards all our dreams to achieve our ultimate potential as human beings. This why I choose to set aside time to follow my dream to become a children’s book author. I have found that if you keep waiting for the right time, it will never come. You have to make today the right time and be dedicated to putting in the work to accomplish your goal or mission. I have also learned that you have to define what your foundation is as a person and what values and principles you will stand firm on. The values and principles that guide your behaviors and actions. These values and principles that you define for yourself become part of your foundation and are not compromisable, they govern your everyday life. If you know what you stand for, you know what you will not accept or tolerate.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my friend was coming to visit Houston we would most definitely go to the cheesecake factory at the galleria for chicken and waffles one day then have the same at the breakfast klub the next. Lunch at Grand Lux, and seafood at LA Crawfish. We would visit the Black Towns Matter painted street in Barrett Station, Texas. We would ride through the Washburn Tunnel and take the Ferry across the ship channel. We would check out the Japanese garden at Herman Park and tour the different building paintings throughout Houston made by local artists. We would travel to Kemah for fresh seafood and tour Galveston being sure to stroll the strand and the beach. We would not keep a structured schedule so that we can discover new sites and locations along the way, including massage places, wineries, and distilleries, and unique shops.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a Shoutout to the best Graphic Designer and Illustrator that I know, Domonique Bowie. He made Survivor, truly come alive. Not to mention the marketing materials that truly capture the essence of this book, all made complete with video and testimonial!

Website: Survivorbook08.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chara-bowie-ma-lpc-s-b6532b3a

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Survivor.thebook2018/

Image Credits
Ferrell Phelps Photography