Gary Horner recalls being told about her father’s death while describing how the events inspired her new children’s book.
The singer’s father Lawrence died of a heart attack in 1993, a year before she joined the Spice Girls.
Speaking on Lorraine on Wednesday, Gary, 51, explained how she inadvertently found herself writing about her own experiences while writing Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen.
Her new novel for adults will follow orphan Rosie Frost who is sent to a mysterious island that is home to extraordinary teenagers and a sanctuary for endangered species.
Gary said she hopes it will inspire young readers to “find their own strength and power” in the face of challenges.
Gary Horner, 51, remembers being told about her father’s death as she described how the events inspired her new children’s book
When asked by host Mark Hayes if she thought the book was “semi-autobiographical”, she agreed.
The singer explained: “It was difficult. I was in class. I was pulled out of class and told what happened to my dad and found myself writing it in Rosie.
‘Then I realized I had put myself in the book.’
The opening chapter shows the character saying that her mother passed away while she was at school.
Speaking in the 2017 BBC documentary Gary’s 1990s: My Drive to Freedom, the former pop star revealed how the devastating loss of her father in 1993 sparked her drive to succeed.
“I was just in my little zone, what really threw me off was in November (when) my father died.” I was almost paralyzed with grief, I didn’t have the right tools to process it,” Gary explained.
“I have this theory, I don’t know if it’s true, but I think success comes from three things, one is preparation, one is opportunity and one is need.”
Grief: Speaking on Lorraine on Wednesday, Geri explained how she inadvertently found herself writing about her own experiences while writing Rosie Frost and The Falcon Queen
Childhood: The singer’s father Lawrence died of a heart attack in 1993, a year before she joined the Spice Girls
Tough: The singer explained: “It was tough. I was in class. I was pulled out of class and told what happened to my dad and I found myself writing it on Rosie’
She continued: ‘I think my father’s death gave me the need, that energy of death.’
“That got me into militant work (thinking) ‘okay, I’m going to do this.’
‘Then I met the girls in the band. Then I found something to hold on to and distract myself from the pain and sadness I didn’t understand.’