On Gallnt Wings by Helen Edwards
Helen profile 2025

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Speaker bookings Dr Helen Edwards

Meet Dr Helen Edwards, Australian Author, Speaker & Psychology PhD.

Dr Helen Edwards is an Australian author and speaker who writes stories of nature, magic and history. She has a PhD in Psychology and a long background working in mental health.

Helen is a mid-career SA Literary Fellow in 2025, supported by Writers' SA and the State Library of South Australia. She will be working on a new magical historical novel featuring the wreck of the S.S Admella in South Australia and the Cape Jaffa lighthouse, as well as exploring themes of ocean conservation. This project is also supported by the History Trust of South Australia’s South Australian History Fund.

On Gallant Wings is coming on 2nd April 2025 with Riveted Press. It's a sweeping WWII adventure about family, courage and knowing when to break the rules that shines a light on many little-known aspects of the war's impact on Australians at home. Pre-orders now open via bookshops and at Helen's online shop here.

The Disappearing Circus co-written with award-winning author Kate Gordon is coming on 30th July with Riveted Press. It's a spellbinding tale of friendship, hope, and summoning the courage to become the hero of your own story. A breathtaking blend of magic, mythology, and heart, The Disappearing Circus reminds us that friendship and courage can be found in the most unexpected of places, that the future is ours to hold—and that some stories are too powerful to ever truly disappear.

Legend of the Lighthouse Moon is out now with Riveted Press. Rich with folklore and brimming with adventure, it's a dazzling tale of family, resilience, and the enduring magic of the sea. You can buy your copy at bookshops across Australia and at Helen's online shop here.

The Rebels of Mount Buffalo, is out now with Riveted Press. It's a captivating time-slip tale about a girl lost to grief who meets a daring rebel on a misty mountain, who guides her to rediscover her courage and find her way home. This middle-grade novel was shortlisted in the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards. It was also longlisted in the DANZ Children's Book Award. You can buy your copy at Helen's online shop here.

With thanks to Arts SA for supporting the writing of The Rebels of Mount Buffalo and Legend of the Lighthouse Moon.

History Trust grants
On Gallant Wings by Helen Edwards
The Disappearing Circus by Helen Edwards and Kate Gordon publishing 30 July 2025 with Riveted Press
Legend of the Lighthouse Moon by Helen Edwards
speech pathology awards 2024 (3)

Latest from Helen's Blog

On Gallant Wings: Letters From Home

By Helen Edwards | March 4, 2025

On Gallant Wings is nearly here and I am getting very excited! One of the many interesting aspects of the book is the use of letters between main character Ava and her older brother Fred, her dad, and her best friend Kazuo. These are scattered throughout the book and written in cursive, to show the…

Parrot Place by Susanne Gervay

By Helen Edwards | March 4, 2025

Susanne Gervay is an author who says she writes for young people so they can ‘laugh, learn, love and be courageous in a challenging world.’ She also writes for adults so that they can explore ideas with kids that excite and empower them. As the child of refugees, she sees story as the secret ingredient…

On Gallant Wings Launch Events

By Helen Edwards | January 24, 2025

On Gallant Wings will officially be launched in Canberra at The Book Cow on 29th March and in Lake Boga at the Catalina Flying Boat Museum on Anzac day! I will be holding a more intimate gathering in Adelaide for On Gallant Wings, as the next book, The Disappearing Circus, written with award-winning author Kate…

Faraday – A Community Rediscovered, by Robyn Howarth

By Helen Edwards | January 23, 2025

I first met author Robyn Howarth in Lake Boga, Victoria, on one of my research visits to the Catalina Flying Boat Museum for my WW11 novel, On Gallant Wings. Robyn’s partner, David Mark, provided me with lots of support and information. I was delighted to meet Robyn and hear about her own writing project. So,…

On Gallant Wings by Helen Edwards Lake Boga

On Gallant Wings Pre-Orders

By Helen Edwards | January 16, 2025

Beautiful Lake Boga is one of the main settings for On Gallant Wings. We stumbled across it over 20 years ago, on our way from Adelaide to Melbourne. Back then, there was the Lake, little town, the underground bunker, and a Catalina Flying Boat sitting on the dirt. I was mesmerised by the story of…

On Gallant Wings by Helen Edwards

New Year, New Books & Holding onto Hope

By Helen Edwards | January 15, 2025

Hello and Happy New Year! It already feels like Christmas and New Year are long ago, but it’s only two weeks into 2025… I hope that you were able to enjoy some peacful time with loved ones to close 2024 and begin 2025. We had a lovely family Christmas and my usual quiet New Year,…

The Other Side of the Clouds by Matt Samuel & Tamlyn Teow

By Helen Edwards | November 11, 2024

All Finn can hear is the voice of his own sadness and at times it is overwhelming. The faint pulse of hope visits but never stays. Longing to find it, Finn rides a kite into the dark sky, calling its name. He sails over crashing waves, searching for it, but loneliness is his only reply.…

SA Literary Fellowships 2025 & SA History Trust Grants!

By Helen Edwards | November 11, 2024

I am delighted to share that I have been awarded a mid-career Fellowship with the SA State Library, supported by Writers’ SA, AND a grant from History Trust of South Australia to research and write my magical historical middle-grade novel, A Light on the Rocks. I can’t believe I am going to be a Fellow…

PD McPem’s Agency For Mysterious Mysteries: The Wild Whodunnit, by Anna Battese and Ruth-Mary Smith

By Helen Edwards | September 29, 2024

Children’s author Anna Battese describes herself as a ‘bookworm, baker, and children’s book maker’. From the minute you read these words, you know you’re in for a lovely ride when you enter into the world of PD McPem and her Agency for Mysterious Mysteries. The latest in this series – The Wild Whodunnit, published by…

Awards & Memberships

1st Place Winner
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Individual Project Grant 2023
Individual Project Grant 2023
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Recipient Richard Llewellyn Deaf and Disability Grant 2021
Recipient Richard Llewellyn Deaf and Disability Grant 2021
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