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Welcome! My name is Dr Helen Edwards and I'm an Adelaide-based author who loves to weave stories of nature, magic and history.
I'm represented by Golvan Arts Management for my literary works and by Lamont Authors for school bookings.
My middle-grade novel, THE REBELS OF MOUNT BUFFALO, is out now with Riveted Press, distributed by Simon & Schuster.
It's a captivating time-slip tale in which a girl lost to grief meets a daring rebel on a misty mountain who guides her to rediscover her courage and find her way home.
It's making its way into bookshops and libraries across Australia, both online and in-store. You can also order it directly from me here. If you can't find it in your local bookshop or library, just ask them to get it in for you!
Here's the blub!
It's 1998 and Clara and her parents are staying at the Mount Buffalo Chalet for the national park centenary celebrations. It couldn't be more different from their last visit - they were a family of four then.
With her twin brother Darius gone, Clara has no reference point anymore, no guide. It's like being lost in the bush without a compass.
Without him, she doesn't really know who she is.
After a strange night, Clara wakes up in 1893. There she meets Alice, a girl who lives within the fern-filled valleys at the base of Mount Buffalo. To her surprise, Clara realises she is Guide Alice, considered a rebel of her time, an adventurous non-conformist who spent much of her life boldly leading people along the rugged trails between granite tors and misty mountain peaks.
The 1890s were a difficult era in Australia's history. The country is in the grip of a terrible Depression, and desperate people can be dangerous. When Alice's life is threatened, Clara must rediscover the courage she has always had, and become the girl she was always meant to be.
Bringing in themes of early feminism and issues such as bullying, never being a bystander, managing grief and finding your courage, this engaging middle grade timeslip story draws on the true history of Mount Buffalo and the incredible role the Manfield family, and Guide Alice in particular, played in the preservation of the National Park and the development of tourism in the Mount Buffalo region.
A Little Bit About Me!
I have a PhD in Psychology and before becoming an Australian children's author, I worked in mental health for many years. I've done all sorts of things in my life, including founding an award-winning charity and online counselling service, supporting thousands of people with diabetes across the world. I was even a state finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards for this work!
After completing my PhD in Psychology, I decided to follow my life-long dream to become a children's author and here I am! I'm passionate about inspiring action for our beautiful, fragile planet and nature features in all of my books. I find history fascinating and uncover stories that may have been forgotten, or hidden, and bring them into the light. I also believe that fantastical things can happen and see magic in the everyday.
More about me here.
Sign up to The Story Weaver for all the latest details about my own books, book reviews and recommendations, and more. More info about bookings for author talks and workshops available here.
x Helen
Latest From My Blog
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On a sunny Sunday morning on the 8th October, the Buffalo Rebels Road Crew set off on an adventure to the Nth East of Victoria for The Rebels of Mount Buffalo Pre-release Road Trip! The crew consisted of myself, my husband John, and our 15-year-old son Maxwell. I organised the tour myself, and it took…
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Being the smallest fish in the stream is not easy. For Gladys and Stripey, it gets even harder when, after a night of heavy rain, fast flowing water sweeps them out of their home habitat. What can they do? Will they make it back home? This (almost) true story, written by Michele Gierck, is based…
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Can you believe it is nearly September? Spring is already here judging by the blossoms and birds. This morning there is a warmth in the air that tells me it won’t be long before the cold days of winter are a distant memory. Memories are funny things. They can be slippery and foggy and hard…
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Book Launch at The Mount Buffalo Chalet!
Join me and my lovely hosts, the rangers at The Mount Buffalo Chalet, for this very special event to celebrate the launch of my debut middle-grade novel – The Rebels of Mount Buffalo! There are 4 time slots from 10am-12pm across the morning of October 11th. Spots are limited to 25 people per time slot.…
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