Web header all books (6)

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. Her fellowship project, a magical historical novel - A Light on the Rocks - features the wreck of the S.S Admella and the Cape Jaffa lighthouse, as well as exploring themes of ocean conservation. It will be published in 2026 with Riveted Press. This project was also supported by the History Trust of South Australia’s South Australian History Fund.

Helen's first Junior Fiction series, written with Kate Gordon - Leni and Mare's Mysterious Museum - will be published by Riveted Press. Book 1 of this four book series will be released in 2026.

The Disappearing Circus co-written with award-winning author Kate Gordon is coming on 29th July with Riveted Press. It's a spellbinding tale of friendship, hope, and summoning the courage to become the hero of your own story. Order your copy now!

On Gallant Wings is out now 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. Order via bookshops and at Helen's online shop here.

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.

It was the winner of the Category Two section in the Forevability Book Awards 2025, for books that feature Disability, Illness, Inclusion and Own Voice stories.  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.

Newsletter Sign-up

A Light on the Rocks by helen edwards
Leni and Mare's Mysterious Museum Book 1 Something's Afoot
The Disappearing Circus cover full reveal
On Gallant Wings by Helen Edwards
Legend of the Lighthouse Moon Awards Helen Edwards
speech pathology awards 2024 (3)

Latest from Helen's Blog

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…

Spies in the Sky by Beverley McWilliams

By Helen Edwards | September 23, 2024

When Adelaide-based children’s author Beverley McWilliams and I first met, we discovered that we were both writing WWII stories featuring war pigeons – Bev’s set in Europe and mine in Australia. We couldn’t believe it – TWO people who were fascinated by pigeons!! We soon shared our love for animals and birds, our interest in…

The Other Shadow by Tania Ingram

By Helen Edwards | September 4, 2024

Tania Ingram is a talented South Australian children’s author who has released a number of fabulous books over the past 12 months. The Other Shadow, published by Scholastic Australia, is her latest middle-grade novel. A contemporary story about eleven-year-old Thomas and his little sister Tilly, it draws you inside Thomas’s complicated world and inside his…

Legend of the Lighthouse Moon

Legends of Living with Type 1 Diabetes – Sandra

By Helen Edwards | August 13, 2024

In the next edition of Legends of Living with Type 1 Diabetes, I am sharing Sandra’s story. Every person’s experience of diagnosis and of the years that follow, is different. It’s fascinating to see how people grapple with the ups and downs, and find their way to living with diabetes. Sandra’s story is one of…

Being Jimmy Baxter

Being Jimmy Baxter by Fiona Lloyd

By Helen Edwards | August 1, 2024

Fiona Lloyd’s debut middle-grade novel Being Jimmy Baxter is a shortlisted book for the Speech Pathology Awards and the CBCA Book of the Year. With a voice that is quirky, engaging and endearing, Jimmy will steal your heart with his shiny approach to life. A gently funny yet powerful coming-of-age middle grade novel about surviving…

Awards & Memberships

Individual Project Grant 2023
Individual Project Grant 2023
1st Place Winner
History Trust Grant 2025
History Trust Grant 2025
Member logo colour
AOTY_2016_logo_Semi-Stacked (1)
Recipient Richard Llewellyn Deaf and Disability Grant 2021
Recipient Richard Llewellyn Deaf and Disability Grant 2021
unnamed
Member-badges