Welcome! My name is Dr Helen Edwards. I'm an Adelaide-based children's author who weaves diverse 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 debut middle-grade novel, The Rebels of Mount Buffalo, is out now with Riveted Press, distributed by Simon & Schuster.
With a neurodivergent main character and an inspiring real-life mountain guide from the 1890s, 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 was recently longlisted in the DANZ - The Diversity in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand Children's Book Award. This award has been created to recognise, award, and celebrate diverse children’s fiction. This means a children’s book published in Australia or New Zealand which 'pushes boundaries, challenges stereotypes, and celebrates diverse and marginalised people and communities.'
You can order your copy from me here and from Riveted Press here . It's also available in many bookshops and libraries. If you can't find it in your local bookshop or library, just ask them to get it in for you!
See more about The Rebels of Mount Buffalo here.
My next middle-grade novel - Legend of the Lighthouse Moon - is coming in November 2024 with the fabulous Riveted Press
I absolutely love this story about 13-year-old Mona McKenna, a girl living in 1970 with type 1 diabetes in an island lighthouse, featuring the stunning backdrop of Kangaroo Island and the gorgeous and endangered sea lions, as well as drawing on the true history of Cape Willoughby Lighthouse. As usual, I'm weaving nature, plenty of magic, and true history to create a very special and diverse story that's full of heart and wonder, inspired by my grandmothers who were both born on islands in the UK, the legends from these regions and my life growing up with type 1 diabetes. With thanks to Arts SA for supporting this project.
Cover reveal, blurb, pre-order details, and more details for Legend of The Lighthouse Moon are coming soon!! Sign up to the newsletter to keep up to date with details on release dates, pre-orders and events.
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
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Latest From My Blog
Why Personal Style is Important in Decorating Your Home
Have you ever considered how decorating and interior design are not just about how a room or a home looks, but really, about how you feel in it and how it works for your lifestyle? In fact how you choose to decorate your home is more about how it makes you feel when you walk…
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Home is Where the Heart is, the Beauty of Vintage Decorating
It has never been more important than now to take care of our environment, and that starts in your immediate space, the one you inhabit, and then spreads into the outer world. Recycling is second nature for most of us. We wash out bottles and cans, plastic containers and cartons and throw them in the…
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Finalists For The Australian Of The Year Awards 2016: I AM ONE!!
In a year that has been nothing short of amazing, I have another exciting announcement today – the finalists for the 2016 Australian of the year have been announced for South Australia and, I am one!! I didn’t even know I was nominated until I got a call a few weeks ago to say I…
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Solar Energy Battery Storage Goes Live at Josh’s House
I have posted about Josh’s House, a 10 Star housing development near Fremantle in WA, a few times in the past. This home owned by Josh Byrne from Gardening Australia, is demonstrating that high performance energy and water efficient housing can be delivered for a similar price and timeframe to conventional homes. The three bedroom, two bathroom home appears…
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Upcycling Projects For Your Home
Today I am sharing some upcycling projects for your home, with an upcycled telephone table and “whatnot” or side table project, from one of our community, Danielle. The first project is the “whatnot” side table that Danielle’s Nan gave her Mum many moons ago (from the 1970’s) which she inherited, and the other is a…
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Making Memories On The Road
What is your first memory of a holiday as a child? I can remember way back to being around 2 or 3 and going camping with my parents in a 2 person tent, out bush in the Flinders Ranges. I can also remember many many road trips and family holidays, including our overseas trek when…
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Why You Need to Consider Sustainability of Flowers in Your Home
Did you know the sustainability of flowers in your home matters just as much as any other area? I posted about this a while back on Valentine’s day in a post about how the sustainability of flowers is far reaching and affects the fair trade industry. Today we chat with Bec Williams, who likes to call herself…
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How to Make an Upcycled Cable Drum Table Planter
The Little Veggie Patch Co book – DIY Garden Projects is the Little Veggie Patch Co’s fourth book and is a little different from the others, because instead of focusing solely on gardening it covers a range of practical, DIY projects to make the most of your backyard. It’s in their typical fun, bright and entertaining…
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How To Quit Your Job, Change The World & Create The Life of Your Dreams
Is that what you want from life? To quit working for someone else, create the life of your dreams and change the world? Lots of us want this dream. Holding onto a dream of how you want your life to be is great, but after a while, when it has been there for so long and…
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