Legend of the Lighthouse Moon by Dr Helen Edwards
The Rebels of Mount Buffalo by Helen Edwards endorsment by Andrea Rowe, award-winning author of Jetty Jumping
The Rebels of Mount Buffalo by Helen Edwards endorsment
Cape Willoughby Lighthouse
Sea Lions at Cape Seal Bay Kangaroo Island

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.

You can book me to speak at your school, library or event here. I am available for virtual and in-person events and workshops. Find me at Lamont Authors here.

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

Soundtrack of your life, why music makes you feel like it’s Christmas

By Helen Edwards | December 23, 2014

I was sitting at our little shop the other day and an Australian Crawl song came on the radio. It made me feel even more Christmasy than I was already feeling, after just coming from baking Christmas biscuits with Maxwell. All of a sudden I was 14 and sitting in my room in our big…

Read More

Alison Smiles Australian Ceramic Artist

By Helen Edwards | December 15, 2014

I am sharing a very personal story today, one about an artist who I have known since she was born, Alison Smiles. You see, she is actually my cousin and my memories of her include midnight feasts, murder in the dark, Christmas parties, stays at our beach shack, sailing and building sandcastles. Stories, music, art…

Read More
Handmade Christmas Decorations - Set of 6 Red Stars

10 Mindful Handmade Gift Ideas For Christmas

By Helen Edwards | December 9, 2014

I think at Christmas time you should give at least one handmade present. It could be as simple as a framed piece of your child’s art, or a bunch of flowers out of your garden. You could decoupage a series of old photos and cards into a mural for someone you love. A few years…

Read More
freelance writer based in Adelaide. Social media content creation and writing services with Dr Helen Edwards

Sharing all the reasons to love flowers

By Helen Edwards | December 7, 2014

  Flowers make me happy, do they have that affect on you too? I can always guarantee that picking, styling and photographing flowers will lift my spirits. Having them all around the house reminds you that there is a world out there. Besides their beauty, colour, texture and shapes, they remind you that mother nature is…

Read More
eco friendly sustainable kitchen design with Cantilever Kitchens Melbourne

Cantilever Kitchens, Sustainable, Design & Function

By Helen Edwards | August 28, 2014

Cantilever Kitchens began in 2006. The company founders, Peter Tragardh-Daly and Charlie Wilde, each have a furniture-making background. The fusion of their ideas and talents underpin Cantilever’s strong focus on materials, design and function. Every kitchen they produce is carefully designed and hand built, as well as being completely beautiful. Many of their construction methods…

Read More
how to undertake a sustainable renovation

How to Create a Smarter, Sustainable Renovation

By Helen Edwards | August 15, 2014

Are you planning a renovation at your place and wondering how you can best implement sustainable changes as part of the process? It can be hard to pull all the information together. Government agency Sustainability Victoria launched its new Smarter Renovations program this  month – a free online renovation planning resource here. The program provides…

Read More

Robin Williams passing & the need to paint

By Helen Edwards | August 14, 2014

Unless you are currently having a disconnect, in which case good on you (and you won’t be reading this), or you take no notice of the world of film and pop culture, you will know about the passing of the great creative genius, Robin Williams. Firstly my deepest respect to anyone who personally knows and…

Read More
upcycled furniture

Upcyclers United, Funkin Furniture

By Helen Edwards | July 1, 2014

  An Upcyclers United post today sharing the work of Funkin Furniture. Another great team stopping furniture going to landfill and creating masterpieces that are even better than the original. Having lived on the Gold Coast for many years, this couple last year left their careers behind in resort tourism to do what they love…

Read More

Megan Morton’s School in Adelaide: Instagram, Styling & Photography

By Helen Edwards | June 9, 2014

  Do you remember the feeling of waiting for something when you were little? Like Christmas, or Easter, or your birthday? How little butterflies flapped around inside your tummy for days before, culminating in a swarm as the very night approached and you finally fell asleep, exhausted with all the excitement. The arrival of the…

Read More
1st Place Winner
Individual Project Grant 2023
Individual Project Grant 2023
AOTY_2016_logo_Semi-Stacked (1)
SUSTAINABILITY-BRONZE-TRANSPARENT-HIGH-RES-1
unnamed
Recipient Richard Llewellyn Deaf and Disability Grant 2021
Recipient Richard Llewellyn Deaf and Disability Grant 2021