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
Heroes, Rebels and Innovators, by Karen Wyld & Jaelyn Biumaiwai
This Children’s Book Council 2022 Honours winner, Heroes, Rebels and Innovators, by Karen Wyld and illustrated by Jaelyn Biumaiwai, shares seven inspiring stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from history. Author Karen Wyld, a writer of Martu descent, and illustrator Jaelyn Biumaiwai, of Mununjali and Fijian descent, have created a beautiful book, that…
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The Amazing Pigeons of WWII
My current work, an historical fiction WWII drama, set at the time of the Darwin bombings and moving to Lake Boga and the top secret Flying Boat base, has two main characters – one is a 13 yr old girl called Ava. The other is her young homing Pigeon called Essie, who plays a very…
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Visiting Mt Buffalo and The Chalet
Research is at the centre of all good stories, whether they are fact or fiction. Even the most fantastical tale must be believable, within the context of the story and characters. Research can of course be undertaken via books and online resources, at libraries, museums and historical sites, through interviews and other media and via…
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Five Minutes with Elise Carlson #LoveAusAuthors
Elise Carlson says they include a number of common themes in their writing, including grief, because, they find it cathartic. ‘I hope my writing shines a light on readers’ own experiences with grief and that the stories are relatable.’ Elise wants to ensure there is more nonbinary representation in books, because, they say, there are…
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The Magic of Mountains
I was thinking recently, about why mountains often seem to feature in my stories. Mountains have always been magical to me. As a small girl, living in Port Augusta, South Australia, camping in the purple-blue mountains of the Flinders Ranges was a regular part of our lives. Later, we moved to the very flat wheat-coloured…
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Five Minutes with Rebecca Fung #LoveAusAuthors
Rebecca Fung writes mostly children’s fiction, including illustrated chapter books and middle-grade. She also writes speculative fiction short stories across genres, including horror, fantasy and science fiction. Like many writers, she is open to all sorts of themes and topics. She has a number of ideas for young adult stories and would love to write…
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Whalesong by Kate Gordon
“There is no now and no then, only in between and always. Open the box. Come and see.” CBCA Award-winning author Kate Gordon, is one of my favourite authors. Everything I have read of hers, I have loved – for her beautiful, lyrical prose, and for her insight into human beings, our mental health and…
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Publishing News!
As I write this, the door propped open, birds singing in spring rain, I am filled with joy and excitement to announce that my debut middle-grade novel – an Australian historical fiction time-slip adventure, set at Mt Buffalo, inspired by and featuring Guide Alice Manfield – will be published by Riveted Press/Yellow Brick Books, in…
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Every Thing We Keep by Di Walker
How do you leave a family behind? Trailing her orange suitcase and a heart full of worry, thirteen-year-old Agatha is about to go home. She has been in and out of foster care for years, but her latest new life, lived with naval precision with Katherine, Lawson and their dog, Chief, has proved to be…
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