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Welcome! I'm an Australian children's author writing diverse stories of nature, magic and history. I am represented by Golvan Arts Management 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 in 2023, by Riveted Press!

I have a PhD in Psychology and worked in mental health for many years. On my blog I write book reviews, feature other Australian authors, and share my own books and writing. I am available for author talks and workshops. I am also a freelance writer and social media manager and you can see more here. Shop at my little Books, Tea and Vintage shop here.

I've had type 1 diabetes since 1979 and live with anxiety and ADHD.  I like to include characters in my stories who are neurodivergent and/or who live with physical and mental health conditions, out in the world, having adventures. I'm passionate about inspiring action for our planet and encouraging people to understand how important nature is to all of us. Animals and the environment feature in all of my stories.

I look forward to sharing stories with you, because they really can change the world.

x Helen

Latest From My Books, Tea & Vintage Shop

Latest From My Blog

Five Minutes with Elise Carlson #LoveAusAuthors

By Helen Edwards | September 26, 2022

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

By Helen Edwards | September 20, 2022

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

By Helen Edwards | September 16, 2022

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

By Helen Edwards | September 12, 2022

“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!

By Helen Edwards | September 8, 2022

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

By Helen Edwards | September 5, 2022

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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Five Minutes with Julie Murphy #LoveAusAuthors

By Helen Edwards | September 2, 2022

Julie Murphy writes about animals in her work, because she loves them. As a shy child, she says she felt more comfortable around animals than people, but ironically, she grew up in Housing Commission flats in Melbourne, where she wasn’t allowed to have cats or dogs. She did have a pet budgie called Pierre. The…

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Seven Tips For Writers to Improve Your Social Media

By Helen Edwards | August 31, 2022

We all know social media can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to our personal and our professional lives. I can’t count the number of times, I’ve seen conversations online, about which platform is your ‘favourite’ and which ones you would like to ditch. But whether you love or hate it, social…

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The Boy Who Tried To Shrink His Name by Sandhya Parappukkaran & Michelle Pereira

By Helen Edwards | August 29, 2022

When Zimdalamashkermishkada starts a new school, he knows he’s got to do something about his long name. ​When no amount of shrinking, folding or crumpling works, he simply settles for Zim – but deep down, it doesn’t feel right. It’s not until a new friend sees him for who he truly is that Zimdalamashkermishkada finds…

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1st Place Winner
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Recipient Richard Llewellyn Deaf and Disability Grant 2021
Recipient Richard Llewellyn Deaf and Disability Grant 2021
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