The Rebels of Mount Buffalo by 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
The Rebels of Mount Buffalo by Helen Edwards endorsment
The Rebels of Mount Buffalo by Helen Edwards

Welcome! My name is Dr Helen Edwards and I'm an Adelaide-based author who loves to weave 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 middle-grade novel, THE REBELS OF MOUNT BUFFALO, is out now with Riveted Press, distributed by Simon & Schuster.

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's making its way into bookshops and libraries across Australia, both online and in-store. You can also order it directly from me here. If you can't find it in your local bookshop or library, just ask them to get it in for you!

Here's the blub!

It's 1998 and Clara and her parents are staying at the Mount Buffalo Chalet for the national park centenary celebrations. It couldn't be more different from their last visit - they were a family of four then.

With her twin brother Darius gone, Clara has no reference point anymore, no guide. It's like being lost in the bush without a compass. 

Without him, she doesn't really know who she is.

After a strange night, Clara wakes up in 1893. There she meets Alice, a girl who lives within the fern-filled valleys at the base of Mount Buffalo. To her surprise, Clara realises she is Guide Alice, considered a rebel of her time, an adventurous non-conformist who spent much of her life boldly leading people along the rugged trails between granite tors and misty mountain peaks.

The 1890s were a difficult era in Australia's history. The country is in the grip of a terrible Depression, and desperate people can be dangerous. When Alice's life is threatened, Clara must rediscover the courage she has always had, and become the girl she was always meant to be. 

Bringing in themes of early feminism and issues such as bullying, never being a bystander, managing grief and finding your courage, this engaging middle grade timeslip story draws on the true history of Mount Buffalo and the incredible role the Manfield family, and Guide Alice in particular, played in the preservation of the National Park and the development of tourism in the Mount Buffalo region.

Keep up to date with author talks and events here.
Book me to speak at your school, library or event 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

Caitlin rebels quote

Latest From My Blog

The letterbox tree

The Letterbox Tree by Rebecca Lim & Kate Gordon

By Helen Edwards | November 10, 2023

The Letterbox Tree is by two of my favourite Australian authors, Rebecca Lim and Kate Gordon. As you’d expect from two such talented writers, this upper middle-grade/lower YA novel takes some extremely difficult and very real topics and wraps them up in a warm story of found friendship, self-belief and hope. The story is centred…

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Helen at The Gorge with The Rebels of Mount Buffalo

The Rebels of Mount Buffalo Pre-release Road Trip!

By Helen Edwards | October 20, 2023

On a sunny Sunday morning on the 8th October, the Buffalo Rebels Road Crew set off on an adventure to the Nth East of Victoria for The Rebels of Mount Buffalo Pre-release Road Trip! The crew consisted of myself, my husband John, and our 15-year-old son Maxwell. I organised the tour myself, and it took…

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Bidhi Galing (Big Rain) by Anita Heiss

Bidhi Galing by Anita Heiss & Samantha Campbell

By Helen Edwards | September 27, 2023

Dr Anita Heiss is an internationally published, award-winning author of 23 books; non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial women’s fiction and children’s novels. She is a proud member of the Wiradyuri Nation of central New South Wales, an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the GO Foundation, and Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland.…

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The Rebels of Mount Buffalo by Helen Edwards Book Tour

Buffalo Rebels Book Tour!

By Helen Edwards | September 6, 2023

It’s just over a month until The Rebels of Mount Buffalo will be released officially into the world! After a long time researching, writing, editing, dreaming, interviewing, planning and working hard with my talented publisher on making the book the best it could be, it feels as if we are standing on the edge of…

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Gladys & Stripey by Michele Gierck & Marina Zlatanova

By Helen Edwards | August 31, 2023

Being the smallest fish in the stream is not easy. For Gladys and Stripey, it gets even harder when, after a night of heavy rain, fast flowing water sweeps them out of their home habitat. What can they do? Will they make it back home? This (almost) true story, written by Michele Gierck, is based…

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The Rebels of Mount Buffalo by Helen Edwards launches 11 October 2023

Memories, Research & History

By Helen Edwards | August 29, 2023

Can you believe it is nearly September? Spring is already here judging by the blossoms and birds. This morning there is a warmth in the air that tells me it won’t be long before the cold days of winter are a distant memory. Memories are funny things. They can be slippery and foggy and hard…

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Honey and the Valley of Horses by Wendy Orr

By Helen Edwards | August 25, 2023

When you open a new book by award-winning author of Nim’s Island Wendy Orr, you can be assured of a fantastic ride, and her latest middle-grade novel, Honey and the Valley of Horses, walks, trots, canters and gallops towards the end, as it explores family, resilience, self-reliance, bravery and hope. I loved this book, for…

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Book Launch at The Mount Buffalo Chalet!

By Helen Edwards | August 14, 2023

Join me and my lovely hosts, the rangers at The Mount Buffalo Chalet, for this very special event to celebrate the launch of my debut middle-grade novel – The Rebels of Mount Buffalo! There are 4 time slots from 10am-12pm across the morning of October 11th. Spots are limited to 25 people per time slot.…

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Andy & Ghost Boy by Karen Tyrrell

By Helen Edwards | August 7, 2023

Karen Tyrrell is a Brisbane based children’s author, children’s rights ambassador and key-note speaker. She writes books with the aim of empowering children to ‘live STRONG.’ She also presents interactive reader’s theatre, inspirational talks and writing workshops, empowering children and adults to overcome bullying, manage emotions and care for the environment. Karen’s latest book, Andy…

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1st Place Winner
Individual Project Grant 2023
Individual Project Grant 2023
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Recipient Richard Llewellyn Deaf and Disability Grant 2021
Recipient Richard Llewellyn Deaf and Disability Grant 2021
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