Author Talks and Workshops
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 later in 2023 with Riveted Press.
I would love to visit your school, library, book shop or event, to share the book, the history behind it, including the incredible Mount Buffalo National Park and Chalet, and the life of Guide Alice Manfield.
As well as author talks, I can present on a variety of topics, to a range of audiences. This includes mental health, neurodiversity, chronic illness, social media and blogging, generating ideas for your writing, how to write historical fiction, why nature is important in stories, using your senses in writing, how to create an online platform for your work, why history matters, and how to balance real people and events with fiction in your writing.
Freelance Writing & Social Media Content Creation & Management
I offer freelance writing for a broad range of audiences, across a variety of platforms. I am available to write blog posts, web and social media content, and more.
I am highly skilled at auditing social media content and audience and creating strategy for your brand or business. I have over 120,000 social media followers across my own platforms and have worked as a professional blogger and social media influencer. I can create content plans and strategies and can also create the content and manage your social media platforms, depending on your needs.
I have a Bachelor of Social Work, Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management, Certificate in Design and a PhD in Psychology. I worked in the fields of social work and mental health from 1989 - 2016. I founded the groundbreaking Diabetes Counselling Online in 2001 and ran this for 16 years.
Areas of Expertise:
1. Chronic illness and disability - in particular diabetes, diabetes and pregnancy, diabetes and mental health. Gut-related conditions. Mental health, anxiety, depression, panic attacks and PTSD - all of which I have personal experience in, as well as my professional expertise.
2. Neurodiversity - Along with my psychology qualifications, I live with ADHD and have a child who is autistic and another with ADHD, so bring a personal touch to these topics.
3. Sustainability - I have many years experience in writing about eco-living and how to design, decorate and live in a way that treads more lightly on our planet. I have spoken at a range of events on these topics, written for various publications and had my own blog since 2016.
4. Interior design and decoration - I have a certificate in design and have worked as an interior decorator and stylist. I like to write about taking an eco-focus in design and decoration, using green, vintage, upcycled and handmade items in your home.
5. Not-for-profit organisations, education sector and charities - I founded & managed my own charity for 15 years. I particularly enjoy working with not-for-profits, charities and schools, to create stories and grow community.
6. Literary agencies, artists, musicians, authors and creative people - I love working with other creative people to manage your social media and create connections with your audience. If you don't have time to waste on socials, let me take the weight off your shoulders and build stories that connect your audience to your brilliant creations.
These are just some of the ways I can help you create stories. Please contact me below if you would like to chat more about working with me, or booking me to speak at your school or event,
Helen
Get in Contact With Me
Lovely Words From Lovely People
"Helen Edwards has a solid working knowledge at the coal face of small to medium businesses for social media challenges and opportunities. Hers is a unique voice that has worn many hats, and could be of help to your business. Social worker, educator, PhD and small business operator, she might be the right ingredients for your next consultant.
"Helen is an experienced blogger and social media expert, and a pleasure to work with. Helen's strong communication skills, down-to-earth approach, creativity and perseverance have been paramount in her successful approach to engaging audiences across multiple mediums. Helen's experience ranges from founding an online counselling service for people with diabetes to now focusing on her sustainable living and decorating business. Helen's successful approach to social media and blogging has seen her business grow and she continuously demonstrates a strong passion for health, wellbeing and sustainability. - Nicole Bassett, PROJECT MANAGER
"Dr Helen Edwards ran a professional development session for the ASA on Representation & Inclusion: writing characters who have chronic illness, mental illness, and/or who are neurodivergent. Helen was highly professional to deal with and conducted a session which was expertly researched and presented. The engagement and subsequent feedback from the participants was excellent. We look forward to running future sessions with Helen."
Jodie Spiteri-James
Professional Development and Events Manager
Australian Society of Authors
"Helen Edwards is one of those women who seems to juggle more balls in the air then the rest of us could even consider, yet she humbly acknowledges that life isn’t all Insta-perfect all the time, thank goodness, there’s enough of that going around! Her passion for all things ethical, sustainable and handmade is unsurpassed and she works extremely hard to help us average folk make better choices, have access to often hard-to-find resources and brings joy and inspiration into our daily lives through her social media channels and emails. A seasoned thrifter and upcycler, Helen’s styling blends vintage pieces with one-off handmade and is fun-filled, yet considered and balanced; encouraging the viewer to feel that they can achieve something similar in their own home without having to resort to living on lentils for the next 6 months. Helen is incredibly generous in her knowledge and impeccably professional to work with; I cannot recommend this lady highly enough!" Sarah, @seasoulstudio
"Helen is an extremely knowledgeable and experienced blogger and social media manager who engages her audience in a professional, yet authentic and relatable manner. Helen has a special skill and passion for building a genuine connection with people". Kelly Wagner, KIDS YOGA
"Helen Edwards is an expert on social media strategy. She has been a consultant to Decision Support Analytics Pty Ltd to develop the social media strategy to promote an innovative course at one of Australia's leading research Universities. Helen's own sites attest to her ability in generating excellent results through social media. She founded and managed Australia's most influential online diabetes counselling service for which she was a finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards. She has her own online business with over 120,000 followers, 72,000 on Facebook alone. I would recommend Helen for any social media development projects. Her advice is evidence-based and practical."
Dr Isabelle Skinner, Managing Director, Decision Support Analytics Pty Ltd.
"I have worked with Helen since 2004, initially in her capacity of CEO of Diabetes Counselling Online, then as higher degree research student, and then as consultant for Decision Support Analytics.
Throughout this time, I have seen Helen present a diverse range of Seminars, Workshops, Lectures and Talks. She is a very competent speaker, able to engage with the audience through personal stories, while placing emphasis on the content and providing essential information in a clear and natural manner.
I highly recommend her to you
Prof Timothy Skinner
Head of Psychological and Clinical Sciences
Charles Darwin University
"We had the wonderful pleasure of working with Helen. Her fine eye for detail was a wonderful advantage for us. She gave great ideas for our campaign and our expectations were more than exceeded. We would not hesitate to work with her in the future. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for agreeing to work with Pigeon and Weasel. Ariane and Prue x" Pigeon and Weasel
"We really admire everything about Helen and her Sustainable Home Hub. Personally, it's such a great resource and go to website for all products sustainable, packed with interesting and useful information. As a business owner I really admire all the hard work and commitment that has gone into creating the Sustainable Home Hub and it all if offers to customers and small business like ours". Bronwyn Riedel Bauwerk
