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How Helene Smith turned her book dream into a book reality
Another in our Book Realities series of interviews with independent authors, where we discuss their books, their writing methods and what inspired them to be writers in the first place. In this episode we meet Helene Smith, a much-loved children's author whose many titles are equally enthralling for adults.
After a short nursing career, Helene married a school teacher and raised a large family, whilst all the time writing ‘covertly’ as a young mother – short fiction, private journal writing and poetry, honing her craft through TAFE correspondence courses. After studying Education and English and obtaining a degree as a mature student at Edith Cowan University in Bunbury, Western Australia, she wrote her first book; Operation Clancy (1994) inspired by a wish to produce an ‘easy to read’ thriller for reluctant older readers.
Since then, the sheer joy of invention and a fascination with the writing process has kept Helene in there. An experienced presenter and writer/facilitator in schools, community centres and institutions for adult learners she delights in sharing the writing process with others.
Her latest book, Aberash - A Mysterious Land Downunder, is a thrilling adventure of fantasy and magic, yet grounded in the real world of relationships that we all must live in.
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