Helen Hollick
- Writer
Born in Chingford, north east London, UK, author Helen has lived in the
same area all her life. Her father Frederick Turner M.M. was a Town
Councillor for many years and her one claim to fame as a girl was being
invited to the Lord Mayor of London's annual children's fancy dress
party at the Mansion House. She went as Alice in Wonderland and because
she was so shy hated every minute of it. Helen's passion has always
been reading; one of her earliest memories is choosing a book at the
local children's library - she was about four. Wanting a pony, but not
being able to afford one, she began writing pony stories at the age of
13, often adding a new chapter during school lessons, and even during a
G.C.S.E. exam when she had finished the questions and had time to
spare. Her school careers advisor turned down her desire to be a
journalist, however, on the grounds that she could not touch-type
(several 3-800 page novels later the inability to type does not seem to
be much of a hindrance) Instead, Helen worked at South Chingford
Library for thirteen years. During this time she progressed from
stories about ponies to science fiction, and on discovering that there
was more to King Arthur than the Medieval stories of Knights and quests
for the Holy Grail, began writing the "what might have really happened"
tale of Arthur, placing him firmly as a war lord, between the going of
the Romans and the coming of the Anglo Saxons. The research and writing
took ten years. When married to Ron, and after having her only
daughter, Katharine in 1982,, Helen wrote a children's personal safety
story (Come and Tell Me) - what used to incorrectly be called 'stranger
danger'. Returning to her novel about Arthur, Helen met with historical
fiction author Sharon Penman, and was encouraged to approach an agent.
She accepted for publication a week after her 40th birthday by William
Heinemann (Random House UK) For several years Helen was secretary then
the Chairperson for the Waltham Forest Dyslexia association, both her
husband and daughter being severely dyslexic. After completing what
turned out to be a Trilogy, (The Kingmaking, Pendragon's Banner, Shadow
of the King) Helen turned to writing a novel of the Battle of Hastings
(Harold the King) - firmly placing it from the Saxon point of view.
Becoming intrigued by one of the characters - Edward the Confessor's
mother, Queen Emma - her next novel (A Hollow Crown) was devoted to
this fascinating woman. From there Helen turned to the Golden Age of
pirates, and a slight re-tracing of steps to write the first two in a
series of historical fantasy adventures about her own pirate captain,
Jesamiah Acorne. (Sea Witch and Pirate Code) Contacted by UK producer
Robin Jacob, Helen has co-written the script for the movie 1066.