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Helen Hollick

Goodreads author profile

url

http://www.goodreads.com/HelenHollick

born

April 13, 1953 in Walthamstow, North East London, The United Kingdom

gender

female

website

http://www.helenhollick.net/

twitter username

HelenHollick

genre

Historical Fiction, Historical Adventure / Fantasy

member since

December 2008

About this author

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Born in Walthamstow, North East London, in 1953 I began writing at the age of 13. Desperately wanting a pony of my own, but not being able to afford one, I invented an imaginary pony instead, writing stories about our adventures together at every spare opportunity. In the seventies I turned to science fiction - this was the age of Dr. Who, Star Trek and Star Wars. I still have an unfinished adventure about a bit of a rogue who travelled space with his family, making an honest(ish) living and getting into all sorts of scrapes. Perhaps one day I might finish it.

I had wanted to become a journalist when leaving secondary school, but my careers advice was not helpful. "Don't be silly," I was told, "you can't type." (I still can't, I use four fin...more Born in Walthamstow, North East London, in 1953 I began writing at the age of 13. Desperately wanting a pony of my own, but not being able to afford one, I invented an imaginary pony instead, writing stories about our adventures together at every spare opportunity. In the seventies I turned to science fiction - this was the age of Dr. Who, Star Trek and Star Wars. I still have an unfinished adventure about a bit of a rogue who travelled space with his family, making an honest(ish) living and getting into all sorts of scrapes. Perhaps one day I might finish it.

I had wanted to become a journalist when leaving secondary school, but my careers advice was not helpful. "Don't be silly," I was told, "you can't type." (I still can't, I use four fingers.) Instead, I worked in a Chingford library where I stayed for 13 years although I was not very happy there - I did not realise it, but I wanted to write. The one advantage of the library, however, was the access to books, and it was there that I came across the Roman historical novels of Rosemary Sutcliff, the Arthurian trilogy by Mary Stewart, and the historian Geoffrey Ashe. I was hooked on Roman Britain - and King Arthur!

Reading everything I could, I eventually became frustrated that novels were not how I personally felt about the matter of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere).

By this time, I was married with a young daughter. I had time on my hands and so I started writing my idea of Arthurian Britain . I deliberately decided not to include Merlin and Lancelot, there was to be no magic or Medieval myth. My book was to be a "what might have really happened" historical novel, not a fantasy, and most certainly not a romance! What I didn't know, when I started, was that my one book was to grow into enough words to make a complete trilogy.

I found an agent who placed me with William Heinemann - I was accepted for publication just after my 40th birthday. The best birthday present I have ever had.

I had previously had a smaller success with a children's personal safety book (stranger danger) called "Come and Tell Me," a little story that I had written for my daughter when she was 3. I wanted to tell her how to keep safe in a clear and simple manner - with a message that could be easily remembered. "Always come and tell me before you go anywhere with anyone" fitted nicely. I was immensely proud when my little story was taken up as an official safety book by the British Home Office to be used nationally by the police and schools. An updated and revised version of "Come and Tell Me" was re-published by Happy Cat Books but is now out of print.

I followed on with two Saxon period novels A Hollow Crown and Harold the King - both are about the people and events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 - from the English point of view.
(these titles are published as The Forever Queen and I Am The Chosen King in the US)

When Heinemann did not re-print my backlist I took my books to a small UK independent publisher with their even smaller mainstream imprint, adding my historical adventure series the Sea Witch Voyages to my list.
Unfortunately Discovered Authors / Callio Press, were not as organised as they should have been and the company closed in the spring of 2011. Not wanting my books to fall out of print in the UK I took them to an indie company - SilverWood Books of Bristol UK - and with their technical assistance "self published"

I am also with Sourcebooks Inc in the US, and with Artemis Yayinlari in Turkey.
I was delighted to make the USA Today bestseller list in 2011 with The Forever Queen (US title of A Hollow Crown)

I have no qualifications, nor have I been to college or university, although I have studied part-time for my Medieval History Diploma, which, I'm pleased to report, I passed with honours. One day I may find the time to complete the degree!(less)

110 posts
Helen Hollick's Blog

The Vanishing Post

Yesterday I posted an update about my recent Akashic Records Session (Psychic Research) on the Historical Novel Society's Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/7739864930/
We had a good, interesting and intelligent conversation from several points of view.I came back today to discover that the entire post has been removed, went to re-post the link and found that the direct link is marked... read more »

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Published on May 31, 2012 07:15 • 2 views

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Books by Helen Hollick

Average rating: 3.89 · 2,052 ratings · 410 reviews · 11 distinct works

	The Forever Queen (The Saxon Series #1) 3.66 avg rating — 965 ratings — published 2004 — 7 editions	My rating:
	I Am the Chosen King (The Saxon Series #2) 4.19 avg rating — 361 ratings — published 2000 — 10 editions	My rating:
	The Kingmaking (Pendragon's Banner Trilogy, #1) 3.94 avg rating — 320 ratings — published 1994	My rating:
	Pendragon's Banner (Pendragon's Banner Trilogy, #2) 4.15 avg rating — 172 ratings — published 1996 — 12 editions	My rating:
	Shadow of the King (Pendragon's Banner Trilogy, #3) 4.16 avg rating — 134 ratings — published 1998 — 12 editions	My rating:
	Sea Witch (Sea Witch Voyages, #1) 3.90 avg rating — 60 ratings — published 2006 — 5 editions	My rating:
	Pirate Code (Sea Witch Voyages, #2) 4.42 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 2011 — 5 editions	My rating:
	Bring It Close (Sea Witch Voyages, #3) 4.39 avg rating — 18 ratings — published 2009 — 5 editions	My rating:
	Discovering the Diamond by Helen Hollick (Goodreads Author), Jo Field 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2012	My rating:
	Come and Tell Me by Helen Hollick (Goodreads Author), Lynda Knott (Illustrator) 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — 3 editions	My rating:

More books by Helen Hollick…

Series by Helen Hollick

The Saxon Series (2 books)
by Helen Hollick (Goodreads Author)

3.80 avg rating — 1,326 ratings

Pendragon's Banner (3 books)
by Helen Hollick (Goodreads Author)

4.05 avg rating — 626 ratings

Sea Witch Chronicles (3 books)
by Helen Hollick (Goodreads Author)

4.09 avg rating — 97 ratings

Upcoming Events

Conference
September 29, 2012 09:12AM — 3 people invited
London UK, University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW, London UK, GB
http://www.hns-conference.org.uk/

Historical Novel Society Conference - London 2012

Helen is Currently Reading

Helen Hollick is currently reading:

Jack Absolute

by C.C. Humphreys

bookshelves: currently-reading

My rating:

May 22, 2012 03:08pm

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Helen's Recent Updates

Helen Hollick wrote a new blog post: The Vanishing Post The Vanishing Post Yesterday I posted an update about my recent Akashic Records Session (Psychic Research) on the Historical Novel Society's Facebook Pagehttps://www.... read more »
May 31, 2012 09:35am · like
Helen Hollick became a fan of Sarah Bower
May 23, 2012 11:32am · all of Helen's favorite authors
Helen Hollick is currently reading: Jack Absolute by C.C. Humphreys	My rating:
May 22, 2012 03:08pm
Helen Hollick added: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim	My rating:
loved it - wonderful charming book
May 22, 2012 03:07pm · see review
Helen Hollick made a comment on Free on Kindle:: "thank you Laura Lee "
May 21, 2012 02:48am
Helen Hollick made a comment on My friends - my books ~ Thursday Thoughts: "I liked the Secret Seven - wasn't so keen on the Famous Five. Anyone remember Skipper by Judith Beresford? "
May 17, 2012 03:45pm
Helen Hollick made a comment on Do historical characters in novels have to be likeable people?: "I wanted to write the book to explore WHY Edward, her firstborn disliked Emma - and I wonder, had she been a man, would it have mattered that she put...more "
May 10, 2012 10:34am
Helen Hollick gave to: Little Grey Rabbit's washing day by Alison Uttley	My rating:
May 10, 2012 03:35am
Helen Hollick gave to: The Crystal Cave (Arthurian Saga, #1) by Mary Stewart	My rating:
May 10, 2012 03:34am
Helen Hollick gave to: Jill Has Two Ponies (Jill) by Ruby Ferguson	My rating:
May 10, 2012 03:26am

More of Helen's books…

Quotes by Helen Hollick

“We had so many dreams as children. Where do they go when we grow? Are they swallowed up by the mundane things of everyday life? Or do we lose them, leave them behind us in the dust, for new children to find and take up?”
― Helen Hollick, The Kingmaking

tags: dreams , growing-up , helen-hollick

13 people liked it

“Two people can only live as one when each is prepared to give and receive trust and understanding. Above that lies respect. Without respect for how the other feels, no marriage is worthwhile.”
― Helen Hollick, The Kingmaking

tags: love , marriage , respect , trust , understanding

11 people liked it

“Change has to come for life to struggle forward.”
― Helen Hollick, The Kingmaking

tags: change , life , moving-forward , moving-on

7 people liked it

See all Helen Hollick's quotes »

Polls

Which book would you like to read for our October 15 - November 15 European Royalty group read?

Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie

21 votes, 30.9%

The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick

19 votes, 27.9%

Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir

11 votes, 16.2%

Katherine by Anya Seton

10 votes, 14.7%

Désirée by Annemarie Selinko

7 votes, 10.3%

68 total votes

6 comments

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