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Helen Hollick

Goodreads author profile

url

http://www.goodreads.com/HelenHollick

born

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)

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Helen Hollick's Books

Average rating: 3.88 · 3,482 ratings · 548 reviews · 12 distinct works · Similar authors

	The Forever Queen (The Saxon Series #1) 3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 avg rating — 1,641 ratings — published 2004 — 8 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	I Am the Chosen King (The Saxon Series #2) 4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 avg rating — 634 ratings — published 2000 — 12 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Kingmaking (Pendragon's Banner Trilogy, #1) 3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 554 ratings — published 1994 — 11 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pendragon's Banner (Pendragon's Banner Trilogy, #2) 4.23 of 5 stars 4.23 avg rating — 266 ratings — published 1996 — 14 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Shadow of the King (Pendragon's Banner Trilogy, #3) 4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 213 ratings — published 1997 — 12 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sea Witch (Sea Witch Voyages, #1) 3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 avg rating — 89 ratings — published 2006 — 5 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pirate Code (Sea Witch Voyages, #2) 4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 avg rating — 33 ratings — published 2007 — 5 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bring It Close (Sea Witch Voyages, #3) 4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 avg rating — 28 ratings — published 2009 — 6 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ripples in the Sand 4.43 of 5 stars 4.43 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Discovering the Diamond by Helen Hollick (Goodreads Author), Jo Field 4.62 of 5 stars 4.62 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Helen Hollick…

Series by Helen Hollick

The Saxon Series (2 books)
by Helen Hollick (Goodreads Author)
3.783545974483062 of 5 stars 3.78 avg rating — 2,273 ratings

Pendragon's Banner (3 books)
by Helen Hollick (Goodreads Author)
4.070736434108527 of 5 stars 4.07 avg rating — 1,032 ratings

Sea Witch Chronicles (4 books)
by Helen Hollick (Goodreads Author)
4.079754601226994 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 163 ratings

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Helen Hollick is now friends with Ryan G
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Helen Hollick made a comment on Assistance Required from my UK readers "Thank you! You too re the weekend!"
May 23, 2013 11:19am · see blog post
Helen Hollick made a comment on Jacobite Rebellion - Research Notes (1) "I so agree!"
May 03, 2013 01:52am · see blog post
Helen Hollick made a comment on 20 years an author (Book Fair 2013) "Stalkers like you I can put up with laugh (yes it is afternoon here - not far off 4 p.m.) Thank you for such a fantastic review, I'm thrilled!"
Apr 27, 2013 07:57am · see blog post
Helen Hollick made a comment on Discovering the Diamond — useful hints for new writers "thank you Eileen"
Mar 28, 2013 07:05am
Helen Hollick made a comment on Tuesday Talk: Is A Blog Tour Worth The Effort? "thank you Cynthia - it's nice to have your support. (hope you don't mind, I've copied your replies to the main blog post)"
Mar 21, 2013 11:34am · see blog post
Helen Hollick rated a book 5 of 5 stars Ripples in the Sand by Helen Hollick (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 02, 2013 12:51pm
Helen Hollick liked Helen Hollick's blog post: The Thursday fun Thought... "For those who have over-indulged: a few exercises to get in shape for the New Year Celebrations.... LOL :-)"
Jan 09, 2013 12:25am
Helen Hollick rated a book 5 of 5 stars The Shifting Price of Prey (Spellcrackers.com, #4) by Suzanne McLeod (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Definitely the best magical romp yet - the series is growing in strength and is a wonderful "escapism" read, though I'm not sure that the books will stand alone out of sequence (hard to tell when I've devoured each one as if I'm a glamoured vamp in n...more
Nov 21, 2012 09:54am · see review
Helen Hollick added the Goodreads iPhone app
Nov 20, 2012 03:29am

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Quotes by Helen Hollick

“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

40 people liked it

“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

25 people liked it

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

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

24 people liked it

See all Helen Hollick's quotes »

Polls

Which book would you like to read for our March 15 - April 15 European Royalty group read?

The Queen of Last Hopes: The Story of Margaret of Anjou by Susan Higginbotham

22 votes, 36.7%

A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith

16 votes, 26.7%

I Am the Chosen King by Helen Hollick

10 votes, 16.7%

Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland

9 votes, 15.0%

Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine

3 votes, 5.0%

60 total votes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
European Royalty: Hollow Crown: May 15 - Jun 15	17	44	Jun 01, 2009 05:50am
Historical Fictio...: April/May 2011 Group Read -- Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran	54	148	Apr 14, 2011 06:12pm
A History of Royals: Favorite King Arthur Book?	114	228	May 02, 2011 01:58pm
A History of Royals: Looking for some suggestions.	6	33	Jul 26, 2011 10:59pm
Historical Fictio...: Challenge #7 - REPORT POINTS HERE	289	126	Sep 02, 2011 11:34am
A History of Royals: * OPEN READs guidelines	3	70	Sep 16, 2011 02:37pm
European Royalty: Oct 15 - Nov 15: Nominating	10	46	Sep 16, 2011 07:17pm