Frontlist Books | Author Helen shares her latest tale in book

Her latest story, ‘A Tale of Two Shoes’, is illustrated by Steve Hutton. Last year, the first two books in Helen's Amber’s Pony Tales series books were published by Cockermouth-based Elterwater Press. Unfortunately, due to covid, the launch of the third book at Badminton Horse Trials was cancelled and the book’s paperback release, postponed. It is now due to come out next month. Helen's latest tale began as an exercise in her Writers & Illustrators Club where members were challenged to write a story from the point of view of an object. “I gave them the option of a clock, a mirror or a shoe,” said Helen. “They all chose either a clock or a mirror, but I’d recently seen a leopard print, high-heeled boot abandoned in some woodland while I was walking my dogs. It got me wondering about how it had got there and where its partner was, and how you often see random single shoes lying around in strange places. That was what sparked my idea to write about two shoes – Shane and Sheila – who get separated and struggle to cope without each other. It was written two years ago, but it’s actually quite relevant for the current times as it deals with characters who are faced with a sudden and unexpected change to their lives.” Helen was delighted when bestselling children’s author, Holly Webb, agreed to read the manuscript, pre-publication and provided a review comment about the book. She said, A beautifully illustrated story with an important message about finding your place in the world.