My first job was… Delivering advertising flyers to people’s letterboxes. I must have been about 11 or 12 when my older brother and sister came up with the idea. We were paid $10 per 1000 flyers which equated to about $2 an hour. I had a 
wonderful time guessing what sort of people lived in each house by the design and state of their letterboxes.
Plotter or pantser?? I thought I was a panster… I suspect I liked the freedom that term implied – the wild and reckless writer, words pouring out them, driven be the story… But then I realised I edited out many, many words before the manuscript got anywhere near finished. So I had a good look at my personality – I’m a pilot, so that makes me a tad retentive on a good day. I live by checklists, shopping lists, to do lists. Maybe that actually made me a plotter? Hmm… The truth, as they say, is somewhere in between. For my latest WIP I wrote a two page outline and then a series of character maps for the leading protagonists. So far so good!
Currently reading… ‘The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest’ by Stiegg Larsson. Got hooked on his first book and have been waiting, waiting, waiting for the last in the trilogy to be released.
Who would you most like to meet and why? I was privileged to have already met Nancy Bird-Walton (one of Australia’s female pioneering aviators), so I’ll go with Amelia Earhart. An American aviator, she was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic – just one her many achievements. She also did a great deal to promote women in aviation by setting up an organisation called the 99ers. Much like RWA, it’s full of wonderful, supportive women!
I write… Romantic Suspense with kick-arse heroines who (surprisingly?) fly aircraft. My stories are set in the top end of Australia – a wonderful, wild, larger-than-life environment just begging to be showcased in suspense filled stories.
Helene’s debut book, Border Watch, with Hatchette Australia, is due for release in March 2010. To find out more visit her here, or read the blurb below.
Border Watch: High above the crystal-blue waters of North Queensland, Captain Morgan Pentland patrols the vast Australian coastline. When Customs Agent Rafe Daniels joins her crew, she is immediately suspicious. Why is he boarding her plane when she isn’t there? And why is he asking so many questions?
What Morgan doesn’t know is that Rafe has her under surveillance. Critical information about their Border Watch operations is being leaked and she is the main suspect.
Morgan’s ex, elite police officer Carl Wiseman, is back on the scene after she finally found the courage to throw him out. Is he trying to regain Morgan’s affections of are his intentions more sinister?
When Morgan and Rafe are shot down in a tragic midair attack, they realise they have to start working together – and quickly. One of Australia’s most loved icons is the next target and they have only nine days to stop it.
Will they uncover details of the plot in time, or will the tension that is growing between them jeopardise everything?
Romance Writers of Australia 
Anna Campbell
/ November 27, 2009Oh, how hilarious – I left a comment on the wrong blog post. Let’s try again, shall we?
Hey, I get the Golden Rooster!
Helene, firstly can I say that’s a gorgeous photo of you! You look like you’re already on the New York Times there! I can’t wait to read your book – it sounds fantastic! And what a great cover Hachette put together for you! You must be stoked. Actually my parents had a grocery shop in the part of Brisbane that Nancy Bird-Walton lived in and they got to know her quite well. Dad, in particular, always spoke of her with great fondness – he liked eccentric women which was fortunate, given the family he came from, LOL! Laughed at your transition from pantser to plotter. I often think the plotters imagine that we pantsers are going, “Oh, they’re not real writers, they plot first.” Whereas in fact this particular pantser (and every other one I ever talk to) says, “I wish I was a plotter. I have to spend SOOOOO much time rewriting. There has to be a better way!”
Helene Young
/ November 27, 2009This is my very first blog appearance outside of my own blog so I’m very excited! A huge thank you to Anita for all her hard work in putting ‘The Blog Bites’ together.
The Golden Rooster to you indeed, Anna, (lucky it’s not at turkey or it would be in danger of a good basting at this time of year…). I have to smile every time I see that photo of me because most of my friends assure me it looks nothing like me – when do I ever sit still long enough to keep my hair that neat? Glad you like the cover. I was almost speechless when Bernadette slid the first version across the table to me. The colours are so vivid and so true to Northern Australia.
And the panster/plotter conversion did hit some speed-bumps when my characters decided they didn’t like the ending I’d so carefully planned for them. Almost turned into a hijack… Ah well, nothing runs smoothly on the path to editing!
Kylie Griffin
/ November 27, 2009Hi Helene,
It’s great to read more about you and what a tantilising glimpse of your new book.
Helene will feature as one of our “newbie” authors in RWNZ’a Heart to Heart magazine in 2010! Keep your eyes peeled!
Helene Young
/ November 27, 2009Hi Kylie, thanks for dropping by. You’re doing a fantastic job of promoting some many new authors in your series in Heart to Heart! Very much appreciated.
I look forward to finding out more about your writing when you guest blog with me in January.
2009 has been such a huge year for you on the contest circuit. You were barely off the stage at the RWA conference before you were called back for the next award! Congrats!!
Kylie Griffin
/ November 27, 2009LOL, I think everyone was sick of seeing my photo pop up! My parents were there with me on the night and even they commented on it, not realising just how many things I’d finalled in!
So what’s up next for you? Any more books being discussed with Bernadette on the horizon?
Helene Young
/ November 28, 2009Your parents must have been very proud of you, Kylie!
Next for me is ‘Beyond the Borders,’ the second in the loosely linked trio. Working with Bernadette and Hachette is wonderful – they’ve already come up with the ‘cover girl’ for the second book!!
‘Beyond the Borders’ will be released in March 2011.
Barbara Hannay
/ November 27, 2009Hi Helene! It’s so exciting for me to have a fellow published writer in Far North Queensland. I’m so looking forward to your book’s release. The cover looks gorgeous and the story sounds great and I agree that Australia’s top end is the perfect setting for romantic suspense dramas. A winning combination!!!!
Helene Young
/ November 27, 2009Hi Barbara, it’s wonderful to have a multi-published author who’s so generously mentoring the North Queensland contingent of RWA! Thank you.
Really looking forward to catching up next weekend with everyone and talking writing. It will make a lovely change from airline speak…
And glad you like the cover!
Graham Young
/ November 27, 2009Your first job sounds very remunerative. I’ve heard that most writers make less than $2 per hour! 😉 But it is made up for by the fact that their family is very proud of them.
Helene Young
/ November 27, 2009Nothing like the unbiased support of family is there? As you were probably the brains behind the pamphlet delivering, big brother, I guess you could say you were my first employer … Lucky for me the pay did move up eventually..
And of course romance writers are some of the few who do make a living out their writing because they, and their readers, understand exactly what it takes to write a satisfying love story. We love enduring optimism!
Sandra Harris
/ November 27, 2009Hi Helene,
I feel quite dwarfed by your accomplished fellow bloggers so I’m just gonna say hi and ‘Go you good thing!’
Helene Young
/ November 27, 2009Hi Sandy, thanks for dropping by.
No way should you feel dwarfed – I’ve read some of your manuscripts and you create wonderful vivid worlds with amazing characters!! We’re all on the same journey, just at different stages.
And about the RWA conference next year – you will be coming with me won’t you???
Bronwyn Young
/ November 27, 2009Hi Helene
As one of the lucky ones who has actually read your first book – I can hardly wait to get my hands on the second! Really looking forwards to seeing how the lovely Lauren recovers from tragedy. Does she shop till she drops or meet a good man?
Helene Young
/ November 27, 2009Both! Of course! A girl can never have too many shoes… Or tops from Vivienne Francine…
And that second book’s first draft will be headed your way shortly! Don’t be gentle now. Your advice is always spot on, Bron.
Dana Bradberry
/ November 27, 2009Hi Helene,
You know I loved the book! The cover is fabulous – and here I thought it would be impossible to improve on the yellow envelope and paper clip the original came in!!! I am only on number one of the Stiegg Larsson series… can’t say the pages turn themselves like they do in your book. I thought of you today when I was flying in to CNS… and you are right, what a stunning back drop to any story. I have another one early tomorrow morning. Will keep an ear out for you…. you might still be sitting in that perfect pose on a seat in a library though!! Bring on book number Two!!
Well done, as always you are an inspiration to me. Dana x x
Helene Young
/ November 27, 2009Hey Dana, I’m in Sydney and you’re in Cairns… again….
As one of my trusted ‘early readers’ I appreciate all your lovely support. We need to organise being in the same city for an overnight so we can drink champagne and celebrate!
Safe flying tomorrow morning!
Serena
/ November 27, 2009Hi Helene,
Wow, what a great cover! And the blurb sounds like it’s a story made to be filmed. A TV mini-series, I think?
I am sooooo a pantser. The two books I plotted are on my PC, unfinished. That’s because I feel like I’ve already written them in the plotting phase.
Good luck with your first release, though I believe you don’t need it!
Hugs
Serena
Helene Young
/ November 27, 2009Serena, you’re so right. I made the fatal mistake of writing the end of the current WIP. Had to toss that out and let the characters loose again… Mind you, I’m one of those people with no self control who cheerfully reads the ends of books first.
Love your idea of a film!! And I want to do the line up parade for the lead male!!!
Noreen Allan
/ November 27, 2009Hi Helene,
I’m so thrilled for you to have your first book out soon. The cover is gorgeous and I agree with Barb that there is plenty of scope for stories in our Far North. Looking forward to seeing you all next weekend.
Cheers
Noreen
Helene Young
/ November 27, 2009Hi Noreen, will be great to catch up! Glad you like the cover.
Now we need to hear some of your fabulous stories about North Queensland as well!!
Mel Teshco
/ November 28, 2009Coming in late, but what a fabulous job/s you have Helene – writing and flying! Good on you, and your book sounds fantastic!
Helene Young
/ November 28, 2009Hi Mel, thanks for dropping by.
I am very, very spoiled in my day job… A colleague is writing a book about his life in aviation and the title is “Small Office, Great View.” Sums it up perfectly!
Tanya Ashworth
/ November 28, 2009Hi Helene,
Nothing feels better than pursuing your passions in life and being recognised for it.
Congratulations Helene, we are so proud of you.
Let us know when your novel hits the shelf.
Love Tanya and Marg
Helene Young
/ November 28, 2009Hi Tanya and Marg, you’re so right about pursuing your passion – it should be mandatory for everyone!
And Tanya, your paintings look stunning in the new gallery. I’m sure you’ll be a big hit with the locals as well as the visitors.
xxx
D.Telburn
/ November 30, 2009Hi Helene,
We very much look forward to reading your book. It’s not often we get the opportunity to read a book by an author we know personally.
We like it that the story is set in a part of Australia we love, and that the heroine is a pilot. Reading it must feel as if we are getting into your mind (sounds very voyeiristic) but then again you have nothing to hide-have you.
Make sure you let us know as soon as the book hits the stores.
Cheers,
Daggi and Dieter
Avril Simpson
/ December 3, 2010Cool content. When will I get the additional info?
Avril Simpson
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