AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Helene Young

 

Author Spotlight with Helene Young 

Describe yourself in one word:
Loyal – to a fault.

 

What is your background with regard to writing?

I’ve always been a story-teller and a writer. English was my favourite subject at school and my wonderful teachers wanted me to become a journalist, but at that time I had other plans that involved flying. With book number six, Northern Heat, about to be released I think I may now be brave enough to call myself an author rather than a pilot!

 

Tell us about Northern Heat.
Northern Heat is a redemption story. Conor’s paid a high price for some poor decisions he’s made and doesn’t believe he deserves to find happiness again.

Dr Kristy hasn’t forgiven herself for death of her son or her husband and is struggling to bring up her feisty teenage daughter, Abby.

Kristy and Conor are two damaged souls in need of healing, but they’re wary of love, even while they acknowledge the spark between them. Can a psychopath and a cyclone make them face their truth?

I loved writing this story and Conor is by far the favourite of my heroes.

 

What inspired this novel?

The backstory of Northern Heat is domestic violence. I was saddened to find one of my friends had a difficult marriage when it looked so perfect from the outside. It made me look around at others and see what lay beneath the surface.  Researching the story was harrowing, but I hope I’ve done justice to the women who shared their experiences with me. Domestic violence is certainly in the spotlight at the moment and I hope that focus helps to change the way we treat the victims.

 

What are you reading right now?

Jenn J McLeod’s Season of Shadow and Light.

 

Number one thing to do on your bucket list?
Sail to the UK!

 

Best thing about being an Aussie?

We live in an amazing country and can walk down our streets in safety.

 

What do you want readers to know about the romance genre?

It’s okay to love romance – and as it’s the biggest selling genre on the planet clearly you’re not alone!

 

 

To celebrate the release of my sixth book I have six prize packs to give away. Four of them are duos of SAFE HARBOUR and NORTHERN HEAT and one major prize is a complete set of my six books. For international readers there is a duo of e-books to be won.

To enter leave a comment here or share the post and/or the trailer on social media site and I’ll double your chances!

Hope to see you through May at the following blogs.

5^th May:               http://bookdout.wordpress.com

7^th May:               http://auslit.net

10^th May:            http://deannasworld1.blogspot.com.au

12^th  May:           http://www.jennjmcleod.com

14^th May:            http://ausromtoday.com

17th May:           https://1girl2manybooks.wordpress.com

19th May:           http://writenotereviews.com

21st May:            https://australianbookshelf.wordpress.com

24^th May:             https://nevendbookshelf.wordpress.com/category/reviews/

26th May:           http://teddyree-theeclecticreader.blogspot.com.au

28^th May:           http://australianruralromance.com

31^st May:             http://talkingbooksblog.net

2^nd June:              Wrap up and announce the winner on my blog-

http://www.heleneyoung.com

 

 

Northern Heat
Helene Young

In steamy northern Queensland, Conor is rebuilding his shattered life. Working at Cooktown’s youth centre has given him the chance to make a difference again, and the opportunity to flirt with Dr Kristy Dark. The local GP is hiding her own secrets and struggling to raise her feisty teenage daughter alone.

When a severe cyclone menaces the coast, threatening to destroy everything in its path, tensions come to a head – and the weather is not the only danger. Cut off from the world and with her life on the line, Kristy will have to summon her courage and place her trust in Conor, or they’ll both lose someone they love.

Booktopia  |  Amazon AU  |  BookWorld

Northern Heat Trailer YouTube

 

 

 

About the Author:
When Helene’s not writing novels she enjoys a busy career as the Queensland Regional Flying Manager with Australia’s largest regional airline. She’s worked in aviation for over 25 years and has 260 pilots reporting into her. She recently appeared in ‘Judith Lucy is All Woman’ in an episode showcasing women in aviation.

She has twice won the highly coveted RWA’s Romantic Book of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and was shortlisted for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Mainstream Crime and Suspense. She has also been nominated in the Ned Kelly and Sisters in Crime Awards. Helene’s last novel, Safe Harbour, was voted Australia’s 2014 Favourite Romantic Suspense Novel. This is the fourth time Helene’s stories have won the award.

A motivational speaker and writing mentor, Helene lives aboard a catamaran on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef and she plans one day to sail around the world in it.

 

 

 

Don’t forget to enter to win the Helene Young prize packs! 

“To celebrate the release of my sixth book I have six prize packs to give away. Four of them are duos of Safe Harbour and Northern Heat and one major prize is a complete set of my six books. For international readers there is a duo of e-books to be won. To enter leave a comment here or share the post and/or the trailer on social media site and I’ll double your chances!”