2 June 2021
On Wednesdays on social media, people use the hashtag #WriterWednesday to chat about all things author, book and writing, including authors promoting their own work. As we love to support self-published authors, we thought we’d join in and we will be featuring a UK self-published author every Wednesday on the website.
This week, we met Helen Edwards to find out more.
Please tell us about yourself; when did you first become interested in writing?
I have enjoyed writing ever since I was a young child. As an adult I’ve written on and off for years. I began my self-publishing journey in 2015. That was a novelette; more novelettes followed as writing shorter length fiction became my niche. I publish my novelettes under the name Helen Libby. I also write non-fiction books, which so far have mainly been about my dog. When I became a puppy parent in 2016, and after being overwhelmed with anxiety during those early weeks with my new furry friend, I decided to write a book about my experiences with him in a bid to help other new puppy parents. Three more books followed – I love writing about my dog! I’ve also written a book sharing my experience of self-publishing. I publish non-fiction under my real name, Helen Edwards.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
The first story I ever wrote was actually a collection of short stories written in the style (or so I hoped) of Enid Blyton. It was called The Adventures of the Little People. I’ve still got it. I illustrated it and stapled all the pages together – it’s a booklet!
What genre/genres do your books fall under?
Non-fiction, whilst the novelettes come under contemporary women’s fiction.
What is your latest book called, what is it about and what was the inspiration behind the book?
My latest book is called “The Secret Diary of Archie the Zuchon”. I mentioned earlier that I wrote a book about life with a new puppy. In it, I added comments from Archie. The feedback I received told me that people loved hearing from Archie, which sparked the idea for a fictional diary. The book is based on all the places I’ve taken Archie. Whenever we go anywhere, I try to pick out something of note, something humorous. I love writing as Archie!
Besides your current book, do you have any new projects coming up?
I have a novella which is nearing completion. It’s my longest piece of work to-date. I’ve also written a children’s picture book story featuring Archie, which I’d love to see published this year. And I’ve just started writing another diary, provisionally titled “Diary of a Dog Mum”.
Where can people find your books?
I’d love to be able to say in all good bookshops, but being an indie author on a limited budget, that’s not possible. All of my books are available on Amazon. The audiobooks are also available via Audible and iTunes. There are a few copies of the first Archie book, “All About Archie: Bringing Up A Puppy”, in a pet shop in Shrewsbury!
What has been the greatest moment in your writing career?
I think holding my first paperback in my hands. That was the “All About Archie” book.
Besides writing, what hobbies or interests do you enjoy in your spare time?
I love taking photographs of flowers, walking my dog, and reading of course.
Which novelists do you admire?
Trisha Ashley, Juliet Ashton, Lucy Dillon, Ali McNamara, and Sue Moorcroft to name but a few.
What has been the best piece of writing advice you’ve received?
This is very simple, but to just write. Get it all down on paper, even if it’s a jumbled mess of words. You can always do something with it, but if you haven’t written anything, there’s nothing to work on.
Do you have any tips or advice for other indie authors?
I’ve seen self-published books which haven’t been formatted properly, and which haven’t been proofread either. Whilst it’s straightforward to self-publish your book via Amazon for example, do make sure your book is the best it can be before you hit submit. Be professional. You don’t want to receive a one star review for a poorly formatted manuscript, or for spelling mistakes and bad grammar. Invest in getting your manuscript formatted (or learn how to do it yourself), as well as getting it professionally proofread.
If you would like some help self-publishing your book via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, I offer various services including beta reading, formatting, and self-publishing. I can teach you how to upload your book, or do it for you. I have kept my prices reasonable because I know what it’s like to be on a budget. If you’re interested in learning more, please use the contact form on my website. The initial e-mail consultation is free.
You can find out more about Helen on her website or via Instagram or X (Twitter) and you can find her books on Amazon:
All About Archie: Bringing Up A Puppy
How to Self-Publish on a Budget: My Self-Publishing Journey
And Then She Shines: A Collection of Novelettes (by Helen Libby)
The Secret Diary of Archie the Zuchon
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