Helen Vivienne Fletcher has been writing for children and young adults for the past fifteen years. She has won and been shortlisted for several writing competitions, including making the shortlist for the 2008 Joy Cowley Award, the shortlist for the 2018 Ngaio Marsh Best First Book Award, and in 2015 she was named Outstanding New Playwright at the Wellington Theatre Awards for her play How to Catch a Grim Reaper.

In previous years, Helen worked as a youth support worker for Evolve Wellington Youth Centre.

Helen holds qualifications in performing arts, creative writing, and adult education and training. She also teaches classes for adults wanting to write for children, at The Wellington High School Community Education Centre. and does school visits through the Book Council’s Writers in Schools Programme.

Helen is the author of three picture books for children, one novel for 8-12 year olds The Trespassers Club two young adult novels – Broken Silence and Underwater, and a short story collection for adults, Symbolic Death.  You can find out more about Helen’s books on her personal website.