List Of Writers

EAST, HELEN

Wenffrwd, Llansilin, Nr Oswestry, Powys SY10 7PZ or 29 Gleneldon Road, London, SW16 2AX
Tel: 01691 791333
Email: heltell@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.eastorywilsound.co.uk

Fiction writer, storyteller and poet, Helen was born in Sri Lanka and educated in Scandinavia, England, France. She was first published at the age of eight. She is interested in words both on and off the page, odd/unusual heroes and heroines, a strong sense of place, folklore, and ideas of identity and belonging:

"…I have been living in Llansilin for nearly 5 years and my husband is Welsh on his mothers side, so I have been learning and thinking about Wales for some time, but essentially as an outsider, an onlooker from the border. Since I was born in Sri Lanka, with maternal grandparents from Northern and Southern Ireland, borders have always been an important part of my life - is it a place where two different entities meet, or is it a merging point? The more I listen to, and record people in my local area, the more this question slips into my writing and storytelling work. And being an outsider too... I sometimes wonder if it makes you a better observer… that essential element for writers. Certainly it has always sharpened my interest in others... But I do envy those who can feel themselves truly rooted somewhere! How wonderful to know you belong!.."

Helen has written extensively for the BBC World Service, has created numerous picture books for children, story collections, teacher resource packs, performance pieces, and text in the environment.

Reviews:

"…One of the finest storytellers in the U.K…"
Duncan Williamson


Selected Publications:
Henry’s House (First Starters Series) (MacDonald, 1981)
Louisa’s Garden (First Starters Series) (MacDonald, 1981)
Michael Goes Shopping (First Starters Series) (MacDonald, 1981)
Maria Goes to Work (First Starters Series) (MacDonald, 1981)
Sara by the Seashore (First Starters Series) (MacDonald, 1981)
Counting Book  (First Skills Series) (MacDonald, 1982)
Word Book (First Skills Series) (MacDonald, 1983)
Colour Book (First Skills Series) (MacDonald, 1983)
Bouncy Ball’s Day (First Starters Series) (MacDonald, 1983)
Goldfishes’ Day Out (First Stories Series) (MaDonald, 1983)
Hippo’s Day (First Stories Series) (MacDonald, 1983) 
Arthur’s Aunt Stories (MacDonald, 1984)
A Crocodile out Shopping (Arthur’s Aunt Stories) (MacDonald, 1984)
Autumn Days (MacDonald, 1985)
Day in the Snow (MacDonald, 1985)
First Day of Spring (MacDonald, 1985)
First Christmas (MacDonald, 1986)
Dora the Storer (MacDonald, 1987)
Down in the Dark (MacDonald, 1987)
Everlasting Christmas Tree (MacDonald, 1987)
Lucky Pearl (MacDonald, 1988)
The Singing Sack – 28 song–stories from around the world (A & C Black, 1989)
Tooth Fairy (MacDonald, 1989)
Look Lively, Rest Easy: Stories, Songs, Tricks and Rhymes to Rouse and to Relax (Classroom Music) (A & C Black Publishers Ltd, 1990)
The Singing Sack: 28 Song-Stories from Around the World (Classroom Music) (A & C Black, 2000)
Spirit of the Forest (Frances Lincoln, 2002)
The Singing Story Cloth (A & C Black, 2005)

Contributed to:
Frances Fisher RIP - a novel co-written with 100 children (Wear Books, 1993)
Apples and Snakes Poetry Anthology Velocity (contributor) (Black Spring Press, 2003)

Eligible Writers on Tour subjects offered:
1. Story and poetry writing workshops.
2. What is a book? Book exploration, making, writing, layout (minimum 2 hours).
3.Telling tales - from rhyme to reason - styles and stories from diverse cultures.

AGE RANGE: all ages, pre-school to pensioners.  Mixed age groups by arrangement.