Meet Author Helen L. Edwards
Interview by Katie Madison
Have you lived in Seattle Washington all of your life?
No, I was born in St. Louis, Missouri. My father took me and two of his seven children and moved to Seattle when I was 18 months. I finished elementary and junior high school in Seattle. As a teen I moved to New York and completed high school and college, before returning to Seattle.
Were you a good student in school?
In elementary school my teachers called me a “social butterfly”. School was a social outlet for me. Unfortunately, education was not my priority. I went to school to have fun! If I happened to absorb some education while I was there then that was good. If I was entertained and engaged then I learned; if not, I daydreamed. Sadly, there were some gaps in my education that I had to later overcome because of my inattention in school in my early years. I was a better student in junior high and high school. My senior year I auditioned for this program called “Talent Unlimited” at Julia Richman High School. I made it in and excelled in drama. I attended Adelphi University, did well, graduated and moved back to Seattle. Later I attended graduate school at City University. I was on the Dean’s List two or three times. So school got progressively better for me as I matured.
What is a Dean’s List?
It just means that during a particular grading period you achieved high grades.
Why do you write children’s books? Do you have children?
No, I do not have children of my own. I have a niece that I helped raise. I have many nieces and nephews. There are a lot of children in my life. I am also an elementary school counselor so I write children’s books that reflect the issues that children are faced with in our society. It is my goal that children not only enjoy the stories that I write, but also learn a meaningful life lesson or skill that can improve their lives.
Why don’t you write chapter books?
I loved picture books when I was growing up. In fact, it was a bit upsetting to me when my parents and teacher forced me out of picture books and into chapter books. I couldn’t imagine reading without the pictures. I still love picture books. I guess some things never change. So I write sophisticated picture books. You have to know how to read a beginning chapter book to read my books. But if you don’t perhaps my books will encourage struggling readers that want a bit more challenging content.
What do you mean you write sophisticated picture books?
Children can reason at a higher level than they can read. So I write books for the strong reader as well as the struggling reader. A lot can be learned from looking at pictures.
You don’t illustrate your books so how do you pick an illustrator?
No, I’m not an artist. Al Doggett illustrated my first book Clara’s Imagination. He is an award winning artist and he lives in Seattle, so I approached him to illustrate the book. This was the first time Al had ever illustrated an entire book although he has illustrated book covers for other authors. Al was also the colorist and cover designer of my second book Yaro the Super Sleuth In the Case of the Mystery Letter. My second book was illustrated by Chi Lam Chan. He was a stand out artist in his college. Once he graduated he was recommended to me by one of his professors. This was his first time ever illustrating a book.
Is it unusual to have two illustrators working on the same book?
I don’t know, as the author I had two editors; I also had several proof readers, not including myself. I still had to do the final proof of everything. I guess it just goes to show that in life most accomplishments are a team effort. Like any production publishing a book is a team effort.
The feisty character in Clara’s Imagination is Clara. The feisty character in Yaro the Super Sleuth In the Case of the Mystery Letter is Missy Ann. How did you get the idea for these two?
The feisty character drives the story. It’s funny because I’m the youngest sister. As a child I was considered feisty, a little bratty, but also fun-loving. When my siblings read my books they always say that the feisty characters are me, when I was little. There might be some truth to that.
What kinds of things did you do as a child that was feisty?
Whenever I played games I always wanted to win. I thought nothing of cheating to win. I would make up my own rules, change the rules in the middle of the game, or even quit playing, if it didn’t look like I was going to win.
What made you change?
As a teenager living in New York, I took great pride in being a role model to my nieces. One day I was playing Backgammon with one of my niece’s. The television was on and my niece was winning. But she appeared to be distracted by the television. So I took a calculated risk and cheated. She was in elementary school and I was in high school. My niece caught me, she said “Auntie Helen I can’t believe you cheated!” I felt embarrassed, humiliated, and diminished in my niece’s eyes, and I still lost! I thought because I was much older, that I should win. The lesson learned was it’s better to lose fairly than to lose or win and also be known as a cheater! I still do not like to lose but what I’ve learned as an adult for me it is not about the game as much as it is about the social relationship, and the experience that you are having with the person. The game is just an activity that you are doing.
Who are your favorite characters?
I like all of them for different reasons. But Yaro is based on the spirit of all of my nephews. They are brilliant, polite, just very kind boys and young men. They have a calming affect on me.
I didn’t know kids could be role models for grown-ups.
They absolutely can be and in my case they are. Yes, there is a lot grown-ups can learn from children.
I like your books because there is a song to sing or a skit to act out or something else you can do besides just read. Is that planned?
Thank you, yes, in fact it is Katie. I want the reader to become involved with the text, not just be a passive reader. Hopefully, the stories and teaching tool in the back of every book stimulates critical thinking and good conversation.
What is critical thinking?
Looking deeper at a situation, analyzing and asking questions about what you are thinking. It is having an opinion and facts to support why you think what you think. It is making connections to the content in a variety of ways.
Do you write every day?
I write every day as part of my counseling job. But as far as writing a book I write every day toward that only when I am in the process of writing a book.
How long does it take you to write a book?
To write the initial book it takes about 3 months, to refine it and with the edits it takes about another 5 months. To complete the book illustrations included about one year total.
This is the last question.
Oh no, I am enjoying this interview with you Katie.
Thank you. What is something you want people who read your books to know?
I want kids to know that I write loving family stories but I had a traumatic and very hard childhood. I ended up being a ward of the state and later as a teenager an emancipated minor.
Excuse me what is a ward of the state and an emancipated minor?
A ward of the state is when your parents can’t take care of you and the state decides where you should live. An emancipated minor is when you are under 18 years old and you have the ability to take care of yourself as if you were an adult. You assume the responsibilities of taking care of yourself instead of your parents or the state.
I always had my hopes and dreams. I never gave up and I had faith in something greater than myself. Life is hard; at some point in life everyone has a crisis. Never give up, surround yourself with positive people who can and will encourage you. Throughout my life people have always helped me. Never miss an opportunity to be genuinely encouraging to others as well. We all need each other in this world and if we can support each other in our lives we need to take that opportunity to do that. Finally, you have one life, so go for your dreams.
Thank you for this interview.
Katie it was my pleasure. You asked me great follow up questions, this interview made me think. I can see you have a great future in journalism ahead of you.