About Helen Brandom
Helen Brandom Books Harrogate Author
Harrogate author
Biography
Hello, and welcome to my website!
Let me tell you a bit about my writing life. I’ve always loved the craft, even if was just a newsletter. Before writing my first Young Adult novel, ‘Writing in the Sand’, published by Usborne Books, I’d written scripts for BBC Radio 4’s afternoon plays and a morning serial – five linking plays about gardens – called ‘Open to the Public’. This was a great experience, each ‘playlet’ performed by a wonderful actor.
I’ve worked, too, for television companies, mainly Granada TV, working on drama serials and two audio cassettes for Coronation Street’s ‘In Their Own Words’. My characters were Rita Sullivan and Ken Barlow, with whom I spent two unforgettable days, one with Barbara Knox, the other with William Roache. I love the theatre and wrote a one-act black-comedy called ‘A Bit of Royal Albert’. This went on to win Best Play in a North Yorkshire drama festival and was later performed at Buxton Opera House.
In a former life I was a primary school teacher, a job I enjoyed very much. I live in Scarborough, North Yorkshire – and love cats and dogs. Thank you for reading about me.
Helen Brandom Books Harrogate Author
BOOK SHOP
YOUNG adults
Writing in the Sand
A subtle, insightful and utterly absorbing novel about teen pregnancy. Sixteen-year-old Amy is used to keeping secrets – about her mum’s illness, her irresponsible sister and about her ex-boyfriend Liam. But now Amy has a secret that cannot be kept. Should she tell the truth about the abandoned baby or keep quiet and live a lie…for ever?
YOUNG adults
Writing in the Sand
It would be easier if I didn’t have to pretend all the time. I can only imagine what it must be like, not worrying about saying the wrong thing. Not having to tell half-truths. ….. I don’t need to pretend to be happy. I am happy most of the time. I’ve got my mum, Kirsty’s a brilliant friend, and we live by the sea….What’s not to be happy about? What I’d like most, though, would be to feel normal more often.
REVIEWS
“Writing in the Sand is a very poignant, and brutally honest story!
It covers themes of love, loss, and family, and I really enjoyed reading it. I really liked the character of Amy, because she felt like such a realistic teenager. I was really intrigued by the pretty mysterious plot.The plot deals with a lot of pretty scary themes for a teenagers to be dealing with.
I’m really impressed that the début author, Helen Brandom, has written everything so well …the book is quite unpredictable. Helen Brandom’s writing is truly great. She’s captured the voice of a teenager so successfully and I really loved the narration!Overall, I really enjoyed Writing in the Sand. It’s a heart-breaking, but also heart-warming story that deals with complicated relationships, pregnancies, and children who have to care for their less able family members.
Riveting and powerful, I think a lot of people are going to find the plot really memorable- as they will also find the protagonist! There was one character I wanted to know so much more about, but, oh well… I would really love to hear much more from Helen in the future. A really great, recommended, contemporary! “
Keith B Walters
“Should be in every school library – not just because it deals with teenage pregnancy, and the difficulties faced by young people when they have to be a carer to a parent, but because it is such a great engaging read.
Amy is a likeable protagonist and the book deals with themes such as young love and responsibility with a light touch.
Added to which I wanted to slap Amy’s sister Lisa and hug Toffee the dog – always a good sign of real involvement in a book!! “
Amazon
“I bought this Young Adult book as a present for a young friend. I read a few pages … and just went on reading. The story of a 16-year-old carer, plus the shock and aftermath of an unforeseen pregnancy is beautifully written.
Love between a mother and daughter isn’t unusual but in this story the deep kindness as well as love between them is touching and memorable.
And this is Helen Brandom’s debut novel – more please! “
Jackie
NEW ADULT
A Love that’s New
It’s 1940 and Connie Dawkins, 17 – a junior seamstress in a smart department store – is engaged to Spitfire pilot, David Johnson. When a bomb wrecks the couple’s engagement party, Connie’s life changes in a way she could never have imagined.
No two days are alike in World War II – some are full of hope, and others filled with dread as David and his Spitfire fight for survival in the late summer skies.
When tragedy strikes, Connie turns to David’s twin sister Kath – and together they share their grief.
NEW ADULT
A Love that's New
After the bomb, time seemed to stand still. Can it really be Monday and the start of a whole new week?
Not wanting to go on the bus looking a complete wreck, I allow myself a little smile in the hallway mirror. You know something, Connie Dawkins? Despite the unluckiest engagement party in the history of the world, you don’t look any different.
I shut my eyes, stop for a moment and think of Jennifer. Gone in seconds. How unimaginably awful this must be for Kath.