I don’t always write historicals, but when I do…

Posted at Nov 5, 2014 12:01 am

Ten things I consider before I choose a time period to write about.

It has to be a time period that will fascinate me through months and maybe years of researching, writing, and discussing. For example, my father was stationed with the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, Ireland for two years. While going to school there, I studied medieval history, especially that of the Celts and Normans, and visited museums and castles. Decades later, I’m still enthralled with that time period. Also, instilled in me—the history of European kings and queens. How would you feel if you received a love letter from King Henry VIII?
I want to write about a place because I’ve been there. (In the present, no time travel—just making that clear.☺) E.g., London, the Scottish Highlands, the western U.S., etc.
I want to go there. (To keep this post short, deeper answers and explanations may come in later posts.)
I feel a connection to the place and time. (A previous life??? ☺)
I read an article. For example, I read that the three most intriguing, infamous people in history were King Henry VIII, Jack the Ripper, and Hitler. (I don’t’ know if I’ll ever write about Hitler, but I have written about King Henry and the Ripper.)
Brainstorming. One day, my husband and I brainstormed ideas such as, historically, what was the most important/interesting/pivotal: person, war, battle, life, death, architecture, romance, etc.?
Who would I like to meet?
I know I’m not supposed to alter history, but, if I could, what would I want to go back and change.
Historically, who or what would I like to know more about?
I saw something cool on an educational channel (or read a cool book) and said, “Oh, yeah. That’s what I want to write about.” For example, I like the History Channel’s Vikings and HBO’s The Tudors. (Actually, I wrote my King Henry book before the TV show but it was still interesting to watch.)

I’m curious, if you could go anywhere in time, where would you go?

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With Love, King Henry VIII

Posted at Sep 12, 2014 1:37 pm

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A Love Most Haunted

Posted at Sep 12, 2014 1:30 pm

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Photo Gallery

Posted at Aug 28, 2014 3:58 pm

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Helen Howells

Posted at Aug 28, 2014 3:57 pm

Helen also writes children’s books as Helen Howells.

THE KEY

by Helen Howells

Rachel and Evan are the only ones who can save the world! They must find the thief and retrieve that Key—and lock the Door—before it is too late and all is lost.

Fleeing the wrath of an angry rancher, Evan and Rachel discover an unlocked Door to a parallel world–a world inhabited by endangered animals. Evan and Rachel’s curiosity lures them beyond the unlocked Door into danger, and finally on a quest to save this rare world. In exchange for their lives, Rachel and Evan agree to help a select team of animals find the ferret thief who stole the Key that can lock the Door. The team has only two days or the animals will lose their memory, and be forbidden to ever return home again.

Meet the Team

: NAVARR the wolf: The team leader

: MUSTELLE the black-footed ferret: The thief

: BAGERRA the badger: The digger

: KITTOK the bobcat:The eyes and ears

: HUMMEKA the hummingbird: Air reconnaissance

: Evan and Rachel: Reaching their goal in time is almost too daunting. But a promise is a promise.

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Contact

Posted at May 7, 2014 3:19 pm

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Hi! Thanks for visiting my website.

Posted at Feb 2, 2014 7:35 pm

If you could go anywhere in time and space . . . ?

So far, I’ve chosen Tudor and Victorian England and a haunted mansion in the British countryside. I’ve solved the mystery of Jack the Ripper (my most recently completed manuscript.) Soon, I expect to drink another goblet of wine with Anne Boleyn in the sixteenth century and raise a sword at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

My published novels include historical time travels, romances, and paranormals (ghost stories.)

Although my university degree is in the biological sciences, I minored in history because it fascinated me. I have, or am currently writing, novels that take place during a number of time periods including those of the Vikings, William the Conqueror, King Henry VIII, Canadian fur traders, and Queen Victoria. My bookshelves sag under the weight of reference books! And I love it.

I’ve lived in many places around the world and love history and travel. I reside in the U.S. Southwest, am a fan of Doctor Who and the city of London, and was fortunate enough to have married my husband in a castle in Scotland (bagpipes, kilts, very fun.)

I grew up reading fairy tales and literary classics, and then added science fiction, fantasy, romance, and thrillers. Books that hold a place in my heart include, The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, the Harry Potter series, and The EarthSea Cycle.

The philosophy behind my above tagline, “Through time, together we live, together we love,” stems from the idea that we are all in this adventure, a.k.a. life, together. If we work as a team, whether as a couple, a family, or a community, we might just survive (except for those fictional characters I bump off) and do so with a good measure of humor along the way.

“Friendship makes prosperity more shining and lessens adversity by dividing and sharing it.”
~Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC)

Thanks again for visiting.

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Meet Helen Pilz

Posted at Feb 2, 2014 7:34 pm

_wsb_123x189_Helen+8-30-07 In elementary school, Helen won a writing contest. (Something about astronauts rocketing to Mars.) She’s long since lost the pen she received as a prize but remembers the thrill of writing and having those words enjoyed by others.

Born into a U.S. Air Force family, Helen lived in many places around the world, including Dublin, Ireland; Ankara, Turkey; the Philippine Islands; and London, U.K. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Biology with a minor in history and additional studies in forest and rangeland management.

For many years, she managed endangered species programs for federal agencies. She’s also work as a real estate sales agent, herbarium curator, university lab dishwasher, secretary, restaurant food preparer, grocery bagger and wild land firefighter.

Helen’s a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and RWA chapters: Hearts Through History Romance Writers; Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal RWA; and Land of Enchantment Romance Authors. She also has awesome writer friends who read over her drafts. Thanks all!

She lives in New Mexico with her hero husband (they married in a romantic castle in Scotland!), a too cute yellow Labrador retriever, and more books than her house can reasonably hold.

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