Up Close and Personal with Helene Gardiner
Introduction
Hello Book Lovers, well we cannot believe how fast time is flying. It's exciting times Charlotte L. Taylor and I are getting things organised for 'The Little Hedgehogs Book Fayre' Thursday 2nd April 2026, celebrating reading with Herefordshire Libraries commencing with Simon in Ross-on-Wye. It will be here before we know it.
Lots of shops in the town of Ross are taking part in a Book Trail that Charlotte set up. Several are going above and beyond creating full window displays. It really is exciting.
So, if you have been following us you will see we have been introducing you to some of the wonderful authors who will be joining us for the Book Fayre.
This is week six of our #MeetTheAuthorMonday blog posts, so please give a warm welcome to Helene Gardiner. All the authors joining in with our interviews, are sent a selection of questions, not necessarily to do with the books they write but more to get ‘up close and personal’. So, without further ado, here are the questions Helene chose to complete:
Childhood
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be a wildlife artist, but in the early 80’s it was an almost impossible vocation. The internet and social media didn’t exist, so getting discovered was incredibly difficult, unless you were lucky enough to find fame after your death!
Animal art was my passion. “Computers are the future,” my mum said, and no amount of protesting would convince her that my destiny lay at the end of an artist’s paintbrush, so computers it was! Of course, she turned out to be right.
Determined to punish her for what I felt was an unjust decision, I set upon a path of self-destruction, leaving school with no qualifications, proud that I had managed to write nothing but my name at the top of most of my exam papers.
Of course, the only person I hurt was myself. It’s not a route I would recommend.
Fantasy
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and what would you do with your superpower?
I’d want to be telepathic! Life as a new author and illustrator is tough. It’s hard to be found amongst the millions of websites and social media posts. It’s also difficult to get traditionally published or stocked in bookshops.
I’d use my superpower for magic marketing: “Hey, everyone, check out Helene Gardiner’s fun new book. Your little ones are going to love it. It’s all about animals and helping the planet.” Unfortunately, we’re at the mercy of ‘algorithms’ and reliant on word-of-mouth, unless we’re lucky enough to catch a big influencer or celebrity's attention.
Having the opportunity to meet and showcase my work alongside other local authors through Wild Wood Press is a great opportunity. Life as an author can be lonely, but a group of authors bring diversity and access to multiple audiences, which is beneficial for everyone.
Work/Writing
Tell us about your writing environment. Is it indoors or in the great outdoors? What is on your desk, table, lap? Hot or cold drink, any snacks, views etc.?
My bathtub is where I vaporise stress over a glass of wine, music and candlelight, but sometimes an idea will spark there and I’ll have to grab my phone to scribble something down, while trying not to drop it into the water!
My first published children’s book was drafted at Center Parcs while my teenage kids were shrieking around the water rapids!
For me, it’s not about where I am, but how relaxed I am.
I also write two blogs on my website. An author blog focusing on my children’s books and endangered animals, and a blog about the weir garden where I work part-time for the National Trust.
I prefer to hand-write my children’s stories. I find the process of putting them on paper more productive.
My computer sits on my writing desk in the converted roof space, away from distractions. It’s where I research animals, compose social media posts, final story edits and book formatting. I have a 2nd in my art studio so I can access digital files, as I also illustrate my own books. My studio overlooks open fields with beautiful countryside views, which help me relax and focus when illustrating.
There’s always plenty of coffee on tap. I often forget to eat until I realise my brain has stopped functioning!
Relaxation
What internet site do you surf the most?
Animal conservation charities. You can glean a lot of useful information from them about animal habitat, status and issues that impact their lives.
The downside is that I see a lot of human-inflicted animal cruelty. This can be traumatising. Sometimes I question if I can continue; the answer is always a profound yes. It’s my way of doing my bit for wildlife.
Personal
Tell us something that you hate doing and something you love doing?
I hate filing and accounts. I hate housework too but will happily get the hoover out if it means I can avoid the paperwork!
I love watching wildlife, especially bumblebees. Pollinators fascinate me, and I owe my writing and illustrating career to them because it was the bees in my garden that inspired me to start writing for children and wildlife.
Extras
Is there anything else you would like readers to know about you?
I wish I’d started writing and illustrating 20 years ago, when I first had the impulse.
I believe if you have a passion in life, then follow it, no matter how niche or impossible it might seem or who tries to talk you out of it. Anything is possible if you put your heart and soul into it, and life is too short.
I’ve had a tough journey to get where I am, so I’m determined to continue writing for wildlife and the natural world for as long as I can. Not enough is taught about animals, habitat loss, and the importance of a balanced ecosystem, especially during the early years of childhood, a crucial time when children are developing empathy, compassion, learning how to share, compromise, and right from wrong.
Richard Louv first introduced the term ‘nature-deficit disorder’ in his book ‘Last Child in the Woods,’ which focused on the behavioural and health costs of children’s alienation from the natural world. We are still not doing enough to combat this, especially in schools where children spend a significant amount of their early years.
Our modern technology exposes children to stark environmental messages that can leave them feeling helpless to fix the world’s problems. They can then become overburdened, adopting a negative outlook, and suffer ‘eco-anxiety.’
Children’s picture books are an essential tool that helps children develop their emotions and navigate the complex world around them. A well-written and illustrated conservation story can empower children and alleviate their feelings of powerlessness in a rapidly changing climate.
I have many exciting wildlife stories to share. I hope they will inspire children to make their own little positive difference in the world.
Book Teaser 'Hedgehog and the Fence'
Social Media Links
A big Thank You to Helene Gardiner for joining us 'up close and personal' ahead of 'The Little Hedgehogs Book Fayre' on Thursday 2nd April 2026 at Ross-on-Wye. We cannot wait to meet up with some amazing children's authors. Please show your support drop by Helene's social media pages and give her a like and a follow.
Add comment
Comments