About Helen

Helen at the Oregon Beach

A favorite activity in Helen’s family was gathering around as her Dad read aloud. His expressive voice made stories come alive. She vicariously experienced the joys and trials of everyday people with big dreams. She adventured in any part of the planet . . . and beyond.

Even though she was as shy as an ant could have felt among elephants, Helen’s curiosity and the inspiration of the overcomers and dreamers her family had read about, spurred her on. She earned a B.S. and R.N. Besides eventually serving as Director of Nursing, she cared for patients from wellness checks to critical care, from those gasping their first breath to those sighing their last. Her caring heart matured.

Building in Mozambique

Helen also hiked, biked, birded, skied . . . and read. She married, did secretarial and bookkeeping for her husband’s business, lost her only child to miscarriage, and dealt with mental illness in the family. She enjoyed Bible study, photography, watching a campfire, drawing word pictures that gave life to abstract concepts . . . and reading about the places she’d never be able to visit. Then she got to volunteer in third-world countries—to help build new schools, to assist with free medical clinics for the critically impoverished. Pieces of her heart live with these people in several countries.

In spite of her early fears, Helen learned to face life with optimism—though she needs to review that attitude from time to time. And she’s apt to discover some life lesson hidden in most every situation, whether she’s weeding her own garden, flying over Victoria Falls in an ultralight, or pantomiming—what else do you do when you speak only English and your husband ends up in a hospital in Peru?

Because written words had inspired her, Helen began to write stories, devotions, poems, songs, and articles. Publishing credits started adding up—200+ in 50 magazines and anthologies so far. Then, to her dismay, a book assignment landed in her lap. Now she’s written 4 books. More on the horizon.

Always up for some adventure

When Helen was first asked to speak before an audience, she would have preferred swimming with sharks. But the call wouldn’t go away. After she shared her stories and down-to-earth common sense, people thanked her for the inspiration and encouragement. Since then, she’s spoken and taught in a number of states, as well as countries from A to Z—Australia to Zimbabwe—and a variety of places in between.

Want to chat with Helen? Join the conversation at her blog.