About
Helen was born and raised in Helsingborg, Sweden, and lives in New York City. She loves the city’s rich multicultural community, especially its many cuisines. Being a writer means she can work from anywhere, and she spends a lot of time in Titusville, NJ where she runs or bikes on Titusville's hilly country roads.
Grounding her historical novels in scholarly research, she brings readers back in time by putting them in the minds of her characters. Intrigued by activity in day-to-day life that explains the thinking of the past, she sheds light on the people who fought for justice, and on those who held views we strongly disagree with today.
Helen is especially inspired by people who had the courage to challenge the beliefs they were raised to accept, thus breaking the cycle of racism, sexism and injustice. In James’ Journey, you’ll meet historical revolutionaries like Harriet Tubman, Dr. James McCune Smith – the first Black doctor in the United States, and Henry Ward Beecher – an abolitionist preacher in Brooklyn.
In Sour Milk in Sheep’s Wool, you’ll meet Elise Ottesen-Jensen – the co-founder of International Planned Parenthood, Frida Steenhof, and Emilie Rathou – an activist who believed that there was a strong connection between alcohol abuse and the oppression of women, and who connected the temperance movement with women’s suffrage.
Helen’s children’s book is humorous and sweet. Drawing on her background in early childhood education, she portrays exciting situations – think aliens from outer space – that encourage children to be emphatic, helpful, and open to new experiences and friends.
She is currently working on her third historical novel. Set in Sweden in the 17th and 18th centuries, a story about sorcery trials, taking place earlier than the more commonly known witch-trials.
Helen is the creator of The Foremothers Café, a virtual community space in the Metaverse.
Set in Lund, Sweden in 1918, it is a replica of Hanna’s café in Helen’s novel, Sour Milk in Sheep’s Wool. Helen is one of the only authors, possibly the only author, with a VR World modeled after a setting in their novels. Just like in her novel, women today meet at The Foremothers Café for community, discourse, and support at her monthly, "The Foremothers Café Community Discussion Series."
Helen is a member of The Historical Novel Society and of XR Women, and serves on the board of SWEA, New York.