A bit about me…

Specialist Fiction Editor Working with Indie Authorshelena fairfax, freelance fiction editor

Are you looking to self-publish? Do you want to make your manuscript the best it can be? I specialise in editing for indie authors of commercial fiction.

A good editor will help you get a bit of distance from your manuscript and will look at it with a dispassionate eye. Does your story flow? Will readers be engaged? Are there any inconsistencies? (So hard for a writer to spot, but so often pounced on by the eagle-eyed reader!)

Perhaps you just need someone to check all the points of grammar and punctuation in your manuscript, and that there are no spelling errors, before you go ahead and publish.

Whatever your needs, whether you’re just starting on your writing career or are already a seasoned author, I’d love to help. Having self-published several books of my own – two of which were Amazon bestsellers – I understand what independent authors  go through in order to get their books to market.

If you’re looking for sympathetic and professional editing support, email me at helena.fairfax@gmail.com for a chat. Alternatively, you can contact me through my website form. You can also find out more about my editing services here.

A Bit about Me as an Author…

I’m the author of several contemporary romance novels (and one romantic suspense, tooJpeg of cover – an homage to my heroine, Mary Stewart). I’m also the editor of and contributor to bestselling anthology Miss Moonshine’s Emporium of Happy Endings. If you love an uplifting, feel-good read, you’ll find details of my novels here.

Besides my novels, I’m the author of a non-fiction historical work called Struggle and Suffrage in Halifax: Women’s Lives and the Fight for Equality. Women’s voices are all too often missing from the history books. This book looks at some of the key events in the fascinating history of the mill town of Halifax, West Yorkshire, from the point of view of the women who shaped the town. Researching this book was an eye-opener!

If you’d like to get in touch, please visit my How to get in touch page.  You can also follow me on Facebook or Twitter. I’d love to hear from you!

A Bit about Me When I’m Not Writing or Editing…
Walking the moors near my home
 Walking the moors near my home in Yorkshire
My bookshelves
Did I say I love reading? Here are just a few of my books!

helena fairfax, freelance fiction editor

A trip to Edinburgh, the romantic and mysterious setting for my suspense, In the Mouth of the Wolf 

Part of my knitted royal family - one of many knitting projects
Part of my knitted royal family – one of many knitting projects :)
A trip to the pbu
A pint in the pub
helena fairfax
At the seaside in beautiful Northumberland
helena fairfax, freelance editor, fiction
Meeting up with friends – fellow members of the Romantic Novelists’ Association
My village of Saltaire in the snow
My village of Saltaire in the snow
helena fairfax, sweet romance, conflict
My beautiful rescue dog and walking companion, Lexi

37 thoughts on “A bit about me…”

    1. Wow, that’s great, thanks so much for the comment Lynn! Am so glad! And thanks for taking the time to read. I thought long and hard about everything I wrote, so anything positive is much appreciated :) Thanks again!

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  3. “Just found you and i am so glad i stopped by your blog. I am amazed by the originality of the work. It is so unique and you have something for everyone to enjoy. What a beautiful and inspiring visit. Your work is extraordinary. Hugs and love..

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    1. Thanks so much, Evans! I’m so happy that someone has read my blog and enjoyed it :) I took a look at your blog and you are an interesting person to get to know! It’s great to meet you and I hope you enjoy The Silk Romance when it’s published

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  6. Pingback: Helena Fairfax (Author) | Victoria Ley

    1. Hi Caroline, thanks so much for your nomination! I took a look at your eleven facts (well, twenty-two :) ) and they were really fun. I have accepted the Liebster award recently, from another blogger, and still have to do my post. When I do, I will add you and Tina as nominees. Thanks again for thinking of my blog!

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    1. Hi, thanks so much for your lovely comment! It’s so hard to know what to write in these introductions, especially if you’re fairly shy, as I am. Thanks for taking the time to comment. It’s much appreciated!

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  10. Helena, it looks like you’ve traveled a lot. Bet you have some good material for stories. My grandmother was named Helena. My daughter is named Helen, as that is a more modern version. She’s always complaining that it’s an old fashioned name, but at least she doesn’t end up in the same room with with many others with the same name as her sister Diane does.
    Unfortunately, I can’t afford to travel to the area in Peru near Machu Picchu where my book is set, but I have been to England and enjoyed seeing Stonehenge and Buckingham Palace. Carolyn Rae Williamson, writing as Carolyn Rae with Romancing the Gold, coming in the fall from MuseItUp.

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    1. Hi Carolyn, great to meet you, and congratulations on your upcoming release. I love the title! And I like the name Helen. Tell your daughter it means “shining light”. There have been some great Helens in history, starting with Helen of Troy, so we are keeping up a good long tradition :)
      I’d absolutely love to visit Machu Picchu, and in fact to explore all of south America. I look forward to release of your book and discovering more about this fascinating region. Thanks very much for visiting!

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    1. Hi Julie, thanks so much! I loved your list on your blog. What a romantic way to meet your husband. I’ll try and think of seven equally interesting facts about myself. I may be some time!

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  12. Hi Helena,
    This was a very nice surprise to have stumbled upon your blog as I have recently started an ecommerce business selling silk scarves from Lyon – Maison des Canuts is one of our vendors! Additionally, we have some common ground as I’ve also travelled and moved quite a bit. We’ve started a blog on our website, and I welcome you to add/comment and post a reference to your book, which I am going to download of course–or just stop by! We are doing a model shoot today, so all the images will all change in a week or so.
    Thank you for your story on the silk industry in Lyon.
    best,
    Irene Pappas Dean

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    2. Hi Irene, thank you very much for checking out my blog. How lovely to hear from you! And what a fabulous idea for an ecommerce business. I’ve seen many silk scarves from Lyon, and their quality is excellent, as well as the wonderful selection of designs and colours. That’s a great idea for a business, as I’m sure many people would love to be able to buy the genuine article.
      I checked out your site on http://www.scarfaround.com, and you’re right, we do have much in common! Lovely site, and a great range of beautiful scarves.
      Thanks again for calling in, and for your lovely comment :)
      Best wishes to you
      Helena

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  13. How exciting living where you do and with your background. I can smell the heathland and moors…wonderful. I love your love of espionage. Having worked with ‘funny people’ as we called those working in the Service, I love anything to do with spies and intrigue. I write about them too. I love your exotic background, that is so cool. You must have the ability to jump into any culture whenever a book demands with such ease. I lived in Germany (twice) when younger and love Sekt too. I’ve travelled and lived abroad all my life so I think we have lots in common – how fab. I am going to nose around your blog some more…looks interesting and fascinating. Good luck with your next project. :)

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    1. Thanks so much for your lovely comment, Jane. I love stories about spies and intrigue! I enjoyed my time in Germany very much, and still visit fairly often. It’s great to meet you through the Hallowe’en anthology for Accent. I’m looking forward to release and to reading everyone’s stories. Thanks again for dropping in, and for the comment. Good to get to know you!

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      1. Me too…it is really wonderful meeting new people via the internet and also via books. I lived in Germany twice – when it was still recovering from WW2 and later when things took off over Czechoslovakia…interesting times. Great to have common interests. Great to chat and I hope we shall again soon.

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  14. Hi Helena,
    Saw your post on Reading Ape and your stance in terms of romance writers struck me as a a sounding blow on the gong of complacency – how about that. Seriously I was impressed and would love to run a piece maybe that piece, for our aspiring writer members visit us blackheathdawn.co.uk and blackheathdawnnewsletter.co.uk
    Terry@blackheathdawn.co.uk

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    1. Hi Terry, thanks so much for getting in touch, and for your kind words about my post for The Story Reading Ape. I was inspired to write it after attending the Romantic Novelists’ Association conference and hearing Nikki Logan (President of Romance Writers of Australia) give an impassioned defence of romance writing. I’d be thrilled to expand on the theme for you! (If anyone following this thread is interested in reading my post, you can find it here: http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2014/12/18/reserved-for-guest-author-helena-fairfax/)
      Thanks again, Terry, and I’ll be in touch via email.

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  15. Well done on all your success. Very impressive indeed. I see you live in Saltaire – a beautiful part of the world. I lived near Ilkley until my job took me away. The school sat on the moors and I still miss the daily walks on the moors. Enjoy and soak it all. There is nowhere quite like it.

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    1. Great to meet you, Annika. What a coincidence that you lived in Ilkley. That must have been wonderful to walk the moors near school. I can understand why you would miss it. I hope you get to come back to visit often. You’re right, there’s really no place like it. Great to meet you through my blog. Thanks so much for dropping in!

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      1. Luckily I have friends and family still in Yorkshire so I get up a few times a year and May Bank half-term usually spend a week either on the North York moors or Whitby. Still not the same. Though the weather is better down south (looking on the bright side)! Lovely to meet you too.

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      2. I hope you have settled in your new country, Wilson. It’s hard to leave family behind. At least these days it’s easier to keep in touch through the internet. Best wishes to you in your new life.

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  17. I attended a private school in Richmond Yorkshire (1954) I have been back to England twice, however I was unable to take the train to Richmond. I’ve had a life long longing to return. It’s as though in some way I never left. I realized some years ago that it was not necessarily England I was missing. It was Yorkshire. I do believe I’ve had a past life there. When I arrived at Heathrow with my mother, I kept telling her that I’d been there (England) before. My bad tempered Anglo Indian mother told me to be quiet. (We were on the bus taking us in to London) I remember looking out of the window and saying to myself, “Well, I’ve been here before.” It appears that you reside in a village that is not far from Richmond. The other area I am extremely drawn to is the Lake District. I have not read any of your novels, in fact, I don’t quite know how your website came up on my screen. (About two weeks ago) I live in Northern California, however, I’ve lived in many places, including Sydney and Perth. I still have a yearning to return to Richmond to find my school, even though it no longer exists. Nan Woodwark was the principal and I did manage to find her obituary. She lived to be 96 and is buried in Darlington. I don’t know why I’m sending this to you, except that you live so close to Richmond and also that your website came up on my screen without any prompting from me. I made a bid on E Bay for five old English coins. When they arrived, the note said that they had been found in a pub that was being torn down, in Reeth! Would it be possible for me to fly in to Leeds? I don’t want to go to London. I would very much appreciate any information/input from you on this matter, Most Sincerely, Kathryn Szydlowski poppy21@coastside.net

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    1. Hello Kathryn, how interesting about your arrival at Heathrow and your sense of deja vu. If you are interested in writing it up, your experience would make a great story. Your story about the five old English coins is fascinating, too. What a history they must have seen!
      It’s very disorientating moving to a new country. I understand your sense of homesickness. If you are coming to Yorkshire from California there is a small airport at Leeds/Bradford but probably the best way would be to fly to Manchester (a much bigger airport in Lancashire in the north of England) and make your way to Richmond by train from there. You could break up your journey by spending some time in the Lake District on the way.
      I have one novel set in Yorkshire, which is called A Way from Heart to Heart. Funnily enough I do have a novel set in Richmond – but Richmond-on-Thames in London, and not the Yorkshire Richmond :) I’ve also just finished writing a novel set in the Lake District. What a set of coincidences! I’m so glad you came across my website.
      If you need any other information on this area, feel free to email me at helena dot fairfax at gmail dot com. Thanks very much for dropping in and for your interesting comment. Lovely to get to know you!

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