Local Author: Valerie Helps

Join local author Valerie Helps she discusses her new non-fiction children's book, Freckles the Fawn - The Story of a Friendship.

This unique true story, set in Tanganyika (East Africa) in 1951, follows the friendship between an orphaned antelope fawn and a girl. The fawn becomes her shadow, befriends the family pets, and interacts humorously with the African cook Hamisi. He navigates challenges like slipping on floors, avoids a leopard attack, and enjoys adventures such as riding the girl's pony and swimming in the pool. As he matures, he playfully uses his horns and becomes more aggressive, ultimately returning to the wild after finding a mate.

Written by Valerie when she was eighteen her talk will feature photographs of the experiences that are featured in the book.

Free, bookings required.

Books will be available to purchase at the event via cash for $15.00

Valerie Helps has had an interesting life. Born in London and brought up in East Africa – mainly Tanganyika (Tanzania), also in Uganda and Kenya. In Greece, mainly in Crete and the Peloponnese. In France, Paris and in the Loiret region of rural France. In France finally, she and her partner Geoffrey Bull restored a 200-hundred-year-old cottage and lived there for many years. Her enchanting illustrated book on rural life, “A Third of a Pond”, tells the story with illustrations by the author and Geoffrey. Other books have followed: “The Silent Towers Speak - secrets of the Deep Mani,” “A Cricket in the Wind - memories of Crete”, “Freckles the Fawn – the story of a friendship.” For a complete change, Valerie worked for an interesting season managing an archaeological dig in Turkey.

Since 1990, the couple have cruised extensively along the French waterways in their canal boat. Her first book, “The Voyages of de Villehardouin”, is an entertaining record of their first year on the canal boat, complete with their illustrations. Valerie has kept a journal recording all her experiences, and work is now in progress on “Hither and Thither”, a collection of anecdotes over her long life.

While living in Australia in the seventies, Valerie established “Valerie’s Page”, a highly successful children’s page in a major Sunday newspaper in Perth. Some of her twenty “Chanky Tales” were featured in her television series in Canberra. Caroline Jones was involved briefly. Valerie’s four children and her African background were the inspiration for all her children’s stories.

Valerie’s latest achievement is her first children’s book, recently released. “Freckles the Fawn - the story of a friendship”.

The couple has now settled in the northern beaches region of Sydney. They returned to Australia in 2016, feeling a need to live closer to their children as the years crept on. 

Enquiries: 8495 5028 or libraryprograms@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au