My guest today is Helen Parusel, author of historical fiction. Helen has dropped by to tell us about her writing journey, and her latest book. So grab yourself a cuppa, get cosy and let’s get talking to Helen.

Author bio

I come from London but now live in Hamburg, Germany with my husband, daughter and rescue dog. Over the last twenty years I have taught English to students ranging in age from three to ninety-years-old! Many of the war time stories I heard further inspired my love of Historical Fiction. I’m particularly drawn to the lesser known stories. My debut novel, A Mother’s War, highlights the Lebensborn program in occupied Norway, and was chosen as a finalist for The Romantic Novelist Association Debut award, 2024.

I have ancestors from Austria and spent my summer holidays there as a child who inspired my second novel, The Austrian Bride. The story is set in 1938 as Europe teeters on the brink of WW2. My third novel, The Last Bookshop in Prague, is set against the backdrop of true events that had dramatic repercussions in the course of the war

I have always loved reading and writing, and now finally have the time to devote to my writing.

Welcome to my blog, Helen. Can you tell us how you became a published author?

Hello Karen. Thanks so much for inviting me on your new shiny blog!

My writing journey started as a child; in my head. I was an avid reader, starting with Enid Blyton and C.S Lewis, then later Jane Austen and Daphne de Maurier. Like so many of us I dreamed of writing a book, but then life stuff happened and it remained a dream. When my daughter left home to study, I felt I had to do something to fill the void. I was also recovering from a long illness and needed something to help me heal. I started to write. As I had no formal writing education, I turned to online creative groups such as Jericho Writers who are great. I wrote the beginning of  my debut, A Mother’s War, during lockdown on a 3 month Curtis Brown course. The story was inspired by a newspaper article about the Lebensborn homes in Norway, during WW2. I continued to work on it for about a year before submitting to agents. I was thrilled when Liverpool Literary Agency wanted to represent me, and shortly after I signed a 3 book contract with Boldwood Books!

My most recent book, The Last Bookshop in Prague, is out now and I’m delighted with the how much readers are enjoying the story. There have been some wonderful reviews.

At the moment I am researching for my next book and my goal for 2025 is to get it finished.

Wishing everyone a successful year with plenty of reading, writing and happy moments.

Contact Links

I’m on X, Face Book, Instagram and BlueSky at HelenParusel.

Newsletter bit.ly/HelenParuselNews

Member of the Romantic Novelist Association

What a wonderful journey, Helen. Congratulations on your three book contract. I hope there are many more to come.

Helen’s Latest Book:

Blurb

Was she incredibly brave or incredibly stupid? Neither. Just a bookshop girl doing what she could against her country’s oppressors.

The banned books club was only the beginning; a place for the women of Prague to come together and share the tales the Germans wanted to silence.

For bookshop owner, Jana, doing the right thing was never a question. So when opportunity comes to help the resistance, she offers herself – and her bookshop. Using her window displays as covert signals and hiding secret codes in book marks, she’ll do all in her power to help.

But the arrival of two people in her bookshop will change everything: a young Jewish boy with nowhere else to turn, and a fascist police captain Jana can’t read at all. In a time where secrets are currency and stories can be fatal, will she know who to trust?

A heart-wrenching and powerful story of courage, tenacity and love. Fans of Suzanne Goldring, Mandy Robotham and Debbie Rix will devour this unforgettable novel.

‘A wonderful story with the healing power of books at its heart, this inspiring and compelling novel kept me turning the pages late into the night. Steeped in fascinating historical detail, and packed with compassion, I didn’t want The Last Bookshop in Prague to end.’ Kate Storey

Buy Link: mybook.to/bookshoppraguesocial

Helen’s other books are:

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