Hélène Young lives in Cairns, a tiny slice of paradise teetering on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef in North Queensland. Her work as a Check and Training Captain with a major regional airline, takes her all over the east coast of Australia – and some spectacular scenery!

Border Watch, her debut novel published by Hachette Australia, is a thrilling romantic suspense, set in far north tropical Queensland. It has been re-released in February 2011 under a new title, Wings of Fear. Her second book, Shattered Sky, is another February 2011 release.

Helene draws her inspiration from her working environment, as well as the wonderful landscape she lives in. ‘When I was writing the scene for the aircraft crash in Border Watch, I decided I needed to experience it. Luckily for me I spend a lot of time training pilots in a simulator so I was able to ‘crash’ that to see what it would feel like. I hope I managed to draw some of that emotion into the story.’

North Queensland also features in Helene’s novels. ‘I remember the first time I flew north to the Torres Strait. The heat, the humidity, the lush dark green of the rainforest and the unbelievable colour of the ocean blew me away. If I can transport people to this amazing place and let them experience it vicariously then I’ve done my job as a writer.’

For more about Hélène and her books, please visit her website.