Helen has been very lucky to enjoy some brilliant collaborations with other businesses and individuals. As an independent author, it's so exciting to team up with like-minded people as part of the work she loves.
You can meet some of them below.
You can meet some of them below.
CRAFTY PONIES
Crafty Ponies are educational soft toy ponies designed to help children learn about the real thing. In 2023, Crafty Ponies commissioned Helen to write short stories for their 'My New Baby Foal' collection. This is a collection of nine foals with each one representing one of the British Native Pony breeds: Fell, Dales, Highland, Welsh, Dartmoor, Exmoor, New Forest, Shetland and Connemara. The brief for the stories was that they needed to educate readers about the breeds' characteristics and history, and be entertaining. They were to be easy enough for a young child to understand when read to by an adult, but 'grown up' enough for older children and even teenagers to be able to read themselves and still be entertained and informed. If you'd like to view or buy the foals and stories, head to My New Baby Foal Collection – Crafty Ponies UK.
Crafty Ponies on Facebook
Crafty Ponies on Instagram
Crafty Ponies are educational soft toy ponies designed to help children learn about the real thing. In 2023, Crafty Ponies commissioned Helen to write short stories for their 'My New Baby Foal' collection. This is a collection of nine foals with each one representing one of the British Native Pony breeds: Fell, Dales, Highland, Welsh, Dartmoor, Exmoor, New Forest, Shetland and Connemara. The brief for the stories was that they needed to educate readers about the breeds' characteristics and history, and be entertaining. They were to be easy enough for a young child to understand when read to by an adult, but 'grown up' enough for older children and even teenagers to be able to read themselves and still be entertained and informed. If you'd like to view or buy the foals and stories, head to My New Baby Foal Collection – Crafty Ponies UK.
Crafty Ponies on Facebook
Crafty Ponies on Instagram
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TESTIMONIAL
I met Helen in June 2023 to discuss a collaboration. I had recently read her newest book aimed at younger readers and what impressed me about the book was how accurate it was to the world of horses and ponies while still retaining its sense of adventure and fun.
My business is about helping children to learn about horses and ponies using accurately made, miniature versions of pony tack and equipment.
Through the information contained in the booklets which accompany every Crafty Ponies product, children can practice with their pony toys and this helps them to learn how real tack and equipment is fitted onto a pony.
I asked Helen if she would be interested in writing a total of nine short stories for Crafty Ponies. I was introducing a foal collection and each foal was to have its own short story. Each story was specific to a particular breed of pony, and was to be written in such a way as to help children to learn about each breed. I also wanted the stories to be fun and exciting for the children too, plus they needed to be easy enough for a young child to understand when read to by an adult, but 'grown up' enough for older children and even teenagers to be able to read themselves and still be entertained and informed. Helen totally grasped what I wanted.
As we were taking the new foal sets to trade shows in January 2024, we needed the stories finished by November in order to get them
printed and packed ready for the shows. This was a tall order and I was delighted when Helen said that she would take on the task.
After our meeting, Helen started writing the stories with no further input from me. Each one is accurate to the breed, as confirmed by the breed societies. I wanted two or three small amendments and Helen listened to the changes I wanted before immediately fitting them into the story. Helen is a positive, skillful, intelligent and highly productive author who completed the nine stories within the very tight timeline.
From start to finish Helen has been a delight to work with. She thoroughly enjoys writing; her joy and enthusiasm are reflected in her stories. She is approachable, warm and friendly, both in person and throughout our emails and phone calls.
The stories that Helen wrote are just what I hoped they would be and fit perfectly into the Crafty Ponies brand. Helen is a total professional and I hope to work with her on more Crafty Ponies products in the future. I highly recommend her to anyone who requires well written stories specific to their requirements.
Karen Clithero, Crafty Ponies
I met Helen in June 2023 to discuss a collaboration. I had recently read her newest book aimed at younger readers and what impressed me about the book was how accurate it was to the world of horses and ponies while still retaining its sense of adventure and fun.
My business is about helping children to learn about horses and ponies using accurately made, miniature versions of pony tack and equipment.
Through the information contained in the booklets which accompany every Crafty Ponies product, children can practice with their pony toys and this helps them to learn how real tack and equipment is fitted onto a pony.
I asked Helen if she would be interested in writing a total of nine short stories for Crafty Ponies. I was introducing a foal collection and each foal was to have its own short story. Each story was specific to a particular breed of pony, and was to be written in such a way as to help children to learn about each breed. I also wanted the stories to be fun and exciting for the children too, plus they needed to be easy enough for a young child to understand when read to by an adult, but 'grown up' enough for older children and even teenagers to be able to read themselves and still be entertained and informed. Helen totally grasped what I wanted.
As we were taking the new foal sets to trade shows in January 2024, we needed the stories finished by November in order to get them
printed and packed ready for the shows. This was a tall order and I was delighted when Helen said that she would take on the task.
After our meeting, Helen started writing the stories with no further input from me. Each one is accurate to the breed, as confirmed by the breed societies. I wanted two or three small amendments and Helen listened to the changes I wanted before immediately fitting them into the story. Helen is a positive, skillful, intelligent and highly productive author who completed the nine stories within the very tight timeline.
From start to finish Helen has been a delight to work with. She thoroughly enjoys writing; her joy and enthusiasm are reflected in her stories. She is approachable, warm and friendly, both in person and throughout our emails and phone calls.
The stories that Helen wrote are just what I hoped they would be and fit perfectly into the Crafty Ponies brand. Helen is a total professional and I hope to work with her on more Crafty Ponies products in the future. I highly recommend her to anyone who requires well written stories specific to their requirements.
Karen Clithero, Crafty Ponies
ROCK STAR ROCKING HORSE
Lisa Daniel makes amazing bespoke crochet ponies and bridle charms. She has produced crochet ponies of all the Amber's Pony Tales ponies, and the bridle charms for the Amber's Pony Tales hobby horses. Helen and Lisa have collaborated in a few giveaways and she's supplied awesome prizes for some of Helen's competitions and challenges. She's also Helen's National Equine Show buddy and a fellow English teacher! If you're interested in a bridle charm for your pony or hobby horse, a bespoke done-for-you crochet pony to match your real life horse or pony, or you'd like to learn how to crochet your own pony, check her out here Rock Star Rocking Horse Shop
Rock Star Rocking Horse on Facebook
Rock Star Rocking Horse on Instagram
Lisa Daniel makes amazing bespoke crochet ponies and bridle charms. She has produced crochet ponies of all the Amber's Pony Tales ponies, and the bridle charms for the Amber's Pony Tales hobby horses. Helen and Lisa have collaborated in a few giveaways and she's supplied awesome prizes for some of Helen's competitions and challenges. She's also Helen's National Equine Show buddy and a fellow English teacher! If you're interested in a bridle charm for your pony or hobby horse, a bespoke done-for-you crochet pony to match your real life horse or pony, or you'd like to learn how to crochet your own pony, check her out here Rock Star Rocking Horse Shop
Rock Star Rocking Horse on Facebook
Rock Star Rocking Horse on Instagram
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DUBLE THE RACING SHETLAND PONY
Merkisayre Sea Duble is a Shetland pony who belongs to Lianna and Poppy Dadson. He's an experienced Shetland Pony Grand National racer and has raced for several years at some of the top equestrian events in the country: Windsor, Badminton, Burghley and Olympia. Helen has written a book to share the story of how his racing career with his first jockey, Poppy, began. Find out what Duble is up to and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
Merkisayre Sea Duble is a Shetland pony who belongs to Lianna and Poppy Dadson. He's an experienced Shetland Pony Grand National racer and has raced for several years at some of the top equestrian events in the country: Windsor, Badminton, Burghley and Olympia. Helen has written a book to share the story of how his racing career with his first jockey, Poppy, began. Find out what Duble is up to and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
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PONY CREATIVE
Helen teamed up with Catherine from Pony Creative to create some free colouring pages for the first Amber's Pony Tales book, Little Pearl. Pony Creative makes equestrian colouring and activity books, plus revision posters. They're entertaining and educational with some of them being licensed by The Pony Club. Helen ran a competition to find a modern day girl to be the model for Catherine to base her Amber illustrations on, which was won by Niamh. Check out Pony Creative's Facebook or Instagram for information.
Helen teamed up with Catherine from Pony Creative to create some free colouring pages for the first Amber's Pony Tales book, Little Pearl. Pony Creative makes equestrian colouring and activity books, plus revision posters. They're entertaining and educational with some of them being licensed by The Pony Club. Helen ran a competition to find a modern day girl to be the model for Catherine to base her Amber illustrations on, which was won by Niamh. Check out Pony Creative's Facebook or Instagram for information.
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BRAND AMBASSADORS
In 2024, the first brand ambassadors came on board to help spread the word about Helen's books, and reading and writing for pleasure. They're all keen readers and pony lovers, ranging in age from 7 to 15. They're a brilliant team and you can meet them all on Instagram:
Brooke
Sophie
Laila
Dulcie and Ottily
Joseph
Brooke
Sophie
Laila
Dulcie and Ottily
Joseph