My Storyteller Journey (So Far)

There’s a point in every writer’s journey where you stop waiting for permission and start stepping into the identity you’ve been building quietly. For me, that moment arrived somewhere between releasing Don’t Die For Me, Argentina, and publishing Thai Die: How a Year in Thailand Turned into a Thriller Novel from the new The Story Behind My Stories series and preparing the pre‑order for Die Trying. That is when I found the courage to leave my job and a 34 year career in IT to be an Author full time.

Me at an event with my stall

And now, I’m proud to say I have three books in Amazon’s Storyteller 2026 competition.

It feels both surreal and deeply right.

Not because I think I’m guaranteed anything, competitions are unpredictable, but because entering Storyteller requires a different kind of courage.

Not the courage to change careers at 57, not the courage to leave the safety of well paid employment, not the courage to write, or edit, or show up at in person events with my books. It’s the courage to be visible. To say, openly:

I’m here. I’m doing this. And I believe that my books are good enough to put them forward. That I am good enough.

For a while, I didn’t talk about Storyteller. I worried it might sound like bragging, or like I was asking people to buy my books out of obligation. I worried it might encourage more competition. I worried it might expose my ambition too clearly.

But hiding your ambition doesn’t protect it. It just keeps you small.

So this year, I’m choosing to show up fully - not loudly, not arrogantly, but honestly. I’m choosing to acknowledge the work I’ve done, the books I’ve written and the opportunity in front of me.

My Storyteller Entries

Don’t Die For Me, Argentina (Book 5 in the DI Matthew Goodwin Detective Series)  this thriller has already found its audience. It’s edge of your seat adventure in one of the most amazing places on earth. Of course its emotional, tense and rooted in the character-driven storytelling I love. Published 2nd May 2026.

Thai Die: How a Year in Thailand Turned into a Thriller Novel (Book 1 in The Story Behind My Stories series) this non-fiction book tells the real story behind the start of my writing life. How a year in Thailand became the spark for the first book in a thriller series. It’s personal, reflective and full of the photos and moments that shaped my creative path. Published 18th June 2026.

Die Trying  (Book 6 in the DI Matthew Goodwin Detective Series) Coming 27th August, just four days before Storyteller closes. This is the next Surrey based thriller in the series, set on a freezing, February Saturday at a Surrey rugby club. It’s already on pre-order and its release will naturally boost visibility across my catalogue.

Three books. One competition. One author stepping forward.

Why I’m Sharing This Now.

Because visibility matters. 

Because momentum matters. 

Because authenticity matters. 

Because readers matter.

Storyteller isn’t judged on popularity alone. It’s about engagement, downloads, page reads and the energy around an author’s catalogue. And that energy comes from readers choosing to be part of the journey.

I don’t need anyone to buy out of pity. 

I don’t need anyone to pretend to like my books. 

I don’t need to perform or diminish myself.

What I do need is to show up honestly and say:

I’m proud to be in Storyteller 2026.  These are my entries.  And if you’d like to support a Surrey author in a national competition, this is the moment.

Showing Up Is Part of the Work

I’m aiming high this year.

Not with entitlement, but with intention. I’m writing, releasing, connecting and building the kind of momentum that makes opportunities like Storyteller meaningful.

Winning isn’t guaranteed. 

But showing up is.

And today, that feels like the right thing to do.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve read one book, all of them or are just discovering my work. Your support, curiosity and presence genuinely matter.

Here’s to Storyteller 2026. 

Here’s to visibility. 

Here’s to courage. 

Here’s to showing up. 

And here’s to whatever comes next.

Have a great week,

Helen x