HELEN BROWN was born and brought up in New Zealand where she studied journalism and became a reporter. After meeting and marrying a Brit, Helen lived in England briefly before returning to New Zealand where she became a popular columnist and had two sons, Sam and Rob. Helen’s first book had just been published when Sam was run over and killed.

After the birth of her daughter, Lydia, Helen’s marriage broke up and she moved to Auckland where she worked as a feature writer and columnist. Helen met and married Philip Gentry and had a daughter, Katharine, before the family moved en masse to Melbourne. Helen’s recent memoir, Cleo, was an international bestseller and is currently being made into a film by the producers of Whale Rider.