Helen Cooper
@helencooperwriter.bsky.social
Thriller writer, wine lover. THE DOWNSTAIRS NEIGHBOUR, THE OTHER GUEST, THE COUPLE IN THE PHOTO & MY DARLING BOY out now with Hodder (UK) & Putnam (US).
https://www.helencooperwriter.com/
https://www.helencooperwriter.com/
Pinned
My Darling Boy is still in the 3 for £7.50 deal at The Works but apparently selling fast! Pick it up for your hols and then send me pics so I can holiday vicariously
www.theworks.co.uk/p/thriller-b...
www.theworks.co.uk/p/thriller-b...
Wonderful night at the @leicwritersclub.bsky.social annual awards
November 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Wonderful night at the @leicwritersclub.bsky.social annual awards
Decided to delete a detail about condoms in a cupboard from my WIP as it became irrelevant. Searched ‘condoms’ to delete all refs & now it’s in my search box permanently. Every time I bring up my chapter list or search for something else, I’m haunted by condoms. Opened a different doc & same 🤣
October 18, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Decided to delete a detail about condoms in a cupboard from my WIP as it became irrelevant. Searched ‘condoms’ to delete all refs & now it’s in my search box permanently. Every time I bring up my chapter list or search for something else, I’m haunted by condoms. Opened a different doc & same 🤣
Took a break this evening from working on my stressful book and watched two stressful TV programmes and then a stressful film
October 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Took a break this evening from working on my stressful book and watched two stressful TV programmes and then a stressful film
Reposted by Helen Cooper
Hello #Booksky and bookish pals! I’m working a gorgeous book which is a supportive guide for those with caregiving responsibilities and I would love to send some copies to UK-based writers and readers who fit the bill. Please let me know if that’s you?
October 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Hello #Booksky and bookish pals! I’m working a gorgeous book which is a supportive guide for those with caregiving responsibilities and I would love to send some copies to UK-based writers and readers who fit the bill. Please let me know if that’s you?
My friend found this pic from when we walked the coastal path from Scarborough to Whitby a few summers ago. Yep that’s me on the floor
September 26, 2025 at 5:07 PM
My friend found this pic from when we walked the coastal path from Scarborough to Whitby a few summers ago. Yep that’s me on the floor
Reposted by Helen Cooper
And today The Leicester Writes Short Story Prize Ceremony featuring Matt Cook, The Curve Theatre, Janine from Eastenders, a swingers club, and short story shenanigans.
open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...
open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...
On the Leicester Writes Short Story Prize
I attended the Leicester Writes Short Story Prize ceremony this week.
open.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 7:26 AM
And today The Leicester Writes Short Story Prize Ceremony featuring Matt Cook, The Curve Theatre, Janine from Eastenders, a swingers club, and short story shenanigans.
open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...
open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...
Me messaging my husband from upstairs in my office.
I am a writer, honest 🤦♀️
I am a writer, honest 🤦♀️
September 18, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Me messaging my husband from upstairs in my office.
I am a writer, honest 🤦♀️
I am a writer, honest 🤦♀️
A tough morning’s work looking at pictures of Umbrian vineyards as novel setting research 😎
September 15, 2025 at 11:11 AM
A tough morning’s work looking at pictures of Umbrian vineyards as novel setting research 😎
Reposted by Helen Cooper
Just so you know, I actually really love short novels: as a reader, as a writer, and as an editor and head of an imprint. I don’t believe in boxing people in for what they’re writing. I’m publishing all lengths at @starsandsabers.bsky.social, long & short. Different readers want different things.
September 14, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Just so you know, I actually really love short novels: as a reader, as a writer, and as an editor and head of an imprint. I don’t believe in boxing people in for what they’re writing. I’m publishing all lengths at @starsandsabers.bsky.social, long & short. Different readers want different things.
Chuffed to have a blog post on novel hooks published on the Writers & Artists Yearbook website. Look out for more of my blog posts there in the future on a range of writing topics! These may or may not be sneak peeks of a bigger project I’m working on 👀
www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/model...
www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/model...
www.writersandartists.co.uk
September 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Chuffed to have a blog post on novel hooks published on the Writers & Artists Yearbook website. Look out for more of my blog posts there in the future on a range of writing topics! These may or may not be sneak peeks of a bigger project I’m working on 👀
www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/model...
www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/model...
Contents of a writer’s Notes app
August 20, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Contents of a writer’s Notes app
Reposted by Helen Cooper
Do you want to build a career as a writer? I'm once again running my hugely popular online Zoom workshops, sharing my experience as an award-winning author of 20+ trad published books and an editor and publisher for an independent imprint. Find out more and book here: www.garethlpowell.com/classes/
August 6, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Do you want to build a career as a writer? I'm once again running my hugely popular online Zoom workshops, sharing my experience as an award-winning author of 20+ trad published books and an editor and publisher for an independent imprint. Find out more and book here: www.garethlpowell.com/classes/
Tiny dad & tiny sister
August 2, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Tiny dad & tiny sister
Felt like a spiritual experience swimming out on this lake early this morning, with soft mist and nobody else around. Bliss!
July 28, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Felt like a spiritual experience swimming out on this lake early this morning, with soft mist and nobody else around. Bliss!
Reposted by Helen Cooper
@helencooperwriter.bsky.social
Jane Flip flop has ran out of books...
The signed copy says
" I dare you Jane"...
Watch this space
Jane Flip flop has ran out of books...
The signed copy says
" I dare you Jane"...
Watch this space
July 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
@helencooperwriter.bsky.social
Jane Flip flop has ran out of books...
The signed copy says
" I dare you Jane"...
Watch this space
Jane Flip flop has ran out of books...
The signed copy says
" I dare you Jane"...
Watch this space
My 5-year-old nephew on our flight to New York last night
Cabin crew: so are you excited to go to America, young man?
My nephew: How do YOU know where we’re going?
Cabin crew: so are you excited to go to America, young man?
My nephew: How do YOU know where we’re going?
July 26, 2025 at 12:19 PM
My 5-year-old nephew on our flight to New York last night
Cabin crew: so are you excited to go to America, young man?
My nephew: How do YOU know where we’re going?
Cabin crew: so are you excited to go to America, young man?
My nephew: How do YOU know where we’re going?
Reposted by Helen Cooper
Craigness #fallfriday
"Neighbour downstairs with one eye"
Had this as an Earworm since starting @helencooperwriter.bsky.social excellent thriller
youtu.be/1jIoYNZaSMo?...
"Neighbour downstairs with one eye"
Had this as an Earworm since starting @helencooperwriter.bsky.social excellent thriller
youtu.be/1jIoYNZaSMo?...
July 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Craigness #fallfriday
"Neighbour downstairs with one eye"
Had this as an Earworm since starting @helencooperwriter.bsky.social excellent thriller
youtu.be/1jIoYNZaSMo?...
"Neighbour downstairs with one eye"
Had this as an Earworm since starting @helencooperwriter.bsky.social excellent thriller
youtu.be/1jIoYNZaSMo?...
Reposted by Helen Cooper
Does it get better.?
A vegetarian cafe , a harbour, and a @helencooperwriter.bsky.social thriller....what a page turner
A vegetarian cafe , a harbour, and a @helencooperwriter.bsky.social thriller....what a page turner
July 24, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Does it get better.?
A vegetarian cafe , a harbour, and a @helencooperwriter.bsky.social thriller....what a page turner
A vegetarian cafe , a harbour, and a @helencooperwriter.bsky.social thriller....what a page turner
Speaking of couples caught on camera somewhere they shouldn’t be…
(I definitely did it first 😁)
(I definitely did it first 😁)
July 23, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Speaking of couples caught on camera somewhere they shouldn’t be…
(I definitely did it first 😁)
(I definitely did it first 😁)
Reposted by Helen Cooper
This is a truly wonderful anthology of horror stories from @starsandsabers.bsky.social. Let’s get it funded and share the terror!
We are crowd-funding for our third anthology, the #horror themed OF DREAD, DECAY, AND DOOM! This book features masters of horror fiction from around the world. Scheduled for October 2025 release. Have a look at the authors announced so far: www.indiegogo.com/projects/of-... #horrorbooks
Of Dread, Decay, and Doom: a Horror Anthology
A horror-themed anthology edited by Jendia Gammon and Gareth L. Powell. | Check out 'Of Dread, Decay, and Doom: a Horror Anthology' on Indiegogo.
www.indiegogo.com
July 21, 2025 at 4:40 PM
This is a truly wonderful anthology of horror stories from @starsandsabers.bsky.social. Let’s get it funded and share the terror!
Reposted by Helen Cooper
Another day, another inexperienced but hopeful writer, announcing that they have “been offered a book deal” for £20,000. Turns out that the author is being expected to PAY THIS to the publisher, not the other way round. Folks, no publisher does this.
July 22, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Another day, another inexperienced but hopeful writer, announcing that they have “been offered a book deal” for £20,000. Turns out that the author is being expected to PAY THIS to the publisher, not the other way round. Folks, no publisher does this.
Reposted by Helen Cooper
What an amazing weekend at #theakstonscrime 🍻We're out of the office today having a nice long sleep but we'll be back in on Tuesday and the Box Office opens as usual at 10am.
Thank you Richard Maude and Gerard Binks for the ace pics!
Thank you Richard Maude and Gerard Binks for the ace pics!
July 21, 2025 at 8:02 AM
What an amazing weekend at #theakstonscrime 🍻We're out of the office today having a nice long sleep but we'll be back in on Tuesday and the Box Office opens as usual at 10am.
Thank you Richard Maude and Gerard Binks for the ace pics!
Thank you Richard Maude and Gerard Binks for the ace pics!
Harrogate 2025, at which I took barely any photos! Epic & exhausting as ever. Normal service resumed now with dressing gown on and cat on my lap
July 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Harrogate 2025, at which I took barely any photos! Epic & exhausting as ever. Normal service resumed now with dressing gown on and cat on my lap
Reposted by Helen Cooper
In some ways THE HOUSE AT DEVIL'S NECK is intended to be the ultimate closed-circle mystery. With that in mind, I had great fun putting together this list for CrimeReads:
crimereads.com/top-10-close...
crimereads.com/top-10-close...
It Could Be Any One of Us: The Top 10 Closed-Circle Mysteries
As a reader, I find the most satisfying whodunits to be the ones which take place in a “closed circle.” Typically, this scenario presents the reader with a limited pool of suspects, often isolated …
crimereads.com
July 20, 2025 at 3:42 PM
In some ways THE HOUSE AT DEVIL'S NECK is intended to be the ultimate closed-circle mystery. With that in mind, I had great fun putting together this list for CrimeReads:
crimereads.com/top-10-close...
crimereads.com/top-10-close...