Helen Brain

Helen Brain was born in 1960 in Perth, Western Australia, and grew up in Durban, South Africa.

In 1982 she completed a Performer’s degree in singing at the University of Cape Town. She began to write when her three children were young. Her first book, "Who’s Afraid of Spiders" was published by Human and Rousseau when she was 38.

Since then she has published over 50 books for children and young adults, as well as a memoir for adults entitled "Here Be Lions". Her teenage novel, Tamara won an ATKV prize in 1998.

After many years as a school teacher, she now teaches writing part time at an international online writing college, www.sawriterscollege.co.za. She lives in Cape Town with her husband and three dogs.