Welcome!

…to the website of British author, Helen Cross.

I am the author of novels, stories, radio plays and screenplays. My first novel, My Summer of Love, won a Betty Trask Award and became a BAFTA award winning feature film. Mighty Atom Entertainment are currently working on a film adaptation of my latest novel, Spilt Milk Black Coffee, and I am completing a fourth novel.

I was educated at Goldsmiths College, University of London and am a graduate of the MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. I teach creative writing at various universities in the UK

My latest BBC Afternoon Play, The Return of Rowena The Wonderful, was broadcast on Friday 12 June 2020 and it is available now on BBC Sounds.

Write a radio drama in five weeks – short course in January 2021.

Join our online classroom and write a complete audio drama over five sessions. Five live, interactive online classes will introduce you to the industry, and allow you to learn the skills necessary to write drama for BBC radio and podcasts.

This small and friendly group of up to 14 students will look at the new opportunities in this growing industry and explore how to structure audio drama, how to sustain tension in plot, how to build dramatic audio characters and how to write convincing dialogue.

We will consider the state of the market now, and what commissioners are looking for from writers.

I first ran this course in October 2020, and it sold out so quickly, and was such a success, we are running it again. There are more details on how to book on the Writing West Midlands Website here.

ONLINE Writing Course 15-18 May 2020

I will be teaching another writing course for L’atelier des ecrivians. It was due to be in the South of France in 2020 from 15-18 May 2020, but now will be an online Masterclass from me and a sessions from Carrie Plitt, Literary Agent, and others. It costs £49 for the weekend. More details here: https://www.latelierdesecrivains.com

Write Here writing course – October 2019

WRITING COURSE IN BIRMINGHAM’ S JEWELLERY QUARTER OCTOBER 2019

I am working with WriteHere again on a seven-week creative writing courses. It takes place on Wednesday evenings between 17 October and 27 November – and will feature expert tuition, one-to-one tutorials, dedicated weekly workshops that focus on students’ novels, and a visit from literary agent Carrie Plitt of Felicity Bryan Associates. Bookings are now open.

Writing Course in Birmingham’ s Jewellery Quarter June 2019

I am working with WriteHere on a seven-week creative writing courses. It takes place on Wednesday evenings between 5 June and 17 July – and will feature expert tuition, one-to-one tutorials, dedicated weekly workshops that focus on students’ novels, and a visit from literary agent Carrie Plitt of Felicity Bryan Associates.

France Writing Course 19-23 September 2019

I will be teaching another writing course for L’atelier des ecrivians in the South of France in 2019 from19-23 September 2019. More details here: https://www.latelierdesecrivains.com

France Writing Course 16-20 May 2019

I will be teaching another writing course for L’atelier des ecrivians in the South of France in 2019 from 16 – 20 May. More details here: https://www.latelierdesecrivains.com

Deeds Not Words – short film ready to watch now

I’m delighted that the screenplay, Deeds Not Words, which I wrote, based on Dr Nicola Gauld’s lovely book about Birmingham’s radical Suffragettes, is now a short film from Ice Productions. It will have its premiere on Friday 6 July at the IET Austin Court in Birmingham.

After that you can watch the film here.

ICCW Summer Show Speech 14 June 2018

I will be giving a speech about Writing and Time at the Institute of Creative and Critical Writing’s Summer Show on 14 June 2018 from 6-8pm. The event is at BCU’s Curzon Building and is free but you need to book via the website.

Tutoring Writers’ Workshop, France – September 2018

I am pleased to be tutoring a Starting to Write course for L’atelier des ecrivains – The Writers’ Workshop, France. This four day creative writing retreat
on September 20-24, 2018, in stunning surroundings, offers a small group of students the chance to begin their journey with creative writing. Register your interest by visiting

https://www.latelierdesecrivains.com/

In conversation with novelist Geoff Beattie at Edgehill University

I’m looking forward to interviewing Prof Geoff Beattie about his new novel, ‘The Body’s Little Secrets’ at Edgehill University on Tuesday 22 May at 6pm. More details and to book here.

Geoff Beattie, Professor of Psychology at Edge Hill University, is an internationally-renowned writer and broadcaster, best known for his detailed analyses of non-verbal communications. He was the on-screen psychologist on 11 series of Big Brother (UK), and has presented a number of shows for the BBC.