H. C. Helfand Interview Published on: 26, Apr 2023

I had the great fortune of having a pleasant childhood. I grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, which is a lovely waterfront town. I had many opportunities to write in school, and local experiences and friendships have stayed with me and still influence my writing.

I’ve wanted to be a writer since I can remember. My father was a sports journalist and I have wonderful memories of accompanying him to his newspaper office. I have always loved to read and have consumed books of all types from an early age.

My first published book, “And There is Evening, And There is Morning,” was a children’s book written with a friend who is an extremely talented artist. It received highly favorable attention and reviews. My family and friends enjoyed the book and supported my work on it. It was a valuable experience but convinced me that I was better suited to and more comfortable writing adult fiction. I found children’s literature very challenging and not where I wanted to pursue my writing career. My first adult novel, “Fee Simple Conditional,” is more reflective of my writing ability and the stories I want to tell. The protagonist is a young woman struggling to find her place in life. She enters an arcane profession replete with quirky characters and unusual situations. Ultimately, her drive to preserve a pristine tract of land leads to self-discovery and possibilities she never imagined. Reaction to my first novel was also quite positive and has encouraged me to continue writing about the characters and subjects I love.

Just one? Thanks for letting me expand this a little. I wish to impart the message of human experience, foibles, awareness, and relationships. I want to explore how individuals are shaped by their pasts and how they grow and develop into their futures. I want to show the power of hope and loyalty, and how to transcend challenges and disappointments to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

“Clear and Convincing Evidence” is based partially on my own experiences in the legal profession and some embellishment and creative license. After writing “Fee Simple Conditional,” I decided to stay with my characters (whom I have grown to love) and see how their lives evolved. The story in “Clear and Convincing Evidence” is the natural evolution of their personal trajectory. In it, I explore aspects of mental health law and the role of individuals who represent patients involuntarily committed to psychiatric institutions.

My favorite character is David Armacost, a brainy math professor, who doesn’t come onto the scene until almost the end of “Fee Simple Conditional.” As I finished the book, I discovered how much I wanted to explore his personality and past. He is a much more complicated person than he thinks. He is now integral to the story, and I have realized that his character has followed me in some form throughout my career. That was a revelation that stunned me when it struck. The most challenging character to write is Agnys DeSilva. She is complex and I am still discovering hidden parts of her personality. Much of her remains a mystery.

Fiction is my comfort zone but I spent much of my legal career engaged in legal writing. Although I have no plans to continue that type of work, every so often I consider writing some non-fiction or opinion pieces.

As of now, I envision five books in the series that would feature the main characters throughout their lives. I am currently drafting Book 3, which is tentatively titled “The Right of Redemption.” I know my plan is highly aspirational, but I hope I can maintain my ability to continue to craft the story and achieve it.

I most admire her resilience, determination, and capacity to forgive. She can be impulsive, which often brings her into challenging situations. However, she is always willing to adapt and is fiercely loyal to those she loves.

Because I come from a work culture of peer review, I welcome suggestions to improve my writing and try not to bristle at criticism. I also understand that I have a particular writing style and that it may not appeal to everyone’s tastes. But I’m always open to new ideas. I’ve had readers request more conflict and more “spice,” in my work and I take those recommendations seriously. I feel I am constantly learning and enjoy experimenting with different themes and techniques.

I have been fortunate to receive some extremely kind compliments on the quality of my work. “Fee Simple Conditional” has been described as an “uplifting and wonderfully written story,” “unique and beautiful,” and “exquisite,” and I have received similar compliments for “Clear and Convincing Evidence.” These incredibly generous comments lift my spirits like nothing else and encourage me to move ever forward in my writing career.

I am inspired by my characters, who keep growing and exploring life, my relationships with other writers, who impress me with their creativity and talent, and my cherished readers, who bolster my confidence with their support.

Since I’ve had no prior formal writing training, I have learned many things. However, the most illuminating has been the importance and technique of crafting effective and believable dialogue.

I aspire to portray the women characters in my books as independent thinkers and actors who are honest with themselves and others. And, to give those characters who have not had the opportunity to develop those skills, the impetus to grow and learn.

In addition to Book 3 of The Arcadia Chronicles (and snippets and notes for Books 4 and 5), I have also started a stand-alone novel. So far, it’s fairly bare-bones but it gives me the chance to experiment with some other writing styles and develop new characters.

I joined AllAuthor in January 2023, and my experience has been entirely positive. I love the book mock-ups they provide me each week and have been able to find followers and connect with other writers. I hope to utilize even more of the benefits of AllAuthor in the future!