“A jeweller friend told her that many precious Jewels have a travelling replica to avoid risk of loss or theft on long journeys, and the idea for ‘The Emerald Twins was born… an engrossing, epic tale.'“

“Local author loves delving into the past for inspiration…”

Guiding allied planes into moonlit meadows… With a jolt, this reviewer was transported back to her own European heritage and difficult World War Two family legacies. Be warned – “The Girl from Provence” by Helen Fripp will have that effect on readers, with its haunting, evocative storyline and the author’s talent for descriptive writing. Whether it is the characterization, the timeframe, or the rawness of the plot, readers will not escape the power of this story easily…. Read more

Inspirations, heroines, French exchanges, Antoine De Saint-Exupéry and The Resistance

Researching WW2 Resistance activities in the area, I was lucky enough to meet a local museum curator who had interviewed everyone in the village who’d been involved in the Resistance. His archives were meticulous, and every week in the museum, he laid out the documents and photographs he’d collected, and left me to it. It was a treasure-trove, from conscripts’ letters home to their parents, to local photographs and insights into social history, to first-hand accounts from the brave people who risked everything to resist the German occupation, protect Jewish friends, damage infrastructure, guide Allied agents and run coded messages…

I fell in love with the entire cast of characters… I highly recommend this enthralling historical fiction

“Fripp masterfully weaves a narrative filled with suspense, emotional depth, and a vivid portrayal of wartime France….”

“A real magic to the storyline, where despite the atrocities Eliot witnessed, the secrets of the stars and the night sky relit his childhood innocence and wonder. The blurring of fact and fiction just added another dimension of intrigue to this book. I was gripped, but it was also brutally emotional too.”

A cuppa at Angela’s Literary café to chat inspirations for The Girl From Provence, the stories behind the real historical figures and my writing (and reading) life

I loved chatting to this brilliant podcast channel about The Painter’s Girl, what sparked the idea of the opening scene with a zebra running through the streets of Montrmartre, what my research uncovered about the Impressionists we think we know and how setting a story in the past sets me free. There’s also a reading from one of my favourite scenes in the book and lots of chat about the magical city of light that is Paris.

What literary pilgrimages have I been on? What advice would I give to budding writers? I talk to The Historical Fiction Company about everything from the first childhood book that transported me, to the best money I ever spent as a writer.

“The Painter's Girl is beautifully written historical fiction. Imaginative and expressive I have loved following Mimi's poignant journey as she follows her dreams into…”

“A great example of well researched historical fiction and Helen Fripp is becoming a name to notice in this genre. An excellent read.”

“This book is a wonderfully compelling tapestry of fact and fiction, taking real characters and moments from history and bringing them to life before our eyes…I absolutely loved the unique atmosphere of this novel and definitely found it quite addictive. A really unique novel that has to be experienced to truly realise how…”

The novel’s bouquet is enhanced by undertones of wine-tasting—the essence of almond blossoms, summer strawberries and…

Helen Fripp, the historical novelist on how a comet inspired her writing, and being sacked from….

One of my favourite train journeys ever was the night train from Nice to Tuscany, hugging the Mediterranean coast, strings of lights…