Helena Pastor is a writer living on Anaiwan Country in Armidale NSW. Through memoir, fiction and song lyrics, she aims to encourage discussion around topics close to her heart including all stages of motherhood, the aftershocks of war, and growing up in an immigrant family. Her writing has attracted two Australian Society of Authors’ Mentorships, residencies at Varuna Writers’ House, Bundanon, Booranga and KSP Writers’ Centres, and a 2020 Gunyah Artist Residency. She has also completed two postgraduate degrees on the transformative possibilities of Creative Nonfiction writing. Her memoir, Wild Boys: A Parent’s Story of Tough Love (UQP, 2015), offers an intimate insight into reconnecting teenagers with their families and communities.

Helena has worked as a writer and writing educator for over twelve years, and offers manuscript assessment and editorial feedback to new and emerging writers. If you are interested in connecting with Helena, send a query through to: helenapastor2@gmail.com

 

Pastor & Purcell

Helena Pastor and Christopher Purcell are a songwriting duo from Armidale who love to create emotionally engaging songs that illuminate sensitive aspects of human life. The pair have been performing and writing together for the past five years and have an eclectic collection of songs. They are currently recording their songs as part of an Arts Project called ‘Stories in Song’ (funded by Arts North West and Regional Arts NSW), collaborating with vocalists and musicians from Armidale, Uralla and Bellingen.

This project was made possible through a RAF Relief Grant provided by Regional Arts NSW through the Regional Arts Fund Recovery Boost Program, an Australian Government initiative supporting the arts in regional, remote and very remote Australia.