It Only Happens To Me…

Helen gets most of her inspiration and material from her family: husband Scott, a retired USMC Colonel, and son Will, an international banker. Stationed in Okinawa, Japan, she quickly learned that speaking with a Southern accent and smiling often got her out of most international incidents, and while she was there, she fell in love with ikebana. Twenty years later, she holds a Fourth Degree Master Certification in Ohara Ikebana.

Scott’s boating hobby has fueled Helen’s boating writing since 2007, but over the years, boating with Scott has proved… interesting. It earned her the title of First Mouth while he continues to wear the rank of Captain Blye. Their boating adventures couldn’t possibly be fiction, so they are prominently displayed in her columns and blog.

Scott and Will only roll their eyes, knowing that the Aitken family life is on display. Yet they are quick to make sure that the smoke detector batteries are fresh, the insurance premiums are paid, and that at least two fire extinguishers are available in the kitchen. Now, she’s an expert at putting out fires.

Over the past six years, Helen has explored writing fiction. She’s finished four romances—three are romantic comedies—and is currently working on a Heist mystery and a woman’s lit book. So far, they’re just clogging up the computer storage and they need to find a permanent home on a library shelf. As she tells Scott, “I’m working on it.” One day, it will happen, so keep an eye out.