TV star Helen to launch new book in town

TV star Helen Skelton is launching her debut children’s novel at Warrington next month – based on her own Amazon jungle adventures.
The former Blue Peter presenter, who lives at Stockton Heath, will be at Golden Square Shopping Centre on May 16 signing copies of “Amy Wild: Amazon Summer”  –  an action-packed tale of a young girl battling spiders and evil spirits to uncover a mysterious secret.
Helen, aged 31, and husband Warrington Wolves ace Richie Myler, are expecting their first child later this year.
Her book is based on her experiences in 2010, when she kayaked across South America along the massive Amazon River for Sport Relief – suffering from heat exhaustion in the process.
It is about brave and bubbly young heroine Amy, who gets into scrapes and adventures travelling the world with her famous and slightly batty photographer aunt, Marg.
When Auntie Marg is involved in an accident, Amy has to escape into the Amazon rainforest, with no food, no money, and no map.
There she faces spiders, poisonous plants, legends of evil spirits – and something even more sinister. All she has is Juan, a local boy with a mysterious scar, who’s definitely hiding a secret.
Helen said: “Most of my mates had no idea that I’d written a book. Now they know all about it, and a few of them are coming down to Golden Square with me to give me some moral support.”
Currently appearing in BBC TV’s Countryfile, Helen was inspired by her parents to “fall in love with stories” and she hopes her novels will make sure future generations do the same.
She said: “I read Beatrix Potter books growing up. I like books that are weird and wonderful. It’s a way of being in another world. I also read the Pony Club Diaries.
“I’m keen to get children into reading and exciting them about the world. I think adventure is really important.”