Since 1987, Helen R. Myers has written forty-one novels, contributed to a non-fiction instructional work, and edited a non-fiction book on the history of a Texas mansion. Long admired by her editors for the “depth and scope” of her writing, this best-selling and award-winning author credits that to not being intimidated by the risk in variety, or the challenge of a project.

Writing stories that are as thematic and probing as they are emotional, Myers explains, “I write to explore the why behind what people do. Motives complicated by life. Add perception challenges and you have heroes and heroines, male and female protagonists, who are already carrying considerable baggage when they’re abruptly thrust into scenarios they thought could never happen to them.” No surprise then that most of her books contain an element of suspense or mystery.

Myers’ books usually open with the protagonist suffering some “last straw” that turns their lives into full-fledged catastrophes. “But,” she hastens to point out, “don’t look for a lot of victims in my books.” Nor does she play loose with the word “hero.” She warns, “We’ve lowered the bar on defining those terms.”

Born in New Jersey, but a resident of Texas since 1972, Myers and husband Robert live on Crooked Pine Ranch, which she jokes is an eighty- acre sanctuary for two and four-legged strays, including five rescued dogs. Although private and independent, she does frequent promotional and charity appearances, remains on the advisory board of the Northeast Texas Music Festival, and mentors gifted aspiring writers.