Helen Lowe biography

Helen Lowe was born 1961 in Wellington, New Zealand. A multi-award winning author she is currently best known for her heroic fantasy novel, The Heir of Night, which won the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer in 2012 and forms the first part of The Wall of Night quartet.

Lowe went to schools in both New Zealand and Singapore before earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and Geography from the University of Waikato. She continued her education in Sweden, at the University of Stockholm, and there earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Science.

Lowe's first novel, Thornspell, was published in 2008.

Helen Lowe's awards

  • 2009 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Young Adult Novel (The Heir of Night)
  • 2011 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel (The Heir of Night)
  • 2012 David Gemmell Morningstar Award (The Heir of Night)
  • The Gathering of the Lost was shortlisted for the 2013 David Gemmell Legend Award.

On winning the David Gemmell Legend Award in 2012

"I think my first words, when the Morningstar call came through, were “I don’t believe it” - but after my disbelief was suspended I was obviously very happy indeed, not least because I have always loved epic fantasy so winning a major award in the genre for my own epic storytelling was very special. The David Gemmell Awards are international, as well as being reader voted, so winning the Morningstar and making the shortlist for the Legend award – which I feel is “huge” given it’s the open category – both suggest that readers see “The Heir Of Night” and “The Gathering Of The Lost” respectively as having merit. As a new writer still, that’s tremendously encouraging. I also felt honoured to win the Morningstar Award, and now to be shortlisted for the Legend Award this year, because the awards commemorate the legacy of David Gemmell, which was formative for me as an epic Fantasy reader and writer. I love the sweep of his stories and the sense of contending light and dark - but also the many shades of human fallibility between those extremes. And I have always been strongly drawn to his writing of heroism, sacrifice and duty, as well as the ability of friendship and love, in rare circumstances, to transcend ambition and self-interest."
Speaking to Alex Davis in an interview on September 9, 2013

"A well-realised world." Robin Hobb

All Helen Lowe Reviews