On the 8th * day of the blog tour, Helena gave to me . . . friendship, and time and the very best she has to offer: a voice.
*Of course, the 8th day was yesterday, but a combination of factors, an uncooperative scheduler and a visit to the doctor included, prevented me from posting about it until just now!
Helena Hann-Basquiat is someone you want in your corner. I’ve written about her before, but it bears repeating. She is a steadfast friend, and a writer of uncommon talent. Words, images, terrors, heartbreak and joy pour forth from her pen in ways many writers – this one included – only wish they could master. Add to that her adoration of all things musical (well, all *good* things musical), and Helena is in a word, fantastic. She is the author of several books and short stories, including Memoirs of a Dilettante, Vol. One (buy it!). You can check out all of them on her Amazon author page.
I actually met Helena through Andra – a random comment on one of Andra’s posts led me to “Being the Memoirs of Helena Hann-Basquiat” and after reading for just a short time, I decided that this lady and I were going to be friends. I think I was just nuts enough (I do talk to a character in my head, after all) that she went along with it for kicks.
Two years later, Helena is one of my sounding boards, a beta reader for Changelings, and a truly dear friend to boot. I was honored when into my hands she put CHUK, the Bayou Bonhomme serial from her blog. It is my pleasure to help shape her creation for publication. It is my pleasure, too, to be a part of the wonderful collaborative world Helena has created through her site and writings. It’s eclectic, supportive and above all, quite talented.
But words don’t just fall forth from Helena. Oh no. There’s another writer, formerly locked up in Helena’s basement, named Jessica B. Bell, and it is from her pen some of the most horrifying pieces man’s imagination can be host to are given life. And I say that with all the love and admiration I can muster. Her stories are fantastic.
A deliciously creepy collaborative piece of meta-fiction, the book born from the collaboration of several bloggers and artists, JESSICA, can be purchased on Amazon, and if you do, there are 50 additional pages to what erupted across the internet. I just finished my copy, and believe me, those 50 pages take a wonderful story and make it so much more!
You can read more about Jessica on her new site, Who Is Jessica? but be sure to stick around Helena’s site to see what she cooks up – there’s the second volume of the Memoirs coming and her diary postings this week hint at an amazing trilogy, the People of the Manatii. So, stop over at Helena’s and tell her I said hi – and Helena, thank you so much for your support, your ear and above all, for being you!
Being the Memoirs…
Life: Postcards from California
Music: The Prettiest Songs I know
Terror: Fear in a Handful of Dust
Fiction: Stardust
Just a taste: JESSICA, Part One
The D/A Dialogues 
I know but one dilettante in the whole world and I feel complete. Tbat dilettante is of course our Helena. Lovely tribute, Katie!
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Wonderful words about a great writer. You are fortunate to have her as a friend.
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I nodded along with every part of praise you showered on Helena. She is my absolute favourite Dilettante (and even if I knew more than the one, she still would be) and quite apart from the way she dazzles me with music and words, what you said about her friendship and loyalty and her generous spirit in championing others (you said that, right?) are all completely spot-on.
She is a delight to know, and I cherish her friendship very much indeed.
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Reblogged this on Being the Memoirs of Helena Hann-Basquiat, Dilettante and commented:
I have to reblog this, because, well, when someone writes such sweet things about you, you just want to post it up on your wall for all your friends to see. Thank you, Katie.
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