Helen 'herstory' will feature in a return to strath

MONARCH of the Glen devotees will recognise actress Dawn Steele (right) only too easily.

The BBC's 'Lexie McTavish' was at the Lyceum Theatre last week and sported a copy of her friend Helen Graham's new novel.

Helen, still so fondly remembered in Kingussie where she stayed on Spey Street, was over the moon to see her work given such an attractive promotion.

And she's heading this way again, she tells us.

"I'm coming up to Kingussie in June to promote my next historical novel, 'Disappearing Acts: The Real Mackay's Granddaughter'.

The heroine was an ancestor of Helen's and became an actress.

"The event is on June 20th at Caberfeidh and I'm super lucky to have Sarah Wylie interviewing me.

"I think she's even organising a cake with my book cover on which will be a first for me!" She explained: "Last week

Dawn took a copy of my novel to the theatre on the last night of her play and had someone take the attached incredible photo."

Rooted in real life, the fast-paced 'herstory' spans decades in which new opportunities for women were opening up at a rapid rate, yet Lottie's struggle to reconcile a creative vocation with love and motherhood feels every bit as relevant today.

• More on Helen's story can be found online at at www.strathspey-herald.co.