Helen & Cleo
Photo by Sally Tagg, courtesy Next magazine

New York Times Bestselling Author of Cleo, Jonah, Bono, and Mickey

Helen Brown has touched millions of hearts worldwide through her deeply moving memoirs about the extraordinary cats who shaped her life and the profound ways they helped her navigate joy, loss, healing, and transformation.

Her Story

Born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, in 1954, Helen grew up in a whimsical house complete with a gothic tower, where her mother Noeline hammered out newspaper stories on the kitchen table and her father Bill managed the local gasworks. It was here that young Helen first discovered the magic of storytelling and the special bond between humans and cats through her beloved polydactyl cat, Mickey.

After studying journalism at Wellington Polytechnic, Helen began her career as a cadet journalist on The Dominion newspaper at just 18. She quickly established herself as one of New Zealand’s most celebrated columnists, winning multiple Columnist of the Year awards and becoming one of the country’s first female newspaper editorial writers. Her work has been syndicated across seven newspapers, and she has written for television programs including Country GP, Shortland Street, and What Now. She was also a regular panellist on TVNZ’s Beauty and the Beast.

The Cats Who Changed Everything

Helen’s path to becoming a beloved memoirist began with profound tragedy. In 1983, her nine-year-old son Sam was killed in a car accident. In the depths of their grief, a small black kitten named Cleo padded into their lives, bringing unexpected healing to a shattered family. Helen’s memoir about this transformative relationship, Cleo: How an Uppity Cat Helped Heal a Family, became a New York Times bestseller, has been translated into more than 18 languages, and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide.

Following her recovery from breast cancer in 2008, another remarkable feline entered Helen’s life. Jonah, a spirited Siamese kitten named after rugby legend Jonah Lomu, became her constant companion and literary inspiration for nearly sixteen years. His story was captured in

After Cleo Came Jonah (published as Cats & Daughters in some regions), which explores the intricate relationships between mothers, daughters, and the cats who bind them together. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Helen and Jonah’s live Facebook sessions provided comfort and laughter to many thousands of viewers around the world, bringing joy during uncertain times. Beloved Jonah passed away in November 2024, leaving behind countless memories and a legacy of love that continues to inspire readers around the world.

During a period of self-discovery in New York, Helen fostered Bono, a charismatic Persian rescue cat whose journey to find a forever home captured the internet’s heart. Her Huffington Post blog about Bono was read by more than 22 million people, leading to her book Bono: The Amazing Story of a Rescue Cat Who Inspired a Community.

In 2024, Helen returned to her roots with Mickey: The Cat Who Raised Me, a tender memoir about her childhood in 1960s New Zealand and the extraordinary polydactyl kitten who was her first feline love and the beginning of her lifelong devotion to cats.

Literary Recognition

Helen’s work has garnered international acclaim:

• New York Times Bestseller (Cleo)
• UK Sunday Times Bestseller (Cleo)
• Translated into 18+ languages
• Multiple Columnist of the Year Awards (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009)
• Nuffield Press Fellowship, Cambridge University (1991)

Her writing has been praised by critics and readers alike for its honest exploration of grief, healing, and the profound connections between humans and animals. Publishers Weekly notes her “unflinching candor,” while Kirkus Reviews celebrates how she “writes eloquently about women, daughters, and felines.”

Beyond Cat Memoirs

Helen has also authored the novel Tumbledown Manor and Don’t Let Me Put You Off – How to Survive Suburbia, a re-release of the first collection of her columns. For younger readers, she created Cleo and Rob, a beautifully illustrated children’s version of her bestselling memoir. She also created the popular 18-part podcast series Novel Therapy, in which Helen shared writing tips with aspiring novelist Kate Fennessy.

Life Today

Helen lives in Melbourne, Australia, with husband Philip. Mother of Rob, Lydia, and Katharine, she is the adoring grandmother of Annie, Stella, Alice, and Wendy. When not writing, Helen enjoys morning walks, excellent coffee, knitting, swimming in the sea off Phillip Island, and regular strength training sessions in which she tries not to break anything.

Through her experiences with loss, illness and the complexities of letting daughters find their own paths—Helen has learned to savour every moment with the wisdom of a cat. Her writing continues to offer comfort and hope to readers worldwide, proving that even in our darkest times, love, healing, and unexpected joy can find their way into our hearts.

“Having faced a few challenges in life, Helen has learnt to savour every moment, just like a cat.”