SHE has blown up Circular Quay and even had a romance along the way - all in the name of fiction.
Pilot Helene Young, from Trinity Beach, is one of eight finalists for her novel, Beyond the Borders, in the Romance Writers of America’s 2008 Golden Heart awards for Romantic Suspense category.
"Romance tends to get overlooked," Ms Young said.
"It’s more than just Mills and Boon, it’s an industry that I’m excited to be a small part of."
But it wasn’t until Mrs Young’s husband, Graham Wade, read her unpublished novel in a dusty drawer that she thought of getting her writing published 11 years ago.
"It’s lovely having my biggest fan as my husband," she said.
The novel is set in the Far North on an aircraft where a coast watch company tracks terrorists.
"I manage to blow up Circular Quay and have a lot of fun," she said.
"I was keen to have a female aviator as the lead character as my heroine and she stretches her own personal borders to find love."
The novel is part of a three-book series.
The award recognises excellence in unpublished romance fiction manuscripts with more than 1000 manuscripts judged by fellow authors in 10 categories and narrowed to 70 finalists.
Ms Young will advance to the final round of the competition, which is judged by romance fiction editors.
"The Golden Heart finalists represent some of the best new voices in romance fiction," RWA president Sherry Lewis said.
"Hopefully, we'll see their works on best-seller lists of the future."
Winners of the awards will be announced on August 2 at an Awards Ceremony in California.
