In the Hot Seat with Author Helen Rutter

Helen Rutter has appeared on screens and stages, but has recently turned her hand to writing. Her first book, The Boy who Made Everyone Laugh, was released this month in the UK. It's a children's book inspired by her son's stammer and she wrote it to encourage other children who feel unheard to find their voice.

Helen lives just outside of Sheffield with her husband, stand-up comedian Rob Rouse, (read his interview here) two children and two dogs, Ronnie and Billy Whizz.

Describe your personal style: 

Charity shop mash-up.

What was the first item of clothing you ever bought for yourself?

I saved up for some Nike Air Max with my Saturday job money. I LOVED those trainers so much!

Any faux-pas you'd rather forget...? 

A rather delightful pair of red tartan trousers that haunt me through photo based evidence.

Tell us about the oldest item in your wardrobe: 

Most of the things in my wardrobe are pretty old. I have dresses that I wore at uni that I occasionally bring back out, hoping they will have come back into fashion. (They never have.)

What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought, clothing-wise?

I bought an expensive bright yellow waterproof fisherman's coat, as I was fed up of getting wet on dog walks, and I LOVE it. 

This season you'll be wearing... 

Huge jumpers and leggings (we are in lockdown!).

Which Yogi shoes will you be adding to your Spring/Summer wardrobe? 

I LOVE my white Winstone Yogis and I will be adding the blue ones to my collection.

How do you style your Yogi shoes? 

I love a floral dress with a leather jacket and a pair of Yogis.

Yogi was born in the 90s, what were you doing, what were you wearing and what were you listening to back in the day? 

I think the 90s was when the tartan trousers were out!! I was at secondary school for most of the 90's and I was listening to things like TLC and Eternal. 

Who are your style heroes? (past and present) 

My daughter is my style icon. She can wear ANYTHING and make it look amazing!

What fragrance do you wear? 

Jo Malone.

Tell us about your new book: 

The Boy who Made Everyone Laugh is an against all odds story about a boy called Billy Plimpton who wants to be a stand up comedian but thinks his stammer will get in his way. It's out now in the UK (August in the US) and I am SO excited! 

How did you come up with the idea? How long did it take you to write it? 

The idea came from my son who stammers. (As well as living with my husband who is a stand-up.) I started writing it about three years ago. It's been a really amazing journey from reading my first chapter out to my son before bed when I first started writing it, to seeing his name in the acknowledgements page of an actual book!

What does your creative writing space look like? 

I have a converted summer house that was once full of spiders and old bikes and is now a lovely heated light hideaway. I love it and it has a particularly lovely smell!

Where can we buy it? 

Anywhere that you normally buy your books from but Bookshop are a pretty great business who support independent bookshops across the UK.

Follow Helen on Instagram and visit her website here. Shop the Yogi Footwear Women's Collection here.