We asked the wonderful Mandy Magro, author of many Australian literary romance novels to answer some questions about her books.
Which one of your books
is your favourite?
I would have
to say my first novel, Rosalee Station, because it was the one that got me
published. It has a lot of my own life entwined within the story and the
heroine, Sarah, is very much like me. I also really enjoyed writing about the
stockmen, they were a hoot, and by the end of the novel it felt like they were
my mates. I know this may sound weird to some, but other writers will
understand how connected we can become with our characters.
No I don’t, but that’s a
brilliant question!! Now you have me trying to think of one. Maybe, Apple Pie, or something
similar, cause it’s an Apple Air…or maybe I’m just feeling like a piece of
yummy apple pie and cream…okay, getting sidetracked here.
If you could have a cup
of tea/coffee with someone from history who would it be and why?
It would be the
legendary Johnny Cash, hands down! I adore the man and his musical talent. He
has the most unique voice and I love the fact he was a bit of a bad boy. The
love he and June Carter shared was one in a million, and to know he died only
two months after her, well, need I say more…. *dreamy sigh*
What do you love most
about writing?
I love the freedom of
being able to write in my PJs, the way it has opened up my world to meeting a
range of wonderful new people and also the fact I can touch people hearts in so
many different ways through my writing. It’s very humbling indeed.
How much research goes
into your writing?
With my first novel,
Rosalee Station, it was written from my own personal experiences living life on
the land, so not a lot of research was needed. Jacaranda was similar in this
way. Flame Tree Hill is based on my best mates cancer journey so quite a lot of
research had to go into that one. Driftwood, my 4th, which is due out on
November 1st, was once again based on my own life experiences-and has the country music legend, Adam
Brand, in it as a character I must add! As for my 5th,
which I am writing now, the leading man is a bomb dog handler in the
Afghanistan war, as well as a country boy, so I’ve had to do a heck of a lot of
research for this one…and I’m still researching!
If you could choose one
of your books to give to someone, what book would it be?
It all depends on what
age they are, if they are male or female and what kind of story they feel like
reading. For men, I always say for them to read Rosalee Station, as it has
quite a bit of rough and tumble seeing as it is set on a station, and the
blokes in the book are typical Aussie larrikins that men would relate to.
Jacaranda is more of a warm-hearted story for women and Flame Tree Hill is a
tear-jerker, so a box of Kleenex, or three, is highly recommended. So all in
all, it depends on the individual person, I think.
Why Australian romance?
I am so very proud of my
country
What drew you into
writing that genre?
I’m a very passionate person
by nature so I love being able to put my fantasies onto the page and having the
power to make the two main characters fall madly in love with each other. I’m a
firm believer in leaving the bedroom door WIDE open in my novels, and I adore
writing these scenes. Everyone wants to be in love, and to be loved deeply by
another, so being able to write about it is such a blessing!
Here is a bit about Mandy in her own words:
"I
decided to put pen to paper about 4 years ago, writing about the many
memorable adventures I've experienced on the land, from being a station
cook, helping behind the chutes at rodeos, to being a fruit farmer.
Little did I know this would be the beginning of my fantastic writing
career with Penguin Australia, and I am now also writing for Harlequin
Books Australia too!
Rosalee
Station was my first rural romance novel and my second, Jacaranda, hit
the shelves in 2012. My third, Flame Tree Hill, followed a year after in
May 2013. My fourth novel, Driftwood, will be out on November 1st
2013-this book will have a small appearance by the fantastic Adam Brand!
And I am now working on my fifth novel, Country At Heart.
Like
the saying goes, I'm as busy as a blue arse fly at a barbeque, but I
love it! I'm obsessed and passionate about writing and it is something I hope to be able to do for the rest of my life."
Go visit Mandy on her website here
No comments:
Post a Comment