Author Harvest ‘bales up’ Mandy Magro

 Hi Jenn,

(Hi Mandy)

Thanks for inviting me round for morning tea. I love food, especially sweet stuff.  I brought along some baked cheesecake! How about we just get a spoon each and dig in?

(I had an idea Australia’s rural romance sweetheart would make something just as sweet. I’ll get the spoons. And can I say, it’s lovely to have you here to help me say goodbye to my favourite season – autumn.)

Now, Mandy, at home…

My mum says garden gnomes make a house a home! Are you loud and proud in your love of garden gnomes at home, a closet gnomer or with a strict ‘no gnomes’ policy at your place?

I must be honest and say I’m not really a lover of Gnomes…they kind of freak me out! I’m more of a windmill and bird bath kind of girl in my garden.

(So you don’t like surprises, and yet your stories tend to have a few surprises in them–just no gnomes. Okay, I will know not to look out for any little guys in future books.)

What vegetable (or fruit) have you always wanted to grow at home?

I adore growing tomatoes, in all shapes and sizes. There are so many varieties and they look so pretty in the garden.  I especially love baby tomatoes; they are so sweet and juicy. I have a hard time getting them from the garden and into the house because I eat them along the way.

(Hmm, I LOVE home-grown tomatoes, especially surprise ones that just pop up in the ground.)

If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find?

I only went shopping yesterday, so loads of yummy stuff. I’m a bit of a Mediterranean lover so olives, sundried tomatoes and cheeses are high on the list (especially blue cheese). And I always have a jar of vegemite and anchovette spread. Along with loads of fresh fruit and veggies and of course the chocolate stash in the back!

(But no small, juicy, yummy home-grown tomatoes!)

If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)

I’m afraid I don’t have time to sort my wardrobe, but as for colours I would have to say more natural ones…and there are plenty of pairs of jeans, oh, and boots. 😉

(Hold your horses, Mandy. The ‘boot’ question is coming!)

What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)

Denim shorts and a blue singlet.

(and boots?)

Whose home would you like to housesit and why?

If he was still alive I’d love to housesit Johnny Cash’s home. I would be in awe of all his musical paraphernalia. That man is a legend in my eyes.

Country curiosities…

We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?

I wear a Statesman’s hat…genuine Aussie made and I adore my Ariat boots.

(Oh look! It’s a picture with beaut boots.)

If you were a tree (or animal) what kind of tree (animal) would you be?

I would be a Flame Tree, of course 🙂

(You’d make a lovely Jacaranda too!)

Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?

To get away from all the bad jokes!

(LOL Love that!)

About you…

Your turning point: when was that point in your life that you realized that being an author was no longer going to be just a dream but a reality and a career?

The second I got the call from Penguin to say they wanted to contract me for Rosalee Station and Jacaranda. It was the turning point of my life.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Time…and quiet time! I need to be in my own little head space to write, and finding time that is also filled with silence can be quite difficult with an almost 5-year-old. But somehow, I find it, and the times I get to write are heaven to me.

If someone was to write your biography, what do you think the title should be?

The Free Spirit! I can’t stand shackles in life, and like to live my days as I feel fit. I don’t believe life has to be hard, it is what you make it, and the freedom that comes with this thought is fabulous.

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Q: Are you a tummy, back or side sleeper?

A: I sleep on my side, snuggled into a pillow.

(How do you know if you’re asleep? Do YOU know, reader. Pls comment: tummy, back or side?)

Fun stuff…

What does your protagonist think about you? Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his/her creator.

That I can be spontaneous to the point that people around me can’t keep up. I think my protagonist would love to hang out with me cause we could get up to loads of good old country mischief!

(Why does this not surprise me?)

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?

June Carter, so I could feel the profound love Johnny Cash held for her. Thier romance was beautiful.

(Johnny Cash? Why does THIS not surprise me either?)

If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?

Dance around crazily while singing wayyyyyy out of tune…just to make you laugh.

(And let me guess…. a Johnny Cash song? Balls of Fire maybe? Oh, hang on, I think that’s Ring of Fire.  Oh, geez, don’t go there, Jenn! )

What food would you be?

A passionfruit 🙂

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

Love.

(OMG! You are the first harvestee with an answer I have actually whimpered over –  a rather pathetic, soppy “Awww, that’s so sweet!” whimper. Just lovely!)

Name 5 uses for a stapler that has not staple pins.

1. Doorstop,
2. Paper weight,
3. A toy for Chloe,
4. Something to lob at the computer when I can’t find the right words… Joking, or am I? 🙂
5. And, ummmmm, I can’t come up with a 5^th. (Too honest.)

How weird are you? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not) to 10 (very).

Probably an 8, I like being weird…it makes people laugh and lightens your day.

(You do weird wonderfully! Thank you so much for brightening our day, here on Author Harvest. Now tell us about this flaming good book…)

About Flame Tree Hill

Kirsty Mitchell is ready to come home. After a tragic accident that left her scarred, she fled overseas. Now, three years later, she’s finally returning to Flame Tree Hill, her beloved family farm. But at twenty-five Kirsty isn’t prepared for the terrifying new challenge ahead: breast cancer. Kirsty’s never been a quitter and that’s not about to change. But can her budding romance with local vet Aden bear the strain? As she battles with chemotherapy and as her past threatens to overwhelm her, Kirsty realises you can never take anything – or anyone – for granted. Drawing strength from her family and the beauty of Far North Queensland, Kirsty finally understands what she must do.

“A lyrical and heart-warming testament to the power of love – and forgiveness.”

Mandy links