Mandy Hager's Blog
July 5, 2018
Introducing Ash Arising
kia ora,
Once again I have been tardy about updating this blog - my humble apologies.
I have, however, written on my website about this new book - a sequel to my 2012 award-winner 'The Nature of Ash'. You'll find info and background about this book at:
https://mandyhager.com/ash-arising/ and
https://mandyhager.com/2018/05/16/wel...
I hope you enjoy!
Best wishes
Mandy
Once again I have been tardy about updating this blog - my humble apologies.
I have, however, written on my website about this new book - a sequel to my 2012 award-winner 'The Nature of Ash'. You'll find info and background about this book at:
https://mandyhager.com/ash-arising/ and
https://mandyhager.com/2018/05/16/wel...
I hope you enjoy!
Best wishes
Mandy
May 16, 2017
Introducing 'Heloise'
Kia ora,
On Monday night we launched my latest book - an historical novel for adults titled 'Heloise', which tells the story of Heloise d'Argenteuil, famed lover of 12th century philosopher Peter Abelard.
I've just redesigned my personal website and written extensively about the process of researching and writing the book here: https://mandyhager.com/2017/04/05/int...
Do go and have a look - I'm very excited to introduce her to you!
On Monday night we launched my latest book - an historical novel for adults titled 'Heloise', which tells the story of Heloise d'Argenteuil, famed lover of 12th century philosopher Peter Abelard.
I've just redesigned my personal website and written extensively about the process of researching and writing the book here: https://mandyhager.com/2017/04/05/int...
Do go and have a look - I'm very excited to introduce her to you!
July 23, 2014
catching you up and COMPETITION!!!
I've been very slack about blogging on this site, sorry - it seems by the time I manage my website, Facebook author pages and Twitter I run out of steam and forget to update this as well.
This year, 2014, I've been lucky enough to be awarded a writing fellowship to spend 6 months in Menton, in the south of France. Rather than repeat myself, if you are interested in finding out more, please do visit my website www.mandyhager.com and check out the posts there.
Quick updates include 'Dear Vincent' currently being shortlisted for the LIANZA Book Awards in NZ (YA fiction) and the second and third parts of my Blood of the Lamb trilogy being published by Pyr Books in the US this year, with the last, Resurrection, due out in December.
I'm also very excited about the upcoming release of my new novel 'Singing Home the Whale' and have devised a little fun competition if you are interested:
Just to spice life up, if you post your wackiest picture of Dear Vincent in an unusual place with a great caption to my author Facebook page, which is https://www.facebook.com/MandyHagerAu... , you will go into the draw to win a signed copy (and great kudos, of course!) of my soon to be released book Singing Home the Whale (5th September 2014). This competition will run until the beginning of October (to give me time to return home to send out this AMAZING personalised prize!!!) So get your copy of Dear Vincent out and take it for a walk somewhere…. If you go to my Facebook author pag you will see examples I have posted as I've travelled around Italy for the last 12 days.
This year, 2014, I've been lucky enough to be awarded a writing fellowship to spend 6 months in Menton, in the south of France. Rather than repeat myself, if you are interested in finding out more, please do visit my website www.mandyhager.com and check out the posts there.
Quick updates include 'Dear Vincent' currently being shortlisted for the LIANZA Book Awards in NZ (YA fiction) and the second and third parts of my Blood of the Lamb trilogy being published by Pyr Books in the US this year, with the last, Resurrection, due out in December.
I'm also very excited about the upcoming release of my new novel 'Singing Home the Whale' and have devised a little fun competition if you are interested:
Just to spice life up, if you post your wackiest picture of Dear Vincent in an unusual place with a great caption to my author Facebook page, which is https://www.facebook.com/MandyHagerAu... , you will go into the draw to win a signed copy (and great kudos, of course!) of my soon to be released book Singing Home the Whale (5th September 2014). This competition will run until the beginning of October (to give me time to return home to send out this AMAZING personalised prize!!!) So get your copy of Dear Vincent out and take it for a walk somewhere…. If you go to my Facebook author pag you will see examples I have posted as I've travelled around Italy for the last 12 days.
July 10, 2013
Mid winter thoughts
It's now July, a grey and cold month in New Zealand, and I'm sitting here with the heater blowing hot air at me so I can write! I'm taking a week or two off writing - a chance to rest my brain before I launch into a new book (which I have written the initial 8,000 words of to work through the two voices and story ideas.)
It's been an explosive few weeks here since the NZPost Book awards were announced and the winning book has been dragged through the mud by those who feel YA fiction should be censored and should not talk in any way about sex, drugs or use bad language. I simply don't agree, and find it insulting to YA readers that they can't be left to make up their own minds what they consider 'suitable'. Some of the most confronting books of all time have turned out to the classics in the long view. So I applaud the judges of our homegrown awards for picking Ted Dawe's 'Into the River' - it's hard all right, but it's truthful and thought provoking and treats its readers as intelligent beings. Good on you all! That's what fiction should do - challenge, question and hold up mirrors to the issues that matter most.
It's been an explosive few weeks here since the NZPost Book awards were announced and the winning book has been dragged through the mud by those who feel YA fiction should be censored and should not talk in any way about sex, drugs or use bad language. I simply don't agree, and find it insulting to YA readers that they can't be left to make up their own minds what they consider 'suitable'. Some of the most confronting books of all time have turned out to the classics in the long view. So I applaud the judges of our homegrown awards for picking Ted Dawe's 'Into the River' - it's hard all right, but it's truthful and thought provoking and treats its readers as intelligent beings. Good on you all! That's what fiction should do - challenge, question and hold up mirrors to the issues that matter most.
December 16, 2012
signing off 2012
What a year it's been! I feel like I've been running up an endless sandhill - taking two steps forwards then sliding back down by half. But at the end of it I have a new novel ready for editing in the new year (and due out in June 2013), another class of novelists are a wee step closer to their writing dreams, and I've spent many hours in the company of smart, funny people who stimulate my brain. How lucky we are, those of us who are able to indulge our great love - the love of writing. It's a slow burning love, one that creeps up incrementally until you realise your life would be bereft without it. I'm so incredibly grateful to have found my bliss (as Joseph Campbell would call it) - and every day the stories keep on growing in my head.
I wonder, sometimes, if this incessant story generation is really an attempt to block my worries about the world. When I sit and really contemplate what is going on nausea rises in my stomach and I fear for the long-term well-being of my kids and any future generations. But this fear also drives the writing - pushing me to examine themes informed by the latest news - in an attempt to find a silver-lining - or some secret knowledge that will help us all move forwards into this frightening future. To eye to fear full on.
But, whatever the reason, I'm glad it's motivated me to find this form of self expression - to really investigate the inner 'me' - and try on other character's lives for size.
I wonder, sometimes, if this incessant story generation is really an attempt to block my worries about the world. When I sit and really contemplate what is going on nausea rises in my stomach and I fear for the long-term well-being of my kids and any future generations. But this fear also drives the writing - pushing me to examine themes informed by the latest news - in an attempt to find a silver-lining - or some secret knowledge that will help us all move forwards into this frightening future. To eye to fear full on.
But, whatever the reason, I'm glad it's motivated me to find this form of self expression - to really investigate the inner 'me' - and try on other character's lives for size.
