BESTSELLING AUTHOR | COLUMNIST | TEACHER
Based in the borderlands between England and Wales—but a Scot at heart — Manda has been, variously, a veterinary surgeon, podcaster, acupuncturist, regenerative smallholder, columnist, homoeopath, blogger, life coach, renegade economist, contemporary shamanic teacher - and author of 16 novels, several screenplays and one non-fiction book.
BESTSELLING AUTHOR
PODCASTER & TEACHER
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS
She is a talented remover of butterflies and moths from the bedroom so that her partner can dare to go to sleep.
She starts to sing Scottish songs as soon as she crosses the border in the car.
She likes dancing whilst cuddling the cat.
She has a habit of putting pans and crockery back in the cupboard before anyone had a chance to use them. (if you grow up in a home where the kitches was full of rescued raptors, this is *entirely* understandable).
She likes flying metaphorical kites and always has a few in the air.
She loves going out and meeting people but when she’s at home she turns into a hermit.
She hates going on holiday unless it’s to do something practical like learn a new skill.
Left to her own devices she would fill the house with animals.
She thinks the only way forward is if we can learn to feed our local community. She’s getting better at growing beans. The rest is a work in progress.
She gets really happy when any of the hens lays an egg.
She couldn’t live without a real fire in the house in the winter.
She never notices what people are wearing (but always notices what breed of dog they have).
She is an excellent map reader and never goes anywhere without one.
She overcame her fear of heights by learning to climb.
She does her best thinking whilst walking the dog – when she has one.
She thinks it’s impossible to have enough gooseberry bushes in your garden.
It takes her ages to decide on a name for a new pet – it has to fit with the dream of who they are.
Her favourite vegetable is broad beans raw, straight out of the pod. And gooseberries. You can never have too many gooseberries… (see above)
She’s addicted to … World of Warcraft. Adrenaline. That writing buzz when ideas come togetehr. Positive reinforcement/Concept/TraumaInformed training of dogs and horses. Planning ways to a future that works.
Her favourite …
Film: Six Inches of Soil
TV: She’d rather not watch TV. If she has to…First Season of Killing Eve wasn’t bad
Book: Too many to list. Anything at all by Natasha Pulley or Claire North. Vulture Capitalism by Grace Blakeley. Less is More by Jason Hickel.
Place: Home, wherever that is. And the west coast of Scotland. All of it
She really hates ….
Traveling – she gets a migraine with the smell of fuel
Alcohol. Chocolate. Sugar. Coffee. Recorded Music. Yes, really; all of those.
Combat Rogues.
She loves…
The Iron Age hill fort on the other side of the vally & the smell of damp dog/cat/person.
Finding a really good book
Landing a winning heal on the flag carrier in Warsong Gulch.
CONTACT MANDA
Writing is an incredibly solitary occupation. It's always good to connect with people who share the same realities. So go on, get in touch...