Hooked. After blinking, I was already several pages deep. I was hooked. Mandy’s story is a relatable one, her pages follow the exploits of her protagonist picking up the pieces after uncovering her husband’s affair. As I moved from page to page, I never thought that something so well written would have been a debut novel. Romance is not my normal go to, however for Mandy I was more than happy to allow myself to be pulled into the pages.

Your author name

Mandy Hoddinott

Your book title

The Marshmallow Theory:  A seduction of the mind

Give us the elevator pitch for your book?

Approaching her thirty-fifth birthday Grace’s contented existence as a happily married woman is shattered by her husband’s affair. In a state of bewilderment, she attempts to make sense of the chaos as her marriage implodes in the ensuing storm of lies and deceit.

But sometimes the worst day of your life can result in some of the best.

Having patched up her life and redefined her career, Grace finds herself amongst a group of colorful students, who learn more than they bargained for, and an eclectic couple Alexia and Angus who introduce her to their confident, and distinctly different friend, Brent. He has his own strong ideas on how relationships should develop and leads Grace into a passionate psychological affair of the mind.

Grace’s usually restrained and professional demeanor becomes decidedly unhinged as her level of arousal increases and she wrestles with his insistence to go against the trends of society.

How long will she last?

What would you give as your main reason or goal for writing?

Books start writing themselves in my head and I have to put them on paper to stop them from bothering me.

Who was the book written for?

Women intrigued by the mystery of love, sex, and romance who seek that ultimate climax of feeling lost and found at the same time.

How long did it take for you to finish the final draft of your book?

Years and years, I found it hard to part with my characters.

What makes this book different from others on the shelf?

It seeks to entertain and enlighten, to seduce and to satisfy.

It takes the reader on the same journey as the protagonist, delaying their gratification, they too will have to earn their marshmallow.

What was the hardest part of the writing journey for you?

Finding the time to put aside just for myself and my writing addiction, I was in such ecstasy, it felt selfish.

Your favourite place to write?

A quiet, peaceful place in the mountains with a panoramic view to gaze out at while I’m pondering the next scene.

What kept you motivated to write during the times you felt stuck?

I am easily reinspired by reading good books or walking and canoeing in nature.

Tell us something about yourself that readers would not be able to guess?

I am a consummate nerd, I read and study all the time, mainly about my favourite topic, psychology, but anything that builds my understanding of the human being.

Have you written any other books?

I have started my next one, hopefully this time it won’t take years and years.

Assuming you may not write full time, what is your day job?

I divide my time between being a Physiotherapist and a Stress Coach. These occupations provide me with a rich substrate of interesting lives from which I draw aspects of my characters.

How should someone get in touch with you?

www.mcsq.co.za