Welcome, come on in! Let’s meet Madeleine.

Who are you?
Hi, I’m Madeleine, author of the New Zealand thrillers Blood On Vines and Rings On Water, both books set in the picturesque wine region of Matakana.
I’m originally from Sweden but have lived in New Zealand for over thirty years. I’m married to a wonderful man and have two beautiful adult daughters. We live at the beach and love walks along the coast and in the bush with our two gorgeous Westies puppies Walter and Dottie.

Favourite genre/s to read or write?
I read quite widely, anything from thrillers and suspense to historical fiction and YA, but I also enjoy non-fiction books. At the moment I’m obsessed with learning about penguins from all over the world.
( There are 18 different species and they all live in the southern hemisphere-and we have five of them here in New Zealand.) The reason for my interest is that I’m a volunteer and look after the Korora Little Penguins around the coast where we live. These adorable seabirds are quite feisty, despite being only 30 cm tall, and weighing around 1kg.

Please tell us about your latest work:
Rings On Water is the second book in The Matakana Series that was released in 2023, and follows on from the first book, Blood On Vines.
A narcotics pick up at sea goes horribly wrong. A man is lost overboard. A series of unfortunate events sends shockwaves through the local community. On a wintery day, a young woman is found dead at a local beach. Sergeant Bill Granger, the local police officer, is called in to investigate. He had hoped for a quiet off-season in. Instead, what seems to be a straightforward case of an unfortunate death turns into a complex web of small town secrets, and a desire for revenge that will soon place Bill’s family in danger. With Niko Sopoaga, a young South Auckland Constable working alongside him. Bill falls into the dark and dangerous world of drug distribution and a hardened motorcycle gang wreaking havoc while they chase a clever killer. As Bill and Niko search for clues to uncover the killer’s identity, Annika Granger prepares for an art exhibition. She’s befriended by Crystal, a young woman new to the close-knit community. Crystal overhears a conversation and ultimately discovers her partner, Andrei, is not the person she believed him to be.
Everyone discovers that secrets run deep, even in the best of communities.

Book three in the Matakana Series, Angels Of Clay will be released next year which is exciting.

Do you like chocolate fish?
Of course ! Who doesn’t !! Chocolate is the best !!!

What’s your main character like?
The main character in the books is Sergeant Bill Granger, a middle-aged police officer, who, after a career in the city that resulted in him being seriously injured, moved his family to his hometown. In the town of Matakana, Bill is the sole charge police officer for most of the year, and is enjoying the slower pace with more community focus. He is feeling his age, and gets impatient with inefficiency, and can sometimes be tough on Niko. But as far as he is concerned, Niko’s got broad shoulders, and it will make him a better police officer.
Constable Niko Sopoaga is half Bill’s age and normally works in South Auckland. It’s his second year being seconded to the coastal town. Despite the complete opposite environments compared to the very busy Manurewa, he quite enjoys the change of scenery, but also appreciates Bill’s mentoring. Niko’s past is checked, but this is something that he thinks gives him an advantage, and being blessed with looking like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson doesn’t hurt either, and the ladies are swooning wherever he goes.
Annika Granger, Bill’s wife, is a local artist. She’s the voice of reasoning and a great sounding board for him at home. When she’s not busy raising their family of four children of various ages, she spends most of her time in the studio at home in the company of her dogs, Finn and Maggie. Annika is astute, and together with Bill, they make a great team.

Would you go to the pub with them?
Absolutely, Bill is a through and through decent man, who loves to be with his family and friends. He enjoys a cold beer or a decent glass of red wine. Niko is fun and would be great to go to the pub with. Although as he’s quite handsome with a great charisma, the female attention could be a little annoying. It might be best for the boys to go on their own.  

Would you have them over for dinner?
For sure, but Bill would have to bring his wife Annika along, as we would have lots in common to talk about. Annika is a foodie, like me, which would make a well-planned menu so enjoyable. She’s also arty, and a huge dog lover, which makes for great conversation.

What music do they listen to?
Bill’s a classic rock kind of guy. Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen & Pink Floyd are his favourites, all of which his children have grown up with, and used to sing along, at the top of their voices, in the car with him. Now it’s just the twins that enjoy this. The older siblings find it incredibly cringeworthy.
Niko, despite being much younger, really loves classical music like Andrea Bocelli and Sol3Mio when he’s in the car, or at home after a long day at work. At the gym, however, he likes something with a great beat like reggaeton rap or techno.

What type of car do they drive?
Bill drives a police Ute, which is eternally full of stuff. Niko’s pride and joy is his Holden Commodore that he cleans obsessively.

Are they a series character?
Yes, they are. I have so enjoyed developing the characters of Bill, Annika and Niko. Being a small town, it’s been so much fun to work on their individual traits, and to mix things up, and throw challenges their way.

What piece of advice would you give a new writer?
Read lots and lots, join a writing community, be curious and open to learning new things, ask questions and listen to writers around you. Established writers are generally happy to share in their knowledge and can guide you on the way.
But above all, don’t let the blank page intimidate you. What’s the worst that can happen? They say you have to spend ten thousand hours mastering whatever skill you want to excel at. The more you write, the more you exercise that writing muscle, and your confidence and skillset will grow.
If this is truly your dream, something you have contemplated for ages but been too scared to attempt, throw caution to the wind. Don’t let the fear hold you back from writing, just do it.   

There is no better time than to start than now.

What part of writing do you find the hardest?
I often have too many ideas whirling around my head, and can find it a challenge to focus and finish my current project. There are too many fun concepts and new book ideas to develop.
Funnily enough, in most other aspects of my life, even other creative endeavours ( I do patchwork, amongst other things), I’m fairly organised. I guess we are sent these things to try us… ha ha.

Have you ever had lolly cake?  
Yes, it’s a classic.

Pantser or outliner? And why?
Hmm.. I’m definitely a mix between the two, although I’m more of a pantser than plotter. Being a discovery writer, I really like to be swept along in the story, to be surprised, just like the reader. However, writing without a detailed outline, can sometimes make you end up with having painted yourself into a corner, which means you have to embark on a rewrite. What happens with my process is that I set off with some sort of idea, a concept of what I want to achieve and happen loosely. I reach the midpoint of the story which is where I need to rein in the manuscript, and take stock, to ensure that there are no plot holes going forward.

Do you write in silence?
I get easily distracted, which is why it works best for my brain to write at home without music. I love the idea of sitting in a cafe, tapping away, drinking endless cups of coffee, and developing the story, but the reality is, I get little done in these settings.

Do you like to listen to audio books?
I listen to audio books and podcasts sometimes, mainly when I’m doing other things like ironing. But as I have a strong dislike for wrinkly clothes, it has to be done. I especially love the shorter podcasts. If I have a choice, I much prefer the sensory experience of holding a book, sitting on the couch and cuddling up to the dogs.

Are you a Kiwi?
I’m a Kiwi, but as I come from Sweden originally, I think this gives me a unique perspective and a genuine appreciation of our beautiful New Zealand. I feel lucky to call two places and two cultures home.

Dogs, cats, guinea pigs, or some other type of pet?
Dogs for sure. We currently have two adorable West Highland White Terriers, Walter is just over 1-year-old, and Dotti is almost 6 months. Before then we had The Three Musketeers, also Westies, and the absolutely best writing companions anyone could have. Dottie and Walter are both in training and love sleeping under my desk, or on my feet when I’m sitting on the couch. It’s a busy house alright, but the good thing is that these two adorable rascals get me out walking on the beach or through the bush, several times a day, something that is great for my creativity. They are truly the best four-legged family members!

 
Where do you write? Thank you for playing along
I write at home, either in the spare bedroom, where I have an adjustable standing desk, or on the couch cuddling up to Walter and Dottie, with plenty of coffee and tea at hand.

Thank you for letting me be a part of the Author Interrogations. (Thank you for taking part!)

 Warmest regards,
Madeleine

You can catch up with Madeleine in the following places:
Website
Facebook
Instagram