About Hollee
Hollee Mands writes her stories in the land called Melbourne, where the weather is as capricious as her imagination.
When not stuck in a daydream, writing—or thinking about writing—she's juggling her tiny, spirited tyrant, conquering the demands of her day job, escaping between the pages of a book, exploring new recipes in the kitchen, or embarking on some other epic household adventure... all with a cuppa in hand and a podcast in her ears.
01
Is Hollee Mands your real name?
Hollee is an anagram of my Chinese name, and she’s also a nod to my inner child. Mands is (arguably) the grown-up me and what some people call me in real life. Think of it this way: Hollee writes the stories, and Mands edits them. (Of course, they then go to a professional editor for "real" editing—because even grown-ups need backup!).
02
Where are you from?
Born and bred in tropical Malaysia, I am ethnically Chinese, and currently reside in the melting-pot that is Melbourne.
03
Here’s two truths and a lie, but I’ll leave it to you to figure out which is which 😉
-
I’m terrified of lizards
-
I speak five different languages.
-
I can’t eat spicy food!!
Take your best guess and if you think you’ve got a good shot, feel free to shoot me a line here.
04
What’s the strangest thing you’ve researched for a book?
Ooo, what a doozy.
Have showers been invented in this era yet? How long does it take for a specific type of wound to bleed out? Where do you apply pressure on the neck to make someone faint? (Hint: It’s related to the carotid artery, but don't try this at home!). Can two people actually sit on the same saddle on a horse? Is the one-horse trope feasible?
I don't think I'm unique here. An author's search history can be interesting.