The Cheating Vines

My full name reads an alphabet of 26 letters. Magdalena Annegie VandenBerg.

Writing under Mum's maiden name of Prins shortens everything to an easy M.A. Prins.

Growing up in a Dutch immigrant family in small town New Zealand, stories of back home peppered my curiosity for a world beyond our sheep lined shores.

Leaving behind a career in advertising and marketing. I packed a suitcase (only one) and left home for Sydney. While working for an advertising agency in the heart of the city, a friend suggested applying for a Flight Attendant position with Qantas.

Despite a nervous tick twitching my left leg during the final interview I got the job. Getting paid to fly around the world was the stuff of dreams. My flying career included a stint of living la dolce vita in Milan, and Rome.

Bellissimo.

Fast-forward a few years.

After retiring the hostie uniform I ventured back into marketing. Through good fortune, I met people who worked in the entertainment business. Specialising in live shows, I worked for concert promoters, including London based impresario Harvey Goldsmith, and for the creative genius of Cirque du Soleil.

From Sydney, Italy, Las Vegas, London, and Amsterdam, I’m now back home in lil’ ol’ New Zealand.

This is where my life begun.

This is where my life as a writer begins.

P.S. I love to run. With three marathons done and dusted I’ll lace up to do another one, or three. I adore red wine. I’m a cat lady in training. And I’m Minnie Moo’s full time (my cat) lady-in-waiting.