Mary-anne Scott lives in Havelock North but her heart lives in Mahia. It's a magical place that she goes to as often as possible. Mary-anne's great-grandparents and grandparents had connections to Mahia and her parents even got engaged while on holiday there. The tradition has continued with Mary-anne and Paul's sons and their families making regular trips there too. It seemed timely to set a book in Mahia and Spearo is the result. If people asked Mary-anne if she was keen on spearfishing, the answer used to be 'no'. However, writing this book and doing the necessary research has given her a better understanding and appreciation of the sport and she hopes many young people, especially girls, will take up diving and spearfishing as a hobby. It's a sport that's available to anyone with a snorkel, mask and flippers, (and a spear if you want to catch your dinner). Spearo is Mary-anne's fourth novel. She has previously written Snakes and Ladders, Coming Home to Roost and Sticking with Pigs which were all short-listed for the NZ Book awards. Mary-anne writes as an advice columnist for Stuff.co ('Dear Mary-anne'). To read more, or to contact the author: www.maryannescott.co.nz