Mac MacDonald. Author, Storyteller, Poet.
About the Silly Bugger
Mac is an author, storyteller, poet based in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Dunedin is a pert wee city in the deep south of the country where you don’t find many rich and famous people. So not only is it a nice place, he fits right in. You'll usually find him writing, or out and about in the local performing arts scene telling his stories. If he’s not doing either of those, according to his missus of thirty years the irrepressible Lou, he’s generally just being a pain in the arse.
Mac MacDonald, Author
You can’t beat a bloody good yarn, can you?
If you enjoy a giggle, a chortle, a guffaw or even a “shit yeah!”
then Mates is the book for you.
Mates is a collection of short stories and poems from New Zealand's Deep South. They revolve around the central character, Mac, and his interactions with Southern locals. People like a motor scraper operator, a bank manager, a bus driver, a plumber, even going so far as to include the thoughts of some very articulate sea lions, a stoat, and his missus. All seem to have an uncanny ability to create those eureka moments where the lights go on and we can suddenly see what's been hiding in plain sight all along. Their entertaining insights into the everyday, relationships, politics, economics, the environment and spirituality will likely change many of your preconceptions in the most delightful way.
Not only is Mac MacDonald a fabulous storyteller, in Mates he has also mastered the art of Meaning Making.
Sandy McKay
‘Mates’ is a little gem of a book by everyday philosopher and performance poet, Mac MacDonald.
"...It’s a ‘matey’ collection you will want to return to again and again. ‘Mates’ is both entertaining and thought provoking. Full of tall tales, short sketches, well-drawn observation and entertaining episodes. These are well written yarns that will make you laugh and get you thinking.
The book has concise chapters and a very accessible ‘dip into’ format. MacDonald’s stories combine keenly observed characters with some punchy poetry.
Often blokey but never bunkum. Mac serves up his ideas with wit and wisdom, sensitivity and insight. He has a knack for cutting to the chase, taking you places with no faffing about."
Sandy McKay is a New Zealand children's writer, biographer, and freelance author. Several of her books have been shortlisted for or have won awards, including Recycled, which won the Junior Fiction section of the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in 2002. She has written feature magazine articles for Next, More, NZ Woman’s Weekly and Kiwi Parent.
Victor Billot
“Mates” is old school in the best sense.
"...From tall tales to subtle insights of working class life, “Mates” is unpretentious, unvarnished and never dull. Mac MacDonald always has a feel for the humour in the everyday, a storyteller and bard of the mysteries of not so ordinary existence.”"
Victor Billot is a Dunedin based writer. His work includes The Sets, Machine Language, Mad Skills for the Demon Operators, and a weekly satirical Ode published on Sundays by Newsroom.
Kura Jane Carpenter
Funny and distinctly Kiwi!
"...Reading this collection of NZ stories and poems, a mix of pub yarns, tall-tales and domestic drama from the point of view of a classic true-blue Kiwi bloke, is almost as good as seeing Mac perform live.
Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy, before he becomes a national icon and the Aussies claim him!"
Kura Jane Carpenter is a New Zealand author writing paranormal cozy mysteries. In 2019 Kura was the recipient of the Sir Julius Vogel award for Best New Talent. When not writing, Kura enjoys convincing strangers that greyhounds make the best pets.
Nicola Thorstensen
"Mac’s yarns are a massive hit at our poetry nights..."
"...His unique blend of humour, satire, and the odd political barb spice up the evening and always leave the audience wanting more."
Nicola Thorstensen is an Ōtepoti Dunedin based Poet and a member of the Octagon Poetry Collective. Her work can be found in New Zealand periodicals and journals, including Takahē, Poetry New Zealand, political anthology Manifesto Aotearoa, and Cumulus. She won the Robert Burns International Poetry Competition in 2016.
Duncan Eddy
"Bloody good, and bloody funny."
"Dunedin writer Mac MacDonald’s spoken word performances are packed with wit, insight and the common touch."
Duncan Eddy is a writer and community advocate from Purakaunui. His poems, local history research and children's fiction have appeared in various publications and online. He is the poetry editor at the Blueskin News, and poetry curator and MC for the Waitati Music Festival.
Jae Bedford
"Mac MacDonald is an amazingly versatile storyteller."
"He’s done a heap of sets at my gigs over the last couple of years. Always seems to turn the world upside down somehow, in the most entertaining way. I never tire of listening to him."
Jae Bedford is a performer, recording artist, promoter, and C.E.O of Bedford Entertainment & Bedford School of Music.
Michael Wingfield
"Mac has delivered knockout sets at our gigs..."
"... every time we’ve called on him. Best storytelling poet I’ve ever heard."
Michael Wingfield is the band leader of Dunedin based surf punkers, Katharticus.
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