Amy Mona Anderson (nḗe Holland; 11 March 1909 – 3 May 2004) was a New Zealand writer. She is best known for her first book, ''A River Rules My Life'', published in 1963. In ''

Pacific Affairs ''Pacific Affairs'' (''PA'') is a Canadian peer-reviewed scholarly journal that publishes academic research on contemporary political, economic, and social issues in Asia and the Pacific. The journal was founded in 1926 as the newsletter for th ...

'' in 1963–64, American J. B. Condliffe described it as "an immediate best-seller in New Zealand", while in 2017 a Christchurch City librarian wrote that its reissue was "a cornerstone of New Zealand back country life". Anderson was appointed a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in the 1980 New Year Honours, for services to literature.

Early life

Anderson was born Amy Mona Holland in New Brighton,

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

, New Zealand on the 11 March 1909. She was often known by her father's last name, Tarling, instead of her mother's. Her mother was Alice Maud Holland and her father, William Tarling, worked as a potter. She attended South Malvern Primary School and received her secondary education through private tutoring. She displayed a strong interest in writing from a young age. In May 1927, eighteen-year-old Mona Tarling married Leslie William Tipler. Tipler worked as a

motor mechanic An auto mechanic (automotive technician in most of North America, light vehicle technician in British English, and motor mechanic in Australian English) is a mechanic who services and repairs automobiles, sometimes specializing in one or more ...

. They settled in Oxford, North Canterbury, and divorced in November 1936.

Career

After working as a housemaid from 1935, Mona married Ronald Edward Anderson and moved to Mount Algidus Station, a

sheep station A sheep station is a large property ( station, the equivalent of a ranch) in Australia or New Zealand, whose main activity is the raising of sheep for their wool and/or meat. In Australia, sheep stations are usually in the south-east or sout ...

near Lake Colridge. Mona Anderson wrote a series of magazine articles on life at Mount Algidus, which led to her delivering scripted talks on the

radio station 3YA for six years. Anderson's first book, ''A River Rules My Life,'' sold out of its first

print run Print circulation is the average number of copies of a publication. The number of copies of a non-periodical publication (such as a book) are usually called print run. Circulation is not always the same as copies sold, often called paid circulat ...

within three days of its 1963 publication. Her publisher had suggested she name it "High Country Wife", a title which she rejected. Her next books, ''The Good Logs of Algidus'' (1965) and ''Over the River'' (1966) followed shortly after. By the mid-60s, Anderson was a best-selling author. Anderson's successful writing career spanned until the eighties. In the 1980 New Year Honours, she was appointed a

, for services to literature. Her final book, ''Both Sides of the River'', came out the following year. She then retired, focusing on nursing her unwell husband, Ronald, and brother, Mick, both of whom died in 1992. Anderson's final public appearance was at a library in 2001. She died on the 3 May 2004 in her

Kaikohe Kaikohe is the seat of the Far North District of New Zealand, situated on State Highway 12 about 260 km from Auckland. It is the largest inland town and highest community above sea level in the Northland Region. With a population of over ...

cottage, aged 95.

Works

* ''A River Rules My Life'' (1963) * ''The Good Logs of Algidus'' (1965) * ''Over the River'' (1966) * ''A Wonderful World At My Doorstep'' (1968) * ''A Letter From James'' (1972) * ''Mary-Lou: The story of a high country lamb'' (1975) * ''The Water Joey'' (1976) * ''Old Duke: The story of a hard-case horse'' (1977) * ''Home Is the High Country: My animal friends'' (1979) *''Both Sides of the River'' (1981)

References

External links

Harry Broad's review
of the 2017 reissue of ''A River Rules My Life''
Video about Mount Algidus station, including Mona Anderson
1909 births 2004 deaths 20th-century New Zealand women writers New Zealand memoirists New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire Writers from Christchurch People from North Canterbury {{NewZealand-writer-stub