Height: 5'4''
Astrological Sign: Cancer
Coffee Order: Half-Caff, Black
Kids: One (a Chihuahua-Staffy mix named Holt)
Hometown: Several considered, but Charlotte, North Carolina comes out on top
Favorite Book: Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice
Ideal Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Favorite TV Show: Taskmaster
Comfort TV Show: Friends
Fun Fact: Mandy and her husband have visited all 30 MLB ballparks together!
Mandy Casto is a teacher-turned-indie author who crafts what her family describes as "absolute masterpieces" (and who is she to argue with such unbiased experts?) Whether she’s spinning a cozy mystery like Return to Jade Island or tugging at heartstrings in her coming-of-age romance, Retreat to Bleecker Street, Mandy writes stories that feel like home.
Her journey to the keyboard was a winding one. From assisting in dental offices to molding young minds in elementary classrooms, Mandy eventually traded her grade book for a PhD in Education. By day, she still finds joy in preparing the next generation of teachers; by night (and early morning), she’s a storyteller.
Though she first discovered her "imaginative spirit" in a fifth-grade classroom—shoutout to Mr. Ed, who assigned those weekly creative writing prompts—Mandy took a twenty-year "intermission" from fiction. She made her triumphant return in her late thirties and celebrated her 40th birthday with the best gift possible: the release of her debut novel.
When she isn’t plotting her next twist, you can find Mandy traveling with her husband, snuggling her dog, or perfecting the art of "pairing a perfectly brewed cup of coffee and a rom-com" afternoon.
What’s Next? Mandy is currently at work on her third novel, Rendezvous at Booklore Castle, coming in late 2026.
