October 3, 2015

Interview with Isla Grey, Author of ASYLUM HARBOR



*What would you be doing right now if you were not an author?
I would probably be cleaning my house like I’ve been meaning to do.  Ha, Ha!  I think I’d be taking some extra college classes to get a teaching degree.  It’s still on my bucket list to do.

*5 years ago: what were you doing?
I’ve actually had the same job for 14 years—doing accounting for a physical therapy company.  I see numbers in my sleep.

*Do you have a certain writing ritual?
I have to hand write the first draft of a story in a writing journal.  That journal goes with me everywhere.  You never know when you’ll get a chance to scribble a few words down.

*What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
I entered a writing competition and one of the scenes in the story was part of an actual conversation I’d had.  A judge in the competition said the scene was unbelievable because no one talked that way.  I guess she had never been to Virginia.

*Ever fangirled over another author? Who was it?
Can I list two?  I completely fangirled over J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.  I’d get so excited when a new release was coming up and I was at the bookstore at midnight when the last book came out.  Right now I’m a big fan of Ransom Riggs and his Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children Series.  I can’t wait for his “Library of Souls” book to come out…and then there’s the movie coming out next year!

*Is there an author you'd like to meet?
Oh my gosh, there’s so many!  Besides the ones I just mentioned, there’s Stephen King.  I’ve read most of his books and would love to see what he’s like in person.  And if we can go back in time, Edgar Allen Poe is one of my favorites. There’s also Daphne Du Maurier who wrote “Rebecca”, Charlotte Bronte who wrote “Jane Eyre” and Mary Shelley who wrote “Frankenstein”.  I think I better stop before I think of more!

*Biggest writing pet peeve?
Misspelled words—I can’t text very well because I have to spell out every single word.  I also can’t write with the radio or TV on.  It has to be quiet.

* Do you read other's reviews of your books?
I have to be honest, I’ve been a bit scared to read reviews.  Hopefully I’ll get over it.

Fav Color
Blue


Fav food
I love Japanese Teppanyaki !  I’ve learned how to make the soup at home!  And, if I ever go missing, you can find me at the nearest Panera Bread getting iced tea.

Fav song and/or singer
I have about 1,300 songs on my Ipod so I love a variety of things.  My favorite song?  It would be a toss-up between Queen’s “One Vision” and a song by Gary Morris called “100% Chance Of Rain”.  I’m still a big fan of ‘80’s country and rock music and my inner Def Leppard fan gets giddy whenever they have a new CD or tour.

Guilty pleasure
 There’s so many!  “Penny Dreadful”, “Walking Dead” and “Botched” on TV.  I can binge watch both of those.  And if I’m really feeling evil, there is a local pizza place that has the best cheesecake you’ll ever eat.  The crust is made of pecans and I like to get it with chocolate drizzle.  My daughter says it’s better with raspberry!




Isla Grey is from Central Virginia and still lives in the same small town she grew up in. She developed a love of writing at an early age and over the years has tried her hand at penning poetry (some good, some not so good), screenwriting, newspaper articles and historical stories. She’s “old school” when it comes to writing and is a hoarder of more pens, post-it notes and writing journals than she’ll ever need. Isla likes to write different types of stories from romance to mystery and anything in between and loves a “happy for now but there could be some bad things coming” feel. When Isla’s not writing, she spends her time being called “Mom, Mama, Mommy” (well, you get the picture) by her daughter who is forever active, even in her sleep. She considers herself an unofficial “cat whisperer” and is a pet human to a plethora of cats that have taken up residence at her home over the years. Isla also enjoys reading a good biography or ghost story, traveling even though “there’s no place like home”, good music played loud and walking.
Isla loves movies and is the movie mistakes editor at Bellaonline.com where she talks about…well…movies.  Her novella, “A Voice in the Dark”, is available now and her book, “Asylum Harbor”, will be released September 16th, 2015 through Wild Rose Press.




Trouble is the last thing Devon Brown needs when she leaves the painful memories of her past behind and heads to Shell Island.  As the Salty Dog's new bartender, she feels herself drawn to Kerr, the Shell Island harbor master.  But finding her happily-after-ever is difficult when dealing with an obnoxious bootlegger who supplies the bar with illegal liquor and a jealous coworker.

A standoffish loner with damaged emotions, Kerr avoids relationships like the plague.  Things change when Devon catches his eye.  When a simple flirtation grows serious, the coworker and bootlegger become obstacles to any future Kerr and Devon may have together.

As the situation worsens, Devon realizes that even the still waters of Asylum Harbor are no refuge during a storm.


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“You already got dibs on this one Kerr?”

Porter shot an evil glare at the opposite end of the bar and looked back toward her.  “I’ll see you tonight.”  He flicked his tongue.  “After work.”  He raised his glass in a mock toast and chugged it in one gulp.
          The lights dimmed for Victoria’s dance of the night.  Devon watched Kerr, who was usually headed for the exit by now, and breathed a sigh of relief when he remained glued to his seat with his back to the stage.  He wasn’t staying for Victoria’s peep show.  There must have been something about this Porter character that got under his skin in a bad way.
          Devon was eager for the quick break.  She hustled to the back as the chords to “Simply Irresistible” began to pelt over the speakers and ran some cold water over her forearm.  A red welt was beginning to show where Porter had held onto it.  She hoped he would be gone by the time she got back.
          Making it out before mid-song, Devon rounded the bar when someone snagged her wrist and thrust her hard against the bar, knocking the wind out of her.  She could smell Porter’s alcohol-laced breath as his weight pinned her under him.  One of his grubby hands shot under her shirt while the other wrestled with the button on her pants.  “Let’s give them a real show.”
          She struggled to reach the Equalizer, but it remained hidden, out of her grasp.  Devon hoisted her knee toward his crotch, but Porter lost his balance and fell backward before she could make contact.
          Kerr towered over him.  “Get your hands off her.”



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