Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Blog Interview- Isla Grey

Happy Wednesday readers. We've almost got this week conquered!!
Let's celebrate by welcoming author Isla Grey and her new release, Asylum Harbor.




    Welcome Isla, please tell us three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C.

Affable – Someone once told me I was the easiest person to argue with. 
Busy – It always seems I have a full plate with things that have to get done.
Calm – I have a seven-year-old and a father who needs round the clock care.  I’ve had to 
learn how to keep calm under pressure.

What are your three favorite things?

My daughter, Emily.  She tries me some days but she’s my life.

My family – blood relatives and those who I’ve adopted over the years.  They’re all so different and there’s never a dull moment.

Music.  I can’t remember a time without music and there’s always a song to describe how I’m feeling.


Are you self- published or with a publishing company (if so, which one?)?

I’m with the Wild Rose Press.

Is there a process you stick to, or do you just write as it hits you?

I don’t have a particular “sit down and write” time of day.  I hand write the first draft of my stories so that usually comes with me whenever I’m out and about just in case there’s an opportunity to get some writing in.  The best place for me to write?  The carpool lane at my daughter’s school.  I tend to get there an hour early to write…er, I mean, to pick her up!

  Music is a big influence on my writing. I have certain songs that inspire each chapter, or the whole book. What helps to inspire you? 

I think what inspires me is just observing the world around me.  It could be a unique place or even a conversation that gets me to thinking “what if”.


Will there be more books in your series, or can you tell us about any previous books?

I’m actually just about finished with the follow-up to “Asylum Harbor”.  This one is currently called “Adrift” and brings plenty more trouble for the people on Shell Island.  I have plans for one more story and I’m toying with the idea for a forth.  It’ll depend on how much the characters talk to me!

 When not writing, what can you be found doing?

Besides the never ending quest to have a clean house, you can usually find me walking down to the river or along the local walking trails with my Ipod.  I’m the movie mistakes editor for Bellaonline so I tend to watch more movies than a person should. 


 Favorite item of clothing in your closet?

Do shoes count?  I have a pair of black leather boots that come right above the ankle and have four inch block heels.  I bought those things back in 1999 and I still wear them!  I’m also partial to an ever growing t-shirt collection and a comfy gray sweater that was my grandmother’s.




Blurb

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 finds herself drawn to Kerr, the Shell Island harbormaster.  But finding her happily-ever-after 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 quickly 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.





EXCERPT

“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.”

Asylum Harbor Buy Links:
AUTHOR BIO

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.

You can connect with Isla at:


6 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for letting me stop by today. I hope everyone enjoys reading about Devon, Kerr and Shell Island.

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    1. Hi Isla, I'm so glad to have you. Great excerpt. I really love a woman that can take care of herself when needed. That's a wonderful book trailer as well.

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  2. Busy Lady! Congrats on your new release and good luck.

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  3. Great Excerpt! Sounds like a terrific book. Thank you for sharing!

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  4. Lovely excerpt. Best wishes on the release!

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