Sasha Wasley was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia. She has completed a PhD in cultural theory and loves nature, Jane Austen and puns. Sasha is a farming wannabe, with a passion for animals and the land. Although she’s in her forties now, she still wants a pony. Her debut novel, a young adult paranormal, was published in 2014. Today, she lives and writes in the Perth hills region with her partner and two daughters, surrounded by dogs, cats and chickens. Find out about her rural romance stories, including Dear Banjo and True Blue, here. View her sister site, with details about her mystery, paranormal and young adult novels written as S.D. Wasley here.
I’ll be interviewing Sasha for Stories on Stage at Koorliny Arts Centre on July 25, 2018. For more information about the event, click here.
Monique: Your second novel, True Blue, was released in May. A story about a free spirit who returns home and stumbles into love, this looks to be another warm-fuzzy read like your first novel, Dear Banjo … Tell me a bit more about it.
Sasha: Freya (“Free”) was such a fun character to write. She’s bright and talented but naïve – always believes the best of people until proven otherwise. She’s a total optimist who wears her heart on her sleeve, and she’s actually very good at reading people’s true feelings – it’s only duplicity that confuses her. In a world of people who sometimes hide how they really feel, Free can struggle a little. She’s thrown when she meets Finn because she is certain he’s into her, but he just wants to stay friends and she can’t work out why. Free’s also aghast when the guy she’s working with, Aidan, undermines their art project and tries to get her into trouble, and when her eldest sister interferes in her career as an artist.
I’m proud that True Blue tackles some big issues – integrity, workplace politics, sustainability, and the need to make your own way in the world. Free blunders her way through her battles with her own unique brand of passion and idealism. When she cares, she cares hard – and she sure cares about Finn.
One Response
What a wonderful interview. Your questions are fabulous, Monique, and I loved Sasha’s responses — she’s as refreshing as her character Free. Love the puns, too! 🙂