Interview with Ilona Salley, author of Yesterday is Never Gone

Title: Yesterday is Never Gone
Author: Ilona Sally
Publisher: iUniverse
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Format: Ebook

Niki is no stranger to horrific personal challenges. As a child, she bravely endured abandonment by her father. While in her teens, she witnessed her mother’s murder and the abduction and presumed death of her only sibling. Although her secrets have always been carefully cloaked from others, they have shaped her personality more than she would like to admit. But with a past as terrible as hers, how can Niki ever hope for a bright future? Years later, Niki is a dedicated profiler in a criminal investigation agency with no idea her life is about to change exponentially. One day, through a quirky twist of fate, she receives startling news that her sister, Inge, is alive. As a driving force compels Niki to search for her, she embarks on a quest that takes her through cities and wilderness on two continents. She encounters difficult decisions, threatening mobsters, near-death experiences, and romance, yet nothing deters her from reaching her goal—not even a gruesome discovery about her father. But Niki is about to discover that things are never what they seem to be. In this thrilling tale, deception and inner turmoil hamper a young woman’s journey toward a new reality as she attempts to reconcile her past and find the truth.

Question1- Do you have a daily writing routine? Usually, I get up, have breakfast and begin to write. I find my head is clear in the morning and I just have to ignore everything else until the afternoon. Generally, I do not sit for more than three hours at a time. If there is research to be done, I will do this later, as it does not require such concentration.

Question2- Where do you do most of your writing? Mostly, I do my writing on my desktop computer in the family room which is mostly unused in the mornings. I feel grounded at my desktop, but sometimes have to use the laptop which seems to be a transitory thing, moved from place to place. Here, I do not feel as comfortable.

Question3- Where did you grow up? Can you tell us a little about it? I was born in Germany, but moved to Canada when I was three. I grew up in Toronto and have made that area my home. My parents spoke German in the family, and because my father spoke many languages, I developed an interest in languages.  I studied German and French and Latin. Toronto is a very multi-cultural city with so many restaurants and customs of all ethnicities. It seems just normal when you live here, but when you go on a trip and return, you realize how rich the city is in its diversity.

Question4- What is your motto in life/writing? Motto? Strange. I never really thought of a motto. I think it could be “Live and Learn”. I always try to learn something big and new each year.

Question5- What inspired you to writing your book? It was not a single event or thing which inspired me to write my book. I always wanted to write a novel, and I was watching a lot of crime stories on TV like Criminal Minds and CSI. I was reading thrillers and crime stories too, authors like: Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwall, David Baldacci and John Grisham. So, naturally I got steered towards writing a thriller.

Ilona Salley emigrated from Germany to Toronto, Canada, with her family when she was three. Throughout her life, her interests have included squash, skiing, wood carving, literature, art, and languages. Her fascination with architecture and archaeology has led her to travel in search of ancient places and artifacts. After a long career as an educator, she expanded her horizons by teaching in England and China. Now, she spends part of each year in Fort Myers, Florida.