Author Interview with Annalise Grey

I'm happy to have Annalise Grey on our blog today! 

You can find all of Annalise's books on Goodreads...

Gettysburg After Dark: True Experiences of a Ghost Tour Guide

 Ever wonder what really happens when the streets of this little town go dark? Gettysburg once ran red with blood during the infamous Civil War battle. Spirits of the slain, the wounded, and those who witnessed these unimaginable horrors still walk the streets of Gettysburg. Join ghost tour guides as they tell of genuine sightings, smells, and the occasional physical contact with these wandering spirits.

Thanks, Annalise, for stopping by today!  When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
I started writing as a kid and then put it aside for a few years. It wasn't something I ever thought I'd do "for real". Both of my parents are writers and I have loved reading for as long as I can remember. So this was just something that I do for fun, to keep myself sane, and because I am passionate about it.  

How would you describe your writing style?
Ooooh.... Sensory? I build my world around what the characters feel, smell, hear, sense, etc. These are the types of books that I love and so I write this way as well. If there isn't sensory depth, I can't connect to it.

What do you see as the influences on your writing?

My family and my life growing up. I've always been very connected to nature - I grew up in the woods - and with an extremely tight-knit family. These have influenced me in ways I can't even begin to describe. With my writing, these elements come into play in everything I write from family dynamics to a connection to the world around my characters.

Where did you come up with the idea behind Gettysburg After Dark?

I've been a ghost tour guide in Gettysburg for several years. I have had so many experiences while out giving tours! My mom and dad are the ones who suggested I put them down on paper. My experiences have ranged from funny to downright spooky. There have been more than a few times I questioned whether or not I wanted to continue touring if things were going to happen to me! The thing is, Gettysburg has such a tragic history - the battle was horribly bloody and traumatic - and because of this the spirits are restless.

Many tourists come to see our town and they see the beauty of it today - the forests, the flowering fields, the quietness. But too often the other side of that coin is missed. There was true horror here in the days during and after the fighting. The soldiers and townspeople suffered greatly as the homes were filled with bodies and backyards were turned into cemeteries. No director in Hollywood could recreate trauma of this magnitude. Those scars are still there - the spirits that roam the streets every night.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I crochet (like mad), I make jewelry, play chess or Boggle with my kids, work in my garden, and go camping/hiking with my family. 

What book are you reading now?

I'm actually not reading any books right now other than my text book "Catalog it!" for my school library media class. It's not that exciting, really. LOL Once my class is done I will have more time to read.

What three things do you feel you couldn't live without?
My family, my library, and my crochet hooks!

You can find more about Annalise and her books on her website:  http://annalisegrey.com/

And on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/annalise.grey