GREETINGS, BOOKWORMS! I’m Aisha Kandisha, Head Librarian at Kandisha Press. Join me in the dusty stacks of the library I will never leave again as I chat with some of my favorite Women in Horror. Today we feature author Isla Croft!
What do you believe are your strengths in writing? And when you feel you need to improve on a particular writing skill, how do you go about it?
The one-eyed Imposter Monster that lurks deep within shadowy crevices of my writer psyche bellows, “You have no strengths!” But the curly-haired Final Girl in me slays the beast of doubt to say, “I am blessed by the Idea Gremlins. Those little creatures magically materialise and burrow into my mind, so I am never short of new concepts to create new stories.”
To improve? The not-so-glamorous answer is to…
Read.
And write.
Read to inspire. Write to imagine.
What are your thoughts on the book industry today, or more importantly, about the book community?
As an emerging writer, I am still learning about the Big Book Behemoth. But what I do love about the industry is how self-publishing and e-books have evoked an infinite enchanted realm for all writers to have their voices heard beyond the Publishing House Gatekeepers.
Do you feel it is getting harder or easier to make it as an independent author these days?
The feedback I have received from experienced and emerging authors seem to have the same consensus—the golden days of Kindle and ePublishing seem to have become a Ghost of Bookish Past. But that does not mean I am a non-believer! While it may be trickier to have your work seen in the river rapids of content creation, savvy marketing and (lots of) perseverance can give you the key to that gothic castle.
Tell us about your work. What story are you most proud of?
Like the unreliable narrator in an Edgar Allen Poe story, I can never make up my mind. Short stories are my poison. I have had romance, sci fi stories, and personal essays published in various places. I have yet to have a horror story unleashed onto the world, but I will keep trying! I am very proud of making it to the top 5% of the Kandisha Press 2025 Women of Horror anthology even if I did not make the final cut. Congrats to all the incredible ladies who made it in! Cannot wait to read your work.
What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?
Because I am a giant nerd and wear this label as a badge of honour, my current project is working towards a PhD in Literature. I am also working on a Young Adult Fiction Sci Fi novel, which will hopefully be completed this year. In amongst the mayhem of writing and studying, I will continue to fire shorter pieces at every competition and publication that will have me. If you want to connect, find me on Instagram @islacroftauthor. Happy writing!
KANDISHA PRESS 
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