Interview with Petra at Words Have the Power

Meet Camilla Isley, the author of I Wish For You!
When I finished reading Camilla Isley debut novel, I invited the author for a virtual cup of Skinny Caramel Macchiato and a chat about her dream career and her idea of a perfect romantic day in Chicago. Enjoy!

Can you tell me a bit about yourself, Camilla?

I’m a mechanical engineer who would have never dreamed to become a writer. I was used to dealing with numbers and formulas, not words. But books have always been my favorite escape, I’ve always liked to invent stories, only, until now, they’d stayed hidden inside my head. It’s so great to have them finally out in the open.

Is writing books your dream profession?

It is now, but never in a million years I would have imagined this future for myself. I often joke about it with my husband, if someone five years ago had come to me and said: “Five years from now, you’d have quit your job, you’d be married, you’d be living in the United States, and you’d be writing books.” I would have thought there wasn’t a more unlikely prediction about my life, and yet, here I am…doing exactly that and loving it.

Do you prefer Tea or Coffee when you write/ read?
Coffee, coffee, coffee. I actually dislike tea to death, like really hate the taste. My favorite Starbucks drink is a Skinny Caramel Macchiato.

Have you got any favourite Romagic books?
Absolutely. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella, it’s not exactly magic, but I’ll include a romantic ghost story in the category. Don’t You Forget About Me by Alexandra Potter, loved this one. I also enjoyed Yours Truly by Kirsty Greenwood.

What are your favourite places in Chicago?
I always tend to orbit near the downtown area, Gold Coast, Near North and sometimes Loop and Lincoln Park. I love walking up and down Michigan Avenue, Millennium Park, or visiting the free Lincoln Park Zoo. There are so many great bars and restaurants I can’t possibly name them all.

Describe your idea of a perfect romantic day and night in Chicago?
Let’s make a big assumption first by saying we’re in warm—or at least not-freezing-to-death—weather, which in Chicago can be a big if.
I would start my date with a brunch at le Café Des Architectes a contemporary French restaurant inside the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower Hotel. Their croissants are to die for, and I just love the food there. If you’re in the mood for something more American, I’d suggest The Original Pancake House in Bellevue Place. I love their pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries, but really you can find all brunch classics there. You can’t book a table and in the weekends it might get busy, but the turnaround is pretty quick and I never waited in line for long.
Then, I would walk down Michigan Avenue and just enjoy the city and the shops’ windows. I would stop at the Chicago River and take a historical boat tour; Chicago is so beautiful seen from the river. Or, if you’re more sporty, you could rent kayaks and paddle your way up and down the river. I’ve tried it and it’s fun. However, being used to kayaking in an un-trafficked lake, the Chicago River was a bit too busy, with all its boats and currents, for me to relax. (I also might have bumped into my husband’s kayak full frontal almost knocking him off in the river and risking a serious conjugal incident.)
After the river, I would take a walk in Millennium Park, see the bean, and then I’d be ready for some early pre-dinner drinks. I’d choose Pops for Champagne where you can order a glass of Champagne and some nice food to nib along.
After the brunch and the sliders I don’t think I’d have any room left for dinner…I would end the day with another walk around the block and a goodnight kiss.

What are you plotting for next year?
I have a couple of ideas buzzing in my head. I hope my next book will be a “Sliding Doors” kind of story, but I still have no idea how to write about parallel universes, so we’ll see.




Thank you Petra for hosting me...