Now a writer, DJ and musician, former adult film star Sasha Grey has just released the third book in her suspenseful erotica series.

In The Juliette Society Book III: The Mismade Girl, Catherine finds herself going through a metamorphosis, but in reverse. As Catherine is exposed to a world unlike anything she’s ever known, her life is turned upside down. She must choose to either perish or be made anew.

We caught up with Sasha this week.

SDTC: What’s at the top of your bucket list?

SG: I’d love to finally meet my extended family in Greece, visit Morocco and Cuba, which are both places I’ve been enchanted by since I was a young child, and explore India. I’ve been developing ideas and projects to take me there.

To quench my creative/career thirst, I like to keep those bucket lists or goals close to my chest. I think the power of visualization is very personal and powerful, but I can say that it’s a privilege to have a sense of stability to focus on one project at a time and that’s what I’m working towards. It seems like a harder task for women to accomplish then men. By that I mean male artists have had benefactors throughout history, yet with women it’s much more rare.

Lastly, I will continue to use my privilege to help better my community; there’s a lot of change that still needs to happen.

What’s your go-to song for getting stuff done?

Silence! I listen to so much music since I write, produce and DJ, so when I’m in the office I usually like to have a clear head. If I were working around the house, or in the garden, it would have to be “Cold Turkey” by John Lennon.

If you could go back in time and tell your younger self anything, what would it be?

I don’t know if there is anything; thinking in retrospect and staying in the past can really drive a person mad. There are things I would have done differently to help me grow, but certain things are circumstantial, and it’s only through life’s experiences that we can become better people.

What word/phrase should we be saying more often?

“Let it go.”

Who/what are you sick of hearing about?

The one per cent further degrading the livelihood of normal people in my country; the same ones who continue to ignore civil rights violations that impact POC and other minorities.

Who has made a big impact in your life recently, and how?

This might sound a bit cynical, but I lost my father unexpectedly nearly three years ago, so it’s had a great impact and I’m definitely still working through it.

Photo: Kristin Burns

What does your ideal Saturday look like?

NOT staying inside and working on music or writing, that’s for sure! Lately I’ve been so focused that I forget to create time to give myself a break. An ideal Saturday would be spent hiking outside, having a good lunch, napping in grass, or walking around a beach. Conversely, on a rainy day, I love exploring museums or seeing a movie.

What’s the best part of being your current age?

I feel my confidence grow more each day.

What art work would you love to have in your space/on your walls, and why?

Henri Matisse’s The Red Studio. This has been one of my favourite paintings of all time–the size and scale is emotional and overwhelming. I can cry looking at it, and I have!

Fave rainy day comfort food?

My mom’s chicken enchiladas.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to run my own restaurant, and I still do.

What was your favourite game/toy as a child?

There are phases in my young life that definitely stand out. Very young I had a hard plastic doll named DeeDee that got her arm bit off by our dog, but I still took her everywhere. As I started making friends in the neighbourhood, we typically played outside games–usually hide and seek, or Candy Land on a rainy day. If we ever played video games, it was a tie between Tetris, Mario Kart 3, or Tekken.

What do you love most about Toronto?

It’s a real walkable city with a mixed culture; you can always find something good to eat and somewhere interesting to go.

What adult task would you like to get better at?

Managing my time better so I leave more room for personal time with friends family and causes that I believe in.

What is one little-known fact about Sasha?

I believe in the power of meditation for the mind and body.

If you could spend a year studying something, what would it be?

Auto mechanics! I love cars. I would have a lot of fun learning how to diagnose problems and how to work on my own car and help friends.

What is your idea of happiness?

Well, we all know it’s fleeting. We live in such a fast-paced world. I can say I am most happy when I feel balanced and have given myself enough time to both accomplish goals and relax.