Coffee with Marguerite Martin Gray

It’s that time of day when we take a little break and sit down with the authors we love and get to know them a little better.

Today, I have a chat with Marguerite Martin Gray to share with you. Marguerite is the author of Room For Love, which is part of the Suamalie Islands Year One Series. Marguerite and I met several years ago at a little readers’ convention in Grapevine, TX. It has been a blessing to see all she has accomplished since then and how she uses her experiences in her books.

 So grab a cup of your favorite drink and maybe a little snack and enjoy the conversation.

Thank you for joining me, Marguerite. It is so nice to chat with you again.

So, what was the inspiration for Room For Love?

Room for Love is a part of the Suamalie Islands Series Year One. My plot and inspiration come from my visit to Maui and other cruises and island lore. I love the idea of living on an island, although that possibility is remote. Louisiana is home. The island life offers so many inspiring aspects soaked in God’s creation. Scenery. Nature. Food. Culture. Language. Since I speak and teach French, the whole French culture and language aspect intrigues me.

I bet it was fun getting to stretch your French background a bit more for readers to enjoy. It is fun researching other cultures, But I can imagine that experiencing them for yourself only made it better.

What is the key theme and/or message in the book?

Amy Lee is a widow of twelve years who runs a B & B on her own. She’s reared a son who is now going off to college. She never wanted to date or remarry…until….

The theme is about fear of change and second chances. Amy is satisfied with how things are in her island life. It could be God has something else for her.

I Love it. And being as my own nest is emptying, I know this will hit all the “feels”.

It’s been a while since we met and you only had a couple titles to your name. How many books have you written, now? Which is your favorite?

I have ten published books, well one is in an anthology and one non-fiction. I honestly do not have a favorite. They are all my babies and I don’t want to show favoritism. I have spent years with the Revolutionary Faith Series, so they pull heavily on my heartstrings.

Congratulations, girl! Ten books! You have been busy. And I understand what you mean. The books we produce are our babies, it’s hard to pick a favorite.  

What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book(s)?

While writing Room for Love, I discovered a whole new world of culture on the other side of the world. The food is amazingly different and delicious, fresh and appetizing. What always surprises me about cultures is the similarities of all people. I can travel anywhere and encounter the love of family and friends within a vital homelife. That is why I love different cultures. We can anticipate the likenesses and appreciate the differences.

Beautifully said and I totally agree.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share?

I have a new release in October. It is a Christmas Novella and companion to the Revolutionary Faith series. The cover is brilliant and the story a Christmas miracle. I hope you enjoy Promise Me Christmas.

I look forward to reading it, though my TBR list keeps growing.

Thank you again, Marguerite, for joining me today. I hope this tour blesses you and I look forward to seeing more from you. 

Readers, please be sure to keep reading and enter the giveaway. 

About the Book

Book: Room for Love

Author: Marguerite Martin Gray

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 25, 2023

God gave her peace then; maybe He’ll do it again.

When Amy Lee’s son heads off to college, the bed and breakfast owner finds life even lonelier and emptier than she had after losing her husband. She needs something to occupy her mind and heart while she reinvents her life again. What more could she ask for than an after-school program for local children and a renewed interest in painting?

Then the arrival of a professor of archeology shakes her world and makes her yearn for the way things were only a few short months ago.

Still grieving the loss of his beloved wife, and ignoring the warnings and protests of his grown children, Professor Walker Standish escapes on a six-month sabbatical. His heart, barely beating these past months, jerks to life again when he finds more than a room at a B & B.

 Where an ocean meets the shore, love has room for one more.

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Marguerite Martin Gray is the author of Hold Me Close, Surround Me, and Bring Me Near– Revolutionary Faith Books One, Two and Three. Besides researching her historical novels, she enjoys studying history and writing fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and has degrees in French, Spanish, and Journalism from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a MA in English from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Marguerite is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Abilene Writers Guild, Daughters of the American Revolution, South Carolina Historical Society, and Preservation Society of Charleston. She currently lives in North Louisiana with her husband and Cleo, her cat. Her two adult children keep her up to date and young.

More from Marguerite

I am so excited about being a part of this series. I have read all of the previous books and love having the collection on my shelf. I feel like I am traveling around my “home” with my characters, seeing all of the other islands and making new friends. Room for Love takes place on Alexandre Island just south of Laumua where the capitol and government are situated.

My husband and I traveled to Maui, experiencing the culture, food, sites, climate—the whole deal. My bucket list includes Bora Bora, but I couldn’t get my husband to splurge for a trip before writing this book. Yet, I have a hope to travel there one day.

For now, I’m relying on my experiences and research. The salty air and ocean offered awesome snorkeling and diving opportunities with the sea turtles and colorful fish. The humpback whales entertained us with their majestic beauty. Lorikeets and tropical birds serenaded from flowering treetops and sweet-smelling bushes and flowers.

Curvy roads in a convertible led us to cascading waterfalls and volcanoes. Many hours found us strolling on the beach or resting in hammocks. Needless to say, a week was not long enough.

I envisioned Alexandre Island as a perfect place for a B & B. We run three Airbnbs in Louisiana and really try to stay in others across the world when we can. Amy Lee, my heroine who owns the B & B, adds a wonderful breakfast and special authentic meals. On the property in an old barn, she, her staff, and friends offer an after-school program for local children.

Although tourism is a major source of island income, I realize and appreciate that the islanders have their own lives. I ask many questions of my characters to obtain a reality check about life on an exotic island. A little side note: I am a French teacher and have a strong love for the language, history, and culture surrounding these fictional islands.

I hope you enjoy the journey on all of the islands. Welcome to Alexandre.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, August 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 1

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 2

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 3

The Book Club Network, September 3

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 5

Aryn the Libraryan, September 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 7

Simple Harvest Reads, September 8 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Susan K. Beatty, Author, September 9 (Author Interview)

Karen Baney Reviews, September 9

Splashes of Joy , September 10

For Him and My Family, September 11

She Lives To Read, September 12

Back Porch Reads, September 13 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marguerite is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.