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Historical Gardens and My Imagination

Marguerite Gray • Jan 12, 2023

Today I welcome author Marguerite Gray as she shares about her latest release. She is most generously offering a print (US only) or ebook copy of Promise of Purity to one lucky winner.


Show me a beautiful garden, and I am entertained for hours. Add the historical elements, the why and who, and I am enthralled forever. As a child, well a pre-teen eleven-year-old, I traveled all over England and Europe with my family. Since we lived in England for a time, the grounds of castles and manor houses became an easily accessible playground for hide-and-seek and my imagination. That is where my fascination with gardens and history began as I roamed through the ancient, yet well-maintained, acres of small and large residences.


The idea for my Gardens in Time series fermented in my imagination until I visited some of the gardens again as an adult. I tend to return over and over. The characters come to life in the historical accounts and mingle with my fictional renditions. As I retraced steps from childhood, I was drawn to quite a few outstanding, fantastical places that became the settings for my novels.


The first one is the Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy at Pitti Palace. In Labor of Love, an award-winning novel, I give Ana my playground, remembering the hills with plots of flowers and herbs, orchards of fruit trees, and vineyards of grapes, sprinkled with statues and fountains. The Medici family of 1560 adds the element of intrigue to the backdrop of the formation of the gardens by architects and gardeners. I find the story begins long before the first words.


My ideas could not be limited to one garden. Book two, Promise of Purity (February 14, 2023) holds a special place in my journey. Hampton Court, England, 1661. The ghosts of Henry VIII’s wives vanish as Charles II and his spaniels occupy the castle. As a young girl, I ran through the gardens and the maze. In June 2022, I returned for the third time with Kate’s story running along beside me. So many questions about life in the majestic gardens.


The imagination is a powerful tool. Linked with historical research, historical fiction rings true with new reaches into the past. Before a word is written, I roam the acreage and delve into several historical resources. They are thrilling and a blissful part of the journey.


“The Lord God planted a garden…and out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.” Genesis 2:8-9

 

Question for readers:

Do you have a favorite garden or a place of beauty to cultivate or view?


Giveaway: Be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a print or eBook copy of Promise of Purity (sent after the release date).

https://gleam.io/competitions/ai9Wr-promise-of-purity-giveaway

 

A Peek Inside the book:

East Molesey, England

March 1661

Chapter One

Kate Sinclair shuddered as she saw another soldier walk down the street. The uniform alone caused her heart to pound and her palms to sweat. Would this be the one to arrest her father, maybe her mother, or even Kate? Her position at the counter allowed her to gaze through the bakery window, hopefully giving her plenty of notice of any unusual activity.

For the past ten months her father had stayed in the back of the establishment during most of the day, in case royal guards saw him and wanted to question him. Many in her small village of East Molesey wandered in and out of secret rooms when rumors of officials abounded. In a few weeks the new king would be crowned, solidifying his hold and place of authority in England. 

Anticipation accompanied bouts of anxiety. Would the king finally come to the palace? With the spring weather, the bakery saw more traffic and participated in its fair share of the gossip in the town. This Tuesday morning was no exception.

The Sinclair Bakery remained the most renowned bakery, located in the center of town, even though her father was a Cromwell supporter and a Puritan. In the recent past many in the town shared his political and religious bent. It wasn’t such a good thing now.

Today was slow since yesterday was the major delivery day. All that remained on the shelves were pastries, meat pies, and a few round loaves of bread. Slim pickings for the few customers or curious children peering through the window.

At the tinkling ring from the bell above the door, Kate turned her head in time to see Jane Washburn, her best friend, trip into the store catching herself with the support of the door knob.

“Are you all right? You could have hurt yourself.” Kate leaned over the counter as Jane whirled around, pointing behind her in the direction of the closed door.   


 

Getting to know Marguerite:

Where is your favorite vacation spot?

I am a true traveler, going and exploring anytime I can. I do not have just one favorite spot, but I tend to return to England, France, and Italy often. A cottage in England or Scotland with friends or my husband draws me as does a meandering tour of French chateaux with Chateau Chenonceau taking first place. South America is a recent adventure. I hope to return to Peru, Brazil, and Argentina.

 

What do you enjoy doing for relaxation?

A perfect example of relaxation happens every day: a cup of hot tea (English Breakfast), a cat (or two) in my lap, and a book. I enjoy long walks through the woods by my house or longer hikes in parks or places whenever I travel.

 

What do you enjoy most about writing?

My favorite part of writing, after all the research, is seeing the characters come to life in the historical setting. All of the sudden with the first word on the paper (yes, I use pen and paper), they fill in the dead, closed spaces of the past with breath, words, living, allowing me to journey with them.

 

 

About Marguerite:

Marguerite enjoys the study of history, especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish. She has two grown children and two grandsons and currently lives in north Louisiana with her husband. She is the  the author of the Revolutionary Faith Series and Labor of Love, Book One and Promise of Purity in the Gardens in Time Series. Click here to join the raffle: https://gleam.io/competitions/ai9Wr-promise-of-purity-giveaway

 

 

Connect online:

Newsletter Sylvan Reads: http://eepurl.com/gF-3I1

website/Blog: https://margueritemartingray.com/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marguerite-martin-gray

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14836211.Marguerite_Martin_Gray

Amazon author: https://www.amazon.com/Marguerite-Martin-Gray/e/B01ASA16RC?ref

Promise of Purity purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Promise-Purity-Gardens-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B0BCDJTBBN/ref

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