Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Marie Gray

An Interview with Marie Gray:

Hi Marie. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...

- Please tell us about your latest book.

The first of a series of 5 books, Stories to Make you Blush consists of seven short stories which are, I believe, a new kind of erotic fiction: naughty, without being dirty; sexy but without vulgarity; daring, not threatening… Each story is a tribute to sensuality and a charming, often humorous look at ourselves and the people around us. Much more than simple depictions of sexuality between men and women, these are actual stories, erotic and sexy, featuring truer-than-life characters and situations, surprise-endings and a touch of humor.

- What can we expect from you in the future?

First published in French, the series features 5 collections of which this is the first. Volume 2 is scheduled for release sometime in the Fall of 2007. Hopefully, all the others will follow!

- How do we find out about you and your books?

There is info on my website: www.mariegray.com or contact Sourcebooks via their web site www.sourcebooks.com

- How may readers contact you?

They can write at marie@mariegray.com always a pleasure!

- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?

I certainly enjoy when fans share their ideas for stories, situations and/or characters. If it suits my “philosophy”, and if I can give them the Marie Gray “twist” (i.e. the surprise ending, etc.), I find it wonderful to use my fans’ ideas, makes me feel close to them somehow and know that I’ve touched someone’s reality in some way…

- Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?

When they say that they recognized themselves in one of my characters, that’s always great because it is one of my dearest goals…

- Do you have a target audience, and if so, who are they?

Readers of Stories to Make you Blush have very often never read any other erotic fiction novel or short stories collection. Many wouldn’t normally be attracted by erotic fiction, specifically, but they find these books accessible, classy, daring, while standing light-years away from pornographic or vulgar erotica. These books are aimed at readers who are looking for great stories with an erotic edge, rather than plain erotica without substance.

These books are for all adults who believe that sensuality and sexuality are some of life’s most wonderful gifts… Those who wish to make their sex-life fuller and more exciting through imagination and fantasy or simply to read really good, sexy stories.

Many couples buy these books to use them as a pretext for intimacy, proximity, a “couples” form of entertainment. As a matter of fact, in Quebec where they were first published, sex therapists recommend this series to their clients to help them discover and explore their fantasies and communicate more easily with their spouse… This is great!

- What motivated you to start writing in this genre?

After being in love for a few years with my husband, when I grew tired of people telling me to “Enjoy it while I could because the passion would soon fade”. Being “passionate about passion”, I’ve decided to write stories that would act as a talisman against boredom, routine and habit. I soon realized that many couples were in the exact same situation: constant rush trying to juggle work, family, impossible professional goals, financial worries, cooking, cleaning, trying to keep in shape and everything else… It is so easy to forget the simple pleasures such as seducing our lover all over again, remembering to take time just to cuddle, caress, please each other… So these books were published to help my own couple and it’s proven to help many others as well!

- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

A lot of my personality is in those stories… life experiences, not as much as I would like!!! A lot of people ask me if these are my fantasies, experiences… Not all of them, no. Actually, very little. But I do have a pretty fertile imagination and do have to find the story exciting and sexy to put my name to it!

- Do you feel humour is important in women's fiction and why?

I think humour is essential. I don’t claim to reinvent anything with my writing, but simply wish to “entertain”. There are many, many sad, worrisome events taking place everyday everywhere in the world, I prefer providing escape than questioning or depression... We women tend to worry too much. About everything. So I find that what we read to relax should make these worries go away!

- What does your husband think of your writing?

He loves it… I’ve had to do some “research” on him and with him. Some of my characters are men, and I need to make sure the sensations, feelings and reactions I describe are plausible… He knows, when I’m in writing process that I won’t let him rest as much as usual, but doesn’t seem to complain! Of course, I never use our personnal or intimate details, I am quite private about this and he knows that too…

- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)

I was born in Montreal (Canada), which is where I studied History, Human Sciences and Communications. I then travelled the country as a lead singer for several rock bands and have recorded two albums. I’ve organised and performed promotional tours until 1994 before getting involved in the family publishing company while writing erotic fiction. I am the proud mother of Samuel (11) and Charlotte (3) and have been living in Mirabel with my husband of 16 years, Phillip.

- Fill in the blank favorites –

Dessert: anything chocolate
City: When I’ve seen all that I want to see I’ll be able to tell...
Season: early Fall
Type of hero: Strong yet sensitive (don’t we all?)
Type of heroine: sure of herself, sarcastic, with a few weaknesses and imperfections…

- Do you have a favorite author and/or a favorite book?

I am crazy about Anne Rice… Her vampires have to be the sexiest, most complex and attractive beings in the universe. Stephen King is sort of an “addiction”…

- Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?

There are just too many and thousands yet to discover!!!

- How many books have you written, how many have been published?

I’ve written five books in the Make you Blush series, all five have been published. Two more are in my head, waiting to be released on my computer… To this day, the Stories to Make you Blush have been translated into 11 languages and are available in 24 countries around the world. That certainly is quite motivating!

Thank you very much for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

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