Get ready to learn more about the book The Milkyway Hotel in this discussion with sapphic authors Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud & Marguerite Grimaud.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud & Marguerite Grimaud about The Milkyway Hotel, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Holiday Romance category in the 2025 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write The Milkyway Hotel?
We’ve both always worked with words, as journalists, then as a translator for Jude and as a teacher for Marguerite, and it was only a question of time until we felt like writing together.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
Jude: Alex, Celeste’s best friend. She was a lot of fun to write and I hope we’ll get the opportunity to share her story at some point. At first sight, she may appear superficial and silly, but she’s a survivor and a badass.
Marguerite: Rose is my favorite but I also love her mom, Fleur. She leads by example, whether it’s in her family or as the mayor of Montlouis, the small town where the story is set. She’s kind and generous with her time and love.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
By far, writing it in two languages. At first, we were a bit worried about writing together and whether our marriage would resist, but this concern disappeared quickly. The two languages thing, however, was a challenge. A very fun one. We wanted to keep the French atmosphere but not confuse readers too much with words they don’t know or can’t pronounce. In the end, we apparently found the right balance. Then there was the writing itself, Marguerite wrote in French, Jude in English, and we translated each chapter to the other language before moving on to the next. Which also meant that every time we changed a detail in one version, we had to go back and change it in the other one as well. There were a lot of back and forth but it was all worth it!
How much research did you need to do for The Milkyway Hotel?
Neither of us has ever lived in a small mountain town (we do live in a small town, but ours is by the sea), so we researched the architecture, the weather, bus schedules, so many tiny things that make Montlouis feel real. The best part, though, was researching chocolate. Rose is a chocolatier, so we attended a workshop where we learned about tempering, about tools, about fillings and decorations. It was captivating, fun, and delicious when we got to sample the chocolate itself.
What is your favorite line from your book?
“Augustine didn’t just leave you a hotel. She left you a whole town.”
What’s your favorite writing snack or drink?
Marguerite drinks tea. Jude needs snacks to focus, so Marguerite will prepare carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, cut apples or pears, cheese, chocolate…
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
With Champagne!
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?
Our two cats take turns. Ginny is a long-haired calico, Galipette (aka Gali) is a ginger cat. They’re fourteen year old siblings with very different personalities, but they’re both very loving and cute.
What animal or object best represents you as an author or your writing style?
Answer
What are three words that describe your personality?
Since we’re answering together, we each chose three words to describe the other’s personality.
Jude according to Marguerite:
Introvert: they’re never happier than at home with their cats.
Genius: their brain is amazingly quick, which I got to witness once again as we were writing. Their ability to learn and progress (The Milkyway Hotel is their first novel) never ceases to impress me.
Loving: I experience their love every day, and have for the last thirty-one years.
Marguerite according to Jude:
Kind: Marguerite is always helping someone, or several someones, in small or big ways. If a person looks lost on the street, she’ll always stop and offer help or directions, but she will also move heaven and earth to help someone she barely knows find a job or a place to live.
Hyperactive: She’s always in motion, except when she’s writing. You’ll find her swimming in the English Channel any day of the year. Yet when she sits down to write, nothing can make her stop, not even hunger.
Creative: Her brain is just as hyperactive as her body, and she gets so many ideas! She’s also excellent at finding solutions to whatever problem we face. She’s creative in every aspect of life.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing, and by whom?
Jude: I have two. The first one is to write. Sit down and write. Both Marguerite and Milena McKay keep insisting that the best way to publish books is to write them and it’s annoyingly correct. The other came from poet and horror author Kathryn L. Pringle, who made me look up MRUs (Motivation-reaction units) and something clicked in my brain.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
Marguerite: I listen to music. For The Milkyway Hotel, we listened to Dua Lipa a lot, but it was classical music for 25 ans et 34 jours, which features a pianist and conductor. And my WIP’s MC is Italian, so I’m spending a lot of time with Italian pop music in my ears these days.
Have you ever cried when writing an emotional scene?
Marguerite: Oh yes, it’s happened a few times. I don’t want to spoil The Milkyway Hotel but there’s a scene towards the end, and several in previous books that made me cry. For example, in 25 ans et 34 jours, which is about what it takes to start a family and make it grow. There are a couple of very emotional scenes, especially while Joséphine is at the hospital. The moment she wakes up had me bawling.
What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?
Marguerite: I used to read a lot of thrillers but I’ve slowed down because I struggle with violence more and more. I’d rather read whodunits, I still enjoy the mystery. Other than that, I read some romance and autobiographies.
What books did you grow up reading?
Jude: I grew up reading a bit of everything, and I still do, although I don’t read a lot of nonfiction. My mom wanted me to be fluent in English and didn’t care what I read as long as it was in English. When I came out as a lesbian, being able to read in English opened a whole new world of books to me. Each and every one of those made me who I am today, as a person and as a writer.
