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From Margate to Key West with Love by Sally Forrester

From Margate to Key West with Love

by Sally Forrester

206 pages
Elderly, mystical, enigmatic Maria Popoff opens another vintage emporium. New employee, Desmond, learns to discern stories of items left upon the doorstep. Key West's rich history unfolds besides ups and downs in the lives of the owners.

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Category: Body, Mind and Spirit
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About the Book
"From Margate to Key West with Love," is a continuation of my previous three historical novels featuring Madam Maria Popoff, her quirky vintage dress shop set in Margate’s King Street and Poppy, a middle-aged woman, who relocates from London to Margate. Poppy, who has many broken pieces, discovers true healing when she answers an advertisement requesting part time help although only special people needed to apply!

My novels, although works of fiction, embrace the ups and downs of life, of truly being human, of living through and navigating difficult times and the important part that emotions play in sickness and recovery. They’re set in various historical periods that follow real events.

Having spent some time sailing to the Florida Keys, exploring Key West and learning about its checkered history I just knew that I wanted Maria Popoff to come and establish yet another vintage shop. Cousin Rollo has summoned her to the fictitious grand old house called St. Eustace on Whitehead Street in the heart of Old Key West. Maria brings with her wisdom, knowledge, love, compassion and her all seeing eyes to this colourful settlement at the very end of the road.

Maria Popoff is certainly a strange character and it’s never really clear exactly who she is. Some see her merely as a kind, particularly old and portly shopkeeper who has a passion for decadent chocolate cake. Those who know her better are struck by her all-seeing eyes that seem to pierce right through you. They’re struck by her wisdom, her knowledge of healing and fascinated by her wizened hands that can touch and seemingly make everything better. Some have called her a gypsy who has the power to look through a crystal ball and foretell the future. However, those who know her best of all realize that she’s a time traveller or maybe she’s an angel. Certainly, she’s an ancient being who appears to cross the dimension of time.

Maria has seen so much. She’s become weary of man’s indiscretion, his mistakes and of the lessons that humanity never seems to learn. Set in 2021 and 2022 Maria, like most of us, is worried about the state of our planet. She has a heartfelt concern for the environment, pollution and the devastating weather patterns that seem to track man’s hatred and violence towards each other. Maria is horrified by the war in Ukraine. She realizes just how much sorrow the Covid pandemic has robbed people of their loved ones, their sense of financial security, and their livelihoods.

I wanted my fourth novel to span the Atlantic so that my readers will also happily discover Poppy still busy in the Isle of Thanet managing all three Madam Popoff vintage shops in the little seaside holiday towns of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs. Things come into the shops that have a story to tell. Poppy has become proficient, over the years, at fingering certain treasures catching her eye and she discovers their past. Sometimes the stories are heartwarming and pleasant but just like life they don’t always have a fairy tale ending. Likewise, Maria has taught Desmond, a new employee, to sit with things that appear on the doorstep of St. Eustace and discover their history. In this way I bring to light all sorts of historical events that have shaped the community across the Atlantic at the very end of the road. Readers will enjoy stories embracing Key West’s past. Sunken Spanish treasure, sponging, cigar factories, historic links with Cuba, Flagler’s Railroad, hurricanes, First World War submarines and much more.

 

Related Titles
  • LAST TRAIN TO MARGATE by Sally Forrester
    When Poppy relocated to Margate she answered a card in the window of the Madam Popoff Vintage Emporium announcing,“Part time help required only special people need apply.” She suddenly found herself drawn into a world of wonder, magic and healing. A series of short stories explore the ups and downs of life and the nature of healing.
  • Ramsgate Calling by Sally Forrester
    After taking the “Last Train to Margate” over a year ago and working in the enigmatic Madam Popoff's shop, Poppy’s adventures continue in “Ramsgate Calling.” A series of short stories explore the ups and downs of life, and the nature of true healing.
  • Broadstairs On My Mind by Sally Forrester
    Madam Popoff opens another emporium in Broadstairs. Stories include the Carlton Hotel, Olympic games of 1924, convalescent homes, Punch and Judy, donkeys, smugglers, wreckers, lighthouses, the treacherous Goodwin Sands and the Teddy Bear Hospital!
  • Margate's Gnomes by Sally Forrester
    Grandpa 42's gnome family lived in mountain caves.Melting snow forced them to find new homes with the woodland fairies.Forest fire forced yet another escape on a magic carpet to Margate. More adventures followed and gainful employment.
  • Margate's Gnomes to the Rescue by Sally Forrester
    Escaping snow melt and forest fire Grandpa 42's gnomes fled to Margate upon a magic carpet. Once settled they began helping with the rubbish problem. When Tom and Lucy were swept out to sea in a storm the brave gnomes came to their rescue.

 

About the Author
Sally grew up in the seaside town of Margate and although she currently lives in the USA she is always drawn back to her roots. She graduated from teacher training college and has worked as a teacher, artist and over the past 20 years as a health and wellness coach.

 

 

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