Patricia Grayhall and her partner wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but couldn't legally live together in the U.S. or the U.K.; forced to find a place where they could. That was what inspired her to write "A Place for Us."
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
In 2003, my British lover and I decided we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, but we were unable to legally live together in either the U.S. or the U.K. We could immigrate to Canada as a same-sex common law couple but only if we could show we had lived together as a couple for a year- a Catch 22. "A Place for Us" is a novel inspired by our struggle to find just such a place.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
Reading Rainbow is about amplifying voices and stories that have historically been marginalized or underrepresented in mainstream literature. Libraries and bookstores hosting “Reading with Pride” events foster a sense of community and celebration of LGBTQ literature, which is very much what we need in the current political climate. My memoir, "Making the Rounds," is unique in exploring the lesbian love life of a doctor in training during a time when that life had to remain hidden. "A Place for Us" explores the immigration challenges of same-sex couples still relevant today.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Historically, LGBTQ people have had to hide their diaries and letters where we pour out their hearts and our authentic selves. Writing and publishing about the distinctive challenges and joys of our queer lives builds empathy and understanding in others, opening minds, and developing allies. Seeing oneself in a story can be powerful and affirming. It pleased me to hear from some readers who told me that after reading my memoir, "Making the Rounds," they felt validated and less alone.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
I didn’t think I had another memoir in me, but the advantage of being older is that I’ve lived a lot, made many mistakes, learned from them, and have a rich trove of experiences to draw upon. That’s why autofiction is so perfect for me now.
Fiction also allows me to go beyond my own experience to delve into interpersonal and social issues that have current relevance and that resonate with others. For example, in "A Place for Us," I explore how an otherwise mentally healthy person can find themselves trapped in an abusive relationship.
What can fans expect from your book?
The Seattle Book Review summed it up: “While 'A Place for Us' is a romance at its core, it is also a meditation on self-acceptance and the search for a home — not just in a physical sense, but in the arms of someone who truly understands and cherishes you. This heartfelt novel will resonate with anyone who has ever longed for a place where they truly belong.”
"A Place for Us" is a sweeping, emotional journey exploring the lengths two women will go to for love in a world that is determined to keep them apart.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
I’ve just finished writing an environmental thriller, "Presumed Guilty," that I’ll publish in January 2026: Environmental attorney Jo builds a groundbreaking case against World Petrol, one of the nation’s largest refineries, relying on a pivotal study by Dr. Tori Nelson, a respected Houston physician — and Jo’s close friend — whose research reveals alarming cancer rates in neighborhoods surrounding the refinery. But just as Jo’s lawsuit gains momentum, Tori is shockingly arrested for bank robbery.
Jo is certain her friend has been framed in a sinister effort to bury the damning research and monitoring data. Determined to clear Tori’s name, Jo uncovers a tangled web of deception involving Tori’s estranged husband, a mysterious woman, and shadowy figures complicit in environmental crimes.
The women fight for truth and justice in a battle with Big Oil that leads to an explosive and unexpected conclusion.
Check out the book on Amazon.
