Beneath the sunlight of Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Marina and Miles Ashford found not only inspiration but truth. Their stories blend fiction and lived experience, where every page carries the scent of lemon groves, the warmth of Mediterranean evenings, and the quiet beauty of love rediscovered.
Welcome to Marina Miles Books, where love, travel, and storytelling come together beneath the golden Italian sun. As a husband-and-wife writing team, Marina and Miles Ashford craft heartfelt tales inspired by their own journeys through Italy’s coastal villages, vineyards, and bustling piazzas.
Their debut novel, Sunlit Paths to the Amalfi Coast, draws deeply from real life. Nearly every meal, glass of wine, and breathtaking view in the story was lived first by Marina and Miles themselves. The main characters, Tom and Sofia, mirror the couple’s shared spirit of curiosity and connection, though their story unfolds in the realm of romantic fiction. The friendships, conversations, and Italian warmth found in the pages were inspired by real people met along their travels — the baristas, chefs, and locals who opened their homes and hearts to two dreamers chasing sunlight.
Over six years in Italy, the Ashfords collected not only memories but meaning. They discovered that love is found in the smallest details, the quiet of morning espresso, the laughter shared over homemade pasta, and the kindness of strangers who treat every visitor like family. These experiences became the heartbeat of Sunlit Paths to the Amalfi Coast and the creative foundation for the stories that will follow.
Their writing celebrates what it means to rediscover yourself through place, food, and love. Together, they weave tales that blur the line between travel and emotion, creating fiction that feels lived in, fragrant, and real.
When they aren’t writing, Marina and Miles can often be found cooking Italian dishes at home, sampling new wines, or planning their next journey along the Mediterranean. Each new adventure finds its way into their stories, continuing the cycle of inspiration that began on a sunlit terrace overlooking the sea.
The story was born from our years living in Italy and the moments that changed us. Many of the scenes in the book are inspired by real experiences we shared together, from wandering the narrow alleys of Positano to long dinners with friends under olive trees. We wanted to capture the feeling of falling in love with both a person and a place, and to share how travel can rekindle joy, hope, and connection.
Quite a lot. About eighty percent of what happens in the book actually happened to us in some form. We cooked the same meals, drank the same wines, and met many of the same kinds of people. Tom’s circle of friends, however, is based on our real friends from the United States. Those same friends make an appearance later in the book.
The Amalfi Coast will always have our hearts, but Sicily has a special kind of magic too. The light there is different. It’s golden and honest. We also loved the quiet of early mornings in Ravello and the laughter of long afternoons spent in small family trattorias. Each region of Italy gives you something different, and those moments become part of who you are.
Every story begins with connection. Whether it’s the bond between two people, a friendship, or the love of a place, it all comes down to rediscovery. We believe love is a journey, not a destination. It’s about finding meaning in shared experiences and learning how the smallest moments can change everything.
We’re continuing to explore stories set in the Mediterranean, focusing on how travel, romance, and culture intertwine. Our next project will expand beyond the Amalfi Coast and into new regions of Italy, celebrating both the adventure of travel and the intimacy of love that lasts.
Cinematic, emotional, and sensory. We love writing in a way that lets readers taste the food, smell the air, and hear the language of each place. Our stories are meant to transport readers, but also to remind them of the beauty in ordinary moments.