If it’s Friday, it must be France …
Bonjour everyone! It’s been a busy few weeks for me since Drawing Lessons was published on October 1st! How’s November going for you?
In fact, Saturday was here before I realized Friday was gone, so please excuse this post being a day late. There’s always a lot to do once a new novel is published and most of it includes writing blog posts to share on other websites. We all try to help each other passing along the good news!
If you have some time this weekend, you might want
to pop over to my dear friend Steena Holmes‘ blog. This photo was taken at the NINC writers’ conference we attended in Florida last month. It was SO good to spend time together in person. Steena’s home is in Calgary.
It’s always a pleasure to visit on her blog and fun to share a few secrets … that’s one of her specialities! She consistently manages to tease a few tidbits from the friends she invites over … just one reason she’s known as Sweet Steena! There’s also a giveaway for a print copy of Drawing Lessons, so don’t forget to leave a comment there to have your name entered! Click right here and Good luck ~ Bonne chance!
Be sure to investigate the great novels Steena has written and subscribe to her site so you receive all of her news. You’ll notice a lot of chocolate featured there too! Another passion we share …
Now, here’s some more love for you ~ a post written by another dear friend, Deborah Bine aka The Barefoot Blogger.
This photo, to the left, is from Deb’s visit with us in Antibes last summer. We were on our way home from the market that day. The house my husband and I were renting is just behind us with the blue shutters. We loved it! And the rooftop terrace … what a treat that was …
Deb’s visits to us on the Côte d’Azur, with her fab friends, Paula and Rich, have become a happy tradition.
Always a deliciously good time!
Deb lives in Uzès and gets around France more than most people I know. Then she writes great articles about her travels. This post of hers about the ancient and enticing walled town of Aigues-Mortes in the Camargue, ties into the story from Drawing Lessons and really tells you everything you would like to know about the history and the charm of the area.
I hope you will take a few minutes to linger there and feel like you’ve truly had a visit! Then you’ll understand why Arianna, the main character in my novel, was so smitten with the town and … well, I’ll let you read the novel to discover the answer to the rest of that sentence.
Click right here to read Deb’s article and enjoy Aigues-Mortes! In fact, it would be a good idea to subscribe to her site so you don’t miss all the other travels she shares.
This is a photo I took inside the walls of Aigues-Mortes when I was doing research for Drawing Lessons. Click this link to hear how to pronounce the town’s name. It’s easier than it looks!
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to post a review for Drawing Lessons. I’m delighted you’ve enjoyed the story so much it has a 4.6 stars rating. Every time a review is written, it’s like sharing the love for an author … and it is most appreciated.
About Patricia Sands
Dear Patricia,
I have just completed your Provence trilogy and all I want to do is pack my bag and hop on the first Air France. You have such an easy way of capturing the senses- the feel of the moment, the sights, sounds, smells of beautiful Provence, and every time I opened my kindle to read I was immediately transported there. You have the gift of putting into words exactly how I feel when I’m there and you have deepened my desire for Provence even more. Like so many others, I have a love affair with Provence- I love its moods, its magic, the secrets it shares with me when I’m there. And I can identify so well with you. I am an English Canadian living in Victoria and my daughter lives in Toronto so your Ontario references also resonate with me. My goal is to have a little pied-a-terre in the near future as I feel Provence hasn’t finished with me yet. I have no idea why it calls to me as it does, yet it calls to me on a primal level and I willingly intend to obey! With much gratitude for the joy your books have brought me,
Anne
P.S. I’ve just downloaded Drawing Lessons..so off to Arles I go!
Anne, many thanks for your kind words. I’ve just emailed a reply to you. You are so right about the primal call of Provence ~ hard to resist!
Another wonderful enticement to visit France and especially Provence ( I know it sounds strange but I think of them separately. Many thanks for so much entertainment.
You are most welcome! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and I hope to bring you much more of the same entertainment … aver plaisir!
I really must get to visit Aigues- Mortes. Particularly since, when we lived in France, our neighbouring village was Aigues-Vives.
How odd! I wonder if there is any connection at all between the two villages?
Thanks for sharing the post, Patricia. I can’t wait to get into your next new novel and bring some love and romance to Aigues-Mortes! See you in Antibes, my friend!
My pleasure, Deb. What a great article you put together! Aigues-Mortes is such a special town. I loved visiting there and then writing it into the story. Oui! Antibes 2018!
Congratulations on the accolades for your newest release. I hope it continues to do well.
As usual, lovely photos or lovely people and places. Some day we need to meet in person, hopefully at one of those lovely spots.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt