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Patricia Sands

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Lucky Friday the 13th!

April 13, 2018 by Patricia Sands 8 Comments

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

It’s Friday the 13th! Thought by some to bring bad luck, to me it’s always a date for good news because one of my sons was born on that date. Today, this Friday the 13th, brought me a different type of good news.

Drawing Lessons will be on sale in Australia beginning Monday. I  thought I would check my book stats on Amazon.com.au and I came across this lovely review. I hope you don’t mind me sharing this food for my writer’s soul.

I loved writing Drawing Lessons but I find it my most difficult novel to promote because of the sad beginning. I know I try to avoid it.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Simply gorgeous
ByBella  TOP 500 REVIEWER  on 2 February 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Wow. What an astonishingly touching story! I love how poetically this author writes. There was so much heart, so much beauty in this story. From the saddest situation imaginable grew something truly divine. So refreshing to read something that managed to paint such colourful images without being overly descriptive, and so wonderful to read something that blended all different kinds of people of all ages so beautifully. An absolute triumph from Patricia Sands.

If you have friends in Australia, please share this with them. Here’s the link in Amazon.com.au.

And the blurb:

The author of the Love in Provence series returns to the South of France with a poignant portrait of a woman who must learn how to create a new life for herself…

Sixty-two-year-old Arianna arrives in the South of France for a two-week artists’ workshop full of anticipation but burdened by guilt. Back home in Toronto, she has been living with the devastating diagnosis of her husband’s dementia and the heartbreak of watching the man she has loved for decades slip away before her eyes. What does her future hold without Ben? Before her is a blank canvas.

Encouraged by her family to take some time for herself, she has traveled to Arles to set up her easel in the same fields of poppies and sunflowers that inspired Van Gogh. Gradually, she rediscovers the inner artist she abandoned long ago. Drawing strength from the warm companionship and gentle wisdom of her fellow artists at the retreat—as well as the vitality of guest lecturer Jacques de Villeneuve, an artist and a cowboy—Arianna searches her heart for permission to embrace the life in front of her and, like the sunflowers, once again face the light.

Set in and around the intriguing town of Arles and down into the fascinating Camargue, the story also has the spirit of Vincent van Gogh woven into the pages.

Much of my research was conducted here in the peacefully beautiful setting of the monastery of St. Paul de Mausole, an easy walk outside St. Remy-de-Provence. Vincent admitted himself here in May 1889 for treatment. He found a certain degree of peace and acceptance from the health practitioners and his creativity flourished in between his psychotic episodes. Inspired by the light and beauty of the surrounding landscapes he built on his prodigious period in Arles (during the previous 18 months), producing some of his best work.

He remained for a year before leaving for Auvers-sur-Oise to live closer to his brother, Theo. Sadly, he died two months later.

It was here that I also observed visiting artists finding their own inspiration, surrounded by the aura of Vincent. Magic.

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Filed Under: Author Promotion, Blog, If it is France..., Uncategorized, Writing Tagged With: Arles, art, Australia, book review, Drawing Lessons, St-Remy-de-Provence, Vincent Van Gogh, womens fiction

About Patricia Sands

Family, writing and travel are my passions ... okay, and chocolate ... and I'm seldom without a camera. I write women's fiction and keep in touch with readers by a monthly newsletter that also has giveaways and contests. Come and join us by signing up on the right. See you there!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. martha says

    April 13, 2018 at 6:36 pm

    Friday 13th doesn’t mean anything to me (in my country it’s Tuesday 13th) Still, it is good to know that one of your sons was born on this day, but even better to know about Drawing Lessons in Australia! I am sure it will have the same reception it got here — wonderful!!! Who can be immune to its charm, wisdom, love, beauty, and so much more!

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      April 13, 2018 at 8:23 pm

      Martha, you also provide food for my writer’s soul on a regular basis.
      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Anneli says

    April 13, 2018 at 8:37 pm

    I love your photos of France. They go so well with your novels.

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      April 14, 2018 at 5:19 pm

      Thank you, Anneli. You know it’s my addiction.

      Reply
  3. Darlene Foster says

    April 14, 2018 at 4:18 pm

    Congratulations on the wonderful review from Australia. Readers all over the world love your books!!

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      April 14, 2018 at 4:51 pm

      Thank you, Darlene. I was delighted to come across it.

      Reply
  4. Patricia says

    April 14, 2018 at 6:41 pm

    What a great review!! And once again, absolutely lovely photos.

    Congratulations on the book sale to the Aussies. I hope you have lots and lots of sales.

    Patricia Rickrode
    w/a Jansen Schmidt

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      April 16, 2018 at 4:21 pm

      Thanks, Patricia … for all of that! Lots and lots of sales means lots and lots of readers and that’s what it’s all about. I hope spring has arrived in your neighbourhood. We had an ice storm all weekend in Toronto … not spring-like at all!

      Reply

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