Bonjour,
Ha! September already! But please don’t mention anything pumpkin spice or Hallowe’en related to me. I am a firm believer that summer ends when October begins. On Tuesday, September 1, I spent a beautiful day at Allenwood Beach in Wasaga with my youngest grandchildren. Summer is definitely still on here.
How are things in your neighbourhood? Keep collecting lots of great summer memories while you can!
September is taking me back to Nice and Antibes for a month, and I couldn’t be more excited. My hope is to spend those thirty days tucked away with my laptop, focused on finishing the first draft of my next novel.
There’s something about the Mediterranean that brings out thoughts and feelings unique to the Côte d’Azur. Maybe it’s the light, the colours, the sea, the rhythm of everyday life—or simply the magic of being there. Whatever it is, something seems to happen when I’m in that beautiful part of the world. Ideas surface, characters become more real, and the story begins to take on a life of its own.
So, fingers crossed, I’ll return home with a finished first draft—and a few more memories of Riviera life woven into the pages. Wish me luck. I so want to bring you another story to love.
Be sure to follow me on Instagram where I will be posting special photos for 30 days with you in mind. Thanks for letting me know how much you enjoy them.
I’m thrilled to let you know that the audiobook for THE FRENCH EFFECT is now available, narrated by the fabulous Hillary Huber. If you haven’t met this story yet, it’s a Paris and Provence at Christmas romance that Camille Pagán calls ‘a glittering gem of a story that promises it’s never too late to begin again.’
Click this link for audiobooks, ebooks or print, whichever suits your taste!
Choosing the right narrator for an audiobook is a little like casting a movie—you need someone who can bring your characters to life and capture the heart of the story. I listened to several auditions, paying close attention not only to the sound of each voice, but to the emotion, warmth and subtlety behind it. When I heard Hillary Huber, I knew immediately: that was the voice I had been hearing in my head all along.
Here is her bio: Hillary Huber is an award winning narrator. She was recently named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine and was inducted as an inaugural member of the APA Hall of Fame as well as the Audible Hall of Fame. Hillary has narrated over 800 audiobooks spanning a wide range of genres. She is especially acclaimed for her work in gritty thrillers and emotional literary fiction like The Neopolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante. Drawn to stories of redemption and emotional depth—particularly those centered on women’s resilience—Huber brings a compelling, nuanced, and instantly engaging narration style that has made her one of the industry’s most respected voices.
Have you listened to any other books narrated by Hillary? I would be interested to hear your thoughts. Here’s the link to her website.
I know I’ve mentioned many times how hearing from readers is the best reward for an author and I want to share part of a touching message I recently received from a reader in the UK. Amongst other things, this reminds me that the publishing date of a novel really doesn’t matter. The life of a good story lives on forever.
I have just finished reading your book The Promise of Provence and wanted to thank you for all the joy and wonder it provided me.
My world as I knew it has been turned upside down very unexpectedly. And I’m slowly processing and figuring out what the future “me” will be.
Your book has been a light in my life, it’s transported me to the beautiful memories of France and has also ignited hope within me that you can start life all over again no matter how dark things may become. And that they can actually turn out to be even better once you get through the darkness!
The second book in your series is ordered and I can’t wait for it to arrive!
I truly hope you get this message and know that the words you have put out to the universe have such a positive effect.
I cannot tell you how much receiving this message warmed my heart … and inspires me to keep writing.
Needless to say, I shed a few tears and we exchanged more emails. I feel so fortunate to be a writer and especially at this stage of my life.
Have you read the Love in Provence trilogy? If not, I hope you will ~ over 200,000 copies have been sold and it makes me feel satisfied and happy to know readers are discovering it every day. Here’s the link. At just $3.99 for the ebook, it’s truly a steal.
Because I had such a great response to my newsletter giveaway, I’m going to bring back treasures from France in October and do another giveaway. If you purchase any of the Love in Provence series books, send proof of your purchase to patriciasandsauthor@gmail.com and be entered to win. Buy the trilogy for extra entries. Good luck. Bonne chance!
THE NEWSLETTER GIFT BOX HAS BEEN MAILED TO MARLENE GAGNON. CONGRATULATIONS!
Giveaway Winners
Speaking of giveaways, here are the winners from my last newsletter. More congratulations!
Sarah Taylor ~ Summer State of Mind
Katie Myers – All This Could be Yours
Melanie Bracco – A Singing Bird Will Come.
The authors will be in touch with you to send your prize.
This month I have a special giveaway offered by my good friend, Canadian author, Dorothy McIntosh. Dorothy has used a pen name, E.M. Westbrook for this novel. She has a close relationship with nature and wolves in particular. In fact, 35% of every e-book sale goes to PETA (People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
Here’s the blurb:
Niko is a rare white eastern wolf. Snatched from his den by a hunter when barely a week old, he’s raised by Jade, a young woman. The hunter returns promising he’ll take the wolf to a sanctuary, instead, he sells Niko to a hunting preserve. Jade risks everything to rescue the wolf as trophy hunters track Niko through the shimmering beauty of the Adirondack mountains.
The deep attachment we all feel to home entwines the fates of three principal individuals: Jade, grieving the loss of her family farm, Conrad Lang, a hunting guide who could lose his ranch as it teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, and Niko raised in captivity, who finds the early trust he placed in humans threatens to become a curse. The young wolf too, longs for home – his birthplace high up on Mount Seymour. But to survive, he must learn how to be wild again.
This story is a testimony to the passion and courage of all three.
“Much of the novel is from the wolf’s point of view, but he is not anthromorphised in any way, and Westbrook has done a sterling job of representing him as he grows, determined to set his own fate. The human characters he encounters are fully realized, both the good and the bad, those wanting to help the wolf, those wanting to make money off him, and those fixated on hunting him. A thriller like no other, with a deep heart, compelling message, brilliant writing, and a deep seated love of nature in all its complications.” —Vicki Delany, National Bestselling Author.
I know you will love this story as much as I do. She is offering two ebooks. Good luck!
As always, I hope you enjoy meeting authors who might be new to you and connecting with those you already follow. Savour their books, find out more about the writers and pass along their information to your friends. Write a short review, thanks! The best way to hear about a good book is by word of mouth from dedicated readers like you. And if you take a minute to thank an author when you win a free book or post a photo on Facebook, trust me, we all appreciate that more than you know.
Author Spotlight
Featured Author: Kerry Schafer/Kerry Anne King
Book Title: Party Planning Can Be Murder
Retail Link: https://books2read.com/u/bWxP6M
Author Newsletter: www.allthingskerry.com.
Sign up now to get a free read and FUN emails from Kerry. Cross her heart — no boring dreck. What could possibly go wrong since you can unsubscribe at any time?
Blurb:
Murder, media, mayhem—and maybe love—await in this witty small-town mystery, perfect for fans of Stephanie Plum and Finlay Donovan.
Despite a few harrowing incidents with nervy Bridezillas, Addy Winters’ small town party planning business has been 100% murder free—until now. Everything changes when her former classmate, now a legendary rockstar, comes home to Fox Valley to die. Leno Masterson’s dying wish is a star-studded ‘after-I’m-dead’ extravaganza in place of a funeral, and who better to plan it than his old friend Addy? But when he turns up dead four days earlier than the date-with-death he’s circled on his calendar, Addy suspects that somebody helped him along. Sure, he left a melodramatic goodbye letter and his right-to-die paperwork is all in order, but something feels wrong. With a flair for events and a knack for nosing into trouble, Addy’s on the case, dragging her family, friends, and Leno’s older brother along with her. She’s woefully unprepared for the inevitable media onslaught and the secrets her nearest and dearest are hiding, but nothing is going to stop her from getting justice for Leno— and throwing a killer party while she’s at it.
GET READY TO LAUGH. THIS BOOK IS A KILLER!
Now that you’ve finished reading all of this news, here’s something to satisfy another appetite.
From my dear friend in Paris, Jill Colonna aka Mad About Macarons, I’m delighted to send you to her amazing website which is overflowing with French recipes for every kind of food imaginable. Jill is a true wizard in the kitchen.
It’s apple season where I live and probably where you are too. Jill shares a wealth of apple recipes here. Have fun sampling them. Click here to get started.
That’s it for now. See you next time! I will be in touch from France and leave you now with warm wishes for a safe and happy rest of summer. Remember autumn doesn’t start until October.
Stay safe and stay positive, dear friends. Be kind to one another, read often, and cherish every day. Profitez de tous les jours! I’m reminded time and again that the greatest joy of being an author is connecting with readers. Your messages mean a great deal to me, and I treasure every one of them.
Thank you as well for sharing my books with your friends and for taking the time to write reviews. Feel free to share my newsletter too! Your support, enthusiasm, and kindness are deeply appreciated and continue to inspire me every day.
