Patricia Sands

Author

Patricia Sands

MIAMI BOOK FAIR – Friday and Saturday

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On Friday, my super supportive husband and I drove down to the Miami Book Fair and were pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to find. Coincidentally, Friday was “School Day” and there were thousands of children of all ages eagerly checking out all the booths. Fortunately I had taken postcards for the teen novel “Masks” written by my friend and fellow iUniverse author Patricia Caviglia  (Click here for her website.). The timing was perfect with all the school children looking for new books to read. Patricia Caviglia’s excellent writing skills weave a story filled with important lessons for teenagers and parents.

Yesterday, Saturday, I spent the day at the Book Fair with Janice, my friend and Florida “mentor” for promoting The Bridge Club. After months of e-mailing, telephoning, and skyping, it was such a pleasure to finally be standing in front of each other. The hug was a big one!

What a day we had amongst the literati! We walked the Book Fair from one end to the other handing out The Bridge Club postcards and chatting with readers, authors, and book-lovers in general. The response was great and the weather perfect so it was the best combination for strolling and chatting.

It was a thrill to see my novel displayed along with other iUniverse Rising Star authors and a great pleasure to meet Joy Owens from iUniverse. Again, after months of communicating by e-mail it was so nice to meet her in person. Along with all of this activity, Janice and I managed to catch five author presentations – among them, Michele Norris from NPR, Emilio Estefan, and the best way to end the day, the amazing Salman Rushdie – awesome, as expected.
This was the 27th year for the Book Fair and the diversity of programing and the eclectic mix of the 350 visiting authors was impressive. It is truly an experience not to be missed for people in the area and reminded me of Toronto’s own Word On The Street that is held in late September every year. If you’ve never gone, mark it down for 2011!

 

The Miami Book Fair

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At 6 a.m. last Sunday the 14th, my husband and I settled into our car for the 24-hour drive to our winter home in southeast Florida. We have it down to a fine art now, driving in three-hour shifts, more or less 12-hour days and it’s really not bad at all as we plan the trip and route around the weather. It’s always nice to see that the house has made it through hurricane season (another lucky year with no significant storms) and all is well. Having been totally neglected all summer just sitting out in their pots, my orchids continually surprise me with glorious blooms upon our arrival. They do like to be left on their own!

Tomorrow we will go to Miami, a 45-minute drive, and visit the Miami Book Fair where The Bridge Club will be on exhibit in the iUniverse Gallery. I’ll write a full report after that.

Click here for the Miami Book Fair website

Never Forget – Support Our Troops

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Today is Remembrance Day in Canada. Last year my husband and I spent several days in Normandy. We visited the burial place of my uncle who was shot down over France a week after D-Day. We toured the battle fields and absorbed the very emotional and important history of the area. It was an experience everyone who has the opportunity should have. Sadly, wars go on. Whether or not we believe in today’s assignments, the men and women whose lives are on the line deserve our support in combat and upon return. Wear a poppy and observe a moment’s silence at 11 a.m. It’s the least we can do.

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.