Patricia Sands

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THERE’S A NEW GIVEAWAY IN TOWN!

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DON’T MISS THIS ONE! JOIN OUR BLUE SKY BOOK CHAT GROUP, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND BE ENTERED IN THIS FABULOUS DRAW!

Now through November 8, 2020, join the Blue Sky Book Chat mailing list by filling in the form below, then join the Blue Sky Book Chat Facebook Group at the button below, and you will be automatically entered for a chance to win a signed copy of Dignity & Grace, by Alison Ragsdale, The Beantown Girls, by Jane Healey, The Exit Strategy, by Lainey Cameron, A Million Little Lies, by Bette Lee Crosby, Wedding at the Lakeside Resort, by Susan Schild, The Ruby of the Sea, by Peggy Lampman, Drawing Lessons, by Patricia Sands, Every Thing You Are, by Kerry Anne King, Lift and Separate, by Marilyn Simon Rothstein, and Home At Last, by Judith Keim!

The link for the giveaway is here. Click on it and enter … wishing you good luck!

And here’s a reminder that all three ebooks of the Love in Provence trilogy are on sale!

Click here for your copies. Happy reading! Bonne lecture!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

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Here’s what Thanksgiving means to me ~

 No shopping for anything but dinner ingredients. No lists of gifts. Bags of food being filled for the Food Banks. Volunteers serving turkey dinners at homeless shelters. Quality time spent as families and friends gather to share memories, love and laughter.

But this year, the disaster that 2020 is for everyone around the world, our Thanksgiving celebrations will look quite different. We have to spend time with those in our immediate bubble, wear masks outside our home and practise distancing. Let’s hope that next year at this time we will be able to go back to beloved traditions.

In spite of everything, I hope an attitude of gratitude can prevail. I am so thankful for the life I have. I hope you feel the same about yours.
As we consider our individual blessings, let’s remember those who struggle with hunger, illness, poverty, war and a multitude of other challenges in our own backyards and around the globe. The pandemic crisis is heartbreaking. Let’s try to make the sentiments of Thanksgiving a part of every single day. I know we are all grateful for the sacrifices made by essential workers every day.


What a good feeling to see the food donation bins overflowing today. If you can’t get out to help, here’s a way you can play a part without leaving home! Click right here.

I’ve written about these sites before, but they are always worth mentioning from time to time.  All you have to do is go to TheHungerSite.com  once a day and click on the button — sponsors give free food. You are not put on any list or bombarded with spam. There are other links to click where sponsors donate for appropriate benefits: Breast Cancer ~ remember it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; Child Health; Literacy; Rainforest; Animal Rescue and a few others. All of this has been verified as legit by Snopes years ago. I pop in every day. Why not?

While we are at it, have you ever played FREERICE.COM? ~ This is a unique way to increase your vocabulary and donate rice to needy countries. Play it with your children as there are 60 levels. It’s a great place to learn new words for Words With Friends … ahem, my addiction when I need a few minutes off from writing. It’s such a fun way to keep connected with friends too.
One big personal thank you to the readers who take the time to contact me. I love hearing from you and appreciate every single message. Thanks for subscribing to my  newsletter and for sharing my books with your friends. You light up my life!

Having a giveaway during the Thanksgiving holiday is always a good idea! If you haven’t read the Love in Provence trilogy, all three ebooks are on sale this month. If you already have yours, pick up some copies for gifts for friends. When you go to purchase them on Amazon there will directions how to do this. It’s easy and a great way to take care of some gift giving. Click on this for the Amazon link.

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

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Bonjour tout le monde! This week it is my pleasure to welcome author and foodie extraordinaire, Carole Bumpus, for a visit. A freelance food/travel writer, Carole has a new release (August 2020) to share with us. You may remember her from last year when she dropped by to talk about her wonderful book, Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table, Book One.

Read on to see reviews and a synopsis of her new book, Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table, Book Two, Savoring the Olde Ways Series. I promise you it is as delicious and informative a read as Book One. Hard to put down!

“The author’s straightforward narrative delivers vivid imagery of both the surroundings and the people…An engaging gastronomic presentation of French history and culture.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This warm and inviting memoir will appeal to food lovers and history buffs alike. The two women examine how it was to live during a time of war, especially the Second World War, and how families managed to keep traditions alive even during tough times.”—Seattle Book Review

“…her conversational style easily draws the reader into the experience. An enjoyable book for those interested in France, WWII, and French food.”—Judy Alter, StoryCircle Book Reviews

“Bumpus weaves wonderful stories into her adventures. But, at the same time, she gives her readers fly-on-the-wall glimpses of ordinary family life, and the opportunity to savour with her the incredible cuisine of France. Whether you love France, enjoy discovering new things, want to try some of the traditional recipes at the end of this book, or just want a thoroughly enjoyable read, I highly recommend this book!”—The Good Life France

In this engaging new installment of Carole Bumpus’ heartwarming culinary memoir/travelogue series, Carole and her trusted guide and dear friend, Josiane Selvage, complete their gastronomic and cultural tour of France. The trip was inspired by Josiane’s deceased mother, Marcelle, and in a touching tribute, Carole and Josiane also search for Marcelle’s roots—a mystery created by the chaos of both world wars.

Beginning in Paris and heading north into Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Normandy, Brittany, Loire and completing the tour in the Auvergne, Carole searched for the traditional “cuisine pauvre” (peasant foods) common to the French table, but she also treasured visits to cultural sites that illuminated the French character and history: ancient cathedrals, a truffle farm, the troglodyte caves in the Loire Valley, Mont St. Michel, and the Bayeux Tapestry.

As she traveled, Carole listened to French families describe their personal histories, the myths and traditions unique to their communities, and learned the family recipes used for festivals and celebrations. But alongside the joy of discovering delicious dishes and making new friends, Carole was reminded of the sobering economic and political realities of both world wars, and the ways those wars have shaped France, its people, and its cuisine. These realities were made all the more poignant by Josiane’s efforts to uncover her mother’s family history.

A retired family therapist, CAROLE BUMPUS began writing about food and travel when she stumbled upon the amazing stories of women and war in France. She has traveled extensively throughout France and Italy, where she has interviewed more than seventy-five families to date for her food and travel blogs. She published an historical novel, A Cup of Redemption, in 2014, and her unique companion cookbook, Recipes for Redemption: A Companion Cookbook to A Cup of Redemption, in August 2015. She is an active member in The California Writers Club and The Women’s National Book Association. Bumpus lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she teaches classes on writing, does public speaking, and continues to write about women, food, and war. Visit her website at CaroleBumpus.com. 

COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Special

As you are whiling away your days at home awaiting the moment when you can get back to our lives, how about taking advantage of a special offer?  All three of my books – A Cup of Redemption, Recipes for Redemptionand Searching for Family at the French Table, Book One, which can be purchased together for one small price. $30 for all three – a discounted price of over $20 plus FREE SHIPPING. Autographed and sent directly to your door. Order Your COVID-19 Deal Here

The August newsletter in case you missed it! There’s still time to enter the giveaways. Good luck! Bonne chance!

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Newsletter #80                                                 Aug 23, 2020
Bonjour!
How is everyone doing as summer flies by? My friends in France have been letting me know how very hot it has been lately. La canicule, they call it , or la chaleur … what we call a heat wave, s c o r c h i n g!
So this header photo shows where I would be if I were in Antibes right now ~ Plage de la Gravette, my favourite beach. Click on that link for more photos and a bit of history. The setting is magnifique! That empty chair is reserved for you!I hope you enjoy a moment of fantasy reading about that beach. Here are a few more south of France beach photos to dream about.FranceFrance - beachesFrance - beachesFrance - beaches 
I hope you and yours are well and coping through these continuing days of challenge and uncertainty. And now we have the unknowns about sending students back to school. I’m still struggling with all of it … and am cheating a bit in this newsletter by repeating words I sent you last month. I’m doing it because they are words that resonate so strongly with me and I hope they do to you too. So if you read last month’s newsletter, feel free to skip the next bit or read it all again and hopefully feel as I do. 
“I have a confession to make. I didn’t write my newsletter in June. I simply did not know how to reach out in a meaningful way. I felt distraught at the impact of these confusing, challenging times that have been so devastating for so many. As much as I love communicating with you, I truly did not know where to begin. Thank you to those of you who wrote me to say they missed receiving the newsletter. You inspired me to give myself a shake.

 Have you heard of “crisis fatigue”? Here’s a simple definition from WebMD “While crisis fatigue is not an official diagnosis, its effects are real. People can feel so overwhelmed that they’re unsure of how to move forward.” This is often mentioned these days and I think I’ve had a touch of that. Have you?

I believe we all hoped that by now the Corona Virus would not be rampant and the world would be finding a sense of normalcy once again. Sadly, there are many parts of the world where this is not the case. As we all struggle to help each other and to do the right thing to battle COVID-19 and its effect on our lives, I hope that books are helping to bring comfort, distraction and inspiration. I know I’ve been reading more than ever these past few months.Reading gives us somewhere to go when we have to stay where we are
I’m reaching back to a previous newsletter to share again this quote from the late, great Nora Ephron, Nora Ephron quote
For some laughter and relief, read any of her wonderful books. Click here to see them.

Speaking of reading, I wanted to share this message I received today with you. It is always a gift when readers share their thoughts with me. I feel such gratitude.
“Cher Patricia, Merci mille fois for helping me escape to France through these last few months. Holding up through quarantine was made bearable thanks to you bringing Kat’s journey to me daily. You helped me shift my attention to view someone else’s obstacles, observations and new found awareness. (and paraphrased slightly by me) It’s also been very therapeutic for my friend who is going through a separation. I told her about your books and they have done a world of good for her going through this transition in her life.” Truly, words such as these are an author’s best reward.
Thanks for understanding my desire to repeat all that. I hope you didn’t mind.

Do you have other thoughts about what reading brings to your life? Please send me an email and we will add your words to create another quote about the pleasure and importance of reading. In fact, that is what I would like you to send in your email to enter our giveaways this month. As usual, send your email to patriciasandsauthor@gmail.com. 

Now it’s time for today’s great giveaways. Thank you to the generous writers, all three of which this month are Canadian and also sister authors of mine with Lake Union Publishing. 

Giveaway #1 ~ Multi-talented Carol Cram is offering two ebooks of The Muse of Fire. An award-winning author of historical fiction and former educator who published 40+ academic textbooks, Carol is also the creator of Art in Fiction. This latter website features engaging podcasts with a variety of authors (including me J ~ but more of that later in this newsletter) and has become a favourite of many. I encourage you to visit the site. Carol and her husband live on beautiful Bowen Island, near Vancouver, B.C.Connect with Carol here.Carol M. Cram - author of The Muse of FireHere’s the blurb:  Shakespeare’s sweeping themes meet the wit of Jane Austen in a mashup of theater riots and drawing room angst. 

Based on real events, The Muse of Fire takes readers behind the scenes of London’s massive Covent Garden theater at the dawn of the 19thCentury. The intrigue, romance, and betrayal swirling around the actors offstage rivals anything they must perform onstage.

After the death of her mother, Grace Johnson follows her abusive father to London and discovers a passion for the stage. But she must fight against social norms to find her place as a Shakespearean actress in the fraught world of early 19th Century theater.

Aided by Ned, a foundling who takes charge backstage at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, Grace becomes ensnared by intrigues and setbacks that mar the pathway to stardom she craves.

Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Old Price Riots of 1809, Grace and Ned find common purpose in a quest that threatens to tear both their worlds apart.
Winner of the Bronze for Best Historical Fiction from the Independent Publishers’ Awards and First in Category for the Goethe Awards.

Giveaway #2 ~ Chart-topping Suzy Krause is offering two ebooks of her newest release, Sorry I Missed You, an Amazon Best Seller. Suzy is a writer and a music lover. She’s been blogging for over a decade, but she also writes, from time to time, on various arts, entertainment, and lifestyle websites. She lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with her husband and young children … and once worked as a debt collector. Her blog posts are hilarious! Connect with Suzy hereSuzy Krause - author of Sorry I Missed YouHere’s the blurb:  A poignant and heartwarming novel about friendship, ghosting, and searching for answers to life’s mysteries.When Mackenzie, Sunna, and Maude move into a converted rental house, they are strangers with only one thing in common—important people in their lives have “ghosted” them. Mackenzie’s sister, Sunna’s best friend, and Maude’s fiancé—all gone with no explanation.So when a mangled, near-indecipherable letter arrives in their shared mailbox—hinting at long-awaited answers—each tenant assumes it’s for her. The mismatched trio decides to stake out the coffee shop named in the letter—the only clue they have—and in the process, a bizarre kinship forms. But the more they learn about each other, the more questions (and suspicions) they begin to have. All the while, creepy sounds and strange happenings around the property suggest that the ghosts from their pasts might not be all that’s haunting them…Will any of the housemates find the closure they are looking for? Or are some doors meant to remain closed?Quirky, humorous, and utterly original, Sorry I Missed You is the perfect read for anyone who has ever felt haunted by their past (or by anything else).

Giveaway #3 ~ USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than thirty novels, Julianne MacLean is offering one ebook and one print copy of her most recent novel, A Fire Sparkling. Originally from Nova Scotia, she also has lived in New Zealand, Canada, and England. Currently Julianne resides on the east coast of Canada in a lakeside home with her husband and daughter.Connect with Julianne here.Julianne Maclean - author of A Fire SparklingHere’s the blurb: A spellbinding novel about one woman’s love, loss, and courage during wartime.After a crushing betrayal by the man she loves, Gillian Gibbons flees to her family home for a much-needed escape, but when she finds an old photograph of her grandmother in the arms of a Nazi officer, Gillian’s life gets even more complicated. Rattled by the discovery, Gillian attempts to unravel the truth behind the photos, setting her off on an epic journey through the past.1939. England is on the brink of war as Vivian Hughes falls in love with a handsome British official, but when bombs begin to fall and Vivian’s happy life is destroyed in the blitz, she will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves…As Gillian learns more about her grandmother’s past, the old photo begins to make more sense. But for every question answered, a new one takes its place. Faced with a truth that is not at all what she expected, Gillian attempts to shine a light not only on the mysteries of her family’s past but also on her own future.This gorgeously written multigenerational saga is a heart-wrenching yet hopeful examination of one woman’s struggle to survive, perfect for fans of The Nightingale and Beneath a Scarlet Sky.

Good luck/Bonne chance! 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.
fireworksCongratulations to the July newsletter winners:  ~ oops, sorry …we are having a change of virtual assistants and I don’t have the winners’ names yet. Rest assured you will be contacted and your prizes sent. I’ll post your names in the next newsletter. Thanks for understanding.

As I mentioned above, Carol Cram is the creator of Art in Fiction, a curated database of novels inspired by the arts. As described on the website, “The Art In Fiction Podcast is a weekly show hosted by author and Art In Fiction founder Carol M. Cram. Join Carol as she delves into what makes great, arts-inspired fiction in a variety of genres, from historical fiction and mysteries to crime novels, thrillers, contemporary fiction, and more. Carol discusses writing topics and interviews a selection of top authors featured on Art In Fiction, a curated online database of novels inspired by the arts, from Music to Dance to Literature to Visual Arts and beyond.

Discover awesome novels and get the lowdown on what it takes to be a successful author of novels inspired by the arts.”
It was a pleasure to join her in a podcast where we discussed writing and the novel Drawing Lessons in particular. Click here to join us. Explore the other podcasts as well for entertaining and engaging interviews from a wide variety of genres.Podcast - Patricia Sands
Are blueberries in season where you live? Here’s a delicious recipe from Jill Colonna’s wonderful Mad About Macarons website (photo credit to Jill as well). Clafoutis is a classic French snack or dessert, often a favourite of school children when they first arrive home. Enjoy this Blueberry/Lemon offering!Blueberry & Lemon Clafoutis
Stay strong, everyone, and keep helping each other. I’m repeating myself here but these thoughts are on my mind constantly. If your health or that of someone you know has been affected, I hope the road to recovery is in sight. If there has been a tragic loss, please know everyone mourns with you. 
So many of you are working from home and at the same time trying to take care of your family. Some of you are home schooling children and doing your best to keep your world and theirs revolving in some kind of “normal”. And now we have concerns about when schools will open and how teachers and students will be safe.

Families and friends are talking to each other more than ever before. Let’s keep that going. 
So many of you have had your employment seriously impacted and are being forced to rethink how the rest of your life looks. You have strengths. Keep believing in yourself.
So many of you are taking risks every day and leaving the safety of your home to take care of the rest of us in a multitude of different ways.There are not enough words to express our gratitude and admiration to all of you, and also to all those people around that I see doing such thoughtful acts of kindness, day in and day out. Let’s keep believing that we will get through this by continuing to help each other.
I will keep sharing this graphic until the day comes when we can all do our part. No matter what, we will never stop saying thank you to all who keep life going for the rest of us.Thank you
Stay well, my friends, be kind to one another, read a lot and appreciate every single day. Profitez de tous les jours! I’m reminded on a regular basis that the best part of being an author is hearing from readers. I value the messages I receive from you. Thanks also for sharing my books with your friends and for the reviews you write. It’s all most appreciated and inspiring. Let’s follow guidelines, wear a mask outside and in crowds, and continue to be kind and helpful to each other. See you next month!

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