Patricia Sands

Author

General Travel

April First and chocolate fish in France ~ no joke!

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April 1, 2023 

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

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Happy April 1st! I hope you enjoy this repost of mine. Some things never change!

Imagine my surprise the first time I was in France on April 1st and found children sticking paper fish on my back, whispering and giggling and then hollering “poisson d’avril”!

Excusez-moi? Fish?

As Wikipedia explains: “In Italy, France and Belgium, children and adults traditionally tack paper fishes on each other’s back as a trick and shout “April fish!” in their local languages (pesce d’aprile!, poisson d’avril! and aprilvis! in Italian, French and Flemish, respectively). Such fish feature prominently on many late 19th- to early 20th-century French April Fools’ Day postcards.

April-Fools-vintage-Image-TheGraphicsFairy.com

April-Fools-vintage-Image-TheGraphicsFairy.com

I had no idea where the tradition began and, after a bit of searching, found this explanation on France Travel Guide.

“Although the origin of April Fools is obscure and debated, the most widely accepted explanation actually credits the “holiday” as starting in France. The most popular theory about the origin of April Fool’s Day involves the French calendar reform of the sixteenth century.

The theory goes like this: In 1564 King Charles IX of France reformed the calendar, moving the start of the year from the end of March to January 1. However, in a time without trains, a reliable post system or the internet, news often traveled slow and the uneducated, lower class people in rural France were the last to hear of and accept the new calendar. Those who failed to keep up with the change or who stubbornly clung to the old calendar system and continued to celebrate the New Year during the week that fell between March 25th and April 1st, had jokes played on them. Pranksters would surreptitiously stick paper fish to their backs. The victims of this prank were thus called Poisson d’avril, or April Fish—which, to this day, remains the French term for April Fools—and so the tradition was born.”

poisson d'avril

poisson d’avril

Boulangeries and patisseries deliciously get into the spirit with fish-shaped goodies. Oh … and did I mention the chocolatiers? Schools of fish of all sizes fill shop windows, the larger ones often filled with smaller treats. To a chocoholic, fish never tasted so good!

Since Easter usually falls around the same time, fish feature predominantly in shop windows through that holiday as well.

Maybe we should adopt a symbol for April Fool’s Day in North America, so there would be a good excuse to buy special chocolates on that day over here. Not that we ever really need an excuse for chocolate …

Wherever you are, have fun on April 1st and enjoy some chocolate.

My friend, author Margo Lestz, has this tidbit to share on her blog about April 1:

“The annual “April Fish” in Nice, France ~
The city of Nice has its own special April Fool’s joke. Normally there is a cannon shot every day at noon from a hill overlooking the town. (It’s really a firecracker, but it used to be a cannon so they still call it one. You can read more about it here.) This noonday boom alerts the people of Nice that it’s lunchtime and it goes off every day at exactly noon. That is, every day except on April 1st when the “cannon” goes off one hour early and everyone is thrown off schedule. If you are in Nice on April 1st listen carefully after the boom and you might be able to hear a shout from the hilltop – “April Fish!”

Take some time and visit her website, The Curious Rambler, for entertaining posts about traditions and history based on her extensive travels in France, Italy and England.

Are you a prankster on April 1st or do you just grit your teeth and hope the day will pass quickly? Is there one April Fool’s Day joke in particular that you will never forget?

Here’s something that’s no joke! All of the Sail Away series is now available in ebook and paperback. It was great fun to collaborate with seven author friends and write these stories to whisk you across several seas! No surprise, my story LOST AT SEA is set on a Mediterranean cruise. Readers of my books will have a smile when they suddenly see a brief appearance of some beloved characters! Of course there are a few ports of call in France ~ pourquoi pas??? ~ as the cruise goes from Barcelona to Sicily.

Each story has a different vibe as they are all standalone ~ quick, engaging and satisfying reads at around 200 pages each. Put your feet up and enjoy all the cruises!

Working clockwise from the top left ~ Jessie Newton, Tammy L. Grace, Ev Bishop, Violet Howe, Elizabeth Bromke, Patricia Sands, Judith Keim, Kay Bratt

See you next time! Happy reading!

A new book for you ~ Lost At Sea!

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Come sail away with me and my friends! As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with seven author friends to bring you the Sail Away series ~ eight standalone short novels with each story taking characters to an inviting location in the world plus the first free book which is a collection of all the prologues.

The characters, their situations, and the plots in each story are different and the stories are unrelated apart from the fact they each involve a cruise. How much fun is that? Especially in the midst of a rather harsh winter! Hop aboard and sail away!

Beginning February 1st, a new book has published each week and today it’s my turn to offer you Lost At Sea. Click on the link for your copy.

I had such a great time writing this story as my characters cruised the Mediterranean … no surprise on location, right?

Here’s the blurb:

For every family that is Italian going back several generations, this will sound familiar: It’s a known fact that Italian women are passionate about everything, especially family, and they know that food is the essence of life.

Stephanie (Stevie) Valentini’s story begins with her Bisnonna (great-grandmother) Paola in a village in Italy after WW2. In 2021, she is searching for something. She’s just not sure what that something is.

The chef in her family’s trattoria, Stephanie’s life has imploded. Suddenly single, suffering from Covid burnout, and about to turn thirty, she impulsively agrees to help best friend Kim with her pop-up jewellery shop on a Mediterranean cruise. Feeling lost, she’s not convinced she even needs to be found. What she discovers on this voyage is magic that might change her forever.

This gourmet food cruise is on a small ship with ten stops of three days in exciting ports from Barcelona to Venice. Time with Kim can only help heal Stephanie’s wounded heart as they have laughed and cried their way through life together as only besties can. They will be crew on this cruise and not paying passengers. Kim understands Stephanie does not want anyone to know she is the TikTok star of Stevie Valentini’s Pasta Party. Nor does she want any romance.

With each passing port, adventures continue, surprises occur and the final outcome once Venice is reached could not have been anticipated, particularly by Stephanie.

Join bestselling author Patricia Sands as she whisks you away in the latest adventure in the Sail Away series. Lose yourself on the sparkling Mediterranean in a story of family, friendship and food.

I hope you will order all eight books and enjoy a different staycation with each one.

★ Don’t miss a Sail Away book! ★ Click this link to see them all.
Book 1: Welcome Aboard – prologue book
Book 2: The Sound of the Sea by Jessie Newton
Book 3: Uncharted Waters by Tammy L. Grace
Book 4: A Not So Distant Shore by Ev Bishop
Book 5: Caroline, Adrift by Kay Bratt
Book 6: Moonlight On the Lido Deck by Violet Howe
Book 7: The Winning Tickets by Judith Keim
Book 8: Lost At Sea by Patricia Sands
Book 9: The Last Port of Call by Elizabeth Bromke

Part of my book release celebration is a live chat on my facebook page. Ev Bishop and I are the two Canadian authors in the group and we look forward to having you join us at 7 ET on Wednesday, 15th. Here’s the link for that https://www.facebook.com/patricia.sands.9

Woohoo … and the celebrating continues … There will also be a giveaway beginning on the 15th featuring a paperback copy of the book plus an apron from Italy, a tote, soap and sachet from the Côte d’Azur all worth $40.00. Good luck!!!

Here’s the link for that.

Now it’s time to get back to writing the next book! Stay safe and warm, dear friends, and may spring be on your doorstep soon!

A January Giveaway and a September Suggestion

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Happy New Year! The Bridge Club is one of the great fiction reads in this January’s Booksweeps giveaway along with some of my friends Michelle Cox, Jan Moran, Suzanne Kelman and Tara Ross, among others.

TWO lucky winners will each collect a 45-book pack of literary, historical and book club fiction great reads PLUS an eReader!

Just click here to enter. Good luck to all!

I’m happy to remind you that The Promise of Provence (Book 1 in the Love in Provence trilogy) is an Amazon Kindle Deal for all of January! I was SO excited when I received the email from Amazon’s marketing division letting me know this was one of their chosen books for the month. It’s been a while since it was on sale, so if you have not read it now’s your chance. And if you own this book, these sales are always a great opportunity to gift it to friends. Help them get started on Katherine’s adventure in Provence. I love telling her story about discovering it’s never to late to begin a new chapter in your life. Here’s the link.

While we’re talking about the Provence trilogy, I want to let you know that there are just three spots left on our September South of France Memories tour. Are you coming? I know you want to! And we would love to have you. Click here for all the details.

The first week of the tour we stay in the best location in Nice, right on the Mediterranean and a two-minute stroll to the heart of the old town. In short day trips we visit so many of the beautiful towns and villages you read about in The Promise of Provence, Promises to Keep and I Promise You This. Will we see Philippe at the market? It’s a question we are asked every year!

As an added bonus in 2023, we have managed to include a stop at the 2000-year-old Roman monument, Trophée des Alpes, featured in my latest novel The Secrets We Hide … also on sale, BTW!

After six days, we travel by private coach to Aix-en-Provence to catch the market and an unforgettable Cezanne tour before we continue on to the ancient and intriguing town of Arles, the setting for Drawing Lessons and our home for this second week. Roman ruins, the spirit of Vincent van Gogh, and the unique attractions of the nearby Camargue fill our days.

Click here to see all the details and discover how to grab those last few spots with your bestie, sister, book club or come on your own and still have a great time. That’s what happens every year and we love seeing women become such lifelong friends!

I hope your new year is off to a good beginning and you have been safe from the extreme weather in some parts of the world.

Good luck with the giveaway and happy reading!

My recent newsletter ~ hiatus over!

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NL #93 August 2, 2022

Bonjour

It’s been a while! I have been on a bit of a writing hiatus and am glad to be getting back into my regular schedule now.


How are you doing? I hope your summer is going well and that you are managing to stay cool in those areas where temperatures have been skyrocketing. Our thoughts are also with everyone impacted by other shocking forces of nature … fires, floods … life has not been easy for many people.


I find it’s often difficult to focus on the positive when such tragic circumstances abound. But, focus on the positive is exactly what I hope to do here with you. But before I go on, here is one way we can help those in need of assistance. Just click here.


Now, here’s my first bit of good news!


As I mentioned in my last newsletter, I was finishing up the final details in order to release my new novel, THE SECRETS WE HIDE. In fact … ta daaaaa … drum roll please … the cover reveal just happened. Only the front cover was revealed but I am sharing the complete cover here with all of you.


The book is ready for pre-order now and will be published August 25. I hope you are ready for a story that ultimately is about commitment, hope and second chances. Life isn’t always what we expect it to be but we should always be open to change. That is Kaito Tanaka’s lesson.


Here’s the pre-order link.

Moving on to my next good news which I’m sure you will all understand, since so many of you have been with me through a lot of years. In June, I finally was able to return to my beloved south of France. It was only for three weeks, but I was thankful to have that.


Apart from simply being thrilled to stroll the colorful streets of the Côte d’Azur again, I also had the pleasure of spending an afternoon in Nice at an author event that was a lot of fun with a full house and great question/book signing session afterward. Organized by the über-efficient Ella Dyer and M-C-ed by the effervescent Adrian Leeds, author, real estate expert extraordinaire and seen on House Hunters International.


There were seven authors in the lineup and I can’t wait to tell you about their books in my next few newsletters. This time I am highlighting Lisa Anselmo and Craig Carlson. In the meantime, feel free to find out more here: Debra Moffitt, Janet Hulstrand, Jeanne Oliver, Oliver Gee.

First, I’ll begin with these two dear friends. Read on:


Lisa Anselmo is an author, branding expert, speaker, and coach. She spent most of her professional career in magazine publishing in New York City, working on such iconic brands as Allure, InStyle, and People. In 2014, she left her “day job,” and now lives (mostly) in Paris where, when she’s not hanging out in cafés, she’s writing and coaching.

Her experiences inspired the fabulous memoir My (Part-Time) Paris Life: How Running Away Brought Me Home, (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press), a candid narrative of a woman searching for hope and healing in the city she loves after the death of her mother from breast cancer. Check out her blog and YouTube series and be amazed at this multi-talented special woman, who also happens to be an exceptional singer and tons of fun!


Lisa and her projects have been featured in New York magazine, Travel and Leisure, Bustle, House Hunters International, The Today Show, The Guardian, New York Times, LA Times, BBC, and CNN International, among others.

You can connect with her here ~ Website: LisaAnselmo.com

New York Times bestselling author (and super nice guy!) Craig Carlson first
came to France as an exchange student in 1985 and instantly fell in love with
the country. He never could have imagined that some thirty-five years later,
he’d be the owner of two American diners in Paris and be nicknamed “Le
Pancake Kid” by the French. With a background in journalism, Craig studied
cinema at the prestigious USC School of Cinematic Arts, using his experience
as a screenwriter to pen his debut memoir, Pancakes in Paris: Living the
American Dream in France. It’s a great story!


Craig and his husband, Julien (also a super nice guy!), currently split their time
between Paris and Los Angeles. Well, at least they try to. With two busy diners
that can’t be left alone for too long, their lives lean heavily on the Paris side,
which, of course, is not such a bad thing, n’est-ce pas?


You can connect with Craig here ~ Website: Craig Carlson Author

After that first busy week in Nice, it was time to check into Hotel Villa Victoria,
hook up with my tour-host partner and BFF, Deborah Bine (aka Barefoot
Blogger) and excitedly await the arrival of fourteen fabulous women who would
tour with us for twelve-days. This tour was created exclusively for them! You
see, these ladies had all traveled with us previously and wanted to do it again.
And so we did. In style. We made new memories in wonderful places along the
Riviera and folicked in the lavender fields of Provence. You can see more
photos in my Instagram account @psands.stories. You may recall my original
account was hacked in the spring and I’ve had to begin all over. I hope you are
following me there.


Enjoy a few moments from our trip:

More good news! Here are the winners from Newsletter #92. The authors will be
in touch with you. Felicitation! Anne Hardy, Kathi Banholzer, Pat Schelling and
Marlene Gagnon.

This month I have a very special giveaway for two lucky readers. Please note: This giveaway is for Newsletter subscribers only.

My dear friend, Lisa Barr … you may well know her now as a Woman on Fire! Her must-read novel WOMAN ON FIRE has been seen everywhere on all the bestselling book lists and in the news, as actor Sharon Stone will be producing and starring in the movie of this story! How exciting is that?


I have two copies of this book that come with a bookplate signed by Lisa. I
purchased the books at Lisa’s book signing at Books And Books in Coral Gables,
FL, last March. What a pleasure that was! But the lineup for signing was too long … no surprise there … and we had to drive back to Naples, so Lisa sent me the signed book plates.


You know the drill. Send an email to patriciasandsauthor@gmail.com and tell me why you would love to own this book. Trust me, Lisa’s writing is exquisite, exciting and engaging.


Here’s a blurb: From the author of the award-winning Fugitive Colors and The Unbreakables, a gripping tale of a young, ambitious journalist embroiled in an international art scandal centered around a Nazilooted masterpiece—forcing the ultimate showdown between passion and possession, lovers and liars, history and truth.

I hope you have enjoyed getting caught up with me here. I would love to hear how you are doing, so never hesitate to drop me a line.


My recipe for you today is an apéro I fell in love with all over again at the fabulous Bistro du Paradou on the last night of our June tour. We had the most wonderful ending to our tour there with the tremendous combination of joie de vivre and always delicious food!

Enjoy this Lillet Spritz ~ mine was made with Lillet Rosé but I understand Lillet Blanc is much the same. My garnish was mint and lemon but a strawberry sounds good too! (Book Club question ~ who remembers in which book Philippe first introduced Kat to Lillet? There might be a prize for the person who gets the answer right! In fact, there WILL be a prize.)


Here are a couple of shots from our farewell dinner. What a fine time! And I hope somehow you are all managing to have fine moments as we work our way through this summer. I trust you have many good books bringing you escape and wonder and great enjoyment.

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.

See you next month!

Note from me today August 20th: I’m working on my next Newsletter right now!