Patricia Sands

Author

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Newsletter subscriber giveaway ~ especially for you

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Bonjour tout le monde … hey everyone!I hope your summer is going well. I’m still basking in my memories of May in France and thought I would share some with you. Are you ready for a fun giveaway from France?
Every year when I am there, I return home with goodies to share with readers. I realized I still had quite a few special items in my treasure box and decided to celebrate my birthday by giving a gift box to someone else.
Here is what you will find when you open it:
Signed print copies of The French Effect and the four books of the Villa des Violettes series
A cozy shawl from Arles with van Gogh’s sunflowers as the pattern
A Provence tea towel (my favourite gift to bring home)
Soap, lavender sachets
A coin purse and a book bag from NiceNotebooks/ journals from Paris
Herbes de Provence from the Antibes market
This giveaway is only being offered to my Newsletter subscribers as a thank you for your loyalty.
I love hearing from so many of you after I send my letter and I know how you enjoy entering the giveaways from my author friends every month. This is just a little extra love between me and you. 
Entry is free, but you get bonus entry points if you email me a receipt of purchase for any format of The French Effect. 
Remember that you can gift Kindle copies to reader friends! 
If you do not yet subscribe to my newsletter, click on this link – you still have time! Then you can enter this giveaway.
I only send one letter a month and ALWAYS have giveaways from author friends.

Due to shipping costs, entries from the US & Canada only please. Sorry!
Giveaway ends at midnight EST on August 9.
I hope the winner feels like they have received the flavour of France in the gift box.
Bonne chance! Good luck!

You received this email because you signed up on our website or made a purchase from us.

P.S. Here’s a reminder that tomorrow, August 4th, is the annual Readers Coffeehouse Great Big Book Giveaway. Just go to their facebook page and start chatting with authors you know and wonderful new ones to you. The giveaways are fabulous! Please stop by my post and say hello.

Celebrating this new award for The French Effect

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And other good news.

What a great feeling to open an email and discover a book of yours has won an award. The feeling never gets old and this time my newest novel, The French Effect, is the recipient.

Here’s an explanation of this acclaimed award.

Recognizing Excellence in
Independent Publishing Since 1996

Welcome to the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards). Established in 1996, we celebrate the incredible talent in the independent publishing world. Our program is open to independent authors and publishers from around the globe, honoring books created for an English-speaking audience.

The IPPYs are here to shine a spotlight on the exceptional work being done by independent, university, and self-published authors. Since our inaugural contest, over 6,000 books have proudly received the prestigious “IPPY” distinction, enjoying the recognition, credibility, and sales boost that come with winning a book award.

We celebrate the courage, innovation, and creativity that drive change in the publishing industry. Our judging process takes into account the independent spirit and unique challenges faced by publishers of all sizes and budgets. We award gold, silver, and bronze medals across national, regional, and eBook categories.

If you have not read The French Effect, I hope you will soon. Check out the Amazon reviews to see how readers are enjoying the story.

Here’s the link to purchase either ebook or print copies.

I also want to let local readers in the Collingwood area know that The French Effect is now available at the beautiful and welcoming Nottawa Cottage Bookstore. What a pleasure to be part of the amazing selection of fabulous reads in this gem of a shop.

Happy Monday. Happy reading. Enjoy summer now that it’s officially here!

February 14th is many things…

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February 13, 2026 by Patricia Sands (Edit)

Happy Valentine’s Day ~ Bonne Saint Valentin ~ One Billion Rising ~ V-Day ~ Break The Chain

Click here to order your special Valentine’s trip to the south of France.
Of course there’s a place for hearts and flowers and chocolate and mushy love songs, but there are many girls and women around the world who receive none of those. Not on February 14th. Not ever.

Have you raised your voice? “Every February, we rise – in countries across the world – to show our local communities and the world what one billion looks like and shine a light on the rampant impunity and injustice that survivors most often face. We rise through dance to express joy and community and celebrate the fact that we have not been defeated by this violence. We rise to show we are determined to create a new kind of consciousness – one where violence will be resisted until it is unthinkable.”

This year, once again, One Billion Rising is set to escalate RISINGS against all forms of violence against women and will continue to highlight where all these issues interconnect.

Click here to see V-day events happening around the world today.

Here’s a song we should all add to our repertoire. It too is a song about love. This infectious anthem shares a message that is universal. Share it everywhere you can. Help break the chain of violence towards women and girls. BREAK THE CHAIN.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=fL5N8rSy4CU%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Break the Chain
Lyrics by Tena Clark
Music by Tena Clark/Tim Heintz

I raise my arms to the sky
On my knees I pray
I’m not afraid anymore
I will walk through that door
Walk, dance, rise
Walk, dance, rise
I can see a world where we all live
Safe and free from all oppression
No more rape or incest, or abuse
Women are not a possession
You’ve never owned me, don’t even know me
I’m not invisible, I’m simply wonderful
I feel my heart for the first time racing
I feel alive, I feel so amazing
I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I’ve had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
Its time to break the chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain
Dance, rise
Dance, rise
In the middle of this madness, we will stand
I know there is a better world
Take your sisters & your brothers by the hand
Reach out to every woman & girl
This is my body, my body’s holy
No more excuses, no more abuses
We are mothers, we are teachers,
We are beautiful, beautiful creatures
I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I’ve had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
It’s time to break the chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain
Dance Break Inst.
Dance, rise
Dance, rise
Sister won’t you help me, sister won’t you rise (x4)
Dance, rise
Dance, rise
Sister won’t you help me, sister won’t you rise (x4)
This is my body, my body’s holy
No more excuses, no more abuses
We are mothers, we are teachers,
We are beautiful, beautiful creatures
I dance cause I love
Dance cause I dream
Dance cause I’ve had enough
Dance to stop the screams
Dance to break the rules
Dance to stop the pain
Dance to turn it upside down
Its time to break the chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain, oh yeah
Break the Chain
(Repeat chorus)

A post-Valentine’s Day VERY special deal. Mark your calendar for February 18 when THE FRENCH EFFECT will be on sale for .99. ONE DAY ONLY! CLICK HERE ON THE 18TH.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE BRIDGE CLUB EBOOK FOR $1.99

Wishing you love and joy and happy reading every day!

‘Tis the season!

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The festive giveaways are under way and I want to share some with you.

All of my sister authors at Tall Poppy Writers have a two-day Holiday Haul Giveaway!

Here’s mine for today and there will be a new one from all of us tomorrow. Sign into Bloom (you should pop in there every week for the best book news … it’s free!)

Then today, December 1, click on this link to join Kerry Schafer’s book launch party for A PARTY TO DIE FOR! This story is a doozy!

Mark your calendars for Bookapalooza 2025! Sunday, December 7th, join me and many of your favourite authors at My Book Friends for a massive #giveaway extravaganza! Over 50 authors will be spreading holiday cheer with free books and other goodies. It’s also the perfect way to meet new authors and connect with fellow book lovers. Let’s make this #MBFBookapalooza2025 the best one yet! Join us here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourbookfriends/

I will be back tomorrow with more good news. In the meantime, drop by the links above and leave your comments. Good luck! Bonne chance!