Patricia Sands

Author

Uncategorized

Newsletter subscriber giveaway ~ especially for you

by

 

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

by

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!

Newsletter #123

by

June 12, 2026

 
Bonjour,
Hello my friends, it has been a while and I’m happy to be back with you! How are things in your world? I’ve had some consuming family ‘issues’ … don’t we all … plus an unexpected two-week hospital stay, which was a shock since I never have anything wrong, and ended up being resolved saying goodbye to my gall bladder. Sorry … TMI? Life, right?

So, two weeks after being discharged from hospital, I flew off to Paris to spend the month of May in France, driving from north to south in Deborah’s mighty Citroën. You might recall that last September my bff Deborah Bine aka Barefootblogger_france and I spent time in Paris and then road tripped down to Antibes. We set the hashtag #Eightyandepic ( or maybe it was #Epicandeighty or perhaps #80andepic … we aren’t the best techies) to post on Instagram but kept forgetting to use it. Anyway, it was a lot of fun stopping in so many beautiful villages and soaking in the history, so we planned another trip this year.


Before leaving Paris, we had lunch with good friend Janet Skeslien Charles, author of The Paris Library. We celebrated the new release of her next novel, The Parisian Chapter. Click here to order both of those excellent books.

On May 5th, we left Paris to spend time in historic Rouen, just an hour from Paris. We had a most delicious lunch at the fabled La Couronne restaurant (thank you Julia Child) … established in 1345!!! Mon Dieu! And of course, there is also the magnificent cathedral, half-timbered medival buildings and the history of Joan of Arc. 

Next, we headed toward the windswept Normandy coast. Since I had explored the region a few years prior with my husband, I carefully mapped out our route to ensure Deborah could truly absorb its profound World War II history. Classic May weather greeted us with relentless wind and rain, turning our journey into a damp, wild adventure—but we loved every single moment of it. 

As well as being beautiful and pastoral inland, visiting this region is a deeply emotional experience. 
Seeing all of the postings for June 6, D-Day Anniversary this week has stirred memories. The towns and landing beaches of Normandy are alive with WWII history and it’s a part of the world everyone would benefit from visiting. D-Day: The Price of Freedom is a documentary worth watching.

After a busy ten days, that included St. Malo (All the Light We Cannot See is set there) and Mont St. Michel, we headed south to spend two weeks in Antibes and Nice. My advice about road trips: if you have a friend who loves to drive like Deborah (and she IS good!), then make plans and get going! I’m the navigator … along with GPS! If you are interested in any of our travel info, just ask us.


We made it to the top! Our decision to stay at Auberge La Mere Poulard was a good one as we managed to avoid the biggest crowd in the morning.Then we headed south with an overnight in La Rochelle (fabulous and worth a longer visit). 

Arriving in my beloved Antibes, I was once again captivated by the timeless allure of the Côte d’Azur. A week in a beautiful villa with seven cherished friends felt like a slice of paradise. Sun-soaked days and balmy evenings were defined by laughter, infectious enthusiasm, and an ever-present glass of rosé. 
Stay tuned for a new novel. It’s in the works. 😀


Thanks for your patience in allowing me to indulge in sharing a few memories.And now back to book talk →
The day before I flew back to Toronto. I had the pleasure of being part of a Meet the Authors event in Nice. Organized by Ella Dyer, M-C Lisa Anselmo, and supported by Adrian Leeds, it was a great afternoon talking books, writing and sharing our love of being authors in such diverse genres. Take a minute to check out my friends.


These past few months have brought some wonderful new reads, and I’d love to know which ones found their way into your hands … or ears. My favourites so far were The Correspondent, Mad Mabel, Broken Country and Margaret Atwood’s Book of Lives (although her voice is not really suited to audio, nevertheless I’m a fan)… all audiobooks. I’ve been on a roll with them. I love having one on the go in the car and whenever I go walking. How do you feel about them?

I’m excited about the audiobook for The French Effect being released soon. I know some of you have heard me say that before and I apologize for the delay.

This Month’s Giveaways ~
Now let’s get to the giveaways for this month, all of them from some of my wonderful Tall Poppy Writer sisters. You all know how my giveaways work, but in case you are new here … welcome! … simply send an email to patriciasandsauthor@gmail.com and let me know which book you would like to win and why. If you go to the author’s website and sign up for their newsletters, you will get two extra entries. Let me know in your email. Bonne chance! Good luck!

Giveaway #1 ~ Kristy Woodson Harvey is offering one hardback copy of her newest smash hit, Summer State of Mind.New York Times bestselling author and “queen of the beach read” (Cosmopolitan) Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with a heartfelt escape to coastal Carolina.
Click here to connect with Kristy.

Giveaway #2 ~ Hank Phillippi Ryan is offering a hardcover copy of  All This Could be Yours.(Winner of the Mary Higgins Clark Award 2026)
“Is a debut author’s blockbuster bestseller about to ruin her life? A glamorous book tour becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse chase in this new and captivating thriller by “master of suspense” (Publishers Weekly) and instant USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.
Click here to connect with Hank.

Giveaway #3 ~ Suzy England is offering an ebook of her brand new release, A Singing Bird Will Come“What if one choice changed everything…and love was the only way forward?
Claire Jordan’s life looks perfect from the outside—a thriving career, a Hollywood boyfriend, and a Christmas Eve proposal waiting in Malibu. But then, one reckless decision changes everything.”
Click here to connect with Suzy.


It’s a pleasure to offer these giveaways from my writing friends. Thanks for the great response each month. I’m glad you appreciate them and are so keen to enter. I hope you enjoy meeting authors who might be new to you, and connecting with those you already follow. Savor their books, find out more about the writers and pass along their information to your friends.
The best way to hear about a good book is by word of mouth from dedicated readers like you. If you have time to write a short review, even better, and always appreciated.

Giveaway Winners

The winners from Newsletter #122 are: Rhonda Pearson ~ Gian Sardar’s Land of Dreams.
Karen Komarinski ~ Paulette Kennedy’s The Two Deaths of Lillian Carmichael.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Author Spotlight
Here are a few of my favourite authors whose writing I’m excited to share with you. Follow them on social media and sign up for their newsletters for all sorts of great tips on all things bookish!
Featured Author #1: Barbara Josselsohn
Book Title: The Secret Orphanage 
Author Newsletter:  Sign up for Barbara’s newsletter for more information about her upcoming releases and the history that inspired her novels, as well as giveaways and book recommendations!

Blurb:
An abandoned infant with an ominous note pinned to her blanket; an American schoolteacher with a past she cannot reveal; a tiny town in the French mountainside with a dangerous plan; and an officer who suspects something might be amiss… A breathtaking historical novel, THE SECRET ORPHANAGE will sweep you away to World War Two France–to the realities of the Nazi occupation and the hope that prevailed in the darkest of times.

Featured Author #2: Rea Frey
Book Title: Dear Mother 
Newsletter: www.reafrey.com
Unlock the Secrets of Publishing. From bestselling novels to book coaching, Rea shares the raw truth of writing, publishing, and what it really takes to succeed—plus first looks at her own new releases.

Blurb:In a tense thriller set deep amid the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a determined mother works to uncover the secrets of her family’s dark past, fearful of what their history may reveal. After a childhood riddled with trauma and unanswered questions, Isabelle Archer vows to chase down the truth. So when her estranged mother dies, the investigative journalist returns to the one story that still haunts her. Isabelle was thirteen when her three foster siblings died tragically in a fire.
The blaze was ruled an accident, and despite the neglect, Isabelle never wanted to believe her mother was a killer. But twenty-five years later, the accusations linger. Back in Cedarloch to settle the estate, Isabelle revisits her childhood home. A familiar dread permeates the surrounding woods.
And when autopsy reports cast new suspicions, Isabelle unearths much more than just terrifying memories.With help from her ex, Isabelle frantically digs for answers. What really happened the night of the fire? How did her mother die? And are the two somehow connected? What they find could poison long-held memories—and incinerate everything she thought to be true.

Featured Author #3: Barbara Claypole White
Book Title: The Promise Between Us
Author Newsletter: https://barbaraclaypolewhite.com/newsletter/Sign up to learn more about Barbara’s writing journey, unfinished garden, and dollhouse building project. Also receive reading and audiobook recommendations and enter her monthly giveaway.


Blurb:”This is an eye-opening and realistic exploration of mental illness–a topic that greatly deserves to be front and center.” –Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author
Metal artist Katie Mack is living a lie. Nine years ago she ran away from her family in Raleigh, North Carolina, consumed by the irrational fear that she would harm Maisie, her newborn daughter. Over time she’s come to grips with the mental illness that nearly destroyed her, and now funnels her pain into her art.

Despite longing for Maisie, Katie honors an agreement with the husband she left behind–to change her name and never return. But when she and Maisie accidentally reunite, Katie can’t ignore the familiarity of her child’s compulsive behavior. Worse, Maisie worries obsessively about bad things happening to her pregnant stepmom.

Katie has the power to help, but can she reconnect with the family she abandoned? To protect Maisie, Katie must face the fears that drove her from home, accept the possibility of love, and risk exposing her heart-wrenching secret.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Before I go, here’s a reminder that Lost At Sea  is on sale this month for $1.99 … practically free, for heaven’s sake! This is a quick entertaining read about two best friends who go on a Mediterranean cruise as Kim is selling jewelry from a boutique on board. She convinces her bff Stephanie to come help her, thinking it would be just right distraction to get over a broken heart. They never could have imagined what would unfold with each passing day.


“A beautifully woven story of food, family, laughter and friendship, anchored by a poignant historical family connection that brings surprising emotional depth and meaning to the journey.” ~ Amazon review

Readers are loving each stunning port of call on their cruise around the sparkling Mediterranean and I loved writing the story. Come on along!

That’s it for now. See you next time! 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.
Patricia Sands, Author



1250 North HighwayPMB 254Colville, WA
You received this email because you signed up on our website or made a purchase from us.Unsubscribe

Happy May Day

by

On Sun, Apr 26, 2026 at 11:44 PM Patricia Sands <psands.stories@gmail.com> wrote:

Bonne fête ~ May 1st, 2026

Happy May Day from Paris! I arrived yesterday to meet my good friend and traveling buddy in France, Deborah Bine aka @Barefootblogger_France. We’ve enjoyed strolling around Le Marais district today and seeing people of all ages sharing bouquets or simple sprigs of lily of the valley … le muguets, in French. Here’s the explanation.

Happy May Day!

En France ~ Bonne fête du muguet! Bonne fête du travail! Bon premier Mai! Happy Labor Day! Happy first of May!

In many countries around the world, the first of May is a celebrated Labor Day. In France there’s a special twist to the holiday that I love.
I recycle this post every year because I don’t want to change anything about it. If you read it last year … or the year before , I hope you enjoy it again. And if you can find some Lily of the Valley to give to a friend, all the better.

En mai, fais ce qu’il te plait!

Provençal proverb ~ In May, do what pleases you!


Here’s my May 1st muguet to each of you.

Every May 1st I like to share one of my favourite traditions in France ~ La Fête du Travail or La Fête du Muguet. The day is a national holiday ~ International Workers’ Day, like Labour Day in North America. But more than that it is an occasion when people give little bouquets or sprigs or pots of le muguet (lily of the valley) to each other. Like so many of the things we love about France, the tradition has lasted for centuries. It began in 1561, during the Renaissance.

Click here to read an excellent article by Margo Lestz, about this sweet tradition and all the history behind it.

Here’s another post about the tradition from Kristin Espinasse, everyone’s favourite scribe of daily French life.

A few years ago, my husband and I had just finished a magical stay (but then isn’t it always?) in Paris and the Loire Valley. We were driving south to the Dordogne region on May 1st and in every town, big or small, this was the scene. Even on a drizzly day. I loved it!


Obviously, young or old, everyone puts a lot of thought into this tradition.

A vivid memory of that rainy morning, is of an elderly woman sitting under an umbrella beside her small stand of bouquets of muguets. It wasn’t an appropriate picture to take … and no time to stop in the midst of traffic … but I’ve never forgotten the image. Does this happen to you sometimes when you travel? Your eye is the shutter and a particular image is captured forever in your memory?

Le muguet or lily of the valley represents a porte-bonheur, a good luck charm, to special people in your life. I am offering one to each of you.

Does your culture or country have a special May 1st tradtion?

Stay tuned for more updates during the month of May as Deborah and I drive our road trip through Normandy and eventually end up in Antibes. Come along with us!