Patricia Sands

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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!

EReader News Today ~ the latest in book deals!

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ENT ~ EREADER NEWS TODAY is an extraordinary site for readers. Authors love to share their book deals on this excellent website so readers can learn about sales and special promotions.

Highly rated free and bargain ebook deals have been delivered to avid readers since 2010. Many of these ebooks are from New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. Click here to subscribe!

I encourage you to sign up for their FREE announcements. It’s a great way to discover new discounts for the best books to add to your TBR … and no more worry about running out of bookshelf space!

For several years now I have been reading practically all books on the Kindle app on my phone. As an author, I felt a little strange admitting this when I realized I had transitioned to ebooks entirely. But the joy of having my entire library with me wherever I go has helped me over that hurdle. I am an avid fan of ebooks and receiving the latest book sale info from EReaderNewsToday.com has helped save a lot of $$. Give them a try!

Happy reading everyone ~ stay safe and cozy with a good book!

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!

Love in February

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Happy February!

Staying with a literary theme for the moment, these words are a gift from  Victor Hugo, my favourite French writer from the Romantic Movement: “What a grand thing, to be loved! What a grander thing still, to love!” Feel free to use this quote, share it, and to remind us all to feel and show love in so many simple ways. Let’s all work on it.

I’m sharing the love found at the Villa des Violettes for all of February ~ A Season of Surprises is on sale! Be whisked away to a surprise trip for Kat to the stunning Isle of Beauty … Corsica! Here’s a blurb to entice you:

There are sweet-smelling blossoms, buds bursting into bloom, explosions of golden mimosa, dazzling sunshine, a shimmering sea … and a worrying disappearance!

A hidden past is uncovered and shocking truths are revealed.

At the same time Kat and Philippe welcome their first B&B guest to the Villa and continue to be busy with other demands, all the while keeping hope alive as police search for their friend.

A special request from Simone and an unexpected appearance turn a planned motorcycle trip in Corsica into so much more.

Springtime at the Villa des Violettes is filled with secrets and surprises.

Click here for your copy.

But wait! There’s more good book news ~ a sweet February giveaway from me and 13 author friends!
What could possibly be better than books AND chocolate?? Well, maybe books and wine, but wine is hard to ship.

FOURTEEN DELECTABLE READS. A BOX OF DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE. It could all be yours!

It takes 5 seconds to enter for a chance to win at the link below:

Books and Chocolate

bit.ly/booksandchocolate

Your odds of winning increase with every person you refer. Spread the word! Good luck.

And now for a message I feel is important to share every year at this time. I hope you agree and share it yourself. 

Of course there’s always 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.”

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.

“ONE BILLION RISING announces the 2023 theme and campaign: RISE For Freedom & to Create the New Culture. The campaign addresses the devastating consequences of the ongoing vicious systems of patriarchy, imperialism, capitalism and racism in the world today and the destructive battle for power fought over women’s bodies and the body of the earth.

Created by a community of 47 One Billion Rising coordinators located across the globe, this year’s campaign will celebrate 10 years of OBR and urge communities worldwide to utilize art and activism, creative resistance events and gatherings, both online and offline, to demand an end to violence against women, girls and the planet and to shine a light on the rampant impunity and injustice that survivors most often face.”

Here’s a song we should all add to our repertoire. 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL5N8rSy4CU

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

“Like” the Facebook page.  Follow V-day on Twitter. Let’s all do our part …