Patricia Sands

Author

blogging

Last chapter syndrome …

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Ooops – Tuesday just slipped right by me! I’m in the grips of what I refer to, in a conflicted  joyful way, as “last chapter syndrome”. Even though I feel a little sad to say goodbye to the characters, it’s such a relief good feeling to be reaching the end of something that has consumed me for the past year my next novel! However, that doesn’t mean that I’m actually right at “The End” yet. That’s the truly difficult part for me.

The main character, a woman named Katherine Price, decided to do something at the last minute which I wasn’t expecting. You would think she might have at least given me an inkling but …nope … there I was, typing away and all of a sudden it was like … OMG,she’s going to do … what? But it turns out it’s a very good thing to do and actually is helping me tie up some loose ends. There are times when our characters really do know what’s best. That’s one of the amazing and surprising aspects of writing fiction. I love it!

The only way my husband can communicate with me at the moment!

However, it also means that I have not been thinking about much else (except golf once a week  for now and, of course, The Adorables, … my salvation after a winter of being stuck to this chair and computer) so please forgive this brief post. I’ve got to get back to work before my husband leaves me and finish this novel.

Next week, I’m going to introduce you to a couple of fabulous women who run a wonderful, and immensely helpful, business, the Downsizing Divas! You’re going to love them AND love how they do what they do!

By way of an intro, here’s their book and the link to find out more about it. Darn! I enlarged the image and now it’s a bit fuzzy. Sorry! Click that link and check it out and I’ll bring it all to you properly next Tuesday!

More Shameless Self-promotion here: I’ve got a Mother’s Day promotion for The Bridge Club running on Kindle Nation Daily’s facebook page. Need a good read for mom? The Bridge Club might be just the answer! Thanks for passing it on to your friends and readers. Always appreciated.

How do you cope when life gets crazy? Do you stay calm or get frazzled? I’ve found that frazzled really doesn’t work for me so I just motor on, leaving a trail of burned food in pots, unreturned messages, and blog posts that really aren’t up to par! Do you join the ranks of the calm or the frazzled? What works for you?

Oh! A gentle reminder – If you haven’t slipped over to CJ West’s blog to leave a comment and be in the running for a $500 Amazon Gift Card, please click here and take 30 seconds to do it. We all need to take a break and be kind of crazy at times and Jillian Dodd is just the writer to get us to do it! This idea is her brainchild so let’s help her out! Then please pass the message on.

Guest blogging? Gotta love it!

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Who has more fun than bloggers? Okay … um, you can probably give me a list … but never mind.  I can tell you one of the many ways we enjoy life here in the blogosphere and that’s by visiting back and forth – oceans and borders don’t deter us in any way – and hanging out on each other’s blog.

Today I’m particularly lucky to be in two places at once … just another talent we share!

I was thrilled to help out the awesome Myndi Shafer who is taking a little time to enjoy the newest member of her family. #4 ! I’m exhausted just thinking about it but our Myndi is the best at taking it all in stride!

All of her blogging buddies and readers have been celebrating the blessed event and loving the sweet family photos Myndi has since posted.  Take a minute to hop on over and pay a visit. Don’t forget to  knit her some baby booties leave her your congratulations!

Sailing across the Atlantic to the UK, I’m excited to be Centre Stage on the fabulous blog of Nicky Wells, author of the Rock Star Romance Trilogy. Check out the first release, Sophie’s Turn.Things are always in party mode at Nicky’s and she makes every visiting author feel like a rock star. Come on over and see for yourself ... the bar will be open, munchies passed around and your favorite tunes on full blast! Nicky was just signed by Sapphire Star Publishing so celebrate with her as we’ve been doing since we heard the great news. Nicky is one of my fellow authors involved with the awesome author/reviewer website loveahappyending.com. If you live in the UK or will be visiting near Tetbury, Gloucestershire on June 12th this summer, be sure to check out the impressive literary event planned .

Have you been guest blogging or taking trips recently? Did you stay home for the holiday weekend or travel somewhere? You know I love to hear what you’ve been doing so scroll down and leave a comment if you have the time. Thanks!

Meet Claire McAlpine, Reviewer Extraordinaire

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

From the Office of Tourism website

Last Friday we spent some time in beautiful Aix-En-Provence. Today I want to introduce you to a young writer and reviewer living there. I’ve been following her blog, Word By Word, for a while now and I’m sure you are going to want to add it to your list too!

Claire McAlpine writes book reviews that are a pleasure to read as much for her own literary style as for the book. She has a fine way with words … truly magnifique!

In her own words – About Me. I am originally from New Zealand, leaving when I was 26 to travel the world, basing myself in London, England. I met my husband in Aix en Provence on my way from London to a small fishing village in Italy (where my first novel is set) and when my daughter was born we went to NZ for a few years before deciding to live in France.

 Despite a career in Marketing, I’ve always had other passions and desired a lifestyle that could include them. I studied Aromatherapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine in London which I now practice as well as teaching english as a second language to adults. I also write a monthly travel guide on the city of Marseille. I love to write fiction and continue practicing and I adore reading.

Word by Word (http://clairemca.wordpress.com) is part of my journey and where currently my reading and writing meet not just each other but that wonderful community of others like us out there.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned the French government was removing the term “mademoiselle” from all of the official forms and documents. Around the same time, Claire wrote a super-interesting post about the French language. Click here to read what she had to say.

*Drum roll and fireworks* Claire recently received The Versatile Blogger Award and posted these seven random facts about herself:

  1. I am an Aquarian.
  2. The 1600-acre hill country sheep farm where I spent my childhood was one of the Middle Earth locations in the film ‘Lord of the Rings’.
  3. 
I once worked on the 104 foot (30m) tall ship ‘The Golden Plover”. I was employed as a hydro ceramic engineer (dishwasher), except when the Captain or 1stmate shouted “all hands on deck”.
  4. I have visited more than 30 countries.
  5. I was a bridesmaid at a traditional African wedding in Lagos, Nigeria.
  6. I am married to a man who was born in a manger refugee camp in Bethlehem whose name starts with J.
  7. I like to read Buddhist philosophy.
How’s that for a good story?  Find some time to spend on Claire’s website and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Claire, and letting the gentle readers here have a peek into your world. I’ve got to dash over to your place now and see what you are reviewing – wouldn’t miss it!
Don’t you love the opportunities we have in the blogosphere to hear stories like Claire’s? It’s such a pleasure to share them with you and I know you’ve got some to shout out too. Go ahead. Share them. 
A big thank you and cyber-hug to awesome blogger Amber West, once again, for the reblog of her post here last Tuesday.