Patricia Sands

Author

follow your dreams

The Well Being Summit ~ March 10~28

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Click here to connect and get your pass.

Join Gogo Skywalker Payne, along with eight other extraordinary women who are dedicated to learning, teaching, and inspiring. Together, we offer nine dynamic presentations—each a compact 15 to 30-minute session—that are bursting with actionable insights, easy practices, and heartfelt inspiration. Every session is crafted to nurture your body, mind, spirit, and emotions, so you can embrace every day with renewed energy and purpose.

Join us for the Well Being Showcase!
March 10 – Gogo Skywalker Payne – Energize With Ease & Relax
March 12 – Kate Higgins, Tapping for Positive Aging
March 14 – Patricia Sands – The Joy & Value of Creative Writing
March 17 – Jen Rigley – ProAge Well Being
March 19 – Debbie Holt – Yoga for everyBody
March 21 – Sally Doran – Experimenting With Life After 50
March 24 – Margaret Webb – Chinese Medicine, Face Reading for Health
March 26 –Linda Hough – Awaken Your Creative Power: Your Path to Purpose, Passion, and Peace
March 28 – Leslee Cohen – DeMystifying Law for Entrepreneurs

A note from me ~ Join us starting March 10! There is something for everyone and I am looking forward to chatting about starting something new later in life. Have you dreamed of being a writer? My first novel was published when I was 65 and I love assuring people it’s never too late to follow that dream.

Exceptional Value, Unbeatable Price
This comprehensive showcase is valued at over $1,000 in expert teachings and transformative practices—but today, you can secure an All Access Pass for just $37.00. After March 31st, that Pass increases to $74.00, which is still a bargain. Your pass not only grants unlimited access to these empowering presentations—available anytime, as often as you wish—but also includes all future bonuses and updates. But if you’re not sure, just get a free guest pass for the week, and you’ll know you the value of the All Access Pass

Embrace this opportunity to invest in your well-being and transform your life. Reserve your All Access Pass today, and step into a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and lasting vitality.

See you there!

Click here to order your copy of this heartwarming story.

Happy July ~ so much to celebrate!

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July is one of my happiest months! Wait a minute … I think I can say that about every month. There’s always something to celebrate every day of every month, isn’t there? I like to think about the abundance of everyday magic all around us … even if it means just enjoying a yummy Caramel Crunch Vanilla ice cream bar … we have to keep reminding ourselves of the small things, yes? Especially when so many of the big things in life are going sideways.

So here’s to July … I hope you have had wonderful times celebrating Canada Day and the 4th of July wherever you live. I’ve seen some amazing fireworks and drone shows online! Have you? I hope so!

And before we know it, July 14th will be happening ~ France’s most important national celebration! So in case I don’t get around to posting then, I will do it now.

I’m almost ready to write THE END on my next manuscript … shhhh, I would love to tell you about it but it’s a fun secret (for now) series with seven of my favourite authors. When we are ready to share the news, you will be among the first to know. I’ll be celebrating those two little words now for sure.

Okay … so more to celebrate! Have you entered this great summer book giveaway? There are three days left, so hop to it if you haven’t … good luck!

Make this summer unforgettable with the Sunshine & Stories giveaway! 🌞📚 Enter for a chance to win 13 print books from 13 bestselling authors and immerse yourself in a world of stories. Get ready for endless hours of reading pleasure! https://tinyurl.com/4yd5cf3c #SummerGiveaway #Books #SunshineAndStories

I’m still not finished celebrating July! I love it when Amazon puts one of my books on sale and for this month The Promise of Provence is a Kindle deal ~ just $1.99. If you have not started this series that leads to six more wonderful books, now is the time. Readers tell me that once they get started they simply cannot stop! I love writing the stories for you so I hope you will plan to lose yourself in the south of France this summer in these books. (Thanks so much for leaving reviews! )

One more celebration to come ~ my birthday later in the month. How about you? If you are celebrating a birthday in July … or any other month … here are my best wishes.

Stay safe, be kind and enjoy good stories all through the summer. See you soon!

Poisson d’avril! April Fool’s Day in France

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April 1, 2024 by Patricia Sands (Edit)

In many countries April begins with April Fool’s Day. Do you indulge? For those who haven’t heard before, you may be interested in knowing how April 1st is celebrated in an altogether unique way in France.

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Imagine my surprise the first time I saw children sticking paper fish on each other’s 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 XIV 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 often falls around the same time, fish feature predominantly in shop windows through that holiday as well.

On  The Good Life France   (amazing photography and articles ~ you know I’m a huge fan!), there’s another article by Margo Lestz about April 1st in France.  Margo writes perfectly-researched articles, as well as entertaining books about some of the quirky history and traditions of France.  Click here to visit her website!

Whether you celebrate April Fool’s Day or not, I think we all feel some relief in the Northern Hemisphere that April truly heralds the arrival of spring. Although, as we know, Mother Nature often likes to fool us with a few random snow storms in some areas.

While I’m on the blog, I’ll leave you with this … NOT an April Fool’s joke. A Season of Surprises, Book Two in the Villa des Violettes series is on sale for just $2.99 and it’s a great way to celebrate spring! Click here for your copy.

I love how readers tell me they feel they are right there in the pages of the story! That’s my hope when I write them. Guess what? You can be there! If you are longing to be in the south of France in person to stroll the streets of my stories with me and the enthusiastic women on our tour, grab one of the few remaining spots on our 12-day September Memories Tour! Sept 2 – 14 ~  Happiness and joie de vivre guaranteed.

At the moment there are a few spots remaining but they won’t last long. Click on this link for all the details!

THIS COULD BE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!

Thanks to the Barefoot Blogger !

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BAREFOOT BLOGGER

Thanks to my best travel buddy for posting about our Memories Tour which will take place from September 2 to 14! She will be meeting up with us in Uzès ~ wait until you see where she lives!

Here’s what she has to say …

I’m Deborah, an American expat who has called the charming town of Uzès, France, home for nearly a decade. Through this website, I invite you to join me on an exciting journey as I share my experiences and insights from this beautiful corner of the world.

INSPIRING LIFE & TRAVEL IN FRANCE

Time Flies. Make Memories!

 “Time flies” might sound a bit trite, but it seems to be truer than ever.

That’s why I want to encourage my gal friends and followers to sign up for the “Memories You Promised Yourself” tour of the south of France with best selling author, and my BFF Patricia Sands.

It’s time to make memories you promised yourself. 

Traveling with the Memories Tour when I co-hosted with Patricia is a memory of a lifetime for me.

Here are some of the highlights of the tour:

Strolling the seaside Promenade des Anglais in Nice and touring the colorful city.

Meandering through the cobblestone streets of Saint Paul de Vence, filled with history, galleries and charming shops.


Discovering the spectacular hilltop town of Eze and enjoying the spectacular gardens of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.


Exploring the ancient harbor town of Antibes, Patricia’s home away from home.


Walking in Cézanne’s footsteps in Aix en Provence.


Admiring the roman treasures, world-renowned ancient and modern architecture and the spirit of Van Gogh in Arles.


Touring the ancient Roman Arena in Nimes before savouring local products at the daily market and at an exceptional olive oil mill.


Enjoying a safari to observe the Camargue’s unique flora, fauna and rose-colored salt marshes.


Experiencing market day in St Remy de Provence & the spectacular Carrières de Lumières in les Baux de Provence.


Discovering a genuine Duché (duchy) in Uzès and admiring the Pont du Gard, UNESCO heritage site and architectural wonder.


Joining harvest time and tasting the wine. 

This year I will greet you to show you where I live and join you for lunch in Uzès!

The tour always sells out, so don’t wait. We would love to have you and perhaps some of your friends or family come along … or your book club, fitness group, whatever. You will find all of the details here.

Nancy McGee, owner of Absolutely Southern France Travel, has been busy securing the two luxury hotels (just two, as you only move once, from Nice to Arles) and fabulous restaurants. She takes care of all the logistics and makes certain everything is in place for everyone to have amazing experiences every single day.

If you have any questions, contact Nancy McGee through the website.

Join the free JourneyWoman Webinar to learn more!

On March 26 at 2 p.m. ET, Patricia Sands, along with her author friends Steena Holmes, Jules Larimore, Cheryl Jamison, and owner of Absolutely Southern France Travel, Nancy McGee, share their passion for travel with you! This exciting event will be hosted by Carolyn Ray, CEO and Editor of JourneyWoman, the world’s largest and most trusted travel resource for women over 50.

Here’s the link for a free sign-up to join the webinar!