Patricia Sands

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January 6th ~ Epiphany ~ la fête des rois in France

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Happy New Year … now Eat cake like a king!

If you are in France (or Louisiana, hello N’awlins!), it’s again time to celebrate  … oui …  bien sûr … more food! Don’t you love it? This time it’s all about a rich, almond cream (frangipane) enveloped by layers of light, flaky pastry (feuilleté).

Another joyful opportunity to bring friends and family around the table to share La Galette des Rois/The Kings’ Cake, takes place on the first Sunday of January or January 6th and recognizes Epiphany, the arrival of the three wise men (Magis). The history of this special pastry can be  traced to Roman times.

If you read my Love in Provence series, Kat first finds out about the tradition in Book #2, Promises to Keep. 

During the French Revolution, the name was replaced with ‘Gâteau de l’Égalité’ (equality cake), as the word ‘king’ was a little out of fashion!

It’s so popular, many patisseries make the scrumptious cake through the entire month of January.

The cake is cut in the specific number of slices for the people present, with one extra symbolic slice for the first poor person passing by. The youngest child  (or the most innocent adult, if no children are present, which can result in great hilarity) goes under the table and calls out who will receive each slice to ensure fair distribution. The greatest excitement comes when one person discovers la fève (a lucky charm) hidden in a single slice. Just don’t accidentally bit down on it … they’re usually a small porcelain or plastic trinket!

Bon appétit!

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Click here to read an excellent account of the history and traditions of this special fête by my friend, Margo Lestz.

On another topic, I’m excited to let you know that our Sail Away series has launched! The prequel book Welcome Aboard is FREE and contains the prologue to each of the eight stories to follow! All the books are available to preorder! Just click here.

To celebrate the launch of the series, we have a fabulous giveaway. I hope you will join in the fun and wish you good luck! Here’s the link to enter.

Before I say au revoir for now, here’s more good news to start the year off right! Amazon let me know they have placed The Promise of Provence on sale for $1.99 for the month of January! If you already have your copy, now is a great time to pick up some for friends! Happy shopping!

Happy New Year! Bonne Année! I hope 2023 is off to a good start for you. Our hearts are with people struggling in so many places around the world either through war or weather. We hope for better days for all. At all times donations may be made to the Red Cross. Every little bit helps so we can all do our share.

Happy Valentine’s Day ~ Bonne Saint Valentin ~ One Billion Rising

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Join us on Valentine’s Day!
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Six of the Blue Sky Book Chat authors on Facebook are getting together to read some romance – from their own work🥰 Click this link to be part of the fun!

Join us at 3 PM ET/2 PM Central/12 PM Pacific to hear me and my good friends, Bette Lee Crosby, Soraya Lane, Aimie K. Runyan and Marilyn Simon Rothstein ~ with host Lainey Cameron~ read brief excerpts from our work and chat with you about romance.
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Special Valentine’s Day sale! Click here for your copy.

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.”

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.

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 …

THE BRIDGE CLUB is on sale!

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FOR A LIMITED TIME, THE EBOOK IS ON SALE FOR $.99

IF YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR COPY, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PICK UP A FEW AS GIFTS. IT’S EASY TO DO THROUGH AMAZON AND THE DIRECTIONS ARE THERE TO HELP.

READ A FEW 5***** REVIEWS HERE:

  1. Through its pages I’ve found delicious adventures, definitive life turning points, sad farewells and delightful welcomes, but most of all, true friendship, the key word to the story. The kind of friendship that challenges you to put out with hard curveballs, feeling you’re not going to be alone, ever. The kind of friendship that allows you to be a better you, and makes you and the others feel proud of it. The kind of friendship that is always there, still making your days easier knowing you are cherished, even after a whole life and hard decisions made.

2. The gentle and generous attitudes empowered me. I would loved to have joined one of their dinner parties. An easy read that left me feeling joyful and positive.

3. This is how women support women. This is the best book I’ve read this year!

4. I would recommend this as a fabulous book club choice as well. It would be great for discussion in a group. I highly recommend this to women’s lit readers or to any women who like to read about women facing life and the changes or passages of life. No wonder this book got so many award nominations.

5. Some of it will have you laughing and some may have you shedding tears, but at the ending, you will be stunned and wishing you had a group of friends who would do the very utmost for you in the end. I won’t post spoilers, I will let you read it for yourself!
Brilliant and thought-provoking!

6. One need not be a child of the sixties to identify, or yearn to find the outcome. Just appreciating a circle of friends is plenty. As the members encounter life changing experiences, we become ever more involved in their journey. This reader will remember this novel for a long time. Five stars is not enough.

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THERE’S A NEW GIVEAWAY IN TOWN!

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DON’T MISS THIS ONE! JOIN OUR BLUE SKY BOOK CHAT GROUP, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND BE ENTERED IN THIS FABULOUS DRAW!

Now through November 8, 2020, join the Blue Sky Book Chat mailing list by filling in the form below, then join the Blue Sky Book Chat Facebook Group at the button below, and you will be automatically entered for a chance to win a signed copy of Dignity & Grace, by Alison Ragsdale, The Beantown Girls, by Jane Healey, The Exit Strategy, by Lainey Cameron, A Million Little Lies, by Bette Lee Crosby, Wedding at the Lakeside Resort, by Susan Schild, The Ruby of the Sea, by Peggy Lampman, Drawing Lessons, by Patricia Sands, Every Thing You Are, by Kerry Anne King, Lift and Separate, by Marilyn Simon Rothstein, and Home At Last, by Judith Keim!

The link for the giveaway is here. Click on it and enter … wishing you good luck!

And here’s a reminder that all three ebooks of the Love in Provence trilogy are on sale!

Click here for your copies. Happy reading! Bonne lecture!