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Taking Root In Provence

For your shopping pleasure …

December 13, 2014 by Patricia Sands 23 Comments

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Well, in fact, it’s Thursday, December 11, and a major snowstorm in Toronto is causing mayhem with flight schedules … and so we sit in the departure lounge of Fort Lauderdale International Airport … and wait … and wait …

There are times when hanging out in an airport departure lounge for 8-1/2 hours, after two flight cancellations, can be a positive. Lots of work gets done! And that’s a good thing because tomorrow will be a busy one in Toronto … if we get there by then … we’re told that our departure time will be 1:30 a.m.. That means we will arrive at 4 a.m. … hmm … it’s been a while since I pulled an all-nighter, but this might just be the time!

Let me have another piece of chocolate and then get down to business. Mmmm ~ Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate Fruit and Nut Bar hits the spot!

How is your holiday shopping going? If some people on your list love France like I do, you might consider these books by a few friends of mine. They are all on my bookshelf or iPad and I love  spreading the word about them.

THE FRENCH RIVIERA: A LITERARY GUIDE FOR TRAVELLERS ~

So much more than a travel51TZhczufQL._AA160_ guide! Assisted in extensive research by his absolutely charming wife, Joan, and combining a love of literature and familiarity with the Côte d’Azur, Ted Jones offers readers a lively and fascinating report. I love this book and reread sections before I go traipsing off to different towns.

My copy is lovingly dog-eared and filled with post-it notes and comments! Even if you never plan to visit France, this is a great read!

 

imagesFIRST FRENCH ESSAIS ~ The latest by Kristin Espinasse, combining words and photography from her enviable life in the south of France.

I’ve been following Kristin’s French Word-A-Day blog for years and have enjoyed all of her books.

I’m featuring this one because her photography is a delightful bonus!

 

TAKING ROOT IN PROVENCE ~ You’ve heard me (many times here on my blog) talk about this 51+2pqiizuL._AA160_wonderful collection of stories about life in Provence by my friend Anne-Marie Simons.

Here’s what I said in a review: “Taking Root In Provence is a delightful anthology, engaging all the senses in a portrait of Provence painted in vivid brushstrokes of words and feelings. Ms. Simons’ background as a journalist is apparent in her insightful observations and comfortable writing style. She invites us into the heart of the life they now enjoy and leaves us wanting to move in with them … or at least next door!”

Start packing!

41REtTMfrML._AA160_WOLFSANGEL ~ Liza Perrat was featured here on my blog recently but, if you happened to miss that, here’s another chance to find out about this gripping WW2 novel.

I couldn’t put it down and am making plans to visit the preserved site when we are in France next year.

It would make a treasured gift for the historical fiction fan on your shopping list.

CHRONICLES FROM CHÂTEAU MOINES ~ YA! For the young readers in your life! Author Evelynechateau_fc_fnl_lo1 Holingue was born and raised in a small town in Normandy. Since 1990 she has lived in the USA and is now settled with her family in central California.

Through her fiction, Evelyne shares her affection for her native and adoptive countries. In addition to the French settings, she incorporates a few French words and short sentences or expressions, all easily understandable and a perfect introduction to France for young readers. Find out more on her website.

 

51jjfMOUddL._AA160_Oh! In case you haven’t heard, the print edition of Promises To Keep is now available! I know, I know! It took me long enough!

I’ve mentioned before that the learning curve in this business is a veeeeerrrrry long one for me and there most definitely were a few lessons learned by yours truly in the process!

I’m so grateful for the knowledgeable and patient team that guides me along the way!

AND NOW FOR A SUPER GIVEAWAY!

 

41J9slR82iL._AA160_FRENCH HOLIDAYS & TRADITIONS ~ Francophile Alert!!!

This is a new release by the peripatetic Margo Lestz, compiling many of the celebrations one finds in France along with some fascinating facts.  Margo makes her home in Nice when she isn’t off exploring.  Her blog posts on The Curious Rambler are always informative and entertaining!

Leave a comment here if you would like your name included in a draw for a free copy of Margo’s book! Check back next week to see if you were the lucky winner. I’ll announce it here and then Margo will contact you. Bonne chance tout le monde!

I’ll be popping back here next week. Will you? In case we miss each other, I want to extend my warmest wishes to all for a joyful holiday season with the hope that the New Year brings the best of health and happiness to you and yours. Peace on earth always tops the wish list .

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Filed Under: Author Promotion, Blog, France, If it is France..., Writing Tagged With: books, Chronicles from Château Moines, First French Essais, French Holidays and Traditions, Promises To Keep, shopping, Taking Root In Provence, The French Riviera A Literary Guide for Travellers, Wolfsangel

Truffle season begins!

November 14, 2014 by Patricia Sands 12 Comments

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

In France, for certain enthusiasts, the celebration this week will be all about musky-smelling, subterranean fungi … truffles.

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On November 15, the historic walled town of Richerenches, will open its famous market for black truffles, the largest in France, with the proclamation of le Ban des Truffes. This official opening of the market by members of the Brotherhood of Black Diamond and Gastronomy, begins the truffle season which lasts until at least March. Foodies around the world rejoice!

Photo credit - Richerenches, Bureau de Tourisme
Photo credit – Richerenches, Bureau de Tourisme

Truffle sellers often work out of the back of their cars and vans around the corner from the regular market with sellers and buyers from restaurants and other agents, negotiating prices and making deals. If you know your truffles (often referred to as black diamonds), you are welcome to join in!

book-cover-small-1My friend, author and journalist Anne-Marie Simons, has an excellent chapter on the subject in her book Taking Root in Provence.

I wrote about Anne-Marie and her husband, Oscar, in a blog post a while ago. Great examples of being possibilitarians (my favourite word, as you know), wait until you read what Oscar does now! They retired to Aix-en-Provence in 1998 and began a fabulous new chapter in their lives. If you haven’t read Taking Root In Provence, I highly recommend it!

Click here for the link! It’s also available in paperback.

A while ago I was delighted to hear from the owners of Les Pastras.0_0_0_0_230_346_csupload_49165624

Johann and Lisa Pepin, are a Franco-American couple who left their corporate careers in Chicago to take over the Pepin family vineyard in the south of France in 2003. They wrote me about living their dream and I was instantly intrigued. Here’s a bit of information from their website and I think you will want to know more too.  At this time of year, truffle-hunting forays are the highlights.

“Our 11 hectares produce grapes, olives, apricots, cherries, plums, apples, pears, pomegranates, figs, almonds, hazelnuts and black winter truffles. We offer truffle-hunting tours of the property when in season. Tours include a sampling of fresh truffle hors d’oeuvres, Champagne and a taste of our organic Les Pastras olive and truffle oil.

Fine food enthusiasts can adopt a tree at Les Pastras and receive a yearly shipment of olive oil or truffles. The perfect gift! Visitors can even choose their own tree during their truffle-hunting tour.

And for every tree adopted, Les Pastras buys a fruit tree for the One Family orphanage in Haiti.”

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How cool is that? With the gift-giving holidays just around the corner, how about an olive tree for the person on your list who has everything? My late father-in-law gave us this as a gift a few years ago and it was so much fun to receive our delivery of oil, we kept adopting for several years!

There is an excellent article about Johann and Lisa in The Good Life France along with all their important links. Go on over there and read it, you’ll be glad you did!

How do you feel about truffles? Have you ever tasted them? Are you a fan? Would you adopt an olive tree or give one as a gift?

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Filed Under: Blog, France, General Travel, If it is France..., Writing Tagged With: Anne-Marie Simons, Les Pastras, Patricia Sands, Richerenches, Taking Root In Provence, truffles

Taking Root in Provence

August 23, 2014 by Patricia Sands 15 Comments

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

9.window Aix-en-Provence

Just over a year ago, Anne-Marie Simons and her husband, Oscar, were featured on my blog.  Hop on over there to learn more about this charming couple and read an excerpt from Taking Root in Provence.

Anne-Marie is, among other things writerly, the author

book-cover-small of Taking Root in Provence, a delightful non-fiction book about life in France. If you haven’t read it and you love France as much as I do, you will enjoy the vignettes. They are charming, informative and often hilarious! True snapshots of Provençal culture acquired since Anne-Marie and Oscar settled in Aix-en-Provence in 1998.

Anne-Marie is also a journalist and her blog, Provence Today, keeps readers up to date on the latest news in France with her keen, unbiased observations.

Since I returned from France in July, I’ve shared a few posts about other writers in France you might like to follow. You can click right here to go to links to Claire McAlpine, Margo Lestz and Kristin Espinasse.

One of the aspects of travel that I love is the opportunity to meet people in person after knowing them only online. After our plans to meet in 2013 didn’t work out, Anne-Marie and I finally had a chance to sit down together at Le Grillon in Aix-en-Provence on June 30 this year. It was great fun and just too short a time! Hopefully we’ll be able to do it again next summer!

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Summer is flying by! What are your special plans? Meeting up with friends? Take some time and just do it …

Come and join me on Facebook on Monday, August 25th for the COVER REVEAL  of my new novel, Promises To Keep. Just click right here. Release day is coming up too on August 29th! More on that next week. 

In case you haven’t heard, The Promise of Provence is specially priced at $.99 this week. Really! Click right here today. We want to make sure everyone has a chance to read it before Promises To Keep is published. Kat’s adventure in the south of France continues!

Bon weekend, tout le monde! 

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Filed Under: Blog, France, General Travel, If it is France..., Writing Tagged With: Aix-En-Provence, Anne-Marie Simons, cover reveal, Patricia Sands, Promises To Keep, Taking Root In Provence

Taking Root In Provence – France Book Tours

November 24, 2013 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

It’s always a pleasure to have friends drop by the blog! The multi-talented Anne-Marie Simons and her husband Oscar, who is … hold your breath, ladies … an expert on Provençal cooking, AIX EN PROVENCEpaid a visit here last June. They  shared their experience of retiring and relocating from the States to Aix-En-Provence in the south of France. If you missed the post before, take a minute to read it now. 

Go ahead! I’ll wait!

As I said then, they are are living my dream.

I also said this: “They are perfect examples of how it’s never too late to do something different: true possibilitarians ~ which you know is one of my favourite words!” Read the post Anne-Marie has gifted us with today and you will see what I mean!

This is the initial stop on her extensive tour with the fabulous France Book Tours! I’m delighted to be the first to this party!

taking-root-in-provence-banner

Here’s a synopsis of Taking Root in Provence:

Two expatriates left Washington DC in search of the ideal place to retire where climate, culture, accessibility and natural beauty all had a role to play. Curious about the vaunted quality of life in the south of France, they traveled the length and width of Provence where, preferring the city to the countryside, they decided to settle in the ancient town of Aix-en-Provence. That was in 1998 and Taking Root in Provence is the story of their slow integration into the French mainstream — both easier and more difficult than expected but ultimately successful.

In a series of vignettes Anne-Marie Simons gives us a warts-and-all picture of life among the French and with warmth and humor shares her lessons learned. Contrary to most publications about Provence, this book focuses on life in the city rather than the quiet countryside, and promises to be both informative and revealing to those who want to spend more than a passing holiday here.

 For this part of her tour, I asked Anne-Marie if she would treat us to a bit more about her life in Aix-En-Provence. Enjoy!

At first glance, Aix-en-Provence is paradise. At least for this retiree. It has beauty, culture, an enviable climate, daily markets, is well located for international travel and lives at a pleasant pace. So far, so delicious. Yet, there are those who say: “But what do you DO there?”

AIX EN PROVENCEThe short answer would be “everything you do minus your job” but that does not say it all. We do as the locals do (given our intended goal of total integration), and that means that we go to market every day (instead of the supermarket once a week) and spend a lot of time cooking − from scratch, of course, including soups, stews and other slow-cooked food. We give a lot of dinner parties and are invited to dinner at a lot of friends’ houses since that is where social life takes place in France: à table. We go to movies a lot, often in the afternoons (cool in summer), because we live in a movie-mad town and have three cinemas with a total of 20 theatres in the old center close to home. I love to read and spend a lot of time hanging out in one of the five bookstores in the city center, and at various book fairs in the surrounding countryside where I sometimes appear as author but rarely sell because nobody speaks English. No matter, I love the fraternity of writers and marvel at the crowds who attend, even in the smallest villages. And of course, we walk everywhere in town since everything essential (food, entertainment, doctor, dentist, etc.) can be reached on foot. The car stays in the garage, reserved for out-of-town use only.

So – looking at this list – most of the time we do nothing extraordinary but take more time doing everyday things that feel and taste better than before, when they were done on the run and without enthusiasm.

Contrary to our working days in Washington where we spent weekends and vacations resting up3. market copy from heavy work schedules, our summers in Provence are busy, not to say hectic, what with the July opera festival in Aix and the theatre festival in Avignon that get our full attention, as well as visits to and from friends who descend on Provence in summer. Culture blooms everywhere in this season, with concerts on village squares, in churches and chapels, or in castle courtyards. But high culture co-exists very happily with folklore here, and both draw equally big crowds.

Our Mediterranean climate and the French tendency to celebrate everything (harvest, solstice, animals, saints, foods) with a “festival” makes for many a weekend throughout the year with a festival to attend: olive, wheat or grape harvests, truffles, goats, specialty foods like calissons in Aix and navettes in Marseilles, any number of saints, and of course the famous chickpea; they all have their own celebration. And who would want to miss the Chickpea Festival?

Traditions are strong in France, and even though this is officially a lay country there is no lack of religious celebrations where the local saint’s statue gets carried around the village, followed by the notables and the Confrérie des Vignerons in official dress with tasting cups around their neck, a few Camargue cowboys on white horses, some beautifully dressed Arlésiennes in open coaches, and the traditional fife and drum band with dancers in Provençal costume. With lots of food on hand and wine à volonté, the idea is to Eat, Drink and Be Merry. France is unthinkable without it.

These festivities lose some of their charm if you don’t speak French, as does the daily market where nothing is bought or sold without a chat or at least a bit of advice. “So how was yesterday’s lapin? See? What did I tell you?” After all, it’s more than food you buy here; it’s tradition, a way of life, a mutually respectful peasant-bourgeois exchange that has changed little over time.

After the years of hard work and stress it takes to arrive at retirement, what greater reward than to slow down and have the time to enjoy your hobbies and the local offerings. If you are lucky enough to live in a place with good weather, good friends, good food and good healthcare, I would say: Grab that brass ring! Nothing lasts forever.

Thanks, Anne-Marie, and come back for a visit any time!

Anne-Marie will send a copy of Taking Root in Provence to a lucky winner. Leave a comment below and one name will be randomly drawn … AND the draw is international! Bonne Chance!

There are going to be many excellent posts from Anne-Marie and opportunities to win a copy of Taking Root in Provence at the other websites on the tour. Check out the schedule below! Keep entering and hopefully you will win a copy. I love this book!

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, Nov 25
Guest-post + Giveaway at Patricia Sands’ Blog

Tuesday, Nov 26
Review + Giveaway at The French Village Diaries

Wednesday, Nov 27
Review + Interview at I Am, Indeed
Review + Giveaway at Enchanted by Josephine
Review + Giveaway at The Most Happy Reader

Thursday, Nov 28
Highlights at Words And Peace

Friday, Nov 29
Review + Giveaway at Turning The Pages

Saturday, Nov 30
Review + Excerpt at Jorie Loves A Story

  Author Information:

Anne-Marie Simons has worked as a translator, teacher, journalist, sportswriter (covering Formula 1Book cover small races), and director of corporate communications.

Her Argentine husband, Oscar, left a career in international development banking to become an expert on Provençal cooking and other local pleasures.

Author Links:

Website

Blog

takingrootinprovence@gmail.com  anne-marie.rozic@live.fr

Facebook

Book Links:

Goodreads

Buy directly from the publisher

Buy on Amazon

Kindle edition

As many of you know, I am leading a women’s tour of the south of France in June 2014 and this book is right up at the top of my “Recommended Reading” list. Besides that, come hell or high water, I am going to meet and spend time with Anne-Marie when I am in Aix in June. We had to cancel a lunch last October (my fault!) and that’s not going to happen again!

After you read Taking Root in Provence, please take a minute to leave a review on the links above. It’s so important for authors to receive reader reviews and we are often shy about asking. Merci mille fois!

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Filed Under: Author Promotion, Blog, France, If it is France... Tagged With: Aix-En-Provence, Anne-Marie Simons, friendship, living in the south of France, Patricia Sands, Taking Root In Provence, The Promise of Provence, Women, Womens Travel Network, writing

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