Patricia Sands

Author

The Promise of Provence

Medieval meander …

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Bonjour! Last week I posted two photos of Entrevaux and promised more. Voilà!

Perched at the meeting point of two valleys in the mountains north of Nice , Entrevaux is one of those intriguing, ancient villages so easy to stumble upon in Europe.

The 2-hour train ride from Nice didn’t live up to our expectations. One could drive the 60 km in half the time, but when Entrevaux appeared before us we were glad to be there .

Entrevaux-PSandsPhotos
Entrevaux-PSandsPhotos

I hope you have a few minutes to take a meander through the narrow, twisting alleyways of this medieval village. Be intrigued by the tall, slender houses, many in disrepair, with precarious staircases, as well as  curious small squares, primitive fountains and a 16thC gem of a church.

Overlooking the Var river and protected by a 17C citadel sitting even higher above the village,   it guards a once highly strategic approach to the south. There’s even a drawbridge!

Entrevaux-PSandsPhotos
Entrevaux-PSandsPhotos
Entrevaux-PSandsPhotos
Entrevaux-PSandsPhotos

With a turbulent and rich two thousand-year-old history, Entrevaux was officially established in the 11thC. Its greatest glory appears to have occurred  in 1536 when the inhabitants bravely retook the town from capture by Charles Quint of Spain and Austria and returned it to the King of France.

Entrevaux-PSandsPhoto
Entrevaux-PSandsPhoto

There are many small communities throughout Europe, with colourful histories like this, that struggle to stay alive after so many centuries. Regional economy falters, infrastructure crumbles, young people leave.

My imagination is captured. How about yours?

The wind whipped through the cramped passageways this particular day, creating dramatic shifts in light and shadow. My camera shutter steamed. Stories begged to be told.

Meander as you please.

I would be embarrassed to tell you how long it took me to put this slideshow together. I just hope I remember for the next time!

Oh … and let me share some good news! The cover of The Bridge Club, A Novel was one of eight featured as good examples of effective cover art in this post: book covers from BookBub Unbound. The talented, clever, and always good-natured Carrie Spencer did all the hard work in putting that cover together. She also formatted the cover for The Promise of Provence. A toast to her!

I was notified the week before last that The Promise of Provencebestbooksfinalistjpeg received a Finalist award in the 2013 USA Best Book Award.

Hearing from satisfied readers and receiving awards guarantees to inspire and motivate every author. If I end this post, I might even make a good bump with my word count in my next novel this evening.

I sent out my third newsletter this week and after I hit “publish” discovered a typo in the FIRST line! Ack! How does that happen? Actually I know how it happens. Writing too late into the night is how it happens! Never mind, but I do apologize. The correct spelling is “vieille” … sigh …

In spite of the odd typo, if you would like to join my newsletter mailing list there’s a link on this page and I would be happy to see your name added. That mailing list makes me smile every time I look at it since everyone is there because they contacted me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate hearing from you and value your interest and support. Merci mille fois!

Bon weekend tout le monde! What do you have planned? 

Un peu de nostalgie ~ and some great blogs about France!

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If it’s Friday it must be France …

I confess I am having a little withdrawal about France today. I’m working away on my next manuscript which means I am immersed in la vie en France and feel like I am there in every way … except I know I’m not …

Every Friday morning, beginning today, at 9:30 I am having a French lesson via Skype with the fabulous instructor I was fortunate to discover when we were in Nice last month. After spending an hour listening to and learning from Ida Young-Bondi’s dulcet tones and immaculate pronunciation, I found myself wishing we were sitting in the bar in Nice where we had our lessons.

Then a friend sent me this photo …

Photo credit - my frriend Antonia's friend Laura at Cheval Blanc
Photo credit – my frriend Antonia’s friend Laura at Cheval Blanc

Antonia is celebrating her birthday here … Bonne Anniversaire!

I have to admit that this photo only served to deepen my nostalgia … le sigh …

I decided the only solution was  to take a break from writing and visit some of the blogs about France that I follow and enjoy. Let me share them with you!

In no particular order and … croyez-moi, believe me … ALL worth a regular visit for their own unique content!

Provence Post- Julie Mautner ~ all the news you need to know from the heart of Provence

Provence Today – Anne-Marie Simons ~ author of Taking Root in Provence and an experienced journalist, Anne-Marie examines serious news issues in France

Just French It – Ida Young-Bondi and efrenchcafe.com – Ida is a fantastic teacher, entrepreneur, and a lovely person to know – take a look at the many options she offers to help you speak just as she does – *wishful thinking*

People, Places and Bling – Theodora Brack – I looove Theodora! She’s funky, articulate, and I am waiting for the day she publishes her guide to Paris. It will be outstanding!

Bonjour Paris – a favourite companion I’ve been following for years that covers everything you want to know about the City of LIght and other parts of France. I am honoured to contribute articles from time to time.

The Hip Paris Blog – only recently discovered by moi – great practical content including some fab vacation rentals (in Tuscany too)

France Book Tours – if you want to now about the latest books set in France, see many of them here, reviewed by the amazing Emma of Words and Peace, who reads more books than anyone I know, except possibly Claire McAlpine, whose blog Word By Word is also excellent but not really focused on France, although she lives there. Okay, that’s definitely a run-on sentence … sorry … I’m taking so long doing this blog that my husband is now tapping his fingers, waiting for us to go out for dinner.

French Word-A-Day – Kristin Espinasse – an old favourite

Life in Laroque – Margaret Lawrenson – shares her love of photography and the trials and tribulation of relocating in a quiet village

The French Village Diaries – Jacqui reviews books from time to time but, more importantly for me, she shares her experiences of having moved to France from the UK

Food, Photography and France – a fine, fine melange of words and photography and, when we are lucky, recipes

The Riviera Reporter – the French Riviera’s English Language News Magazine – since 1987 they’ve been keeping track of all the news along the coast, first as a magazine and later online – love it! I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Kent when he joined us at my book-signing at The English Bookshop on October 4th.

The Riviera Woman – Anna Fill – a relative newcomer online, this is the perfect place to find out what’s going on along the La Côte. Anna misses nothing!

The Good Life France – Everything you want to know about France and more – I just happily stumbled upon this one and know I will be spending a lot of time here

Visiting France – lots of good practical information for travellers

So there you go! These are some of my most favourite places to take a break from writing … and I’ve probably missed a couple. I know there are many excellent blogs about France so if you have one you would like to share, please do. We can never have too long a list!

Uh-oh, the tapping is becoming louder and faster! A writer’s husband only has so much patience … !

Bon weekend tout le monde! Even my DH agrees we would rather be here ==============>

Côte d'Azur-PSandsPhotos
Côte d’Azur-PSandsPhotos

Celebrating others ~ a cover reveal and a new release!

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b0c397c332a33c59f36446a5da8070bfThere are so many rewards to being part of the amazing online writing community.  I can’t say enough about the collegiality, respect, information sharing, friendship, learning and laughter that are a regular part of our daily interactions through social media.

The diversity of talent astounds me and through the benefit of many new friendships and connections, I’ve become far more open to reading almost every genre out there; often with surprisingly positive results.

Today I want to share some exciting news from two good friends, delightful women and  talented writers in very different genres.

FANTASY writer, ANGELA WALLACE, a 2013 Best Indie Award Winner, has a cover reveal for her new paranormal romance ~ DREAM SNATCHER!

Falling asleep has never been so dangerous… Dreamsnatcher Cover RevealLexa has spent the past five years training the princess of Teltania in dreamwalking, but with Taryn’s eighteenth birthday approaching, the girl has increasing royal duties and Lexa is getting ready to retire yet again. This time she’s looking forward to settling down and sailing with Sir Neil Duram—until his ship barely survives a raider attack. The raiders have been hounding Teltania’s coast and their victims are falling into comas. With Neil’s crew at risk, Lexa sets out to find a cure. But things aren’t what they seem. She discovers that the comatose have been snatched from their dreams and stolen into the dreamscape. The scattered cases soon become a potential plague, and Lexa has to find the connection between the waking world raiders and the dream snatchers. Is there a third dreamwalker out there, or something much more sinister? Lexa’s desperate search for answers will drive her to the edge in order to save everything she cares about.

COMING NOVEMBER 13 2013

Add the book on Goodreads

Read more on the Dreamwalker Saga

Angela author pic thumbnailAngela Wallace loves gun-toting good boys and could have been a cop in another life except for the unfortunate condition of real blood making her queasy. Good thing writing gun and sword fights isn’t a problem. In her books you’ll find the power of love, magic, and redemption.

Subscribe to her newsletter and get an exclusive surprise when the book releases. Follow on Twitter @AngelaRWallace Facebook Website: angelawallace.wordpress.com

And now another drum roll for USA Today bestselling Women’s Fiction author,

BETTE LEE CROSBY, and her new release JUBILEE’S JOURNEY

When tragedy strikes a West Virginia coal mining family,blcrosby-jubileejones-original2 two children start out on a trek that they hope will lead them to a new life. Before a day passes, the children are separated and the boy is caught up in a robbery not of his making. If his sister can find him, she may be able to save him. The problem is she’s only seven years old, and who’s going to believe a kid?

Jubilee’s Journey is Book Two in the Wyattsville Series. This story of discovering lost family and finding love reconnects readers with Ethan Allen and the other heart-warming characters of the bestselling novel Spare Change.

Don’t miss the SPECIAL FRIEND READ AND SHARE  Bette is generously offering!

Bette-286x300Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.

Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. Since then, she has gone on to win several more awards, including another NLAPW award, three Royal Palm Literary Awards, and the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal.

Her published novels to date are: Cracks in the Sidewalk (2009), Spare Change (2011), The Twelfth Child (2012), Cupid’s Christmas (2012) and What Matters Most (2013).  She has also authored “Life in the Land of IS” a memoir of Lani Deauville, a woman the Guinness Book of Records lists as the world’s longest living quadriplegic.

Connect with Bette on Goodreads

To read more about Bette Lee Crosby and access all of her links, visit her WEBSITE.

Are you an adventurous reader or do you find you keep going with the same genres? Step outside your comfort zone and experiment. Like me, you may find some intriguing surprises and great new reads!

Lunch with Journeywoman!

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Some days are a little more special than others and yesterday was one of those!

Some people you meet are a little more special than others and the woman I met yesterday was indeed one of those!

Evelyn-bio-picEvelyn Hannon, aka Journeywoman, and I spent a couple of hours  yesterday chatting over a light lunch we picked up in Whole Foods at Hazelton Lanes in Toronto. Seriously … just the two of us … lucky me!

Through a conversation we were having online about promoting The Promise of Provence on her site, the next thing we knew we were arranging to meet. I am so delighted we did. As smart, funny and down-to-earth as Evelyn appears in her writing online, she is even more so in person.  This is a woman experiencing life to the max and sharing her energy and enthusiasm with all of us. Lucky us!

In a word: INSPIRING.

I loved the fact we share the same philosophy that age should not be a deterrent to anything you wish to do in life. We looked at each other and laughed as we agreed that getting older is simply an opportunity to have time to follow more of your dreams. Just do it!

No wonder Time Magazine included Evelyn in a list of “this century’s most innovative thinkers”. As a woman way ahead of her time, she recognized the power of the internet and began blogging about travel for women in 1997, expanding her reach from the magazine she began in 1994. She now has over 70,000 subscribers to her newsletter and over 30,000 avid followers on Twitter.

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Click right here to read how her personal journey began.

As a serial traveler, I’ve followed Evelyn’s Journeywoman.com website for several years and always found interesting, helpful and/or entertaining travel information there. Although the website is geared to women traveling on their own, the information is valuable for anyone planning a trip or, truly, for people interested in learning more about this wonderful world of ours.  The number and variety of articles on this site will keep you engaged for a very long time.

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Just ignore the fact I’m in my track suit as I dashed over right after tennis!

I’m pleased and proud to have The Promise of Provence occupying a little space of its own on Journeywoman.com for the month of November. We’re also going to talk about the WomensTravelNetwork ‘Promenade in Provence’. I will be on the tour … will you?

If you haven’t yet discovered Evelyn’s Journeywoman.com site, I am suggesting that you get yourself over there as quickly as you can. Here you go … CLICK!  You will be writing me to say thanks. I know it!