Patricia Sands

Author

Villa des Violettes series

January 6th ~ la fête des rois in France

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January 6, 2024 by Patricia Sands (Edit)

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 bite 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.

To keep those festive feelings flowing, The First Noël at the Villa des Violettes, is on sale for $2.99 for the rest of January. If you haven’t begun reading this series, this is Book 1 and the place to start. Book 4 was just published last month and a #1 New Release. Readers love spending time with Kat, Philippe and the gang. And I love writing the stories!

Mark your calendars for Monday when Blue Sky Book Chat holds a Winter Carnival from the 8th to the 11th. Games, giveaways and a grand prize. Join the fun right here!

See you there! Bon weekend everyone!

Warm wishes to everyone through the holidays

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There’s no question 2023 has been a ‘challenging’ year in many ways … to say the least.

In these troubled times, it would be nice to know that we are all finding time for some joy. Even though our hearts are touched by tragedies unfolding in the world, it is important to focus on the goodness that also exists and to share that with others.

The hopes and wishes people share during this festive time are the same….for peace, love and understanding … hope for the future … respect, kindness.
I hope you find some light and joy to share with family, friends and strangers. If you are not in need yourself, consider donations to charities for those who are desperately less fortunate.

No matter what is going on in the world, book deadlines have to be met. So on December 15th, Deck the Halls at the Villa des Violettes, Book #4, was published.

Thank you to all the readers who helped this new story quickly become a #1 New Best Seller in its genre!

I love writing the Villa des Violettes series primarily because it was not my idea. The idea grew from the many requests of readers of my Provence trilogy (The Promise of Provence, Promises to Keep, I Promise You This) who had fallen in love with Kat, Philippe, and the rest of the wonderful characters. Simone, in her 90’s, is an enormous favourite! And then there are the dogs, cats and donkeys!

So it is great fun every once in a while for me to get involved with these characters that I also love and see what is going on in their lives. Sometimes it’s a surprise to me too! That is part of the fun of writing fiction: characters take on lives of their own and help direct the story.

Typical of me, there is always a visit to another part of France included in each book. I love sharing my passion for this amazing part of the world with you and only write about places where I have spent time. This time it was a trip to the intriguing Pays Basque. It’s a thrill to me when I hear from readers who tell me they are going to visit a region or city because they read about it in one of my books.

Often the story will include some crisis, but Deck the Halls is more about finding joy in these troubled times. We all have enough challenges! I hope you enjoy being back with the beloved characters and if you have not read any of these books, I hope you will be enticed to do so.

Warmest wishes for the holidays and may the world find peace and renewal in 2024.

Summer sales!

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Bonjour everyone! As summer quickly slips away, I hope you have been enjoying getting out and about again with family and friends, staying safe and reading some good books!

In between enjoying beautiful Georgian Bay weather, I’ve been hunkered down in my editing cave working on my next novel. I can’t wait to begin sharing more news about this story soon!

There’s so much good news to share here, I hope you find something that makes you want to add it to your library. In case you have not seen these graphics floating around social media, I wanted to share them with you before the end of August so you don’t miss these great bargains!

Waving across the pond (s) to the UK and to Australia! Amazon has kindly placed all three of the Love in Provence novels on sale for the month of August in your special part of the world.

.99GBP and $1.49AUD! If you already have your copies, now is a great opportunity to do some holiday/birthday shopping and pick up ebooks for family and friends. The instructions are easily followed on the book pages on Amazon. Simply pop on to your country’s Amazon page for my novels and make your choices! Then lose yourself in the south of France ~ no passport, no packing!

It’s such a pleasure to receive emails and comments from readers (along with reviews, of course). Here’s a recent message that made me smile!

“I discovered your series through Melissa Seeley Face Facebook event. Read first one in record time and ordered the next two as well as Christmas novella. Simone speaks to me. I can relate to her story. She’s settled within herself now but her past still stirs her memory. I’m 73 and she’s my new role model..along with Judi Dench! Old Crones don’t mess around.”

I loved writing the character, Simone Garnier. She first appears in Promises To Keep and was full of wonderful surprises for me too!

In the USA, Drawing Lessons is available for .99 until the end of the month. Just click here. Here’s one of my favourite reviews.

Betty Taylor of Reading is My Passion captures the essence of the story, without spoilers, in her 5* review.

“Author Patricia Sands gives us a beautifully written story of human frailties and human strengths, of facing a major change in your life and learning to move on, of healing.

When I began this book I was expecting it to be a romance novel, but romance is actually only a small part of the story. And when it does enter the story it is beautifully done with a slow progression of two mature characters getting to know each other. But the strength of this book lies in how GREAT characters from various backgrounds with their own mix of life challenges come together to further their love of art and how they compassionately share their collective life experiences and lessons in support each other. For the main protagonist Arianna it is truly a life-changing two weeks as she struggles to come to terms with her new life.

Ms. Sands’ love of the French countryside is revealed in her stunning descriptions. I was so enthralled I just had to view the images myself on the internet – images of the walls of Aigues-Mortes, the wild horses and the enormous salt deposits of the Camargue.

I was able to totally lose myself in this delightful story and highly recommend it.”

In addition, Lavender, Loss & Love ~ Book #3 in the Villa des Violettes series is $1.99 all around the world and waiting for you. Have you begun this series? It was written after so many readers asked to spend more time with Katherine and the beloved characters from the Love in Provence novels. It was such a pleasure for me to revisit them and discover their new adventures on the pages … and introduce some new friends as well. Here’s the link for all of those books.

When Amazon puts our book on sale, the hope is that we will be discovered by new readers. Feel free to share these sales with your friends!

And now for a great giveaway that you (and any reader you know would be interested) can enter until the 25th! Look at this bonanza of books waiting to belong to one lucky winner.

ONE WINNER. 52 BOOKS. OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. ~ Ready, set, GO!

Click on this link to enter.

It’s sunflower season in southern Ontario! Are they blooming in your part of the world too? I simply can’t resist these golden blooms and the memories they bring of discovering beautiful fields in Provence on our tours. Hopefully 2022 will have us back in the south of France making new memories to share with you. Perhaps you will be there with us!

I hope you enjoy this photo. I’ll share a story in another post about that gorgeous confit pot I had shipped over from France … an impulsive moment that brings me a smile every day. Do you ever do something totally on the spur of the moment?

Stay well, dear friends, and happy reading/ bonne lecture!

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

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Bon vendredi! Happy Friday!

This is my most recent Instagram post, as I fantasize about boarding a plane and returning to France. Do you have an Instagram account? If so, please consider following me @patricialsands.

I’m by nature an optimist, a purveyor of hope, and for that I am truly grateful. It’s what keeps me believing that I will stroll these petites ruelles once again, camera in hand, capturing images to fill the pages of my stories. What keeps you believing in your dreams?#neverstopexploring#keepbelieving#southoffrance#absolutelysouthernfrance#southoffrancememoriestour

I also wanted to remind you that my novella #2 in the Villa des Violettes series, A Season of Surprises, is still on sale … $.99 for the ebook! Enjoy!

Here’s the Amazon link ~ https://amzn.to/2Y3Ra7c

And for no particular reason other than more wishing …

Bon weekend tout le monde !