Patricia Sands

Author

Women

Renoir, Rubens & Frites City

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There are few places in the south of France, large or small, that don’t offer a special reason to stop by. Treasures abound of every kind. I’m just saying …

Cagnes-Sur-Mer is ten-minutes west of Nice and easy to reach by the coastal train. Choose to spend time at one of many pebble beaches  or take the shuttle to Haut-de-Cagnes. Stroll the narrow streets of the medieval village where you will find great restaurants and the 13th Century Grimaldi Castle. Plan to visit the beautiful domaine “Les Collettes” , the Musée Renoir, where Pierre-Auguste Renoir, one of the founders of Impressionism, sculpted and painted for the last 11 years of his life. Visitors during that time included Albert André, Rodin, Bonnard, Matisse and Modigliani to name just some.  It was here that Renoir started sculpting with Richard Guino and later Louis Morel.The home and grounds have been authentically restored and visiting his studio, with his wheelchair, easel and brushes as he might have left them, is very touching. The view of Haute-De-Cagnes from the house and olive groves is simply beautiful and visiting artists are often seen throughout the property capturing their own masterpieces. You also suddenly come upon this view driving the A8 west of Nice and it’s quite stunning!

 

A return trip to Grasse  (click on the name to visit the website)was on the agenda last Wednesday only this time we took the bus from the  Grasse train station instead of the 200 steps up to the old town in Centre Ville. (Not to mention the inclines often found between the sets of steps!) I found the steps fun to do last time but my husband’s back did not agree! The more time we spend in this intriguing town, the more surprises we discover. Known as the perfume capital of the world since the 1500’s when the Italian glove makers in the area (this part of France was more connected politically to Italy for many centuries) began to add scents to the gloves, the perfume industry dominates the economy and supplies essences to manufacturers everywhere. At 300m above the Cote D’Azur, the open fields in the surrounding countryside offered the perfect environment for the profusion of fragrant flowers, many developed from seeds brought back from the Crusades. The excellent Museum of Provençal Art and History is housed in an Italianate Villa built  for Jean-Paul Clapier Marquis de Cabris who married Louise de Riqueti daughter of  the Marquis de Mirabeau.  When the couple were required to live with the Dowager Marquisese, Jean-Paul soon fell out with his mother. He proceeded to have his own house built in a way that entirely blocked  her previously magnificent view. If you visit, note the Gorgons Head depicting vomiting vipers  above the front door which reportedly was placed so it would be directly in the line of sight of the old lady. The French have a reputation for dealing with grudges in inventive and long lasting ways. There are several perfume museums in the town that are surprisingly interesting to visit as well.

The Cathedral Notre-Dame Du Puy,dates from the 11th Century and was extended in the 17th. Its bell tower dominates the skyline. The interior is stunning from the enormous, rough-hewn pillars to the three magnificent paintings by Rubens as well as the only religious painting known to be done by Jean Honoré Fragonard, born in Grasse in 1732.

Our week ended on a slightly different cultural note to the above trips. Through the last fifteen years, all of our trips to France have included more research into our quest for the perfect “frites”. Several years ago we spent some time in the beautiful Italian-influenced town of Menton right next to the border with Italy. Just off the main pedestrian way, at the foot of the old town, we discovered the best frites we have ever experienced in the, excusez-moi, unlikely-named “Frites City”. Seriously, we returned several times during our stay there. We hopped on the train and spent last Saturday afternoon in Menton and our first stop was to see if the establishment still existed. It does. The frites continue to be spectacular (the secret is the oil, the owner insists, not to mention the fact that the potatoes are freshly cut right then and there) and we had them for lunch … with a side of French mayonnaise. Magnifique, if not exactly the wisest food choice but we all need to break out every now and then!  Before or after your frites indulgence, visit the very personal Jean Cocteau Gallery  in the 12thC Bastion at the old port. A new museum to house more of his works and those of others from the collection of Severin Wunderman is under construction just across from this which promises to be quite spectacular.

As I share my travels with you, I would love to hear about yours. Where are your favourite places to visit? Some, I know, are in your own back yard. You can leave a comment below or on Facebook and I look forward to hearing from you!

Bonjour mes amis!

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Please join me in the south of France for the summer! My husband and I have rented an apartment in Antibes between Nice and Cannes. We have visited this area on several vacations and fell in love with the beauty, the history, the culture, the people, the weather … I could go on but you will see what I mean … and besides that, I LOVE to speak French! I think I must have been born here in another life!

The two most important criteria we wanted for our accommodation were location and view and we have both to perfection. In fact, there really is no need for a car as we can get to so many places all along the Riviera and even into Italy from the train station just down the street. The town of Antibes is more like a village and one walks everywhere. There’s a car rental agency around the corner from us if we want to go further afield from time to time.

As you know, photography is a passion of mine so my beloved Canon Rebel XT has been steaming. I’ll get some photos organized and share them here in the next week or so. We’ve spent the past few weeks getting settled here and also having visits from some good friends, which we’ve spent exploring and discovering. I’ll share some of those discoveries as well – beautiful perched villages, switchback roads that open onto stunning vistas, talented artists and traditional artisans, fabulous coastal towns and beaches, architecture that takes your breath away from the very simple to the sumptuous, and restaurants … oo la la, the restaurants.

What does this have to do with my writing? Well I’ve been working on my next novel and when I knew we were coming to this part of the world for an extended time, my storyline moved over here too. I’m busy making notes and plotting and hopefully will have something close to a finished product by the time we leave. It’s easy to be motivated here as the ghosts of  artists come to you in the narrow streets lined with shuttered houses, many hundreds of years old. Writers as early back as 1500 BC left their work in caves in the area. In the last few centuries a long list of  influential writers found inspiration here including Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, DeMaupassant, Edith Wharton, Somerset Maugham, Graham Green, James Joyce, Nabakov, Gertrude Stein, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Pound, Sylvia Plath and the list goes on. Van Gogh, Monet, Matisse, Renoir, Chagall, Picasso, Bracque, Miro  are just a few of another equally long list of painters and sculptors who found the special light and air of the south of France irresistible.

The musical history of the area, particularly during the Jazz Age, is also impressive and we are excited to be here for the Jazz Festival of Nice in early July, followed by the 51st anniversary of Jazz A Juan in next-door Juan-Les-Pins. More on those later.

If spending an extended time in a different part of the world is something that appeals to you, talk to me about it. We are experienced home exchangers and renters and I have lots of good tips. I’m happy to say we have never had a bad experience.

There’s a small fish market on the pier at the end of our street so I’m off to consider our dinner menu and shoot some more photos of the local fishermen cleaning their nets.

A bientot! (Now I’ll have to figure out how to add the french accents to my text!)

Get to know author Patricia Caviglia

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Patricia Caviglia is a bright new voice on the roster of Canadian writers. An exotic mix of Brazilian, Italian and French cultures influence the personality of this young woman in her mid-thirties. After growing up in Montreal and tasting life abroad with a six-month stay in Italy in her twenties, she moved to Toronto 5 years ago. Somehow she manages to juggle a full-time career, raising a three-year-old daughter, and a dedication to writing. Her first published work, Masks, is a novella that has a message for all ages but is primarily directed to the YA readers.
What was your primary inspiration for your novella Masks?
In 2008, I was at a crossroads in my life. I had become a new mom and realized I was my daughter’s first and most important example of a woman. I felt that I could only teach her to pursue her dreams by pursuing my own – even if, in the end I failed. I hadn’t written in years, but it had always been my dream to be a published author. I went for it.

How do you initially develop your characters and do you find they begin to take on a life of their own as the story progresses?
I don’t think I develop my characters at all. Something will trigger their existence in my mind. With Masks, a movie [Tout est parfait (Everything Is fine)] about a clique of suicidal boys reminded me so much of being a teenager that I couldn’t shake off the feeling. A few days after seeing the movie, Rebecca, the main character in Masks, appeared in my mind.
My characters always have a life of their own. They have their interests, likes, dislikes, thoughts, pasts, dreams, bad habits, etc. Although they may only exist in my mind, they are fully formed people. If I want to know something about them, I ask them. I don’t debate whether something fits their life or not.
This sounds a little crazy but I’m sure a few fiction writers would say the same.

Are you drawn more to crafting short stories or is there a novel waiting to be unleashed?
I enjoy writing both. At times, I don’t feel like writing and have to push myself. Writing a short story can be just as hard as writing a novel. It all depends on the story. But with the short story, if I force myself to write, I know I will reach an ending fairly quickly. That makes it easier to motivate myself. With a novel, the page count alone leaves me a little ill. When I look at the bottom of the screen and see 235 words as the total word count, I think “Only 69 365 to go for a novel.” That’s scary!
Having said that, I love writing. Whether it’s a well crafted letter or e-mail, a blog post, a short story, song lyrics, or a novel, I enjoy it all.

As writers, we all have hopes as to what our readers will take away from a story. What were yours with Masks?
My stories don’t have any morals. I read because I enjoy a good story. I write because I enjoy writing. I hope my readers will enjoy my story. I hope that for a few hours, they will get lost in someone else’s life.

How does your writing reflect your personal view on life?
I like to dream about the possibilities, but I live with both feet firmly planted on the ground. I write stories that could be about anyone one of us. I’m sure there is a technical term but I don’t know what it is. I think of myself as a a real life fiction author.

You are such a busy woman. With a full-time career and a delightful three-year-old daughter, how do you find time to write?
I sleep little and mainly write after I get home from work around 10 PM for as long as I can. Last night, I was revising Masks for Kindle Publishing until three thirty.

Was there anything that came as a big surprise to you in your journey to become a published author?
I was surprised by how supportive my friends have been. They are proud of me for having finally published. They have always seen me as an author and were happy for me when I decided to pursue my passion.

What advice would you offer to writers who are considering publishing for the first time?
Start building your social media network when you decide publication is what you want. Blog, Tweet, Facebook. Do it all. If you don’t know it already, you will be hitting your head against the wall for weeks and months trying to figure all this stuff out. You need it to build an audience and promote your work. Get familiar with the sites.

I understand you are currently working on a couple of manuscripts. Are you willing to share anything about your next novel with us at this point?

One is a story about a rock star. I am debating how to publish it. It might be a serial of short stories. We’ll see.The other project is an offshoot of Masks. The main character is Diana Rainville, the awful best friend. It takes place a few years after high school and she’s still dealing with the consequences of her betrayal. I really like her. I hope readers will like her too. Lastly, I am currently revising Masks and releasing the new version as an e-book only on Amazon and Barnes & Noble on April 3.

To read samples of Patricia’s work and keep up with her latest projects, visit her website and leave your comments at http://www.patriciacaviglia.com

 

Interview with writer Melissa Foster

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I first met the talented Melissa Foster when I surfed into the relevant, informative, and entertaining (I kid you not … all that and more!) website she founded and hosts. Through many exchanges of communication, talking on skype, and the sharing of ideas, philosophies, and eventually personal experiences it is a pleasure now to also call her my friend.

Melissa is an author and the Founder of The Women’s Nest, an online social and support community for women. She writes an on-going column in Women Business Owners Magazine, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Prior to writing, Melissa owned and operated a consulting firm specializing in human resources. Melissa and her husband have six children and live in Maryland.

Melissa’s interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping women see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa’s Motto: “Enjoy each and every day. No one else will do it for you.”

Your debut novel, Megan’s Way, is a moving story of family and friends coping with cancer but it also has a touch of the paranormal. What was your motivation behind this?

I believe that every story needs to leave the reader with a bit of wonder, and maybe even a bit of hope. Megan’s path took her away from so many people who loved her, but she wasn’t really “done” being with them. The paranormal aspect allowed Megan to complete her journey and leave when she — and her friends– were ready to accept her death. I would like to think readers will come away with a sense of wonder of what may be discovered after we leave this earth.

How do you initially develop your characters and do you find they begin to take on a life of their own as the story progresses?

Every time I’m asked this question I cringe. It’s an important question, but my answer seems too silly to be real–but I assure you, it is. I don’t write about a character until I can feel her/his feelings, see her/his face, and have a feel for their personality. Some stew for a while before they’re ready to find themselves on paper, while others appear a bit vague, but each of them grow and change as the story develops. I’m even surprised at what they do and who they become. Getting to know the characters is one of the most fun aspects of writing.

The setting for Megan’s Way is Cape Cod and you display an intimate knowledge of the area. How so?

I’ve been visiting the area for 42 years, and I never fail to find many new and beautiful sights every year. There are few things in life as beautiful as mother nature and as interesting as the differences in people, and Cape Cod is home to some of the most beautiful sights and interesting people I know. The smell of the ocean and the bay coalesce, creating an aura of an ever changing environment–from the landscape to the air itself. For me, that brings a level of creativity that is hard to match.

As writers, we all have hopes as to what our readers will take away from a story. What were yours with this novel?

My wish is that readers come away with a feeling of hope, and a renewed sense of forgiveness. Everyone has secrets, and the reasons are not often fully revealed, so it takes trust in mankind and acceptance of those we love to see past our own judgments and to accept that the decisions made by others might be the best they are able to make at that specific moment in their lives.

How does your writing reflect your personal view on life and what you bring to your daily interactions?

In some cases it’s very closely aligned, and in others it’s so far off the mark that I wonder how I can even write such things.

You are such a busy woman. How do you manage to find time to write when you also paint, run the very popular women’s website The Women’s Nest, and, most importantly, are the mother of six?

Time is an interesting thing. There’s never enough, sometimes I wish for less, less time to worry or stress about things, while other times I wish for more–whether it be to spend with the kids or write, it seems there’s never enough for either. I write when the kids are in school, and at 2:45, my formal writing time is over, and my kid time begins. I don’t write during the summers at all. That’s my time to spend with the kids, and to focus on them. It’s also my rejuvenation time. Writing for almost six hours each day is like a dream come true to me, but being with my children is an equally exciting dream come true.

The Women’s Nest is my fun place, or my escape, like a girl’s day out every day of the year. I never have enough time in that sense, because I’ve made great friends on the Women’s Nest, and would love to sit and chat all day long! My painting, I’m sad to say, has taken a backseat to my writing. After I donated six murals to the Hospital for Sick Children, I jumped full-time into writing and have only briefly looked back. My mural site, Kids Murals By Melissa, remains active, and perhaps someday I’ll return to it.

Overall, though, I don’t think I’m any different than any other mother. I have my kids, my work, and my hobbies (let’s not forget my always-supportive husband). Once you have two children you are outnumbered anyway, so having six versus two is no great shakes. You’re just a little busier and are blessed with seeing many beautiful faces each day. Happiness and controlled chaos is about all one can hope for:-)

Was there anything that came as a big surprise to you in your journey as a novelist?

Everything! From my characters to the fact that people would buy and enjoy my book.

What advice would you offer writers who are just beginning to work on a novel?

Write and don’t look back. Don’t think of what readers will think. Just follow your heart and be careful not to try to take everyone’s advice (including mine). Be true to yourself. If you’re happy with your writing, others will be, too.

I understand you are currently working on a couple of manuscripts. Are you willing to share anything about your next novel with us at this point?

Always! Thank you for asking. I’m just completing a commercial fiction manuscript called Chasing Amanda. Here’s a brief description:

Nine years ago, Molly Tanner witnessed a young girl’s abduction in the busy city of Philadelphia , shifting her occasional clairvoyance into overdrive. Two days later, the girl’s body was found, and Molly’s life fell apart. Consumed by guilt for not acting upon her visions, Molly escaped the torturous reminders in the city, fleeing to the safety of the close-knit rural community of Boyds, Maryland.

Molly’s life is back on track, her son has begun college, and she and her husband have finally rekindled their relationship. Their fresh start is shattered when seven-year-old Tracey Porter disappears from a local park near Molly’s home. Unable to turn her back on another child, and troubled by memories of the past, Molly sets out to find Tracey, jeopardizing the marriage she’d fought so hard to hold together. While unearthing clues and struggling to decipher her visions, Molly discovers another side of Boyds, where the residents–and the land itself–hold potentially lethal secrets, and exposes another side of her husband, one that threatens to tear them apart.

I’m also hard at work on my third fiction novel, (working title) Come Back to Me.

Pat, thank you so much for taking the time to interview me. I loved The Bridge Club, and look forward to your next novel, as well as having you on the Women’s Nest as a guest author.

It’s my pleasure, Melissa. You are a wonderful role model for all women and truly one of the most positive, upbeat people I know. Write on!

Click here for Melissa’s website and here for The Women’s Nest