Patricia Sands

Author

writers

Sharing the love …

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Bonjour everyone! It’s been a busy few weeks for me since Drawing Lessons was published on October 1st! How’s November going for you?

In fact, Saturday was here before I realized Friday was gone, so please excuse this post being a day late. There’s always a lot to do once a new novel is published and most of it includes writing blog posts to share on other websites. We all try to help each other passing along the good news!

If you have some time this weekend, you might want to pop over to my dear friend Steena Holmes‘ blog. This photo was taken at the NINC writers’ conference we attended in Florida last month. It was SO good to spend time together in person. Steena’s home is in Calgary.

It’s always a pleasure to visit on her blog and fun to share a few secrets … that’s one of her specialities! She consistently manages to tease a few tidbits from the friends she invites over …  just one reason she’s known as Sweet Steena! There’s also a giveaway for a print copy of Drawing Lessons, so don’t forget to leave a comment there to have your name entered! Click right here and Good luck ~ Bonne chance!

Be sure to investigate the great novels Steena has written and subscribe to her site so you receive all of her news. You’ll notice a lot of chocolate featured there too! Another passion we share …

Now, here’s some more love for you ~ a post written by another dear friend, Deborah Bine aka The Barefoot Blogger.

This photo, to the left, is from Deb’s visit with us in Antibes last summer. We were on our way home from the market that day. The house my husband and I were renting is just behind us with the blue shutters. We loved it! And the rooftop terrace … what a treat that was …

Deb’s visits to us on the Côte d’Azur, with her fab friends, Paula and Rich, have become a happy tradition.

Always a deliciously good time!

Deb lives in Uzès and gets around France more than most people I know. Then she writes great articles about her travels. This post of hers about the ancient and enticing walled town of Aigues-Mortes in the Camargue, ties into the story from Drawing Lessons and really tells you everything you would like to know about the history and the charm of the area.

I hope you will take a few minutes to linger there and feel like you’ve truly had a visit! Then you’ll understand why Arianna, the main character in my novel, was so smitten with the town and … well, I’ll let you read the novel to discover the answer to the rest of that sentence.

Click right here to read Deb’s article and enjoy Aigues-Mortes! In fact, it would be a good idea to subscribe to her site so you don’t miss all the other travels she shares.

This is a photo I took inside the walls of Aigues-Mortes when I was doing research for Drawing Lessons. Click this link to hear how to pronounce the town’s name. It’s easier than it looks!

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to post a review for Drawing Lessons. I’m delighted you’ve enjoyed the story so much it has a 4.6 stars rating. Every time a review is written, it’s like sharing the love for an author … and it is most appreciated.

 

 

 

A brief retrospective

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

How was your week? Our Women’s Fiction Fans Summer Party on Tuesday evening was an enormous success. We were blown away! And we’re so grateful to all of our enthusiastic readers who joined in the fun. We can’t begin to thank you enough!

Congratulations to all of the winners. Books, bags and macarons! Those were just some of the sought after prizes!

If you haven’t had an opportunity to join our group, just go to this page and click on “joined”.  It’s as easy as that!  The aim of this friendly group of authors and readers is to share thoughts and comments about books or simply reading in general … or anything else that’s on your mind. Ask us questions, enter our giveaways, enjoy our special events and, by all means, please invite your friends!

Right now I’m awaiting the final sign off on the manuscript for Drawing Lessons. We are eager to have the book available on Net Galley for everyone who is interested in writing a review. Stay tuned! I will let you know the minute it is there.

In the meantime, Drawing Lessons can be pre-ordered right here.  This just means that the day the book is published, you will receive your copy. Great service! And thanks!

I’m also working on my July newsletter tonight, so with all that going on, I’m going to leave you with a few of my favourite shots from May and June in the south of France. Enjoy! Profitez!

Villefranche-sur-Mer ~ How many times am I going to take a photo here? Year after year, the view is simply too irresistible.

It was hot, hot, hot! There were few breezes through the narrow streets in the towns and villages of Provence. Shutters were closed to keep the cool inside. The cicadas hummed.

The little yellow house with the blue shutters. I’m writing about one now. 🙂

Chilled rosé (extra special because it comes from a friend’s vineyard ~ Jean-Marc Espinasse, husband of the delightful Kristin) + delicious nougat + strawberries so sweet they taste like candy.

A favourite shot ~ on one of my daily walks to the marché. Can’t you almost taste the colours?

The Women’s Travel Network’s 12-day tour of the south of France, based on my Love in Provence series. Sixteen fabulous women who made each day an absolute pleasure.

Ten days with two BFFs ~ 4 in Antibes and 6 in St. Remy. Girls’ getaway. Friendship is priceless.

The garden behind the 12thC former monastery and asylum of Saint-Paul de Mausole. Vincent van Gogh spent May 1889 to May 1890 here, one of his most productive periods. Van Gogh and this setting also feature in my new novel. This is truly a peaceful, spiritual place.

The delicate beauty of poppies is symbolic in Drawing Lessons. I wanted to take photos for marketing and graphics for the new novel. The poppy season was almost over but then we got lucky and voilà!

I hope you have an excellent few days planned. Bon weekend!

 

 

Indie Author Fringe 2017 ~ March 18 ~ you’re invited!

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It’s that time of year again! The London Book Fair is on as we speak (March 14 -16). That means we should be getting ready for the INDIE AUTHOR FRINGE 2017, this Saturday, organized by ALLi ~ the Alliance of Independent Authors.

There’s no better one day blitz of the most up-to-date information, guidance and ideas for indie authors. It’s available to everyone everywhere ~ and ~ tadaaaa ~ it’s FREE!

This amazing day is specifically geared to writers interested in self-publishing but, trust me, there is a ton of information that every writer will find informative no matter how or where you are published. There are sessions for beginners, emerging and advanced authors, together with discounts, deals and all sorts of special giveaways.

To check out all the speakers and presentations, click here.

Prepare your beverage of choice, put your feet up, wear whatever you like and get ready to discover more publishing/writing information in one place than you ever dreamed possible. The action begins at 10 a.m. (GMT i.e. London time). Click right here if you want to see what time that means in your corner of the world.

Running 24 sessions over 24 continuous hours allows authors round the globe, to attend some live sessions, no matter where they’re located. (But don’t worry, you aren’t expected to stay up all night! You can always catch up later. Read how when you register.)

Register right now and find out how to attend, together with details of the fantastic lineup of speakers, sessions, competitions and giveaways. *See* you there! Oh … and tell all your writing friends!

Click on this “Register Here” link and plan your day! It will take you to the banner displayed below and you will be on your way.

This free Online Conference runs three times a year, fringe to London Book Fair (March 18th 2017), Book Expo (June 3rd 2017) and Frankfurt Book Fair (October 14th 2017).

Indie ReCon 2015 ~ be there or be square!

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INDIE RECON 2015

A Global Online Conference: April 15/16/17

Three packed days of advice and education about self-publishing and reaching readers. PLUS this year: a live-streamed Indie Author Fringe Festival, from the London Book Fair (Book & Screen Week).

In line with ALLi’s mission to be a global organisation for indie-minded authors everywhere, the Indie Author Fringe Festival will be live-streamed, so authors and readers who can’t be in London can take part online.

If you’re an author-publisher who hasn’t heard about Indie Recon, here are the basics:

The event is free, hosted by authors for authors.
The global online conference airs April 15, 16 and 17.
The event is packed with advice and education about self-publishing and reaching readers.

Register to attend on the Indie Recon landing page. You’ll then receive updates and links to speakers and sponsors as they make their presentations. You’ll find a detailed list of speakers here, and a listing of the schedule here.

Pop on over to the Indie ReCon Facebook page or spend some time planning your participation on the Indie ReCon 2015 website.

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