Patricia Sands

Author

writing

Just for you ~ a Reader Appreciation Event

by

Have you heard? Have you dropped by yet? Did you know that hundreds of readers have stopped in to chat and enter giveaway contests? We’ve been having a grand time getting to know each other at our =====>

10403352_10152918576976348_7145848234140720458_n

I’ve teamed up with 16 friends, who write in all different genres, to offer a January Reader Appreciation Event. Readers are the reason we write and we wanted to say thanks. Book Rhythm has put together a Rafflecopter for us and we are all offering giveaways of our books for two weeks beginning January 15th.

I’m looking forward to seeing you there and you will no doubt see some old friends, as you make some new ones.

There’s no rush! You can take your time working your way through the Rafflecopter. The more you visit, the more opportunities you have to win one of these gift cards:

1st prize – $250 Gift card (Winner’s choice)
2nd Prize – $75 Gift card (Winner’s choice)
3rd Prize – $50 Gift card (Winner’s choice)
4th Prize – $10 Gift card (Winner’s choice)
5th Prize – $10 Gift card (Winner’s choice)
6th Prize – $10 Gift card (Winner’s choice)
7th Prize – $10 Gift card (Winner’s choice)
8th Prize – $10 Gift card (Winner’s choice)

Enter the Rafflecopter and try your luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks for joining me today. If you like today’s post, please use the share buttons below. It all helps!

PatriciaSignature200

Starry, starry nights … thank you, Vincent and Don!

by

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Fridays are definitely coming around faster than ever! Enjoy this one!

arles

Last month I spent a few days in the fabulous town of Arles (don’t pronounce that ‘s’, please)  in the Bouches-du-Rhône  departement and was reminded of all it has to offer. If you haven’t been there, you might want to add it to your travel wish list.

This was one of the towns we visited on the Womens Travel Network tours I led this summer and it was a highlight for everyone. Have I mentioned how much fun we had? Click on that last link to see photos from the tour and a lot of smiling faces.

It’s impossible to visit Arles without talking about Vincent Van Gogh, 300px-Van_Gogh_-_Terrasse_des_Cafés_an_der_Place_du_Forum_in_Arles_am_Abend1who spent a very brief but productive … and chaotic … time in that town and the surrounding area.

Stopping in at the yellow-walled Café Van Gogh in Le Café La Nuit in the Place du Forum is a must for every visitor. Touristy as it is, it’s impossible to deny the feeling of the history that played out in this square where Van Gogh painted Café Terrace At Night.

As you can see, we did!

Café du Nuit, Arles

Café du Nuit, Arles -WNT tour 1

A few years ago, after spending some time in Arles, I discovered this video. I watch it often and have this song in one of the soundtracks I play when I write.

Take a few minutes to watch and listen. I think you will be glad you did.

 

I’m going to share some more photos from Arles in a later post. There’s so much to talk about!

Arles, France - The Arena

Have you visited this beautiful UNESCO heritage town and do you have  particular memory from there? Share it with us, please. It’s always interesting to hear other experiences.

With this song of McLean’s in mind, I recently wrote a post about music and writing for the BestSellingReads website. I almost always have tunes playing while I write. Do you do the same when you are working, exercising or whatever occupies your time? Any favourites? 

PubSmart Conference and a repeat meander …

by

Bonjour! I am in Charleston, South Carolina, attending the 3-day PubSmart Conference and I can tell you there has been a lot of excellent information to absorb.

 

PubSmart_logo_290

Here’s a quick explanation: “PubSmart is about introducing new models that lead to smart decisions about how to seize opportunities in today’s transformed book marketplace”.

The keynote speakers, Jane Friedman,  Hugh Howey, and CJ Lyons were superb and the coolest, most down-to-earth people to chat with.

BONUS! I have a fabulous new free app especially for readers that I will share with you next week and I’m very excited about that!

Making this conference even more special was the opportunity to spend quality time with my friends and fellow authors Steena Holmes, Christine Nolfi, Leona Bodie, Bette Lee Crosby and of course, Bette’s charming husband and publisher, Dick. As always, when the literati gather, there were opportunities for wonderful connections to be made and new friendships established. The fact that PubSmart was limited to 200 attendees offered unique opportunities to mingle and chat with everyone! Truly a very special time!

This stop in Charleston fit in nicely with our trek back to Toronto from south Florida, but tomorrow afternoon we will hit the road again and be home by Saturday evening. Hopefully there will be no snow to greet us!

If it’s Friday, it must be France

Entrevaux-PSandsPhotos
Entrevaux-PSandsPhotos

Along with attending the writer’s conference … which has been exciting, innovative and energizing … I have also been tweaking the final details in my MS so I can send it off to my editor this weekend. One of the chapters involves Katherine and Philippe visiting with some friends in this intriguing village of Entrevaux. I had such a good time writing about it, I decided to share my post from last November with you again. There is a slideshow of a walk through the narrow passageways and, as I wrote, I kept those photos on my screen to remind me exactly how it felt in that ancient and mysterious, semi-abandoned village. I hope my husband and I will have time to return there this summer.

I hope you enjoy your return visit! Click here to take another Medieval Meander.

Next week I will have my act together again and bring you a new post. Thanks for your patience!

Bon weekend, tout le monde!

Spring Flings!

by

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Friday seems to come around more quickly these days! I think it has something do with Spring, don’t you? The days are getting longer. The sun feels warmer and the air fresher. There’s a kind of a-new-lease-on-life vibe going on in my world and it’s SO energizing!

When I want to have a little escape from writing, without actually going anywhere, I disappear into my photo files for a while. I love to wander into this garden, close my eyes, listen to the cicadas, breathe in the sweet fragrance of fresh blooms, and generally chill for a while.. Wouldn’t you? I can feel Spring in the air here.

1.dsc05155

Since the change in seasons has finally arrived (… for most of us anyway, and I hope that includes you …) I used this shot for the header on my Newsletter #7 yesterday .  In the previous newsletter I had a giveaway contest for two signed copies of Ted Jones’ book,The French Riviera: A Literary Guide for Travellers. One of my favourites! 

The lucky winners are Margaret Elkins and Donna Bazan! Congratulations! I’m waiting for your postal info and then the books will be on their way to you.

france-book-tours-banner2

There are more Spring flings going on!

Who doesn’t love to win a free book? My friend Emma who organizes the fabulous France Book Tours is also hosting a giveaway over the next week or two to celebrate the first anniversary of her highly successful blog tours. A copy of The Promise of Provence is one of many great prizes. Click here to go the page and bonne chance!

1982308_661168013943011_1914389498_n

To add to the excitement of spring in the air, BookRhythm on Facebook is hosting an April Kindle Giveaway, loaded with novels offered by 19 authors. This weekend they are ramping up the fun factor by having flash giveaways of books. Click right  here and join in the fun. Good luck!

And now I’m heading back into my writing cave … almost done!

When was the last time you won a free book and what was the title? If you haven’t signed up to receive my monthly newsletter yet, there’s a widget in the right column here that takes you where you need to go. Come on and join us! We’re waiting for you!