I bought the S.S. Getaway (my kayak) late in the season last year and was only able to take it out twice before the weather turned, so I’ve been itching to get out on the water again. The weather app on my phone was getting a daily workout as I checked the forecast way more than is probably healthy, waiting for a day with a comfortable temperature, lots of sun, and minimal wind.
We’re spoiled in this part of the world; the local tourism bureau hosts an annual flower count in February or March strictly so we can brag while the rest of Canada is under snow. (In fact, the day I took this photo, I think Calgary was buried after a storm.)
Still, this day couldn’t come soon enough. I think you can see why:
I still haven’t figured out a good way to deal with all the sand afterwards — if you have any tips and tricks, let me know, because my car is still full of it — but I don’t care. This new hobby not only gets me away from screens for a couple of hours (okay, other than taking the photo), but it also takes me outside my comfort zone because I’m not a water person. I like to look at it, of course. Be near it. Listen to the steady rhythm of the waves against the beach. But I’m not a swimmer.
Safety is a serious matter, and I’ve made sure to have all the right gear. I don’t go into deep water, either — it’s comforting to be able to see down to the bottom and know I can stand if I fall off. But slowly, I’m learning to try new things, one paddle at a time.
The Big Leagues
“When spring comes to Paris the humblest mortal alive must feel that he dwells in paradise.” (Henry Miller)
If you’re in the Victoria, British Columbia area, I’ll be signing copies of my Paris romance, Provenance Unknown, on Saturday, May 18 at the Indigo store in Mayfair Shopping Centre. (Note: originally to be held in April, this event had to be rescheduled due to book stock challenges.) Drop in any time between noon and 3 pm to chat, purchase a copy, and get a taste of Paris right here in Victoria.
Celebration
My debut novel was released one year ago, on March 28, 2023, (with the book launch party hosted by Roundhouse Cafe in Saanich on April 2). It’s been a heck of a ride.
I’m grateful for the support I’ve received from my publisher Sands Press (She Rises Studios), family, friends, strangers, and readers. Publishing is not an easy road, so having people behind you makes all the difference.
I’m especially remembering the book cover cake my mom and sister surprised me with. 🥹
Book Club Dreams
I’ve said it before, but I would love to connect with a book club looking for a sweet romance-with-layers read. (Honestly, I’d be so excited to be a virtual guest author for a group!)
If you’re keen to read and chat about Paris, archives, old diaries, and family secrets, I’ve got you!
(Here’s me at a library talk I did back in November.)
Pass It On
A writer who attended that library talk reached out to ask if she could pick my brain with some publishing questions. We met up, and honestly, it warmed my little author heart. I don’t know which of us was more excited: her, because I agreed to meet; or me, for being asked. Then it happened again with another local writer I met on social media!
Yes, publishing is a brutal industry with a lot of competition. But at the same time, it’s better to share the love.
At Last
Thanks to everyone who suggested Provenance Unknown, my dream of seeing my book on the shelves of the library system I grew up in is finally coming true! Two copies are now on order with Okanagan Regional Library and will be available soon. 🙌
Thank you, thank you, thank you. 🙏
Upon Further Review
Apparently my book is listed on StoryGraph! If you’ve switched from Goodreads for tracking and rating your reads, you can find and review Provenance Unknown here:
https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/e43ad230-649b-491c-ad34-e1b9d7c87e78
Everything Fresh and New
Recently, I was playing around with my author logo, which originally was a somewhat hastily put-together design that I didn’t really use for anything. (And in case you don’t know, authors have a habit of getting really creative with things other than writing when we’re supposed to be writing!) So in the end, I came up with this fun new visual that better reflects my archives side, which has such an influence on my work. While I was at it, I refreshed some other website elements.
There’s something so satisfying about spring cleaning, am I right?
Les Bouquinistes
Someday in Paris by Olivia Lara
‘It’s about dreams and taking chances. Missed opportunities and mistakes. Loss and sacrifice. But above all, it is about love. The kind of love that survives time, distance… even death. The kind of love I wish for you.’
Finding the one is only the beginning…
1954. Zara is fifteen the first time she meets Leon. During a power cut in a small French museum, the two spend one short hour in the dark talking about their love for art, Monet, and Paris. Neither knows what the other looks like. Both know their lives will never be the same.
1963. In Paris, Leon no longer believes he will ever find the girl he lost that night. After dreaming about him for years, Zara thinks she has already found him. When they meet at an exhibition, they don’t recognize each other – yet the way they feel is so familiar…
Over the course of twenty years, Zara and Leon are destined to fall in love again and again. But will they ever find a way to be together?
The magical new love story of 2020, perfect for hopeless romantics and fans of One Day and The Notebook.
As always, thanks for reading. Merci!
Sonia
Sonia Nicholson 