Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

How does my garden grow? Victoria in spring (we start earlier here) is just 👌. Not all of Canada is under snow right now!

I went for a walk early this month and accidentally stepped into an impressionist painting!

Still, the rain that brings all of those flowers can get to you. Make you a little cranky, (or, contrary, if you will). All the more so if you have maybe been fighting burnout for a few months. So for Spring Break, I traded the crocuses of Victoria for the palm trees and jungle flora of Cancun, Mexico.

Because I was so tightly wound, it did take half the week before I fully relaxed. But I got there in the end. Basking in the sun did the trick — I don’t know if it’s my Portuguese roots, or I’m basically a lizard, or both, but I thrive in the heat and humidity.

When I wasn’t lounging, I enjoyed exploring the amazing Xcaret, a huge eco-archaeological park that’s well worth the visit. It’s huge, so if you go, try to do it over a couple of days. My favourite parts are the aviary, aquarium, butterfly habitat, and traditional cemetery.

I also had some time (and the desire, at last) to revisit my novel-in-progress, read over what I have so far, and make some tweaks so I’m ready to carry on and have fun with this Italy-set story.

Also, not a bad spot to work. I’ve written in worse places!

Book and City of my Heart

I did take some time out from my vacation to chat with Nicole from She Rises Studios to celebrate the release of Provenance Unknown on March 18! 🎉 🎉 🎉 We had such a great time talking about the story behind the story, archives, Paris, and being a writer. The interview was broadcast live, but you can watch the replay here.

📣📣 Ebook available now! 📣📣

Say “oui” to a story about local history, archives, family secrets, an old French diary, a charming but infuriating Frenchman, and fun and frivolity in Paris!

This Canadian author thanks you ☺️ 🇨🇦 (And online reviews are so, so helpful.) Best Seller status in four categories in Canada and the US! 🥇

👇👇👇👇

♥️ Canada:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️ USA:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️ United Kingdom:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️ Germany:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️ France:
https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️ Spain:
https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️ Italy:
https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️ Netherlands:
https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️ Japan:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️ Brazil:
https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️ Mexico:
https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️ Australia:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0F144Z5XD

♥️India:
https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0F144Z5XD

Share far and wide!

Air Time

It’s me! (I’d never recorded myself doing a reading before 😳) But Stripes Literary Magazine asked me to do it for my new chapbook, so I gave it a go.

If that hasn’t scared you off, click to watch me read “twilight” from Asleep/Awake.

Asleep/Awake may be available only as an ebook, but it didn’t stop me from having a copy printed for myself. Celebrate your wins, am I right?

Gentle nudge to give it a quick review on Amazon or the Stripes download page, because that little action sure does help a lot.

One Person’s Trash

A great reminder to never give up on your writing! More than a year of submissions later, my poem “Parked” has been accepted by trash to treasure literary. So, it’s not so much about getting a piece published, but finding the right home at the right time.

Read this short prose poem here.

Surprise

Fan girling over here like …

(I can’t believe my book is hanging out with the cool kids!) Amazing surprise while exploring the local Indigo store, finding Provenance Unknown on the Sweet Reads table with big names like Abby Jimenez and Carley Fortune.

New print edition coming April 1!

Never Too Many?

How do I even choose?? You’re killing me, Indigo Mayfair

(Leaning towards History & Art, obviously, but such a hard choice.)

From Greece, With Love

I’m so proud of Osoyoos, British Columbia hometown girl and writing sister Cristal Macor for taking second place in the Limnisa – Greece Creative Writing Workshops & Writing Getaways Short Story Contest. And I’m happy to see I made the shortlist as well. Love seeing both of our names in the March 9 announcement. 💕 Read her story here.

Les Bouquinistes

A Love Letter to Paris, by Rebecca Raisin

I’ve been following this author online for a while now and especially love her Paris-based romances. A Love Letter to Paris is her latest, and it’s definitely on my wishlist. Intrigued, my fellow Francophiles? Read on!

Don’t miss this escapist summer romance from bestselling author Rebecca Raisin 🇫🇷

‘Late at night when I wander the streets of Paris, my thoughts turn to her… How do I tell her how I feel? Perhaps, I need to show her…’

The pretty little streets of Montmartre are abuzz with a rumour. Apparently a mystery matchmaker, known only as ‘Paris Cupid’, has somehow helped the city’s most famous bachelor find love.

But old-fashioned romantic Lilou is staying very quiet. She’d just wanted to set up her best friend, and to get on with her life selling whimsical old love letters, in Paris’s famous St. Ouen market.

She hadn’t imagined her little Paris Cupid project could ever have attracted so many people looking for true, heartfelt romance. Though the truth is that Lilou adores helping people find the right person. Even if her own love life is nothing short of disastrous.

But then a message arrives. And it’s just for her. Someone is in love with her. Someone who knows her secret. But they’re keeping their own identity secret too… Could it be from cheerful, talkative, flame-haired Felix? Or quiet, beautifully handsome Benoit? Or even Pascale – who drives Lilou mad every day?

After so long of helping others find their soulmate, is it time for Lilou to find love of her own in Paris herself?

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As always, thanks for reading. Merci!

Sonia