Champagne and beignets: launching The Shadow Queen into San Miguel de Allende's next Big Read

I’ve been quite busy this last month preparing for an event launching The Shadow Queen as San Miguel de Allende’s Big Read. (See my recent blog post about it here.) I wasn’t going to be able to be at the event myself,* but I worked closely with Karen Kinney, head of the committee organizing this event. They did a fantastic job! The event was held last Monday and judging from a number of emails I’ve received, it was a smashing success.

Part of the presentation was this video by film-maker Dennis Lanson, an interview of me on researching and writing The Shadow Queen.

This was followed by two short lectures on 17th century France and a dramatic reading from the novel by wonderful actors Marilyn Bullivant and Rick Davey. Live, period-authentic music, champagne (which was accidentally invented at that time) and beignets (a sweet French treat featured throughout the novel), rounded out the evening.

I wish I could have been there, but we had made holiday plans a year before on the Pacific coast of Mexico, which is where we are now. :-)

Last night’s sunset: spectacular!

My next event will be giving a keynote at the San Miguel Writers’ Conference on February 14, Valentine’s Day. I’ve been reading my talk out loud — honing it, timing it — while walking the beach. It’s a lovely way to rehearse.

6 Comments

Betty Wind on February 17, 2019 at 8:09 am

I met you recently at the SMA Writers’ Conference. I mentioned the story of my mother’s family. I would like to meet with you and share some stories. I live in SMA and understand that you have a home here also. Therefore, perhaps after the conference, we could meet.
Thank you,
Betty Wind

Sandra Gulland on February 23, 2019 at 9:59 am

Hi Betty, Sorry to be slow to respond. I don’t seem to get notifications of comments promptly! I’d love to meet. Email me directly at: sgulland AT sandragulland DOT com.
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Janet Benton on January 21, 2019 at 4:48 pm

How wonderful to see and hear you, Sandra! I loved this. Thank you for all the lovely things you do to be known to your readers. Inspiring to me as a writer, too.

Sandra Gulland on January 29, 2019 at 1:43 pm

Janet, how wonderful to hear from you! What are you writing now? I’d love to subscribe to your blog, but I don’t see a way to do that on your website.
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