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.
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
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.
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.
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.
How do I attend the writers’ conference, or your reading specifically?? I love your books and will be in San Miguel next month.
Hi Camille, Thank you for asking!
You can get tickets to the conference as a whole or just to specific events (such as my keynote) here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/14th-annual-san-miguel-writers-conference-literary-festival-registration-47558474678
Information about all of this is on their home page: https://sanmiguelwritersconference.org
Cheers! Sandra