Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, Canada and has degrees from the University of Waterloo and York University. With a happily blended family of seven adult children and, at last count, six grandchildren, life is full and time is short. Beginning with her first Kodak Brownie camera at the age of six, she has told stories all of her life through photography. Travel photography has been her primary "focus" after her favourite subjects- her children and grandchildren. Widowed at age 43, Patricia returned to university for a degree in Education and became an elementary school teacher before remarrying a few years later. Much to her surprise four years ago, she began to write and her debut novel The Bridge Club has just been published through iUniverse. Currently at work on her second novel, Patricia admits the writing muse has possessed her. She is particularly drawn to the rewarding friendships of women and the challenges many embrace once their families are grown. Her writing stresses the importance of friendship through every stage of life and she relishes the opportunity to tell stories of people who face unexpected circumstances and have the courage to open new doors no matter what their age. One of the rewards of publishing her writing are the responses she receives from readers who talk about their own lifelong or strong friendships. There is nothing better, she notes, than to hear someone describe how they were touched by or related to her writing. "It's never too late to begin something new," she enthuses. "As the saying goes, just do it!"