Today I’m joining the blog tour for Just One Day – Autumn. I’m sharing a guest post written by the author with thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on the blog tour and to Susan Buchanan for writing her guest post.

Blurb:

Pregnant Louisa is just getting back on track when life throws her another curveball. Now, it’s not a case of how she’ll get through her to-do lists but how she’ll manage being a mum again.
No one seems to understand. How will she run her company, be partner in a new venture, look after her three kids and handle a newborn? And why does everyone think this will be easy? Except her.
All Louisa wants is to be a good mum, wife, friend, sister and daughter, and have a bit of time left for herself, but sometimes that’s too big an ask. Can she find the support she needs, or will she forever be pulled in too many directions, always at the mercy of her to-do lists?

Guest Post:

Susan Buchanan has written a post about what autumn means to her.

I love autumn…sometimes! I think I love the idea of autumn more than the season itself. I think of bundles of leaves I can kick through, falling leaves, finding different-coloured leaves – the red ones are my favourites. I think of a cosy fire, but I have central heating…

I do, however, think of festivals, and there are certainly those in autumn – whether it’s a scarecrow one such as in Just One Day – Autumn, or Bonfire Night in November.

Autumn makes me channel hot chocolate, snuggly blankets, Oodies – wonder if that’s made its way into the OED yet – and reminds me the nights are drawing in.

I’m an early riser, and already darkness greets me each morning. This part I don’t like so much about autumn. Years ago, I worked extremely long hours in a large computing firm and when I went to work in the morning it was dark and when I left in the evening it was dark. I felt like a mole, and you guessed it, this started happening in autumn. 

But what do I love about autumn, apart from leaves? I really do love the leaves! Well, since I’m a big Christmas fiend, borne out by my having written two Christmas books so far (The Christmas Spirit and Return of the Christmas Spirit) and by the fact I once had my Christmas tree up until February, I love the fact that autumn eventually ushers in winter. 

Autumn means more snuggle sessions on the sofa with the kids watching movies, first Halloween ones – we’ve watched Muppets Haunted Mansion today – and eventually Christmas movies. I can easily start watching those from the first of November.

And as I think about what else I love about autumn, it’s giving me the urge to make soup. I’m not a cook, but I make a mean spiced pumpkin soup.

I also think it’s OK to start cracking open the mulled wine, alcoholic or not, in autumn, simply because it’s so cold in this country pretty much all of the season, and wet. I hate the rain, especially drizzle, although given the torrential downpours we’ve had these first few weeks of autumn, I’m willing to reconsider my ‘least favourite’ rain! 

I guess autumn isn’t top of my list of preferred seasons. I’d love to go to the US and Canada in the ‘fall’. I love that they call it ‘fall’. So much more descriptive. 

When I think of autumn, I conjure up trick or treaters: zombies, skeletons, witches, ghosts and for some reason children dressed as Woody from Toy Story, various Disney princesses and superheroes from Marvel and DC Comics! Lit pumpkins, Halloween decorations, preparing the trick or treat bags for the neighbourhood kids. Then there’s watching the fireworks from our bedroom windows. I’m not a firework fan, as in, attending the displays – too noisy, too busy and too wet usually! I’d rather watch from a safe distance and cover Benji’s ears when it gets too much for him. He may have an intimidating bark, but he doesn’t like fireworks! 

I love the colours of autumn, the browns and reds, and the leaf-print clothing. Yep, we’re back to leaves. 

For me, autumn is about meeting friends for dinner, or having them over, now it’s too cold to do stuff in the great outdoors most of the time. It’s about board games and all the family playing together. It’s about making Christmas lists, and helping the kids write their letters to Santa. Panto season starts and restaurants offer their Christmas menu halfway through November. 

I love reading autumn books in autumn, but mainly it’s when I start my Christmas book reading, usually around early October. There are so many Christmas books that I never get time to read as Christmas is only a short period. But I do enjoy reading books set in the season I’m actually living through.

So if you fancy doing the same, pick up a copy of Just One Day – Autumn, the final chapter in Louisa and her family’s story.

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Just One Day – Autumn is available from Amazon.

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