Back in 2016-2017, I had this semi regular feature called Back Catalogue Books, focusing on books that are not the latest releases. As so often everyone and everything is about the newest shiniest books that are released, that it's easy to forget there are some hidden gems, in amongst an author's back catalogue.
So this was an obvious choice when I was looking at what features to bring back as one offs for my 10th blog birthday celebrations.
Without further ado, I present today's guest...
Thanks for inviting me on, Rachel. Great to be here. We’ve been working together for a long time now! Hello, everyone, I’m Susan Buchanan, a contemporary romance, romantic comedy and women’s fiction author from Scotland.
1) Please tell me about your first book, and what started you writing in the first place
– My first book came out in 2012 and is called Sign of the Times. It has an underlying theme relating to the zodiac and features 12 characters, all related in some way to the central character, Holly, a travel writer. It’s set in Italy, Scotland and Switzerland. It has often been compared to the TV series, Cold Feet (the original – I haven’t seen the new version!) as it interweaves so many different lives. It was probably the most difficult book I’ll ever write as a result! Tropes (not that I knew what a trope was back then) include found family, only one bed, love triangle, best friend’s brother and forced proximity. I’d always loved writing and remember writing my first story about a smuggler, age 7. I rushed the ending though as I wanted to go out and play hide and seek with my friends, so I wrote ‘and then I died.’ Hopefully, my endings are a little better these days! I started writing ‘properly’ around 2009, as prior to that I only wrote when I went on holiday as I was too busy with work.
2) How many books have you written and what are they?
I’ve written 12 books and have three significant work in progress, which will actually be my next three books, as well as a further four books that may or may not see the light of day! Some are different genres. My current published books are Sign of the Times, The Dating Game, The Christmas Spirit series (The Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit, A Little Christmas Spirit), the Just One Day series (Just One Day – Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn) and The Leap Year Proposal.
3) Which book are you most proud of writing?
In the past I couldn’t answer this question as I’m proud of all of them for different reasons; however The Christmas Spirit is the book (and series) that seems to really impact readers and warm their hearts, sometimes even helping people not looking forward to Christmas to embrace the spirit of the season – and that’s the whole premise of the book!
4) Which book was your favourite to write?
Hmm. This is a toughie. If I can sneak in my upcoming release, You Can’t Hurry Love, as it features a sloth sanctuary, based on one I visited in Costa Rica. And, well, I love sloths and adored finding out more about them. And it was great to focus on a much warmer climate than here! Plus, I researched the food to within an inch of its life!
5) Who are your favourite characters from your books and why?
Probably Louisa from the Just One Day series; Natalie and Stanley from The Christmas Spirit, Dario from Sign of the Times, as well as Holly; Anton from The Dating Game; Lara from A Little Christmas Spirit; and Zach and Anouska from The Leap Year Proposal.
6) If you could go back and change anything from any of your books, what would it be, and why?
Hmm, I’m trying to avoid spoilers here, but there is one decision that was unpopular with some readers in one of my earlier books, because it didn’t exactly give the happy ever after they expected; it was a happy for now, but of a different type. I think it’s important to meet reader expectation, and although I made the decision intentionally for the character, they may get a novella at some point to explain what happened afterwards!
Oh, now this is REALLY hard! I have had 3 covers for Sign of the Times, 2 for The Dating Game, The Christmas Spirit and Return of the Christmas Spirit, and the current covers were all made for me by Claire Ball of Jaboof Design Studio, who makes all my covers and graphics now. I love aspects of several of those covers the most: the fact Claire brought to life a villa in Tuscany I stayed in, purely from my description as I had no photos of it, in Sign of the Times; the fact she put gingerbread men in the display case of The Christmas Spirit because she knows my son loves them; and my latest cover for You Can’t Hurry Love, because I love sloths!
8) Have you ever thought about changing genres, if so what else would you like to write?
I don’t want to change genre, but I have started working on a middle grade fantasy novel and also a psychological thriller, I would also like to write a screenplay one day.
9) Looking forward can you let us know what you are working on next?
I’m already working on my Christmas release, A Taste of Christmas Spirit, out on 23 Sep, and I have a contemporary romance set in Toulouse, France, which will come out in Jan 26. It is already written, whereas the Christmas book isn’t! The Toulouse book is part of a new travel-themed series. And of course, first in the Dream Destinations series, You Can’t Hurry Love, is out on 6 May 25.
10) I dare not ask for a favourite author, but is there any author’s back catalogue you admire and why?
Milly Johnson, but also Leonie Mack Julie Caplin, Victoria Springfield and Rosanna Ley. Milly’s just amazing at showcasing family life, warts and all, and she does it with such wit and joy. The others are because I love travelling all over with them – I love revisiting through their books places I’ve visited and putting places I haven’t on my bucket list! I also love learning about the places and the culture.
11) Finally, is there anything else you would like to say about your back catalogue of books?
I think my back catalogue is quite varied – there’s romance in all of them, but Sign of the Times also has a major travel theme and is more drama/women’s fiction; The Dating Game is a romcom with aspects of sisterhood and friendship; The Christmas Spirit series has a sense of community, goodness, hope and the human condition at its heart as well as a touch of magic; The Just One Day series is the year in a life of a mum, her extended family, friends, their ups and downs and what holds it all together; The Leap Year Proposal again has a travel theme to an extent, but is more women’s fiction than pure romance as the friendship between the three women who propose is even more central than the proposals. And food features heavily in all my books, so take snacks when you’re reading them – you’ll need them!
Thank you so much Susan, what a great set of answers and I am loving absolutely everything I'm hearing so far about your Dream Destinations series, I also can't resist a sloth on a cover!
And if you are now loving the sound of Susan's books and would like the chance to win a copy of one of them, then keep on reading...
Her books are Sign of the Times, The Dating Game, The
Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit, A Little Christmas Spirit and
Just One Day – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn and The Leap
Year Proposal.
As a freelance developmental editor, copyeditor and proofreader,
if she’s not reading, editing or writing, she’s thinking about it.
She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the
Society of Authors and the Alliance of Independent Authors.
She lives near Glasgow with her husband, two children and a
crazy Labrador.
When she’s not editing, writing, reading or caring for her two
delightful cherubs, she likes going to the theatre, playing board games, watching
quiz shows and eating out, and she has recently discovered a love of writing
retreats.
Social Media Links –
Website – www.susanbuchananauthor.com
Instagram
– authorSusanBuchanan
Facebook
– www.facebook.com/susancbuchanauthor
Twitter –
susan_buchanan
Threads -
authorSusanBuchanan
Giveaway to Win a signed and dedicated copy of The Leap Year Proposal (Open to UK Only)
When three women meet on a mutual friend’s hen weekend on the Scottish island of Arran, they get more than they bargained for when one of them has the genius idea of proposing on 29 February, like the age-old Irish tradition.
High-flying businesswoman Anouska and boyfriend Zach are deliriously happy and madly in love. If only they had more time together. But now she’s pregnant and doesn’t know how to tell him since having kids hadn’t featured in their plans.
Dog walker Jess lives with her childhood sweetheart, but they’re already like an old married couple, without the romance, or the wedding, or the ring. When Mark doesn’t propose on New Year’s Eve, Jess is gutted and decides to take matters into her own hands.
Ellie and Scott still live apart after six years, and his lack of commitment is a sore point. She’s up for a huge promotion which involves moving country. It’s make-or-break time. She needs to know he’s worth turning down the job for.
The women meet weekly, helping each other with decisions big and small, becoming each other’s support system in the run-up to ‘the big ask’.
Will love conquer all or will their hopes and dreams come crashing down around them?
Giveaway open to UK, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 16/4/2025. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner. Good luck everyone!
Congrats, Rachel, may you blog for many more years! 🥳 How lovely of Susan to do this.
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