Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday. I’m excited to be on the blog tour for The Leap Year Proposal and I have a Q&A with the author to share with you all.
The Leap Year Proposal is out now in ebook and paperback.
You can read the Q&A below but first here’s a little bit about the book!
Book Synopsis:
Three women. One crazy hen weekend. A life-changing decision.
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?
Q&A with Susan Buchanan
Susan: Thanks for inviting me.
Jojo: My pleasure thanks for being here!
Q. Leap Year Proposals. Do you think everyone actually knows when a leap year is these days, or pay much attention to them? What was your fascination with them?
A. To be honest, I don’t think they necessarily do know when a leap year is. I dealt with some industry professionals in publishing previously for this book and they seemed not as knowledgeable about leap years as I would have thought. But I’ve always loved the idea of that special day that only happens once every four years, and in fact, I always wondered what happened to people born on that day. I recently had a reader tell me they got married that day. And, of course, I proposed on 29 February, although there my similarity to the protagonists ends – they did give me the seed of an idea needed for the story though!
Q. You chose to have three female protagonists. Why was that?
A. I love to write multi point of view. Plus, I like seeing things from others’ perspectives, as a reader myself, too. And it gave me more scope for what could happen. One leap-year proposal was astonishing enough, but more than that? It gave the women a common purpose, a reason to work together – a means of bonding. Plus, I liked the idea that people of all walks of life might decide to do something unusual like this – having a similar mindset with relation to this one specific thing.
Q. The Leap Year Proposal is set in Scotland mainly. How did you choose the other location (which will remain secret for now, so as to avoid spoilers)?
A. Ha, well, I’m not sure I did choose it. The women chose it. And I have a connection to it through a close friend, but I’ve never been and have always wanted to go. So I researched the heck out of it and put it higher up on my bucket list. Now, I’m off to check flights. Back soon!
Q. Many locations are considered for that particular proposal, and indeed the others. How much research did you do for the proposals – and how much fun was it?!
A. Oh, I went down a research rabbit hole all right! I love travelling, and travelled a lot (51 countries) when I was younger. Now it’s a little more difficult with the kids and their being in school. Let’s just say, I spent a good few hours researching (in great detail!) many locations both at home and abroad. And now I have even more places to add to my bucket list.
Q. We’ve come to know that your books are often synonymous with good food. Will readers need to keep the snacks handy as they read this one?
A. Ha, ha – well, maybe not to the same extent as they do with the cakes at the Sugar and Spice café in the Christmas Spirit books, but yes, there are dates involved, so there is a fair bit of eating out and of course, the food in that particular location (no spoilers) is phenomenal. Best to get a grazing bowl ready!
Q. What can you tell us about the love interests in the book? And do you have a favourite of their three partners?
A. Zach is my favourite. Hard-working, loves Anouska to bits, but he’s as driven as she is. Both workaholics. They work well together as a couple because of this. He isn’t perfect, though, as we’ll see. Mark, Jess’ partner and boyfriend since high school, is a little too comfortable in his Mark-Jess existence and has kinda stopped making an effort, although he does redeem himself on a few occasions. Scott. Well, I always knew I wasn’t going to get on with Scott! He’s too self-centred.
Q. What are you working on now?
A. I’d actually taken a little writing break as I have some books lined up after this, which allows me to work at a more relaxed pace. I’ll be releasing You Can’t Hurry Love, set in a Costa Rican sloth sanctuary (I know, right?!) on May 6, but I’m already thinking ahead to my Christmas book and possibly another book – time permitting – for this year. I’ve spent the last few days trying to work out all the timescales involved, but not done any actual writing. Tonight for sure. I love this planning stage. I must email myself about 6 new ideas a day!
About The Author:
Susan Buchanan lives in South Lanarkshire, Scotland with her husband and their two children. She writes contemporary women’s fiction and romantic comedies, Her books are: Sign of the Times, The Dating Game, The Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit, Just One Day – Winter, Just One Day – Spring, Just One Day – Summer, Just One Day – Autumn, A Little Christmas Spirit and The Leap Year Proposal.
You can connect with Susan on Twitter @susan_buchanan Facebook susancbuchananauthor and Instagram authorsusanbuchanan.
Over The Rainbow Blog 
I really enjoyed this book, so this interview was wonderful. I love finding out what motivated or inspired an author to write something.
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