I love a challenge and so does my heroine, insanely successful lifestyle blogger Isabella M Smugge. Some kind person (I know not who) came up with a book challenge, helpfully named #31daysofoctoberchallenge. The idea is that you post every day on your socials with that hashtag, in whatever style you like. Top mate and writer Wendy H Jones alerted me to the challenge – thanks Wendy!
So for every day in October, I celebrated a National Day and look at how it ties with Isabella’s world. Welcome to the ride!
1st October
It’s National Hair Day. Isabella has to wash her hair every day to avoid that dreaded lank look. She inherited her mother’s thin red-gold hair while her sister, Suze, got their father’s thick blonde curls. Issy’s hair is always perfectly coiffed, but if you’ve read my second book, the trials of Isabella M Smugge, you’ll know that a whole heap of Bad Hair Days are imminent for our heroine.
2nd October
It’s National Name Your Car Day. Isabella M Smugge’s 4x4 is called Camilla while the run-around is known as Mitzi. Her husband has his classic convertible Morgan plus an MG Roadster in British Racing Green called Baby. Brace yourself for some unexpected goings-on in Baby in my next book, the Life and Continued Times of Isabella M Smugge (clue: there will be some serious stain removing).
3rd October
It’s National Boyfriend Day. Issy Smugge’s chap of choice used to be her sister’s boyfriend #awks. Find out if Issy and Suze make up in the first book and how things are going with the Smugge marriage in the second. Johnnie is a bit of a philanderer, as it turns out, handsome and charming though he may be! Universally loathed by my readers, sometimes I fear for his safety.
4th October
It’s National Vodka Day. Issy Smugge has a wild night out with the toddler group mums at Ipswich’s premier nightspot, Fluid’s in book two. Her frenemy, Liane Bloomfield, consumes a vast number of double vodka and oranges and Issy herself quaffs a fair few vodka and tonics before hitting the dance floor. She’d forgotten how much she likes dancing and going out (husband Johnnie was very protective) and sadly she rather overdoes it, leading to a crashing hangover.
5th October
It’s National Do Something Nice Day. Issy used to look down on everyone, turning her nose up at their hair and clothing choices. However, as she becomes friends with Claire and Lauren, Issy finds herself doing all kinds of nice things for no particular reason.
6th October
It’s National Plus Size Appreciation Day. Issy’s proud of her BMI of 23, but events in book two conspire to give her a passion for carbs, and she starts to fill out, much to her husband’s dismay #reallife #lovethosecarbs
7th October
It’s National Frappe Day. Issy Smugge had her hideously expensive coffee machine imported from the States (so worth it!) She loves to sip a skinny frappe while sharing pictures of it on the ‘gram. She can’t wait to renew her love affair with caffeine, but has to wait until baby Milo is weaned.
8th October
It’s National Hero Day. Issy Smugge idolised her father but lost him at the age of twelve. Her husband too is handsome and charming, but also has a relaxed attitude to his marriage vows. Could there be a link?
9th October
It’s National Chess Day. Issy’s eldest son, Finn, is a crack chess player. Is Isabella still the Queen Bee? Or is she simply a pawn in the game the King is playing #issysmuggesaysyourmove #checkmate
10th October
It’s National Pastor Appreciation Day. Now Issy’s friends with skater boy vicar Tom, she’s ready to appreciate her local clergyman, even if he does wear a hoodie and has awful racist parents.
11th October
It’s National Kick Ass Day, something of which Issy Smugge approves wholeheartedly. As a true badass herself (cut off her enemy’s hair, smashed glass over husband’s head) you don’t want to mess with her!
12th October
It’s National Farmers Day, very appropriate for Isabella M Smugge who now lives in the depths of the countryside. Back in London, she never thought about where her food came from. Now, ensconced in the Grade II listed Old Rectory with the farm just up the lane, she knows the difference between a mangle wurzel and a sugar beet and appreciates the hard work that delivers crushed new potatoes with a hint of blistered spearmint to her crackle glaze plates.
13th October
It’s National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work Day. Isabella had a rocking horse called Mr Fazakerley in her nursery and when her mother sold the house, she was heart-broken to hear that he had gone to the great beyond. Her beloved teddy bear, Jeremy Noodle, still has pride of place on her bed, however.
14th October
It’s National Dessert Day. Issy Smugge doesn’t have much truck with sweet things when first we meet her, but by the time she’s into her second year in the country, she’s reaching for the home-made ice cream and chocolate brownies a lot more than she used to #puddingfan #eatingmyfeelings
15th October
It’s National Bosses Day. Issy Smugge has been her own boss for the last eleven years and it’s staying that way, thank you very much! She loves running her own show although working from home means you’re never not at work. Everyone’s favourite Instamum bosses like a mumfluencer, 24/7!
#31daysofoctoberchallenge #thediaryofisabellamsmugge #thetrialsofisabellamsmugge