Happy Autumn!

 Here in Texas and in much of the southern tier of states, our autumn is unlike fall in most of the rest of the country. After five or more months with highs in the 90s or 100s and lows in the mid-70s at best, we get a little chilly when the thermometer dips below the 70 mark.

So when the first break from the heat comes, we may still be wearing shorts but we're happy to see the hot-hot heat gone, and we start thinking about fall and pumpkins and maybe a witch or two. Texans also start thinking about chili :) 

This guy greeted us last weekend when we pulled up at our favorite local barbeque spot:

In keeping with the season, I asked some of the characters in my books what were their three favorite things to do in the fall.

Summer Newcombe, In Name Only, said she likes to put on sweats and a hoodie and take long walks on the Padre Island beach. She also likes to go into Corpus Christi for the First Friday Art Walk at the Marina, enjoy the music, and browse all the items for sale. She had to think about the third thing but finally said it's to curl up in a blanket on her patio and read on her Kindle.

Taylor Campbell, Solomon's Compass, said her favorite thing any season is to be by herself on the deck of a Coast Guard cutter in the middle of an ocean and watch the stars. In the fall, she likes to be holding something warm to drink, either coffee or apple cider. She also likes to go to the mountains when the leaves are changing and just relax.

Kat Marengo, Secrets of Honor, has traveled a lot and worked in cities around the world. In the fall, she likes to take long city walks. Her favorite cities to walk in are Boston, Paris, and New York. She also likes to window shop and stop into bistros for a glass of wine along the way.

Gracie Hofner, the Amazing Gracie Trilogy, is a Texas woman through-and-through. Her three favorite things to do in the fall are to take her Jeep to Lost Maples State Natural Area for a weekend. It's only about a two-hour drive from San Antonio and the "best place ever to see maple trees in the fall." She also likes to go to her favorite bar in La Villita in downtown San Antonio near the River Walk and people watch on Dia de Los Muertes - the Day of the Dead. And finally to challenge Nick to a chili cook-off and invite all their friends to be judges.

Since Gracie is in a trilogy, I also asked three other characters who share pages with her what their one favorite thing was.

Nick Rivera - Make better chili than Gracie. That's only happened once, and I'm ready to try again.

Ariana Ayala - I like reading and drinking Mexican hot chocolate in front of the fireplace.

Roland Jackson - It rarely happens, but my favorite thing to do anytime of year is to send the kids to grandma's and stay snuggled in bed with Sabrina.

Now that you know what my characters like to do in the fall, how about you? What's your favorite thing to do when the weather cools off and the nights get longer?

I'll be back here on Wednesday, November 4. Hope to see you then!

Hugs,

Carol