Okay. I've clearly fallen off the blog wagon. But since my darling critique partner and fellow Newfoundlander Kate Robbins is back with the Romance Writers Weekly gang this week, I figured I'd follow my advice to her and get back to it as well.

If you've found your way here from my pal J.J. Devine, thanks for keeping up the hop. This week we're talking about how to feels to be an author, which is the most awesome job in the world, by the way. So without delay, here we go.

1. Describe that moment you first felt like a true author (not just an aspiring one).

That's a great question, and to be honest, I'm not sure. Perhaps it was at the Romance Writers' of America national conference in Atlanta in 2013. Against Her Rules had been out for about a month, and I had paper copies to give out in the goodie room. To see my book there in a room full of swag and samples and books from some of my favourite authors was pretty awesome.

2. Name three authors who you inspire you.

Just three? Well, here we go.

Bella Andre - I was in the dark about self-publishing until I read about Bella's success. So I credit her pioneering with giving me the confidence to do it myself.

Julia Quinn - My favourite romance writer (and that's saying a lot because I love so many writers.) But it was Julia's What Happens in London that really got me seriously thinking about writing romance. I love the wit and the humour in her stories. She does things with dialogue that I aspire to.

Christi Caldwell - Follow this author on Facebook and you'll see something amazing. She is a busy mom (twin toddlers and a child with special needs) and she's totally present in her kids lives. And still... STILL.... the number of books this woman produces is astonishing. I wish I had an inch of her energy and dedication.

3. Describe your favorite fan moment (either you as the fan or one of your readers approaching you as a fan).

I can't pick one. Every time I meet a fan (it still freaks me out a little that I have fans!) it's amazing. I love getting emails from people who have just discovered my books, or from people anxious for the next. There's nothing guaranteed to perk up my day than a great new email. But I love going to readings and signings and meeting people who are excited to read whatever it is I'm working on. Readers are the best! And there's no way I can have a favourite because they have all made me feel like an author. Thank you!

And now, dear friends, let's hop on over to Susan Scott Shelley to see her answers. Have a wonderful week, and I'll try my best to be back next week.

Can you believe how close we are to Christmas now? It's time for all sorts of Christmas things, like last minute gift buying (books are always a great idea!), baking, or in the case of my house, the never-ending game of put the ornaments back on the tree after my toddler takes them all off. Again.

I'm super happy to be part of the Mistletoe Blog Hop this year. I don't have a holiday book to promote but for those of you who don't know me, I am incredibly passionate about this place I call home. I set all of my books in Newfoundland, and I love to take every chance I can to introduce readers to some of our ways and customs. For this post, I'm going to share with you my top five reasons why there's no better place to celebrate Christmas! So let's go.

Top 5 Reasons Why Newfoundland Rocks Christmas

1. Mummers

Imagine a place where you can put your clothes on backwards, pull a pillowcase or sack over your face, and go around knocking on your neighbour's doors in hopes of being invited in to dance, and drink and eat! This is mummering in Newfoundland. It's mostly popular in the rural parts of the province where your neighbours tend to be family, but there's a huge mummering parade that happens in St. John's, our capital city, every year as well. Take a moment and check out this video from the '80s all about it!

Original 1987 uncut TV broadcast. Newfoundland Christmas tradition inspired this hit Simani song. Subscribe to this channel. More Granite Planet vids being uploaded...

2. A Huge Sense of Family

There's about a half a million people that live in Newfoundland. But there are hundreds of thousands more that have moved away. As many as possibly can come home for Christmas. The feeling of happiness permeates the air, and there's just a general sense of love and joy and merrymaking everywhere you look.

3. Tibbs Eve

If you like alcohol, Tibbs Eve is for you. Local folklore has it that it was taboo to drink during Advent, and Tibbs Eve (also known as Tippy Eve) emerged as an appropriate time to have a drink. It falls on December 23, the eve of Christmas Eve. I'm not saying everyone around here likes to drink. That's not true, and it is a terrible stereotype of Newfoundland. But for those who do like to make merry, Tibbs Eve is a great excuse to start your Christmas partying a little earlier.

4. The 12 days of Christmas

We love us some Old Christmas Day here in Newfoundland. There are still many people, my mother included, who refuse to take down their trees until after January 6th. Christmas isn't a day here, it's an event. Doing things "over Christmas" goes well into the New Year.

5. The potential for a rolling blackout, which leads to snuggling, impromptu family get-togethers and the opportunity to do one of our favourite things: Gripe about the government.

This is a new tradition, that really has come to light over the past year or so. We're going through a bit of a power generation shortage right now, made worrisome because of the lack of backup power. Last January we were in the dark for a whole weekend. And the Christmas before that a blizzard knocked out power for a day or so. The moment the temperature starts to dip below minus 10 we're all waiting to find out if we are going to have to conserve electricity or face the consequences of a rolling blackout to prevent the entire island (which is about the size of California) from going dark.

And there you have it! Five things about Christmas (kind of) that make Newfoundland extra special. Please be sure to visit the rest of the awesome authors and bloggers making up the Mistletoe Hop this year, and don't forever to add your name to the rafflecopter below for your chance to win a Kindle!

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