Deck the halls...

Woo hoo! It’s getting on to the “Ho-Ho-Ho" and "Goodwill-To-All-Men” time of year. Where has the time flown? I've yet to put up my tree, buy presents, make the Christmas cake…or even decide where and how we’re spending the day this year.

But…

I have a new Christmas book about to be released, and my author copies arrived and well…it must be true! Christmas is almost here. :-)  This of course means I can look forward to my five favourite things about the festive season:

• The First Noel. This is my all-time favourite Christmas carol. It gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it. 
• Christmas cake. Yum! I love fruitcake and I only make it and eat it during the festive season, which, in my opinion, only makes it all the more special.
• Presents. I love shopping. Therefore it follows that I love shopping for presents. Oh, the sense of triumph when you find the *perfect* gift! I love giving presents too. See? Win-win.
•  Bailey’s Irish Cream on ice. I don’t know when or why this became the Christmas drink of choice, but the very scent of it makes me feel all Christmassy.
• Parties—family parties, friends’ parties, work parties. This is the time of year to spread some Christmas cheer and to make sure your loved ones know how much you love and appreciate them. Is there anything better than getting together with family and friends over a meal, talking ten-to-the-dozen, laughing, and simply being together?

This year, with Snowbound Surprise for the Billionaire slotted for release on Dec 2, I have even more cause for cheer and celebration. Pretty cover, huh?

What's more, in the UK I have a By Request rerelease of Christmas at Candlebark Farm (in an anthology with Cara Colter and Janice Lynn).

And believe it or not, in Australia I have THREE (!!!) Christmas stories coming out in two separate digital anthologies. There’s The Nanny Who Saved Christmas and Christmas at Candlebark Farm in: A Sweet Aussie Christmas (with Nikki Logan). And His Christmas Angel in: Home For an Aussie Christmas (with Marion Lennox and Kandy Shepherd). The covers are beautiful.

So it feels as if all my Christmases are coming at once. :-) To celebrate—and to help get everyone in the  Christmas spirit—I’m giving away a copy of Snowbound Surprise for the Billionaire along with this twinkly Christmas brooch. Just leave a comment telling me what you love about the festive season.

Edited to add: Entries close midnight on Friday (Australian EST), and I'll post the winner's name in the comments here. :-)

Whiskers On Kittens...

It’s that time of year when I start to look back on 2012 and think about the things that made this year unique—things that made it good and glorious and worthwhile.

I like to do this in the lead up to Christmas because it reminds me there’s more to life than a frenzy of shopping (though, mind you, I don’t mind the odd bout of that every now and again either). So, in the interests of spreading the love, I thought I’d share my list with you. And, I’ll give away a copy of my December release—The Nanny Who Saved Christmas—to one lucky commenter who plays along and lists one or two of their favourite things for 2012…or who adds a category that I forgot! :-)

These Are a Few Of My Favourite Things for 2012 by Michelle Douglas:

Favourite category romance read: Doukakis’s Apprentice by Sarah Morgan

Favourite single title romance read: Sorry, it’s a tie (I just couldn’t choose!)—The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James and Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

Favourite non-romance book read: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruis Zafon

Favourite romance written: This is a cheat because it’s always the one I’ve just handed in. But, for today at least, it’s The Cattleman’s Ready-Made Family (Book 1 of the Bellaroo Creek series with Barbara Hannay and Soraya Lane, slotted for a July 2013 release)

Favourite new experience: Visiting Tasmania for 2 weeks in October

Second-favourite new experience (because new experiences should never be under-rated): Buying a sewing machine and trying my hand at sewing (I'm going to take a class next year)

Favourite new song: Taylor Swift’s ‘We are never ever ever getting back together.’ This was on the radio all the time when the dh and I were driving around Tasmania and I became addicted.

Favourite new recipe: Nigella Lawson’s Sweet and Salty Crunchy Nut Bars. OMG!!! Don’t click the link if you’re at all concerned about your health or your weight .

Favourite movie: I didn’t go to the movies once this year. Not once! But I am planning on seeing The Hobbit and I have high expectations.

Favourite (new to me) television program: The Big C with Laura Linney. Oh, how I love this program. Oh, how flawed the characters are! Oh, how could they make something so funny and so heart wrenching at the same time?

Favourite materialistic piece of nonsense: A pink and black Alannah Hill dress that I bought to wear to the RWAust Conference. I love this dress! I think I’ll wear it to every conference I attend from now until it falls to pieces. :)

So what about you? What’s made it to your list? And don’t forget to leave a comment, if you want to be in the running to win a copy of The Nanny Who Saved Christmas.

Animal Antics

by Michelle Douglas

Oh, I’ve met some interesting animals recently!

Last month the hubby and I drove from Newcastle to Melbourne, put the car on the Spirit of Tasmania, and spent 2 weeks in Hobart. Now I could wax lyrical about the beauty and grandeur of Lakes Pedder and Gordon, the achingly idyllic native landscape of Port Arthur and the spectacular coastal scenery of Bruny Island, but…

What I want to share with you today are the animals I met while I was away. Hey, you know we LoveCats are suckers for animals. :-)

Here’s Molly the pig. Isn’t she just adorable!

Molly was an unexpected surprise. On Day 1 of our trip we just decided to drive from Newcastle towards Melbourne until we felt like stopping. We stopped at Springhurst—a tiny, tiny place—and stayed at The Old Butter Factory for the night where Molly was the resident pig. (Okay, I couldn’t resist this pic either, but isn’t it a fab building).

I’ve not patted a pig before and I was surprised by how coarse Molly’s hair was. She was a real sweetheart—adored a scratch behind her ears.

And for some reason, there were a couple of peacocks wandering around too.

Okay, once in Tasmania it’s non-negotiable: we have to see Tasmanian devils. And we did. At a wildlife sanctuary called Bonorong Park.

Here we met Fred, the baby wombat.

And here’s Fred and me touching noses. If I’d known at this point precisely how aggressive teenage wombats could be, there’s no way I’d have done this.

Billy the koala was a real hit with the two carloads of Asian tourists. We all got to pet Billy and his fur was sooooo soft.

Kangaroos! Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve patted a kangaroo? Okay, I know I’m sounding like a tourist, but it was fun!

And the stars of the show—the Tasmanian Devils. They’re certainly not as cute as Billy, but I believe they have a certain charm. Our guide destroyed many of the myths surrounding them. Yes, if you stick a finger in front of their nose you will probably lose it. They have seriously powerful jaws. That said, with each other they’re more bluff than bite. They know how much damage they can inflict on each other so they work at being scary rather than bite-y.

For a long time it was believed they were a threat to livestock and were hunted accordingly, but they’re scavengers not predators. Now, due to their dwindling numbers, a couple of problems have arisen throughout the island. Once upon a time the devils completely picked cleaned the carcasses of dead livestock, often before a farmer even knew an animal was dead. These days, however, there are more carcasses than devils and flyblown sheep have become a problem. Also, the fox population is on the increase. Devils enter the dens and eat the fox’s young, but now there’s not so many of them… Well, you get the picture.

And therein ends today's lesson. :-)

I couldn’t believe what an endearing relationship the guide had with these two devils. I swear, they LOVED him.

So… What less-than-cute-and-fluffy animal do you have a bit of a soft spot for? And to help us all get into the Christmas spirit I’ll give away an advance copy of my December release The Nanny Who Saved Christmas to one commenter.