I generally look for local writers or subject matter first. I may hear about an author or book via some media, and will seek it out online. From there, I proceed to my favourite ebook retailer.

I wrote a fairy tale (complete with a princess and a castle) in the second grade. I even did my own illustrations back then! At age ten I won my first writing award, and didn't look back. I was hooked from the first time I saw my name in print.

Generally stream of consciousness writing, then I walk away. When I come back to the piece, I do a heavy edit. This is repeated several times until I am satisfied that my work is where I want it to be, and only then will I show it to someone else. Writing is such a personal thing - showing someone a piece that you've written is like baring a part of your soul to them.

I still read the children's book that had the greatest memories for me to my own children. I've always surrounded myself with books. They were my escape from an unusual childhood. I passed my love of books on to my older children, and am hoping to do the same for my youngest.

1. Downhill Chance by Donna Morrissey - her writing is so lyrical and moving. She creates a heartbreaking story in this novel and her descriptions are breathtaking.

2. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery - one of the first 'big' books I read. It created a love of literature for me, and I went on to read the rest of Montgomery's works.

3. Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest - a children's book with stunning art and an adorable story. I stumbled upon it when my eldest was a toddler, and I shared it with him and his sister. It was one of the few books that I tucked away and didn't pass on as my children grew. Now, I have a new baby, and he and I read that same book every evening before bed.

4. Company's Coming cookbook series by Jean Pare - every recipe turns out, the ingredients are readily available, and it's delicious food!

5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - I didn't read this until I was an adult, and it's simplicity struck me as beautiful, even though the subject matter was tragic. A true classic, it proves that little changes through the passage of time.

Generally I read fiction, but will give anything 100 pages to impress me. If, after that, I am not interested, I move on to something else. There have been precious few books that I have not finished. I try to read local literature first and support local artists, but don't limit myself either.

And after spending the last year working on my Masters degree full time, I am more than ready to get back to reading for pleasure again!

I am on my second Kobo - I wore my first one out!

I first started writing in the second grade because my teacher recognized my creative streak. Shortly after that, I began writing at home for pleasure. I was filling exercise books with stories, and made an attempt at writing a novel in the fourth grade - it was a sequel to the Ramona Quimby series that so many of my friends and I were reading at that time. I began winning awards and contests around that time as well, and writing became a large part of my life;

I grew up just outside St. John's, Newfoundland, and this had a profound impact on my writing. Growing up in a place so rich in culture, living in one of the oldest cities in North America, and being a part of an incredible arts community made it easy to be inspired. There's so much beauty and quirkiness to be explored, and we Newfoundlanders are known for our gift of gab - I just put my words on paper (or a screen)!

This is the story of a lonely old woman who lives by herself. We aren't sure why she is alone, but soon learn that she has a granddaughter that she did not know about, and the granddaughter needs her help. The two become close, but the old lady is afraid to tell the girl the story of her past, because she thinks that her secrets will destroy their new relationship.

The crisis that brings them together brings it all back to the protagonist, and she must decide whether it is worth the risk to tell her story, and where the relationship will go once she does.

Why not?

I'm seeing such a revival in craft industries and independent work (think of sites like Etsy, where anyone can set up shop and peddle their wares). I like the idea of creating my own identity as an author, and am looking forward to learning and growing my craft as an indie.