I’m revamping the blog with some regular features. First up is Friday Five, which will cover five things on random topics.

Today I’m discussing five books I’ve enjoyed during October. The first two are from Carina Press.

I’ll Become the Sea is a beautifully written story about a teacher with a very interesting problem. Should she do the wrong thing to please her mother and father or do what she knows to be right? Of course there are other aspects to this story but that central dilemma was what intrigued me. I honestly don’t know what I’d do in that situation and I couldn’t pick what the heroine would do either. I love not knowing what’s going to happen in a story. I can’t wait for Rebecca Rogers Maher’s next book.

Captive Spirit grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. Liz Fichera has created a heroine to cheer for. I loved hanging out with Aiyana and could happily have read more about her. The world-building was incredibly vivid and stayed in my mind long after I’d closed the book. Add this to a satisfying romance and you have a completely enjoyable package. Very much looking forward to Liz’s next book.

Fragile by Lisa Unger. I’ve long been a fan of her books and this is another terrific read to add to my collection. The secrets of a small town are peeled away as the mystery of a missing girl is investigated. Great stuff. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I reread two books from one (make that two) of my favourite authors Nicci French. Land of the Living and Losing You are both ripper reads. Totally unputdownable.

So that’s it for the first Friday Five. I’m always looking out for new authors and new book to enjoy. What books have you been reading? Anything you can recommend?

Dark Side DownUnder is go. The brains behind this are Eleni Konstantine and Keri Arthur. They’ve done an amazing job creating a beautiful site for pararnormal/fantasy/sci-fi writers from Australia and New Zealand. The blog is officially launching on Halloween with lots of giveaways and cool stuff.

Check it out at http://darksidedownunder.blogspot.com/

I’m over the moon!!!! Carina Press has acquired the second Allegra Fairweather book.

Writing the second book in a series is very nerve-wracking. You face a series of challenges. Will you be able to reproduce what readers loved in the first book? Can you move the characters forward, making them grow and change while retaining what was most attractive about them in book one? Can you come up with another good plot? Will the publisher like it?

All these questions rattle around in your mind while you’re trying to write. There’s a lot of nail-biting and stressing over whether you’re getting it right. Sometimes the whole thing seems overwhelming but you push on because you love the characters and their world. You push on because writing is the best job in the world and you want to be published for as long as possible. You push on until the book is finished and then you start the next one. Oh yeah, I started book three a couple of days after submitting book two. In fact I’ve also written the beginning of book four. I’m looking forward to working on Allegra 10

But for the moment I’m just very very glad Carina Press liked book two. Did I mention I’m over the moon?

Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator has been released as an audio book! I can honestly say that during all those years I was trying to get published I never imagined my book being audio. This has been a wonderful surprise. I can’t wait to listen to it and see what Allegra sounds like. Well I know what she sounds like in my mind but it’ll be different hearing someone do the voice. I’m off to do a happy dance.

Oh gosh, I should mention that the audio version is released through audible.com who are releasing a number of other Carina titles this month.

Books I’ve enjoyed reading in August and September:

“The Sevenfold Spell” by Tia Nevitt. Cute fairy tale based on Sleeping Beauty.

“too good to be true” by Kristan Higgins. I got this in a goodie bag at the RWAust conference. Loved it. Must read more of her books.

“The Thorne Maze” by Karen Harper. Cute mystery with Queen Elizabeth I & co as sleuths.

“Cruel Venus” by Susan Lewis. I really enjoy Susan Lewis’ books.

“The Heretic Queen” by Michelle Moran. About Queen Nefertari and Ramesses II. A must for anyone interested in Ancient Egypt.