Friday Five

Emerges from The Writing Cave, looks around, blinks . . . thinks *it's Friday*, and blogs :-)

1. Chapters Bookstore in Dublin asked me five questions for their blog - Go check it out and read a small hint about The Bitter Seed of Magic : Spellcrackers.com #3 : Plus the blog has lots of other great posts to check out, including five questions with Sara Rees Brennan, brilliant author [and really fun person] of The Demon's Lexicon.

2. Read the first three chapters of Fire - Kristin Cashore online for free!

3. This next one is so cool! The Sweet Scent of Blood has been nominated in the 101 Best Fantasy Books. A BIG, BIG THANK YOU to whoever nominated it, the love is very much appreciated! Yay! I'm so honoured to be on the same list as some of my favourite and most admired authors. So go vote - [not for me, unless of course you want to *smiles hopefully and flutters eyelashes*] and you could win the number one book! More Yay! Voting closes September 14th.

4. The Writing Cave update - writing on The Bitter Seed of Magic is going well [if slower than I want or need with the DEADLINE Of DOOM looming . . . *bites nails* ] which is, of course, why I'm not here very much lately. I promise I'll be back more regularly once I get to THE END :-) But despite the slow going, I'm really happy with the book [unless I'm having one of those 'this is such a load of crap, days' *sighs*] New and interesting characters have appeared to surprise me [1], the usual characters are getting into hot water . . . and out again LOL! and my BFF and writing buddy who sees everything I write first has given it the big thumbs up, while nagging me for more, more! [Thank you, Fi :-)]

5. The Naming of The Beasts, the new Felix Castor book by Mike Carey is out!! Yay! I'm superexcited about this, and can't wait to read it [But in case my editor is peering over my shoulder, I want to assure her I will be saving it - along with the rest of my TBR pile - until after the DEADLINE OF DOOM is done - go here [where my editor talks about high heels and whips!!! *bites nails again* I'm a good author, truly!] for why!

Thinks *caffeine* [3] and *whips*, and scuttles back to The Writing Cave via the kettle . . .

[1]I'm sort of what Jaye Wells [4] calls a Planster when I write. I know the overall plot, I know the main characters and their motivations[2] and as I write I uncover the road my characters have to take to get to THE END. And it is that journey where the really fun bits come in, when events/characters I don't expect appear out of my subconscious and the road twists and turns in exciting and unusual ways.

[2]I always write my characters with this great advice from Kurt Vonnegut in mind - Every character should want something even if it is only a glass of water.

[3] Please note: any errorrrs or inconsissssstencies in this post are due to caffeine and sleep deprivation.

[4] My fantastic CP and awesome author - Look at her new fabulous cover for The Mage in Black This book is so, so good, even better than Red-Headed StepChild with all the wonderful characters that Jaye has created returning, plus some really fab, fab new ones - be jealous that I've already read it *evil laugh*

Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, leader of the vampire race, wants her dead. So when she arrives in New York to meet her mage relatives, the reunion puts the fun in dysfunctional. Not only is mage culture completely bizarre, but everyone seems to think she's some kind of 'Chosen' who'll unite the dark races. Sabina doesn't care who chose her, she's not into destiny. But the mages aren't Sabina's only problem. In New York's Black Light District, she has run-ins with fighting demons, hostile werewolves and an opportunistic old flame. Sabina thought she'd take a bite out of the Big Apple, but it looks like it wants to bite back.