• odd, strange, or unusual noises
• lights turning off or on by themselves
• things are moving when they shouldn't be
• some things disappear or can't be found
• shadows that don't match the surroundings
• weird symbols or writing
• animals are sensitive to something unseen
• children or pets react to people only they can see
• something touches you but nothing is there
• unexplained cold spots

Does this list worry you, or do you feel like writing a great horror story about a spooky old house now?

I wanted to keep track of the books I've enjoyed over this winter. I've had a back-to-reading time lately. Even more while the Internet was off. I would spend a lot of the day reading, having books as company when the world got too quiet.

Most recent is Sarah Pinborough. Her books usually don't have happy endings which is a good change. But, it was sad to have some of the characters I came to like finish off the story deceased.

• Christina Henry - I went looking for more of her books and have read all available so far.
• Rachel Harrison - a new favourite. Described as a feminist horror writer.
• Kelly Link - her short stories are hit and miss for me.
• John Langan
• Kelley Armstong - I've read several of her books years before now.
• Rebecca Schaeffer - Her first book was a good story but by the third in the series the gore was too much for me.
• John Scalzi - I read several but did not like one of them.
• Jill Bearup - I liked her first book but I think it was too much humour for me.
• Sophie Irwin
• Wallis Kinney
• Lindsay Wong - Disappointed to find I did not like her short stories as I had hoped to.
• Kim Harrison - Reading more of her series but I don't feel as connected to the series as I was in the earlier books.
• Emily Croy Barker
• Sarah Beth Durst
• Auralee Wallace - Canadian writer. I'll read more of her books.
• Dawn Cook - The writer has another pen name that I forget right now.
• Cory Doctorow - Canadian science fiction writer.
• Kimberly Raye - Really enjoyed her books over the years. She doesn't seem to be writing any more.
• John Wyndham
• MaryJanice Davidson - She was a favourite but the most recent in the series claim to be the last. I think she writes more for fan/sales pressure now and the books don't have the same sense of fun.
• Shirley Jackson - A long time favourite, reading and re-reading her books.
• Kelly Barnhill - "When Women Were Dragons" I'd gladly read whatever she writes next.
• Margaret St. Clair - A vintage science fiction writer and an inspiration for 'Dungeons and Dragons'.
• Celina Myers - Promoting her book, 'Hollow' for fans of YA vampire fiction. It was probably good for them. Not so much for me.
• Raven Snow - It could have been better. I won't look for more.
• Kevin Gallant - The one I did not read. I tried but the writing was poor and I kept editing it instead of being able to read it. I've read that some books on Amazon now are being written by AIs (artificial intelligence). This could be the case but the characters showed promise.
• Adrian Tchaikovsky - An apocalypse story for people who want to learn about science as well as a good story. I'm reading another of his books next.
• Gerry Dee - Canadian comedian and game show host. I read his autobiography.
• Cassandra Rose Clarke - A favourite for years. Somehow one of her books was under my bed with the dust bunnies I swept out.

All of these are in the book bags to go to the second hand bookstore or the Little Library boxes around the local area here.