DEMONS, the afterlife and the sinister realms of nightmares, are all part of Mount Cotton author Paula Weston's first novel, Shadows.
The novel tells the tale of Gaby Winters, whose twin brother was killed in a car crash before she realises she has paranormal powers.
It is the first in Weston's Rephaim series and will be followed by Haze, which will be published by Text Publishing next year.
Tundra Books, a division of Random House, will also publish the series in Canada and the US next year.
Weston, a self-confessed comic book reader and avid blogger, started writing the series while working as a press officer at Redland City Council.
The 42-year-old, who now runs a Redland-based writing and design consultancy, said she first dreamt up the novel on a long weekend in 2010, while working on another manuscript.
"It took about 16 years to get something into print but when I sat down to write Rephaim on a long weekend in 2010, it came together very quickly," she said.
"It's been fun to write the series but getting into publishing was a steep learning curve."
Weston said all her characters were plucked out of her "vivid imagination" fed on a strong diet of vampire movies, paranormal TV shows and comic books.
Her love of the paranormal started when she got sucked into the vortex of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
"I am a TV addict and it was my favourite TV show," she said. "But I am also a huge fan of Australian literature and fantasy and paranormal stories and a closet comic reader and I am 'borderline obsessed' with the Foo Fighters."
Weston, who lives with husband Murray, her retired greyhound Fred and a moody cockatiel Mosey, will speak at Victoria Point Library on Thursday, August 23 from 6pm.
The event is part of the Authors in Action program and is sponsored by Angus & Robertson Victoria Point.
Although it is free, bookings are necessary with Anne on 3884 4011.
Light refreshments will be provided.
