Ray is low on time, luck, and hope; his only chance is an artifact that may not even exist. But upon meeting Landon, Ray is beginning to believe he might find all four. ***** Cambions are doomed to tragedy. They are weak, sickly creatures that rarely live to see their twentieth year. Ray refuses to resign himself to that fate. Upon learning of the Crimson Sheath-an artifact capable of preserving his life-Ray is prepared to fight, steal, and kill to get his hands on it. He is not prepared for Landon. Landon is an orphan with no memories of his parents, the only inheritance left to him a dagger, sleeping in a crimson sheath. Though he has no love of bloodshed and no use for a dagger, Landon isn't about to let Ray take his only link to his forgotten history, even if that means following the cambion past the edge of the world and into the shadow beyond. Content Warnings: Violence, semi-graphic gore, character deaths, profanity, mild drug and alcohol usage, abuse discussed but not shown, and morally-questionable people doing morally-questionable things.

WATTYS WINNER 2020 Two interconnected murders, 64 years apart. One woman's search for truth and identity. Readers' comments: 'a masterpiece', 'impeccably written', 'amazing', 'superbly crafted page-turner', 'hauntingly beautiful', 'tremendous plot and character development', 'one of a kind', 'fantastic story telling', 'loved this book', 'a wonderful read", 'absolutely beautiful', 'brought tears to my eyes' and many more Wattys judging panel: 'This is VERY good. We were HOOKED from the beginning, and the writing and plot hold up throughout. This is a very unique, polished, well-written and well-researched piece.' Plot Set partly in rural England, partly on the sun-kissed coast of southerm Italy, The Painted Altar is a murder mystery mixed with romantic and historical elements (World War Two). Given away at two days old, Mary Rice has spent her life in the shadows. When discovering the suspicious circumstances surrounding her biological mother's death, she embarks on a journey which will shine a light not only on the truth but also on her own identity. Brief extract Suddenly, the door had inched open, half a wrinkled face visible behind the tautened chain. "Hello. Who is it?" The words I was going to say had of course been well-rehearsed, repeated over and over in my mind like a mantra, but now that the moment had arrived I found myself struggling to remember them. "Mrs Harvey... I think that you might... well, that you might be..." The door closed, then slowly opened once more, the chain this time unlatched. And there she was before me - half a metre away, within arm's reach. Thin lips gradually crooking upwards at each corner like the slow beatific kindling of a summer's dawn. "Oh yes love, I know who you are." Length: 70,000 words About the author: Originally from England but for the last 16 years I've been living in Italy. I hope therefore that the Italian aspects of the novel will have a certain gloss of authenticity.

**Previously Featured in Wattpad Picks, Undiscovered for now.** Earth. Two hundred years after the fall of civilization, the remains of mankind have divided into two groups: those that wish to carry on some sense of civilization live inside one of the great Walled Cities, while others prefer to live outside these cities in the vast wilds. Compared to these wilds, the Walled Cities is a sanctuary for polite society. Seventeen year old Z is one of these outsiders. Due to his heritage and choice to live outside the Walled Cities, he is seen as untrustworthy by many. All he wants is to help his sister in law, his brother and their two children, survive and run the small farm they live on. To do this he hunts and traps the wild animals that roam the wilderness, and sells their skins to the merchants of the Walled Cities. They are the only ones who have the money and supplies his family needs to survive each year. Without them or the cities and ports, his life would come to a grinding halt. Z has always tried to respect the laws and customs of the Walled Cities, but an encounter with a guard goes horribly wrong. Fleeing from the city and one of the few men who trusted him, Z encounters a stranger under unique circumstances. He and the stranger will have to work together as Z knows the stranger will not survive alone, and he will have need of their talents soon. Between them, they will undertake some of the hardest trials the world has to throw at them. Lives will be lost, cities will crumble, and Z will have to make the hardest decision of his life. #754 in Science Fiction 10/17/17 #571 in Science Fiction 10/19/17 #434 in Science Fiction 11/13/17 #347 in Science Fiction 11/19/17 #203 in Science Fiction 1/24/18 #158 in Science Fiction 1/26/18 #142 in Science Fiction 2/6/18 #123 in Science Fiction 2/9/18 #59 in Science Fiction 2/22/18 #50 in Science Fiction 5/7/20 First published in October 2017 Images used are not mine, Copyrights belong to respective artists.