Mankind is evolving. Some love it, some fear it. Some embrace it, some envy it. For Zoey, the evolution of man has always been in the darkest part of her closet. A place no one touches. Only her family knew of her secret, and her stepfather never let the fact that Zoey was different disappear. But with mankind evolving, Zoey will soon figure out her own evolution is about to change more than she wants it too.

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.

Fancy writing some short fiction? This collection contains a series of prompts that can be used as a personal challenge, a way to compete with your fellow Wattpadders and of course a great place to find some great stories. Everything from vignettes to flash fiction, a celebration of all things Short Story

Trees surrounded me. Snow was cooling my burning hands. The world was on fire and it was all my fault. My face is black with ash from running into the flames to pull out my brother. Everyone was saved I think. "Heron. Where is Pierre?" I saw Kajal standing above me. "I'm sure he is here somewhere," I said. She didn't know. She didn't know what I'd done. And no one ever should. (Updates Mondays or Fridays)

Death is a shadow that follows you through time. Vera Langley thought she would live and die and be forgotten. As a pathologist she knew the limitations of life and the vastness of death and she wanted nothing more than to be forgotten when she was nothing but dust. It was a thought she took solace in repeating. Until an accident takes the lives of everyone aboard a research vessel leaving Vera as the sole survivor. Dealing with survivors guilt and the physical recovery of nearly drowning, Vera isn't surprised when she finds little solace in sleep. Each time she closes her eyes she finds herself back on the ship only it isn't the R.M.S Etruria she remembers. In place of well-worn metal staircases are beautiful hand polished banisters and carpet covered hallways. The way the R.M.S Etruria had looked on its maiden voyage in 1893. At first it seems like nothing except a few harmless dreams but death comes for Vera each night in her sleep and she isn't the only one dying by dawn. Between whispers in the dark that may hold answers and shadows down corridors, Vera must hold onto her sanity as she tries to cheat death and stop him from claiming more than her life. An ONC 2022 Project Highest Rank #1 ONC Final WordCount: 21,466 Completed: April 30, 2022

Grief is such an inexplicable emotion. It strikes you suddenly, just like a predator in the dense forests of Gionia, at a moment when you least expect it to hit you, to deflate you like a balloon, to suck the life out of you, to make you feel like nothing ever mattered because no matter what you did, its all just a memory now, a memory that will stay with you until you die and you are lost into oblivion. I didn't expect to feel so shattered, so lost, so suffocated in my homeland but ever since that day, I do. Join Selina to know what's going on in her world, will she be able to stop it, or will she be killed in the process.

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