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.

{Original Story} Phoenix Anderson wants nothing to do with the League of Superheroes. He's not sure why he's avoiding the good guys, but then again, there's a lot he doesn't know. Like the fact that his family history is a lot stranger than it seems. After getting some unexpected news, he realizes that he's more involved than he thought he would be. Events start unfolding one after another, including a house up in flames, a heist, a dangerous city, and a plot that spells trouble for everyone. Welcome to a world of superheroes and villains, of sinister twists and turns, of family who don't know they're family, and of undefined heroism.

Reso haunts Captain Aliyn Flynn's dreams. On a dangerous mission to discover the star system's secrets, can she and the alluring Tyr find the key to the survival of the galaxy? ***** The galactic inhabitants of the Milky Way know the dangers of the Reso star system. Its gas giant, the planet Plenare, terrorizes any ship that dares to approach. After narrowly escaping with their lives, Captain Aliyn Flynn and her crew's impressive survival catches the eye of Earth's government officials, thrusting them into an unexpected and dangerous mission to discover Reso's secrets. Complicating matters further, the alluring and secretive Tyr Logan is assigned to Aliyn's crew as her executive officer. Despite their many differences, Tyr and Aliyn must come to terms with the deep connection they share to decipher an ancient secret--a secret that holds the key not only to the past but the continued survival of the galaxy they call home. [[Word count: 100,000-150,000 words]] Content warning: Violence Watty Winner 2017

In a cityscape populated by individuals with magically inclined abilities powered by Colour, Athira is a hunter. Known only as the Owl, a notorious criminal with allegiances to none but herself, she searches for answers from the worst the city has to offer. No one is above her notice, and once noticed, there is no escape. When her search leads to a series of magical disturbances and a girl who was supposed to be dead, Athira's world of solitude shatters. Predictions from the lost Colour mark her friend a saviour, and as an ancient horror begins to rise, Athira starts to wonder who she should have been hunting all these years.

**Preview Only** When a wounded dragon falls from the sky, Claire Evans runs into a cornfield to rescue it. This isn't just any dragon, he's a shifter, one of six royal protectors, and helping him has consequences. Claire finds herself traipsing--or rather, flying--across the kingdom of Dragonwall. She must face Dragonwall's king. King Talon is not like those before him. Troubled and temperamental, he is scarred by more than the events that shaped him. Worst of all, he is mateless. With no queen and no heir, his subjects are demanding he abandon tradition and marry into nobility. There is a rising threat at his borders, whispers of a sorcerer. Soon, he will have greater problems than that of finding a wife. Modern meets medieval in this seven-book series filled with magical creatures and adventure. This epic fantasy is a slow burn romance that follows multiple POVs, woven together around Claire, a small town Indiana gal. If you've ever wondered what it might be like to get sucked into a fantastical world beyond our own, look no further! **Read Exclusively On Wattpad**

A sea of sky, a world of broken islands and shattered history, and flying ships ride the winds. Clarissa, a girl with no last name and no claim to anything beneath the endless blue, is sent to accompany a mysterious cargo aboard a ship of scoundrels. Flying beneath the lift bag of the Ravens' Child, accompanying the band of misfits and rogues that crew her, Clarissa begins to learn that the most profound mystery of her voyage is the one she takes with her. My NaNoWriMo 2019 project, an odd skypunk tale and something a little different from anything I've ever come across, like any good worldbuilding tale should be. If you happen to take a chance, let me know what you think.

"This story is WOW!!! How I wished it didn't come to an end!" - chysungal "Did you kidnap me?" he asked. Gigi's eyes widened and she shook her head furiously. "No!" "How did I get here?" he asked, his tone was strong but beads of sweat covered his forehead. His eyes flashed at her. "I heard stealing is common occurrence for you people." Gigi clenched her fists, as heat raced to her cheeks. "We don't-" "I heard tales that you once stole a nobleman's daughter." Her blush deepened down to her collar bone. "We don't capture people. And Lady Brixton left on her own accord." The sailor's gaze remained accusatory. "Do you know who I am?" he demanded. Growing up as an Eldin vagabond, Gigi has lived her life on the outskirts of cities and been regarded as the scum of society, dreaming of a better life she never imagines will be hers. When she saves a young man from drowning and receives news of her uncle's death, these two events send the life she knows on a different course. "I LOOOOOOVE IT SNFVJSNSDN - wisdom filled words of a 17 year old" - Amns22 "I forgot to mention it, but I haven't read a book I crave like this one in a long while." - Tis-but-a-fleshwound "You're killing me!!!! I already love this book!" - Ellie_Rivas "I love this book l.💖💖💖💖 One of the best books I've ever read" - kiachouwasama "So I have never read a fantasy book and I love the way that you write so I thought why not give it a try because I'm not here for a long time but for a good time. And guess what? I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!" - Rose_Gold786 "Where have you been all my life? On wattpad that is 😁. You're such a great writer am baffled! Lost for words. Everybody who likes balls ladies princes and dance should definitely come find this gem." - I_cant_scream "I'm in love with this story. I can't wait for the other chapters.❤❤❤❤❤❤ - Clockwiserose A Loria Tale # 1 #3 in Teen Fiction #1 in High Fantasy #13 in Romance

NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK AND E-BOOK This is a 10-chapter sample of a published novel. A stolen kiss. An unstable curse. One big mess in the making. Derric Harver never expected to amount to anything more than the palace stableboy, but when Princess Maria's curse keeps her from accepting a prince's proposal, she turns to him for help, and he doesn't dare refuse. With the help of a lady's maid and a prince, Derric and Maria embark on a dangerous adventure to find the sorceress who cast the curse. Along the way they battle monsters, make friends, and discover new truths about themselves--not to mention the undeniable chemistry between them. Reaching their destination won't be easy, but the true danger lies in the truths they've fought for years to hide. A Stolen Kiss is the first in the Stolen Royals Series--an adventure with magical creatures, dangerous lies, and being true to the power within.

Do not let the Watchmen catch you. Do not let the Chancellor find your notebook. Do not let the man in the long coat know you're alive. These are the rules Kilter has survived alone in the streets of the quarantined city of Istravol by for years. And he's tired of it. All he wants is to understand the cryptic marks inside the notebook he's had for as long as he can remember, and so get out. Because if the Chancellor who is scared of nothing but the Reavers outside the city wants that notebook, it must be worth something. At least, that's what old Dmal, Kilter's only friend, says. And he's right. When both Dmal and the Chancellor stumble upon the first thing from his notebook that Kilter's ever seen in real life - a gleaming feather - the legends and secrets of Istravol's history come rushing into the present. It's not sickness that keeps Istravol, and Kilter, locked under the Chancellor's control, but a blood feud. A blood feud spurred by the legacy of the notebook and Kilter himself, and the force that could either destroy or restore it all: hope. But will hope be enough to mend the past and save the future and a world Kilter never knew he belonged in? Armed with only the feather and notebook, he has only one chance to find out: catch it before anyone else does. ~~~ An exploration of courage, identity, love, and grief, THE PHOENIX THIEF is complete at 150,000 words, and readers seeking adventure and a dash of magic will find it a satisfying escape.

Siena can heal wounds with a touch of her hands. A captive since birth, she is used as a tool of war by a Plainsmen tribe. A chance escape into the forest proves successful... and deadly. Rescued by the Forestfolk--a group of people she always thought were nothing more than bedtime stories--Siena remains on edge. Trust does not come easily when persecution is all she's ever known. Keeping her abilities a secret seems like the right thing to do, until a tragic accident renders two Forestfolk spiraling toward death. If she chooses to reveal her abilities, she risks being subjugated again. Treated as no longer human. Maybe even sent back to the Plainsmen. But keeping her talent to herself means ignoring the injured around her, even allowing them to die. The choice seems obvious to Siena, but living with the repercussions of that choice is another matter altogether. A journey of self-discovery, a bit of adventure, and a splash of romance. On the Wattys 2017 Shortlist!