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.

When fifteen year old Drake was born, they called him boneless. Destined to die for what his clan called an abnormality, the love of his mother saved him. But growing up with a weak bone disease meant he cannot fight, hunt, joust, or draw a blood-sigil that has become a custom for every kid. Considered a weakling by many including his family, Drake knows his only chance to succeed is to learn faster and work twice harder than the other boys, but he lacks the very thing that defines greatness amongst his clan; the ability to wield a blood bonded magic. When a failed assassination attempt leaves him lost in the woods, a chance encounter sets him upon a strange creature with secrets that could change his life or destroy him. In the prominent cities of the Nine Worlds, an assassin strikes fear in the hearts of Kings. People whisper of the Black Fury, a goddess of vengeance, but Zelos Shadowstealer is just a girl burdened by a great power, whose identity, happiness, and future have been enslaved to serve the greed of her masters. Kingdoms have fallen, wars ignited, and great names extinguished at the edge of her blade, but when she is set upon a young prince doomed to die by her hand, she begins to entertain questions that leaves her with two choices- smother the affection that had sprouted in her cold heart or be hunted by the murderers she had once served. In a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rules, the two begin to realize that the line between withering and surviving is truly thin.

High school basketball star Markus is black and Sammy is as white as they come. They hated each other even before Sammy's beautiful daughter caught Markus's eye. Will their animosity and deep-seated prejudice drive them to an ugly confrontation of violence and murder? Or will tragedy teach them another way to live together in peace? Markus and Sammy, caught together in the cultural and social upheaval of the 1960's, regard each other with suspicion and hatred. Yet each has a choice. They can learn respect and forgiveness or continue in the bitterness and spite threatening to destroy them.

Captain Humboldt Granger is running out of time! Across the deserts of Egypt and through the streets of Victorian England, he is running from ancient tombs to the hangman's noose. All to get back into the arms of the love of his life, Jessica. Henry had always hated him and would stop at nothing to steel Jessica's heart from him with lies and deceit. In the squalor of Victorian England Granger's life and those around him would change for ever! (Take a cup full of Indiana Jones and a cup full of Sharpe "no relation, I think" and you get Captain Granger. An historical adventure romance)

Gabriel didn't know what hit him. One moment, he was staring at his lovely date, and the next, she was pulling out a gun and shooting random men on the street. The first, she shot in the head. He had a black suit on, as if he just came from a meeting. There was a calamari vendor who was dipping squid rings on a batter before frying it. She shot him in the chest. Without batting an eye, she cocked her gun and shot in the guts a Fine Arts student crossing the street. He stared aghast at his date, who calmly tucked her gun back into her bag as if she did nothing out of the ordinary. 'Oh, yeah. I shoot random men while sipping on a hot cup of overpriced coffee. Just felt like it, you know? Oh, would you like some more sugar on your latte?' Gabriel shook his head to clear his mind off the crazy thought. He swallowed the huge lump in his throat and gaped at Selina. “What the heck?!” he screamed when he was able to find his voice. Selina turned to Gabriel and smiled. “You saw that? Good. You’re the seventh Candidate. Come with me.” With that, Gabriel gets thrown into a wild adventure involving Guardians (who are neither angels nor spirits) and their never-ending war against the demons that ravage all the Worlds—both visible and invisible. As he journeys with newfound, if albeit weird and cranky allies, he learns more about himself, his elusive past, his destiny and ultimately finds out what it means to be a true Champion—and maybe find love in the process, too. **"Champions" is a published and fast-selling book in the Philippines. For more info, visit www.karrenrenzsena.com or www.kerygmabooks.com and www.kerygmabooks.com/ebooks **Available in Google Books **Available soon in Amazon **Complete