[2021 WATTYS Winner] Giovanna joins a handsome nobleman to save a friend from an arranged marriage, but they discover a plot that may have victims of Venice's Black Death rising from their graves. * * * As a child, Giovanna Visconti learned the arts of bloodletting and elixir brewing from her father with an intent to simply support his work, not take it over. But when he falls ill from the pestilence that's been ravaging Venice for months, she reluctantly dons the beaked mask of the plague doctor. Vowing to protect her father however she can, Giovanna hides him away and sees her first patient--the handsome, but alarmingly feverish Matteo Barozzi. Although she successfully treats this son of a high-ranking official, in a careless moment Giovanna fails to properly conceal her identity. The only reason she isn't tossed into a dank jail cell is thanks to the young man's honor and feelings of indebtedness. The association between the charming aristocrat and the clever commoner should end there, but when Giovanna's dearest friend goes missing right after her betrothal to the Doge's son and amid strange reports of nighttime attacks, violent commotions, and inexplicable behaviors in the community, the only person Giovanna can turn to for help is Matteo. Together, they must carefully navigate Venice's increasingly deadly canals to uncover a sect peddling false cures and a smuggling plot involving the highest levels of government or risk the entire Republic falling victim to something even worse than the plague: the risen dead. Historical Fiction with Fantasy Elements THE BORGIAS X FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH * * * WATTYS 2021 winner for Historical Fiction and special HQ prize for "Catchiest Hook" AMBYS 2022 winner for Best Zombie story Content Warning for adult situations including assault and death.

1750 BC, Ancient Sumeria: When her home city is conquered by a notoriously cruel prince, Eliana's world is torn apart. Things go from bad to worse when he chooses her beloved sister for his concubine. ** This story was written around five years ago and subsequently had some parts unpublished while I put it out into the world on Amazon. It's been around for a while now so I decided it was time to republish the whole thing on here. Enjoy!

To many, he is known as Fallon "The Fury" - relentless and formidable, feared and admired for his prowess in battle and his striking golden appearance. But during the rise of William the Conqueror, Fallon is ambushed and left for dead. When he awakens, he finds himself in the hands of his enemy - and irresistibly drawn to the red-haired beauty tending his wounds. When Alana McKenna discovers a beaten, unconscious man - unmistakably handsome and undoubtedly dangerous - her instincts tell her to walk away. She has no idea he is the infamous Fallon "The Fury." Yet her compassionate nature and healer's heart will not allow her to leave even an enemy to die. Haunted by dreams of the fiery woman who saved his life, Fallon will stop at nothing to find her - and make her his. But others seek his death... and desire the very woman he longs to claim. Will the uncertainty and peril surrounding them destroy their love before it has a chance to flourish? Cover created by Heitcleff.