If art can capture a soul, what happens when one of those souls escapes?
When art appraiser Anita Cassatt is sent to catalogue the extensive collection of reclusive artist Leo Kubin, it isn’t only the chilly atmosphere of the secluded house making her shiver.
Upon entering the house, Anita stands before a silent audience of portraits clustered on every wall. Every painted eye is watching her, including those of the unfinished portrait on the artist’s easel. A portrait with an eerie familiarity.
Kubin’s lawyer didn’t share the detailed instructions regarding the handling of the art, and Anita and her team start work in ignorance of the very instructions designed to keep them safe.
Disturbed, a man eases himself out of his portrait and stretches. Free at last from the confines of his canvas, he has no intention of ever returning. He has a painting to finish…
Perfect for horror lovers of early Stephen King, and Willow Rose.
What readers are saying about PAINTED:
“Caravaggio meets Poltergeist.”
“The chapters where she is alone in the house are so unbelievably spooky.”
“I've finished! OMG it got so tense towards the end.”
Painted goes live across all the digital platforms on the 30th June. There are three reviews up on Goodreads at the moment, all five stars.
Painted is currently ranked at #52,342 Paid in the Amazon Kindle Store
#221 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers & Suspense > Supernatural > Ghosts
#319 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Ghosts
#746 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Suspense > Paranormal
He stood over the unfinished portrait on the easel. It had been an ill-defined outline of a woman’s face, the eyes still empty. Just the almond outline and eyebrows done, waiting for the artist to capture the hardest part of any woman. He pondered the direction he should take. Sleeping or awake. The calmness of sleep or the terror he’d seen swathing her face. This was the point of no return, he could always paint over if his viewpoint changed but he wanted to record her essence, if he could define what that was. He needed more time.
His shadow watched him prepare his brushes, her tiny feet curled underneath her as she perched on the window seat, the howling storm framing her young face.
His sable brush danced over the canvas, creating cheeks flushed with youth, lips open. Wisps of hair appearing like magic, blown by an unseen wind. Strand after strand appeared on the stretched canvas, his brush mixing an auburn hint in the hair as it peaked on her brow.
Selecting a finer brush he dabbed it into a darker hue — an indescribable grey and worked on the neck, before defining the shoulders. With a damp cloth he smudged the oil — giving the illusion of the subject being caught mid turn, casting a glance backwards. The smudged paint ethereal in the twilight of the room.
The little girl reached out and swirled one of her fingers through the mass on the palette. With her finger she smeared the paint across the canvas, the colours in stark contrast to the grey tones of the artist’s deft strokes.
Together they admired their efforts.
“Not long, two nights,” he said, stroking her hair. Loosed from its white ribbon it spilled past her shoulders like the fairy ferns in the hallway, vibrant and alive. His own smile fading as a familiar pain pulsed in his knuckles.
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French
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Already translated.
Translated by Marie-Pier Deshaies
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Italian
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Already translated.
Translated by Carmelo Massimo Tidona
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Author review: I loved working with Carmelo. Professional at every stage. The translation process was easy, and communication at every stage was timely and professional. I'd happily recommend Carmelo to any other author. |
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Portuguese
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Already translated.
Translated by Bárbara Borba
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Author review: Bárbara was incredible to work with. She was easy to communicate with, prompt and polite, and friendly. On the few occasions she came to me for clarification over something, she always came prepared with a proposed solution around a word or paragraph which might not translate correctly. I highly recommend Bárbara. |
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Spanish
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Already translated.
Translated by Amanda Nuñez
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Author review: Amanda was amazing to deal with. Fast and efficient, and answers her messages promptly. I've already recommended Amanda's services to one of my author friends. I would happily use her for more of my books. |
