Our Price: AUD$24.95 (USD$)* ISBN: 978-1-920764-99-9 Subject: Young Adult/Fantasy/Historical Publication Date: May 2008

Synopsis

"The Painted Portal is historically creative, fast-paced, well-written, full of atmosphere:
something akin to a young woman's version of a Sarah Waters novel in its
fascinating, creepy, minutely realized details."

Dr. Phillipa Kafka, for FEMSPEC.

'Sara stiffened and sat upright, her heart thumping madly - it was the dream again, a girl moments before her death, the executioner's axe high in the air and not a breath from the crowd.'

History and fantasy are woven together to create a tale that is dark and tantalisingly dreamlike when Sara, a young Australian girl on a student exchange in London, meets the ghost of Lady Jane Grey and unwillingly enters her world through a painting.

Part coming of age, part ghost story, the haunting images and vivid writing will stay with readers long after the adventure ends.

About The Author
Christine Croyden is a playwright and short story writer. Her work has been published in anthologies, journals and newspapers in Australia and the US, and her plays have been produced in Melbourne, where she lives with her husband and three teenage children.

The Painted Portal is her first novel.

Visit the author's Official Blog for updates, news and reviews.

From The Book
How stupid and gullible did this girl think she was? Sara had been afraid of the dark since she was a child and there was no way she was walking out there. The hairs on her arms were rising just from looking into the blackness.

'You have to trust me,' Jane said.

Sara didn't move from her spot.

'This passageway will take us towards the church of St Peter ad Vincula.' Sara stepped away from Jane. She'd have to be mad to trust her. 'I know this is the key. It is within The Tower. We must go to my final resting place.'

Sara's head was spinning, how could she keep forgetting she was with a ghost!

'No, I said I'm not coming.'

Jane crossed her arms again and looked away. Her jaw twitched as she tried to control herself. 'Indeed you are.'

'You can't make me.'

Jane rushed towards Sara. 'I can! But I do not want to. I want us to be friends. I was your age when my body was thrown into a sarcophagus with my two murdered cousins. Both executed for crimes that were never proven and could never be proven - even in your world.' Her strange amber eyes held Sara's and Sara couldn't look away. 'I did not even have a proper grave.' Jane said this as if it were the worst of all the crimes committed against her, and then taking Sara's hands squeezed them pleadingly.

Sara took another look into the corridor. 'The passageway leads where?'

'To the church,' Jane repeated. Then in a solemn voice she added, 'This is the only way for us to be free.'