#062 Novel: Time Conspiracy

Author: Kerri McDonald

Location: Perth

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Was Leonardo da Vinci a genius ... or was he, literally, ahead of his time?
After finding a mysterious bracelet beside a human skeleton in Australia, teens Matt & Lissa, are inadvertently transported back to 15th-century Florence, Italy.
They get into strife with the locals and the constabulary and stumble into a treacherous assassination plot involving two brothers of the most powerful family in Florence - the Medicis.
As they battle to return home, they question the true origin of their newfound friend, Leonardo da Vinci, and are convinced he is hiding an incredible secret.
But will they get back to the 21st Century? Or will they face spending years in a stinking, rat-infested dungeon … or worse!
 

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Kerri McDonald is a Western Australia–based artist, originally from Queensland, came to her creative practice later in life after a long career in Information Technology. Now in her late sixties, her journey into the arts has been shaped by both resilience and self-discovery.
Living with Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome (CMS) since birth—a rare genetic condition related to Myasthenia Gravis—she experienced many years without a clear diagnosis, only receiving confirmation in her forties. The condition, which also affects her two eldest sisters, ultimately led to her early retirement as increasing physical weakness made continuing her IT career difficult.
It was during this transition that she began to explore her creative voice. Initially drawn to writing, she developed stories for young adult and middle-grade readers before expanding into visual art. Working primarily in pastels, she also experiments with watercolours, pencils, and acrylics, embracing a range of techniques and textures.
Her artistic journey is deeply personal. She reflects that without the challenges of CMS, she may never have discovered this creative path. Today, her work stands as a testament to adaptability, imagination, and the unexpected ways in which creativity can emerge.