| Honorable Mention ONC 2021 | *** Rebecca Smythe has led a perfectly unremarkable life. Unremarkable, that is, until she is accused of witchcraft and whisked away into a world of magic, secrets, and housework. When these secrets begin to take on a life of their own, however, Rebecca is forced to choose between her own survival and the fate of all witch-kind.

Saint-Max is stuck in a time loop during a bank heist. His only chance of escape is finding the one responsible. But that's easier said than done as every time he thinks he's close to the truth, the loop restarts. ONC 2021 PROMPT 1: "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."

{ONC2021 2nd Place Overall, Round Two Ambassador Picks & Shortlist} When Max O'Brien receives an almond with a skull painted on it, he initially plays it off as a prank. But, after his wife leaves town, he begins discovering more of the nuts hidden around the house. More disturbing than that is that some unseen intruder is keeping an accurate running count. The more almonds Max finds, the stranger things get. Mysterious noises. Moving Objects. Damaged valuables. It's a haunting that grows in power with each success in the involuntary scavenger hunt. As the almonds pile up so do the threats until Max realizes he may just not survive. __________ ONC2021 Prompt 62 Cover by @mensemortuis 1st Place in Horror/Paranormal - The Opulence Writer's Awards Also posted on Royal Road

Scientists have discovered a 'dark liquid; that is really at the base of the universe's continual expansion. When a team of researchers isolate some of the mysterious dark liquid, the world is forever changed... for better or worse. ... Dr. Nykia Baccus is on the fast track to the top of her field. her team is on the verge of making scientific history. When they manipulate the building blocks of reality the entire structure comes crashing down. Everything she knows and believes come into question as the secrets of creation are laid bare. Can her mind process revelation? Can reality withstand the shifting paradigms? Only time will tell. ******* Open novella Contest (ONC) submission 2021

(Round 3/longlist Ambassador Pick) Open Novella contest 2021 For seventeen-year-old Toby, it's hard enough being a teenager. But then the world went and ended, and he got turned into a member of the undead community. Now his life consists of chasing his dinner down the road and hiding from gun toting maniacs who are determined to blow his head off. So he starts writing it all down on a notepad he found in the pocket of his unfortunate friend Moe. A way to process this new life he is now leading. Then one day he crosses paths with someone he used to know from school, she's a zombie too, just like Toby and she's in trouble. He soon finds himself on a mission, a mission to save her. Along the way he runs into Charlie and Meg. They want to help him save his friend, but they soon discover far more sinister things going on. Hopefully, he can manage to stay alive (well, kind of alive) and save zombiekind.

A badass pirate girl. A crew of bickering men. A missing captain. An iguana. A treasure map. Add to that a mermaid, a bunch of manatees, and perhaps a capybara or two. These are the ingredients to a crazy and unexpected adventure across the seven seas. Will the crew stop bickering? Will they find the treasure? And how did the iguana end up as the captain of the ship?

[ONC Shortlist | ROUND ONE Top 5 Winner | Based on ONC2021 prompt #13] What would you do if you woke up in a fairytale? A young, fourteen year old Ruby-Rose wakes up in a medieval castle unsure how she got there. But soon, with the help of an unexpected chambermaid and a scary dwarf who isn't a dwarf, Ruby discovers the world is none other than that of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Except, this is not exactly the fairytale she's grown up with. Snow White isn't the sweet, innocent Princess but the Evil Queen herself, her seven dwarfs are in fact fearsome knights, and Ruby-Rose isn't your average human. [This is the first, original draft of this story, written for the ONC 2021. Coming SOON, the expanded version as 'Ruby Rose'.] FEATURED IN: Round One Top 5 - ONC 2021 Round Two Qualifier - ONC 2021 @classicauthors - Grimm Retellings and Other Fairytales (March 2021) @retold - Fractured Fairytales (May 2021) @retold - Book of the Month (May 2021) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Eva Acharya, 2021. Cover made using Canva Pro.

Zaketa presents a carefully crafted mask to the world; one of sharp edges, privilege, and bravado. Only those closest to her, her most loyal guards, know the real Zaketa. And she is so much more than what her warlord father has crafted her to be. In the somewhat distant future, disease and hunger is commonplace. The celebration honoring the King's only daughter's coming of age is to be the event of the decade. It is to be a great leveler of men, a chance to and eat and drink to their heart's content. While her father sees an opportunity building for alliances, Zaketa is disgusted by the idea of being presented as a prize to carefully selected suitors. Masked and flanked by her loyal guard, Zaketa intends to use the opportunity to make an impression on her people and let her father know she'll more than just a tool at his disposal.

Purely physical. Until emotions get in the way. *** After a humiliating divorce, Nita swears off men. Resolved to never suffer again, she builds a fortress around her heart and prepares to celebrate her first Valentine's Day alone. Except a handsome stranger lands on her doorstep in the midst of a snow storm. As she embarks with him on a sensual journey, Nita struggles to keep their relationship casual, but she soon discovers no wall is thick or high enough against love. *** Rated Mature for sex.