Cameron Shaw, a former rising star in baseball, has one goal in life: to coach professional ball. As the current graduate assistant for the esteemed Saint Helena University baseball team, he has the next twenty years of his life planned to the last detail, and he intends to follow that plan, no matter the cost. On top of working himself to the bone for a shot at the Majors, Cameron also takes on another great feat: coaching a ragtag team of recreational youth baseball kids. Between both teams, the pieces of the twenty-year puzzle are falling into place, but he never planned for fun-loving Norah Young to be a part of it. Norah also has one goal: revel in her last few weeks of freedom before graduation, when she will be thrust into the throes of Corporate America. After a drunken and unfortunate night lands her in the strong arms of the oh-so-hot but surly baseball GA, she has even more items on her scant to-do list. First, survive Senior year. Second, make it to the College Softball World Series. Third, uncover Cameron's past and find out what exactly stole the promising young player's talent and smile.

Awakening in a swaying cabin aboard the legendary Titanic, a group of strangers finds themselves stripped of their memories. Clad in unfamiliar attire and surrounded by fellow amnesiacs, they must piece together the fragments of their pasts while navigating the eerie corridors of a ship that shouldn't exist. But as night falls, so does something far more terrifying. A sickness is spreading-slow, insidious, unstoppable. The once-grand vessel becomes a death trap, its passengers turning into something not quite human. The Titanic is doomed, but drowning is the least of their worries. #ONC2025| Prompt 42 ‼️ Content/Trigger Warning: Contains gore, violence, some strong language. All rights belong to the author and no reproductions are allowed without the permission of @Renaissance111. Please respect the author's copyright. 😊❤️ 2025 C.S. Marie

When the most popular Kpop idol on the planet falls to her death, an aspiring singer is thrown into the spotlight, attracting the attention of an obsessive fan who claims to know the truth. *** Kpop girl group Sweet Poison is undeniably the biggest girl group in the world, and lead singer Dalia the most popular idol on the planet. But at the peak of her career, no one expects the idol to throw herself off a thirty story building on what will become a historic day in entertainment history. Ruled as a suicide, her death shocks the industry and millions mourn the unexpected demise of their favourite celebrity. Just as suddenly, trainee Kang Jina is thrown into the spotlight when her childhood association with Dalia is leaked to the media. Stifled by the newfound attention and stress of her debut, Jina feels as though she'll drown under all the pressure. That is until she receives a most shocking letter from Dalia's sassaeng (obsessive fan) claiming that she was murdered instead.

*A K-drama heartthrob turned Hollywood star, struggling with nicotine addiction, and the paparazzo he crippled in a public scandal must face their demons and heal together at a rehab center.* --- Korean actor Choi Minho is the Internet's boyfriend, thanks to his breakout role in a viral Hollywood debut. But fame has its price, and no one makes him pay it more than Lucas Vega, a cocky paparazzo with a bad-boy edge, who thrives on exposing Minho's worst moments to the world. When Lucas corners Minho at the Oscars Afterparty with a question that cuts too close to the truth; about his nicotine addiction and the cracks it hides - Minho snaps. In a moment of rage, an impulsive act leaves Lucas' dominant hand shattered. Now, with lawsuits looming and both reputations on the brink, Minho's agent and Lucas' employer come up with a twisted solution: send them to the same private rehab center, far from the prying eyes of the media. Lucas wants revenge. Minho wants redemption. Neither wants to be trapped together. But in the midst of animosity, stolen cigarettes, and late-night confessions, their walls begin to crack, and sparks ignite in the most unlikely of places.

𝙎𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛-𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨, 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙘𝙞𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙢𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙃𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙨. This year, Susie Miller has just one thing on her Christmas list; to have the most magical holiday experience with friends and family after they all spent the last one in a pandemic lockdown. She doesn't expect her car to break down in the snow, leaving her stranded at the home of her gruff boss, Henry. Or the call that forces them to self-isolate together for two weeks. Determined not to let circumstances get her down, Susie decides her festive plans aren't unravelling, just being rewritten. Roping in a reluctant Henry for festive fun and favourite traditions, she decides to teach him the magic of Christmas and maybe even get through that gruff facade to discover the man underneath! ----- 50K Challenge Longlister - 26th December 2021 Featured on StoriesUndiscovered April 2022 #tsc22

|| ONC2023 SHORTLISTER x 4 FEATURED || "𝙰 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚊 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚎." Denizen is Blank Slate, the number one villain in the region-except he doesn't remember it. With only a cryptic note telling him his eight rules, he sets out to discover just exactly who he is and what he did to become the number one villain. When his first lead takes him straight into the heroes' hands, Denizen struggles to keep his villain alias secret and play the confused and innocent citizen, all the while digging deeper for answers. But as he gets closer to the truth-and the heroes get hotter on his tail--two questions become painfully loud: Is he good? And should he let the heroes catch him? [][][01000101001101100-01101100][][] An ONC 2023 Novella || Round 2 Winner 25/04/2023 || ONC's Ambassadors' Pick 25/04/2023 || ONC 2023 Longlister 19/05/2023 || ONC 2023 Shortlister 31/05/2023 || Featured by Mystery on Curiouser & Curiouser 25/08/2023 || Featured by ScienceFiction on Parallel Worlds 31/10/2023 || Featured by ScienceFiction on Sci-Fantasy 7/9/2024 || Featured by ScienceFiction on Ambassadors' Pick 25/3/2025 ***Exclusively on W A T T P A D. If you are reading this elsewhere, your device is liable to malware.***

Something dark and strange has come to Greenwald. On the biggest night of his young life, Gabriel Brennan is all set to propose to his girlfriend, Adelaide "Alice" Stewart. As they dine, though, something is off, something he can't quite put his finger on. Then, as his girlfriend visits the restroom, another Adelaide, the real one, shows up, without any knowledge of having just been seated across from him. Gabriel grows cold. Who is that, then, in the restroom? Elsewhere, a bright student and promising writer named Alice Gordon begins sensing a sinister presence in her life. As her friend Leighton and her twin brother Adrian struggle to help her, a series of murders breaks out, all involving those in Alice's --- and Gabriel's --- social orbit. The trail of darkness seems to be spiraling around to Alice, focusing on her as the final centerpiece. What's even weirder, there's talk the murderer looks exactly like her. [[Word count: 60,000 - 70,000]] Original Cover Design by KCW (@thereelslothor) *** DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical places, real people, or real places, are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, businesses, places, organisations, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Do not distribute, transmit, publish, modify, display or create derivative works from the contents of this story. Obtain permission first.

** Could an undying love blossom in the ruins of a shattered world? ** And so the world of men was lost and a new one, our world, was born. - Morrígan Goddess of the Battle of the Túatha Dé Danann - 4th cycle anno Bellum. The Second World War, which drove humanity to the abyss, has not only left death and destruction in its wake but has also opened the door to another reality. When the situation threatens to tip over, German cultists resort to desperate measures: They use a magical artifact that changes the fate of all humanity. It ripped the veil to Thule apart and revealed the realm of myths and legends. Beings that once only existed in the tales of the ancients now rule the world. In the ruins of the old times and an emerging new society with mighty rulers, the so-called Vaesen, the few survivors fight desperately for their existence while the remaining Cultists of the Thule Society work secretly to seal the world's fate once more. But amid chaos and despair, hope also arises. A Shapeshifter driven by revenge and an Bloodhunter of the Strigoi who harbors secrets of her own becomes caught up in the intrigue. Together, they embark on a hunt that could decide whether the world remains the same or undergoes another bloody transformation. In a storm of attraction, prejudice, and magic, Zane and Myreille must not only sort out their feelings and overcome the hostile Vaesen's entanglements but also fight against the impending doom that threatens to devour the last lives. **** NOVELLA Translation of our german ONC contribution 2024 German ONC24 WINNER Alternate History, Dark-Fantasy, Romance, Noir, Mystery-Mash-up :D 🥇Milestone Awards - Fantasy 🥇Sunflower Awards - Fantasy 🥇The Prose Gem Award - Fantasy 🥇ELPIDA Awards - Fantasy 🥇 The Sapphirian J Awards - Fantasy 🥈 Cloud Awards - General Fiction

Zenneth Valgustus, an elf marked by the downfall of his lineage, embarks on a journey through realms steeped in both magic and human intrigue. Shunned by the elven hierarchy and marginalized in a society once ruled by wealth, Zenneth forges an uncharted path within the realm of technology. Zen's life quickly and thoroughly intertwines with that of Kevyn Fuego, an amiable ex-airman and elf from another tribe. As Zenneth is propelled into the dizzying machinations of power and influence - corruption and warmongering - he confronts the essence of his being. Amidst the chaos, Zen discovers his true self, finding solace and courage in the unwavering support of Kevyn. Through trials that challenge the very fabric of their existence, their connection deepens, offering a beacon of hope in a world teetering on the brink of turmoil. It is love, resilience, and the indomitable spirit that sees them through this tumultuous and captivating universe. "I love the world, mixing technology with magic!" - Easterhead "I am now emotionally attached to this fish, I'm naming him Robert." - Cactus_Friend "Just as I started to wonder what the drama and conflict would be, you dropped the bomb." -LemuelMcMillan Awards: - The Virtues Awards, Fantasy Category 2024 - Third Place - The Pride Awards 2024 - First Round Winner

With a flick of the wrist and a slip of her cloak, Sly can steal a coin right from under a noble's nose. But when her brother and their band of rogues catch the attention of a prince, she may find herself in a sea of deception that just might drown them all. Unless a certain goddess of mischief intervenes...