'Emilio?' fluisterde ze nogmaals, maar er volgde geen reactie. Nu pas werd ze overweldigd door een angstige gedachte die nog niet bij haar was opgekomen. Leefde hij nog wel? Ze streek met haar vingers over zijn gezicht. De aanraking liet een glinsterend spoor achter dat traag verdween. Zijn huid was als hard karton en zijn kleding van brokkelig steen. Ze sloeg haar armen om het koude stambeeld dat ooit haar vriend was geweest. Nadat ze een tijdje tegen hem aanstond en voor de eerste keer goed om zich heen keek, hield ze haar adem in. Het plein was gevuld met versteende podders. Tientallen, misschien wel honderden. Allemaal in een pose alsof ze vanuit het niets waren overdonderd. Belour had ze niet eens zien staan. ---------------------------------------------- Belour - Het eerste licht ---------------------------------------------- Op een plek ondergedompeld in duisternis wordt een meisje met lichtgevende haren geboren. Het continent Zandloper heeft zijn naam te danken aan zijn vorm: een zandloper-rots die tot ver boven de wolken reikt. Er leven podders die op mensen lijken met dezelfde gewoontes en gedragsregels, maar met één verschil van de mens afwijken. Podders leven in complete duisternis en kennen geen licht. Zandloper is een harmonieuze plek waar een bijzondere podder wordt geboren. Een meisje met lichtgevende haren, wat haar ouders zo aanstootgevend en gevaarlijk vinden, dat ze het baby'tje willen offeren aan de schaduwen. Dwight, de eigenaar van een succesvolle snoepwinkel, vindt het baby'tje en besluit haar op te voeden. Het lichtgevende haar van Belour wordt niet geaccepteerd door de andere podders, waardoor ze moet leven met een speciale hoofddoek. Haar jeugd bestaat voornamelijk uit onzichtbaar blijven, tot een groter gevaar Zandloper bedreigt. *Young Adult-fantasy-novelle uit 2009 * 20k woorden

Do you think you can create a character that can withstand any and all hurdles? If yes, you're in the right place! A few of our community profiles have gathered together to test the mettle of your character with each collaborating profile presenting a different challenge for them to overcome.

♕︎ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏᴛʟɪɴᴇ ᴛʀɪʟᴏɢʏ ❝𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸❞ ❝ 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵?❞ ❝ 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵? 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘨𝘨?❞ _____________ ➳ ᴀ ᴅɪᴀʟᴏɢᴜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ➳ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ √ Copyright Adorabelle_™ All Rights Reserved ©2018-2020 [Cover made by yours truly] 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝟮 𝗶𝗻 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝟭𝟲.𝟬𝟭.𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 𝟱 𝗶𝗻 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝟬𝟯.𝟬𝟲.𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 𝟭𝟬 𝗶𝗻 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝟬𝟭.𝟬𝟲.𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬

||2022 WATTYS WINNER|| A scholar boy who denies the existence of elemental magic. A hidden princess who can control all seven elements. A mystical quill capable of rewriting both of their destinies. In the realm of Rainier where magic should no longer exist, eighteen-year-old Sebastian d'Aximos, a nobody scholar from an insignificant fishing village, finds himself accused by the Salvera Crown for using forgotten elemental magic to murder his own mother. There exists one problem with the Crown's theory, however; magic resides only in the Scribal legends about the Authors of Old, a rare race of humans who controlled the seven elements by weaving elemental threads into storybooks called Monvertas. But the Monvertas are myths; they have never been real. Yet, when Sebastian's soul cries out to the hidden heir of Rainier's Crown, Astrid Salvera, his beliefs in logic and facts are challenged. Because Astrid controls the seven elements, and she and her mother have worked to release magic back to their kingdom since it had been stolen by the enemy lands of Soleita two decades previously. Together, Sebastian and Astrid must work to find a mystical, hidden artifact: the Black Quill. A tool used by the original Author to unlock the Monverta and release its magical secrets. A tool that could redeem the realms of their world and reinstate magic. Ancient myths, prophecies of saviours and villains, and deadly trials by elements awaken to meet both Sebastian and Astrid as they work to unveil the secrets hidden from Rainier and learn the dark truths of each other. **Book 2 OUT NOW!**

WATTYS 2021 HORROR WINNER! NOW A PUBLISHED NOVEL! Paperbacks available on Amazon, eBooks available on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo! 😈 Diego's life has spiraled since the gruesome death of his brother Miguel, and moving to a new town right before his senior year definitely wasn't on his to-do list. Oh, yeah, and neither was saving the world from a centuries-old, undead spirit who's turned Diego's new high school into its own personal buffet. * * * * Diego Rivera killed his older brother. At least, that's how he sees it, since it was his behind-the-wheel blackout that cost Miguel's life. He's been a shell of his old self since, unable to shake the mental toll of that traumatic day. As if nightmares, spontaneous barfing, and disfigurement weren't enough to deal with, now there's a serial killer going around offing his peers. Great. He'd rather not think about the brutal killings any more than he has to, but his new friend Watts notices something he can't ignore: a pattern that suggests Vanterbest High's most popular students are involved in the murders. And not only that, but he thinks they're the newest members of an ancient demon-worshipping cult. So, you know, normal high school stuff. Reluctantly, Diego lets Watts drag him into outrageous theories, paranoid research, and the recruitment of two intimidating outcasts. But a bunch of jocks and cheerleaders can't really be behind the terror plaguing their small town... right? Well... yes and no. The truth is, things are about to get complicated. And bloody. Really, really bloody.

Charlotte Cecil was always a beauty, elegant and refined in disposition. However, the moment she opens her mouth, all propriety of a lady is thrown out the window. With a rotten mouth and quite the head strong temper, it's no surprise that she's remained unmarried. However ever since her father passed away along with her freedom, Charlotte finds herself with no choice to marry on her brothers demands - or else be stripped of the life she's known. Handsome and devilishly charming, Jonathan Lennox fell in love with an angel. Well, a cruel one at that. But ever since he saw her, he was smitten by her looks and her personality. He was a man of challenge and he'd stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Since returning to London, Jonathan has one thing set on his mind. And that's taking a wife.

The Duke of Marlborough, a wealthy rake with the reputation of the Devil, wins an unusual prize in a game of cards, the prickly and thorny Cordelia Rivers.

WATTY 2016 WINNER of the HQ Love Award! Strange Yarns is a ball of tangled tales. Twisted, knotted, and intertwined. Like Tales of the Crypt, the Twilight Zone, and The Outer Limits. Strange Yarns is not just a collection of ghastly tales, these are yarns, and yarns are sewed together. Follow the yarns and see the grand design... think of this as an evil quilt. Ghost, ghouls, and cannibals being studied for nutrition research, Strange Yarns has got it all. ALL EXCEPT HAPPY ENDINGS!!! (The Author's Lawyer's retain the rights to define happy endings.) I'd love it if you'd vote. And if you really like them please share with a friend. And if you hated them, please share with an enemy. *Josh Saltzman is a Canadian Comedy Award winning writer and director. Recently he was the head writer of season 2 and 3 of Inspector Gadget on Netflix. His other credits include Fangbone! (Disney XD), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: The Animated Series (Sony/DHX), and in live action Call Me Fitz (HBO Canada). Josh has also made lots of weird videos you can find on youtube.

{Shortlisted for the Wattys 2022} It's 1798 and The Lenoir family controls a significant part of London's dreaded and violent underworld. They reap the rewards in high-class society but Clarissa Lenoir has little interest in society or the people within it. Instead, she is following in her grandfather's footsteps as the leader and protector of The Strand, however, a problem, in the form of a silver-eyed man and rival leader, is about to throw her world into chaos. Clarissa is determined to best this entitled and immoral duke in any way she can and refuses to fall prey to his dashing looks and lavish words. Will she risk everything, including her own life to see this man crumble at her feet? Or is there something stronger than revenge in her heart?

WATTPAD BOOKS EDITION You do magic once, and it sticks to you like glitter glue... When Johnny and his best friend, Alison, pass their summer holidays dabbling in magic, they never expect it to have consequences. Sure, it'd be great if they could banish bullies or change their lives for the better, and what harm could come from lighting a few candles and chanting a few spells? They get their answer in the form of an earthquake unleashed at their behest, which draws the attention of the Marduk Institute, an age-old organization dedicated to fostering the talents of young wizards. Whisked away to the institute and told they can never return to their old lives, Johnny and Alison must quickly adapt to a new world shimmering with monsters, fraternities, and cute boys like Hunter and Blake. But when they're pulled into a dark, supernatural fight that could cost them their lives, they'll have to find strength they never knew they had as they battle for love, acceptance, and their own happy endings -- all with the help of a little bit of magic.