**A WATTPAD FEATURED COLLECTION** A young girl takes her first steps into the real world. A boy experiences the joy and pain of a first love. An old man relives the stories he's written. These are just some of the stories of The Carnival Papers, a volume of short stories dealing with life, loss, and love.

The first time Mel saw Dean was in an elective class called Madness in Literature. He had been sitting a few rows down in his green parka, writing furiously into his notebook. Something about him made her stop and stare, and it felt like she hasn't looked away since. But there is a reason why Dean seldom comes to class. And why he seems reluctant to be her friend. And why he disappears for ages with answering her messages. Mel would have been bothered by all of it, except that she doesn't care. When it comes to Dean, she was willing to overlook a lot of things. This is a short story about two young people trying to find themselves and instead stumbling upon love.

Lexie Greene has always had such a pretty face. Unfortunately, that's where it seemed to stop. She's grown up hearing her Mother constantly remind her that she needs to lose weight. And twenty-two-year-old Lexie knows she's overweight. With her younger sister's wedding on the horizon and a crush to stalk on Facebook, Lexie's had enough. She gives up her constant daydreams about food and joins a dieting group. As the pounds melt away at the gym, she finds that life on the other side of junk food isn't what she thought. Bon Bons to Yoga Pants is an inspirational hit about a girl coming to terms with herself, and her past, all while navigating a world of food and fitness.

A Master Gardener/Horticultural Therapist's tales of plant and insect adoration, the beneficial and dark sides of gardening and epic battles: Jules vs. Armadillo; Deer vs. Jules; Cat and Possum vs. the Trap and Japanese Beetles vs. Dawn Dish Detergent.

'I know enough of the world, enough of men, To know that what’s beyond’s beyond our ken.' - Faust Goethe. Gee is a short story that I sincerely hope you enjoy. Highly appreciate feedback! :)

*This story is an unedited first draft. Fifteen-year-old Wendy Darling is trying hard to stay positive. But when another tragic event causes her more turmoil, she begins to isolate herself from everything she once knew. Lonely and depressed, Wendy seeks solace in a dream world that offers her the excitement and freedom she craves. She meets a handsome boy who introduces her to adventures she is unable to experience during her waking hours. When morning returns, Wendy discovers it is difficult to shake how vivid the dream was and how alive it had made her feel. Soon, she finds herself dreaming about the mysterious boy every night. But when her fantasies become frighteningly real, Wendy begins to question her beliefs...and her sanity. Notice: This document is not authorized for upload or use with artificial intelligence systems or platforms. Any attempt to upload, analyze, or process this content using AI technology is strictly prohibited.

Sylvie, 16, sees colours, where other people only hear words or feel emotions. She knows she has to keep this a secret - as people disappear to institutions if they get sick in the mind. *** Sylvie likes to dress in Lolita outfits and dreams of becoming an architect. She doesn't understand why she has to get married. It's a government efficiency - have children younger, work harder, longer. She wants to find love on her own terms. Her parents force her into an arranged marriage with Alistair - he's a town planner, an obsessive gamer and has weird tendencies. On her honeymoon, she meets the love of her life, Jarvis ... Now she has to find a way to be with him ... *Originally published on Wattpad in 2014. A major rewrite in 2020-21.