What begins as a lovely day at the fair in the village of Pepperdine leads to danger and intrigue in war-torn Albion as Deirdre and her friends race to unravel a plot that might end in disaster or worse. There are things more dangerous than battles and campaigns to be found the fair fields and lovely skies of this ancient land. How is a simple Surrey farm girl to sort it all out?

Who let the ghosts out? Ian thinks he's getting the hang of his supernatural powers but a surprise encounter with Melody, a professional psychic medium, forces him to put his skills to the test in a friendly psychic duel. It's all fun and games until they accidentally break the fabric of reality and the Grim Reaper gets involved. Ghosts aren't the only ones with unfinished business. Ian's approach to moving on is to not think about the past, but what he really needs is someone to guide him through the darkness, someone who understands his gift. Too bad he pissed her off. * ONC 2023 Prompts #40 and #20 * **** ONC SHORTLIST ****

No one has seen the real world in centuries. Since the creation of Dreamworld, humanity has transported permanently into the digital realm. The only ones who even know that Earth was-and is-a real place are the members of the Embassy, Dreamworld's sole government power. Tom Tolmafin, the last human to remember Earth, has hacked the aging process to prevent himself from dying before he finds his son, who was by the agency just before Dreamworld became operational. Now inside the digital realm, Tolmafin has created the catalyst to the Embassy's destruction and the only hope to finding his son-an android. Ace Raven, the most sarcastic AI known to man, has two objectives. Find Drake Tolmafin and shut down Dreamworld. When he meets a band of rebel teens attempting to break out of the system, he finds his chance to face the most lethal virtual landscape that will lead him to his goal. If they survive the Zones, they can hack the program and complete their objective, returning humanity to the real world. Failure is not an option. Failure means death. Prompt: In a dystopian world where technology controls every aspect of life, a group of rebels must navigate through a virtual reality landscape to hack into the mainframe and take back control from the oppressive government. {ONC2023 Shortlister}

SHORTLISTED. Paul Finn wakes to discover that not only is he feeling horribly sick but, more worryingly, the naked stranger in his bed isn't moving. If only he could remember what happened... My story for the ONC 2023, a thriller scifi adventure, with a touch of romance. (SciFi /Adventure / LGBT) A Winner in The Nano Watt 2025 Novella category

Everyone knows the band Zenith, but nobody knows how they managed to rock Zerkovkia's youth into starting a revolution... until now. Tolya Viktov is coming of age in the 1980s to the tune of spinning records, cheap liquor, and Zerkovkia's nine year war with neighboring Blivdova. The perms and denim jackets are hip, but it's the underground music he's most excited about. By the time he enters university, his lyrics and his talent have helped him break through on the student musician scene. Tolya, a duo of genius guitarists, and a bandless drummer soon come together when a producer realizes the key to achieving radical change in Zerkovkia is getting them to make music. What happens next is the stuff of legend and a whole lot of love, revolution, and rock and roll. Honors/Awards: ONC 2023 Honorable Mention ONC 2023 Ambassadors' Pick (Round One) "VIKTOV LIVES!" is featured on @music's "mighty drumset" reading list @storiesundiscovered's "feast on fiction" reading list @flexiblebookexchange's "read these gems!" reading list @opennovellacontest's "2023 honorable mentions" and "2023 ambassadors' picks" lists Copyright © 2023 Elle Chaika Open Novella Contest VI (2023) | Prompt No. 44

Part One Complete It was whispered throughout the Marvelous Kingdoms of Elidurre that no grave could hold the bones of Horeg. Always on the lips of talebearers, whether in story or song, Horeg's bones always defied their final resting place. Such as the awful reasons for this remained hidden, so also the exceptionally good reasons for finding out, and herein springs this recital once more, for Horeg's bones must tell their Saga from the beginning. As they always do. ♛ Aarius Grail has a destiny, though it is completely unknown to him. All he has are the dying words of his mother as he is taken into captivity along with all the children of a gentle people, The Grells. A force of evil has taken the Marvelous Kingdoms and only one type of magic can reclaim the world of Elidurre. A magic that renders all other magic null. Written on the bones of an ancient master of magic, they lie hidden, waiting to be found by the only one able to understand their immense power. Journey with the troops of Riagon Nor to find this one and only hope, as they battle the wicked arcane of mages intent to keep their hold on the Kingdom of Elidurre, to find the Orator Ymoso, the leader of the Fae like people who have inhabited Elidurre for ages past. A dwindling civilization. The rising evil of Medgar's Alliance. A King with a wayward daughter. And the Mercenary Soldiers of Riagon Nor's Oath. The path will be difficult for Aarius as he searches for his place in a world he was taken from and discovers the truth about who he is along with the ones who vow to help him. Together they will fight to restore the Kingdoms of Elidurre to its first glory! Ⓜ️Mature ⚠️Themes such as language, vengeance, references to captivity, death, blood, battles depicting weapons fighting and or magic.

❝ DEATH IS COMING. BUT SHE DOESN'T FEAR HIM. ❞ For the people of Khaya's little village living amidst the woods is quiet, and even more, so it became since the creatures lurking in its shadows turned into mere fairytales. Little does Khaya know that the stories she loves to tell are true. But then on a cold winter night, an odd priest and his young soldier appear in Lasow and bring with them the message of death. For Karachun, the God of Death is to revisit them. While they are worshipped like saviors by the villagers Khaya cannot shake the feeling of mistrust in those mysterious strangers. However, if their prophecy turns out correct she might get the chance to meet the one who took her most beloved years ago. And Khaya is not afraid to face him. Yet, she does not know what battling the god of death himself means - nor what secrets can be revealed only in the deepest dark. _____ Entry for the Open Novella Contest 2023 under prompts 50 & 62

Taylor West is the epitome of self-reliance. Or she must be. Relationships are fickle. Despite finally enrolling in her dream studies and thriving in them, her social life is only skin-deep. When she finds out that her so-called boyfriend is a selfish cheater, her chronic condition flares up again. Walking around as if somebody had thrown itching powder all over you is not fun. Due to the mental strain, Taylor resorts to medication - but pills can only do so much. If that wasn't bad enough, she keeps running into Killian, whose annoying ways are starting to get under her skin. When a mysterious stalker shows up and things take a dangerous turn, Killian's help might be exactly what she needs.

Rescued from a blind date from hell, a career woman's one night stand with her would be savior has unforeseen consequences. **** Up and coming New York apartment manager, Vanessa Torres' life is going perfectly according to her five year plan. Well, everything except in the love department, but that will come later. On cloud nine from her recent promotion, she agrees to go on a blind date arranged by her friend. Little does she know her squeaky clean life is about to turn upside down, following a one night stand with a handsome stranger, who saves her from the disastrous set-up. Reputable, lease up closer, Gabriel Tate, loves to live life by the game of chance, with no long term plans in mind. Blessed with Adonis-like looks and a charming personality he's used to getting what he wants when he wants until one flip of a coin changes his life forever. Their lives become entangled in a heated competition to fulfill rental contracts for their respective employers, not to mention running in the same social circles within the apartment industry. They soon realize change and compromise are necessary not only within their careers but also life and neither expected to find love during the chaotic and dysfunctional rivalry. Open Novella Contest 2023 Prompts: #5 Flip a coin and make a life choice with it. Two choices, one coin, and no turning back. Do you dare? #25 "If he smiled at you, he'll break your heart. If she winked at you, she'll rip you apart. #39 On a blind date with a complete mismatch, you're increasingly uncomfortable , but too polite to leave. Then an attractive stranger comes over and gives you an out. © 2023 LJRae

~*ONC shortlist*~ It's up to a climbing enthusiast, and the local jaded doctor to find out what's going on when a mysterious hole appears in their town's park at the same time that a strange new illness starts ravaging the community. *ONC 2023 From the ONC Prompts: 38) A seemingly bottomless pit was found, for which the depth can't be determined. Over time, scores of people began using it to illegally dump trash. Many have jumped believing that they'll find life's answers within it. Today, we learn the truth about the hole. 54) As townspeople are overcome with a deadly sickness, it's up to you, the only one not afflicted, to find the cause and cure. 69) I had a marvelous time ruining everything - Taylor Swift.