🏆 ROUND 1 WINNER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 A young witch must team up with a banished demon to reverse the curse on her village before she is persecuted. ⋯⋯⋯ Rakida of Apilsha has her life in order until a mysterious fire broke out and the townsfolk fell ill overnight. With fingers pointing towards her as the rumored village witch, she must find a cure before they burn her at the stake. Enter Tam Sinnasi, a demon stuck in her mother's antiques, with his devilishly charming smile and a hidden past, offering a shot at success. Having made a deal with the devil, Rakida now must balance mystery and magic as she is thrust into the deadly world of the wicked battling blood-thirsty beasts, deranged witches out for blood, a mad Queen of the Dead, and a vengeful goddess who surely had business with Tam. But as her journey takes her to Ganzir, the sprawling palace of shadows and ice, dying may be the least of her worries. From the award-winning author of 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 comes a tale of blames, bargains, and betrayals, set in a game of life and death where losing is not an option. After all, to save one's skin, sometimes, death may just be the answer. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2025 (First Edition) [25,000 - 30,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025

🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 Two teenagers embark on a cross-country music tour to outrun the threat of war and curtailed creative freedom. ⋯⋯⋯ As Ash finishes identifying his parents' remains from a full-blast attack, he should have stopped writing silly songs. With rebels controlling the country bit by bit comes the diminishing right to express themselves, so when a boy with a lopsided grin and penchant to chase trouble convinces Ash to perform his music, he only has one answer―no. But Jet has a way of getting what he wants, and there is no way Ash can let a golden boy run off on his own. With only a beat-up neon-pink car, a patched guitar, an obnoxious red pen, and a battered polaroid, Jet and Ash embark on a cross-country tour to make a name for themselves, outrunning authorities, and maybe even Fate itself. What can go wrong...right? From the award-winning author of 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, comes a story of young love, the fight for freedom, and the eternal struggle for meaning set in a world of oppression and violence. There are many ways to the end, and it is up to us to choose which path to take. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2025 (First Edition) [25,000 - 30,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 AMBASSADOR PICK - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025

I would not mind leaving this hell for another. Because I could not care less if I throw away my life of failure and inadequacy as long as you were with me. I was another stranger, another faceless being in the tapestry of your dreams. And you held my heart like a guitar peg, twisting and twisting until I snapped. Playing with my strings until my sound tore to shreds and I vanished into the mere noise of the world. And I did not mind it. Because when you met my eyes, I thought I saw myself reflected in yours. But it was not me who was there. It was my own hell. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2023 (First Edition) [10,000 - 15,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] C/TW: Contains discussion about suicide and depression. Read at your own risk.

🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 A young journalist must navigate a war-torn country and the intricacy of first love in order to save herself and her family. ⋯⋯⋯ In 2042, invaders crossed Philippine waters and marked the start of the war. Two years later, Maian Dizon, a displaced Metro Manila journalist, navigates the war-torn streets in search of a way out of the country. However, when her path crosses with Kian Lucero, a reservist medical doctor, doubts creep in. With the guilt he carries, the foreboding loss on her shoulders, and the pressing needs of her family, her calling points her back to her homeland with no promise of salvation. But the attacks crawl closer every day, and Maian must devise a plan to save the people she loves, even if it means sacrificing herself. From the award-winning author of 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘌𝘯𝘥 comes a story of love and life, and how they fade and thrive at the face of war. There is an end to peace, memory, and glory, but there are things that will live forever. We only have to find them. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2024 (First Edition) [30,000 - 35,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] C/TW: Some scenes in this story contain graphic physical violence, disturbing themes, or character introspection that may upset or trigger the reader. Please read at your own risk. 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024

🏆 WINNER (2ND PLACE) - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 A misfit of an aristocratic family must find out who is behind the murder at his university before he is disowned and falls victim to the murderer. ⋯⋯⋯ Arlo Crowhaven, a student of the prestigious Lyllan University of Magic, is poised to uphold his family's elite status. That is, until a classmate is murdered, and all of the clues point to him. With little time to clear his name, he must take the investigation into his hands, find the killer, and stop an even bigger secret from leaking out. After all, while Arlo likes keeping his hands clean, he may be entangled in a scheme even his family is not privy to. Now, Arlo must pull all the strings he can to foil the murderer's plan and save his skin. From the award-winning author of 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘌𝘯𝘥 comes a story of privilege, wealth, and the divide between the elite and the common. Ideals are a salvation for many, but in the quest for freedom and power, sometimes, they are the first to go. AN INSTALLMENT OF THE LYLLAN UNIVERSITY OF MAGIC AND MISFITS SERIES ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2024 (First Edition) [20,000 - 30,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] 🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 ROUND 1 WINNER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024

🏆 HONORABLE MENTION - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 A witch has to pretend to be the wife of the Prince of the Dead in exchange for resurrecting her lover. ⋯⋯⋯ Mavyn of Krauss has everything under control until her rich and influential fiancé keels over and abandons her. Now with no place in society as a witch, she moves to the next best option―summon an immortal from the Land of the Dead and strike a deal to resurrect him. Enter Valen Nox, a prince of the Underworld, bringing along an irresistible deal to the table. She will have a chance to comb through the Underworld's domains for her fiancé in exchange for being Valen's date for his sister's wedding. But when the truth comes out with the promise of a conspiracy, Mavyn is thrust into the wicked world of the Kathari, the Underworld's immortal rulers, and their schemes for dominion. Now, she must play by their rules while crafting deadly plans of her own―plans that may endanger more than what Valen bargained for. After all, the most logical thing to do in a court deep in chaos is to use it to one's advantage. From the award-winning author of 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘌𝘯𝘥 comes a tale of the deadly and the wicked, set in a world where life and death are not so simple, and there may be more to lose at the edge of the void than at the end of memory. AN INSTALLMENT OF THE WICKED DEATH SELECTIONS. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2024 (First Edition) [22,000 - 27,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] 🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 R1 AMBASSADOR PICK - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024

🏆 WINNER (3RD PLACE) - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2022 🏆 The Mayaware's reign has to end. When demonic beings who hide scales and insatiable hunger for humans under their skins arose, Hesi watches her family become their victim. To avenge them, Hesi has to get close to the demons and enters the palace as a bride to the Mayaware prince. With nothing but her wits and the guidance of a servant-turned-spy inside the palace, Hesi has to wade through the sea of flesh and blood and of mysteries and truths until she is put in a position where she has to choose between her people and her heart. She has to make her move before time runs out, even if she has to cast all she is into the fire. From Exequinne, the author of the high fantasy series, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢, comes a heartbreaking tale of freedom, betrayal, and the choice between revenge and formed bonds. Not all demons have wounds to heal, but every human has a blade to kill. THIS IS THE NOVELLA VERSION. FOR THE EXPANDED VERSION, VISIT MY PROFILE, @Exequinne. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2022 (First Edition) C/TW: Some scenes in this story contain depictions that might upset or trigger the reader. Please read at your own risk. Appropriate warnings at the parts containing the said scenes will also be provided. [30,000 - 40,000 words] [All graphics are made by @Exequinne]

🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2022 🏆 When the walled city of the gods, Dansarun, opens its doors for trade, Xuijae's ruling clan sends its perfect representatives: the troublesome prince, Kai-Se, who wants nothing to do with palace life, and Nao-Zai, the stern soldier from the warrior clan assigned to protect him. With them stuck in a royal tour neither of them wants to be in and with Nao-Zai's near-perfect track record hanging in jeopardy, Nao-Zai and Kai-Se must settle their differences before their mission takes a difficult turn. Along the way, Nao-Zai discovers there's more to Kai-Se than he let on and the secret the prince is hiding may spell their doom once they reach the gods' Imperial City. When Kai-Se's mistake erupts into a full-blown rebellion, Nao-Zai is faced with a choice to save himself from the gods' wrath or save Kai-Se who is caught at the worst end of it. From the author of the award-winning novella, 𝘒𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘦, and the high fantasy series, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢, comes a tale of adventure, friendship, and love, where every road to freedom is as dark and twisted as the last. FIRST BOOK OF THE PIPER OF MIRCHAEK TRILOGY ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2022 (First, Second Edition) [35,000 - 40,000 words] [All graphics are made by @Exequinne] 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2022 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2022

🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2022 🏆 Mersem Wess, a town boy in the wintery kingdom of Solon, is content with his life collecting timber and admiring Leara Madris, the darling Lady Knight, from afar. His sister, Silke, a girl with a short fuse and way too much time on her hands, thinks otherwise. When a plan to raid the palace's armory goes awry, Silke may just get the adventure of a lifetime...with Mersem in tow. Now that all the Palace Knights, the lone mercenaries, and even the bounty hunter guilds are out for Silke's head, Mersem must ditch his rural lifestyle in favor of adventuring in the harsh lands to get to his sister before everyone else does. He must survive the great unknown, get Leara Madris to fall for him, and bring his sister back home before fate, duty, and truth catch up to him. From Exequinne, the author of the high fantasy series, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢, comes a story of adventure, buried secrets, and a bond flowing thicker than blood yet as fragile as frozen thorns. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2022 (First Edition) [25,000 - 35,000 words] [All graphics are made by @Exequinne] 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2022 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2022

🏆 ❝𝘛𝘙𝘈𝘝𝘌𝘓𝘌𝘙❞ - AIM TO ENGAGE 2023 WINNER 🏆 ❝𝘔𝘈𝘙𝘒𝘚 𝘖𝘍 𝘋𝘌𝘚𝘛𝘐𝘕𝘠, 𝘔𝘈𝘛𝘊𝘏𝘌𝘚 𝘖𝘍 𝘍𝘈𝘛𝘌❞ - AIM TO ENGAGE 2023 FAVORITE PICK Explore the Multiverse in this short story anthology following two souls, Dara and Page, as they are pulled apart, joined, wrecked, and saved by fate and otherworldly force even science cannot explain. Enjoy short stories in a wide array of genres and situations while still retaining its romantic core. Travel through apocalyptic dystopias, awkward first dates and meet-cutes, intriguing science fiction escapades, historic tragedies, paranormal disturbances, and magical adventures. Step right in. The Multiverse awaits you. Part of the AUXPR2023 cluster of works. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• 〉Inside the anthology, you will find: ▷ Pearly Lake Cabin ▷ The Last Trace of Lily ▷ The Mysteries of New Herestead ▷ When the Doves Call ▷ Traveler ( 🏆 ) ▷ The End of the World & Other Lies to Tell Yourself ▷ How to Save the Dead ▷ Cookies, Cures, & Curses ▷ To Catch a Falling Star ▷ Marks of Destiny, Matches of Fate ( 🏆 ) ▷ Our Youth of Blood ▷ Of Pages & Daras ▷ The Shepherd & the Silk Maiden ▷ 707: Match Not Found ▷ What My Heart Finds, It Keeps ▷ Dream, Weaver, Scream, Reaper ▷ Don't Go Chasing Butterflies ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2023 (First Edition) ALL STORIES ARE EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE ON WATTPAD Written for AIM TO ENGAGE 2023 [85,000 - 95,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby]