WATTYS WINNER When her fiancé ends up in a coma and his secret mistress, Halley, shows up, Mary feels like her world is falling apart. What she doesn't realize is she's actually falling in love...with Halley. ***** Eight years after a traumatizing accident that killed one of her loved ones, Mary Kincaid is about to marry her childhood sweetheart when the universe yanks the rug out from under her yet again, leaving her fiancé badly injured and in a coma. Of course this is when his secret mistress shows up, a beautiful person whom Mary should by all rights hate - so why does she find herself inviting her to stay in the spare bedroom? She soon learns that sometimes the person you're looking for comes when you're not looking at all. Content and/or trigger warning: This story mentions violence, addiction, and childhood trauma, which may be triggering for some readers. [[word count: 150,000-200,000 words]]

Diana is looking forward to finally finishing high school. Stay out of trouble. Focus only on art. This is Diana's grand plan - until she is assigned to paint the portraits of a girl she can't stand to be around: the school's obnoxious soccer team captain, Alex Perez. ***** It's senior year. Diana just wants to keep her head low while dealing with a family that is slowly but steadily falling apart and a best-friend-turned-enemy that she could certainly do without. The last thing Diana wants to do is spend her last year of high school painting the portraits of Alex Perez. Everyone loves Alex - she's the town's prodigy and the school's golden girl. But Diana and Alex couldn't be more opposite; put them in an art room together and a disaster is bound to happen. [[word count: 70,000 - 80,000]] Cover designed by Ilafi Nastiti [WATTYS 2021 SHORTLIST]

A hidden princess returns to the castle to take back the throne from her usurpers. The only problem? Her growing feelings towards her charming enemy, the king. Season 1 of Thread of Gold ***** Annalise Cidarius wants to take back the throne. It belongs to her: she comes from a long line of magical Nightweavers who ruled Winterlynn up until the day that her family was brutally murdered. A rebellion led by another magical group, the Dayweavers, usurped the throne and forced Anna to go into hiding...until now. Anna wants the throne back and has a plan to take it. Everything she needs is hidden inside the castle walls. But once inside, Anna realizes she has not accounted for her newfound feelings for the charming and handsome Dayweaver king, Ryne Delafort. Will Anna's greatest enemy also become her greatest love? Cover designed by Stefanie Saw

Eboni Ames grew up in The Quarters-a tiny, but historic, Black settlement just outside Whitman, Arizona. Her classmate, Ahn Ji-Yeong, grew up in the only Asian family in Whitman and harbored a secret crush on Eboni. Eventually, they both left their hometown to follow their dreams. Eboni's vision of a being a celebrity chef faded in California, where the foodie scene was flooded with thousands of other wannabes, and her family soul food recipes weren't enough to catch the eye of foodies seeking flashier fare. Meanwhile, AJ became a K-pop and K-drama megastar, sitting at the top of the Billboard charts and the Netflix top ten. When Eboni is forced to return home and take a day job while trying to get her soul food catering business off the ground, she finds that AJ has come home too. The bright spotlights of the K-pop industry cast a very dark shadow, and AJ needs a break. Still carrying a torch for his childhood love, AJ offers his Korean fried chicken recipe to help draw attention to Eboni's business. As their lives become more and more intertwined, the heat turns up outside of the kitchen as well. But when their pasts come back to haunt them, Eboni and AJ will have to make tough choices about what they are and want to be to each other. Season 1 of My Seoul Man WARNING: This story contains depictions of racism and mental health crises and references to suicide that may not be suitable for some readers. *** Weekly updates on Mondays. Wait & read for free, or unlock with coins-the choice is yours!

C41 was taught to fight and never trust anyone but a select few. But in order to leave prison, he might have to work with those who can break him. ***** Inmate C41 is the youngest registered "feral" shapeshifter -- someone unable to control his animal urges and aggressions. When he turns eighteen he is transferred to the Adult Feral Rehabilitation Center in Scotland, where he meets a mysterious American government agent who endlessly probes him with questions. C41 does the only thing he thinks will help him survive - he lies. And that starts a chain of events that will either end in a prison break or a life of torture. Content and/or Trigger Warning: sex and violence. [[Wattys' Shortlist]] [[word count: 70,000-80,000 words]]

To Kade Sanford Black, falling for his best friend Xanthie Lorenz, a serious and drop-dead handsome songwriter, was a line he did not want to cross. Knowing all too well the huge possibility of losing the only person who could see through him, he took a step back and put a distance to sustain their friendship - especially since Xanthie is soon to marry. Will Kade be able to hold back his feelings until he sees Xanthie married? Or will he finally have the courage to confess his feelings...and risk losing the only friend he has? WARNING: This story contains depictions of suicide, self-harm, and mental health crises that may be upsetting for some readers. Any depictions of mental health issues herein are not meant as a replacement for medical care. If you or someone you know deals with similar issues, they should seek the help of a medical professional. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know in the U.S. is contemplating suicide, please encourage them to call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. For international resources, please visit: http://www.suicide.org/hotlines/international-suicide-hotline s.html CECELIB | C.C. Cover by Ren Tachibana

Everyone at school knows Andrew Jennings. Missing an arm. Openly gay. But when he meets star athlete Ryan Sullivan in therapy, can friendship lead to more? ***** When Andrew 'Jacky' Jennings ends up in therapy after an English assignment gone wrong, he doesn't expect to find his high school's star athlete, Ryan Sullivan, sitting in the same waiting room. After all, he and Ryan couldn't be more different: football captain, future valedictorian, and all-around nice guy, Ryan is the school's golden boy, while Andrew is known for his permanent snarl, being openly gay, and losing his left arm (along with his father and sister) in a car accident. But when Andrew learns they actually have a lot in common, he's surprised to see past the enigma that is Ryan Sullivan and his seemingly perfect life. And as the two boys begin to connect over their shared grief, depression, and teenage angst, they might just discover a little pocket of happiness for themselves -- if they're willing to fight for it. [Word count: 100,000-150,000 words] Cover designed by Lily Taylor Please read the 'Introduction' for a full list of content/trigger warnings

Skyler Collins pretends to date his friend Mitch to dodge another blind date set up by his meddling mother, but things get complicated when their relationship develops from fake to physical. Season 1 of Tempting a Star ****** Professor Skyler Collins is desperately trying to avoid another blind date set up by his overbearing mother, socialite Lily Collins, so he finds someone she'll hate. Enter Mitch Wild: Hollywood's golden boy and his mother's top nemesis. As longtime gym buddies, Mitch is happy to enter a fake relationship with Skyler, especially because his feelings for the scholar go way beyond friendship. It's not long until Skyler finds himself hijacked with surprise dates set up by his mother, paparazzi, a fan club rebellion, and even Mitch's ex. Meanwhile, Mitch is facing pressure from his agent as she tries to reinvent his image in Hollywood. But as Mitch plays into the fake relationship with Skyler, he can't deny that he could be falling in love for the first time. As they tackle fame and family together, and despite their very different lives, Skyler and Mitch find that they are undeniably drawn to each other. But at the end of their fake relationship, will there be enough to lead to something real? WARNING: This story contains mature themes and strong language that may not be suitable for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

In a society where technology enhances conformity, Charlie defies expectations by requesting to transition to male. But when the system wants to change his brain rather than his body, he and the woman he loves must join forces with a group of Queer Rebels to fight for their freedom. Season 1 of The Queer Rebels *** Charlie has always been told that on his twentieth birthday, he can choose to be anything he wants. Most people choose to be beautiful, or smart, or funny, but on his Choosing Day, Charlie asks for a male body to fit his mind. But when he realizes that authorities aren't going to accept his request and he's in grave danger, his only choice is to escape with Marcy, the woman he loves. Together, Marcy and Charlie give up everything they've ever known to escape the city for the Queer Rebels, who for decades have been providing refuge to runaways. At first, Charlie and Marcy's relationship blooms as Charlie finds a community he never knew existed and harnesses advanced tech the government's always hidden from them. However, nothing is quite as it seems, and things get complicated as they are forced to navigate ideological factions within the Queer Rebels. Charlie is drawn into a struggle for liberation, while Marcy urges caution. Their love was born in a repressive regime, but will it survive in the freedom beyond the city's borders? Content warning: This story contains violence and mentions of homophobia and/or transphobia that may be upsetting for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.