Two teachers. Two rivals. Two hearts. Poppy Newman, an English Literature teacher, has worked at Twin Oaks Academy for the last six years. When she finds out that Logan Matthews, her high-school rival, is going to become her new colleague she can't quite believe it. With his classroom next door, there really is no avoiding him, and when the head teacher announces a competition, in order to get the A-Level students more engaged with their learning, their rivalry is sparked back into life. And with competition comes something unexpected: the students shipping their two English teachers. Will Poppy and Logan see each other beyond the competition, or will they just focus on being number one? *** This story was originally written for the ONC 2026, but this version complete with a new cover has been updated and rewritten for the Wattys 2026.

Teia Cloto arrives in Naples believing all she needs is a vacation. And to finish her master's thesis on an expedited schedule. What she doesn't need is for four matchmaking retirees to arrange a blind date before she's even unpacked. Then, she meets Alden Colle. Worldly, charming, and mildly infuriating, Alden is a serious writer with a slight obsession with Greek mythology. One date turns into two, then three... They sail the Neapolitan coastline, wander ancient ruins, and fall into a connection Teia has no sensible way to explain. Around Alden, Naples feels oddly familiar. Hidden frescoes come alive. Mirrors show glimpses of another reality. And when he speaks of Theseus, Alden's sadness feels a little too personal. On their final night, Alden makes her a promise: Naxos. Two years. Five years later, Teia has a successful career, a dependable fiancé, and no intention of dwelling on Alden Colle again, especially when her ancient dating history suggests men like him rarely keep their promises. But when she returns to Italy, the past begins tugging at threads she thought she had severed, and Alden is waiting at the other end. Now Teia must decide whether to protect the sensible life she has built or risk everything for a love story Fate has been retelling for thousands of years. *** Water and Sand is a contemporary love story that reimagines the myth of Theseus and Ariadne, where love is a labyrinth and friendship feels like the safest way out. #Wattys2026

Claire Parker didn't move to a new city for love. She moved for a fresh start. A twenty-something, armed with a brand-new job and a carefully packed life, Claire is determined to prove she can stand on her own. New apartment. New career. New rules. Falling for the guy next door is not one of them. Especially when that guy is Aiden Fox. Aiden is tall, gorgeous, and infuriatingly rude. He blasts music through the wall, and seems to have mastered the art of emotional unavailability. But thin walls have a way of blurring first impressions. What starts as mutual annoyance turns into late-night conversations, unexpected laughter, and a friendship neither of them saw coming. Beneath Aiden's exterior is a man still bruised by past heartbreak, one who keeps love at arm's length, even as he's drawn closer to Claire with every shared moment. As attraction deepens and defenses fall, Claire must decide if she's ready to risk her heart again in a city that already feels uncertain, and Aiden must choose whether running from love is safer than finally letting it in. Because sometimes, the fresh start you're looking for lives right next door. Note: This is Book #2 in the Next Chapter series, but can read as a standalone story. Book #1 is titled Second Wind and is about Claire's mother.

When her therapy app accidentally sends Riley's private confessions to a random British expat - and his to her - what began as a glitch quickly evolves into the kind of intimacy that can only exist between strangers. A slow-burn contemporary romance. * * * When a company health initiative forces Riley Markle to download a trendy mental health app, she fills out the onboarding survey without much thought, expecting to get paired with a virtual gym buddy who'll send thumbs-up emojis twice a week. Instead, she gets paired with Joe, a lonely British expat whose wellness concern of Compulsive Behaviors is flagged by the AI system as a perfect match for Riley. Riley resolves to complete her month of check-ins and be done with it - until a glitch in the app sends both her and Joe's embarrassing therapy videos to each other instead of their therapist. Soon, Riley and Joe are talking late into the night, exchanging thirst-trap videos of their weekend routines by day, and thinking about each other constantly. Both are smitten, both are broken, and neither of them knows how to do this without destroying each other. The plan: Limit all communication to the app until after Day 30, then see where things go. But plans change. * * * 🏆 High Rankings: #1 in LITERARY #1 in QUICKREAD #1 in NEWENGLAND #1 in SHORTCHAPTERS (out of 38,000 stories) #3 in EPISTOLARY #87 in ROMCOM (out of 35,000 stories) #147 in ROMANTIC (out of 86,000 stories) Updated November 2025

The Ambys 2025 Grand Favorite- Poetry --- This is the collection of poems I have created. For many years, I have been fascinated by the countless aspects of our existence--nature, love, and so much more. Inspired by the world around me, I decided to express myself through poetry. Although I write novels, I find that crafting poems also creative and enjoyable. I hope that my poems can inspire fellow writers, dreamers, and readers alike. Let me awaken the sleeping wonders deep within you.

the bumpy story of a girl who suddenly begins to befriend her enemies.

Aspen Keller has only ever known a world with her controlling, self-absorbed best friend in it. But when she receives a glittered box and is introduced to the members of an elusive club - members that claim to know some of the events of That Night - she has to come to terms with her insatiable anger, and whether protecting her secret is worth losing herself over. (ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR ONC 2025 - prompts 26 & 118)

After an unexpected ceiling collapse sends her apartment into chaos, Madelaine Grayson ends up living with her brother - and dangerously close to his tattooed, way-too-charming roommate. He's off-limits... but resisting him might be impossible. *** When Madelaine Grayson's bathroom ceiling caves in, it's not just drywall that crumbles. It's her entire world. Forced to move in with her brother, she finds herself swept up in the chaos of his new protective attitude - especially when it comes to his tattooed roommate, Noah Laurier. Noah is the epitome of perfection: sweet, hot, and embedded into every thought Madelaine has. But he's forbidden, and the closer she gets, the harder he is to resist. Well... what her brother doesn't know can't hurt him, right? *** "Matt's sister, I presume?" He walks towards the couch and my eyes widen. He's tall. I thought I was tall but this man could tower me, and when he reaches a hand towards me, there's an intricate clock tattooed on the back of his hand and his fingers have bones tattooed over them. This man is not human. He's tall and angular and dripping with sex appeal. This man is hot. Capital H, capital O, capital T. I don't think I've ever seen a human being so attractive. All I can think about as I force myself to keep my eyes on the screen is the feel of his jaw beneath my hand, and it takes everything in me not to look

Elliot's partner was his whole world, but after Allan's death, his ghost haunts Elliot's dreams. Everyone tells Elliot to move on, but he isn't sure he can. ***** It's been a year since the love of Elliot's life, Allan, passed away. Everyone thinks he should have recovered after that much time, but Allan still haunts Elliot every night. He struggles to maintain relationships with his family, and despite a coworkers interest he can't summon up the courage to date. Elliot is living for the past, because to live for the present means he'll have to live with a hole in his heart. But the question Elliot has to face chases him through his monotonous days: is mourning Allan with everything he has truly living? [[word count: 40,000-50,000 words]]