One of the most *frequently asked questions* I get from readers of my published novels: "Was Dear Martin the first book you ever wrote?" The answer is no. Dear Martin was the third. The second (at long last!) will be published in Spring 2022, but the first will never see the light of day... Or so I used to say. *Used to* because we are currently in the thick of a literal global pandemic. And we're bored. And trying to stay motivated/encouraged/hopeful, etc. etc. So here it is. Nic Stone's first EVER novel that wasn't supposed to see the light of day. Starting today, April 1st, 2020, I'll post a chapter a day for the next 50 days (you read that right; this joint is LONG) and will leave it up indefinitely. You will laugh--AT me, but also occasionally with me. You will roll your eyes. You will have moments when you wonder if *The Nic Stone* actually wrote this long and intensely tropey and cliche book. About a 16-year-old biracial girl who sometimes glows in the dark, and after the death of her mother, discovers not only some latent supernatural abilities, but a prophesied mission she'll need them for. It is not professionally edited and is likely full of typos (though this was like the twelfth draft). It hasn't been beta-read and probably has some problematic rep in it. But my hope is that by posting it as-is, someone out there who doesn't feel *good enough* will see THIS starting point of a #1 New York Times bestseller and will be encouraged to get the story nagging at them down on paper. Even if it's never "published," there's no telling where it could lead. I hope you enjoy (or at least get a good laugh). Thanks for reading! Nic Stone

He looked at me with so much adoration in his eyes that made my stomach do double flips and my heart just melted. "I will shield you from all the harm in this world. I will make sure everyone accepts the shade of your skin and your brunette hair. You will never ever feel like you don't belong here anymore. You deserve to be happy like every princess. And you will forever be happy. I promise you this. " The tears were swimming at the brim of my eyes gently cascaded down my face just as he finished his sentence. I trusted him. I knew he meant it. And for the first time in my life,I was glad I was married to this man.

In a small Indiana town, a teenage girl hasn't been seen for months, and her brother Reed is sketchy on the details. But seventeen-year-old Mayuri Krishnan doesn't know any of this-not yet. For her, Reed is the boy of her daydreams, the name she scribbles in her notebook, and the starring role of her online cliche mafia romance. When he stumbles upon her secrets, she first thinks Reed's claims to be from an Albanian crime family are lies intended to trick her. Soon, Mayuri begins to question the thin line between fiction and reality. Threats are made, daggers are drawn, and near-misses come too close for comfort. With Reed's promise to keep her safe from those who want her dead, and her growing belief that he may be lying about it all, Mayuri chooses to keep the dangerous part of her life a secret from her cop father. Things come to a head when she teams up with Reed's ex-girlfriend and best friend to uncover his secrets, leading to a night when a knife and a gun determine all their futures. She didn't mean to run away from a murder. She didn't have a choice. Abducted by someone she trusted, Mayuri must use all her wiles to save herself. The true lies that drew Reed and Mayuri together-and the false truths they discover along the way-could drive them apart forever.

NOW PUBLISHED BY SOURCEBOOKS FIRE! Sixteen-year-old Jackie Howard knows nothing about her new guardian Katherine Walter when she moves from New York to Colorado. After discovering that Katherine has twelve boys, Jackie fears that living in the Walter house isn't going to be easy. It's just icing on the cake that the boys look like models... Cover design by pizzazz-

"But I'm your-" "I'm your what?!" He cut her off. She flinched at the acidity in his voice. "My wife?" He scoffed inching in on her until he was arms length. His eyes bored into the depths of her soul. He slurred the words with venom dripping from his tone. "You're only a signed contract, nothing more!" * * * "What's that shit doing on your face? you better remove it! you can't be walking on the streets of Chicago wearing that, this isn't your filthy Pakistan!" he ruthlessly spoke with disgust. "You mean my veil?" She questioned with fear placing a hand on her Niqab. "If it isn't obvious" "Please, don't call it that, it's my veil, my identity" "I'm sorry what?" "I can't remove it Saahir, p-please don't make me do this, its a part of me" she begged on the verge of tears. "I said take it off!" He yelled in a deep menacing voice and pulled it off her face throwing it mercilessly on the floor. Fresh tears pooled from her eyes Frustration built through him. He grabbed her shoulder and forcefully dragged her pushing her onto the floor. The floor hit Meeza harder than she had expected. "Oww" she yowled as the pain shot through her shoulder. Highest rank #1 IN SPIRITUAL Always in the top 15 Alhamdulillah #notyouraverageclichèbook. First published on 4th February 2018

Wren Martin is socially awkward. She blocks off herself to the world, hiding behind her favorite hoodie. All she wants to do is keep a low profile, and graduate well enough to qualify for a college scholarship. But then a babysitting job leads her to cross paths with Asher Reed, Eastview Highʼs notorious athlete. When a field injury kickstarts his senior year, heʼs turning his free time and attention to Wren. And maybe she might not want to be invisible after all. ***** [Watty's Collector's Edition Winner] [TFA Runaway Prize Winner] [[word count: 150,000-200,000 words]] Cover designed by Ashley Santoro

One thing I'll always remember is my parents saying "Everyone has a story" "Everyone has a story with a past, tragic or not. Everyone has a story that is meant to go unjudged, even if it was never told" But sometimes we forget that. Like when I though that my guardian was the devil. Even though he taught me how to laugh, how to protect, and even possible how to love. I only asked one thing "Why?" I still remember the one phrase that changed my life"Let me carry her" This one single and normal phrase was said by none other than Cooper Kingsley, our school's and town's bad boy. He was the championship boxer who drove a motorcycle and got into trouble frequently. He's the guy with brown hair that looked soft enough to run my fingers through, the guy with irresistible cold blue eyes and the guy with a built and strong body that made girls crazy. He wasn't your typical player either; no he was just hard to get- A complete tease. And the fact that he would volunteer to help a girl like this, was not normal. So what did Cooper Kingsley want anything to do with the bland and boring me? I was completely and utterly average. Or so I thought. So why did the devil suddenly become my guardian? Let's find out. Copyright © 2014 | All Rights Reserved | brech33se

***Sequel to 'Roses for Rachel'*** Everything has changed, and the stakes are twice as high. Rachel's story continues.....

Now a digital pilot for SYFY The Society knows when we're going to die. They imprint it on our arms at birth. I was supposed to die yesterday. I'm the girl who's Expired. Winner of the 2020 Readers Choice Awards Cover by @Forcade