Coming here, I wanted to get lost. I wanted to be so alone I had no choice but to discover myself, as well as this beautiful, vibrant country. A sample contest entry for Marriott Traveler.

Divided star kingdoms, ruled by nobles claiming descent from the gods of antiquity, are busy feuding and warring with one another, oblivious to the rising darkness. Marcus Aurelian, an agent serving the mysterious Dragon Order, is on an interstellar mission to locate a secret weapon codenamed 'the Maiden' that could turn the tide and save humankind. Join Marcus as he explores the mysteries of the past while trying to stay one step ahead of his enemies in the present. Will he manage to unlock the secrets of the Maiden in time to save humanity? Felix M. Bloom

Poems for Good Measure

Auburn Ivy runs away from her problems even if it means running away from her family, friends and familiar life. Anthony Kroff is a footballer on the rise but is lonely and lost in the new city he finds himself in. Their lives would have never intertwined if headstrong Auburn and shy Anthony hadn't chosen the same Friday to venture into a side-street cafe. For her it was an escape, for him it was curiosity and together they found something that they hesitated to call love because what if, after everything, they found themselves chasing fool's gold? Carlotta Garcia is the cafe owner and she is hell-bent on bringing them together but we're getting ahead of ourselves. Let's start at the very start or, if you want me to be truthful, at the very end, with Sabah Taqvi, a bored literature student and desperate romantic. Previously known as "Coffee Shop Love". [ © circularities 2016 ]

Seventeen-year-old botanist Isla Blume believes every life deserves a chance to survive, even in the apocalypse. So when collector droids kidnap her mom, she knows she has to fight back to save her life. No one returns from being collected, not even her boyfriend Daniel, and after a failed attempt to combat the droids, Isla is captured too. Just when she's sure she'll suffocate inside one of the droids, a group of renegade scientists, the Deathless, save Isla and her mom. They tell her that that droids have been harvesting survivors as forced labor for the government. After learning Isla's name, the Deathless become suspicious of her, and soon she hears why: A familiar voice to Isla repeats over a transmission from the bunker, "Find Isla Blume." Determined to reconnect with those she's lost, Isla faces her fear of fighting and joins the Deathless' first attack on the government. If only she could trust them to help her. A Wattpad featured story! Follow Isla's journey through post-apocalyptic US with the trilogy! Now you can read the whole trilogy here, including bonus material and extras! For the complete Deathless experience, read THE BLAST and STORIES OF THE DEATHLESS too! Beautiful cover by @MulanJiang

Sam is the most promising swordsman among this year’s crop of Paladin trainees...and knows it. Brash, cocky, and unbeatable with a sword (well, almost), Sam is the kingdom of Thule’s best hope against the violence wrought by demons. The only problem is that Sam is really Lady Samantha, daughter of the seventeenth Duke of Haywood, and if her father has his way, she’ll be marrying a Paladin, not becoming one. But Sam has never held much interest in playing damsel-in-distress, and so she rescues herself from a lifetime of boredom and matrimonial drudgery. Pity that Tristan Lyons, the Paladin assigned to train her, is none other than the hero of her childhood. He hasn’t recognized her as Lady Samantha--yet-- but if he does, he’ll take away her sword and send her packing. Sam is not the only trainee hiding secrets: Braeden is a half-demon with a dark past that might be unforgivable. Sam, Braeden and Tristan set out for the western coast, charged with rooting out an infestation of demons that has made the West unlivable. As they travel, they uncover a deep-seated corruption of power that threatens to derail everything they stand for. Rebellion stirs, led by a rival faction of warriors who tempt Sam to join them with an irresistible offer. A war between men is coming, and Sam must pick a side. Will saving the kingdom cost her life -- or just her heart? Reminiscent of Mulan, but with a medieval fantasy twist, Paladin is a tale of adventure, action, and romance.