I read somewhere that when you stop believing in Santa Claus, you get underwear for Christmas. Well, I'm not going to give you just any underwear. I'm giving you my Christmas shorts. A collection of short Christmas stories. Some romances, some humor, and a lot of Christmas sentimentality.

~Wattys 2025 Shortlist~ BLOODLINES: THE BLOOD WITCH Book One of the Bloodlines Trilogy When Morgan Doran inherits her family's ancestral estate, she expects dust, secrets, and maybe a little madness-not a haunting, a legacy of forbidden power, and a warlock sworn to kill her. But Callum Rook isn't just any warlock. Bound by blood and prophecy, he arrives at the castle with a mission-to stop the rise of the last Blood Witch. Yet Morgan is nothing like the monster he was raised to fear. She is human. Fierce. Magnetic. And when he chooses love over legacy, everything unravels. As Morgan's powers awaken, ancient forces rise to claim her. Her bloodline carries not only the power to destroy, but the memory of betrayal, sacrifice, and a curse that spans generations. The deeper she falls for Callum, the more dangerous their love becomes. With enemies closing in and her destiny hurtling toward a tragic end, Morgan must decide: will she accept her fate, or rewrite it in fire and blood? Darkly romantic, chillingly magical, and emotionally devastating-Bloodline: The Blood Witch is a gothic fantasy of love, power, and the price of defying prophecy.

Welcome to the Annual Short Story & Poetry Writing Contest, where words ignite imagination and creativity takes center stage. Whether you're a storyteller or a poet, this is your chance to captivate, inspire, and share your voice with the world. All genres, all styles-one platform to shine. Let your stories speak. Let your verses rise.

Lirien has found refuge on land, working as a professional mermaid at a cutting-edge aquarium. Her heart, however, is caught between two worlds. She finds solace in her job-and in the company of Dexter, a marine biologist whose passion for the ocean draws her in deeper than she's ever been before. But there's more to Lirien than meets the eye, and the longer she's on land, the more the pressure from her mermaid heritage pulls at her. Torn between love and duty, she struggles to hide the truth of her origins. The closer she grows to Dexter, the harder it becomes to conceal the truth-and the physical toll it takes on her body when she's away from the ocean only makes matters worse. A research opportunity arises for Dexter that holds the promise of discovery-and danger. The island, veiled in storms and rumors, is near the secret mermaid territory Lirien fled from. As Dexter's research project grows more enticing, Lirien finds herself torn between the man she's falling for and the ocean that calls her back. But the island may be more than they bargained for-its waters have a magnetic pull that Lirien cannot resist. And with the past threatening to catch up with her, her secret life may no longer stay hidden. What will she do when the very world she's been running from comes crashing into her future with Dexter? Her heart and her heritage will collide-will she choose love, or will she return to the dangerous depths she fled?

The wait is finally over! The Amby Awards is back with a fresh new vibe, ready to spread across (and beyond) the Wattpad universe. This year promises another gigantic spoonful of incredible stories, which we'll showcase across various genres and categories, along with plenty of exciting rewards. Ready to jump in? The Ambys 2025 officially kicks off on August 1st.

In the late 1960s in Australia, orphaned Maddie is thrust into her aunt's care, uncovering family secrets while sparking laughter and growth in cousins Simon and Edith (Didi). As shy Simon stumbles to shed his stutter and bratty Didi sheds her "Didiot" ways, Maddie's life darkens under the shadow of a corrupt politician's son. After a harrowing ordeal leaves her vulnerable and alone, she finds refuge with a kind artist named Bill Shakespeare, whose name whispers of destiny. Will their bond thrive amidst the psychedelic dawn of a new age, or unravel like a fragile dream?

ONC 2025 JASMINE BAKER has given up on men and has decided to find herself. She catches the 6.20 from Flinders Street, each evening. Intrigued by one of her fellow passengers, she watches and listens to phone calls she can't understand. Jasmine witnesses Train Guy exchange packages with another passenger. Her imagination takes over. He has to be a drug dealer. When she sees him beating a man on the station platform Jasmine realises, she could be in danger. An unknowing witness to what must be criminal activity. Prompts - 57 - Two lovers - one is the villain, but no one knows it except the other. Can their love survive the truth? 126 - Because you're you, and I'm me and we just don't fit - Idea of you. Book by Robinne Lee.

Rambling ruminations, words of wisdom and awesome alliteration from your favorite coyote. An experiment, not so much a story as a stream of consciousness focused on human folly. Please enjoy the silly similes and playful, philosophical, political, provocative, purposeful, and pensive prose, pontifications, parables, philippics and polemics. As with Schrodinger's cat, everything is uncertain until you take a peek. Spoiler, the cat is alive. What happens to the rest of us is the uncertainty.

A monster emerges from the shadows. He is followed by another, and another, until the world is inhabited by new beasts of its own creation. This anthology incorporates stories from various genres and timelines, exploring what makes us who we are.