A short story, my entry for the Shortys 2025, followed by a few poems for the same contest.

At what point do scientific advancements become unethical? Is the opportunity for an easier life worth more than the one who gave it? The intelligence of the brain is a great strength, but the weakness of the heart is a person's biggest downfall. When grief clouds judgment, it threatens to drag many to the depths of hell. The apple of one young man's eye might be among the crowd, even against her will. Regardless of the odds, he won't rest until he sees her smile. Achievements~ 🏅Round three Ambys qualifier 🥇In the short story category for the 2025 Turtle Awards

She was once a character in a deleted story, now lost and memoryless in the Library Limbo. If she wants to get her memories back, she's going to have to work on her backstory - by helping to fix some stories that have gone wrong. And how hard could that really be?

An earlier version made the ONC 2025 Long List. This is the longer, revised version for the Wattys. Scott an insecure idealistic young man gets his girlfriend Zelda new virtual reality goggles that control one's senses and thoughts. The complete immersion in the MMORPG adventure cannot be distinguished from reality and raises the question will their love survive virtual realities with dream lovers and none of the inhibitions of actual reality. An exploration of ideas on love, sexuality, reality and the impact of future mind-altering technologies. Hopefully thought provoking and entertaining.

~ONC 2024 Honourable Mention~ ~~~ Alaric, the King of Silmarea, recently married to his beloved husband, needs an heir of his own blood to secure the throne. With the help of Emrys, his court magician and best friend, he recalls his youthful escapades and discovers a daughter he once had with a woman he had loved in The World Beyond The Stones (our world). He sends an unlikely but trusted trio on a quest to find her and bring her home-- a brooding dragon shifter and Highlander who owes him a favor, a dashing elf whom he loves like the son he never had, and a loyal, kindhearted dwarf, the elf's best friend. Alaric, the last scion of the old gods, weary of ruling the country and ready to retire and enjoy his love life, doesn't know that this quest will bring much more than he ever bargained for, setting in motion events plotted by the destiny that will challenge his kingdom and legacy. ~~~ Cover: My own picture.

ONC 2025 SHORTLIST. Book 3 in the Black Cat series. Born to drug-addicted parents, Linc Bridgestone was crippled in an accident when he was a child. After breaking up with his girlfriend, he overdoses and is brought back to life by his sister. Linc doesn't believe in luck. He doesn't believe in love. He doesn't believe in anything except broken relationships, pain, torture, and the demons that possess him. Darby Dermot has a beast list. They come in different shapes and forms. Sometimes, she questions her career choice. Little Help Home Services has its ups and downs. Most of her clients are evil fiends, monsters, and devils. Falling in love with a demon wasn't on her wish list, but here he was, crippled, curled in a ball, spitting hate and vengeance, smelling like a sewage pit and demanding she leave him the fuck alone. ONC 2025 Prompts - 2: To be in love with a demon was the last thing on your wish list. 32: - A non-believer of love wakes up one day to find themselves in a world where love is everything. What will they do in a land ruled by hearts? THE DEMONS AND BEASTS IN THIS STORY ARE THE ONES WE BATTLE EVERY DAY. Thanks for taking a look at my first-ever entry in ONC. Wish me luck. ♥♥♥

Divine intervention leads two grieved souls' fates to be intertwined one cold, dark morning. Both are crushed underneath the heavy burden of loss for different reasons. Her heart is set ablaze. His heart is frozen solid. And as the sun comes up, they share their stories in hopes that her fire will be extinguished, and his ice will become a mere puddle. Achievements~ 🥉Winner in the short story category for The Nine Tailed Crown Awards 🥈Winner in the Best Writing Style category for The Nine Tailed Crown Awards

As the gears of fate move like clockwork, who can turn back time? Even if it could be done, this would only postpone the inevitable. Destiny is said to drive everyone forward, but faith as small as a mustard seed can throw a clog in the machine. And when a young woman's future seems sealed, she'll prove that to him. Achievements~ 🏅Added to the Loving Life|Spiritual reading list by newlywrittenbooks 10/06/25

This story was written about nine years ago, and resurrected now because I've hit a wall with another story I was currently writing. It follows a wannabe detective through a maze of characters and bizarre situations involving a family trust. It came from a previous book called The Mistake which had a bevy of characters I grew quite fond of, and on occasion, are referred to in this story.

The Time Machine is a science fiction novel by H. G. Wells, published in 1895 and written as a frame narrative. Wells is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel by using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposely and selectively forwards or backward in time. The term "time machine", coined by Wells, is now almost universally used to refer to such a vehicle. The Time Machine has been adapted into three feature films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. It has also indirectly inspired many more works of fiction in many media productions.