///On Hold/// Mary Beth has lived in a small town her entire life. Her home life is chaotic, and she's bullied at school. She has a strong inner sense that there is more to life than what she has endured thus far, but it will take a leap of faith to discover the wide world with all its beauty and heartache. The summer of 1996 brings hope and promise. As she turns 18 and graduates high school, she's faced with decisions that will alter the course of her life. **Submission for the 2021 ONC Contest **Prompt Used: #29

🏆 ONC 2021 Ambassador's Pick, Shortlister, & HONORABLE MENTION To the outside world, young novelist Cristina Castillo appears to have nothing but success. With four published works under her belt, she is a literary wunderkind. But behind closed doors, she has a secret shame: countless notebooks filled with unfinished stories. Cristina's waking mind is plagued with the underdeveloped characters, incomplete plots, and cliché themes of her countless abandoned and discontinued tales. So many dreams, forgotten. While attending the release party for her latest published novel, Cristina comes face-to-face with none other than the protagonist of one of her most beloved (and unfinished) passion projects. He tells Cristina that he wants an ending for his story. And he warns her: he is not her only forsaken character seeking fulfillment. As Cristina's vengeful creations begin coming out of the woodwork, she is plunged into the depths of her very vivid and expansive imagination. A journey of humor, adventure, terror, and startling self-discovery ensues as Cristina tries to return to reality. She soon learns, however, that the only way to escape the fictional worlds she dreamed into being is to appease her creations by writing their endings. *Rated MATURE for language 32,000+ words ☆☆ FEATURED STORY ~ Eight Times!! HIGHEST RANKINGS ~ #2 Hamlet #4 Edgar Allan Poe #5 Writer's Block #6 Open Novella Contest 2021 #14 Shakespeare #42 Alice in Wonderland

*Book One in the Every Other Memory Series* Elle Montgomery is a model daughter, student, sister, and friend with everything ahead of her. Her ambitious, A-type personality doesn't leave a lot of room for her to relax, and she struggles to find balance as life becomes more and more complicated. But when she finds herself drawn back to childhood friend and reluctant bad boy Greyson Pruitt, who she's loved longer than she can even remember, life as Elle knows it will never be the same - and neither will she. From the outside looking in, Greyson Pruitt has it all. A one way ticket to division one college hockey and fast track to the NHL, parents who are madly in love (emphasis on madly), and no shortage of girls who are interested in capturing his cautious heart. But no one can see his world crumbling around him as we watches his friend battle a potentially terminal illness, his sister move six thousand miles away, and his parents' unpredictable, rollercoaster relationship fracture. So when the girl he's looked out for all his life sees what no one else can, how is he supposed to say no to what she offers, what he's always wanted? The only thing standing in his way? The fear that his happiness will come at the expense of hers. Stay tuned!

Two people, heading toward the unknown. Tragedy brings them together, unearthing secrets and guilt that could devastate their lives. Will the tangled wreckage be the end, or a fresh new beginning? **Trigger warning - this book will discuss grief, loss, death, mental health issues, suicide, and substance abuse. Consider this as rated PG-13 for mature subjects and please steer clear if you think this will at all trigger you. Your well being is more important 🧡** Special thanks to @TalitaLawrence for this stunning cover!

When Lara's life in Portland falls apart, she's given a timely opportunity to escape when she inherits her grandmother's cottage in a tiny town on the northern coast of France. Love, mystery, and self-discovery await as she explores a new country, makes new friends, and uncovers a secret about her grandmother's past. Will Lara find her heart's desire, or has it always been there waiting for her? *** 1st Place Winner of the Optimistic Awards 2020 *** 2nd Place Winner of the Borderverse Awards 2021

/// On Hold /// Anna has lived her whole life in what many consider the Christmas town of the West Coast. She's not unhappy, but life has seemingly fallen into a holding pattern. Enter Gabriel O'Connor. Her high school crush. Gabe hasn't been to his hometown in years and wasn't thrilled to be back. But seeing Anna Henderson again sparked something long forgotten. Disclaimer: Leavenworth, WA, USA is the setting but the story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

Accidentally swapping phones with L.A.'s star quarterback upends reclusive author Mila's quiet life when they start to fall for each other. ***** Mila Lyne, published author and introvert by heart, tries her best to stay out of the spotlight. Then fate strikes, and she literally stumbles into Hayden's arms. Hayden Cross lives an extraordinary lifestyle that is the complete opposite of Mila's, but Hayden wouldn't be Hayden if he didn't chase what he wants. And right now, it's the mysterious brunette who accidentally fell into him and grabbed his phone. With only the power of words on display, the unlikely pair develop a connection that is stronger than it should be, one that has an unforeseeable impact on both Hayden and Mila's life. The question is: Will life and secrets get in the way, or are they strong enough to withstand the obstacles they're about to face?

"Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality." -- Lewis Carroll A collection of short stories of multiple genres. Some are one-shots for contests, and others I wrote simply because I felt inspired. ▪︎ Hayase ▪︎ Never Wonder ▪︎ Coffee, Tea, or Me? ▪︎ From Neverland, With Love ▪︎ Magic Pumpkin Café ▪︎ Lipstick Graffiti ▪︎ Mean Princesses ▪︎ These Keen Delights ▪︎ All For Show ▪︎ Hindsight is 2020 HIGHEST RANKINGS: #1 TheCalling #1 Rewind the Classics #5 Flight Attendant #15 Literary Fiction #16 Fairytale Retelling #85 Wonderland

Jasmine and Mason are the best of friends. They've been through thick and thin together. When Mason sees another side of Jasmine, they have to decide if lust can become love. *Story told from multiple points of view.*

Everyone deals with heartbreak in a different way. When Jamie finds her boyfriend and sister in bed together her life changed forever. To deal with heartbreak some girls eat, some girls cry while some girls pick up a gun......