Diverse Stories

A heartbroken fashion designer escapes to Tokyo to be an assistant on a movie set, only to get caught up in an illicit, whirlwind romance with the lead actor. ***** After discovering her fiance is cheating on her, heiress and fashion designer Lily Porter is whisked away to Tokyo to help a production company adapt one of her great-aunt's novels. She isn't thrilled about lying about being her aunt's assistant until it throws her into the path of the movie's lead actor, who is enough of a distraction to keep her mind off her ex for good. But can there really be a future for them when their relationship is built on lies, false identities, and a secret engagement? [[Wattys' Longlisted]] [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]

Mira finds herself stuck in the city of love with Jake, the playboy athlete she can't stand. What she doesn't expect is for major sparks to fly on their 24-hour adventure. But can this newly-found love last beyond the magic of Paris? ***** 24 Hours in Paris is now published as a Paperback & E-book by W by Wattpad Books As a Wattpad reader, you can now access both the Original Edition and the W by Wattpad Books Published Edition here upon purchase (PS: a review on Amazon (and also Goodreads) would be very much appreciated, to help get this POC rom com in front of more readers! All the review page links are on my Wattpad profile page :-) ) In the new Published Edition of the book, the characters of Mira and Jake will be older and wiser co-workers in the corporate world, who miss their flight and get stuck spending an extra 24 hours in Paris. They'll start off annoyed with each other, but you know how the story goes... "Adorably sweet and a brilliant read! It made me feel like I was roaming the streets of Paris without having to leave my couch." - Grace @HQ ***** On the last day of their class's college trip to Paris, Mira and Jake get tangled up in a debacle that causes them to miss their flight home to New York. Which means they're stuck in Paris until the next available flight that's 24 hours away! Mira is witty and a lover of art history and good cheese. Jake, on the other hand, is your All-American frat boy with a killer smile. Translation: they can't stand each other. As they visit places they could never have imagined, Mira and Jake go from mortal enemies to star-crossed lovers with sizzling chemistry. But can their spark last without Paris' cheese and charm to keep it going? [[word count: 50,000-60,000 words]] Cover designed by Ray Gardener

WATTPAD ORIGINAL EDITION In 1955, mixed-race Ethan Harper leaves his progressive hometown for a summer in Alabama where he's not welcome, except by resident free spirit, Juniper Jones. ***** After getting himself into a bout of trouble, 16-year-old Ethan Harper's parents send him to Ellison, Alabama, to live with his aunt and uncle for the summer. But the year is 1955, and Alabama is a far cry from his beloved home of Arcadia, Washington. As much as it's hotter in temperature, it's colder in every other way, and Ethan learns the hard way that people see his mere existence as a threat. Amidst all the mayhem, a fiery, free-spirited, oddball walks into Ethan's life. Her name is Juniper Jones. She is the first person in Ellison who seems unfazed by their racial differences, and she promises to give Ethan a summer he will always remember, filled with endless adventure and discovery. With Juniper, Ethan can breathe, he can be, despite the incessant attention and bullying their newly formed friendship attracts. Can the two survive the summer, run in the light and block out the noise of the outside world? [Published version comes out June 16, 2020 with Wattpad Books!] [[word count: 70,000-80,000 words]]

WATTPAD BOOKS EDITION. It only takes one moment to change your life forever . . . After her mother's deportation last year, all Soledad "Sol" Gutierrez wants is for her life to go back to normal. Everything's changed-new apartment, new school, new family dynamic-and Sol desperately wants to fit in. When she joins her community college's history club, it comes with an odd initiation process: break into Westray's oldest house and steal . . . a fork? There's just one problem: while the owners of the house aren't home, their grandson Ethan is, and when he catches Sol with her hand in the kitchen drawer, she barely escapes with the fork intact. This one chance encounter irrevocably alters her life, and Sol soon learns that sometimes fitting in isn't as important as being yourself-even if that's the hardest thing she's ever had to do.

WATTPAD BOOKS EDITION. There are some friends you never forget. It's the summer of 1955. For Ethan Harper, a biracial kid raised mostly by his white father, race has always been a distant conversation. When he's sent to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle in small-town Alabama, his blackness is suddenly front and center, and no one is shy about making it known he's not welcome there. Enter Juniper Jones. The town's resident oddball and free spirit, she's everything the townspeople aren't-open, kind, and accepting. Armed with two bikes and an unlimited supply of root beer floats, Ethan and Juniper set out to find their place in a town that's bent on rejecting them. As Ethan is confronted for the first time by what it means to be black in America, Juniper tries to help him see the beauty in even the ugliest reality, and that even the darkest days can give rise to an invincible summer . . .

Bookery (BUUK- uhr-ee) -- a collection of books _._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._ When a boy finds out his crush works at the local bookstore. This book is currently unedited (read with caution) Highest Category Ranks : #2 in Bookstore, #3 in Teen Romance #6 in Diverse

Born into slavery, Lena Wells escapes in search of freedom-but instead finds a Union camp overflowing with runaways, soldiers, and the man whose gaze she can't seem to forget. What begins as stolen glances soon becomes forbidden touches and passionate, secret kisses. But war has a way of claiming everything, and when Julian is called back to his regiment, Lena is forced to let him go. Four years later, Lena has built a fragile new life in Philadelphia-a seamstress by day and a devoted mother by night, determined to protect the child who carries the face of the man she lost. Julian Dennis, wounded and discharged, is living in the same city rebuilding a life that no longer feels like his own. When a chance assignment brings Lena into his home that he shares with his mother-who has hired her to sew a few dresses-the past collides violently with the present. One look at Lena's little girl sends Julian spiraling. She looks like him. She acts like him. And the timing is undeniable. Yet Lena insists the child isn't his. Now Julian is torn between hope and heartache, while Lena clings to the truth she's carried alone for years. As long-buried emotions resurface and new wounds open, both must confront not only the ghosts of the war, but the powerful forces of society, race, loyalty, and love that threaten to keep them apart. Because sometimes the war doesn't end on the battlefield- Sometimes it finds you again, exactly where you're trying to start over.

-- I never wanted to grow up in a world that was ravaged. I never asked to be born into a small minded town. I never had the choice to choose my own future. So I'll just tear it all down. -- Life is pretty simple right now. If you count an asteroid deemed K-272828 that almost crashed into Earth almost fifty years ago and a now-harmless Orange Fever that quadrupled the size of wild animals, shrunk domesticated ones, killed over half our planet, and disintegrated all man made objects, then yeah, it's pretty simple. Dodging marriage expectations, chasing university dreams, running from government officials, and juggling normal daily life tasks is a lot for a kid of only seventeen. Times have changed, schooling is no longer required, kids are needed at home to work the farms, electricity and any source of moving mechanics are all abolished. It set America back about a thousand years. Now with the U.S trying to rebuild, political borders are being drawn, tensions are rising, and riots are becoming more frequent. The common world is no longer survivable by everyone- it's survival of the fittest. -- EXCERPT- Branches break and get trampled in my wake as I crash through the dense trees surrounding and blinding my already limited vision. Almost there. Almost there. Almost there. It's kind of become my daily life chant. Or, "one foot in front of the other." Or "just get through the day." Or, this is a serious one I save for when I run in the mornings, "the mind is your only limitation." I came up with that myself. I have one more, I know, I have a lot, it's what helps me through my day, "if you don't get your fat ass moving right now you'll be eaten and you'll never find yourself a man." That's the biggest one. Back to me running for my life...

Previously known as Silent Downfall. Featured on @mystery and @Ambassadors 2nd Place | Best Protagonist | Reader's Choices Awards by @thetranquilityteam Revenge is not the only thing on his mind as he observes the ten-year-old. Indian all-rounder Mayank Sharma has never had a smooth life, on or off the field. Being constantly haunted by traumatizing memories is bad enough, but things take a worse turn during a home series against Bangladesh, particularly owing to its ever-mysterious captain, Waseef Ibrahim. For a reason unknown to most, his long-cherished grudge against Waseef intensifies this time, before an encounter on the field makes it spiral out of control. On a short trip attended by both teams, Mayank is finally awarded a chance to seek revenge for everything he thinks Waseef has put him through. However, as he approaches his foe's unattended young cousin, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions overpowers him. Is he even half the monster he thinks he is? Trigger Warning: self-harm, suicide, and mild violence.

In a city where the steam network remembers your secrets, the revolution begins with a wrench. Thomas Li-Harrison is a mixed-heritage engineer fixing the pipes that keep Shanghai warm. When impossible readings start appearing in the network - and his body starts doing things he never learned - he discovers the infrastructure he's maintained for years is hiding something vast, watchful, and alive. Now every pipe whispers a question he can't ignore: who built this system, and what is it really for? ⚙️ THE INTERACTIVE EXPERIMENT: This is an iterative serial. Your comments and votes shape the plot and the romance in real-time. ⚡ JOIN THE RESISTANCE: Sign up for the Substack (link in bio) to get the secret Marco prequel story and vote on future chapters!

In the floating sandstone city of Qasr al-Ghabam, perfection isn't requested-it's enforced. As the youngest son of the High Falconer, Tariq's life is entirely mapped out. He is expected to be the ultimate soldier, inherit his family's legacy, and marry for political power. But Tariq is a ticking time bomb. Beneath his heavy turban and dark lenses lies a dangerous double life: he is fiercely drawn to men in a culture that forbids it, and he carries the rare, striking white curls and icy eyes of an ancient, outlawed magic. One slip-up, and his family will cast him into the abyss. When a dark, crystalline rot threatens to pull the floating city from the sky, Tariq must venture into the treacherous desert below to find a cure. His only guide is Zayn-a guarded, sharp-tongued rogue who loathes the upper class and values his own survival above all else. For Tariq, this journey is about duty, survival, and protecting his family's honor. But as the desert sands shift, navigating the ancient ruins might be easier than resisting the cold, unyielding pull of the boy walking beside him. "I'm here to save my city, Zayn. Not to be saved by you." "Good. Because I don't plan on keeping you alive, princeling."

"I came here fleeing an arranged marriage. My sudden disappearance would be chalked up to the legend and people wouldn't think twice about it. I didn't actually believe that there was anything here, let alone a whole fucking village of werewolves in the mountains. Your territory was my way out, and I don't take well to other people telling me what to do, so I'll say it again: if you don't let me go, we're going to have a fucking problem." The Alpha smirks, leaning forward in his seat. "Well, you're going to have to get over it, niñita, because now that you're here, I have no intention of letting you go." Savannah Saint Ives, the only daughter of Alpha Sebastian Saint Ives-the leader of the most preeminent werewolf pack in the world-is everything an Alpha female entails. With alpha blood coursing through her veins, she's easily one of the strongest warriors in her pack and was born to be a leader. Betrothed against her will to the next Alpha of the neighboring pack in order to keep a high ranking position, she flees her home in the interest of keeping her freedom. En route to a territory in New Mexico, where a pack was said to have mysteriously disappeared over 200 years ago, she decides the best way to avoid her arranged marriage is to disappear completely, and what better way to do this than head to the land of Las Estrellas? A place where wolves have been said to venture and never return. This is a MATURE story containing violence, explicit language, and sexual situations. It is intended for readers 18+ HIGHEST RANKINGS: #1 in alphafemale on 12 July 2020 #12 in paranormal on 16 October 2023 #4 in supernatural on 28 October 2023 #1 in runaway (out of 22.2k stories) on 20 August 2024 🥇1 of the winners of Best Opening Line/Paragraph in the Twilight Mini Awards 2023 🥇1st place in the Pool Party Mini Awards for Best First Chapter 2023 🥉3rd place in the Retrograde Awards 2020

In the soot-choked conditions of the Substris, survival is the only rule. Imani is turning eighteen with no path in mind. Born into the poverty of Saldara one of the wards of Substris she must she expects to fail the upcoming Inspection as all those from Substis do. But the life has other plans. Facing the reality of being drafted into into Velrath, the elite, cutthroat military academy of the ruling class where one must learn to wield their ability. It's a place of violence where you are formed into the weapon the Empire needs you to be. The question is what kind of weapon will she become, if any at all?

This is a book filled with a collection of diverse short stories that were born from random moments of inspiration. It is meant to push the boundaries of creativity and is in no way at all meant to offend anyone. Every tale told here offers a glimpse into a different world, testing different scenarios. Whether you're looking for a brief escape or a thought-provoking narrative, these stories provide a fascinating journey through the whimsical and the extraordinary.

Arkie "Aster" Davino loves music. He loves performing on stage. But sometimes, even passion isn't enough to keep someone from being sucked dry by the weight of public expectations. Burned out by life as a P-Pop idol, Aster decides to take a short vacation in the countryside. In La Union, he meets an awkward yet endearing fan who reminds him why he fell in love with music in the first place. Alas Del Mundo has long felt as though his life has been standing still. That while the whole world moves forward, he's been left behind. And it's a feeling he escapes through the music of GALAX-E, his favorite P-Pop group. Being a fan of GALAX-E's leader Aster should have been enough. Yet Fate, with its strange sense of humor, places the very man Alas admires right in his neighborhood. As the distance between idol and fan begins to blur, Alas can't help but wonder: Does he have the right to reach for a star he was only ever meant to admire from afar?

Camp Campbell reunites after six years! Max, Neil, Nikki and the rest of the campers will have to help uncover mysterious events that are happening at the camp. With the special assistance of Harrison, who has been figuring out the secrets of a spell book he stole from the Quartermaster during his time home, can the trio be able to believe in the magician's warnings and save the day?

When Eva Wu finds out about her husband Alexander Harrington, the CEO of Harrington Inc., she is devastated. At night, things lead up to a large fight which resulted in an accident that Eva tries to escape from. Noah Kim, a billionaire tech mogul who runs a biotech and space company, initially despises Eva. However, what happens when both of them cross paths? The path to a fresh start is at arm's reach for Eva, but obstacles make it more complicated and the police may catch up to her.

Saad is a 30-year old divorced man who works as a salesperson in an electronics company and has enough money for himself but not quite enough to support his parents. Unlike his siblings, he does not have a "proper" degree or a high paying job. His life has been a mess since the beginning until he meets this beautiful young woman who's rich. He wants to know more about her until he realises that this woman's life has secrets that no one should know

Her presence was accentuated by the sharpness of her elongated nails and the elegance of her pointed chin, which contributed to her exquisitely defined jawline. With every step she took, her ears twitched as if attuned to the secrets whispered by the surrounding wilderness, while her nimble fingers gracefully brushed aside any obstructing vegetation that dared to cross her path. And as she fluttered her enchanting eyelashes, Calvin couldn't help but be drawn to the mesmerizing juxtaposition before him-a single eye possessed a clarity of light blue, while its counterpart exuded an enigmatic mist of ethereal purple, a sight that held a spellbinding mystery all its own. The pixies' delicate movements came to a sudden halt, their bodies dropping gracefully to the forest floor. Heads bowed, they paid homage to the figure that had captured their attention. The music that had filled the air moments ago ceased, leaving only the soft sound of liquid dripping from the glistening foliage. It was the pixie queen who had arrived.

A short story about gender, and society, and illusion, and dragons. ----- Or: Nathan is young, queer, and alone. Aris is fluid, 'sikar' and a dragon. Glamour is a short story about illusions, gender, self-expression, reclamation of slurs, and what it means to be queer.