To Love A Ghost || ONC 2023 Shortlist
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- Parts 10
Prompt #23: They were not real, everyone told me they were not real. But why are they here? Why are they trying to talk to me? Why are they calling me the ONE? Why are they staring at me like that?
***
When bored corporate 9 to 5'er Jace Palmer inherits his great-aunt Lorraine's flower shop in tiny River Bend, Wisconsin, nothing will stop him from realizing his lifelong dream of owning his own coffeehouse and bookstore. No matter what he must sacrifice to achieve it...his life savings...his marriage...and, as strange things begin happening in the shop and the apartment above it, his sanity.
Jace is certain he's going crazy, but then one day the apparition of a young man appears before Jace's very wide-awake eyes, looking and speaking like an ordinary human. Except no human can vanish and reappear. No human can walk through walls and closed doors. And no human-not even his ex-wife-has ever stirred the feelings in Jace that he has for the ghost of Daniel Walsh.
*To Love a Ghost is a paranormal small-town M/M romance explicitly written for ONC 2023. This story contains adult language, themes, and depictions of 1930's era as well as modern-day attempts at gay conversion therapy (which some readers may find uncomfortable or disturbing) and a rather unconventional HEA.*
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While her best friend Cassidy snacks on brie and boys in France, Darcy Li-Quinn must face her last year of high school and the unpredictable wrath of her sister, Danica, alone. Darcy's plan for dealing with Danica and her heinous friends is simple-be invisible. But first, she's promised Cassidy she'll do 'one brave thing'. Mustering the courage to say 'hi' to the cute boy on the bus, Darcy expects rejection or indifference. She doesn't anticipate a grumpy ghost with unfinished business who needs her help. Suddenly, a quiet year of flying under the radar looks increasingly unlikely. *** Rationally, Hunter Viera knows that his brother's death wasn't his fault. But that doesn't stop his guilt about Archer invading his every thought or lessen the grief sitting heavy in his chest. Changing schools offers a fresh start, and Hunter's plan is simple-be invisible. But he hasn't counted on Darcy, or her ludicrous claim that Archer speaks to her from beyond the grave. Suddenly, a quiet year of sitting on the sidelines looks increasingly unlikely. *** This is a story about hearts and hope and public transport. This is Darcy and Hunter's story (and a little bit Archer's too). *** 'Get A Life' is my entry for Open Novella Contest 2023 and is inspired by the following prompts. 20. You finally build enough courage to talk to that cute someone you see every day on the bus. Their face turns dark as they respond "You shouldn't be able to see me." 9. There's an urban legend that's been circulating for years about a taxi cab that doesn't take you where you want to go, but where you need to go. One night, you stepped into this cab.
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