Historias de Onc2023

It's 1893, and Kitty's eleven cousins - her adoptive siblings - have all moved out. She only has Sherlock Holmes for company, until Cousin Joey returns from America alongside his dashing benefactor, Benedict Hawkins. Scotland Yard Inspector Tobias Thackery has spent a decade looking for his runaway sister. New clues on her trail point to an anarchist plot, and Kitty won't be left out as Tobias recruits family members into a spy network. The risks are real, and more personal than Kitty expects, on her whirlwind quest to self-fulfilment. * ONC2023 shortlister! Prompt 51: The problem with red flags is that I'm attracted to them. * To be completed on July 1st, ~40k words. Cover by @cxmern

Born the son of a lowly hunter and abandoned as a child, Zhenxing never expected to be brought to Heaven and become the most treasured attendant of the mighty Tiger Immortal, one of the twelve Zodiac Guardians appointed by the Jade Emperor. But the world is tumultuous and not even the Heavenly Realm resides in peace for long. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, a dreadful discovery is made. The Tiger Immortal is found dead and a grieving Zhenxing flees Heaven, blamed and pursued by the remaining eleven Zodiacs. Abandoned and bewildered, Zhenxing seeks refuge in the one place those of the Heavenly Realm are loathe to tread: the Demon Realm. While in hiding, he discovers shocking evidence that the one who killed the Tiger Immortal was not his most beloved servant, but one of his fellow Guardians! With the help of a sinister and charming demon prince named Lixin, Zhenxing digs further into the mystery hoping to clear his name and avenge his beloved Tiger Immortal. Beautiful cover made by my lovely friend @AriaofStorms

(ONC 2023 Shortlisted) Shannon Meadows thought he was renting a house in a quiet secluded neighborhood that would allow him to focus on writing his literary masterpiece. Little did he know he was living next door to 80's rock legend Antony LeBon Lacey. Their personalities clash immediately, but soon they are forced to work together to discover what happened when two months disappear overnight and they appear to be the only two people left on Earth. Can they overcome their differences to find an answer to this mystery?

** The horror slumbers buried under many meters of rubble and desert sand. Nameless cartouches, desecrated relics, and a sarcophagus containing an ancient riddle. ** "Ancient lands lost in time. Storms of sand, walls of lime Surround this mask of death that I wear Awakened by invading souls The curse of Pharaoh upon you Who dares to invade his holy ground The gods rise to destroy you." - Symphony X - When young student and photography enthusiast Arabella Redcliffe visits her uncle at an excavation site in Egypt anno 1922, ancient secrets are uncovered that should have remained hidden forever. The men and women of the archaeological excavation stumble upon a still-sealed burial chamber. But not only its condition and location raise questions. Who was buried here, why was his name erased from all records and reliefs, and why were many grave goods wantonly desecrated? Together, Arabella and the dashing archaeological assistant Miles Thornton try to get to the bottom of the mysteries. But then, inexplicable and terrible events begin to take their course. If they don't figure out what's going on in this cursed place fast enough, this tomb could become theirs, too. ***** My entry for the Open Novella Contest 2023 Cover by Me ***** 🥇TheGemstoneBooksAwards - Mystery 🥇 1st Place The Aster Awards - Paranormal 🥇 1st Place Rose Book Award - Mystery 🥇 1st Place Crown Awards - Mystery 🥇 1st Place Luminous Award - Best Title 🥇 1st Place Starlight Mini Awards - Best Prologue 🥇 Grad Prize Starlight Mini Awards 🥇 1st Categories Awards 2023 - Best Cover 🥇 1st Place Astania Awards - Mystery 🥈 2nd Place Starlight Mini Awards - Best Cover 🥈 2nd Place Megawatt Awards - Paranormal/Horror 🥈 2nd Categories Awards 2023 - Best Blurb 🥈 2nd Place Dazzle Awards - Thriller/Horror *****

College student Chris Marley agrees to help an enigmatic professor test a cutting-edge AI tool, but discovers he's entered into a Faustian bargain, and must fight to resist the temptation of power and save his soul. ~~~ In this modern reimagining of the Faust myth, Chris Marley, a student at Southern California University, joins an enigmatic professor's research team testing Project Narcissus, a new AI content-generation tool. Limited only by his imagination, Chris invents new talents and accomplishments to erase his shortcomings. His only proof is what he can conjure with Project Narcissus, but the evidence doesn't lie--or so people believe. Though his fabrications earn him fame, fortune, and a girlfriend, the more Chris embraces his new persona, the more he sacrifices to maintain it. When his unconditional access to Project Narcissus expires, Chris must choose between the temptations of his unfettered creativity and preserving his authentic self. Readers have said: "I find this novel most intriguing as a chronicle of our modern age. Much may be gleaned by studying past stumbles and missteps, that we may avoid repeating history's mistakes." - George Washington "What's the deal with this novel? I gotta tell ya, it was quite a story. Really made me think, you know?" - Jerry Seinfeld "The ending leaves unclear whether he has gained wisdom. I suppose we cannot expect profound personal growth in the span of a novel!" - Lizzie Bennet "Perchance this tale can serve as a caution for us [all]... For as quickly as dreams are conjured, they can turn to nightmares when born of thoughtless fancy." - Puck

The Sentinels are finished. Everyone knows that. Once crucial to the defence of the galaxy, now neglected and labelled as irrelevant, the legendary warriors are a shadow of their former selves. No longer a bastion of the best and brightest, in this time of drones and AIs, when contracts have taken the place of conflicts, they're little more than a collection of misfits and miscreants, battling to justify their existence. None more so than their leader Cameron Estrela - an Earthling, a nobody from a nowhere planet. And now, with a mysterious and sinister threat looming and the fate of the galaxy at stake, they may have the chance. Provided, that is, Cam can steer clear of his malignant ex, see off a swarm of space-pirates, save the Sentinels from budget-cutting bureaucrats and keep both himself and his ragtag crew from being blasted into their component molecules. Good thing he likes a challenge.

***2023 SHORTLISTER FOR THE @OPENNOVELLACONTEST & FEATURED ON (FORMERLY) @STORIESUNDISCOVERED'S 'FEAST ON FICTION' READING LIST IN OCTOBER 2023*** Born and raised within a few steps of Hollywood's golden gate, Arlene Berkshire always knew she wanted to be an actress. After some minor roles in overlooked features, Arlene gets her break at last when she secures a role in Forrest Washburn's highly-anticipated directorial debut. Asked to play opposite a veteran actor who seems to stray from the script only in her presence, Arlene soon finds herself at the cusp of a blossoming affair with the famed Norman Stillwell himself. Yet it is not long after their affair's beginning that an individual reveals a secret that could bring ruin to Arlene's career before it's even started. Thus torn between the man she's fallen for and her reputation, Arlene realizes relatively quickly that no script could have prepared her for what turns out to be her own Hollywood scandal. AN OLD HOLLYWOOD NOVELLA & AN ONC ENTRY.

Canadian Piper Ouellet is going to Paris. She knows the language, she knows the city, and most of all, she knows her ballet. Offered a place in the corps de ballet in the most prestigious ballet in the world, Piper and her best friend Rafael don't even think twice before they accept. They cannot wait for the grand adventures they'll have. Only problem is they can't afford them. The house hunt in Paris is cut-throat and impossible. In their price range, even on a good day the pickings are slim. And they've left their search for the last minute, so they have no other option than to rent the small one-bedroom flat operated by a grumpy old woman who only speaks Spanish. The catch? She'll only rent to one of them. Unless they are married. A coin flip will decide their fate. Heads, he gets the apartment; tails, she does. But what happens when the coin gives them an answer they don't want? ~ * ~ * ~ This is one of the novellas I'm writing for ONC 2023. You can find the rest on my profile! For this story, I've selected prompt # 5. "Flip a coin and make a life choice with it. Two choices, one coin, and no turning back. Do you dare?"

Chris Hallowswift is the heir to the Hallowswift throne. Every date he's ever been on has been organized. He's confined to do whatever his parents organize for him to do and doesn't go out frequently. When his parents organize a blind date for him with an heiress from another well-respected magical family who gives off a bad impression, he never expected to be given an out...and a taste of freedom ---- ONC Prompt 39: On a blind date with a complete mismatch, you're increasingly uncomfortable but too polite to leave. Then an attractive stranger comes over and gives you an out.

Bernard heard other elves talk about finding true love. After living a thousand years he'd not found it, always waiting one more day knowing full well the odds were stacked against him. Disclaimer - I don't own 48 Christmas Wishes or The Santa Clause. This is written for ONC 2023 for prompt forty-three, "You waited a thousand years to find your true love, what's one more day?" 2/5/25 - Ambassador Pick for Fanfic for February 2025. 3/9/25 - Added to Fanfic's Crossover list.

Novella for ONC 2023 Alice was a normal, not insane girl. Her father, the unknown Le Noir trapped her in a place where she's not quite sure is she's real or not. Alastair Chekov. Son of the bratva, trapped in an asylum with Alice. She's crazy, and he's got issues. What more could he want, right? Anisa, one of the Screams. She's gentle, with a dark side. Asha. The second Scream, and the ghost of someone from Alice's past. This is inspired by ONC prompt "Three women. Three different lives. One storyline." ~~ Thanks for reading! If you enjoy stories like this don't hesitate to follow! ~~

• OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2023 • SHORTLISTER • AMBASSADORS' PICK • FEATURED STORY • Artemis Hexley used to be the famed Curse-Breaker of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now, she isn't even a Curse-Breaker anymore. The events that shaped her formative years may be behind her, but with the Triwizard Tournament approaching, her past might be about to catch up with her... This new stand-alone story features Artemis Hexley, the protagonist of the Hexley Saga, as well as a cast of characters from the Wizarding World. The Wilderness Years was written and shortlisted for the Open Novella Contest 2023. It has been a featured story for: • Wattpad Urban Fantasy • Wattpad Potterverse

Grown up in the simple town of Forn, as the daughter to an innkeeper and ex-soldier, the youthful Marion Barwick aspires to become a soldier herself. Beaten down time and time again by life, she is eventually broken and takes on the role of innkeeper her father always hoped her to have. Here, she reunites with an old friend after losing her partner, who invited her to his wedding. The night before the wedding he confesses love to Marion, as well as his family-in-law's likely plans to murder him during the wedding ceremony in a coup of revenge on his family. Determined to save her love and live happily ever after, she elopes with him. Before they can make it off of the palace premise, he turns back to save his family. Now alone and grieving, Marion is left to pick up the pieces of her life to remind her she is worth of love, no matter what. An homage to simple fantasy, short bittersweet romance stories and stories without teenage protagonists. This story is a short recollection of the life and mind of Marion Barwick, a simple woman in search of a meaning to her life after losing her partner. This romance novel is focused on self-discovery, family and found love. Based on a Dungeons & Dragons game. Prompt 55. Since you've been going out for quite some time, your love arranges for you to meet their parents. When you get to their house and you enter the front door, you hear them say "I'm sorry" as the door closes behind you. ~(✩✧✩)~✶~(✩✧✩)~ Chapter I. • 1627 W (Total 1627 W) Chapter II. • 1974 W (Total 3601 W) Chapter III. • 2530 W (Total 6131 W) Chapter IV. • 1869 W (Total 8000 W)

When 16-year-old self-proclaimed genius Kaylee Chan gets dragged into another world she must discover how to survive this new world. Or is it a new timeline. And why does her kidnapper look so... familiar. Done for ONC2023 Based on Prompt 24. One night you hear a voice coming out of your closet in your room. When you want to look into it, you get sucked into another world

A vast beautiful garden existed a long, long time ago, governed by a deity called Igong. She grew flowers and had caretakers to help her. These flowers, however, are not normal flowers, each flower represented a soul. And when one stubborn caretaker, MaSun defies her orders, angering the deity, she was punished into exile. . Was it just a deity's fickleness or a blessing in disguise? What about the coin that followed her since she was a caretaker. Does it have a deeper meaning? Will she succeed in the end? Thus, the journey begins... . . For Open Novella Contest 2023 (ONC) (Original Story)

Eletonias is a kingdom of great technology and pain. Magic is banned, and those found with it face a fate worse than death at the hands of the King and his machines. Runa barely leaves the candlelit alleyways she calls home, working with a rebel group to overthrow the rulers who have forced her to hide her true self. Cyrus is a prince, grappling with vicious court rumours and a secret that could soon become fatal. Desperate to protect himself, their worlds collide when a series of deaths and a shattered crown reveal a darker past than anyone could have expected. But, to save the kingdom and their lives, they must first discover that things will be a lot harder when hell is empty and all the devils are here. Trigger warnings - fire, blood, swords, death, dying, dead bodies, demons, soldiers, skeletons The trigger warnings are not shown in each individual chapter at this point, sorry Main prompt- 62

Winter Sutton, a trained assassin, is sent to kill a mysterious someone who ends up enabling a whirlwind search for answers about their past. All their life, they have been kept in the dark about much of their past. They've asked questions, but over the years, their silence has proven to have better outcomes. One night, when they're instructed to take down a secretive spy, they gain answers to a couple of their many questions concerning where they came from, but this only makes old feelings resurface. For twenty five years, Winter worked to ignore the gut feeling that something wasn't right. Plus, all they've ever wanted is nearly everything this spy has. Open Novella Contest 2023 Entry. Prompt 33: They had their arrow aimed at their target's back, a perfect shot despite the crowded ballroom. Taking a deep, steadying breath, they pulled the bowstring taut and prepared to let the arrow fly. But then their target turned and looked directly at them, finding them in the eaves as if they'd known they were there all along. The target winked. With a bit of prompt 69: "I had a marvelous time ruining everything" -Taylor Swift.

The dead objects know how to tell a story. If you know how to ask them... An unfinished novel. A golden medallion. Even an ordinary coin. When she was only a teen, Clara learned that the voices in her head - the ones that tormented her - came from the objects around her. The family curse that was sprung upon her had followed her for years before she learnt how to live with it. But no learning happens without mistakes. Once anonymous threats start arriving to her door, Clara knows her past has finally caught up to her. Now, she must trust her powers and solve a murder that happened ten years ago before it becomes too late. ----- Entered into the Open Novella Contest 2023 ONC Prompts #5 & #15 ©2023 Jana Tulisa Published to Wattpad 1st of Feb, 2023 Draft Ongoing

Four strangers are trapped in an elevator and forced to reveal details about their most malicious deeds within the hour to prevent a fall to their death. But as secrets are exposed, tension escalates, leading to a reality no one is prepared for. ***** Tasha Pierce receives an anonymous invitation she believes is from her ex-boyfriend hoping to see her in the high-rise building where he resides. But upon ascending in the elevator with three strangers, one of them hits the emergency stop and demands they share details of their most malicious deed within the hour to prevent falling several stories to their death. As secrets are revealed and the hour closes in, who the people are and why they are trapped in a precarious elevator together soon becomes the least of her worries. ***** ONC Prompt 56: You are on a typical awkward elevator ride with a group of other people, and suddenly someone says, "So, I bet you are wondering why I've gathered you here," before hitting the emergency button. ***** | ONC 2023 Round 1 Ambassadors Pick | Copyright©2023 by L.L. Sanders

🏆ONC 2023 || Ambassador's Pick 🏆ONC 2023 || Round Two Qualifier One night is all it takes to change a life. There's something wrong with Felicity Farr. It's how she can't seem to do her job right no matter how hard she tries, and how she's still under her parents' thumb years after moving out, and how she looks at girls the way she should look at boys. So even though she can't fix anything, she tries to fix herself all the same. But when a blind date ends with her in an attractive stranger's bed, Felicity is forced to question everything in her life. Especially when said attractive stranger asks her to run away with her for a week. Clover Chai is beautiful, confident, and everything Felicity should avoid. But she captures Felicity like the drag of the tide, and as the week drags on, Felicity finds herself having to choose between her head and her heart---especially since she can't imagine her summer fling remaining a fling anymore.