Ownvoices Stories

Memories of him, but he's not really dead.

❖ QUEENKILLER, KINGMAKER Book 1 ❖ Feudal Southeast-Asia filled with magic, daemons, and a royal conspiracy. This is Isla's quest for the truth, and her slow spiral into becoming her very own worst nightmare. When the gods ascended thousands of years ago, they left behind the divine gift of theurgy. Its powers still echo amongst men, but run fiercer yet in the blood of kings and queens. And one of them will stop at nothing before Isla is dead. A betrayal lures her out of refuge and into her journey home, where she must unmask her enemies before they unmask her. The theurgy that she has had to keep hidden for many years can be her greatest ally or her most lethal foil. Only her wits can guide her through the dangerous politics of the Surikh court. But amidst the plots and schemes bubbling around her, she uncovers something far more sinister than the identity of her enemies. Something that can change her entire life; indeed, entire kingdoms. ↝ this work contains violence, profanity, and sexual references ↜ ↝ Winner of Wattys 2016 HQ Love Award ↝ Winner of FANTASCI's first season Chosen One awards ↝ Winner of The Cryptic Awards 2018 ↝ Featured in Fantasy as of 18-01-2017 ↝ Wattpad Editor's Pick January 2021

It's a good thing Rudy was born without vision - imagine how much more big-headed he'd be if he could see how girls reacted to him. But they don't know how gross he is. Only I, his best friend, have that rare pleasure. A foul mouth, devil-may-care attitude, and stubbornness that would put the period stains in my sheets to shame - I pity the girl who decides to date him. But when Rudy is the only thing that stands in the way of me going to prom with my dreamboat crush Shahzaad, you best believe that I'm going to do all I can to get this stubborn mule to do my bidding. Sure, he'll be mad when he finds out I've used him like a pawn, but I have best friend privileges. They'll save me from his wrath. Right?

High school is a period when many young adults discover who they are and what they want to do with their lives. But for some this path is longer and takes more unexpected turns than others. Thomas Swan is about to embark on just such a journey as he finds himself caught up in the machinations of the popular clique who've discovered a way to make the impossible, reality. A collaborative novel written by four trans women, Sophie: A Story of Change features original illustrations.

Anaya never meant to fall in love that night. She doesn't usually do bars-but something about Marcel's called to her. Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was the stress or a need for self. Or maybe it was him-the bartender with a slow smile, curious eyes, and a mysterious charm she couldn't resist. Marcel wasn't supposed to notice her. But from the moment Anaya stepped in, wrapped in red and carrying secrets like shadows, he was hooked. One drink turned into a stolen moment in a quiet parking lot. Then came the song-her voice, pure magic-and he knew he'd never forget her. Anaya, a girl from a quiet town in Lesotho. Marcel, a European bar owner, running from his past. Their connection is instant. Their chemistry, undeniable. But everything between them is built on lies. And when the truth starts to unravel, the people they've been running from return-with a vengeance. In a love story marked by deception, secrets, and passion-can love survive the wreckage of the past, or will it be the thing that destroys them both? He was her escape. She was his obsession. But no one runs forever.

Rania is a poet. Her words, when spoken, change the tides of thought for those who hear them. When written, they can change the progression of time - or predict it. By day, she teaches langauge to the local children, by evening she writes for the resistance. Qays is a guard. He works as the Shah's personal eye in the city, keeping an eye out for anything - or anyone unusual.

Chapter 1 You pay the Pied Piper. Or, he comes to collect. ‬ So says the fairy tale.‬ ‪When Detective Lauren Medina sees his calling card - graffiti of the Pied Piper's name at a murder scene in Chicago's Garfield Park neighborhood she knows he's returned. After two teenagers brutally murder another at the lagoon where her sister's body was found floating years before, she knows that the Pied Piper hasn't only returned, he's seeking payment, and payment is made in blood. Lauren's torn between protecting the city she was sworn to keep safe, and keeping a secret she made long ago with her sister's murderer. Now Lauren has to stop the Pied Piper before he collects her life and keep her sister's murderer hidden, before they're brought to the surface and she loses all that she has left.

TESTING DAY IS HERE Full-of-herself teenager Lilianne Whisper thinks she's got it all figured out. For her, school is an arena to hone "socialista" techniques for manipulating the masses. So Lilianne believes until enchanting Anton Flowers transfers to her class. He's a joyous rainbow in an otherwise brutal world of mutant animal warning signs and torturous Testing Days intended to spark any latent superpowers teens might possess. Lilianne and Anton become best friends, and when they kiss, something more. But Lilianne's world is upturned when Anton Manifests abilities and is sent to Jupitar Island to be with his fellow Supergenics. When Lilianne also shows signs of enhanced DNA, she dreams of being adopted by a wonderful Supergenic family and hopes to see Anton again. But her new life falls short of what the Manifestation propaganda promises. What happens to Lilianne if she only partially Manifests? Will she be doomed to a painful orphaned life as a deformed, servile halfie? In an oppressive system that uses tantalizing lies to hide ugly truths, can her socialista wits rise to seemingly insurmountable challenges while winning Anton to her side? If so, at what cost, to herself ... and the world? Find out in The Girl With Green Scales.

GHOST IN THE SHELL meets THE LUNAR CHRONICLES. Year 2154, Hong Kong: Bod Mods are all the rage. From forearms equipped with blast cannons to telescopes implanted to irises to jet propellers as feet, there is no limit to the modification available that money can buy. University student Chan Meiha witnesses a gruesome Bod Mod safety mechanic malfunction on campus, but that's only the beginning. It's one thing to switch off a glitching machine; it's quite another when it's literally neurally wired to your body and refusing to obey. With the safety measures of Bod Mods now defective, Meiha is tasked to help her stepfather, one of the creators of Bod Mods, fix this glitch. But there are people all too happy to misuse their Bod Mods without repercussion and restriction and Meiha has to sort this before chaos befalls her city. Written for Open Novella Contest II. Round 1 winner.

One man is her family's dream. The other could be her undoing. Suraiya Rao has never quite belonged. She's not white enough for society, not brown enough for her family... not enough for anyone. She's spent her life walking a tightrope between British reality and Indian expectation, doing everything by the book, no matter the cost. Then one chance encounter changes everything. Haydn Ellis Clarke isn't part of the plan. He's rich, ridiculously handsome, and absolutely not the man her family has chosen for her. But he sees her - not the dutiful daughter or the girl buried beneath generations of pressure, but the version of herself she's never dared to be. Mendhi My Heart is a story of identity, belonging, and choosing love, even when it means breaking every rule. Because love doesn't always arrive in the "suitable" package. Sometimes, it wears torn jeans... and gives your grandmother a heart attack.

Andrea Crowley never liked Cody Holcolm, and her opinion of him hasn't changed much since he died. While the rest of Gator Falls is mourning the loss of their resident troublemaker and Homecoming King, Andrea is just trying her best to ignore him--and it'd be a whole lot easier if he'd just keep his mouth shut. Born with the unfortunate gift to see Beyond, Andrea has dealt with annoying spirits all her life. However, Cody is by far the most uncooperative, stubborn, and violent ghost to ever haunt her. Forced to give in to his demands, Andrea soon finds herself on what appears to be a wild goose chase. Cody claims he was murdered, but everybody knows his death was an accident. Just your average, run-of-the-mill car crash. Or... was it? The bodies are starting to pile up in Gator Falls.

Mickey and Dax have been best friends since middle school. They met online when Dax replied to Mickey's Instagram story, however that's all their relationship has been. Everything changes when they finally decide to meet up in person for the first time! However, Mickey doesn't know that Dax has been keeping a big secret from her. When the paparazzi find them together, Mickey finds out her best friend is actually Prince Daxton from Floavania. With pictures of the two of them leaked online, it becomes a big scandal because Dax is betrothed to a princess from a neighbouring country. To unravel this scandal, Mickey visits Flovania and agrees to fake date Dax's brother to prove to the public that nothing romantic is going on between her and Dax however, as the summer comes to a close, it only gets harder for Dax to imagine marrying the princess when he may have fallen for someone he can never be with.

Grace wanted to be the world's smallest magician - but the ring leader had other plans. An #ownvoices flash fiction historical fantasy piece inspired by The Greatest Showman. Originally published on my blog: emilyhornburg.com

University students Pernali and Sebastian finally get the chance to go on a trip abroad, but life is always confusing when you struggle with anxiety. She thinks she's supposed to have it all figured out and know exactly what she wants to do or who she wants to be. The tropical Jamaican air, a special trip to a nightclub, and finally getting the chance to speak to her longtime crush Sebastian, she realizes traveling might have changed her life forever...

"Just because we're in college, doesn't mean things have to change. That's what I thought. But now I feel like an idiot. Of course things would change. We can't stay a perfect trio forever, now that I know I was so wrong about the twins. I thought Kara was a straight girl, and I thought Caleb was a gay guy. How could I not realize it was the other way around? And how can we all stay friends if they're fighting over me?"

The #iwriteincolor campaign allows you to push yourself to write diversely. This means main characters who are of color. This could be BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic), this could be biracial or some combination. It can mean Native and/or First Nations. The point is to create a story from the perspective of characters of color so they can be the star and not the side-kick. This DOES NOT mean that the story has to center around race. In fact, the judges (myself and my writer's club) would prefer that the story focuses on the character's and the amazing situations they encounter. You'll need to use an approved #iwriteincolor prompt. You can choose one from below OR you can sign up for my newsletter and get the full 30 days of prompts and choose from those. They run from Horror to Romance and more. Prompts: Priya gazed up at the sky and saw it fall, like the night had lost an earring. After the third she knew the sky is falling. Chiwetel watched as the last slavers' throat was cut. All eyes were on him and he realized too late he had no idea how to steer a ship. The old auntie handed the girl a reeking pouch of herbs and the girl handed over every cent she had to her name. It was worth it. "But Josefina, isn't garlic supposed to repel vampires?" The altar boys at Our Lady of Mercy were known for their voices but when they sprouted wings things got interesting. You can get more by signing up for the newsletter here: www.eepurl.com/cdHHhH Rules: 1. 500 words or less. 2. Must be original work. 3. Must use one of the prompts provided and include the wording of the prompt somewhere in the text. Prize: Winner will receive an 8GB Kindle Fire HD ready to load with all your favorite titles. I'll ship to Canada and the US only. Deadline: November 2, 2016

In the vibrant world of Eltryia, Ryn stands as a shining star, celebrated for her mesmerizing performances that light up the virtual realm. As the monthly competition approaches, anticipation crackles in the air. Gamers from all corners gear up for a series of intricate puzzles that promise grand rewards. Yet, as Ryn dives into the challenges, an unsettling realization sets in---the puzzles delve into her personal story in a way that could unveil her real-world secret as she is the final piece. VRChat meets Belle meets Ready Player One meets Code Lyoko #1 Cyber Love

A child explains the struggles of their mental illness.

The family's smart but lazy crackpot once wished to get her youth back. And by that, she meant- to lose the dark circles and those damn joint pain. She did not want to move back to the neighbourhood she grew up in, only to play 'parenting' while dealing with her paradoxical younger sister who's slightly scaring everyone with her new persona; her self-proclaimed fitness expert of a mother who thinks she's a successful influencer; her father who is too attached to his culture to stop making new experimental dishes; and her sister's three kids, including an obnoxious one, who may possibly help her out on the angst-ridden-self-discovery journey that she thought she had given up years ago. Worse, she'll have to listen to her mother's scathing sass in person instead of their long distance calls where she usually tunes out the aging (not aging!) proud influencer.