Ownvoices Stories

Sorcha O'Callaghan has never had a crush-not on a boy, not on a girl, not on anyone-and at fifteen, she's starting to think she's broken. Then Harry Potter crashes into her life like a storm, flirting constantly, yearning loudly, looking at her like she's the only person in the world, and she feels nothing. Then there's Dean Thomas, quiet and thoughtful, who draws her in secret and loves her in silence, and she feels nothing for him either. She cares for them both-deeply-but the spark everyone talks about never comes, and she's terrified it never will. But when her best friend Luna Lovegood tells her the truth-that she's not broken, just different-Sorcha has to decide: keep pretending to be someone she's not, or embrace the terrifying, beautiful truth of who she really is. Because some hearts beat differently, and that's okay.

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

In 1692, Mary Bradbury was tried, convicted, and sentenced to hang for the crime of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. She escaped, and with her a tome of unbridled arcane power. Centuries have passed since that day. The book has been passed down the family line from witch, to witch, to witch. No longer a book, but an archive-one Witch Hunters have been seeking since the day of Mary's escape. Now, the Archive finds home in the mind of the youngest of Mary's descendants, a bookish girl named Amber. In order to save her family and keep their secrets, Amber will have to break with tradition-but will her family ever be able to forgive her?

[This is the translated version of my original Indonesian story. To support me or read the Bahasa Indonesia version, visit my profile] In an alternate version of the 2000s, where technology surges forward and magic-once revered-is hunted to the edge of extinction, lives a young man named Hans. By day, he is a quiet bartender, blending drinks for patrons who never suspect the truth: buried deep within him lies a power passed down from his mother, a healer and sorceress, and his father, a drunken gambler entangled in the shadows of the criminal underworld. For years, Hans has lived in silence-choosing solitude not for peace, but to shield himself from the scars of his past and the shame that clings to him like a second skin. He hides his power, not out of cowardice, but out of pain. That is, until a stranger walks into his bar. A dark-skinned man from the southern isles, the stranger calls himself Kaelani-or Kaelan. But he is no ordinary guest. He carries with him a sorrow deeper than grief, the remnants of a lost homeland-Maluʻia-an archipelago laid to ruin by the very technology that now rules the world. Like Hans, Kaelan is a mage, a guardian of protective magic betrayed by the one he loved. That betrayal cost him his people, his purpose, and nearly his soul. Their meeting is no coincidence. Two fractured souls, exiled from the destinies they were meant to fulfill, begin to find flickers of hope in each other's quiet company. But beyond the whispered conversations and the soft hum of city nights, the world stirs once more. Magic is awakening-and Hans may be the key that time itself has tried to forget.

"Behind Our Backs" is an #OwnVoices short story about being an autistic kid in middle school. This story includes depictions of ableism. _________ Like most teenagers, Natalie thinks she knows everything. In her efforts to befriend a loner classmate, she realizes the world isn't as simple as she thought.

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

Going home for the holidays can be a difficult time. Especially with a family who you know can never accept who you truly are. Content Warnings: dysphoria, implied abuse, sensory overload, suicidal ideation

Who uploaded the viral video that tanked Bette Porter's mayoral campaign? Powerful, charismatic Bette Porter is poised to become the next mayor of L.A., with the help of ambitious P.R. exec Dani Nunez. But the fundraising gala on Saturday night is a disaster. Instead of polishing Bette's image while the money pours in, a gala participant catches Bette in the middle of a raging temper tantrum and uploads a video that goes instantly viral. At brunch the following day, Bette's friends strategize about how to repair the damage. But what if some damage can't be repaired?

This is poetry I wrote in 2016 expressing my feeling with autism at the time. The style is quite wordy, something I learned to avoid now. Can't really hype it up, just some juvenalia in case I actually turn into an author lol. Enjoy!

Hi, I'm Samantha. 💜 For the Own Voices Contest, I wanted to write a story about disability that focuses on the person behind the disability-not just the challenges they face. Disability can be part of someone's story without being their entire identity. I hope this one-chapter story reminds readers that everyone has their own experiences, struggles, strengths, and dreams. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and see the world through my character's eyes.

When Kirti, an anxious yet curious girl navigating her chaotic first year of college, crosses paths with Agastya a rising archery champion she finds herself captivated not just by her talent, but by the calm strength Agastya exudes. As their worlds briefly overlap through stolen glances at the archery ground, silent walks in the park, and shared moments that speak louder than words Kirti begins to confront feelings she never expected. But love isn't always loud. Sometimes, it's in the silence, in the slow build of trust, and in learning to hold someone's hand even when the world isn't watching. A heartwarming, slow-burn romance about self-discovery, courage, and the beauty of falling for someone in the most ordinary way.

24 year old Ponia is sick of boring, arrogant suitors, but her mom is growing impatient. She has one last chance to decide if she will get married and move to Canada or stay single to become a nun at her old college.

In an alternate reality, an Iroquois scientist and her twin gay sons battle shapeshifting aliens. Telius wants to marry the man he loves. Argen struggles with the residual effects of a deadly drug addiction. Both twins help their mother face Valchondria's greatest threats. Taldra accepted the title of Leader for Valchondria's one-world government. Maintainer Admiral Nil blames her for a series of tragedies and might be as dangerous as the changelings that want to feed on humanity. "The most intriguing aspect of the story is controlled by emotion as relatable characters grow and brave it all together, selflessly helping each other." -Enas Reviews "A major voice not only in American literature but also in the LGBTQ genre. Highly recommended." -Grady Harp, Top 100 Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer The first two chapters are here at Wattpad, now revised as they appear in the published book.

Sin and symphony. That's all a necromancer needs. Octavia is a woman of many hats -- a maestro, an educator, a wanderer and an accomplished liar, and she wears all of them at once if need be. Masquerading as a music teacher, she travels the world on a mission to rid it of the netherborne -- a scourge from beyond the grave. When her travels take her to the tiny island of Hedalda, she finds a town on its knees, under the heel of the netherborne, and a people who believe necromancers are the worst thing to happen to humanity. Wit and a song, necromancy through music, was all she ever needed. But this time it isn't enough. The scourge looms larger with each song Octavia plays, and to save Hedalda she must navigate a web of deceit, look beyond sin and symphony, all while keeping her true identity a secret. Awesome cover was made by @scmimi

At Clairmouth, you are either a Tanner student or an Ocean student-- and you're very insistent about your choice, because the two of them can't seem to agree on anything. Timothy, who missed the memo, is in both classes. Chaos ensues. (Based on a prompt long since lost to the bowels of the internet.)

*ONC ROUND ONE QUALIFIER* *ONC ROUND TWO QUALIFIER* *ONC AMBASSADOR'S PICK* *COMMUNITY CURATOR PICK -- JULY 2020 & FEBRUARY 2021* *MINI AWARD WINNER FOR BEST DIALOGUE -- OPEN DOOR AWARDS 2021* *SUN WINNER - FIRST PLACE FOR FANTASY -- OPEN DOOR AWARDS 2021* ❝ how can you prove whether at this moment we are sleeping, and all our thoughts are a dream; or whether we are awake, and talking to one another in the waking state? ❞ | IN WHICH THERE IS A WAKING, AND A DREAMING, AND A RETRIEVING OF MEMORIES, AND THOSE WHO SPEAK IN DREAMS DO NOT EVEN KNOW THEIR OWN TONGUE | ❝ there are no witnesses to a dream. ❞ (#ONC prompts #15 & #30) (cover by @TahliePurvis )

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.

***A sequel to Fright Fest 2016 Gold Winner RED RAIN and Camp NaNoWriMo 2017 Certified PEPPERMINT*** "Life is about...it's about growth. It's about change. But you seem to just wanna stay the same!" -Thor to Loki, "Thor: Ragnarok" Red Rain was just the beginning. Blue Monday made everything worse. White Shadows started setting things right. The Black Mirror threw some wrenches in the works. Peppermint nearly broke time just to prove it could be done. Alex Snow wishes he could save the demigod in which he was brought up to believe. Kelly Jackson wishes she could save Alex from his impulsive heroism. Josh Christopher may not need saving when he finds his ticket out of Purgatorio. But there are far more tickets in than out. In a world where serpents are both magic and money, and temptations lurk around every corner, these three will be put to the test by God's apathy and the impetuous, even contagious, rage of his eldest son Samael - the original Lucifer himself. (Sixth in the RED RAIN series. Cover designed by @Whisperingwater.)

In which the popular boy attempts to use an exchange student to make his ex girlfriend jealous, but his ex ends up (fake) dating the exchange student instead. - After nearly three years of breaking and making up with her ex-boyfriend, all that Silena Valentine wants is some peace and quiet. Instead, she gets Mena Skelin- a handful of a temporary roommate, whose otherwise extensive vocabulary doesn't seem to include either of those words. Soon enough, Silena finds herself volunteering to do things she never would have even imagined: like kissing someone in front of the entire school, and catching very real feelings for her very fake girlfriend. And the latter kind of sucks, since she's pretty certain that Mena is only doing this in order to get revenge at the boy she actually likes. But then again, everything isn't always what it looks like.

In a small town where words linger and silence feels safer, he learns that being careful isn't the same as being honest - and that loving quietly doesn't mean loving weakly. When We Were Seventeen is about soft boys, hidden songs, and the courage it takes to take up space. Sometimes growing up isn't about getting the love you want. Sometimes it's about becoming the person you needed.