Inventor Selene Mintz and her partner Arch Kenton are on the cusp of breaking into the upper levels of Inno-Tech with their latest inventions when she is rocked by a devastating betrayal. Unsure who to trust but hellbent on making the person pay, she fights for control of her idea before the materialistic tech company turns it into a sinister capitalistic nightmare capable of destroying the lives of millions. Cover image by Noah Buscher from Unsplash

He might become the next small town hero with stars in his eyes... and a monster in his veins. Good has a dark side. Evan Mack's football coach will do anything to win. He has the formula for success that took last year's starting quarterback, Xavier Rhodes, to the state championship and beyond. If Evan participates in the coach's secret fitness and diet program, money and fame, and even his high school crush, the girl of his dreams, Lexa Thorn, will be his for the taking. By winning all the big games, he could become a small town hero. But having your dreams come true, comes with a price, a dark side. Austin Campbell, this year's starting quarterback was found dead under mysterious circumstances, opening up the starting position for Evan. Rumors circulate that his death wasn't an accident as the police reports claimed. There could be a murderer lurking in their small town. Evan's greatest fear is monsters in the dark. The last thing he expects is to become the Monster in the dark. Problem is, that monster wants out, no matter how hard he tries to keep it locked in its cage. And when it comes out, no one is safe, not even the girl of his dreams, or the other girl-next-door with the glasses and straight A's who happens to think the world of him. Open Novella Contest Story Vampire/Werewolf Prompt #3 3. Your greatest fear is monsters in the dark. The last thing you expect is to become the Monster in the dark. Small Town Hero Cover Credits © <a href='https://www.123rf.com/profile_virtosmedia'>virtosmedia</a>, <a href='https://www.123rf.com/free-images/'>123RF Free Images</a>

| 3x Featured | ONC 2024 Ambassadors pick | ONC 2024 Honourable mention | "Be careful of the waters you tread in, Mr. Crawford because you might become the very thing that lurks beneath." In the gritty underworld of London, Rhazien Crawford leads a double life. By day, he works as a detective, solving crimes and bringing justice to the streets. But by night, he is a vampire hunter battling the undead and protecting the innocent from their bloodthirsty clutches. One night, Rhazien's usual hunt takes a dark turn when he stumbles upon a child caught in the middle of a massacre. Unable to leave the boy to his fate, Rhazien takes him under his wing until Van Helsing Inc. can find him a safe home. But as he delves deeper into the child's past, Rhazien discovers that he is the son of Lord Ravenwood, the notorious crime boss of London. Now, Rhazien must decide between his duty as a detective and his duty as a vampire hunter. With time running out and his morals at stake, he must find a way to liberate London from the grip of corruption and protect the kid at all costs. Will he overcome the darkness within and emerge victorious, or will he succumb to the shadows and become the very thing he hunts? Only time will tell in this thrilling tale of danger, intrigue, and battle between a hunter and the creatures of the night. Prompt #3: "Your greatest fear is the monsters in the dark. The last thing you expect is to become the Monster in the dark." Started on: February 14, 2024 Ended on: April 28, 2024 Total word count: 27 600 Round 1(2000 words):✔ Ambassadors' pick: 🏅 Round 2 (8000 words): ✔ Round 3 (20 000+ words): ✔ Longlist: ✔ Shortlist: ✔ Honourable mention:🏅

Three years ago, Ivelle Delaville poisoned her murderous git of a husband and ran away to start a new life. Now blissfully single, Ivelle is content with her carpentry business (apart from the crushing debt), and she's determined to live a life free of romance and villainy. Or so she thinks. Faced with the threat of foreclosure, Ivelle has a choice: poison the evil Prince Eirifold in exchange for a metric f*ckton of gold, or starve to death as her carpentry business goes bankrupt. It seems like a no-brainer... except for one problem. The prince she's been hired to poison may not be as evil as advertised. He's also a really good kisser. ~ Book 1 of The Murdery Marriages ~

: ̗̀➛ Open Novella Contest (ONC) - Entry ༘♡ ⋆ *ೃ༄ Prompt 22 - You get ready for work one morning as usual. When you arrive at your car, which is parked in the street, the windshield is covered in blood.ೃ࿐ . . . . . ╰──╮Blurb╭──╯ . . . . . In the quiet town of Eldridge, Willma's mundane life takes a spine-chilling turn when she stumbles upon blood splattered across her car windshield. A devoted fan of true crime and thriller novels, Willma finds herself thrust into a real-life mystery as a series of gruesome deaths unfold in her community. Intrigued by the enigmatic "ShadowBlade" killer, who dons a chilling mask during his heinous acts, Willma becomes determined to unravel the truth. As the town becomes paralyzed by fear, Willma's obsession with the elusive murderer intensifies. Unbeknownst to her, the killer becomes aware of her relentless pursuit and begins fixating on her in return. "Masked Desires" is a gripping tale of forbidden allure and the dangerous dance between a girl infatuated with darkness and a killer drawn to her irresistible curiosity. In this twisted game of obsession, the boundaries between hunter and hunted blur, revealing the haunting consequences of desires that should never be embraced.

Entry for the Open Novella Contest (ONC) 2024 For as long as they could remember, Ivan and Vixen have lived their whole lives in Oaksville, your typical town inhabited by folks repeating a menial cycle for decades with seemingly no hope for anything short of a white-collar job. People work, come home, rest, and the routine seemingly repeats for generations without any signs of stopping. The very definition of "Unexceptional" However, those bygone days would be cut short, and a dangerous game was about to be played. On a fateful night, that cycle is forever broken, and their lives can never be the same again as the town is seemingly terrorised by a serial killer involving sever particular victims with some sort of relation to both Ivan and Vixen. Ivan and Vixen must learn to keep their friends close, and enemies closer, as the killer plays a long-term scenario of cat and mouse with all proceeding clues leading to one dead end after another, and any eyewitness with clues to the killer's identity is hastily silenced. No one can help them but themselves, and the only lead they have is a proclamation from the killer written in bold "YOU ARE THE CENTRE STAGE" -- Cover made by @ClaraElisibeth

[ONC 2024 Shortlister] When turning back isn't an option, what does it take to delve into the unknown? After a troubled upbringing in the foster care system, Gemma Haywood is used to switching homes. Her latest destination is Milnhome, the rural town where her runaway brother Jacob has resurfaced after five years of silence. With its distant location, picturesque countryside setting, and the chance to reconnect with her only living family, Milnhome carries all the hallmarks of a fresh start. Yet the move isn't the new beginning that Gemma hopes for. Jacob is nowhere to be seen when she arrives, and it doesn't take long for Gemma's search to turn up her brother's dead body. The news sends shockwaves through the quiet community, exposing deep tensions between the town's residents and the private security company Jacob worked for. And when Gemma digs into her brother's life looking for answers, she uncovers signs of a worrying conspiracy that threatens Milnhome's whole future. With every step, Gemma descends further into danger. What made Jacob reach out to her after so many years apart? Why did he keep her a secret from the locals? And as new friends and old mysteries spring up around the town in equal measure, can Gemma find herself a home between these hills? *** Written for #ONC2024. 13. "Every family has that one member of whom no one speaks, and that's you." 27. "Sometimes love is what drives you to take your next breath. Other times, it's revenge."

Vampires and hunters are like cats and dogs. They either tolerate each other, or they go for the throat. There isn't supposed to be a third option. ⋅⋆⋅ Lailoken is a powerful, ancient vampire with peculiar fog powers. He's just awoken from a long slumber in his beloved woods. He thirsts for an adventure in the modern world and brings chaos everywhere he goes. If not whimsical, then bloody... He crosses paths with Josie, a strong, independent woman who isn't intimidated by his fangs. With her as his guide, he's ready for his first road trip of the twenty-first century. While hunters are on their trail looking for a vampire killer on the loose, Lailoken and Josie hide out in shady motels, vampire nightclubs, and blood dens, and their friendship grows into something more. But charming as he may be, Lailoken is a killer, and Josie has the means to bring him to justice. Trusting her may be his undoing. Their entangled tale unfolds in a story filled with campy entertainment, romantic tension, and a fresh take on the vampire genre. ⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄ ✨ ONC 2024 Ambassadors' Pick and SHORTLISTER. Prompts: 13, 58, 15, and 22. 🩸 Content warnings: blood and gore. 💕 Spice level: mild. 🖌️ Book cover artwork and design by Isobel Lynx.

[ Mystery / Romance / Mature ] Grady just wants to grieve the loss of his ex in peace, but then Quinn's younger sister, Taryn, whirls into his Texas hometown, looking to stir up the past. She brings in a wave of goons with her and a mystery that's well beyond his pay grade. Still, it's Grady's job to serve and protect, and as much as he may want to, he can't deny his involvement. Or Taryn's plea for help. Quinn's life may depend on it... | Featured on @Romance / Romantic Suspense | | @Mystery / Book of the Month / Stand Out Mysteries (April 2025) |

A young woman makes the brave decision to flee her toxic stepfather, only to be taken hostage by an escaped convict hours later, but he may just be the key to her freedom. 🔥BOOK ONE IN THE MAYHEM SIX SERIES🔥 *** After stealing money from her wealthy but controlling stepfather, Nataly Collins makes the bold decision to run away with her four-year-old sister. But as she does, she crosses paths with an escaped convict from the local penitentiary, and he plans to keep the sisters hostage until he can safely cross the Canadian border. Of course, the more Nataly spends time with this convict, the more she learns he isn't what he appears to be despite his death-themed tattoos and intimidating stature. Soon it becomes obvious that they need each other to avoid capture. And Nataly can't help but feel the safest she's ever felt around him. Will she be able to fight off her emerging feelings for this dangerous criminal?l? ~ ACCOLADES ~ 🏅ONC HONORABLE MENTION ✨ ONC Shortlister ❤️ AMBASSADORS PICK 🔥 Third ranking in #badboy