***WINNER OF THE @BeyondSol 'FIRE ON ICE' SHORT STORY CONTEST***Contest Prompt: "Write a short story about a universe everlastingly tormented by frost, in which the only hope to survive, an eternal fire inside one of the planets, starts to die out." (500-1,000 words)I tried to craft a brief description for this story but failed. You will understand if you read it!…
*** OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2021 - HONORABLE MENTION ***The year is 1907, and Amalthea Huntley, Countess of Claremont, is bored. Recently widowed at a young age, she finds very little to entertain her in Edwardian London, until an unusual turn of events at a society party plants the seed of an idea.Lady detective? Why not? It would only be a hobby after all. Lending her considerable powers of observation to some of her closer acquaintances to help resolve their more sensitive issues. After all, what could be so difficult? An instance of minor household theft here, a brief indiscretion there. And it would serve to pass the time. Yes, she resolved. With some careful thought, she was sure she could pull it off, and it would certainly liven things up.Little did Amalthea know that she had bitten off far more than she could chew, when she suddenly finds herself embroiled in a dangerous murder investigation, her only ally being an attractive but rather disagreeable private investigator with a secretive past and a strong dislike for opinionated women.Still, if she wasn't careful, she could find that the biggest threat to her latest diversion was not the case at all, but rather an unexpected something, or someone, a little closer to home.This story is dedicated to Dickie, who acted as my consultant in all things historical.Highest Rankings:#1 historicalmystery (March 2021)#1 crimeromance (March 2021)…
***THE WATTYS 2021 & 2022 - SHORTLISTED ENTRY***The fragile peace between the two ancient kingdoms of Han and Jin is put at risk when traitors within Han start sowing seeds of discord from inside the royal court.For the future of both nations, Jiang Ming Yue, the youngest princess of Jin and a martial arts natural with an extraordinary secret, goes undercover alone in the Han palace with a mission to find out who is so intent on leading the two kingdoms down a path back to war.However, things take a dangerous turn when she becomes much more directly involved in Han political intrigue than she intended, particularly as she finds herself growing increasingly attracted to Han's enigmatic second prince.For Zhao Weisheng, he knows that the beautiful young woman who has entered the palace is much more than she seems but, as his interest in her grows, he can't help but question his true motive for wanting to keep her near him.What will happen when attempts on both their lives force them closer together? And, even if they survive the various forces aligned against them, can there truly be any future for a Jin princess spy and a Han prince?Highest rankings:#1 in historicalmystery#1 in epicromance…
***WRITE TO SURVIVE CONTEST ROUND 4: HONORABLE MENTION***Our protagonist is presented with an unusual way of distracting herself from her ex-girlfriend's marriage to her younger sister. A twenty-four hour trip to what sounds like an alternate Earth. Will she make the most of the opportunity?A short story (500-1000 words) written for Round 4: Flying Spaceship Stop (hosted by @beyondsol) of the Write to Survive Contest hosted by @SecretTreasures and @adventure, using the following prompt:"You received an anonymous message: "You have been invited to Planet Earth Sample 2202 for a 24-hour tour, click accept if you want to join!" The only option is "accept" or close the message. Too curious, you decide to take this strange tour. What will happen?"…
***WINNER OF 'THE BANISHING' WATTPAD ASIAN FANTASY CONTEST***A short story written for a WattpadAsianFantasy contest using the following prompt:"After a near-death experience you discover you can see spirits. Some of them are good and wish to resolve their unfinished business. Others are desperate to find a body so they can return to the land of the living. What will you do?"…