Zoe_Blessing

A no-nonsense IRS agent sent to investigate a family business for tax fraud finds it difficult to do her job when the suspect is so frustratingly adorable.~~~A 2021 WATTY AWARD WINNER!~~~ ***** Summer Hong is good at her job. As a field agent for the IRS's criminal investigation division, she knows never to let things get personal. Her resolve is tested, however, when she meets the beguiling Holly Layton.Holly loves Christmas, and loves the Layton Christmas Tree Farm even more. If only her father would take her seriously and let her play a bigger role in the company. Dealing with an IRS agent breathing down their necks isn't what she had in mind, though. Still, if she succeeds in somehow making the problem go away, maybe she'll finally get the recognition she deserves. But how do you get rid of a "problem" you secretly have a crush on?…

Zoe_Blessing

A genetically unique but emotionally lost teenager must figure out who she is within her mixed-up, warring world of Shifters and Wolfstalkers. ***** It wasn't Maddie's choice to be born a half-breed, half Shifter, half Wolfstalker -- a hunter of Shifters -- and it wasn't her choice to keep her identity a secret. But after trying to attend high school like any normal sixteen-year-old, things quickly spiral south when her Stalker uncle finds out about her and catapults her out of anonymity and into the awareness--or possibly the crosshairs--of The Order of the Wolfstalker. Maddie must think fast and figure out a way to keep herself and her family safe, or risk losing everything. Including her life.[[word count: 70,000-80,000 words]]…

Zoe_Blessing

A teen with a degenerative disease lets her genius parents replace her legs with cybernetics, only to awake 6 months later to discover her parents have disappeared, and that maybe more than her legs were replaced... *****Elara has been stuck in a wheelchair most of her life thanks to a degenerative disease. When her parents--both experts in their fields--offer to replace her legs with robotic ones, she agrees despite misgivings.Upon waking from the procedure, she finds out she's been unconscious for six months. Her parents are missing, the bunker she's been living in has been destroyed, and the world is losing an epic battle against Fade, a rogue AI. It seems unlikely she'll get a chance to catch up on The Bachelor now.Her newfound ability to walk is an accomplishment that pales in comparison to all that's gone wrong. Her father seems to be the key to either defeating Fade or making the AI unstoppable. As she unravels the mystery of Fade's intent, she makes a few alarming discoveries about herself. Like maybe she's had more than just her legs replaced.…

Zoe_Blessing

When your girlfriend gives you a gym membership for your birthday, your relationship is probably doomed. Too bad Jenny didn't realize this before proposing. Rejection stings, but it's the catalyst Jenny needs to move her stagnant life forward.For Juliana, well-padded women frequenting the gym she works at are potential clients. But she can't help noticing how cute this one is. And determined. And a number of other things she shouldn't notice. She doesn't, however, want to be attracted to gym clients, so she does her best to keep it professional. If only her attraction to the woman would do the same.Open Novella Contest (ONC) entry - Prompt #61: After being jilted, you move to the city to hide your embarrassment, lick your wounds, and start afresh.…

Zoe_Blessing

Siena can heal wounds with a touch of her hands. A captive since birth, she is used as a tool of war by a Plainsmen tribe. A chance escape into the forest proves successful... and deadly. Rescued by the Forestfolk--a group of people she always thought were nothing more than bedtime stories--Siena remains on edge. Trust does not come easily when persecution is all she's ever known. Keeping her abilities a secret seems like the right thing to do, until a tragic accident renders two Forestfolk spiraling toward death. If she chooses to reveal her abilities, she risks being subjugated again. Treated as no longer human. Maybe even sent back to the Plainsmen. But keeping her talent to herself means ignoring the injured around her, even allowing them to die. The choice seems obvious to Siena, but living with the repercussions of that choice is another matter altogether. A journey of self-discovery, a bit of adventure, and a splash of romance.On the Wattys 2017 Shortlist!…

Zoe_Blessing

Little Sember stole readers' hearts in "Siena." Join her now, ten years later, as she embarks on a quest of her own to save her people, and to finally accept her true self along the way.- - -Sixteen and struggling is not how Sember wants to describe herself. Born with the ability to conjure fire, every day is a challenge to keep the churning blaze within her under control. After nearly incinerating her parents at the age of six, guilt and doubt plague her at every turn. While the village's gifted healer is away, a mysterious disease sweeps through Foresthome, and people start dying. When her parents get infected and the resident herbalist has no solutions, she takes it upon herself to track the clues and locate the source of this unnatural plague. Joined by her brother and a handsome Iceling, they must unravel the mystery and face an unexpected enemy in the shadows. If they fail, the plague will engulf the world she knows, plunging it into dark times. Maybe a little fire is exactly what they need.---Big thanks to @vexnir for illustrating this awesome cover.…

Zoe_Blessing

Nirrin spends her days in Foresthome caring for orphans, getting into trouble, and listening to other people's adventures with secret envy. Which is why following an intriguing stranger into an unknown part of the forest seemed like a good idea at the time. Nirrin doesn't expect to find her missing parents among a band of odd-looking misfits, but family is family, right? Her hopes to reclaim the kin she'd lost are challenged, however, when she uncovers their violent plot against "Normals" like her. They'll make an exception for her (Nirrin has always been great at exempting herself from rules), but doing nothing would mean endangering her friends in Foresthome. She must stop these outcasts from--who is she kidding? She's a smart-mouthed girl with no special talents. What is she going to do, talk them to death?Maybe babysitting a bunch of other orphans in Foresthome wasn't such a bad deal after all.…

Zoe_Blessing

A sheltered honor student must overcome his anxiety and esteem issues to win the heart of a charming street performer who just may be the key to unlocking his self-confidence. ***** Seth is an honor student with no social life. Jordi is a high school dropout turned street performer. They don't have much in common, but music pulls them together. Seth's mom would never approve of Jordi, but he just can't seem to stay away from her...Open Novella Contest 2022 Prompt #99: "It's always what/who you least expected that blows your mind away."…

Zoe_Blessing

Wouldn't you love to have an experienced writer spend 6 weeks helping you improve your storytelling? This book will show you how to do that. I'm Zoe Blessing, and I'm a Bootcamp Mentor. I work with other writing mentors through the Bootcamp Mentorship Program here on Wattpad. Read on to learn more about me, my mentoring style, and what this awesome community can do for you as a writer.NOTE: I AM NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICANTS FOR MENTORSHIP, but am leaving this book available for program information.…

Zoe_Blessing

If you're a writer struggling to improve your craft, this book can help. It breaks down the basics of a good story and good writing. It'll also provide a few tips on how to stay motivated. There's no magical formula for instantly likable stories, but you can lay a strong foundation for a future full of writing that fulfills you. Success starts in your head. A blend of helpful tips and "chicken soup" for your writer soul.…

Zoe_Blessing

You've got a great story, but no one is reading it! That's because you need to help readers find you. This guide will help you figure out how to... - Get more reads or views- Get more followers- Increase your influence- Advertise your story without turning into a pariah- Become an overall successful writer here on WattpadWarning: non-humble bragging ahead...I'm a Wattpad Star with a story in the Paid Stories program and another story with over a million reads on it, so chances are good that I know what I'm talking about. :)…

Zoe_Blessing

There's no peace when your life is spent trying to earn love, doing what's expected of you instead of what you really want. Love should be unconditional, but too often we deprive ourselves of the very thing we need.I managed to break away from that.An entry for the Modern Love Contest https://www.wattpad.com/story/279341399-the-modernlove-writing-contest…

Zoe_Blessing

Before he ever met Siena, before he knew Foresthome even existed, Remi was an Aberration living under the iron-fisted rules of his tribe. Learn how a spirited and resourceful 12-year-old boy ousted his Plainsman oppressors in this prequel to the Forestfolk series.A little shoutout to maniacgirl for inspiring the title of this story.Though the events in this short story take place before Book 1 in the series, I recommend reading it AFTER you finish "Siena." I think it will be more satisfying that way, because then you'll understand the little Book 1 references I've planted here and there.Finally, the format of the title and cover for this story is different from the rest of the series. That's because I consider this to be bonus material rather than a continuation of the series. It's only 12 chapters long. I may change the cover at some point, but in the meantime, this is what I have. :)…

Zoe_Blessing

Leona, a late-blooming lesbian who feels lost and alone, writes a letter to Santa Claus on a whim, not knowing that on the other end of the mailbox is a woman who knows exactly how she feels.…

Zoe_Blessing

In My Mother Runs with Wolves, the story is about Maddie, not Samar. Samar is just a friend. A friend who likes Maddie a little too much. A friend who longs to have a story of her own. On Valentine's Day, she did.This is a standalone short story, part of Wattpad's "Lucky In Love" anthology. You don't need to have read My Mother Runs with Wolves to follow this short story, but it's a bonus if you did!…

Zoe_Blessing

A spirit with a dismal job decides traveling to warmer climes will cheer him up. An entry for the #SouthwestContest by Southwest Airlines…

Zoe_Blessing

I have found true happiness. I've always been a generally happy person, but there was always an underlying fear of not being good enough. Self-doubt was a passenger in my car my entire life. I'm proud to say I have finally kicked out that unwanted passenger, and now joy is my passenger for life.Sound cheesy? I don't care. I'm too happy to care. Don't YOU want to be too happy to care as well? You can get there. We all have the capacity for immense joy and well-being. We just have to overcome a lot of the mental roadblocks we've acquired over the years. I'll share some of the things I've learned that have changed my life. They can change yours too. Commit to being willing to change, and you, too, will unlock your inner joy and discover that happiness is yours.…

Zoe_Blessing

Abby has no idea what she's getting into when she adopts Henry from the local animal shelter. The dog is crazy smart. And a little creepy with how much he seems to understand. Henry is so confused. He remembers being a man, and doing manly things. Like buying socks. But here he is, covered in fur, and wagging an unfamiliar tail in this apartment belonging to a kind but scattered woman. What's a slobbering dog-man supposed to do? This is a story I wrote years ago, when a friend said, "You should write a story about a man who turns into a dog!" I said, "Uhh... okay." And then this story was born. I'm open to any and all feedback!Photo credit: This is my friend's actual dog, Kya.…

Zoe_Blessing

With creatures roaming the streets, a girl is trapped in her house, alone. With her thoughts. Sometimes facing your inner demons is just as daunting as the monsters outside.(Contains no gore, flesh-rending, or other gross-out things. Mostly a thriller.)Big thanks to @summerssolitude for finding a great cover image for me!I'm proud to say I got a sweet Silver award in @FinnyH's FrightFest2016! Here's what he and a special judge had to say about it:FINN H. ARLETT:The author's character beams bright throughout, giving a touch of humour to a "flesh-eater" classic. An experimental piece with a mix of first and second person that also touches on more than just the horror genre. L. L. SANDERS (LLSanders):The first paragraph of Leaving It Behind sets the tone of this unique take on zombie horror. With its subtle hints of humor mixed with full-on horror, and its underlying theme of all-powerful lessons in love, this experimental short pays off!Great writing, edge-of-your-seat scenes and suspense, and a protagonist whose personality shines through every paragraph. This story is engaging from the start to the surprising & satisfactory ending.This story definitely deserves a spot amongst the #FrightFest2016 winners.…

Zoe_Blessing

Sometimes I give away stuff. Sometimes I highlight interesting contests or opportunities. Add this book to your library so you can be notified when it gets updated.Since announcements made on our profiles are often hidden when bundled with other announcements, I've decided to create this book as a secondary place for my followers to find them.…