(Short Story, just over 2,000 words) A war in the future. Heavy AI and self replicating machines.(Short Story, just over 2,000 words) A war in the future. Heavy AI and self replicating machines.Personally, I think there could be a plot here. So ya never know, maybe this will be the one I go back to in a few years and mine it for a novel or six. As always, I would love to get feedback and constructive criticism of all types.

Tattoos once were an act of rebellion. Now they decide your destiny the moment the magical Ink settles under your skin. And in a world where Ink controls your fate, Caenum can't escape soon enough. He is ready to run from his family, and his best friend Dreya, and the home he has known, just to have a chance at a choice. But when he upsets the very Scribe scheduled to give him his Ink on his eighteenth birthday, he unwittingly sets in motion a series of events that sends the corrupt, magic-fearing government, The Citadel, after him and those he loves. Now Caenum, Dreya, and their reluctant companion Kenzi must find their way to the Sanctuary, a secret town where those with the gift of magic are safe. Along the way, they learn the truth behind Ink, its dark origins, and why they are the only ones who can stop the Citadel. Eric Smith takes you on a high-octane fantasy adventure, perfect for anyone who has dreamed of being different… only to discover that fate is more than skin deep. Advance Praise: "INKED is an action-packed read with a hero I could root for, magic I wanted to have, and a vivid fantasy world to back it all up. Smith's prose had me turning pages way past my bedtime." - Susan Dennard, author of SOMETHING STRANGE & DEADLY "A fast-paced page-turner from Eric Smith filled with magic, mystery and mayhem." - Kristi Helvig, Author of BURN OUT "With a lively cast of characters and a captivating idea, INKED draws its readers into a world where magic lives on every page." Kat Zhang, author of The Hybrid Chronicles series

Two short stories and a sneak peak of the Novel Bayard's Will. The first story is about a retired soldier dealing with loss and the second is about an aspiring writer dealing with ruthless rejection by the one person who mattered most to her.Bayard's Will is a science fiction fantasy story set in a dark ages type world. This sneak peak is about 7,000 words long.Two short stories and a sneak peak of the Novel Bayard's Will. The first story is about a retired soldier dealing with loss and the second is about an aspiring writer dealing with ruthless rejection by the one person who mattered most to her.Bayard's Will is a science fiction fantasy story set in a dark ages type world. This sneak peak is about 7,000 words long and includes the entire prologue and first chapter. Psionic powers and abilities are not uncommon in the world of Bayard's Will.

A timely and gutsy YA novel based on the Tony and Grammy Award winning musical from Alanis Morissette, Diablo Cody, and Glen Ballard!Swallow it down—what a jagged little pill . . .  Jagged Little Pill: The Novel follows the intertwining lives of five teens whose world is changed forever after the events at a party. Adopted Frankie struggles to see eye-to-eye with her mother—who would rather ignore a problem and preserve their “perfect” life than stand up for what’s right. Jo just wants her mom to accept her queer identity—and is totally crushed when Frankie, the only person who really gets her, finds herself infatuated with someone new. Phoenix tries to find his place at the new school and balance wanting to spend time with Frankie but knowing he also has to help out with his sick sister at home. Bella wants to enjoy the end of high school and just head off to college without a hitch. Everyone expects Frankie's brother Nick...

Sixteen acclaimed authors—including a National Book Award nominee, a New York Times best-selling novelist, and a beloved actress—join forces for a cross-genre YA anthology of linked short stories about the first days of college.Jilly cannot believe her parents keep showing up at all of her orientation events. (Except, yes, she can totally believe that.) Isaac wants to be known as someone other than the kid who does magic and has an emotional support bunny. Lilly is stuck working at the college bookstore during orientation (but maybe new friends are closer than they appear). Hira, meanwhile, just wants to retire from ghost hunting once and for all, but a spirit in the library's romance section has other ideas. For their sophomore effort, the contributing editors behind the critically acclaimed Battle of the Bands admit us to opening day at a fictional college, with a collection that makes an ideal high school graduation gift or...

"A sweetly charming love story that leaves the reader with a lasting sense of hope." —Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star"The perfect novel to snuggle up with." —Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read No one ever said love would be easy...but did they mention it would be freezing?Adam Stillwater is in over his head. At least, that's what his best friend would say. And his mom. And the guy who runs the hardware store down the street. But this pinball arcade is the only piece of his dad that Adam has left, and he's determined to protect it from Philadelphia's newest tech mogul, who wants to turn it into another one of his cold, lifeless gaming cafés.Whitney Mitchell doesn't know how she got here. Her parents split up. Her boyfriend dumped her. Her friends seem to have changed overnight. And now she's spending her senior year running...

Divya Sharma is a queen. Or she is when she's playing Reclaim the Sun, the year's hottest online game. Divya — better known as popular streaming gamer D1V — regularly leads her #AngstArmada on quests through the game's vast and gorgeous virtual universe. But for Divya, this is more than just a game. Out in the real world, she's trading her rising-star status for sponsorships to help her struggling single mum pay the rent.Gaming is basically Aaron Jericho's entire life. Much to his mother's frustration, Aaron has zero interest in becoming a doctor like her, and spends his free time writing games for a local developer. At least he can escape into Reclaim the Sun — and with a trillion worlds to explore, disappearing should be easy. But to his surprise, he somehow ends up on the same remote planet as celebrity gamer D1V.At home, Divya and Aaron grapple with their problems alone, but in the game, they have each other to face infinite new worlds...and...

Fifteen young adult authors and one real-life rock star band together for one epic—and interconnected—take on a memorable high school rite of passage.A daughter of rock 'n' roll royalty has a secret crush. A lonely ticket taker worries about his sister. An almost-famous songwriter nurses old wounds. A stage manager tires of being behind the scenes. A singer-songwriter struggles to untangle her feelings for her best friend and his girlfriend. In this live-out-loud anthology, the disparate protagonists of sixteen stories are thrown together for one unforgettable event: their high school's battle of the bands. Told in a harmonic blend of first- and third-person narrative voices, roughly chronological short stories offer a kaleidoscopic view of the same transformative night. Featuring an entry from Justin Courtney Pierre, lead vocalist of Motion City Soundtrack, Battle of the Bands is a celebration of youth, music, and meeting the challenges of life...

"Joyful, thoughtful, and real." —Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners"Rom-com perfection." —Rachael Lippincott, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Five Feet Apart New from Eric Smith comes a delightful YA rom-com about two teens caught in the middle of their families' orchestrated rivalry between their Philly cheesesteak food trucks.All's fair in love and (food truck) war.Everyone knows Jordan Plazas and Cindy Ortiz hate each other.According to many viral videos of their public shouting matches, the Plazas and Ortiz families have a well-known food truck rivalry. Jordan and Cindy have spent all of high school making cheesesteaks and slinging insults at each other across their shared Philadelphia street.But the truth? They're in love, and it's all just an act for the tourists.When the fake feud lands them a reality tv show pilot, Jordan and Cindy find...

Teenager Leila’s life is full of challenges. From bouncing around the foster care system to living with seasonal affective disorder, she’s never had an easy road. Leila keeps herself busy with her passion for environmental advocacy, monitoring the Urban Ecovists message board and joining a local environmental club with her best friend, Sarika. And now that Leila has finally been adopted, she dares to hope her life will improve.

But the voices in Leila's head are growing louder by the day. Ignoring them isn't working anymore. Something calls out to her from the grove at Fairmount Park. Is she ready to answer?

Welcome Home collects a number of adoption-themed fictional short stories, and brings them together in one anthology from a diverse range of celebrated Young Adult authors. The all-star roster includes Edgar-award winner Mindy McGinnis, New York Times best-selling authors C.J. Redwine (The Shadow Queen) and William Ritter (Jackaby), and acclaimed YA authors across all genres, like Adi Alsaid, Lauren Gibaldi, Sangu Mandanna, Karen Akins, and many more.