|| WATTYS 2021 SHORTLIST ||
The day Olivia Byrne met Benjamin Cross, her day was going almost to plan... until he showed up. But it also could have gone so many different ways.
In her summer holidays between university terms, Olivia finds herself lost in the library, researching all sorts of creatures for her latest writing project. The last thing she expected was to find love amidst the shelves filled with fables, myths, and fairytales.
But lurking behind Benjamin's dreamy blue eyes lies a secret that Olivia may not be prepared for.
Jumping head first into the world of vampires, witches, fairies, and shapeshifters, Olivia finds herself in a battle to become the hero of her own story, or to succumb to her past and be, forever, vulnerable.
Will Olivia's journey through magic, love, friendship, and heartache see her story become one immortalised in fairytales?
Or will her story belong in the pages of cautionary fables?
[APPROX. 120,000 WORDS]
Between 3010 and 3020, the dimensions collided, forming portals through which both mortals and magical folk could traverse. Time is of no consequence here and one might travel from the kingdom of Brunuhville and end up in Victorian London; or perhaps London or 3019. Yet throughout time and even across dimensions, magic is not always looked upon with a kindly eye.
Alexa is the most powerful witch of her time; searching desperately to unravel the truth about her family and childhood friend, she finds herself blocked at every turn by her brother who had long since fallen to the grip of darkness.
In a journey fraught with danger, Alexa and family friend Leonard meet many other magical folk - some they can trust, and others they cannot.
Amidst a tale of love, magic and dragons, will Alexa find the answers she has been searching for, or is it already too late? Can she only pass her lifelong quest to her sons and in turn tie them to the same fate?