wdhenning

The Mechs, part beast and part machine, were the mindless enforcers of the Covenant, a corrupt theocracy that ruled with both religious zeal and brutal oppression. After the Mechs attacked his village and killed his father, Ewin vowed justice, or vengeance. And he could not stop his spirited and longtime childhood friend, Gwendolyn, from taking up the quest with him, for she too had lost family to the Mechs. With a relic crystal and vague directions left by Ewin's long-lost mother, a former Covenant Priestess, they set off back to the Homeland, where the Covenant ruled.Originally published in the @Fantasy Anthology Volume 15 (Blood of Ivory), December 2025.…

wdhenning

An eclectic mix of short stories written for contests, challenges, online magazines, or just for fun.…

wdhenning

Astoria Muir, daughter of a dark-magic witch mother and light-magic druid father, never quite fit in the world. But to the hidden covens, she was an abomination, carrying within her an anti-magic power they both feared and sought out. When a mysterious man appears at a party claiming to have information about her long-missing mother, Stori sets out on a quest to find her. But like most life journeys, the path is made easier with the friends made along the way.An urban fantasy written in episodic style.[Previous titled Fantasmical Tales, and re-edited]…

wdhenning

The stars whispered to amateur astronomer Levi, and to his alarm, one by one they disappeared within the abyss. But when he witnessed one such disappearance, the star fell to him and took a human form. Explaining Celesta's sudden appearance to suspicious townspeople became an insignificant problem when a Darkness threatened to consume the universe, one star at a time, including the one that warmed his world.A fantasy story written for the 2026 Open Novella Contest, utilizing prompt #69: The stars are disappearing one by one, and only you can hear their whispers.…

wdhenning

Nova Jone's life changed dramatically upon discovery that she was the long-lost daughter of notorious pirate, Dahjlonica, and the former delinquent orphan became a pirate princess. She and her father made a profitable living raiding shipments between worlds, especially from the Hahn family, the most ruthless of warlords that rose after the Sol Commonwealth abandoned the Orion Outlands and consolidated within the inner worlds. Nova had a high price on her head. And as if that wasn't enough, the Commonwealth were coming back to reclaim the Outlands, and they had little regard for piracy. Elite Ranger Jake Barton led the way, with orders to eliminate Nova Jones. But as he tracked Nova, doubts grew in his mind. Who was the true villain?…

wdhenning

Twenty years ago, magic vanished from the world, presumed forever gone. Yet it still existed, tangled within its own domain, along with Naamah, its dark personification. Naamah schemes return to complete her desire for humanity's subjugation and to avenge her earlier defeat. But with a soul barren, Naamah needed another to complete herself.Psalm, a blind young woman pure of soul, enjoyed a simple life with a loving family. She had no idea of her heritage, nor her magical potential as a powerful Oracle, nor that Naamah would target her. When the magic burst back into the world, Psalm and Naamah found their souls bound by a destiny written ages ago.This story was written for the 2025 Open Novella Contest, using prompt #129: The ink of our souls binds us beyond the pages of time.***** Amby's Awards 2025 Grand Favorite *****…

wdhenning

A collection of short stories written for the 2024 Spec-Fic Smackdown.…

wdhenning

Being a 'difficult woman', Oklahoma farm-gal Mavis wasn't having much luck with the local dating pool. Her Pa signed her up to emigrate to newly terraformed Mars, because 'Mars needs women'. Maybe there she could find a good man to marry. But Mavis had no intention of getting hitched, despite what the legal contract said.Walt, the son of successful Mars merchants, had no intention of going through with a forced arranged marriage. Finding a kindred spirit in Mavis, they chose their own path. A quirky sci-fi romance with a frontier vibe.**** Open Novella Contest Short List and Honorable Mention ******** Open Novella Contest Round Two Ambassador Pick ******** Novella Grand Winner - 2025 NanoWatt Awards ****…

wdhenning

Years ago when a young orphaned girl, advanced cybernetics were surgically installed into Avia's brain. Able to hack into virtually any computer, control system, or AI, she and others like her became child soldiers in an interstellar war. But once the war was won, the Sol Federation turned on them, labeling them Aberrants, dangers to humanity to be deactivated and locked away. Now on the run, Avia fled from a fate she considered worse than death. Zach, a former rebellious member of the social Elite, traded jail time for bounty hunting. With a relentlessness Avia did not understand, he pursued her across the galaxy. But Zach had other plans for Avia than turning her in.All Avia ever wanted was a normal life someplace where she was loved, and she loved in return. But between a humanity threatening conspiracy and fellow Aberrants that truly earned the label, that seemed an impossible dream.…

wdhenning

A Curse crawls inexorably across the Elysium Realm, turning everything it touches to lifeless stone. Anara, a powerful young witch, vows to stop it, but became herself infected and disfigured.After his mother goes missing, Micah, an unaware college student, finds himself drawn into an alternate world where magic rules. A world with more connections to him than he realizes.Together, Anara and Micah face a curse that may ultimately consume both worlds. But the political leadership fears their manipulation, and shadowy forces exist that do not wish them to succeed.**** 2024 Ambys Top Pick ****…

wdhenning

Three women. Three tangled lives orbiting Mars aboard the Phobos Transit Space Station. Val loses her station operation engineer job under false pretenses, Exo-biologist Cassy is blackballed for doing the right thing, and ex-marine Kate suffers a broken heart. Fortunately, Mavis, the owner of the Starlight Tavern and rescuer of lost souls, is there to help, recruiting the women into her Quilters Guild. But when hostile forces invade the station, the stakes become far greater, and the Guild finds themselves embroiled in a multi-world conspiracy. And they are not about to just stand by and let it happen. Redemption comes stitch by stitch.*** Open Novella Contest Round Two Ambassador Pick ****** Open Novella Contest Winner - Third Place ***…

wdhenning

A collection of short stories written for multi-genre smackdown contests.…

wdhenning

**** Top Pick, 2023 Amby Awards ******** HighFantasy Book of the Month, June 2023 ****To save the world, Mage Aria sacrificed herself, becoming trapped with the personification of Darkness within an impenetrable tomb of rock and magic. But she had not realized how much of a hell that would be.Dreams of deep despair haunted Tomas, a blacksmith with no apparent magic, where a wounded soul cried out from her torment, begging for mercy. Heartbroken for the dreamer, he sets out on an uncertain quest to free her. But there were those in power who did not want the dreamer freed, lest it also released the Darkness. Further, the link between Tomas and the dreamer was a kind of Darkness itself, one that would make him a fugitive in his own land.…

wdhenning

For over a millennia, the Line of the Sol Empress had reigned over the scattered planets of the Sol Commonwealth, exerting her constitutional authority and influence for the betterment of all humanity. In a brazen nuclear attack, she and her daughters were murdered. Priestess Celeste Ciel went on the run, with her the last hope for a new Empress. Alone and labeled a terrorist, Celeste stowed away on the cargo starship belonging to a man nicknamed 'Moon', a loner and cynical ex-military engineer who would rather be left alone. Powerful corrupt forces feared the precious package she carried and spared no expense or atrocity to hunt her down. United by reluctant circumstance, Celeste and Moon fled across the galaxy in a desperate quest to restore the Line of the Empress.Previously titled "Children of the Sun and Moon".Highest category rankings:#1 in scifi-romance#8 in spaceopera*** Second Place, "Punk Rock Awards", February 2021 ****** Second Place, "The Carnival Awards", June 2021 ****** Third Place, "The Dream Awards", August 2021 ****** Third Place, "Winter Solstice Awards", December 2021 ****** Third Place, "Time Turner Awards", December 2021 ****** Second Place, "Jam Board Awards", November 2022 ****** Top Pick, 2023 Amby Awards ***…

wdhenning

A collection of short stories written for contests or just for fun.…

wdhenning

Within are short stories of Fantasy or Science Fiction written for contest prompts or just for fun.…

wdhenning

Cyril defied the Gods by his very existence. In a world where the Gods' will shaped the fate of every man and woman, he had no destiny. Such defiance could not be allowed.Per the Gods' will, the Moirai weaved a tapestry of destiny and death. A snip of a thread ended a life and a drop of dye subdued a mind. When Ophelia discovered a defect in the fabric, the Gods sent her to investigate, and then to end this threat to the Gods' perfect order. She was not prepared for what she found.With faith shaken, Cyril and Ophelia sought the truth of Gods and men. But so often, truth was a dangerous thing. A fantasy/sci-fi novella.**** 2022 Imaginaria Realm Category winner - Best Worldbuilding ******** 2021 Open Novella Contest Short List and Honorable Mention - Stunning Worlds ******** Featured on Wattpad Retold ******** Featured on Wattpad Myth and Legend ****…

wdhenning

A short story (1000 words) written for Fantasy's "Of Monsters and Us" contest (2021).#OfMonstersandUs…

wdhenning

An irreverent short story, retelling Lewis Carroll's classic poem "Jabberwocky", but in space.*** Third place winner in the "Short Dreams 2021" Contest. ***…

wdhenning

A collection of short stories, 500 or 1000 words, written for the Aim to Engage prompts.20191. Order of the Phoenix2. Monster at the Window3. Ghost of Nature 4. Stranded5. Dragon Lore6. The Fallen Future Present20207. Goddess Under Ice8. The Alien on Random Nerdness9. The Ice Dragon10. The Diner at the Edge of the Universe11. The Dreambender202112. For Where Your Treasure Is13. Gateway14. Happily Ever After202215. Paradise Retribution16. Dark Woods Hope17. The Book of Thoth18. Critter Affinity19. Wonderland202320. The Scavenger's Code21. Invoked…