H. M. Carter 📖 ✨Final Stage of Editing✨

@hmcarter.com

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I write accessible YA speculative fiction books that take place in the world of the possible for people who love the unexpected.

“Do you always park so far away?” I craned my neck to look back. The school had shrunk to a speck in the distance.
“Easier to get out. I hate getting pinned.” The way he said ‘pinned’, there seemed to be something deeper there than parking lot strategy. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel before deliberately relaxing.
A few blocks away, Bronte Memorial Park sat nestled between residential streets, a small neighborhood green space with old oak trees and a scattering of benches along winding footpaths. At 4:30 on a Wednesday afternoon, the park was tranquil—just a few dog walkers in the distance and the occasional jogger out for exercise.

The 2026 Prism awards: Celebrating the best in paranormal, fantasy & Speculative romance published in 2025. Categories: Dark Paranormal, Light Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Historical, Novella, Erotic, Young Adult, SciFi/Time Travel/Dystopian. www.ffprwa.com/prism-2026-contest

Celeste's eyes sparkled as she giggled. "She's happy to see you. I think after she saved you, she thinks of you as one of her cubs, kind of protective like, you know? She's such a sweetie." Celeste stood next to me and rubbed Chaska's head. "She likes it when you rub behind her ears, like this." Watching, I mirrored what Celeste showed me. The jaguar responded with a deeply satisfied rumble.

Sadi leaned as far from Dallah as possible in her chair. “That dirty girl tried to touch me and copy my drawing. I saw her looking!”
Dallah’s hands gripped her device panel hard, causing it to turn a deep red. “I wasn’t trying to copy! I just wanted to see how to do it.”
“Liar!” Sadi sneered. “Red means you’re lying!”
“But I’m not, I’m—” Dallah cut off at the sudden floaty sensation that flooded her. Ah, so pleasant. She barely noticed the needle leaving her arm, or ONE scolding Sadi for using a harsh voice.
“Dallah has completed the sanitization process,” ONE said in a placating tone. “You will contract no diseases from her.”

I focused on the demon creature again and channeled my thoughts toward it, projecting them as one would a volley of arrows—rapidly and without mercy. The creature screamed—a sound like breaking glass mixed with a woman’s wail—then lurched into the air with a loud boom as the car’s metal roof popped back into place. The entire car rocked and bounced at being freed of the extra load. We listened as the creature’s cries grew softer and softer before they disappeared altogether into the distance.

In a town where science casts long shadows, a genetically enhanced teenage girl must choose between her predetermined future and the love that makes her feel truly alive.

“I’m not sure,” I replied, my voice trembling a little. “The first time I heard it, I thought it was Aurora.” The fact that he could hear it, too, both relieved and unsettled me. What did it mean that we shared this?

Seth adjusted his bowtie, smoothed a hand over his hair, then strode over to Celeste as if he were an important head of state. I watched from a distance, holding my breath as he put a hand on her shoulder and leaned in to speak to her. At first, she looked unsure if he were playing a prank on her or not. In her defense, he had the reputation for it. He spoke again, and her dolled-up face lit up like fireworks.