Princess of the Content Castle

By Kelly Papyrus

Embark on an exhilarating journey into the captivating world of "The Princess of Content Castle." In this riveting novel, prepare to be whisked away to a house bursting with ambitious content creators, each hungering for attention and followers. Amidst the chaos, a genuine bond emerges between Jules and Andre, igniting a flame of connection that defies the superficiality of social media. But as the line between virtual reality and real life grows increasingly hazy, the question lingers: Can they truly trust one another?

"The Princess of Content Castle" unveils a mesmerizing tale where authenticity battles against the artifice of online personas. Step into the shoes of Jules and Andre, two souls yearning for genuine connection amidst a sea of fabricated facades. Together, they navigate the treacherous landscape of likes, follows, and viral fame, all while questioning the very foundation of their relationship.

As their bond deepens, Jules and Andre must grapple with the uncertainty that arises when virtual identities blur with reality. Can they rely on the honesty they've uncovered in their digital sanctuary, or will the shadows of doubt creep in, threatening to dismantle their trust? Explore the twists and turns of their exhilarating journey as they face unexpected challenges, tangled emotions, and the relentless pressure to maintain an online presence.

"The Princess of Content Castle" weaves a tale of love, longing, and the search for authenticity in a world consumed by the pursuit of virtual validation. Captivating readers with its nuanced exploration of the human desire for connection, this novel delves into the complexities of relationships formed in the digital age. With its compelling narrative and thought-provoking themes, this book will leave you questioning the very nature of trust and the boundaries between the virtual and the real.

Prepare to be captivated by "The Princess of Content Castle," a thought-provoking and enchanting novel that shines a light on the power of genuine connection in an era dominated by curated perfection. Dive into this page-turner today and discover the secrets that lie beneath the surface of our digital lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Shorts
• Release date: Jun 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094463445

Kelly Papyrus

Kelly Papyrus is a writer whose stories feature diverse characters and people of color. She loves learning about new cultures and writing about them. She lives in Florida and loves dogs.

Book preview

Prologue

Autumn’s YouTube Channel

The video started with Autumn’s bedroom, what her followers knew to be her reading corner. Jules looked at the string of star-shaped twinkle lights, the same ones she’d bought and hung in the corner of her own studio apartment. It was silly, she knew, but in some way she felt she was contributing to Autumn’s success by clicking her Amazon affiliate links. There was a little connection between them, no matter how fragile or invisible, and she liked that feeling. On-screen, the overstuffed blue velvet chair that sat next to the tall gold lamp was empty at first, until Autumn walked into the frame and flopped onto it.

With long, pin-straight brown hair and bangs that hung about an inch too long, it could be hard to see her eyes unless she used barrettes to clip the bangs back. Some people complained that it made her videos hard to watch, since they couldn’t easily find her gaze, but others thought it made her look young and fashionable. Jules herself had gone back and forth, experimenting with wearing her hair both ways and polling her followers to see which they liked better. It took ages to post the photos from multiple angles styled every different way, but she wanted people to feel invited into her life, the way she felt welcomed into Autumn’s.

As Autumn got comfy and settled in the chair, she waved quickly with her right hand and smiled into the camera.

Hey guys, Autumn said. "Thanks for staying subscribed to my channel. It’s been an amazing journey to get to millions of subscribers, so many of you watching and following on other platforms like TikTok. I’m grateful for each one of you, but of course the ones closest to my heart are those who are aspiring content creators.

The people who are out there grinding, trying to get things out into the world. Pouring your creativity and your soul into what you do, I know firsthand how hard that is, and I want to help some of you now that I’m able to, she said, stopping for a second, her attention drawn to something offscreen.

Sorry, guys, it’s Chalky Paws. One second.

She reached beyond the laptop and her arms came back clutching Chalky, his fur disheveled and his mouth hissing in protest.

Come here, Chalky, you know you love it. Anyways, some of you have already guessed this news, but I’ve worked out a deal with Netflix for a new show where I take some of the most promising new influencers on the scene and bring them to a special location to help them take their careers to the next level. If you’re interested in applying for the show, click the link in my bio and tell me all about yourself. I can’t wait to help make some of your dreams come true.

Jules slid her chair back, her head spinning with thoughts about the best ways to answer the questionnaire Autumn had set up. It took a lot of self-belief to work on content, day-in and day-out, always believing the next video would be the one to go big. Getting chosen by Autumn could be a big step, the kind of outer validation she needed to keep going. Plus, it could be a good chance to network with other creators.

Not that I’m great with people in person, she thought. She shook her head, trying to make the doubts go away. I just need to work, that’s the best way to distract myself. She picked up a pen and started scrawling the start of a plan onto her notepad.

1

Jules

Jules crossed and uncrossed her legs, trying not to think negative thoughts as she waited for the first question. The tip of one heel caught the other leg, and as she tried to get it free she suddenly worried that she was going to fall off her stool in front of the cameras.

Shit, this is going to be a long couple of weeks. I’m this nervous already and I’ve barely started.

Great, so let’s get started, a producer named Marco prompted her. Just tell us who you are, what your account is like, and what brings you here. Then I’m going to ask you some basic questions to help set up what you’re doing here. We might use them in the show’s intro or something, help people get to know you.

Jules nodded, smiling almost as an afterthought. Cameras are always on now, remember?

"Okay, I’m Jules, and you can find me on all the popular social media platforms, just search JulesNotJulia. I’m twenty-three, from Asheville, North Carolina, and I started my account to highlight everything interesting about my life — from fashion and beauty tips, to how to be a boss babe and, of course, brunch selfies," she said.

It sounded cringe when she said it out loud, but it was her brand, and she knew there were people at home who would love and connect with it. Believe in yourself, don’t do this. Plenty of time for doubt later.

Tell me why you came here, Marco said.

Because I need to be successful. I’m tired of working my ass off to get the same damn amount of views as the last one. Asheville is getting tired, and I’m running out of ideas.

Content is my art form, and Autumn is my DaVinci. I watch everything she posts, and I want to learn everything I can from the best in the business, she said.

It sounded good, and it was never too soon to throw in a little flattery. Autumn wasn’t just the host of the show, she was also an executive producer, and she might be watching the tapes of them to see who she wanted to work with.

But you’ve been pretty successful on your own so far, he said, and she wanted to point out that he hadn’t asked a question, but she knew where he was heading, and she wanted to get a good edit. There was no point in antagonizing the crew, anyone behind the scenes. They were the ones who really got to decide what was going to air, she knew that much.

Yeah, I think I have. But there’s always another goal ahead for me, and I want to grow to become a real brand. A household name.

She wondered if it sounded dumb. She might regret saying it, but it was too late now. That was the hardest part about all this, leaving the final decision on what would go out into the world up to other people instead of making it herself. She was so used to having creative control she didn’t know if she could let it go that easily. I don’t have much of a choice. I already signed the release and I’m here.

Miami was every bit as sticky and sweaty and crowded as she remembered from visiting when she was a kid. She still hated the weather and people, but she’d still come all this way. There had to be a reason for it, an opportunity to come out of it, and she wasn’t leaving until she came across it. She just hoped it wouldn’t take too long.

"Do you know who else is going to be here at Content Castle