What's New February 2003

Don't forget, you have one more day to enter our logo contest! Send entries to academy_contest@yahoogroups.com. Who knows, if you win, you can be all over underwear everywhere!

Added synopsis for Soul's Rescue by Patty S.
The story is familiar, two souls meeting for the first time in their current lives. But one woman is trapped beneath hundreds of pounds of metal. The other must find a way to free her before time runs out.

New eBooks
One Perfect Rose – Colleen
Bedlam – Mavis Applewater
Road Trip – Mavis Applewater
Moving On – Mezzo
Soul’s Rescue – Patty S
Guardian – Midgit
How to celebrate Solstice in an Appropriate Manner – Alexiares
The Hitchhiker – Anais
A Hallmark Moment – Emily Duncan
Second Chance - Sunflower

Here are two more from Mavis Applewater's Wednesday Afternoon Series.
Bedlam
Amanda wins the lottery and loses her mind or does she?

Road Trip
Veronica reluctantly agrees to do a favor for her boss that turns into a nightmare.

Added revised part 1 and part 2 of Annemaart's Spellbound along with part 3 to part5(conclusion)

Learning to Trust by Jules Matthews[unfinished/über/alt]
Jace, the director of a college Achievement Center has a new graduate assistant, Taryn Murphy. Both women cannot avoid spending time with each other, as they are part of an extended family. Both have their secrets and reasons not to trust, but when they find themselves opening up to each other, they realize their problems are very similar. Can a friendship develop between them or will their pasts haunt them forever?

Amanda's Melody by Amanda [alt/über/unfinished]
Melody is the school diva, she has it all; she can dance, sing, and work a crowd. Amanda is the school nerd; she has glasses, old clothes, and a brain that can work out any problem. Will these two girls come together or will social class keep them apart?

All or Nothing by Leslaureate [Über/alt/unfinished]
This romance novel relates the love story between two professional women in their thirties. Told from both of their perspectives, the book, poignantly and often humorously, conveys the unique character of lesbian relationships. More particularly, the confusion many lesbians experience in attempting to date without becoming enmeshed in the relationship. Added first two chapters

That Friend of Mine by S. Lee [über/alt/finished]
Kat makes up her mind to win back the love of her Beth and reunite her family in this romantic conclusion to the Kat and Beth series.

New eBooks
The Gift – Idryth
To the Love of my Life – Linda Crist
Kicker's Heart - Lois C. Hart
How hard can it be – dj belt
Just Like Old times – Carrie Carr
On the wings of chance – kim pritkel
The perfect gift – lj maas
In the blink of an eye – carrie carr
Nights of Silk and Sapphire - Amber
The Wishing Well – Mavis Applewater
Like Old Times – Carrie Carr
I’ve Never – DS Bauden
When Arts Collide – Julie Baker & LA Tucker
Heaven in her Face – Nene Adams
Forever and a Day – Debbie Dee
Gift Horses – Rab Donald
Just One Perfect Weekend – Asgard
Room at the Inn – T. Novan
Winter’s Thaw – Midgit Entre Nous – SX Meagher & Anne Brisk

During the weekend of DCBardFest, there will be off-site events on the evenings of Friday, October 3 and Sunday, October 5. We have selected five events and would like your input on chosing the final two.

Colliding Edges by J.W.Heart[über/alt/unfinished]
When, blue meets green... When privilege meets pauper.......When the heart meets the soul... That's when Edges Collide. This is part One of what will be an ongoing series.....

Second Chance by Sunflower [über/alt/finished]
When two high school friends are reunited at a plot filled with fame, love and intrigue anything can happen. Kristen and Melanie have worked hard to finally have love and fame, but fate had other ideas for them. Will their love resist? Will the truth be a too expensive price to pay?

In part twelve of Mavis Applewater's My Sisters Keeper, Jenny is once again tormented by the past only this time she finds some of the answers she has been seeking.

KICKER'S HEART by Lois Cloarec Hart. http://www.academyofbards.org/valentine14/loischart_kickersheart.html Speaking of romance, I fell in love with this story. Hart writes an endearing and affecting tale of following one's heart. This should have been written on a scroll with quill and ink. The prose is a kind of beautiful calligraphy of storytelling. The irrepressibly tomboyish Kicker is a sparkling gem of a character. Shades of Idgie Threadgoode or perhaps Laura Ingalls Wilder. Miss Madelyn Bristow is easy to visualize in your minds eye. I found the quiet journey they take to find one another in that era, to be believable and without melodrama.

Another of the many reasons I found "KICKER'S HEART" to be original and fresh is the use of language that is folksy and skillfully done. This romantic and gently unfolding love story will warm your heart. And empty your tear ducts. Trust me it is a kicker! And the characters simply BEG for more of their story to be told. Okay, so it's really this reader who is begging.

How Hard Can It Be? by DJ Belt [X&G/alt]
On a visit to Amphipolis, Gabrielle forces Xena to confront the two demons she fears most: explaining to her mother exactly what the relationship between her and Gabrielle is, and working for an evening in her mom's tavern. As the evening degenerates into one hilarious fiasco after another, Xena learns a newfound respect for her mother, and Gabrielle gets in touch with her 'dark side' as she discovers the answer to her question about tavern-keeping: "How hard can it be?"

Return of the Warrior by Katherine A. Standell (aka Archangel) [über/unfinished]
As promised, Archangel brings us the beginning of the sequel to Desert Hawk. Having survived the unimaginable, Dylan Hawke returns to a hero's welcome. What the public does not see and the soldier does not understand is that some battles come home with us from the battlefield. Nightmares drive the lovers apart as Dylan struggles to control the phantoms that haunt her. Lura is caught up in a battle of her own, struggling with a heritage she doesn't want and a family who would not understand. But falcons and hawks mate for life.....or do they?

At Last by Girlbard [Über; alt; unfinished]
It is the continuing story in the Jaden and Grace series.

Gift Horses by Rab Donald [alt; finished]
Some things are too good to be true, others just too good to miss...a simple tale of love.

Forever and a Day by Debbie Dee [alt; finished]
This is a FIN story. It take place after Xena's death. It is about how Gabrielle is dealing with it. But with help from Ares and Aphrodite Xena might have a chance to come back from the dead.

New eBooks
Dear Booger – Zuke
Greetings from Reykjavik – Zuke
Love, it's a Flower – Zuke
Sunday Mornings – Troubleshooter
Coming Home – Redhawk
Ocean – Ogami
Waiting in the Wings – Ali Vali
V-Day – Missy Good
Coffee – Jenna Dixon
Faith's Heart – Vertigo

Entre Nous by the creative team of Anne Brisk and SX Meagher
http://www.academyofbards.org/valentine14/ab_sx_entrenous.html
This beautiful billet-doux to flirtation and fantasy is smart, sassy and sexy and not to be missed. I smiled the whole time I read it, saying, oh yeah, I can SO imagine that.

48 Hour Fix by D
http://www.academyofbards.org/valentine14/d_48hourfix.html
Is a bitchin' "fix" for the overdose of bad karma that FIN was. Aphrodite does her thing with her usual flair, helping her Little Bard Friend and the Warrior Babe find their way back to each other.

Mulligan by KG MacGregor
http://www.academyofbards.org/valentine14/kgmacgregor_mulligan.html
Mulligan is Par Excellence! KG follows through with the classy style of a seasoned pro. Her approach to the characters is wonderfully refreshing. Mature protagonists? No way she is gonna make that shot work, I thought. So much for me thinking, double bogey for me: It worked. Very well. I can't imagine KG would ever need a Mulligan for her storytelling efforts:} The only Mulligan here is that I want to read this tender story again. It is like a long swig of ice water after 18 holes of golf, wonderfully refreshing. KG, put on your green jacket.
You are a Master.

For those of you who have been sending prayers and wishes to us and those who helped with the fund raiser we had a while back, I would like to give a small update as to what has been happening the past week.

Greetings from Reykjavik by Zuke [Über; alt; finished]
"Greetings from Reykjavik" takes place after the whirlwind summer romance of Jaz and Olivia. Is Olivia sane? Are nuts really necessary in chocolate chip cookies? Where the hell is Reykjavik anyway? These and many more questions are answered in this sequel to "Dear Booger"

Coffee Part 1 (revised) and Coffee Part 2 by Jenna Dixon [Über; alt]
A story of the first meeting and growing love between an English Professor and a writer.

Added Chapter 25 and Chapter 26 of Modern Crusaders: Adeptus Major by PsiDraconis

February 14th, 2003
It seems as if I've loved you forever.
Maybe I have.
Maybe we met In some other time
where our lives touched this closely before...
All I know for sure is this certainty inside me...
That we are meant for each other -
Now and Always.
- unknown

First for your Valentine pleasure, we have a new Sandbox interview. This topic is SEX! Eileen talked to some of the best sex-scene writers in the business to find out what they are thinking when they write these scenes. This edition has
Mavis Applewater
Friction
LN James
LJ Maas
SX Meagher
Radclyffe
Sharon Smith
Ali Vali
Vertigo
Xena's Little Bitch (Julia Noel Goldman)

Next I have some of the most romantic writers in the business according to my informal poll of Lunacy, Phil and a few other friends and here are the people we came up with and actually agreed to play with us. These writers worked really hard to meet the deadline since I didn't come up with this idea until late December. Please, let's show it's appreciated and write them and thank them for doing this. If you guys want us to keep these specials going, you need to send feedback. With the exception of two of the stories, all of them were written by request for you!

February 13th, 2003
Love doesn't make the world go 'round.
Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
~ Franklin P. Jones
1 more day...

In October, a stranger walked into our shop and told my wife that her baby sister had been in the hospital for a week. Anna visited the next day to discover that Mary had had a stroke.

Mary was diagnosed with a heart murmur as a child. She also had a car accident several years ago that resulted in epilepsy. For the last several years, she's been living on the streets of Portland and other towns. Social Security was turned down for her epilepsy and she's unable to obtain and hold a job for long. Now this.

Initially, her left side was paralyzed though her speech centers weren't affected too badly. After two weeks, she was able to regain some movement on the left. The state covered the bill for her medical since she had no home and no insurance, but they refused to cover her living situation - i.e. when she was discharged from the hospital, back to the streets she would go.

With no other options to be had, Mary moved into our spare bedroom. The process to re apply for Social Security began and our home was now being inspected as a foster care facility. It took a couple of months before the license came through, but it did by Christmas. Unfortunately, the Social Security has not.

Money being tight already, Anna had considered getting another job prior to this. Now we have to have someone home at all times. Mary, while making a tremendous recovery, is incapable of taking care of herself. She can walk with a cane and a brace, can do many domestic chores around the house, but cannot spend much time out and about even in a wheelchair. Her stamina is extremely low and still remains so.

We were fortunate to have a friend living who has been helping in the shop for room and board. Wizard now manages the shop full time for the same and we are, thankfully, able to remain open despite our situation. But the shop is only paying for itself these days.

I have gone back to full time work at my place of employment, but that barely covers half the rent and all the utilities. We were in a major bind until the Social Security goes through and Mary's payments for foster care could begin.

When Mary moved in, I had high hopes of giving her a really nice Christmas. She (and my wife) come from a severely abusive childhood. I wanted Mary to see what a loving family be like in that regard.

The original donations that began filtering in covered all of December and January's rent, thereby giving us the opportunity to take what little we had to spare and put it to a wonderful holiday.

And then Katrina got into the action with hosting the auction, helping Raven and Steph coordinate. Scores of people donated goods and services to Mary's cause and the result was absolutely astounding.

At this time, Mary has stabilized enough that her doctors will being active pursuit of Social Security. We may even be able to have the original claim after the auto accident as the retroactive date of application. She's happy, healthy, enjoys helping out around the house with dishes and walking two blocks to the drug store to get her prescriptions filled. Wizard's cat had kittens in November, and now we have another addition to our family - Shade, a little black terror that is Mary's.

None of this would have happened without the assistance you all provided in donations, auction items, and bids. But that's not all I received. The cards and letters from people who are in just as bad straits as us and unable to afford to give anything were a godsend. Receiving emails of encouragement out of the blue gave us the heart to keep going.

Nothing I can ever say will be enough to cover what I feel in my heart. Time and again, the Xenaverse has come together in wondrous ways. It's an amazing and tremendous power you all have and I cannot even begin to verbalize my emotions.

Thank you all so very much for making the sacrifices of time and energy and thought for us.

(from Steph--if you haven't received or paid for your auction item send me a note at rocky@teleport.com with Redhawk Auction in the subject)

New eBooks
The Quiet Survivor – Gabby’s Hope
The Presence – BC Bard
Peas in a Pod – Doc
Paternal Instinct – Phantombard
Sins of the Past – Bored Pup
Pure Bliss – Sam Ruskin
Heart of a Leopard - Verrath

February 12th, 2003
All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!
--Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)
2 more days...

eBooks
Perspectives – Idryth
Like Daughter, Like Mother – Kwipinsky
To Walk the path of a queen – lj maas
Lost hearts - sophie
Babysitting Charlie – Mavis Applewater
Snowy Night – Mavis Applewater
Morning Frost – Mavis Applewater
Time Slip – Bel Wah
Old Warriors Never Die, They Just .... - Kam. Lariel,Verrath
In the Name of Love – Claire Withercross
One Tin Soldier – Prince Bryazon
Old Silk Hat – Lz Clotho
Unity - Ripley

February 11th, 2003
If you have it [love], you don't need to have anything else, and if
you don't have it, it doesn't matter much what else you have.
--Sir James M. Barrie
3 more days...

We are pleased to announce Jane Fletcher's Lorimal's Chalice is now on sale! What a fantastic story! You can get your copy at either Open Book, LTD or Fortitude Press. Support Jane and buy a book! You won't regret it!

February 10th, 2003
"To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides."
~ David Viscott
4 more days...

February 9th, 2003
You may conquer with the sword,
but you are conquered by a kiss.
~ Daniel Heinsius (1580-1655)
5 more days...

Boxing Dream by Katia N. Ruiz [original; alt; unfinished]
Mel Christian belongs in the ring. Her talent is unsurpassed by even best in women's boxing. Only one woman meets her mettle... Jackie "Jacks" Luciano, has been Mel's rival since they were children. She is insane, and her insanity allows her to be merciless in the ring. Can she finally beat Mel? Both women go into the Women's Boxing Circle at the same time, and become rivals for more than just winning...

Nights of Silk and Sapphire by Amber [Über; alt; unfinished]
Dragged from a homeland of strict moral order, Dae is marched by her kidnappers into a harsh world of desert dunes and wind-carved stone. The rescue she prays for, however, may not offer respite from her fate, as she finds herself in the harem of a mysterious, dark-haired woman with flashing, seductive eyes of pure sapphire – the Scion Zafirah Al’Intisar. Plunged into a world of decadent morals and utter sexual freedom, Dae struggles to come to terms with desires she has never felt before in her life. As love and lust collide, these two women slowly forge a bond...as one learns to listen to her heart, and the other hears the call of her awakening body.

Coffee by Jenna Dixon [Über; alt; unfinished]
It's about two women who meet and decide to take a chance on love.

February 8th, 2003
Love is like a bed of roses, there are many thorns. The path to true happiness lies in learning to avoid the thorns, while enjoying the roses.
--Lillian Carol Russell
6 more days...

February 7th, 2003
Love is not blind -- it simply enables one to see things others fail to see.
--Anonymous
7 more days...

Added part 8 (conclusion) of T. Stratton's Raging Horses

February 6th, 2003
Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all.
--Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) In Memoriam, 1850, line 27, stanza 4
8 more days...

Here are three more from Mavis Applewater's Wednesday Afternoon Series,
Snowy Night (Damsel In Distress 2) & Morning Frost (Damsel In Distress 3)
Ryan is once again in need of roadside assistance and Casey is more than willing to give her a helping hand.

Babysitting Charlie (The Body Guard Part 2)
Charlie is once again proving to be a handful.

Added part 11 of her story, My Sister's Keeper

Added part 10 of Murder Has Two Faces by Tonya S. Coley

February 5th, 2003
Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is
falling in love with your smile.
--Anonymous
9 more days...

Stories

Well, If You Hum a Few Bars by Zuke
Allison Peckham is not having a good day. She meets a beautiful stranger who tells her that she isn't at all who she thinks she is. Oh, and she dies. All she wants is a cup of coffee, but she has to deal with Dahok's return and the potential end of the world as we know it. Definitely not a good day.

Added part 7 of T. Stratton's Raging Horses

New eBooks
Growing Pains – Ri
Tough Luck – Rab Donald
Through Thick and Thin – Dimples
Shadows in the Night – C. Paradee
Schools Out – Mindwalker 78
The Scream – Medora MacD
Soul Vessels – Linda Crist
Sorority Sisters – Dawn Lemanne
Sin City Confidential – Cephalgia
Soul Watchers – Berlinpup
Human – Silence
Soul of the Sword – Phantom Bard
Homeward Bound – Phantom Bard
Interlude - Beowolf

February 4th, 2003
You come to love not by finding the perfect person,
but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.
--Sam Keen
10 more days...

Announcement

The Academy Valentine Shop is open for just a short time. We have received permission from SX Meagher, Anne Brisk, Rab Donald and Zuke to use some of their quotes which has made some pretty romantic holiday merchandise. To go directly to the Valentine store, visit http://www.cafeshops.com/cp/store.aspx?s=raob.60308 and remember, unless you want to pay for the most expensive shipping, order by February 5th to get the order in time for the 14th. The proceeds from these items are going to the Susan Komen Foundation for breast cancer in honor of our Academy mate, Eileen Marks. Let me just say that Phil did a fantastic job on this one and I've had to fret over how much to order!

Stories

Added part 9 of Midgit's (have I mentioned she has a new book out?<g>) A Handful of Heaven

Added part 17 of Time's Fell Hand by LJ Maas

February 3rd, 2003
Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination.
--Voltaire [Francois-Marie Arouet]
11 more days...

Hidden Desires by Vertigo (Parts 1-3)
Summary pending...

Elana's Legacy Part 2 by Pat Winterburn
Elana and her lover Ta'Kai face a life threatening challenge as an approaching army tries to attack the Amazon village. The young Princess and her small band of hunters must hold off the attack until Xena can arrive with help. The hunter is now the hunted.

A Dance in the Desert by Casi Eve
In the third installment in the life of Shelby and Taryn, the young comic struggles with the reality of a life she'd never before contemplated and the realization that sleeping with women and loving them are two entirely different things.

Tough Luck by Rab Donald
A soldier seeking vengeance discovers tough luck may be better than no luck at all...

Added part 6 of Raging Horses by T. Stratton

Added Part 3 (Conclusion) of Through Thick and Thin by Dimples

Added part 7 of Designs of the Heart by Heartbrkn

Added Chapter 24 of Modern Crusaders: Adeptus Major by PsiDraconis

February 2nd, 2003
Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking together in the same direction.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery
12 more days...

Growing Pains by Ri
As Veba and Rickie's relationship matures and deepens they are challenged by an assignment to protect a prize fighter from an enemy who knows him better then he knows himself.

Added part 5 of Conquering Liasons by Carola "Ryûchan" Eriksson

New eBooks
A Thousand Kisses by Girlbard
Amicus Humani Generis by SB Zarben
Wedding Story by Paully Adams
Island of Beasts by Carola Eriksson
Christmas for Santa's Little Helpers by Carola Eriksson
The Last Letter by Carola Eriksson
Stud by S Berry
Stud II by S Berry
Resist by S Berry

February 1st, 2003
In the arithmetic of love,
one plus one equals everything,
and two minus one equals nothing.
~ Mignon McLaughlin
13 more days...

Added part 5 of Raging Horses by T. Stratton

What's New - January 2002	What's New - February 2002	What's New - March 2002
What's New - April 2002	What's New - May 2002	What's New - June 2002
What's New - July 2002	What's New - August 2002	What's New - September 2002
What's New - October 2002	What's New - November 2002	What's New - December 2002

What's New - January 2001	What's New - February 2001	What's New - March 2001
What's New - April 2001	What's New - May 2001	What's New - June 2001
What's New - July 2001	What's New - August 2001	What's New - September 2001
What's New - October 2001	What's New - November 2001	What's New - December 2001

What's New - April 2000	What's New - May 2000	What's New - June 2000
What's New - July 2000	What's New - August 2000	What's New - September 2000
What's New - October 2000	What's New - November 2000	What's New - December 2000