June 30th, 2004

Big Ju Ju by Saggio (Sage) Amante[original/alt/complete]
PWP. Destiny brings two women together ... or is it Ju Ju?  Originally penned as a writing exercise at BardsVillage, this story has been revised for the Academy.

Sleep Comes Too Late by Crystal Michallet [original/unfinished]
summary pending

June 29th, 2004

Added part 10 of Irresistible Flame by DJWP

June 27th, 2004

Added part 13 and part 14 of Where Eagles Fly by Saggio (Sage) Amante

June 26th, 2004

Added part 9 of A Thousand Miles by PsiDraconis

June 25th, 2004

Added part 4 (conclusion) of Destinies by David J. Duncan

Updated the Ultimate Über List by Eileen Marks

June 24th, 2004

Love's Journey Found by Saggio (Sage) Amante
PWP.  A backstory to Message in a Bottle. Marina and Lizette meet and sparks fly in this tale of instant attraction.

Families and Old Flames by XFBARD [Semi-Uber/Alt]
The third chapter of the Second Chance At Forever series.
Xena and Gabrielle's relationship continues to evolve during a trip back to Xena's hometown. Will altercations with Xena's family and an old flame throw a wrench in the works?

Added part 5 of Breaking Free by R.A. Hughes

Added part 4 of In Too Deep by Ronica Black

June 23rd, 2004

New Lover Lust by KG MacGregor [original/alt/complete]
After six relationships in twelve years, Shelley expects nothing of her lovers beyond the New Lover Lust. "Arrested development," she explains. She had one chance to learn about love and it walked out the door with Frances. 

Added part 3 of Destinies by David J. Duncan

June 22nd, 2004

Two Scrolls in One by Fedelma [X&G/alt/complete]
Two very short stories that look at events "between the scrolls" in our heroine's early life together. In the first, set after the events of "Destiny/The Quest/A Necessary Evil", our heroes/heroines meet for a celebratory dinner and some revealing interaction with an old friend of Hercules. In the second, after the incidents in "Crusader", our heroines explore their relationship while they discuss the nature of the universe. The obligatory "first-time" story, but there's no explicit sex in it. Honest. Read the story and see.

Added part 13 (conclusion) of The Retreat by Phair

Added part 3 of In Too Deep by Ronica Black

June 21st, 2004

Added part 2 of Destinies by David J. Duncan

June 20th, 2004

Destinies (Dubois Chronicles 2.80) by David J.Duncan [unfinished]
A week after Dijon's challenge in "Aftershocks", Dave and Xena run into the spirit of Anne Lichtenfeld who's taken the souls of three children from the Midwest. What will Xena discover about her friend and his dark side? And who is this witch and why is she so familiar to the Xena and Gabrielle?

June 19th, 2004

Announcement
-From Shirley Roberts

As those of you who looked, my novel Tag Team has not been updated since November.
That was when my father started having medical problems that have required 4 surgeries, long hospital stays, nursing facility stay, and a move into my house after all that so my partner and I can take care of him until he is completely healed. Recently things were going very well, he was past the surgeries, and was released from the nursing facility. A slow healing wound on his foot was all we had to get through. Unfortunatly, two days ago he fell in the bathroom and broke 2 ribs. The pain has been pretty intense for him, and he requires even more care over the next couple of weeks. The good news is that most of the other medical problems have been taken care of. His heart is strong again, and the wound that was threatening his whole left leg (and in fact his life) has been healing well with the loss of only a couple toes. So, hopefully sometime this summer I can get back to work on 'Tag Team' and all the other ideas I have written down these last few months.
During all this, once my father turned the corner on the road to recovery, my partner and I decided it was time to start our family. With a donation from my brother, we are now expecting our first child in January. So its been quite the reality show around here these past few months. :) Anyway, I wanted those curious to know what was up, and that my story is not dead, its just resting until I can get back to it. :)

June 18th, 2004

Added part 3 of Fourth and Goal by Strongsouljah

Added Sins of the Mother (8):Surrender by L. Crystal Michallet-Romero

June 17th, 2004

Updated Eileen Marks' Ultimate Über List

Announcement

-from Cavalier Press

We are very pleased to announce that the talented KG MacGregor has entrusted Cavalier Press with a third great novel. The House on Sandstone is a perceptive story of life and love in small-town America. Two women, meeting again after twenty-five years apart, find that time brings many changes, both in themselves and in their community. The House on Sandstone is due to be released in January 2005.
http://www.cavalierpress.com [The Academy would like to extend their good luck wishes and congratulations as well!]

June 15th, 2004

An announcement and a new story from Kim Baldwin!

I'd also like to respectfully request you mention the release of my first novel, Hunter's Pursuit, which can be purchased through Dare2Dream, Amazon, and Barnes&Noble. Here's the tease for the book:

Hunter is a professional killer whose keen skills are both admired and feared by her few friends and many foes. But she wants out of the business. She's sequestered in her underground bunker home, hidden in the remote winter wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Her former mentor wants her dead and will pay her colleages handsomely to gun her down. One of the assassins on her heels is an old acquaintance who wants revenge. Another is a young woman who's skills are touted as a match for Hunter's own.

Could this woman already be living in Hunter's midst, sleeping in Hunter's bed, and grabbing hold of Hunter's heart?

Baby, It's cold outside. The chase is on.

An excerpt and more information can be found on my website at www.geocities.com/woodsbard

Thanks very much!

Kim Baldwin

Fire and Ice by Kim Baldwin [Über/alt/complete]
In this sequel to "Blown Away", volunteer firefighters Gable McCoy and Erin Richards face new perils on the job and in their relationship

Yellow by Minerva [X&G/alt/complete]
An unconventional story about how the bard and warrior's love affected those around them, and those closest to them.

Added part 2 of In Too Deep by Ronica Black

June 14th, 2004

Added part 12 of The Ridded by Phair

Added part 10, part 11, and part 12 of Where Eagles Fly by Saggio (Sage) Amante

June 12th, 2004

Discovery in Thisbe by Ronica Black [X&G/alt/complete]
Find out what awaits Xena and Gabrielle when they venture to an all women village.

June 11th, 2004

Gabrielle and the Scholar by Fedelma [X&G/complete]
While staying in Athens without Xena, Gabrielle spends an extended stay at the Athenian Academy, and becomes involved with a scholar/inventor with a mysterious past.

This story occurs sometime before "Destiny".

June 10th, 2004

Announcement

Don't forget tomorrow is the last day for Nene Adams' auction! It's a chance to do something for a bard!

eBooks

Wrist Alarms & Baby Corn - Emyster & Professor
Endless Summer - Cephalgia
Ari Speaks Out - Crystal Michallet
Misplaced People - Devize
Friendly Skies - Kim Pritekel & Alexa Hoffman

June 9th, 2004

Voyage Aboard the Queen by Ronica Black [alt/complete/pwp]
Two women, who are hot for each other, step aboard a cruise ship.

eBooks
from Bard Challenge #11

Yakut - Chelle
Push Pause - Fedelma
Eris - Kayrna
Meg - K Darblayne
Solari - Lynn Ames
Salmoneus - Mickey
Talia - Patty S
Amarice - Phantombard
Meleager - Rab Donald
Lila - Ri
Diana - S Berry
Ephiny - Tara Kerry

June 8th, 2004

Added part 4 of Breaking Free by RA Hughes

June 7th, 2004

Stories

Eight Months by Insane Englishwoman [alt/über/unfinished]
This is the sequel to "The Day After" and continues the tale of Sam's life on the streets. There will be further chapters.

Friendly Skies by Kim Pritekel and Alexa Hoffman [pwp/complete]
Two women bond during a plane ride.

In Too Deep by Ronica Black [über/alt/unfinished]
summary pending

Announcements

Just a reminder-

Here's another bard who can use a hand. She has come up with a unique auction. Reach deep into your pockets for this one! - steph

Buy a Bard and You Can Be the Star!

Nene Adams (http://www.corrieweb.com/library.htm) is for sale... or at least, her story-writing talents are yours for the taking. That's right - enter this Buy-a-Bard auction and you may win a personalized story written especially for you! You choose the setting, you choose the genre, you choose the adventure - take as much or as little control as you desire.

Want pirate gals on the high seas? Chicks in chainmail? Regency romance? Mystery, adventure, historical, cyberpunk, horror, comedy, science fiction or fantasy - anything's possible! You can even become a character in the story yourself. Once written, this custom tale will become your sole property to do with as you wish. Five winners will have the satisfaction of taking home a unique, one-of-a-kind tale written by this talented bard.

Enter the Buy-a-Bard auction and you can be the star of your own adventure! Auction bids can go to wynna1@yahoo.com and auction will close Friday June 11th, 2004

or just donate to the cause (and since I'm one who did - I found out that you get a treat when you do! :)

SECOND ANNUAL DC BardFest

The Second Annual DC BardFest – a gathering of people committed to supporting up and coming writers, and especially those friendly to the Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered and Bisexual community. Held over the first weekend in October every year, DC BardFest attracted over 225 participants in 2003 and expects almost 400 participants this year.

The DC BardFest (www.dcbardfest.com) is a two-day event, with speakers, panels, and vendors from a variety of disciplines, all focused on the challenge of supporting emerging GLBT authors. Authors, publishers, book dealers, and fans from across the nation and around the world converge on what is rapidly becoming an elite gathering. Guest speakers come from a variety of disciplines, including well-known writers of science fiction, fantasy, romance, screenplays, and teleplays.

In addition, the experience of the weekend goes back to the public in the form of an annual report that reaches out to the GLBT community nation-wide.

Not only is the DC BardFest itself a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we also take advantage of the opportunity each year to contribute to our favorite charities. Each year, we select two charities and any profit from the event proper plus the proceeds of fundraising auctions conducted by the participants are contributed. Last year, we raised approximately $2,500 plus another $1,000 in contributed toys and games for the Starship Foundation, which support New Zealand’s only children’s hospital. We also contributed $2,000 to the Whitman Walker Foundation.

Contributors, Supporters and Vendors at the DC BardFest have found that it is a rewarding weekend. We look forward to the coming event with anticipation – of good will, of exciting events, and of ever growing participation. We hope you will join us in celebrating these up and coming authors.

Please visit the website if you have any questions or join the update group to get the latest information on DC BardFest. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dcbardfest/join

Thank you,
Rosa Moran, Advertising Chair
DC BardFest 2004 Committee

June 6th, 2004

Ari Speaks Out by Crystal Michallet [alt/complete]
The sequel to Sins of the Mother

In Braving the Storm, part 12 of Mavis Applewater's Whispering Pines, Faith visits her parents in an effort to ease the tension between her and her father, before she faces Shawn.

Added part 12 of The Retreat by Phair

Added part 3 of Breaking Free by RA Hughes

Added part 2 of Fourth and Goal by Strongsouljah

June 5th, 2004

New eBooks

June 4th, 2004

Added part 25 and part 26 [conclusion] of Misplaced People by Devize go read this one folks, it's a good one!

Added parts 32 - 35 of Beneath the Brambles by Lady Savay

June 3rd, 2004

Endless Summer by Cephalgia [über/alt/complete]
In the sequel to The Dregs of Summer, Toni and Rae continue with their new business partnership and personal relationship

Added part 2 of Breaking Free by R. A. Hughes

Added part 11 of Blindsided by Colleen

June 2nd, 2004

Welcome to the Academy first time author, Fedelma

Push Pause [complete/X&G/alt]

Annoucements

Pssst...don't know if anyone told ya...
but the BardChallenge #11 winners were announced at Bardcon on Saturday...

Lynn Ames for Solari (attending BardCon category)
and
Phantombard for  Amarice (non-attending category)

BRAVO and CONGRATS to you both.  Great stories!

This was Lynn's first time in a Bard Challenge and first win...I hope she will participate in more. <.hint, hint.>
Phantombard has participated before but in the graphic categories, so I beleive that would make Phantombard a rookie writing  winner as well.  :o)

Winners' prize packets include: a custom tile box, a real quill/ink combo, a parchment journal, a Florida beach towel, an insulated drink bottle and a set of limited edition Disney Park posters, all stuffed nicely into a backpack.  Plus the "going to BardCon" winner (Lynn Ames) got a Disney Park Pass.  

Big thank you to all the Bards who competed.  Special thanks to Rab, Chelle and TaraKerry.  Each of them went above and beyond.  Rab suffered a computer crash and recreated his entire story (and included a great mention of the Academy personnel <.bg.>).  Chelle, new to the challenges,  stepped in at the very last moment and turned in a terrific story in less than 4 days (which was 3rd overall in votes behind the two winners).  I hope she'll be back for more.  TaraKerry was competing in her 10th Challenge...She is the only one to have entered EVERY challenge we have offered.

Y'all ROCK!

FYI...the Bard Challenges will be taking the summer off.
The next one will be our annual Solstice Challenge.  But never fear, I'll bet the Head Munchkin has a special trick or treat up her sleeve for in the meantime.  ;o)

PHIL/OZ
Please take a moment and...FEED THE BARDS!