November 30th, 2006

Added part 73 of In an Age Before by PhantomBard

November 29th, 2006

Added part 5 of The Strength Inside by Claire Lanham

November 28th, 2006

Added part 3 of Stranger in a Strange Time by Red Hope

November 27th, 2006

Added part 13 (conclusion) of Blood and Honor by Windy & Zee

Added part 9 and part 10 of Pathfinder's Journey by S. Derkins

Added part 13 of JM Dragon's Waterfalls, Rainbows and Secrets

November 26th, 2006

Bygone by Geonn Cannon [original/alt/complete]
A modern-day woman finds tranquility in a nightclub based on the 1940's.

November 25th, 2006

Added part 11 , part 12 and part 13 (conclusion) of On the Air by Geonn Cannon

Added part 4 of Birdie's Song by Onesockbard

Added part 5, part 6, part 7 and part 8 of Pathfinder's Journey by S. Derkins

November 24th, 2006

Added part 9 and part 10 of On the Air by Geonn Cannon

Added part 37 (chapters 41 - 43) of Beneath the Brambles by Lady Savay

Added part 11 and part 12 of JM Dragon's Waterfalls, Rainbows and Secrets

November 23rd, 2006

With Vision Cleared by Bobbie Stewart [classic - X&G/alt/complete]
Bacchus has been defeated and Xena and Gabrielle find themselves with some unexpected downtime while they wander the countryside.  This allows one of them far too much time to think about the bite that transpired between them.

Added part 16 of To Hold Forever by Carrie Carr

Added part 7 and part 8 of On the Air by Geonn Cannon

November 22nd, 2006

Added part 5 and part 6 of On the Air by Geonn Cannon

November 21st, 2006

Added part 10 (conclusion) of GHOST TOWN-ing by Mickey Minner

Added part 3 and part 4 of On the Air by Geonn Cannon

November 20th, 2006

On the Air by Geonn Cannon [unfinished/original/alt]
Nadine Butler is a popular disc-jockey in a small-town radio station. Everything is going fine until one day, exhausted, she stands up in a town hall meeting and outs herself as a lesbian. Nadine quickly becomes persona non grata and, when it looks like her outting will cost her her job, she takes one last stand on the air.

November 17th, 2006

Added part 7 of As the Xenaverse Turns by Jenny D. Maher

November 16th, 2006

It's that time again...the Royal Academy of Bards presents our annual Solstice Bard Challenge.

And this one is as easy as A to Xe.

Challenge #16 (WHEW!) is our traditional "insert this word list into any kind of story" challenge.

OOh and hey, we even give let you pick your words from a huge list.  Piece of cake...right?  <.eg.>

Go here for the complete rooools and the word list: http://www.academyofbards.org/contest/2006/AtoXe/roools.html

There are two categories of competition:  Best Story (as voted by the readers) and Most Words Used (overall count).

Deadline is December 17th.

Entries go to:  academy_contest@yahoogroups.com

Questions or comments go here: PHIL728@aol.com

Good Luck Y'all

Herstory by Kris [unfinished/Janice&Mel- classic/alt]
summary pending

November 15th, 2006

Added part 10 of Nwyn by PsiDraconis

November 14th, 2006

Senet by Nut56 [complete/alt/classic]
Senet is based around Season 2 or 3, and reads like a typical episode from that time. When Gabrielle is threatened by an enemy neither she nor Xena can understand, they travel across the globe to ancient Egypt, to an old friend of Xena's, in search of help. Not only must Gabrielle face her own danger, she must unravel the link between Xena and Nekhmet, an Egyptian pharaoh who knew the Warrior long before she and Gabrielle met. There are maintext scenes here for adults only, but otherwise the story can be enjoyed by all.

November 13th 2006

Added part 3 of Birdie's Song by Onesockbard

Added part 4 of Pathfinder's Journey by S. Derkins

Announcements
Wait 'til you see what we look like now...on second thought...don't wait...pop on in and browse around the newly refurbed Marketplace.

http://www.cafepress.com/RAOB

FINALLY...we have what y'all have been asking for...black (and/or dark color) shirts. And what better to go on those shirts but some new killer retro neon RAOB logos. In addition, we added some brand new images to the D&K line of merchandise with some terrific new Dixieland Yankee logos.

Yep, the Academy Munchkin Artists Michelle and Evil J have been busy, busy, busy. BIG THANKS to them both.

Also, newly added are sub-shops with Hall of Fame and 411 logo merchandise. Plus we added pastel color ringer shirts and hooded sweatshirts.

Oh and don't worry, we did keep some of the old favorites...classic RAOB logo items, Merpupwear, and, the currently popular, Planet Xena merchandise.

C'mon in and peruse the racks.

http://www.cafepress.com/RAOB

Cafe Press is having a couple of terrific promotions this holiday season:

November 6-19 25% off ornaments and greeting cards.

November 16- December 20 Free standard shipping on orders of $50 or more.

November 20-December 3 20% off all calendars.

Remember, you can shop in a variety of different stores before checkout. You are bound to find something for everyone this holiday gift-giving season. Keep those special promotions in mind and save.

PHIL/OZ, Shopkeeper
http://www.cafepress.com/RAOB
If there is any item or image configuration on an item you would like that we don't already have available, please drop me an email and I will do my best to make it available to you.

- from Mickey
I am very happy to announce that Sweetwater, the first in the Jesse and Jennifer series, has been released. You can find it at SCP and Amazon. I hope you will check it out.

Mickey
mickeyminner.com

November 12th 2006

Added part 2 of Stranger in a Strange Time by Red Hope

November 10th 2006

Added part 15 of To Hold Forever by Carrie Carr

November 9th, 2006

Pathfinder's Journey by S. Derkins [alt/über/incomplete]
The fourth in the Mother Earth series. Cierra and JP are expecting their first child and the first of the newcomers arrive at the community.

Added part 6 of As the Xenaverse Turns by Jenny D. Maher

Added part 8 (conclusion) of Extension 147 by Jynaki

November 8th 2006

First Principals by PhantomBard [Alt/über/complete]
This story revolves around the cloned warrior Prima, introduced in the story “Clonefic 3”, and her adventures in the era of the Fall of Troy. In that distant past, populated by heroes and the Amazons of Themiskyra, Prima exceeds the mission given her by the Conqueror and assures a future for the later soulmates, while finding love and arranging for the safekeeping of a great treasure, the ultimate heirloom of the Amazon Nation. Written for Halloween 2006. Trick or Treat!

Linda Crist's next three stories in the Between the Lines Series:

2.12 - Death Be Not Proud (post "Destiny")
2.13 - A Mile in Your Boots (post "The Quest")
2.14 - A Matter of Trust (post "A Necessary Evil")

Announcement
-from Zero (Insane Englishwoman)

I'm back - short one paw but here...

I've got thousands of emails to check... and many more personal good wishes to reply to than I ever thought possible... if you've sent a personal email to me I will reply... just give me a day or so to get round to you all

I've had two plates put in my shoulder - which has repositioned the collar bone - and now it isn't sticking through the muscle and cutting into the nerves I'm not in screaming agony any more - it's down to a bearable ache. Thw doc had to remove two nerves which had been shredded by broken bone so I have a patch of shoulder that will be forever numb now... good place for a new tattoo yeah??..

They got the bone chips out of my chest wall... unfortunately they couldn't save the rib they came from so I lost that. Which of course means that I only have 2 cracked ribs to deal with now.... hey... gotta look on the bright side right??

I am not allowed to use that arm at all for a month - and then it will need 3 months of gentle physio after that - so I'm out of work for 4 months...

which brings me to my next point... the auction/donation site...

I'm absolutely, totally gobsmacked...

I will be thanking personally as many people as I can who have donated stuff for it... and the fantastic friends who set it up

But... how the F%$& do you say thank you for that??

How do you thank all the xenites who have been so generous?? How do you thank the readers who like my stuff enough to care?? How do you thank the writers who consider me one of their own??

How do you thank all the folks you always held in high esteem, who you regarded as friends without ever thinking they felt the same about you.... who  have done so much... . who have demonstrated that friendship runs both ways.... how do you say thank you for this... not just for the material things but thank you for your friendship... thank you for caring

How the hell do you ever say thank you for all this??

I have no idea.... I don't even know where to start

I guess I just start here... like this.... and say

Thank You

Zero

November 7th, 2006

Stolen Souls by KG MacGregor [original/alt/complete]
Vonne Maglio signs on for a two-week vacation at a working ranch in the Colorado canyons. Nothing at Sky Ranch is as it seems–but then, neither is Vonne.

Added part 10 of Waterfalls, Rainbows and Secrets by JM Dragon

Added part 6 and part 7 of Adrienne's A Different Time, A Better Time

Announcement
-from Kim Pritekel

Hello, guys!  Thank you all so much for your support in our endeavor with ASP Films.  Some huge things are happening right now, but I can't go into it just yet, cause nothing legal has been signed.  All I can say is I met a producer last year at BardCon, and thank the gods I did. : )

We've got two new titles added to the ASP Films sale: Outcome and the Teenage Anthology, which is Sisterly Love and Bible Thumpin' all rolled into one, neatly spiral-bound tome.  Come on over and check it out!  http://officialaspfilms.com/merchandise.htm

- from PD Publishing
P.D. Publishing is very excited to announce the following authors have
recently signed with us and their books are going to be available very soon!

L.T. Smith has signed Beginnings to be available Summer 2007.
Alex Mykals has signed Adeptus Major, 2nd edition to be available
Spring 2007.
Kathleen Kelly has signed Penetrate, 2nd edition to be available
Spring 2007.
T. Novan has signed Madam President, 3rd edition and First Lady, 2nd
edition to be available Winter 2006. Taylor Rickard and T. Novan's Words
Heard in Silence, 2nd edition is scheduled to be published in Summer 2007.

And, we are very happy to announce that October echoes, 2nd edition by
Roselle Graskey and Lessons by Kim Pritekel are available for purchase!
Please visit our website (www.pdpublishing.com) for more information
concerning the above. Thank you for your continued support and
encouragement. ~ Linda and Barb

November 6th, 2006

Added part 3 of Night Blooming by Maderlin Bidmead

November 2nd, 2006

Added part 8 and part 9 of Waterfalls, Rainbows and Secrets by JM Dragon

Added part 2 of Birdie's Song by Onesockbard

Reminder
The Official Anti-Wanker Auction for Zero, Jac Hills, aka Insane Englishwoman

Because we're all about the love, and since we can't all hop on a jet plane to have sex with a Certain Someone to put a smile on her face after some wanker totaled out her beloved Triumph (as well as trashing her shoulder and other rather necessary parts of her anatomy), we're doing what we can do: Trading off some really cool stuff for some bits of colored paper (aka "money") to lend a helping hand to a woman who'd be first in this line to help out another.

Bid high, bid frequently, bid against your friends and neighbors... Heck, even bid against yourself, 'cause you know you want some of this hot stuff!

Let's prove that if some wanker knocks down one of our own, legions of us will put her back on her feet!

In this family, we stand up for our own. Take that, wanker!

Auctions will start 10/29/2006 and end 11/05/2006 at 7:00pm US CST. Paypal cash donations will end 11/12/2006 at 7:00pm US CST.

Please include Zero's name in the subject line of all emails.

When the auction opens, this link will be active. http://www.djordanredhawk.net/auction

If you have any questions, please contact Vicki Allen at vdallen@whoever.com and I will work with the parties in question to get the answers.

November 1st, 2006

Added part 7 of Extension 147 by Jynaki

Announcement
from Kathy L. Smith

The new year will bring bright new changes to Intaglio Publications. As of January 1, 2007, Kathy L. Smith, publisher, will complete the sale of the company and its assets to Sheri Payton (a.k.a. Robin Alexander), and Becky Arbogast.
 
In announcing the sale, Ms. Smith said, “I created Intaglio Publications because I had a vision—a very definite idea about what a publishing house should be. I wanted to create an environment in which my authors would be well-represented and would receive personalized attention. Unfortunately, as a result of a variety of factors, I have had to make some difficult choices. As a result, on October 1, 2006 Intaglio Publications began a 3-month transition of ownership. This is not a decision I made hastily, and I did so only with the assurance from Sheri and Becky that the Intaglio authors would have the opportunity to keep their existing books in print under the new ownership if they so desired.”

Ms. Payton, who has served Intaglio Publications as the Author Liaison and General Manager for the past year, will take over as CEO. Ms. Arbogast began working in the lesbian publishing world for Naiad Press in 2001. When the owners of Naiad made the decision to retire, Becky worked for both Naiad Press and Bella Books. In 2003, she was hired by Linda Hill as the Operations Manager for Bella Books.
 
Under the leadership of Ms. Payton and Ms. Arbogast, Intaglio Publications will be a wholly independent company, with no direct affiliation to any other publisher or distributor. The first publication under the new Intaglio banner will be released in early December, A Nice Clean Murder, Book two in the Kate Ryan Series, by Kate Sweeney.

Ms. Smith added, “With Sheri's knowledge of Intaglio Publications and its family of authors and Becky'os wealth of experience in the lesbian publishing business, Intaglio Publications will, without a doubt, continue to have a bright and prosperous future. I wish Sheri and Becky all the best in their future endeavors.”