Solstice Bard CHALLENGE

Solstice Graphic Puzzle CHALLENGE

spacer
Hunger Site Breast Cancer Site Child Health Site The Literacy Site Rainforest Site The Animal Rescue Site  

January 30th, 2008

Added part 2 of Rezan by Windstar and Zee

Announcement

Intaglio Publications, Inc. is proud to announce the release of The Trouble with Murder by Kate Sweeney.

Available now at www.bellabooks.com and StarCrossed Productions www.scp-inc.biz

After a three-week photo assignment chasing wild mustangs in the heat of South Dakota, Kate Ryan wants nothing more than a quiet week at her log cabin in the woods. She decides it should be "girls only" and invites her sister Teri, Aunt Hannah, and Maggie.

Her nice quiet week turns out to be anything but. The trouble is, Maggie brings a friend along, and Kate is more reluctant to acknowledge any feelings she might have for Maggie. However, Kate finds a champion in Aunt Hannah, who is determined to see her sarcastic niece and the elusive Kate together at last.

Yet, something more troublesome is happening on the lake: a violent storm that leaves them isolated; a body washes up on the beach; too many suspects and no way out - that's the trouble with murder.

January 29th, 2008

Added part 4 of Little Disquietude by Rysler

January 28th, 2008

Added part 36 , part 37 and part 38 of Double Play by Cruise

January 27th, 2008

Welcome to the Academy, L. Hall!

Debriefing the Rules by L. Hall [alt/Mel & Janice/complete]
Janice Covington and Melinda Pappas for the last six months after the Xena Scrolls have been leading to a moment of confession.. Its just a question of how hard are you going to push to get what you want? Mel's about to find out. s

Oh, and by the Way by Vilia Kinell [Über/alt/complete]
Avery finds herself distracted by a new seller and temporarily forgets her supposed problems. However, Sage is not about to let herself be a thing of the past and so she tries to catch the other woman’s attention by doing something drastic. (Part 3 of the Avery & Sage series)

Added part 3 of Little Disquietude by Rysler

January 25th, 2008

Added part 2 of Little Disquietude by Rysler

January 24th, 2008

Announcement
Blue Feather Books is pleased to announce that Joan Opyr has joined our family of authors. Her book, From Hell to Breakfast, is scheduled for release in late 2008.

Joan Opyr was born in Raleigh, North Carolina during the reign of Lyndon Baines Johnson. She is half-Ukrainian and half-Tarheel. It's a toss-up on any given day as to which has the upper hand, but as Opyr is the Ukrainian word for vampire, it's probably best to catch her on a Tarheel day.

A graduate of N.C. State University, Joan remains stubbornly ABD for her PhD in Old English from The Ohio State University. For some years now, she has been a very opinionated opinion columnist for a number of newspapers and magazines, most notably New West (www.newwest.net) and Stonewall News Northwest (www.stonewallnews.net). Because of this, her name has been taken in vain on right-wing blogs all over the World Wide Web. Go on. Run a Google search on her. It's scary.

Her first novel, Idaho Code, won a 2007 Golden Crown Literary Award for Best Mystery. It was short-listed for a 2007 Lambda Literary Award in the same category. From Hell to Breakfast is her second novel. It will not be her last.

From Hell to Breakfast

Wilhelmina "Bil" Hardy is at loose ends-and in the small college-town of Cowslip, Idaho, that's a mighty short length of rope.

After a long struggle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and an even longer struggle with the law, Bil's brother Sam has died. Bil is devastated, but she has no time grieve. Her sisters, Sarah and Naomi, seem to be dating the same cowboy, but neither knows they're sharing. Her girlfriend Sylvie is having mother troubles. Her role model, lesbian separatist and commune-builder Captain Schwartz, is having ex-husband troubles. And, worst of all, Bil's parents have sold the family home and bought 200 acres on a remote hillside from a notoriously crooked businessman. Bil's mother, Emma, is looking forward to evicting local drug dealer and Sam's erstwhile pot supplier, Jake the Snake, from a run-down shack on the hillside, but someone beats her to it-with a shotgun.

Who killed Jake? What's the unwelcome news from Captain Schwartz's ex-husband? Who is pushy preacher George Knox and what does he want? And, most puzzling of all, what do Bil's sisters see in bow-legged two-timer Buck DeWitt? Bil must answer all of these questions and more while trying to keep her relationship with Sylvie from going AWOL. Holy Cowslip! It's business as unusual for Bil and her crazy Idaho cadre.

Look for From Hell to Breakfast in late 2008!

January 23rd 2008

Welcome to the Academy, Rysler!

Little Disquietude by Rysler [alt/über/unfinished]
Leah Fisher, a not-yet-famous-at-30 actress from New York City, finally gets her big break in a small, avant-garde musical in North Carolina. There, amidst the other shows of the summer season, she meets Sophia Medina, a young, ambitious understudy. She soon finds that trying to balance lust and drama isn't easy, especially when the director, the leading man, and the universe all seem to be conspiring to ruin her.

January 22nd, 2008

Divorcee by Artemis Callaghan [original/alt/complete]
The fourth part of the Kit and Isabel series; you might like to read Hen night, Wedding reception and Honeymoon first, just so everything makes sense.

Rezan by Windstar and Zee [unfinished/alt/sci-fi]
Once more we venture into the world of Selene and Nix, and is a sequel to that story. This is set in the world of Blood and Honor, although it is set before that story.

Announcement
-from Bedazzled Ink

Last reminder! Although there is rarely a dull moment at the Xena Convention, there are quite a few minutes spent waiting in lines. Multi-task! Read a book. We will accept personal checks or cash. Sorry, no credit cards. Claudia Calling all authors attending the XenaCon in Burbank, Jan 25-27, 2008 Join Susan X. Meagher (Brisk Press), KG MacGregor (Bella Books), Mary D. Brooks (PD Publishing), and T.J. Mindancer (Mindancer Press) and let Bedazzled Book Peddler sell your books as you enjoy the Convention. All you have to do is drop your books off to our vendor's table, along with bookmarks, flyers, catalogs, and any other promotional materials. We'll display and sell your books and host autograph sessions. We also will be at the Bards Banquet Sunday night. If you're interested please contact us at bookpeddler@bedazzledink.com for details or drop by our booth at the Convention. See you there!

January 18th, 2008

Welcome to the Academy, Alwayzdreamin (kd jones)

Thanksgivings [alt/über/complete]
It's a long week for both Lauren and Stacey when misunderstandings and ex girl friends come on the scene.  Can they work things out...will they work things out before Thanksgiving?

A Day in the Change of Life by Cheyne [alt/classic X&G/complete]
Our favorite Warrior Princess and her favorite Bard are not as young as they used to be but still very settled in their bliss. Recently, however, Xena has started going through some changes

January 16th, 2008

One Woman Too Much by IseQween [classic/alt/complete]
In her eagerness to tackle the trouble Xena hinted at a few days earlier, when they began traveling together at the end of SINS OF THE PAST, Gabrielle reminds them why they needn't look far beyond each other to find it.

January 14th, 2008

PD Publishing Announcement:
Barb and I would like to announce the signing of three new titles.

Kim Pritekel's 1049 Club and Connection.
Adrian Drake's Null/Void.

We are proud to have them in our schedule and look forward to having these books in our catalogue!

Please go to our website (www.pdpublishing.com) or the author's webpages (http://www.pdpublishing.com/adriandrake.html and http://www.pdpublishing.com/pritekel.html) for more information regarding these new acquisitions.
~Linda

January 13th, 2008

A message from Ladyhawke
Hello all.

I'd first like to congratulate Del on winning this year BC. YEAH!
Her first entry too, and wow what a way to start!

Secondly, thank you to all the readers who took the time to read and to vote and also to go that one step further and send us feedback to keep us going. Thank you also to the other bards who gave us a run for our money. All the stories were outstanding this year, and I can’t imagine how hard it was for the reader to choose.

Last but not least the whole Academy team. Thank you all for the time you put into keeping this page going. Our unsung heroes.

I am over the moon to be an Honourable Mention. Thank you All.

Ladyhawke x

Added part 2 of The Dark Soul by Altilicious

January 9th, 2008

Talking In Your Sleep by TwinkerHell [classic/alt/complete]
"I hear, the secrets that you keep.  When you're talking in your sleep..."  What happened on the way back to Greece that led Xena to send Gabrielle to the Temple of Mnemosyne.

Only In My Dreams by TwinkerHell [classic/alt/complete]
According to Rob Tapert, in "The Making of Who's Gurkhan", Xena was originally supposed to have a hallucination of herself and Gabrielle riding down the beach, rather than of Gabrielle coming to her in the dungeons.  I took the idea, and ran with it.  This is my idea of what would've happened over the course of that day.

Honeymoon by Artemis Callaghan [original/alt/complete]
The third part of the saga that started with Hen night and then went on to Wedding reception.  The honeymoon is over for both Kit and Izzie, if it ever started in the first place.

Happy New Year Y'all...well the BC #18 is now history.  This last Challenge generated the most votes we've ever had cast in a challenge.  It was amazing.  Just like the stories.  All are destined to become holiday classics like the storylines they represent. 
 
BRAVO, BARDS... BRAVO
 
Well, we do have a winner and an honorable mention to announce.  Both will receive personalized framed tiles to commemorate their wins.  They will also get an online gift certificate from their retailer of choice (Amazon, B&N, Star-Crossed, Godiva, or whomever.) 
 
The Best Story (as voted by the readers) is
#5 Walking Round in Warrior's Underwear by Del Robertson
This is Del's first BC entry, I believe, and first win.  Way Cool!
 
The Honorable Mention (who did keep the voting very close) is
#2 'It Came Upon a Midnight Clear' by Ladyhawke
It's no surprise to see Ladyhawke in the winners circle...again.  She is one of the best of the best.  Outstanding.
 
CONGRATULATIONS to you both.
 
Now as for the EVIL PUNzle.  This was a work of genius and dumb luck. I'll explain.  We snagged letters from 9 logos of products associated with the holidays.  Then we shifted them around.  We asked you to identify the logos/letters and to also answer the question.
What question?  There is a question? <.g.>
Yeppers.
Those 10 letters formed a question. 
Uh huh...9 product logos but 10 letters. Cool Whip provided 2 letters.
EVIL, I know....we planned it that way. There's the genius part.
 
Now if you happened to miss the extra letter...the other 9 still formed a perfectly good and appropriate question. Therein lies the dumb luck part.  The letters formed the question: WHO IS EVIL?  Your answers of Oz and J were perfectly correct.  Yes, Yes we are EVIL--thank you very much.  But we are not the answer to the PUNzle.
We always tie the PUNzle to the theme of the Challenge, in this case popular holiday TV and movies.  The correct question was
WHO IS OLIVE?
The correct answer: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0227173/ 
Olive, The Other Reindeer which is an animated Holiday Classic.
 
Even though we technically didn't have a winner (by the roools), three of you got all the products correct and one of you came soooooooooooooo close to the right question.  All three have a special prize coming.  Our winners are:
CarolW cward321@earthlink.net
Claire  gwieniechi@yahoo.com
Lynn   LYNNABELLE@msn.com
 
CONGRATS to everyone and please contact me with your shipping info.  I have prizes for you all. 
 
Now that the Challenge is over...you readers are not done yet.  Take 60 seconds to write an email and...say it with me folks...FEED THE BARDS.  They took time out of their busy lives to write these stories for you.  If you want to continue to enjoy these challenges, we have to have participants...let them know how much you appreciate them.  Burst their mailboxes.   I dare ya.  <.eg.>
 
Thanks again to all who participated by writing and also those who participated by reading and voting.  BIG THANKS to the Boss (Steph) and the Munchkins (PT and J)...y'all do all the work and I just have to do these announcements.   It's good to be OZ.  LOL

Announcement

L-Book.com™ is proud to announce the grand opening of its Lesbian Fiction online eBook and Listening eBook store.  http://L-Book.com

L-Book™ is a listening eBook. L-Book's are Lesbian Fiction narrated by a computer generated voice, L-Book’s very own Samantha, or Sam for short. L-Books are in standard .mp3 format and can be played on most sound media players, computers and handheld devices.

L-Book.com™ eBooks are presently downloadable in eReader™ and iSilo™ formats but will soon be available in Kindle™ and MobiPocket™ formats. 

L-Book.com™ has 30 to 45 minute listening excerpts of each story as well as an excerpt in each reader format for download to test-drive the format, author, and story before buying it. The long excerpts are around 5,000 to 8,000 words starting with chapter one.

All L-Books and eBooks and your personal library cards of your purchases are immediate downloads at affordable prices with no shipping and handling.

L-Book.com™ is so pleased that our first four authors are such outstanding talents. One author was just awarded The Athenaeum’s Story of the Year for 2007. Normally The Athenaeum does not give that award for the stories removed from there site, but this time they made an exception and we are very pleased and thankful for that decision. Another L-Book author came in 6th place in the Top 100 and the Top 25 for 2006. Still another author is an established published author that happens to believe in the future of electronic books, both reading and listening books.

Now, if you haven't guessed who the authors and stories are yet …  L-Book™ is privileged to ePublish the latest stories and we hope future stories of: Fran Heckrotte offering the complete six-book series of The Illusionist, Jae and her Backwards to Oregon, Glenda Poulter and Coming Home, and another author everyone knows, RJ Nolan with her mystery, All Gone.

L-Book.com has on staff a submission board, cover artists, proofreaders, copy-editors, sound-editors, computer and sound engineers, technical and research specialists to insure the quality of each book and to meet the electronic advances of the future.

L-Book is a company looking to the future of electronics listening and reading devices and formats. L-Book’s Technical Research and Development department is working on the next generation of electronic Listening Book right now. Stay tuned for the future release of the S-Book™. Samples of the S-Book™ will be posted on the Free Handout web page in a couple months.

Please join us at L-Book.com and stroll through the website’s many pages. Join the L-Book mailer for updates. There is a new Yahoo group Lesfic_ebooks, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lesfic_ebooks for those interested in interacting with others interested in eBooks, L-Books, and updates on L-Book.com.  We look forward to meeting and getting to know you.

Roxanne Jones, and staff
http://L-Book.com
L-Book ePublisher

If you are an Author or Publisher interested in selling your books to a new market and the market of the future, let L-Book publish your electronic formatted books that will be sold on L-Book.com and other online book stores. Check our submission guidelines. Are you a Publisher that does not have the time and resources to devote to electronic books using the newest and popular technology of today and keep up with the future technologies, but you have your authors’ electronic rights? L-Book ePublisher can be your ePublisher and publish market and sell them for you.

January 7th, 2008

Announcement
LUNCH WITH LIZ FRIEDMAN

Liz Friedman, of House, Hack, The O.C., Numb3rs, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and Xena, Warrior Princess will have lunch with the winning bidder. Liz has been, at various and sometimes overlapping times, a writer, producer, Hollywood executive, and gay rights activist. She was played (as a badass, of course) by Hudson Leick on two episodes of Hercules -– "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Hercules" and "For Those of You Just Joining Us," and was described in Doris Egan's blog as "the most dangerous writer among us." You'll need to be in the LA area.

Current Bid: $173.77 (Robbie R.) -- Place a bid! Bidding ends 11:59 p.m. EST Thursday, January 10th Liz says "The lunch would be in LA; I could always do it the Friday before the convention.

http://www.fans4writers.com/auction/

Miracle by Fingersmith [alt/original/complete]
There are always two sides to every story. Well, actually there are three. Yours, mine, and more importantly, the truth. It all depends on what you want to believe, want to see, and who to trust.
After years of not taking responsibility for her actions, Stephanie Stevenson realises she has become the woman she never wanted to be. Quitting her job as a reporter, she moves to Bassenthwaite, Cumbria, in an attempt to start over. Four years later, a beautiful woman moves into the cottage next to hers. Could she be the answer to Stephanie's prayers? Or will the arrival of her new neighbour dig up the reporter's past? A past Stephanie believes is best left buried?
Erin Mason is not the average woman-next-door. She, too, holds secrets that are craving to raise their head once again. Could Stephanie be the one to unlock the memories? Or is it the other way around?
Two women: one story. Their story.

Added part 10 of Cage Undone by Roselle Graskey

January 6th, 2008

Announcement
- From Brenda Barton

From 6 p.m. to midnight, on January 27th, at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, many of our favorite bards will be attending the Bards Banquet, a nonprofit charity event and I invite all the fans of uber and fanfiction to join us in thanking the bards. Thus far, the following bards will be in attendance: Akiela Xal, Cheyne Curry, Crow, D, DJ Belt, JA Bard, KG MacGegor, LM Townsend, Llachlan, Mary D. Brooks, Mindancer, Missy Good, Planet Solin, Ralene, Red Hope, Ri, Susan X. Meagher, Texbard, Trish Kocialski, Vada, HRH and Verda H. We'll also be joined by WHOOSH editor Kym Masera Taborn, UberAbode's Rachel Pena and so many others that have made the realm of the fanfiction and uber tales so amazing. For further information and future updates about the banquet and the accompanying silent charity auction, I encourage you to visit our website at: http://bardsbrunch.com/

January 5th, 2008

Note from OZ:
Stay tuned folks. The Challenge winner (and the Honorable Mention) will be announced in a couple of days. This BC generated the most total votes we ever received for a challenge. Wasn't I right? All the stories ROCKED. A big THANK YOU to the participating Bards.
We will post up the answers to the Punzle at that time as well. Three folks were close but NO ONE got the question totally correct. I'm gonna give them each a prize anyway. Sooooooooooooooooooo close but no one out-evil thunk <.g.> J and I.
I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. LOL

January 4th, 2008

Welcome to the Academy of Bards, Korkyra

Penance [alt/classic/complete]
This fan fiction is set immediately after Xena disappears from Gabrielle's sight on Mount Fuji during FIN 2. Xena is made aware of the consequences of her decision in Jappa.

Added part 3 of Letting Go by Bobbie Halchishak

January 3rd, 2008

Without WarningAnnouncement from KG MacGregor –
I’m excited to announce the return of Anna & Lily in Without Warning, the first book in The Shaken Series. If you’ve been following my blog, you already know that Bella Books is bringing back the stories of Shaken, Stirred & Strained, all under individual covers with new and expanded scenes. Without Warning is now ready for pre-order from Bella, and will ship on January 14th. When I announced Bella’s re-release of Mulligan, The House on Sandstone & Malicious Pursuit, I advised you to save your nickels if you already had a previous edition. Not so with Without Warning. This isn’t the condensed version of Shaken that was previously published. It’s just the first story, and it’s been totally rewritten with the hope of expanding the series for as long as Anna & Lily have stories to tell. Those buying directly from Bella Books will get an autographed token of thanks. Please visit the Book Page at my website to read the synopsis, the inspiration for these stories and Chapter 1.

Announcement from Katherine Fugate -

BATTLE ON, XENA: We've had Battlestar Galactica Day. Star Trek Day. Joss Whedon Day. And now... it's Xena Day! In the ongoing Xenaverse Refreshes Campaign, Xena Fans from around the world will join writers, actors, producers and crew members of the popular TV series, Xena: Warrior Princess on THURSDAY, JANUARY 24th, 2008. Alameda Gate at Disney Studios. 11 - 2 pm. Currently scheduled to attend: RJ Stewart, Steven Sears, Liz Friedman, Katherine Fugate, Renee O'Connor, Adrienne Wilkinson and more to be announced. Costumes highly encouraged!

January 2nd, 2008

Madison by Vicki Stevenson [original/alt/complete]
A woman who is the product of an author's imagination finds her way into the real world, where she makes her own fantasies quite clear.

Announcement
- by Khimairal Ink

The four acclaimed and gifted writers showcased in this New Year's issue have captured the wonder and imagination of good speculative fiction that I love so much.
Brenda Cooper takes us to a wonderful tropical setting in "Mayan Summer" where ancient treasures can show up in the most unexpected places. A Khimairal Ink favorite, Barbara Davies, entertains us with "The Ystrelan Ambassador," a fast-paced tale with the patented Davies' twist at the end. "Spell, Book and Candle" by Catherine Lundoff reminds us that even a well-crafted spell can create unforeseen results. Martha J Allard's "Scales" is a sweet tale of unspoken wishes coming true.

Check out these great stories at:
http://www.bedazzledink.com/khimairal-ink/1-08issue/1-08cover.html

Happy New Year and Good Reading!
Claudia Wilde
www.bedazzledink.com

January 1st, 2008

Happy New Year!

Greener Pastures - A Horse Tail by IseQween [general/classic/complete]
Argo recalls her first experiences with the intriguing warrior she carries into SINS OF THE PAST and her efforts to understand the smaller human who begins traveling with them.

Archives 2000 - 2006

- HOME -