It takes two to tango

No matter the time or the place there is one couple that you can't separate - want to take a guess ? Nope ..  you won't find the answer in the picture this time, even if pictures paints a thousand words! .. and this is an awfully nice picture ... it could very well be the climax of a lesfic story line as in ... no I'm not the writer - I'm the reader! And that's who they are, the couple .. not the dancers silly ! The couple that you can't separate, the couple who need each other like ... well whatever You Need.

... the reader and the writer .. it's a bliss when you find each other. You can be her first, she can be your latest and you can be each others ... whatever you are it might be for life. 

You can bookmark her, put her among your favourites or on a shelf - she won't mind. She will think of you while she puts her words on paper and ponders the story line, but you don't have to brush your teeth before you take her to bed. 

It's a match made in heaven, but it's not free. You'll have to commit your reading time as she will have to commit herself to slaving over the keyboard. She will wonder if you read her lines, as you will wonder the meaning of her words. 

You are together yet separate, your lives merely touching, but still she can linger in your head for days like the tune of a favourite song that you hum to yourself over and over again.

What you do to her is your choice, but if you like her writing drop her a line - STOP lurking and be a pal feed the bard!  ... now I don't know the couple but they could easily picture characters from a favourite story line - even if short blond and tall dark aren't in the picture.... could it be Caid the "Balantine Babe" from Dabkey's "And Playing the role of herself" and her love interest Robyn who just happened to be sporting both a very visible boyfriend Josh and a less obvious stalker. Well probably not as both Caid and Robyn tends to be a bit protective of their private lives and not much is private when you are an actress. On the other hand it might be Mimi and Jolly as you might say that privacy is not high their list. Mimi is waiting in the wings - and not quit patiently - for the love of her life, Jolly to notice what is right in front of her eyes ... the love of her life, and once the cobweb has been dusted of Jolly's mind, they find "A place to Dance" very much in the spotlight or rather in their fathers face ...yes check it out!

Dancing is certainly not uncommon in our lesfic story lines and to some it's almost a lifestyle. Take Sheridan who is a regular on the dance floor with just about any hot babe that she can lay her eyes on ... well that is until Keefer happens to put herself firmly in the picture, but "Caution: Under construction" might just leave you a little breathless even if you aren't  joining the ladies on the dance floor. 

If you go for the more serene dancing then an evening in the company of D.S. Bauden and "A Saving Solace" might be more to your liking. It's just one dance in the confinement of Kelly's home but it does take the story and the ladies to the next level. As is the case for Laurel and her friend Caden in Kim Pritekel's "Again". A dance in the privacy of home is just the thing that gets things moving towards the living happily ever after. If this is playing it a bit safe then try your hand with Xenasgrll's "A Safe Place" where Paige treats Madison to a dance which would not be deemed safe in a public place. Do you want me to go on .. then lets turn up the heat a notch with J Brownell's "Now and Forever" this time the ladies doesn't even make it to the dance floor even if they are dressed up to the nines and almost there, but then again they don't really need to go to the next level, they are already there. 

Now don't get the impression that a dance is all it takes, sometimes a dance can spell disaster waiting to happen as is the case for Clancy in "Miss-Match" by AC Henley, but then again Max wasn't really whom she should have chosen for her first dance and she might think to thank Carmen for getting her ass out of trouble. As for dancing with the "wrong" woman Artemis Callaghan will set up Kit for trouble in the long run by accepting a dance with the wrong sister at the right time. A mix up YES - is it easy to fix - NO or YES - as long as you don't mind playing the fence a bit. Follow the ladies in Hen Night, Wedding reception, Honeymoon, Divorcee.

Go on there is a woman and a writer out there who is the ONE for you....

Ramble - on this and that

As you might have noticed I'm not really doing any reading at the moment! Well that's not entirely true, I do read stuff but either I'm just jumping from one "old" and well proven online story to another or I'm enjoying myself with general fiction which does not really fit the theme of this blog.  

So this time I'm just going to give you a mix of whatever comes to mind....

Have you been following the news on The Royal Academy of Bards ? If not then perhaps you ought to look up the entry for the 11th of August and learn which bards was voted into the Academy's Hall of Fame this summer. If you need a suggestion on what to read you can look up the list of the stories voted into the Hall of Fame as well.

I'm happy to see that Ann McMan and her story "Jerico" was voted into The Hall of Fame. It's a fun, mushy romance with a killer dialogue, but I guess that you know that by now ? 

McMan's latest story "Dust" made it to the Hall of Fame as well. This is a quite different type of story, a sort of "political thriller" with a romantic twist, not the mushy romance type of story that I'm so fond of ;-) 

"Dust" is what Evan stirrers up when she goes hunting for the dirty parts of an up and coming politicians life before the party decides on the backing of the candidate. This time she finds not only dirty secrets but also an estranged, but very good looking - lesbian - wife, lurking in the side wings of the up and coming senator's life.

This is LesFic so YES Evan and the senators wife do get to know one another "up close and personal", but somehow I keep looking back ...is this for "real" of just a trick for Evan to get close to the information that she is looking for or for the senators wife to keep a close tap on what Evan is digging up?? If you like LesFic thrillers don't miss this one - it's very well written. A tight and precise language and a well structured storyline even if it drops of a bit at the end.

You can find both "Jerico" and "Dust on the Academy and on Ann McMan's website. "Jericho" and  "Dust" might be the last free fic's from McMan's pen - it seems that she has made it into print with her first book. This is great as she really do turn out stories with a good quality of writing.

While we are on the theme of Hall of Fame Stories lets take a stroll back in time at The Academy's Hall of Fame - maybe you have missed out on a really great read. Come along if you need a bit of guidance.

2010 was the year that one of my favorite romances with humor entered The Hall of Fame. If you have missed "Miss-Match" do not hesitated to look it up - its everything you need in a LesFic - jumping the fence, coming out, a blind date, women looking for the one to spend their life, and everything in a mix of great dialoge and a well put together storyline with likeable characters.

While we are on the subject of A.C.Henley - one of the two co-writers of Miss-Match - I might as well tell you that she also penned "One-Two-Oh" a little story of cowgirls and on how come every lesbian within a 500-mile zone decides to show up on Rose's doorsteps, even though she really only has eyes for Charlotte. 

From The Hall of Fame Voting in the year 2010 you might also like Zee's "Comic Book Life" this time you'll get a story based on the concept of "young love that never dies" mixed with a bit of fun and a child that you have to keep your eyes on.

I'm not going to walk through every Hall of Fame voting with you - you can do so on you own, but I might just point out a few other favorites that have earned a place in The Hall of Fame though the years.

Artemis Callaghan's "Something so Close to Love" received the necessary votes to enter The Hall in 2008. I do like Callaghan's writing and "Something so Close to Love" has characters with more depth than the usual online fic. There is a review somewhere on this blog - if you want to know more before you commit yourself to a reading.

The first year that The Hall of Fame voting took place some of the best uber writers was voted into The Hall ... Radclyffe, SX Meager, Missy Good, LJ Maas, Ali Vali and KG MacGregorer. Among the stories chosen for The Hall of Fame that year is another long time favorite of mine "None So Blind" - it doesn't get more romantic than that. You can look up the review on the blog by looking up the reviews on stories by LJ Maas.

Should you want to take a break from the world of words maybe you can relax with some pic's - no, not interested ? Well what if I told you that we are talking "America the Beautiful" by Elle ? As a teaser I'll give you Hillery Swank.

Elle says: "We searched from coast to coast to find the loveliest celebrity native of each state in the union (plus the District of Columbia!)".

If this is not the kind of pic's you fancy you can always look up the latest show from "The Big Picture at Boston.com". Beware - it's not always pretty !

For pretty and adventurous pic's I always visit National Geographic. Last time I stopped by I met with "The Rower". Did you know that it takes 2.5 mio. oarstroks to cross The Pacific ?

Have fun !

Annual Academy of Bards Valentine Special

Have you checked out the stories posted at the Academy's Valentine's Special 2011?

If not you might want to do a sample of the sweets on offer - several well known pens from the online Universe of fan fiction have chipped in this year.

Insane Englishwoman has put together a classic lesfic themed short story "Those Who Cannot See". If you find the theme appealing you can find it fully explored by LJ Maas in "None so Blind" an old favourite of mine.

If you can handle a story with tissue alert look up Lois Cloarec Hart's "Love is" - I must admit that I found it too sad to finish but well written and touching.

Kim Pritekel will serve you with a hot helping - as usual - I might say. "The One You're Looking for" is not the best work from her pen - from the long list of Kim's solo work I think that I would pick "Again" as my favourite, but then again it has been awhile since I have been through the long list of Pritekel fic's.

SX Meager delivers a long time couple, a tiny dog and a park ranger that might be both the last drop of water for the cup to run full or the first drink of a fresh cup - "The near occasion of sin" will promise a new beginning for those willing to give love a chance.

My favourite this year is Artemis Callaghan's "Would like to meet". Just like Pritekel, Callaghan explores the theme of dating sites or lonely hearts ads - but I prefer the slow romancing that we are treated to from Callaghan's pen - it's sweet, but hey it's Valentine's right? But beware I might be biased - I'm a Callaghan fan - so you better go make up your own mind.

In The Light of Day by Cheyne aka Cheyne Curry

There is more ways than one to come out and Riley chooses a  spectacular one if you consider giving a living and breathing lesbian a lap dance at you cousins bachelorette party coming out. I know that it might just be the tequila speaking, but maybe, just maybe, this is more than just an alcohol induced idea of a little fun? 

At least that what Kya implies to Riley when she wakes up naked in Kya's bed the morning after. "But…I don't even know what to do with a woman…" Riley protests, "So you said last night. I can assure you that you have a creative imagination and you take instruction very well" is Kya's answer.

Now there is no reason to make fun of the process of realising you are gay and coming out, but I don't mind the subject to be treated in a humorous way and that is what Cheyne is doing here. If you can accept the fact that tequila - and one night in the arms of a lesbian super lover - can make a here to unsuspecting straight woman a convinced lesbian, that is.  

"In The Light of Day" is the first in a series of four stories that make up the complete tale of Riley's coming out to herself and her family. Do look up at least the first and the last story if you want a chance to put a little smile on your face. 

You can follow these links to the series "In The Light of Day", "Chance and Choice", "Decision" and "From This Day Forward". 

If you think that bachelorette parties are just the place to test the waters on you sexuality, you might want to check out the "Hen Night", "Wedding Reception", "Honeymoon" and "Devorcee" from the pen of Artemis Callaghan. This is a favourite of mine. 

Tick, Tock by Karin Kallmaker

I’m not really fond of the autumn as everything starts to points towards a dark, cold and windy winter season that will last for months, luckily enough there are a few things that lighten up the bleak autumn days – The Halloween Invitational at The Royal Academy of Bards and The Autumn Romance writing contest at The Athenaeum!

Yes you’ve got it right a lot of new fic’s to lighten up your life – follow the links and go look at the new stories for your self.

The Halloween Invitational gives us a number of fic’s from the pen of well-known writers from the (fan) fiction world. I can’t say that I have read them all, but I did take a look at the ones penned by the writers that I like the most.

If you want a taste of the possibilities of new love you can look up Artemis Callaghan’s “Light up the sky with Standard fireworks” it’s not exactly Halloween, but it’s a celebration and it holds a promise of a new loving relationship. If you can live suspended in time in the memory of shared love you might want to look up Karin Kallmaker’s “Tick, Tock” – it’s touching but sad, and if you are ok with a visit from beyond – you can look up Lois Cloarec Harts “Midnight Message”. Finally if you want a bit of a scare – and it is a Halloween Invitational after all – you can try out the short fic (!) from S X Meagher “Stormy Weather”.

The Autumn Romance writing contest at The Athenaeum is quit different – this is a contest! We – the readers - get a month to read the 9 stories entered in the contest and vote for the two titles that each of us like best. While the voting is on the stories is posted without information on who penned each story. As long as the contest run I don’t think that I should tell you which stories that I like the best, but I guess that it would be ok to say that I do have a couple of favourites.

The stories entered present a mix of storylines – you’ll find a story with a bit of a supernatural soul mate theme in an ancient Chinese setting in “Forbidden History”, a short modern-day romance in “Still Standing”, and a story of mature love that lasts a lifetime in “An October Romance” – and a number of other themes. I urge you to go read and cast your vote.

Something so Close to Love by Artemis Callaghan

We’ve got Paul the boyfriend oblivious or at least acting as if he is unaware that his girlfriend is sleeping around. Ella the boyish, beautiful woman with Jenna’s phone number written on her forearm, who looks awesome in a suite and waistcoat. Cass the friend kind of girlfriend, who knows more about Jenna than Jenna do. And we’ve got Jenna, the girl with a boyfriend that she can’t decide to let go, who might – for once – want to pursue more than just a little thing on the side with a woman, but can’t really make up her mind.

The thing is that Jenna really never had to choose. She has for years been able to juggle boyfriends and sexual encounters with women making sure that these parts of her life didn’t interfere with each other. Will that ever changes, is Ella the one that will make Jenna want to change her way of life, and will Jenna – finally – listen to her long time friend Cass and start living her life in full?

And what about Ella is she ignorant of Jenna’s playing two sides; does she too just want a little sex on the side? No not really, well actually not at all, but that not to say that she’ll get what she wants is it? Or that Ella’s ex Annie, her cousin Bruno or girlfriend Róisín (!) will either, but if nothing else they’ll all get caught up in each others lives!

So this story is not the usual slightly bumpy but otherwise “straight” ride towards sunset for a couple of lovebirds. Its major heartache and its well put together, touching and engaging. I like that the writer can juggle a number of characters and their interactions in a storyline that is essentially just about Ella and Jenna and the BIG question “Will they get together and live happily ever after”?

The story is told both by Ella and Jenna alternating between points of view but cleverly so. Some parts of the story might partly be told twice but each time by adding a separate set of actions, thoughts etc. to the storyline – well done I’ll say – I just don’t like the typesetting, it’s a bit disruptive.

I’ve reviewed Callaghan’s series of short stories “Hen Night”, ”Wedding Reception”, ”Honeymoon” and “Divorcee” on an earlier occasion. If you want a funny and touching read, one of those with a straight friend that finally jumps the fence, then do look it up it’ll be worth your while.

Hen Night by Artemis Callaghan

Once is properly just a mistake or a bad joke that can be excused or put down to being drunk, twice hmm ... you’ve got some serious thinking to do, but the third times that’s when you got to take the clue and look for a way out – no more straddling the fence – jump it and be done with it!

Well if you want an explanation I think you should go look up Artemis Callaghans trilogy “Hen Night”, “Wedding reception” and “Honeymoon”. The woman straddling the fence is Izzie and the one on the receiving end of all the “mistaken” kisses, grabbing and the likes is Kit, her long time – lesbian - best friend. But beware this is a story with three of everything – so look out for the third woman – Rachel.

In “Hen Night” you’ll make Izzies acquaintance while she staggeringly drunk celebrates her Hen Night, makes out with Kit and wonder if her boyfriend Mark is really the one she should marry. It’s just a little appetizer, so don’t be disheartened by the rather short account of events.

You ought to go straight on to “Wedding reception” and enjoy the ladies preparing for the wedding and the ensuing reception. All the tension of the Hen Night is intact and this time you get the slight feeling that those kisses on the Hen Night might not have been just a drunken mistake, but still be ware of the third woman.

And finally you are set to go the third and final lap with the threesome and this time you are on you own, follow the link to “Honeymoon” and see for your self if this sitting on the fence thing is something permanent for Izzie or if she can make a decision the third time around as to what team she wants to bat for.

All in all just an enjoyable little tale of best friends and possible lovers with a humorously touch. I guess it would have been easier for everyone if Izzie had made up her mind and made the choice between the best friend and the boyfriend before the wedding, but none of us will have to help straightening up the mess – so who cares.

If you want a glimpse of what kind of life the ladies lead after the “Honeymoon”, you can look in on them in the last sequel “Divorcee”. Well I guess that kind of let the cat out of the bag, but you didn’t really wonder if there would be a happy end did you?