Whoa!  What a line-up!

Whoa!  When did Gustavo drop the last name?  He's joined the ranks of Sting, Cher, Madonna, Prince, and Chewbacca!  That's either really slick and cool, or just plain-old pretentious!  Depending on how ya play it, of course! 

Can't wait!  ...But I guess I hafta...

edit:  And then CW went and edited her post, so that mine doesn't make sense! 

Hey...I like the rear pic and blurb...looks so much better than advertising.

And I see that DK Latta and RK Lyon's have got stories in this issue as well.

That's very cool...as I've written a few stories for Blair and DK over at Pulp and Dagger webzine.

And so has Richard. He emailed me once and complimented me on my stories there.

Great stuff...Hi DK and Richard if you're reading this.

Cheers: Jaq.

K, I waited as long as I can.  Now I gotta ask:

Is Latta's story about Zargatha?  (I hope, I hope)

As an author who has contributed to the upcoming issue, I have been asked to "post a bit about yourself and also post a teaser for your story/poem/article".  So here we go.

Hi!  I'm Tim, and I'm a writer!  (Suddenly I feel like I'm at a support group.)  I guess the easiest way to learn more about me would be to check my bio on the FS Editorial Staff page, here's a handy link:  http://flashingswords.sfreader.com/staffbios/timsayell.htm

The story is "Buy the Sword", but the credit (or the blame) shouldn't really be given to me.  No, they really go to the old storyteller who told the story to me...

"Timothy, my very good friend!" he said to me, "It is so nice to see a friendly face, especially after the ordeals I've been through.  I tell you, it is nearly enough to make me seek out some new profession.  To be true, the telling of tales is not so easy as it once was.  No, there was a time when the bastard sons of Gods roamed far and wide on odysseys of epic proportion!  Wonderful tales unfolded on their own accord, and a storyteller needed to be little more than a witness.

"Such is not the case these days.  No, these days a storyteller has to work, and work hard!  You wouldn't believe the trouble one has just making a simple tale... like the slaying of a vile monster!  Even when all the proper elements are there, it is a trial!  Especially when the magic sword has an unconquerable ego, the disinterested sidekick is purely unsupportive, and the hero!  Don't get me started on the hero!"

Now I had known ol' Ganderamathrus the story-man for a long time.  He was a proud citizen of the Empire, more than a little vain, and very theatrical.  I recognized his set-up lines, and knew he wanted me to ask.  So I said, "What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?" (I only quote from the best). 

"Oh!  The hero doesn't even have the sense the Gods gave to little green apples!  The whole affair would have gone much easier, much more smoothly, if only... if ONLY!" he threw his head back, shouting at the heavens.  Then he composed himself and continued, "If only he would have listened when I first told him to Buy the Sword..."