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Damsels in Distress Need Not Apply

It seems that Damsels in Distress and Shrinking Violets are getting a bad rap at a new fantasy ezine called the Lorelei Signal (www.loreleisignal.com). Legends of the Lorelei say she was a beautiful maiden who threw herself into the Rhine in despair over a faithless lover and was transformed into a siren who lured fishermen to their destruction. So it would seem the original was a weak willed woman who lt herself be destroyed because of a man. Why then does the editor not want to see more female characters like the magazine's namesake?

Well, according to the editor, she took the name for The Lorelei Signal from a Star Trek: The Animated Series Episode by the same name. In that episode, the male characters of the Enterprise fell under the spell of a siren's song and Lt. Uhura had to take command in order to save them. It was a pretty hokey plot device to finally get a woman into the command chair, but at least she finally got there.

Therefore, based on that set-up, the editor of The Lorelei Signal is looking for fantasy stories that feature strong female characters. Women who aren't afraid to face life, who are willing to take charge and fight if necessary. That doesn't mean they all have to be women warriors, out to right all wrongs done to women - in fact she feels there are enough of those stories out there also. She just doesn't want to see stories where the female characters are nothing more than window dressing or there only to be rescued by a male character. Heck, they don't even have to be the main character in the story, they just have to be a part of the story - not controlled by it - but one of the reasons why things are happening. They have to be active, and even if they fail in their goals - they have to face their fate with dignity and strength.

The first issue of the ezine featured stories by Lee Martindale, Michele Acker, Vera Searles and Kayelle Allen and even though there was an official theme, the stories did feature warriors. One fighting to defend her land, one fighting to defend honor and other fighting to defend themselves. The second issue features stories by Michele Acker, M.H. Bonham, Jenny Schwartz, Tracie McBride, J.Michael Matuszewicz and Alexandra Cave.

Just remember if you visit The Lorelei Signal - Damsels in Distress need not apply.

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We interrupt this news page for an important announcement.
 

The Fractured Publisher is in need of content. If you think you have what it takes to write warped and cracked prose while promoting your favorite e-books and small press authors, please check our Submissions Page

Thank you...we now return you to the madness.

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Wanted: Author looking to buy some sanity.
Anyone with some to spare can call: 555-REAL

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  Missing Muse Located

For several months, fantasy writer Carol Hightshoe has been looking for her missing muse. He has finally been located. Leathan, who normally takes on the form of a large grey wolf had been traveling around first as a slightly scruffy ranger from the north - then later as a nerf herder.

Well it now appears Leathan was actually traveling around checking on various submissions Carol had been making and using his skills to convince people to support his author as she has gained several new publications and acceptances during the time he was gone:

The Gift of All (www.klyssia.com/GiftAll.html) - Amazon Shorts

A Game of Marbles (www.klyssia.com/Gmarbles.html) - Beyond Centauri

Descent Into Chaos (www.klyssia.com/DescentChaos.html) - The Stygian Soul Anthology

Daughter of Chaos (www.klyssia.com/DaughterChaos.html) - The Stygian Soul Anthology

Midnight Song (www.klyssia.com/Msong.html) - SpecFicWorld Featured Fiction and Nowa Fantastyka (a Polish language fantasy magazine)

Pawn's Gambit (www.klyssia.com/Pgambit.html) - Baen's Universe

The Final Blessing (www.klyssia.com/FBlessing.html) - Tales of the Talisman

Going Where Others Have Gone Before - The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction

As soon as he returned, Carol was able to do a complete edit on book one of her Chaos Reigns Saga (www.klyssia.com/ChaosReigns.html) - Call of Chaos. At his insistence, she combined both Call of Chaos and book two, Chaos Revealed, into one story and has edited it down to approximately 120,000 words. It stills needs another edit, but Leathan has told her to let it set for a bit and to work on two other short stories she had started and then ignored - Chaos Unleashed and The Asylum Wall.

Leathan has promised to stick around until those are done and she is back into editing Call of Chaos - then he is going to make another submissions follow-up trip. After all Baen's Universe is currently holding another of her stories and he doesn't want them forgetting about it.

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Wanted: Time

Author in need of time for sale. Hours, minutes or even mille-seconds. Top dollar paid

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