hehe...PiXie, thats cool. I'm affectionately referred to as the PixieStix Pimp among my friends for the very same reason. I never leave the burrow without filling my little wooden stix stash loaded with fresh pixie dust. If you ever need someone to knock back a few powdered espressos and share a clove look me up. Tootles

Ah, what a dat...I find in one fell swoop that the Borderlands are now open as it were and that TOR will no longer accept submissions...I was working on a short story for an anthology (I hoped)...I dont know whether to laugh or cry.

Yow! I didn't think that would go right out! Sorry for the typo... my emotions are still in an uproar from finding the this place...I have not been online all that much. I just now downloaded the entire page and will read all of your wonderful posts tomorrow. All these years of reading the wonderful fiction of the Bordertown and thinking I was all alone (well NEARLY so...I knew SOMEBODY had to be reading the things...if nothing else my local library sure could not keep a copy on the shelves for more than a month ...)Anyways, glad to meet you all, and I WILL be back...!

matt> welcome... glad you could find a home... *grin* keep in touch... send the story asap!!! *grin* I'd be glad to post it...

Mmmm, fresh blood. Sharkbait, Matt, Pixie, welcome.

I've been reading your B-town stories and wonder if it is all right to comment on them here? I am not into negative criticism...serves no purpose really not where art is concerned. I just want to respond to them because they give me ideas...still is thhis the right place? Is anyone concerned about *spoilers*..would you rather I email you directly? I am by the way having a blast reading them...Also and quite off the subject, does anyone know any more about the rumor that Jet Li has been jailed for drug possession? Ciao ragazzi..

Oh yes...to get Deki to sit still, stick a plate of mo-mo (steamed Tibetan dumplings) in front of her with a little bowl of soy sauce and red pepper...

Ah! Thanks for the tip, Midori. I'll see what I can do. (Hey! It's working! I've got a rough sketch already...Come back, Deki, I've got mooooooore!!!) ^_^

Hiyas to all the new people, good to see our numbers grow.

My vote on the fan fic thing is that I'd like to see the comments too, even though I haven't written any yet....Hey, what's this about Jet Li, ne? That doesn't sound good...

Oh well, back the the MUSH...see everyone later.

couls somebody e-mail me to tell me what to do in this mush thing. Do i create my own character/lif thing? Claris: HELP!!!!!!!

midori> i would not mind if you posted them here. but i think for size sake, email might be better... either way is fine with me... *grin* tell me more re: the art for books trade! *smile*

Hello all, and thanx for making me welcome. Well, I have had a day to assimilate all the great posts and all, and am more excited than ever to be here. In response to all the great posts, I too am in the group of people that love the books and wish to write stories in the world and produce artworks. I have already finished a drawing of Wicker Leaf-and-Tree with Gray (signed by "P. Hale" ) that I am somewhat pleased with. I am also working on a short story as well, and am very anxious to read all of your fan fiction. One thing though, as you probably can tell from my address, i am using the AOL Netscape browser (Yikes! DON'T throw things at me PLEEEEZE!)and one of the most ,ah, endearing things about that sysyem is that I can't seem to send any email through Netscape...so if someone would be so kind as to drop me a copy of your story or stories to my email, I will of course reciprocate once mine is finished. I will also post my drawing once I get it scanned (anyone have any suggestions on how do do so most effectively-it's a roughly 11x17 pencil drawing...???) Well, that's about it...thanks a million Nathan for maintaining this truely inspiring message board and such (did you get my email?). Matt C......

matt> if you want, you could send me the pic, and i'll mess with it until it's small enough for the internet... it's no problem...

I'm with you Claris. If anybody wishes to comment on our work (mine'll be up sooner or later) feel free to private mail! I think posting here might spoil (though I've already read everything, so you can't spoil anything for me!). I must admit, though, that posting here might be easier than posting individually. Mayhaps an html on the authors' names...? Dunno how much work goes into that stuff, ignore me if I'm being outrageous. I wish I knew who Jet Li is? The name sounds familiar... Now now NRL, it isn't polite to imply that our new friends are here to feed us... ;) They do look like good puha and pakeha though!

>Sticks As soon as I get the thing scanned I will do so...also, didn't I hear something about a web site for all the upcoming fan fiction? I can't seem to find it... =( Thanks again...

Matt: right now there are currently two Fan-fiction sites, until we get things ironed out.. There's mine, Which has my stuff and NRL's, as well as other miscellany, and StickMan's Which has his stuff and other goodies as well. We hope to have things normalized soon with one primary site...

Midori: I'd be inclined to do this through email. No sense dragging everbody else into a private conversation regarding critiques.. Although, whatever works is always a good thing, too.. So if you find it easier to do it here, by all means, go ahead, although I'd rather have the email.. (I can save email and print it out..) Also, thank you for reading our stuff and being honest about it. :)

Well, I'm off to be the busy little beaver again..
TW

Midori, I think in the end, everyone would feel more comfortable if you used E-mail. Even if all you do is complement everyone, it's still a little nerve wracking. But please, if you have comments on my story, I am dying to hear them. More than getting published, getting responce from the crew that originally created Bordertown is the reason I wrote the story. Angel, Jet Li is the best thing to come out of HK cinema since Jackie Chan. He is the real deal, a member of the Chinese National Wushu team since he was a mere babe, he made a few great Shaolin temple films on the main land, then went to hong kong and started making great, (and some not so great) modern and period fight films. Fist of Legend is possibly, IMHO, the best straight martial arts film to be made in the last ten years. And Tarantino's new company will be releasing it soon. Look for it! Bye all.

*cough*

(Wushu...)

*cough*

Well, no comment on that, but Jet Li is pretty fantastic. I can't wait for some US releases.

Wow, THAT was really on-topic...*changes the subject randomly* Hey, I know. What we *really* all need is Danceland t-shirts! ^_^ Um...I'll be back later when I have something to say...

O.K....I'll email my comments...and please guys, I'm nice so don't think of it as "nerve wracking." I have a lot of respect for the writing process and like to encourage it, not sabatoge it with "critiques." I am as vulnerable as any of you when my work goes out to the public...but the point of being here, on this board, is to offer support. Which brings me to an odd thought...you know when we started writing B-town stories the net hardly existed for us. Charles I think was still trying to decide which computer to buy, I had a tank (an Apple IIE). So the net and computers did not figure at all in our stories. But if B-town is to continue to stay alive, it must I think move with us and our time...so I am wondering these days as I talk to all of you, scattered everywhere by geography, but close by the net what would sort of impact would the net have in Bordertown? There is the tech question...how reliable would it be? But if you lifted the image of the net out alittle farther into the realm of fantasy...I see it operating alongside the same ether from which elvin magic derives... It's just a thought... NRL: my favorite is JetLi is "Tai Chi Master" though I am also a sucker for "Legend of Fong Sai Yuk II". Ciao ragazzi

Oy, NRL just glanced at your AOL return address...my server at the university informed the other day that Sprint which usually handles the net sites ofr AOL has be malfunctioning lately and not been able to deliver mail...so look I'll send you some comments tonight or tomorrow morning but if you don't get them after a day or two...let me know.Ciao

Bonjour!!! Thanks for the warm welcome!! I'm a native of Dallas, TX. So yes redville is only a few steps away. The only thing that saved my sanity is that my mother loves to travel. I see we're discussing how to put fanfic on the web. I have a friend that's heavy into the X-files fanfic page called Gossamer, I think it's the largest archive of fanfic around and updated daily. She emails her stories to one of the archivist of the page. It's posted in a few days. I'll ask her to ask around her circle for advice. Rayne, I think it would be best to make up your own creations, but if you want to use one of the regulars, and can't pay the piper, you could always imply the character. No names, a slight artfully arrange similarity. You would probably have to use them mainly as background characters. I've seen this done in others works, and when it's done just right you leave the reader with a shadow of doubt and guesses to who it could be. But in the end it's up to you.(sigh) I've been bouncing around with the ideal of (keep an open mind) having an Immortal in Bordertown. A crossover story, not one of the main character of the Highlander series, but using the concept of the show. Well what do you think.....? And remember...just like Midori, I'm sensitive too.

I'd have to say, Pixie, that just about anything could come through the Border. It connects to our World but hints that ours is not the only one. I have to admit I cringed at the thought but it is entirely possible. The main thing is, if you enjoy the idea and would have a good time writing it, then you should. If somebody is opposed to the idea they don't have to include it in their image of B'Town. I think an Immortal would have to be written carefully to keep him/her in the balance of things in Town. This is just my opinion and I invite you to ignore it if it doesn't work with what you've got in mind. Hope I haven't been too awful. When I know you better, then I'll tramp all over you feelings! (My mother always told me to be scathingly polite to those who made me wroth and terribly rude to those who made themselves my friends. Good ol' ma. >grinning<)

You mother sounds familiar. I was worried about the equilibruim of the piece, it was either that or use a concept I saw on Babalyon 5. I working mentality on a character, I'm calling right now GoldSmith, I basing him as a halfie, that is the claimed son of one of the most powerful elf on the Bordertown city council. Of course his powerful father keeps him well hidden from the public eye, because everyone is itching to know the story behind this father and son pair. I want GoldSmith to have visited Fairie and the World, as sort of a "Tour" (rich kids of age, travel aboard), but in the end I want him to have an interesting establishment in which he does blacksmithing. His greatest work that sets him apart are his metal dragons. I picture with the Moose's body type, black hair, with a single long golden blonde streak starting at the forehead, and he as golden cat-like eyes, with the point ears of course. Major stand offish character to other characters in Bordertown. Well I think I'm finish "icing" him up, and I think I have the perfect antagonist for him. So do you think my little prettie will fly in Bordertown, Paper Angel? All criticism is welcome, I write for my enjoyment and the reader enjoyment.

re: the net @ BTown... hmmmm... verrrry interestink... had a thought... might work.. might not... how 'bout an impression ball PC? *grin* bring a little Gibson cyberpunk into BTown.... just a thought...

matt> you got it...*grin* whenever you are ready....

peace...

'Xie: Terri Windling once listened patiently to me while I explained a long complicated idea I had...and then with her typical half smile said ..."it's all in the execution." Meaning any idea is worthy if it is written in the right way. A character, an idea, a whim take solid form in the structure of a story or a poem and then if we have done our job even better, that piece lifts off the page into someone else's life. Any one of your ideas will work...though, purely because I am chauvanists about this corner of the world, I would recommend pulling your characters--immortal or not--from the streets of B-town. They are there, of that I am certain. As to your blacksmith...hmm I have one thought and that is though elvin life is different in B-town, some taboos may still apply...such as the traditional abhorence of elves and iron (one of the reasons for horseshoes and one of the reasons one could tell fairy horses by their unshod hoof prints.) However as the name implies...goldsmithing and silver work would probably appeal to a highborn. Wait I just remembered..he's a halfie...well then maybe his human ability to work with iron would piss the hell out of his old man. Something perhaps not lost on him...hmmm. Ciao ragazza

Thanks for the critic Midori, and your right if I do, do the immortal story it would probably be cooler if he came from the streets of Btown. Hey I might make that my first story. Fasten your seat belt, put all tray tables and seat in an upright position, were are now ready for take off. Thanks guys!!

Midori, if you can't get through to AOL, I am also at the above address. And this time I spelled Riposte right! And Claris, what's wrong with Wushu? I wouldn't take it on the street, but it's awful pretty and makes perfect movie kung-fu. So there.

PiXie, when you say stand offish, you mean he's the 'leave me alone god dammit!' type? While I do like that kind of character, nobody wants to get to know a jerk but other jerks. Like the idea, though, but does he have to be the son of the most powerful council member? Sometimes the most interesting char.s are the ones *controlling* the powerful. Perhaps he knows his daddy's plans and manipulations and while still caring for him, might be thinking of thwarting him... 'Nother little idea. Yours to kick or kiss.

(Perches himself in an open window and watches everyone scurry about until he's noticed) Hi guys. (waves) Sorry I haven't been about much. I'm having connection problems. It could just be my server flaking out again, but I know better. Machines hate me. They will be my downfall yet. Jet Li is great. I got to see Tai Chi Master on the big screen a couple week ago and loved every minute. I still think my fav fight scene of all time is the broadsword/spear battle under the train in Drunken Master II. Oh wait...that was Jackie. Whoops. And now I'm questioning if it was II or not. I'm sure it was. Oy, the memory is always the first to go. Well TechWolf has offered to get some of my illustrations posted. So as soon as I can get some thrown together you all can witness what I spent my childhood doing...doodling. At least one of the doodles will be in the style of Muchu if I can pull it off. We will see. I never tried before. (grin) Oh, and I have a question... How do you pronounce the word Mabinogion. I've always thought it was a strait english word. But I had a friend tell me yesterday that the "M" was pronounced with an "H" sound. Now I'm completely confused. Help. Later(waves and hops off the sill only to land dangerously close to a four wheeled Deki as she skimms by) Ack, sorry. I never have gotten the hang of landing. (smirk)

midori> ok.. i got the first character sketch of laura up.. it's here if you wanna see it.. let me know what you think.. working on the demon as we speak....*grin*

NRL: totally agree...I'd take my Shotokan to the street, but oh how I love to watch Wushu. I do think though that B-town ought to have it's Wushu people. I have alluded to them in the past, and a bit in the new piece...but I would love to see a chinese/martial art story rising out Dragontown. Boogel: Definately Drunken Master II...I saw a double header at the big screen of Taih Chi Master and Legend of Fong Sai Yuk...my mouth hung open for four straight hours. Stickman: fresh...very fresh. Looking forward to the Demon. I'm in mad fever finishing work but will work out the art-for-books deal soon. I need to lay hands on them first and these days its all I can do to keep the avalanche of laundry away from my computer...Ciao ragazzi

Something's finally gone right for me. Valentine's Day is miserable, having recently been ditched by my One True Love and getting to celebrate today with a history mid-term. So on my way home through the damp grey Seattle mists, I pass Twice Sold Tales- a used book store. On a whim, I drop in to look for a copy of Life on the Border, so I can trade it for Borderland. And I find- Borderland. Mint condition, never opened, perfect cover. The only mark was the pencilled-in price on the flyleaf... I almost cried, just because something nice had finally happened. Sigh. Then I went for coffee. :-)

Hey, Carabosse, it just shows to go ya that something has to go right every now and then.. Even to us lowly Townies.. I mean, a friend of mine showed me a new coffeeshop in town, it's a *Cybercafe*.. Now, while normally anything with the prefix *cyber* in it makes me cringe, this place has to be the best coffeeshop we've ever had in town.. (They even do their own specialties!) E.g. I've always loved Hazlenut and Irish Cream, and have always had a hard time deciding between the two.. So naturally, they happened to have what was called the "Nutty Irishman" which is Hazlenut AND irish cream.. Instant solution to my problem! Don't choose one or the other, have BOTH!!! ( I love solutions like that).. Not to mention, I was drooling over the NEXT workstations they had sitting there.. *sigh*.. One of these days.. One of these days.. I'll have a laptop to take there.. *grin*.. TW notes all the faces giving him strange looks.. "Oh, was I rambling again?" Anyways, I know the feeling.. Valentine's days usually suck royally for me, but this one's not so bad.. (Maybe cuz I'm not dwelling on the fact that I don't have anybody..) Oh, and btw, ANGEL, It's Feb 14, and my Computer's still alive, and I'm still here.. Where's that riot? ;) (I hate to say I told ya so, but..) Anyways, y'all take care, and I'm off to visit some friends at the U without floors..

TW

Midori> here's the Demon hope you like it.. of not, let me know what changes are to be made..*grin*.. also, no rush with the books... take yer time.. i know you are busy...

I thought so. Something was nagging at me and I scrolled back to check. Matt C. Just so you know. Phil Hale isn't just a character in the Bordertwon stories, he's a real flesh and blood person. He's the guy who did the cover paintings for the first edition paperbacks of Bordertown and Borderland, the reason I picked up the books in the first place. No disrespect to anybody, but if I had come across the books with covers they currently have now I probably never would have picked them up. Those first edition paintings are brutal. I like brutal. Anyhow, I know how touchy authers and artists are about using their work without permission, I can only imagine how touchy they might be about using their identities. Take care. Later.

NRL, speaking of touchy artists... I wrote in a bit in my story that ties in with your story. I want to know if that is okay with you? If not I'll completely rewrite! I was trying to say hello to as many people as I could. I can't fit everyone, though, it'd get too bogged down. Hi, boogel, I can't wait to see your pics!

Nothing's wrong with wushu...and it's perfectly suited for film, since it is a performance art. I agree with your characterization of it. It just gets a bit silly when people think it's actually combat-worthy. ^_-

Well, I'm having trouble drawing Deki 'realistically'...I keep getting pulled in different directions with it. I may end up doing an 'impish' comics-style version and a more serious 'realist' version...Hopefully I'll have something to scan Monday. Though I've a prior commitment with Belldandy... =)

Qingren-jie kwaile! (Happy valentine's....)

Hey Everyonie! Happy PaperHearts Day! Ok, I'm gonna run through this as fast as possible; besides Bordertown, I've been a big anime otaku since '83, a huge Hong Kong film fan since '93, I like any written SF or fantasy that has a twist to it, I'm finding myself drawn, almost against my will, to the Goth asthetic- music, fashion, etc.- I even regularly attend The Church, a local goth club ( only open on thursdays and sundays, natch ). However, I like sunshine, big sloppy porch dogs, and happy endings too much to get totaly into the darkside. As for music, I'm into paisley, ska, goth, celtic, some metal, some industrial, rockabilly, surf, ragtime, and worldbeat. I read comics, mostly independents and manga.. Geez, I'm starting to feel like I'm on the Bordertown version of Singled Out ! Wait- I'm a Babylon 5 fanatic, too! Ok, I'm done! Next time I really do want to talk about Bordertown music; I mean, I'm I the only one that thinks Jim Stienman should score the movie/series/ anime? 'til next time.....

Angel, where IS this story? Sharkbait, it all sounds good to me, but JIM STIENMAN???!!! The Wagner of rock and roll? I like the man because I like big overblown things once in a while. Phil Specter can be fun as well, but I never pictured to music of Bordertown as that big and glossy. I'll try to think of an alternative.

NRL> go to the link to my BTown page.. Angel's story is there... *grin*

Sharkbait, jeez, did I come off a little harsh there? Sorry about that, but... alternatives for the Bordertown sound track; Tom Waits, or at least his instrumentation. The Twin Peaks guy. He has an italian name. Ry Cooder, one of my favorite contemporary sound track guys. Check out the soundtrack to Trespass, a Walter Hill film. Not a great film, but what a sound! Stickman, going there now. Bye!

Sharkbait, jeez, did I come off a little harsh there? Sorry about that, but... alternatives for the Bordertown sound track; Tom Waits, or at least his instrumentation. The Twin Peaks guy. He has an italian name. Ry Cooder, one of my favorite contemporary sound track guys. Check out the soundtrack to Trespass, a Walter Hill film. Not a great film, but what a sound! Stickman, going there now. Bye!

NRL: Matt's confusion to the identity of "Hale" is understandable... all of old guard made the same assumption when "Mockery" came out with it's main character of Hale being *very* close to Phil...although Ellen insisted nah, it wasn't (but it was in the sort of way that we use our friends and their situations and then blurr the edges to make them characters in a story. Bordertown too was a particularly fun place to do that and I came in for a whole lot of teasing by my old dojo when "Demon" came out with everybody sort of in it. I spent months explaining to everybody that I wasn't Laura and that Koga wasn't...well Koga.) As to Phil's covers...I agree they are the best! I have always loved his work and felt that his strong covers were like the stories, edgy and playful at the same time. I miss them too... I would think that almost any soundtrack to a B-town film would have to span a lot of styles...as is typical of B-town's blend...but it would seem to me, that it would be most poignant, most achyingly right on, most jubuliant, most miserable if it could reflect the span of teenage emotions. So as long as the music...any music echoed that, pulled it out of senses, it would be right...which means to me it could run the gamut from Bob Marley's "Liven up yourself" to the Irish ballad, "How could I live at the top of the mountain." Stickman: The drawing is wonderful...and I do have two small requests: Laura's demon eyes are orange (I make reference to it in this new story...she doesn't change all at once any more, but the color of her eyes reflects when she's mad and the DEmon is stirring. Also, I had in my mind's eye the image of her mohawk turning into a pelts of huge porcupine quills running down her back..most sharp and nasty. Is there any chance you could work them into your drawing without doing too much damage to your original idea? Ciao tutti

(Angel picks up her skateboard to defend against on coming cries of protestation of a physical nature) I think the Offspring would be absolutely wonderful to capture the sheer frantic nature of B'Town's youth. Course, I've named in the past quite a few world beat and goth artists too. As for composers, with out any doubt or embarrassment, I submit Graeme Revell, who did the score for the first Crow (I feel I must say, 'May Brandon Lee rest well'). He brought so many elements into that music and makes use of scads of world-beat musicians and instruments. Just my two cents. >>Sharkbreath! I love Babylon 5 too. Ah, I remember a funny little story of the other day. I was reading the posts on this board a couple days ago and a roomie walked up and asked if I wanted to watch the tape the VCR had set to record the night previous (I had school and he worked, so we miss Bab5 every week unless we tape). I didn't connect that he was referring to Bab5 so he asked, getting his lines crossed, if I wanted to watch Bordertown 5. I leave the obvious results of that conversation to you. The result was scary.

Graeme Revell *and* Peter Gabriel are my votes for the B-Town soundtracks. Graeme does the score, but Peter Gabriel gathers together the world-beat musicians for the songs-soundtrack. After all, PG has experience with most of the styles we'd want included. Then again, I really like my compilation tape, even if it's not a soundtrack. Yet. Boogel can vouch for it, can'tcha? :-)

I will give Carabosse the official boogel seal of approval. She turned me onto Varttina among others which I'm eternally greatful. And I think the combination of the Crow score and the Last Temptation score would be incredible. And timeless. Thats the key I think. The problem with including current pop bands like the Offspring is that you date the film. Sometimes that works, like in RepoMan. But most of the time you get soundtracks like the second Crow movie. The last thing you want is an exec from the record label deciding that Brandy and Trent happen to be big in B-town. (shudder) Keep the sounds of B-town unique. Stuff you just can't find on the dial here in the world. You wouldn't want Hendrix...you would want the elven equivalent with a flute or electric violin. Different yet the same. Ok, I'm done. You can have your soapbox back now. Y'all were right...it is great view from up there. :)

Boogel: hmmm.I agree that one doesn't want to "date" B-town music. (in some ways I feel some of the images in the old books are already a bit dated...even Prince has changed his name twice since we started.) But I do think that Hendrix remains strangely timeless by virtue of the fact that he was quite brilliant and is rediscovered every ten years or so...My own teenager at fourteen and his droogs do a killer version of Hendrix standards, complete with wailing guitar...the music was just so raw and open, even as it was complex. Just like the age...

I stand by my choice as even Varrtina can sound dated... If you really wanted to get technical and not date it, there should only be a score. Y'know? It would probably be the best idea anyway, as your argument is sound. *I* wouldn't want some of today's popular music on a soundtrack! While not possessing Carrabosse's comp. I stand by her musical tastes cuz I've seen her list and heartily agree! Still all 'pop' bands are current... And even if the musician is from another country they are going to be dated over there, if they aren't over here. However, I think current bands are just fine as I'm interested in B'Town currently ;). About ten years ago I thought the band Giant (remember them? very one hit wonder!), had a song that would fit called 'Last of the Runaways' and it was on the glam-rock side. Scary, huh? It was nice at the time and worked at that time. On another subject, with the ralk of masks and Asian culture I would like to recommend _Kabuki_ to all interested in those two subjects. Its a very complex story with a gruop of women who wear masks. Some of them get very attached to their masks... especially the main char. as she becomes what her mask symbolizes. Very good, beautiful. It is a comic book put out by Caliber, drawn and written by David Mack. Even if you don't like comics, check this one out!!! I think you will be surprised. The depth of the characters is astonishing. The first storyline is the connection between a Ainu mother and her daughter, Kabuki. Very strong, heart-wrenching even.

Okay.. Soapbox time. Please, I'll warn you now. Forgive me if I sound like a pompous ass. :) In regards to "B-town" music, I have to say this much: First off, there's not really any real need to debate it, becuase, let's face it, everybody's gonna have a different idea of what B-town music *is*. yes, there are going to be overlapping similar tastes that work as a general.. (Like worldbeat type stuff, e.g. Folk, celtic, asian, etc..) But still, on the fringe sides of it, everybody's gonna have bands that are "B-town" to them. For me, it's a lot of electronic techno type stuff, or stuff with really "off-beat" sounding instrumentation. A lot of techno/industrial type stuff really captures a lot of what I feel in my life as "teenage emotion." And that's what it's all about. Not whether or not the band fits in, but whether or not they speak to you and hit your heart with some sort of emotional evocation. So while I might say that The Cure's "Friday I'm in love" is B-town to me, because it's a song I like that hits me emotionally, you all might tell me I'm totally crazy. But that's the neat thing about music. It's never totally the same thing to different people. So for me, the Pogues' "My baby's gone" might be B-town music, but it might not for someone else. Since we've all got different tastes, why argue? Just keep an open mind and you might find more music you like. And I have to agree about Jimmy. There are just certain musicians that had the "magic" and that will keep being rediscovered from generation to generation, like Morrison and The Doors, Hendrix, even Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. And by adding bands, I don't think we could ever "date" B-town. I always got the impression that the "Change" was sort of like an apocalyptic sort of thing (minor apocalypse, maybe..) that happens in the near future. So basically, anything's possible, from here and now to way back when.. That's the appeal of it. Like NRL's "Mad River Blues" I found that he picked out a lot of great music. Of course, it only seems natural that Screaming Jay Hawkin's "I put a spell on you" be B-town.. (I'd feel sorry if Wolfboy were there that night.. ) Anyways, everybody's got different music, so why don't we just agree that it's all music, and let everybody live.. or else we can go by Terri's "B-town music" list and leave it at that. Either way, i think it's futile to argue over music.. isn't that like arguing over religion or politics? Whew.. wow. that was a mouthful. Ya know, I think I had a point somewhere way back in that first sentence, but I must have forgotten it by now. Oh well, that's what I get for following the train of thought to the end of the line. Hope this all makes some sort of sense for you people out there.. :)

TW

ok.. i'll make NO mention of music in this post, seeing as i listen to elvis presley and otis redding, mainly. *grin*

midori> re: the demon... you got it.. i noticed that about the eyes AFTER i had done the pic...*grin* i'll fix it after work... re: the quills: *grin* i was hoping that you wouldn't notice!*LOL* i did have them in mind while i was sketching, but couldn't figger out how to do it in the style!*grin* i WILL try some other takes on it... was the shape of it ok? the basic physique? i tried to keep it sort of feminine, while being inhuman at the same time... ah well.. i'll work on it tonight at work (*smile* i LOVE working the lightboard! nice big 45 minute breaks! *LOL*)
re: the dated-ness... agreed again... especially the clothes! i just read "elsewhere" yesterday, and saw that will shetterly was trying to fix this, by making it timeless, with all different styles and times... 60's hippies, the 80's look, which is basically how i picture people in the early books, and 90's stuff, with leather etc... i think that if you want to do ANYTING that doesn't appear dated, you almost have to go middle of the road, or retro...

well, enough of MY rant... time for work... dammit...

peace

I don't even want to get started on the music thing, I don't think you could shut me up. ^_- But the Graeme Ravell suggestion is a good one.

Paper Angel...I *love* Mack's Kabuki. It's just incredible. If I had to pick a single person to imitate it'd be Mack. He packs a lot more info into a page, is one of maybe five artists in the business who can draw an Asian who looks Asian, and can get absolutely heart-wrenching (and terrifically violent!). His work also represents his graphic design background...

Hmmm. What the heck does Deki wear?! The female skaters I know around here dress rather dully, and I can't see Deki doing that. On the other hand, skaters do have to dress for function rather than form...Any thoughts?

Hi guys. I'm at a friend's house, and had the chance to look in on what's happening in this corner of Bordertown. It's wonderful to find you all here -- sometimes you publish a book (or several) and feel like it has fallen into a Black Hole where no one has ever read it.... Thank you all for letting me know the Border is alive and thriving. I keep getting notes from folks wondering where the idea for Borderland (and Soho) came from. Well, I was a runaway kid at 15 myself--I ran from Pennsylvania to to the streets and beaches of Mexico--and I know from first -hand experience that one survives such situations only with the Help of Your Friends (in this case, fellow-runaways.) The idea for Soho was thus a combination of my experiences on the streets in Mexico, and living in squats a couple of years later in London--with a dash of 1980s New York City (where I lived, as a young editor in the publishing field, when the books were first published.) But Bordertown is not really meant to be any one city in particular. For me (writing as Bellamy Bach) it was a combination of Mexico City, London and New York; for Steven Boyett it was Los Angeles; for Charles de Lint it was Ottowa; for Emma Bull it was Milwaukee...you get the idea. When I was a teenager with nothing but cold doorways to sleep in, I would have KILLED for stories like these. I wanted Borderland to provide stories for kids who came after me...and it moves me almost to tears when I read postings from you guys who found the books at a young age and found them good/helpful/moving/whatever.... It means a lot to me (and the other Borderland authors) to hear that. These days I work with a lot of troubled kids on a local Native American reservation. As a result, there will be a strong Native American presence in the next Borderland book--not the anthology, but the novel after that, currently called UNDERHILL. Thank you all for keeping the faith. Terri Windling (a.k.a. Bellamy Bach) Tucson, Arizona and Devon, England

Didn't think we had dissolved into arguing the music point... Ah, I'll leave it. Anyway, first off, I was at Barnes and Noble and found another reprint of BorderTown, if anybody wants it, tell me. It is yours! I'm pretty sure everyone here has it, but maybe you have a friend in need. Techie, sweetheart, don't fret, we are all friends here, don't worry so! boogle and I are fine, besides we have similar tastes in music. >>Claris, My roomies bought me some Alternative Universe cards for Christmas and one of the packs had a card signed by David Mack (it was Scarab) I was so happy! >>Terri, thank you. I think that sums it up.

Boy, I had no idea we were arguing. I come from a background inwhich the only ones you can get passionate with are friends and loved ones. You yell and scream and swear and then go out for a movie. If you were quiet and polite everyone thought you hated them. Well let me get this out in the open so no one misunderstands. I don't hate you people. (laughs and scratches his head) I promise to be a meek little boogel from now one. (crosses his heart) Tooteles

Terri, thanks for joining us again. I lived in London when I was eighteen, not as a run-away exactly, but all alone. I think part of my attraction to Bordertown is it evokes the feeling of walking down those streets and living in horrible bedsits and meeting and making friends with the street punks. You got it. That questing for friendship in a strange and wonderful and frightening new place. Angel, got your story, finally. Read it and liked it. I'll give you more comments later when I'm not falling asleep. G'night all.

The Bordertown book I was offering has been snatched up already thought I'd let you know. Took all of a few hours... If I find more I will post and let you all know. boogle>> YOU JERK!!! I hate you! (Think anybody'll buy it?) I make you a promise, boog, I won't be meek if you won't! Seriously, love ya guy, and don't ever hold back!

Deal (shake) Thats a relief...its hard to be meek. Doing the mousey thing is difficult in combat boots and glitter. (snicker)

just a note to say hi to all.. and to ask for any more stories etc... keep 'em coming... *grin*

Terri: hey girl good to see you here. It just ain't a B-town party without you. Claris: Dekin being both Americanized as a teenager, but still Tibetan in taste would most likely be wearing (if it's summer) big and badly frayed denim cut offs, ratty high tops, but a beautiful brightly colored silk sleeveless t-shirt...(copper or vermilian or georgous turquoise.) Her hair is long, and she wears a colored braid for each shadeof the rainbow (which is also represents each girl in her gang). Tibetans love jewelry, gold, coral, turquoise and seed pearls. Earrings and rings. Deki would be both ratty as the skating needed and rich as her Tibetan/khandroma sensibility would allow. If it's winter, give her two things more: a great sheepskin vest with heavy embroidery on the outside, fllece inside and a Tibetan hat (which is similar to the Russian furry hats with flaps on the sides and back and the front folded up) except the crown of Tibetan hats is also beautifully embroidered, the fur inside black. But keep her in cuts off and high tops..Deki, as a Khandroma is a weather element at home in the clouds so the weather doesn't affect her like it does others...does that help? Paper Angel: I"ve scrolled back but can't find the location of your story? Is it on one of the fic sites? Please let me know so I can have a read through...thanks. Stickman: yes, the body is right and works for me...I had envisioned one of those Japanese brush painted monsters that have the face of a squashed persian cat with horns and fangs (do you know what I mean?...)So I think your design is quite close ...NRL: hmmm...talk about parallel lives...I left home and the midwest at 16 and split for London where I lived on my own in grotty Islington (which now I hear has become quite gentrified...)it was as you describe, beautiful visually alive and utterly lonely at the same time...Ciao tutti

Paper Angel: O.K. just found Part one on Stickman's page (way cool by the way, had a great time looking it over...)...but no fair I want the rest of the story! Is part two somewhere else? (or still in your head?) let me encourage you to keep going. Ciao ragazza

Thanks Midori...Paper Angel also gave me some good ideas. I've almost finished a sort of 'manga Deki'... Naturally, I felt silly. I love Tibetan dress and I actually know a fair bit about it (Tibetan White Crane and all. ^_^;). Very elaborate, fun stuff. =) The pic should be colored, of course, but I may put it up in pencil anyway. thanks a bunch, everyone.

Thanks, Midori! I'm sending pages to Techwolf and sticks as I get a significant amount written. sticks recently gave some encouragement and inspiration that should spill several more pages from my fingers. I feel I should warn, the next part takes a drastic turn from what I've shown you so far. >>Claris, go girl! Can't wait to see Deki. I put my vote in that the cut-offs cover her knees. So we don't see her kneecaps when she falls from a bad back side tail-slide on a high rail. :) It isn't a pretty sight!!! Then again, would Deki fall as hard? I'm not into Unsane, but they have a music video that would explain the boo-boo's of skating. Personally, I think we need some rollerbladers in B'Town. The stunts I've seen these ladies and gents perform... wow!

Claris: delighted at not having to explain too much about Tibetan dress...so Deki's shirt is a slightly, irreverant version (side colar button no sleeves in a beautiful saffron color) of a monks shirt...show us the knees...and like all skaters, a half picked scab on either the forearm or knee (o.k....I'm gross...but hey all the skaters I know have at least one going) Still Deki has a slight edge over most skaters...she's at home in the air. Angel: look forward to the rest of the tale, which ever way it twists. Ciao tutti.

((Hey mun time....I lived on the streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans and discovered B-Town about 4 years later when the first one came out right after I had settled down...yea right...well I got a place to live anyway, With the river and the community feeling and size of SoHo it fit perfect in my mind as being a part of N.O. and the French Quarter...The kids were my friends...For those who don't know New Orleans is fairly conducive for running about in odd or unusual dress as well as hair color and things that look like costumes...in fact Jingle comes out once in a while and insists on going to the French Market (Trader's Heaven), so I dress her up and take her out...I don't notice the odd stares...I live in the most interesting city in America (Our welcome sign says so) and the community in the Quarter is great and bizarre and wonderful and if B-Town doesn't show up soon this place is as close as you can get!!! If you all haven't read Charles de Lint's new book "Dreams Underfoot" Do so...our beloved Terri Windling writes the introduction and I enjoyed it as much as the book itself...there is a line in the intro that says "...magic is not just a supernatural visitation but a manifestation of the Soul's deepest longings and a bright spark of hope lodged within a desperate heart." There is magic abounding in New Orleans and to me B-Town does exist somewhere even if I may only find it on a higher plane once I leave this one I know I shall find it and I shall make my home there...for now I am at home there in my heart...Read "Dreams Underfoot" it is wonderful...if you like B-Town you'll love Newford...)) ::thwaps the mun off the keys:: Jeez she talks a lot...Ms. Snyder as for computers if I could get my spellbox to work it on a more frequent basis I'd be happy...she ::points to mun:: gets the good one...the one using electricity!!!! Gotta run Toby's comin' home and I promised the mouse bones would be off the kitc

((Hey mun time....I lived on the streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans and discovered B-Town about 4 years later when the first one came out right after I had settled down...yea right...well I got a place to live anyway, With the river and the community feeling and size of SoHo it fit perfect in my mind as being a part of N.O. and the French Quarter...The kids were my friends...For those who don't know New Orleans is fairly conducive for running about in odd or unusual dress as well as hair color and things that look like costumes...in fact Jingle comes out once in a while and insists on going to the French Market (Trader's Heaven), so I dress her up and take her out...I don't notice the odd stares...I live in the most interesting city in America (Our welcome sign says so) and the community in the Quarter is great and bizarre and wonderful and if B-Town doesn't show up soon this place is as close as you can get!!! If you all haven't read Charles de Lint's new book "Dreams Underfoot" Do so...our beloved Terri Windling writes the introduction and I enjoyed it as much as the book itself...there is a line in the intro that says "...magic is not just a supernatural visitation but a manifestation of the Soul's deepest longings and a bright spark of hope lodged within a desperate heart." There is magic abounding in New Orleans and to me B-Town does exist somewhere even if I may only find it on a higher plane once I leave this one I know I shall find it and I shall make my home there...for now I am at home there in my heart...Read "Dreams Underfoot" it is wonderful...if you like B-Town you'll love Newford...)) ::thwaps the mun off the keys:: Jeez she talks a lot...Ms. Snyder as for computers if I could get my spellbox to work it on a more frequent basis I'd be happy...she ::points to mun:: gets the good one...the one using electricity!!!! Gotta run Toby's comin' home and I promised the mouse bones would be off the kitc

((Hey mun time....I lived on the streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans and discovered B-Town about 4 years later when the first one came out right after I had settled down...yea right...well I got a place to live anyway, With the river and the community feeling and size of SoHo it fit perfect in my mind as being a part of N.O. and the French Quarter...The kids were my friends...For those who don't know New Orleans is fairly conducive for running about in odd or unusual dress as well as hair color and things that look like costumes...in fact Jingle comes out once in a while and insists on going to the French Market (Trader's Heaven), so I dress her up and take her out...I don't notice the odd stares...I live in the most interesting city in America (Our welcome sign says so) and the community in the Quarter is great and bizarre and wonderful and if B-Town doesn't show up soon this place is as close as you can get!!! If you all haven't read Charles de Lint's new book "Dreams Underfoot" Do so...our beloved Terri Windling writes the introduction and I enjoyed it as much as the book itself...there is a line in the intro that says "...magic is not just a supernatural visitation but a manifestation of the Soul's deepest longings and a bright spark of hope lodged within a desperate heart." There is magic abounding in New Orleans and to me B-Town does exist somewhere even if I may only find it on a higher plane once I leave this one I know I shall find it and I shall make my home there...for now I am at home there in my heart...Read "Dreams Underfoot" it is wonderful...if you like B-Town you'll love Newford...)) ::thwaps the mun off the keys:: Jeez she talks a lot...Ms. Snyder as for computers if I could get my spellbox to work it on a more frequent basis I'd be happy...she ::points to mun:: gets the good one...the one using electricity!!!! Gotta run Toby's comin' home and I promised the mouse bones would be off the kitc

((Hey mun time....I lived on the streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans and discovered B-Town about 4 years later when the first one came out right after I had settled down...yea right...well I got a place to live anyway, With the river and the community feeling and size of SoHo it fit perfect in my mind as being a part of N.O. and the French Quarter...The kids were my friends...For those who don't know New Orleans is fairly conducive for running about in odd or unusual dress as well as hair color and things that look like costumes...in fact Jingle comes out once in a while and insists on going to the French Market (Trader's Heaven), so I dress her up and take her out...I don't notice the odd stares...I live in the most interesting city in America (Our welcome sign says so) and the community in the Quarter is great and bizarre and wonderful and if B-Town doesn't show up soon this place is as close as you can get!!! If you all haven't read Charles de Lint's new book "Dreams Underfoot" Do so...our beloved Terri Windling writes the introduction and I enjoyed it as much as the book itself...there is a line in the intro that says "...magic is not just a supernatural visitation but a manifestation of the Soul's deepest longings and a bright spark of hope lodged within a desperate heart." There is magic abounding in New Orleans and to me B-Town does exist somewhere even if I may only find it on a higher plane once I leave this one I know I shall find it and I shall make my home there...for now I am at home there in my heart...Read "Dreams Underfoot" it is wonderful...if you like B-Town you'll love Newford...)) ::thwaps the mun off the keys:: Jeez she talks a lot...Ms. Snyder as for computers if I could get my spellbox to work it on a more frequent basis I'd be happy...she ::points to mun:: gets the good one...the one using electricity!!!! Gotta run Toby's comin' home and I promised the mouse bones would be off the kitc

Ish.. when a spellbox goes blooey on a puter, man does it go blooey.. Looks like TW might be makin' a housecall tonight.. (I think I finally understand about Orient. I hate being gifted with this techno-curse, but yet it seems to be the only way to support myself decently.. *sigh*) Anyways.. It's been another long weekend, and it's good to be back. I'm currently re-working my story, and as always, it's always going to be subject to my editing.. ;) (NRL, I think this time will be much *more* satisfactory!) Like I said, it's been a long weekend, so I haven't been able to update my page as much as I'd like, but I do have the next installment of Angel's story, and I'll be putting up more stuff soon.. (I think).. Now if only I could get my homework to do itself.. Hrmm.. sounds like a lot of people had very interesting lives on here.. I'm still stuck in the midwest, although I've traveled extensively (Only U.S. and Canada) but As soon as I get my Bachelor's, I'm Outta here!! I plan on traveling and seeing the world, you name it, I'll go there.. So I'm slowly gonna catch up, but maybe I've got the luxury of doing it at my own pace, eh? Anyways, talk at ya'll later, I've got a cantankerous 486 and a story calling to me..

TW

Midori, Earl's Court '81. Every day down the king's road. Bela Lugosi's Dead and riots in the air. My best friend cooking me sausages in lard on a hotplate. Getting chased by skin-heads through Carnaby Street. Christ, I'm gonna cry. G'night...

I feel like I've gotta say somethin' now, otherwise Nothing'll get said.. It's been close to half a day without anyone talking, and as a wise man once said, "The silence is deafening." So, it's up to me to break the silence, so here I go.. I think I'll do it with a good quote I live by: "This must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays." -- Arthur Phillip Dent

TW

I was following that old dictate about not saying anything if ya didn't have anything to say. :-) Well, lessee. I am starting a new compilation tape because I picked up a Laura Love CD (she is extremely cool). I got a map of the Atchin' Tan and the house copied (now I have to populate it), and ideas for stories are starting to come to mind. My curse is writing people, dialogue, and scenes but I rarely have a plot... Sigh. But- I have convinced several friends to get into a game/story etc that might generate something interesting.

midori> the demon's eyes should be fixed by the time you read this... working on a redo for the quills...*grin*

Okay, I did part 2 of my story and so far the two people who have read it think it is really gross. I'm sorry! At any rate, I reccomend that people read sticks story first, because I give something big away about him that he should tell you for himself. ;) I think he'll be posting his first. I've been trying to braid all our stories together and it is working really well, because now Techie and sticks are meshing events too! For all those interested, I have included Claris, TLO, Rayne, Shadesong, Techie and sticks in my story. That way you can read about yourselves. I didn't have you guys do a whole lot cuz I didn't want to make you mad or anything for misrepresentation. I now wish I had included Laura as a waitress at the Ferret but I wasn't sure if she still worked there... I did include a bit about NRL's story as I wasn't sure how to do anything else with him. (Nyah, NRL! Nah, I love you still!) I plan on abusing other people too, namely Carabosse and the boog, but I don't know enough about you boogle! Talk! Spill your guts! Or am I gonna have to go back to the archives and dig stuff up on ya? >>Midori, I picked up _The Bone People_ but didn't buy I haven't bought it yet. I blew my cash on a Badtz-Maru day planner so I hadn't the mon for it, I bought that copy of _Bordertown_ with what little I had... I read the back and several pages in the front and it looks excellent! I'll have to get it... >>Carabosse, I love your writing! Everybody, don't listen to that nonsense about lack of plot! She has amazing ideas that just blow me away! You have ideas that I wish I had! I've been wishing I had come up with that scene you wrote about the kindred who came in and drank that girl's blood. I loved it! There were many aspects to that story! Okay, have I blathered quite enough, Techie? Are you pleased? Is this fine with you!?! (Pinching Techie's nose.) The things I do for my friends... Talking about everything I could think of before responding to what I actually saw on the page. Whew, I know I've said more in the past. But I'm done for now. My fingers hurt. ...God, my fencing class is pissing me off, but I'll tell you that after my instructor vexes me next Tuesday. Is it a date?

Hi all. I've been sidetracked the last couple days. I decided to try my hand at making a marionette. But stupid here decided to make it out of maple. Bad idea. The wood is way too hard. Its just now getting a roughly head-like shape to it. I should have stuck to my original impulse to use cottonwood. Oh well, live and learn. I'll put it down tonight and start my first story. So don't fret Angel...I'll get you some material to work with. :) Tootles

Angel and Sticks, I went to Stickman's page looking for your new fiction and couldn't find it. Also, Stickman, the drawings you've done of mine and Midori's characters seem only reachable from here. I can't find them on your page either. Angel, so you don't know what to do with me, eh? I'll have to have Boogle make a mannikin of me for you to play with. Really, I think I need a new name when in Bordertown. My mother is the only one who actually ever called me NRL and then only when she was mad at me. And Nathan is still confusing. Hmmm. I will think. Bye.

For what its worth I have now sent the first draft of the first story to TW and Stickman. Geez...it's daylight already. Where did the night go. Time to head for the land of Nod.

Hello, sorry 'bout the silence! Things've been busy. So much to catch up on... the only stories I've read so far are NRL's and TechWolf's (which I liked very muchly). But I am happy, as I have a new drum and a pair of horns that I purchased at a Renaissance Faire, and a copy of "Life on the Border" headed my way. I'm now off to read stickman's and Angel's stories... see y'all later!

Me again! Sticks and Angel, I enjoyed your stories... people like us, we just can't get enough of stories, can we? They're our bread and butter... sometimes our Mad River water, or so it seems when I've spent the last of my money at a bookstore. :) I shall now have to look up Taranga, though... Addition to my physical description.. I'm a halfie, but very petite, with multicolored hair... mostly dark blonde with strands of silver, purple, green, blue, shades of red. Occasional random braids, some with bells or feathers woven in. **Shadesong blows kisses as she wanders out the door...**

Oooh, one more thing that's not really B-town related. Midori, Terri (if I may call you by your first names): I'm a follower of the "Brian Froud's Faerielands" series... I've got the first two books. In the introduction, it says that you two were slated to write the last two. It's been 2 years since the 2nd book was published, tho... what's going on? Are you guys still writing the books, and if so, any idea when we might see them published? Sorry for being off topic, but I figure this's the one place that I can pose the question to both Terri and Midori at the same time. :)

Shadesong, how's this for off topic...? Taranga was a goddess in Maori legend, she gave birth to the demi-god Maui, who was just a mischevious little-- well, he was very much like Coyote, Anansie, Loki, Reynard, or Itkome. When I mention that my char. thinks of you as Taranga she means you look like somebody who could spawn a lot of mischief! And she's probably right! Wow, Shadesong, where did you get the copy of Life on the Border? I have the book, but I know very few people here do. >>NRL, YOU are mischief! Good luck with the name. I'd reccomend 'Jack' for the name's sheer history! Deep as the ocean, that name's legacy. But you'd have a lot to live up to! Trouble would always be around the corner for somebody with that name. Boog, I can't wait to read your story, good luck on your project! And don't do NRL any favors! ;P

NRL> haven't had a chance to put the pic onto your page.... as it is now, the only place that is linked to it (or ANY of the pictures) is here... will do my best to get it done tonight, as well as the story.. the main reason THEY are not up, is that i haven't finished MY part 2, and i can't do angel's until i do mine... tonight..(i hope!).... good luck with the name...

boogle> just got the story.. reading it now.... good luck with the puppet... (maple is WAY too hard, BTW! *LOL*) shadesong> welcome back... thanks for the info on looks... helps alot... *grin* (i like to know what my friends look like!)

papaer> it IS gross!*LOL* but it IS good, too, so it's ok...*grin* hopefully it will be up tonight... (hopehopehope) i am almost finished part 2... got a few new pix for you, too!

peace!

boogle> m'man, the story is GREAT!!!! i loved it... i will be putting it up asap... wow!

Paper Angel--I read your story. Way cool! I was flattered to be included, and I enjoyed getting to "speak up". =) We're all waiting for some more! I'd like to get into some more Maori information. That's one culture/mythos I know next to zip about.

Also, with the 'updating' of Bordertown we do indeed need to bring along some rollerbladers. Good idea there. I'm not an expert blader myself but it's a rush anyway...so I guess I'll be skating around Dragontown, gettin' heckled by Deki and the Khandromas. ^_-

Hrm, now that I'm getting to *do* stuff ICly, I wonder about using the name 'Claris'...seems a bit mundane. Heh, where's Orient when ya need 'im...

Angel: thanks for the info! I *have* been told I look mischievous... and I *do* have a mischievous child. :) About Life on the Border: I offered some books for trade on the Charles de Lint mailing list, along with my want list, and one person was desparate enough to own a book I found that she's sending me Life on the Border. :) So I am happy with a muchness!

I have not a single book about Maoris that was published in America... But I know there is a good one at Barnes and Noble about Polynesian myth that has a great big chunk of Maori info in it. I have five great books I keep beside the 'puterfor occassional references in the B'Town story I have been writing. My favorite book from childhood is called 'How Maui Found his Mother'. I got it in New Zealand when I was five and it has stayed by my side every move I have made! I remember a Creative Writing class where we all had to bring in our favorite children's book and I brought that in. Every one thought my parents were psycho for giving me that! It has nudity, fierce men and women, tattoos, and the like, no blood, though. It was pretty funny. When I have a bit more time, I'll pop by the bookstore and see what Maori books America has to offer. The problem is, books in N.Z. are expensive! Last time my grandmother went back she brought me a 32 page book on moko (Maori tattoo) and the price tag reads $17.95, which translates to roughly thirteen dollars... That is why the books are hard to get unless written in America. Can't wait to see you on the 'blades, Claris! You can do more with 'em than a board (flips, my friend, flips!) but I'd still like to see a 'blader kickflip their skates. Heck, Deki might actually like Rollerblades! What say you, Midori? Would she try them? And if she did, would she scoff at how you can't just jump off them? BTW, that scabby thing, it sucks getting those!!!!! Arg, I'm forever fiddling with them when I get one. Usually my knees, through the jeans! They are awful, suck, and terribly hard to avoid if you are stupid (like me) and don't use the knee pads, you bought with the wrist guards, becuz they look stupid and hamper movement. >>Shadesong, Ah! well, maybe we should call the little one 'Maui', eh? >>Sticks, hey there, take your time. Good things come to those who wait. However I don't want to wait! >>Carabosse, thank you for the descript! Same to Shadesong! And has anybody heard from our good friend Rayne??? Nighty-night!

Hrmm.. rollerblades would definately be interesting.. I Got a pair for X-mas (umm.. not this last Xmas but the one before.. ) And I still have no sense of balance.. I still prefer roller SKATES. (SUE ME!) For us big guys, them things are murder.. they kill my feet.. Still, if I could only get the hang of them.. *sigh*. Angel, the more you keep talking about Maori culture, the more the library keeps sending out a siren song to me to start research.. Ah, the curse of the perpetual student... Anyways, it's good to see us get talkative again.. Especially Angel, who goes through those _silent_ periods.. Unlike me, who just *won't* shut up! *grin* Ah well, people to do and places to see.. Wait a sec.. Strike that, reverse it.

TW

((Hey wait a minute I wasn't silent I wrote in right after Jingle flubbed my last posting right after Tech Wolf's posting past my four...it didn't post ::pouts:: Oh well...anyway what I wrote was an apology...I told Jingle I would handle the posting duty...but nooooo she went right ahead and messed it up...(actually I just got my own computer...it's a Mac and I have never worked on anything but a PC...but it was free so I can't complain) Sorry everybody...Sorry Nathan...I will be more careful in the future...Owwww ::gets thwapped off keys...::)) Jingle here...hey guys news from Rhydin via B-Town...the Blood's carriage showed up today to bring more supplies back to Rhydin to the Blood House annex there...seems some interestin' developments have developed...The grapevine has it that Sammy has sent some of the boys and girls overthere to take down the Bloods...that's right Pack are in Rhydin and they're playin' rough...Gotta run we're playin Danceland tonight gotta go limber up the ol' vocal chords...:%3

((Hey wait a minute I wasn't silent I wrote in right after Jingle flubbed my last posting right after Tech Wolf's posting past my four...it didn't post ::pouts:: Oh well...anyway what I wrote was an apology...I told Jingle I would handle the posting duty...but nooooo she went right ahead and messed it up...(actually I just got my own computer...it's a Mac and I have never worked on anything but a PC...but it was free so I can't complain) Sorry everybody...Sorry Nathan...I will be more careful in the future...Owwww ::gets thwapped off keys...::)) Jingle here...hey guys news from Rhydin via B-Town...the Blood's carriage showed up today to bring more supplies back to Rhydin to the Blood House annex there...seems some interestin' developments have developed...The grapevine has it that Sammy has sent some of the boys and girls overthere to take down the Bloods...that's right Pack are in Rhydin and they're playin' rough...Gotta run we're playin Danceland tonight gotta go limber up the ol' vocal chords...:%3

Hmmmm, still thinking about a name. Jack, Angel? Well, maybe not. I don't know jack, y'see, so... "Will he never stop?" They all ask... Quite liked "Quire"; has a nice hidden writerly meaning, but it's too damn pretencious. Thought of "Hack", since I used to drive a cab for a living and it applies to my current occupation as well, but somehow being called Hack all the time didn't please me.... Hmmm, Ah! Tell me if you think this is terrible. "Quillan." As in quill 'n scroll. A writer, of course, and a horrible punster obviously, who's always scratching in note books and giggling to himself, then saying "Nothing nothing." when anybody asks. A thoroughly annoying fellow. This will work out nicely, I think. If I post as NRL, which will be most of the time, it's me. If I post as Quillan, then I'm he. Hee hee. And if NRL makes any horrible puns he can always point to Quillan and say "Not me!" So there, Angel, is that enough to fit me into your story? Or do you need a life and times? And how many jacks are there, anyway? Jack O'Lantern, Jack of the bean stalk, Jack o' the green, Spring Heel Jack, Jack in the pulpit, Jack B. Nimble, Jack of all trades, Jack in office, Jack Armstrong, all American boy (how'd he get in here), Jack the Ripper, little Jack Horner, Jill's Jack, Jack the Lad and I'm sure I've missed a lot.... And if you want to know where I got the name Quire, read GLORIANA by Michael Moorcock. IMHO his best book by far and a book I have to re-buy constantly because I lend it out so much and never get it back. Well, I've babbled enough. Too much tea. Must jog around room for an hour. Bye.

You forgot the best Jack of all...Jack Skellington. But I shouldn't get into the name thing. While everyone else tries to find a handle that has meaning. I just go and make something up. Hence boogel. It means absolutely nothing. And I doubt I'm ever going to bump into another. (snicker)

Jingle, you're down from 4 to 2 now.. It's a start. :) NRL, Quillan it would seem to be, then.. And as for terrible puns, join the club.. :) (Maybe you could use a pupil? ;) Also, you forgot a couple more important Jacks.. Jack Nicholson, Jack Kerouac (sp?) and of course, the jack I keep in my pocket at all times.. Jack-knife aka Swiss Army Knife.. (It's like American Express: Don't leave home without it!!) Boogel, I know what you mean about handles.. Before I was TW (Gods, that was.. 10 years ago?!) I went by wolfman.. (okay, quick storytime: I was the youngest HS freshman at my school to have a full beard and moustache, and a friend called me a wolfman, and it stuck. But wolfman started to become to common [Anything with wolf in it is getting too common these days, it seems..] and so I needed to come up with a unique handle that would be highly unlikely duplicated. I knew it had to be a reflection of me, so it had to have wolf in it. That was half of it.. I gave a quick thought, and I remembered that I'm cursed with the technology gift.. technology -- shortened to Tech.. add to Wolf, and bingo: TechWolf was born.. That was 10 years ago, and it's stuck ever since. Sometimes the best handles are the ones that mean something, and sometimes it's best if they don't. More or less, it's whatever works.

TW

Ciao ragazzi: I've been off line a bit so let me try and catch up a bit to the stream of things. Shadesong: The Froud series was one of the worst publishing disasters I ever tumbled into...it was problems with the packager who handled the deal between the writers and Bantam. I can't beginto tell you how badly he screwed us, the series, the publishers. In the end, Bantam though it very much liked Terri's and my novel opted to cancel the series rather than continue with thepackager. Terri's novel metamorphized into WOOD WIFE and my novel is still sitting in its box waiting for me to resurrect it from the ashes. Angel: You are right, Deki wouldn't like roller blades...too attatched to the body. She'd use a long board though for formal occassions, but she likes her air time. TW: I'm with you...roller skates. The feel of a skate key is so indelibly imprinted on my hand you could give me one in the total dark and I would know exactly what it was....NRL..names are tough... the best ones are given to us by others (and have you ever noticed how those are the ones you would be least likely to pick for yourself?) I hope to get to everybody's piece by this weekend...I am looking forward to seeing them. Ciao ragazzi

Midori, speaking of skate keys, I'll tell you, there's nothing like the sound of those old metal wheels clacking on the pavement, is there? I mean, 'blades are nice, but I like skates.. Metal skates are great for nostalgia, but they don't always get the speed or smoothness I like.. Therefore, I'll have to compromise: I'm gonna use the ugly blue with yellow striped tennis-shoe skates with plastic ball bearing wheels I had as a kid.. They won't see much use, though, as I have Black Beauty for major duty.. but as soon as good weather hits, you'll see me heading to the warehouse on them ugly things.. :)

Now on to more reality minded stuff: I couldn't sleep last night, so I did some needed upgrading to the Fanfiction page. Not a major upgrade, but I put up Paper Angel's pics, as well as a couple of Stickman's. Also, I'm just now uploading the new updated TechWolf story with actually MORE writing to it! Woo hoo! And this time it actually has people in it! (Stick and Flik) Page 3 coming soon!! Anyways, for redundancy's sake, here's the FREE PLUG! (I recommend reading my story online, as I can include multimedia that way.. Woo hoo!)

BTW, Midori, I've asked Nathan about this, and he's forwarded my Q: to Terri, but since it's already come up here, I'll ask you about it to. Some of the more artistic people here have drawn pictures of existing characters, (e.g. Stickman doing Laura and her Demon) well, according to our "policy" it doesn't really mention much about fan art, but it does mention that we have to have the Author's permission to use an existing character in a story. So, before I put up Stickman's pictures of Laura and the Demon, is it okay for me to do so? (If so, I'll be putting up the updated versions you requested.) I'm sorry if this gets bothersome, but I'm sure you can understand that I want to stay on the right side of the law on this. :) I'm not using any existing character names until I get the word from Nathan and Terri that I can or can't.

Anyways, go see the page, please! :)

TW

Midori: That's awful! Please publish yours; even without the Froud pictures, I would *love* to see it... **Shadesong makes a mental note to pick up Terri's "The Wood Wife" at the B-town bookstore!** About names: Mine was given to me by my lover-who-I-am-joined-to-throughout-time... :) It is close to my true-name (mage-name), and true-names must not be revealed, so I have a semi-true-name as well as a true-name. :) And also, it's my Elfquest elf name. They say "Shade ans sweet water", so that's how "shade" got in there, besides me being somewhat shadowy but in a good way. And "song" isnot only for my love of music... it's a play on words in Hebrew. My real name is Shari. The Hebrew word "shiri" means "my song". So that is part of how I got my name; there are lots more references in it, but I shall not ramble any more than I have already. :)

Tena koutou! I knew it I knew it! I knew it was an ElfQuest name! Hahahahaha! I like it, by the way. But ever since a friend of mine was... eek, I shouldn't talk about that. Oh, and NRL, Quillen works, cuz Quire is taken by Vandellyr's 'Quior'. We wouldn't want to get confused! Also, all those Jacks are actually decended from the same Jack! Except the modern Kerouac and all that stuff. Jack stories go wAAAAAAAy back! Very very very old stories, I thought it was fitting (____________ <-- lame joke about NRL's age goes here). >Grinning< You know I wouldn't tease if I wasn't so extraordinarily fond of you! Ah, gotta go!!! I'll look at all the pages when I can. Haere ra!!!

::jingling moves up from the distance:: NRL I like Quillen a lot it has a nice *jingle* to it...::cutsey laughter as she tosses back her elflocks with a ringle:: I got my name from can you all guess where??? Actually I was adopted by the Horn Dance at age nine or so, I had been runnin' with the street kids (nasty little devils we were...desperate and quite feral too) and no name to speak of...no one knew where I'd come from, just that I was strange...when the Dancers took me in I used to hide out, much like a feral kitten...boy they had some times trying to find me...So they started to "bell the cat". As I got older I adopted the look ((mun here Jingle's costume has over 400 bells on it of all varieties))...hence the name...::Wavers to all as she jingles merrily on her way:: ((Sorry again, but yes I'm down to two...also I wonder how come my name Jingle doesn't show up just my addy?...Also I have written a song that the band and I performed as Horn Dance at a couple sci-fi/fantasy cons it really reflects the flavor of B-Town...would you all like to see it?? I also wrote a song about Jingle and her parentage (she has a weird family history) would ya like to see that one too?...

Stickman: tesore mio, are you hoarding those stories? I'm fairly panting for the next installments...gross or not. And I really like your self portraits. They have great style. TW: I don't know about getting permission to do the art work...I think that's true if you were to try and publish the work...then you would need permission to use the likeness...but under the general disclaimer I think you are more or less safe. In any event, I have given my permission to the Stickman to draw DEMON, and to Claris to draw Deki. But it won't hurt for Nathan to ask Terri how she wants to handle it...as well as being an author and editor, Terri is a remarkable artist in her own right so I am sure she will have the more sensitive answer to that question.Carabosse: Paper Angel raves about your work but I can't seem to locate it. Is it available anywhere on the net? Ciao tutti

Hello fellow b-towners.I'm back. Been busy w/ final exams and other things in the allegedly real world. What's happening in my favourite bulletin board?

'Kay, back from getting the transportation looked at. Carabosse and I were sending stuff back and forth through e-mail. We both happened to be working with separate publishers on the same kind of projects, so it was natural to send stories in that 'vein'. The scene she wrote and sent me was for a role-playing game and was about her character. It had a lot of interesting ideas and had me wanting to read more. I think she bashes her writing too much... I hope she isn't mad for me saying all this! I know you'll be reading this, Carabosse, you ARE good. That fairy-tale you adapted was wonderful. Do you know, I still have them in my mailbox? I never ever erase those! See? You have your very own fan! Sticks hasn't put my Part 2 up because it gives something important away about his char. So, when he does get them up, read his first! Oh, and Techie? Thank you for posting the pictures I did. I don't know if you noticed, but when I drew them, I wrote their names beside them. You might want to edit that! sticks, you might want to change the stuff you posted to the way Techie did, so no trouble is raised. Midori, might you know who Billy Buttons belongs to? I'm guessing either Charles De Lint, Ellen Kushner, or Terri Windling... >sigh< I like him and did a little pic of him a while ago. Y'know, guys, to make this fun, we could always put up the pictures and ask people to guess who they are... The answers would be up when we got an answer to the 'in-depth' question about fan art. Hmm, I have pics to send still... You know, I'd like to see some of Ms. Windling's art. Has she any out? Are you heading back to Milan when she heads to England?

For the past several months, I have had the pleasure of reading the soap-box rants and the early morning epiphanies you all have written, the whole of which has added to the ecclectic beauty which has drawn us to this mishappened town. I read it all with a simple smile untill I realized that I have been quite unfair. For all these months, I have been taking from you, but have neglected to give back in return, so... As you have all probably deduced, I go by the name of Annachie. I came to Bordertown from across the border under somewhat complicated circumstances. My ancestors were of a small conclave that worked on various alternative magics untill such practices were banned. The conclave soon after broke up and since the odd traits that set them apart were, for the most part, recessive, went on to live normally within society. Who could have guessed that both of my parents descended from that same conclave and carried similar recessive traits... As a result, what you see before you is an elf with very dark eyes and a salt and pepper mane, both of which seem to resist altering, magical or otherwise. These, along with other not so obvious abnormalities, made life dificult to live normally on the other side of the border. My parents, and many high-borns, thought it would be best if I chose to leave, so with a sort of donated trust-fund, I made my way to Bordertown and took up residence on Dragontooth hill. I admit that I have a hard time doing without some of the comforts of the hill, but you are most likely to find me around Soho. [in reality, i live in california and if any of you ever have an itch to visit san francisco, let me know and i will be more than happy to meet up with you. i work full-time, go to school full-time, and play part-time (usually at either a goth club on tuesdays or a swing club on sundays). i have read everything in the Bordertown series except for Borderland, which i haven't had the luck to find. I think that about wraps it up and i want to thank you all for bringing life to a town that i have always believed, but never known, to exist.

Angel: you're an ElQuest fan? You must tell the story that you half-let-slip! Stickman: get your story up *now*! I'm dying of suspense... I want to see more of yours and Angel's... and TechWolf, you too! Write faster! **Shadesong resolves to write a fanfic as soon as her life slows down** Anyway, I'm *so* happy because Life on the Border arrived today! Yay! So I shall be devouring that tonight. :) Welcome, Annachie, and welcome back, Mirya, and I *really* have to go get ready for school now, so 'bye!

Angel: actually, I did notice those *cough* things *cough* on your pictures.. But I'm reluctant to edit them out, and so I think I'm safe. I haven't used any names, you have. ;) Besides, I doubt there will be any problems, but I thought it could be possible that an author might not like us doing "representations" of thier characters, which is why I started this whole thing in the first place..

Midori: gotcha.. as soon as Demon and Deki are finished by thier respective artistés, they're going on the page. Thank you. :)

Jingle: please do! sendsendsendsend! If nothing else, at least send all you've written to Stickman or I to be distributed through our respective pages!

Shadesong: I put up another installment of my story on my page.. Or have you already voraciously gobbled that one up too? Otherwise, go check it out. You'll not be disappointed (I thinK!)

Annachie: Glad to see you take an active role here. We're getting a lot of people together with very interesting backgrounds, and yours and Jingle's are no exception. PUll up a seat, have a sip from your favorite beverage, and watch/participate in the fun!

Wow.. another mouthful again, just to keep up with everybody.. *wink* Keep me posted, write me with comments on my story, or whatever.. I'm off to finish my homework now.

TW

I'm *still* looking for someone with a copy of Life on the Border to trade for Borderlands. Or Sage Walker's Whiteout; I've got an extra copy of that, too. Life on the Border seems to be a tough one to find in this city. Hopefully, it's easier to locate other places. Bkwyrm (crossing fingers and wishing for Life on the Border really hard)

Angel: Billy buttons belongs to Charles...you know you have all been working so hard to develope characters...why not skirt the issue of ownership and draw new faces? Not that I don't delight in seeing my characters brought out into form by someone else's vision...but still there is so much talent here and Bordertown could exist in a sense as an art movement as well...you are already doing it with the fiction and the role-playing theatre, why not art? Ah, madonna santissima, don't I wish I was heading back for Italy soon. But I am here in the states for a while, unless something really big and full of money comes along...then I'll be outta here on skates! Civediamo ragazzi

Hiya! Tech: I *think* I've seen the latest installment (I checked this morning) but I shall check again just in case... In general... I'm three stories into Life on the Border already. I had such a hard time sitting through class tonight knowing that it was in my pack, ready to be consumed! But anyway... g'night all...

I have made developed scads and scads of characters for the BorderTown role-playing game I run for some friends, but I figured people would be more interested in seeing representations of the people thet've read about! To be honest, much of the time when I create a character for B'Town I draw them but do not write a history, it is all in my rather thick head... I have sent a picture of my (somewhat unrealistic) char. Zavin, who is the type of elflord Linnea was waiting for to take her to the Elflands. Maybe I should write some stuff about him... Would anybody like that? I have some written in my journal about him, but it is a bit different from the B'Town atmosphere we all know. I took a few liberties in making my game fit what I wanted. If everyone wants, I can send Techie and sticks, pics of char.s I made for my game. Obviously you won't know who they are, but if you like my portraits then I'll do it. I'm drawing a big pic right now of as many of us as I can, but I misjudged size and I think I'll only get in seven people, which sucks. I may not finish it, cuz I hate leaving people out! Midori, this means you, I want to include you or something in the fanfics but I don't know if I should use Laura or Koga or what? I mean, it is the least little thing I can do since you gave us wonderful stories to read! I don't want to leave anybody out, and for a while there, I didn't even *think* that I was, but you are here and so you are gonna have to expect to be treated as I treat everyone else! So talk at me, do I write you in or one of your char.s, like I did with NRL? Hmm? (Angel pulls a face she often seen Claris do, pulling down on her left, lower eye lid and sticking her tongue out. 'Nyeh!' She quickly regains her composure and marvels internally about all the talking she's done today!)