This is my first attempt at remote posting. Apologies ahead of time if I make a mess! THE OBERON CHRONICLE Volume 5, Issue 1 January, 2009 A New Beginning... Let me apologize right off the bat and admit I stole the title of this article from Star Wars. What can I say? I’m in that kind of a mood. Besides, it’s January—start of a new year. Almost the start of a new decade, or at least getting closer. The aughts are almost over or, as my brother likes to call them, the oh-ohs. I really think he might be onto something with that. Haven’t the last eight years felt like one, painfully long, series of mis-steps? In addition, of course, we also have a new president and while maybe a return to something approaching normalcy is too much to hope for, at the moment, we can continue to be hopeful, just the same. I’m hoping to introduce some new features to the newsletter this year. This issue is rather spare—I’ve no new releases and no new reviews to report (or brag about). But I’m hoping to add my own reviews of some of the books I’ve been reading along with the occasional interview. On a more personal note, my son is twenty-one and later this year my daughter turns eighteen. Now, that really feels like a new beginning to me! But, the new beginning I’m most pleased to be able to announce is the up-coming re-release of the entire Oberon series in print. Yep, you read that right. If everything goes as planned, the first three volumes—with their brand, spankin’ new covers—should be available for purchase within the next few months. Definitely something I’m looking forward to! So, if you belong to a book club, know the book buyers at your local libraries, or have an interest in helping set up book signings—please let me know! I love signing books. Have pen, will travel. In other news: This month, I’ll be hosting Dr Ava Cadell (author of the Tantric Sex Workbook) on my blogs. Here are the links: January 19-23 at The Midnight Bell http://ping.fm/8RxFP The subject is Tantric Kissing January 26-30 at Rhymes with Foreplay http://ping.fm/2Clay The subject is ‘The Big O’ Gee, wonder why I’m interested in that one? February 2-6 at The Crone’s Nest http://ping.fm/TwXbZ where the Oberon Book Club will be reviewing the Workbook. Should be lots of fun! Dr Ava is also hosting a contest this month (just in time for Valentine’s Day) The ‘Search for the World’s Best Lover Contest costs nothing to enter and offers some great prizes--including a copy of 52 Sizzling Sex Secrets which you get just for entering! Write a brief essay on why the person you’re nominating should win and you’ll also receive a nice certificate for your loved one and a chance to win a free scholarship to Dr Ava’s Loveology University. For more information check out her website at: http://ping.fm/UUguN I’ve also been expanding my web presence in the past few months and can now be found on Facebook and Twitter...hope to see you there! © This Month’s Excerpt From Sound of a Voice That is Still In this month’s (slightly edited for language) excerpt, set in late January--hey, what a coincidence, huh?--Siobhan pays a visit to her sister’s teashop. I always liked writing the teashop scenes... The door to the teashop burst open and a gust of wind propelled yet another of Marsha’s friends into the shop. Scout Patterson pushed the door closed behind her, dumped her umbrella into the bucket beside the door and advanced towards them, shaking back her hood and pulling open the hooks of her jacket as she did. "I hate this weather," Scout snarled as she dropped, damp and disheveled, into an empty chair. "I hate the rain. I hate the cold. I hate the mud. I hate my car. And, oh, God do I hate being pregnant." "Those last few months do seem to last forever." Marsha nodded sympathetically at her friend, but Lucy Greco-Cavanaugh, cousin to Scout’s husband Ni