Here it is!

Once again, we're very excited to be bringing you the latest issue of the Elanthian Times. We're also thrilled about the many submissions we received for this issue. Thank you. Without your submissions, there would be much less for you to peruse this time. Keep them coming. We'd like to make issues the size of this one the standard, not something that makes jaws drop worldwide.

We had an overwhelming amount of fiction submitted for this issue, which played a big part in its size, which we hope you'll notice is much larger than previous issues. While we definitely want to see fiction submissions, we would like to point out one thing from the submission guidelines:

Fiction submissions should be directly related to characters and settings of GemStone III and the world of Elanthia.

We have had a few submissions that border on not being viable because of this guideline. Thanks to the volume of submissions we are receiving, we feel we need to be a bit more strict with this particular restriction when considering submissions. Please make sure all your fiction submissions are directly related to Gemstone III and Elanthia.

Also directly related to submissions, we would definitely like to see more Elanthiocentric non-fiction. We have an overflow of fiction and we are definitely very interested in seeing and publishing more "fact-based" articles. Things that deal with historical events, the histories of areas that have been lost to time, like the Broken Lands, etc.

If you have questions about a particular submission's suitability, send it! We'll use everything we deem suitable, and of sufficient quality to be included in future publications. If it's not quite what we need, we'll happily work with you to revise it to make it something we can use.

As always, please make sure to include the header information from the Submission Guidelines with any and all submissions.

Thanks to the urgings of several readers, we've decided to begin a new column that explores some of the most pressing issues for inhabitants of the Lands of Elanthia. This column will take the form of a Question of the Month, with answers and opinions provided by some of the more renowned residents of the Lands, and hopefully some of the Lesser Arkati. The title of the column has yet to be decided, but the first column, which will appear in the next issue of the Times, will address role-playing in the Lands, and what it takes to be considered a "good" role-player. We are definitely excited about the prospects this column will address. If you're interested in seeing a topic addressed in this column, feel free to contact us. And, if you have an idea for a title for this column, please suggest that as well.

On the down side, we were unable to include several excellent pieces of art in this issue. The blame falls entirely on our shoulders. Our notes regarding the artist/contributor were incomplete, and we could not correctly process the compensation for these pictures. We did want to include them, but without the correct information, we were unable to do so. If you submitted something, and don't see it here, please accept our sincerest apologies, and resubmit it. Please see our Submission Guidelines for the information we need to be included with each and every submission. This information is vital for us to insure compensation for submissions is dealt with accurately and quickly.

Once again, thank you for your enthusiasm and your submissions. We're already looking forward to working on the fall issue.