Table Of ContentHow
XENA
Changed Our Lives
Copyright © ECW PRESS, 2002
Published by ECW PRESS
2120 Queen Street East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4E1E2
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
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NATIONAL LIBRARY OF CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA
Main entry under title:
How Xena changed our lives: stories by fans for fans
ISBN 1-55022-500-6
1. Xena, warrior princess (Television program) — Anecdotes.
2. Fans (Person) — Anecdotes. I. Stafford, Nikki, 1973-
PN1992.77.X46H69 2002 791.45'72 C2001-904084-9
Cover and Text design: Tania Craan
Typesetting: Gail Nina
Production: Mary Bowness
Printing: AGMV
Front cover photo: Wendy Sparks
Copyright for all photos and artwork within the book is retained by the
artists and photographers who created the works.
This book is set in Minion and Korinna
The publication of How Xena Changed Our Lives has been generously
supported by the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Government
of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program. Canada
DISTRIBUTION
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UNITED STATES: Independent Publishers Group, 814 North Franklin Street,
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ECW PRESS
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How
XENA
changed Our Lives
True By Fans For
Edited by Nikki Stafford
ECW PRESS
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Table of Contents
Introduction vii
The Story of Sword and Staff xi
JCetia Changed My Life 1
Watching Xena .37
"You'reN otH ER, You?" 65
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Intr h hoduction
The idea for this book first came about at the Pasadena Xena
convention in May 2001.I was gathered with a group of friends
telling them about a book I was working on about Trekkers
telling their stories of how Star Trek has changed their lives,
when someone said, "Hey, Xenites have some great stories, too!
What about a book like that to say goodbye to Xena?" The idea
had crossed my mind, but I wasn't sure if there would be the
interest in the idea that there was for a book by Trekkers. I
talked to a few other people at the convention and sure
enough, there was a lot of interest. I came home, watched the
series finale, wiped my tears, and sent out a notice asking for
stories of how Xena: Warrior Princess had changed people's
lives. And I got a ton of responses.
Also, at the convention, I went to a Sword and Staff dinner
and auction, and was amazed (as I always am) at how generous
Xenites could be. I wished I had had the money to bid hun-
dreds and thousands of dollars on the swords and chakrams
that were selling. Sword and Staff is an absolutely selfless and
incredible organization that collects monies from Xenites and
distributes it to worthy causes. I contacted Debbie Cassetta
(also known as "Mist") and she enthusiastically agreed to help
out where she could, and we would donate proceeds from the
vii
XENA
sale of each book to a charity of their choice. She chose the
Starship Foundation in New Zealand, an organization that is
backed by Lucy Lawless.
Xena has meant so much to so many people. In the six years
it was on the air, the two main characters underwent enormous
character changes and developments, and their friendship was
like nothing I had ever seen on television. Sure, people mocked
me for watching it, but I always argued that if they gave the
show a chance, they'd be rewarded with one of the most beau-
tiful relationships they would ever see on television. The show
was funny, campy, emotional, dramatic, violent, and gorgeous.
Xena went from a dark killer to an understanding warrior, with
Gabrielle at her side to pull her back from the dark brink time
and again. Gabrielle started off as a shy village girl, and from
there developed into an optimistic and talented bard and then
to a fierce warrior. To go back and watch the first episodes
again is astonishing when you realize just how far they've
come, and there may never be an epic love story such as this on
television again.
This book has been written entirely by fans. I acted only as
the editor, and I collected all the stories, but after spending so
many years on Internet mailing lists I wanted the stories I'd
heard to be made public. When my first book was released, it
was received so warmly by the Xena community that I wanted to
do another fan-oriented book, and I'm so pleased with how this
came together. Xena fans are an amazing group of people, and
I've never seen such a kind, generous fandom in my life. Let's
hope they inspire other fans to be like them.
I want to thank everyone who submitted stories, photos,
and artwork; I received so many that I was unable to use for
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