The People have spoken (well, clicked in this case) and the July Challenge theme is... A story based around a myth.

So your challenge is to write a story based around a myth - but you can interpret that as you like (hint - it doesn't necessarily have to be a retelling) as long as a myth of some kind is central to your story.

Please read on for the complete rules. Failure to follow the rules will lead to disqualification, whether you read the rules or not.

Another month, another reason to celebrate. A fresh new list of overachievers and lots more to be proud about. Well done, all of you! Let the world know how talented we all are

Never a fairy to get away, cause she will never be a fairy again , let me be the first to congratulate Brynn as our non-fairy of the month and FWO's newest Featured Member.

Welcome Brynn, the crown is yours.

Yay! Thanks to everyone who voted for me. You are all getting a gushy five star review on your next posted story! To those of you who didn't, well... Let's just say you'd better watch your grammar and syntax from now on.

Congratulations to all those who entered the May challenge - it wasn't easy (fiendish laughter) so well done for getting some great stories out of it.

First Place: All For Love by Stoneaxe
Trapped by the shackles of love, Alaric sells himself into the service of evil.  But with his doubts mounting, it only takes a chance encounter with an ancient spirit to bring his decision home. 

Second Place: A Flattering Likeness by Aiara
The painter Anaphys is set upon by assassins, and must rely upon a mysterious mercenary - and magical paint - to save himself. 

Third Place: Incarnations by Erika
Evolution, metamorphosis, adaptation...are there creatures be in the world who can survive any catastrophe through a process that combines all three? 

Members Choice: The Rivers Run Red by Stoneking
In a land where the rivers run with wine and riders travel on eldilisks to buy water in inns, Van Helsing the vampire hunter must hunt another irruption of the dangerous blood-born monsters.

Congratulations to the winners.

Well, unlike pmmg, I actually forgot I did remember midway through May, but completely forgot it on the date. But anyway, say no more - let us celebrate for those of us who made it out there in the big scary world

Good on you, friends, we are very proud of you!

Ha...and you all thought I had forgotten.

Nominations for June's Featured Member are now open. Nominations will be taken for one week and end on midnight, the 17th (see server clock). You may nominate any member you like save for those on the list below, but you may not nominate more than one. To nominate, please send me, pmmg, a PM with the word NOMINATION in the subject line.

Exempt Members below:

I don't know about elsewhere, but where I am summer's here, and the time is right for dancing in the street, as the song tells us.  So the challenge this month is, quite simply, to write a story about dancing.  Not a story where someone dances - it has to be about dancing.

Please read on for the complete rules. Failure to follow the rules will lead to disqualification, whether you read the rules or not.

A large field and a high standard, so congratulations to everyone who entered, whether they placed or not.  This month, we have a first (I think) - a three-way tie for third place.

1st Place: Bring Me to Life by Erika
A story of love lost, and the extremes that grief can drive us to. Inspired by the song 'Bring Me To Life' by Evanescence.

2nd Place: When the First Petal Falls by Brynn
Inspired by "Right Here, Right Now" by Bodies Without Organs.
This band is famous mostly in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, I doubt anyone here has ever heard them. I'm posting a link to the song in Advertisements.

3rd Place: At One Stride Comes the Dark by Maul
Due to my inability to conceptualise in a linear fashion, I have a bit of explaining to do here.
Regarding the challenge requirements: this story is not the result of being inspired by one individual song, rather a specific type of song. I don't want to say any more because, although this doesn't have a twist as such I don't want to be too explicit up front.
What's it about? It's very simple in its content, and rather difficult to blurb about because of that. My suspicions are that the whole thing is one long metaphor for the catastrophe we find ourselves on the verge of today.
Did I say 'long'?; well, it's not really. It's virtually flash, coming in at around 1.5K
Thanks in advance for reading . . .

3rd Place: Killing Loneliness With You by Propheceer
Inspired by HIM's Killing Loneliness.
Young girls shouldn't pick up hitch hikers. They definitely shouldn't pick up handsome, older guys...

3rd Place: Tribute by Indigo
A surprisingly serious little story, inspired by the song of the same name by Tenacious D. I've cast some of my favourite characters in it, but don't worry, this is just for fun. It didn't really happen .... honest.

Members Choice: The Enchanted Snowman by Stoneking
Based on The Ballad of the White Horse by GK Chesterton, or inspired by some of it at any rate.

Congratulations to all the winners.

May is for Mav, and special thanks to RedF for conducting this month's interview.

He’s the known as the ball-point pen toting knight, the master of Chaos Rising, and now….drumroll please! He's May’s member of the month! Everyone give a round of applause for Mavirick!

In other news, an as yet unidentified dragon was hospitalized for heavy use of illegal hallucinogenic drugs. Or maybe Goldie didn't get any NOMINATION PM's so he designated May as a pity month? Wait- WG was writing something about his crown, and no one could figure out whether he wanted to pass it on to "May" or "Mav" so you just decided to compromise?

What a refreshing honor in the midst of school and finals! Thanks guys!

Yet another group of members making it out there in the publishing world. The list isn't as big as last month, but I have faith it will grow again soon

Let's cheer for them! Hip Hip Hoorray!