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ETERNALLY ANDREWS
January 2001 Issue
Volume 16

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1. Battle of the Sexes (Casteel & Cutler Spoilers)
2. Feature Book: "Butterfly" (Orphan Spoilers)
3. Excuses, Excuses: Laura Sue Cutler (Cutler Spoilers)
4. Feature Character: Beneatha "Beni" Arnold (Hudson Spoilers)
5. Heavenly Reviews: "Olivia" (Logan Spoilers)
6. Dear Diary: Jade Lester (Wildflower Spoilers)
7. Quotable Quotes: "All That Glitters" (Landry Spoilers)
8. Theory Corner: Casteel Religion (Casteel Spoilers)
9. Coming Attractions
10. Ask Doc Dumas
11. Editors Note & Announcements
12. Advertisers
13. Copyright and Legal

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BATTLE OF THE SEXES
By Lady Heaven

"Cinderellas and the Wicked Sisters"

In almost every VCA and Ghostwriter series there is a conflict
between sisters whether they be half or whole sisters. This pattern starts
in the Casteel series with the never-ending battle between the Cinderella
prototype Heaven and the Wicked Sister Fanny. The reason for this
particular battle is who will the men love more: the good girl or the bad
one? The battle begins at home with the two of them competing for their
father's love. Since Heaven's mother died in childbirth, her father has
treated her badly for years while he dotes on Fanny and Fanny seizes every
opportunity to brag about this to Heaven. At school the battle escalates
when the new boy takes more of an interest in Heaven than Fanny, who has
more experience with men.

While Heaven prefers not to use her feminine charms to get Logan
Stonewall to fall in love with her, Fanny uses every weapon at her
disposal. When none of these work, she simply bides her time waiting
patiently for the right moment to strike. Her chance comes shortly after
Heaven and Logan's wedding. While Heaven is in Boston, Logan spends his
time in his hometown building their new toy factory. One night Fanny stops
over at their cabin armed with a bottle of wine and her skills at
seduction and finally forces Logan into her bed and gets her pregnant.

But Heaven, the Cinderella has the last laugh. Fanny may have her
husband's baby, but Heaven has one thing Fanny never will; her Prince
Charming. He is not Logan Stonewall, whom Heaven eventually marries,
but Troy Tatterton. Although he is Heaven's uncle, long before he knew the
truth about her paternity, Troy loved her more than Logan did in all the
years he knew her. She is forced to admit this even after marrying Logan.
Even after he is gone from her life, there are two things left to remind
Heaven of all they shared; their baby and a musical cottage that makes
Heaven think of him every time she looks at it.

In the Cutler series the battle is between Cinderella prototype
Dawn and Wicked Sister Clara Sue. While in the Casteel series the reason
for the battle was to see whom the men would love more, the battle between
Dawn and Clara is which of them will be the favorite of the family. The
only female child in the Cutler family, Clara Sue is pampered by her
parents. Once she learns that Dawn is her long lost sister, Clara feels
that her status as the favored child is threatened and goes out of her way
to make life miserable for Dawn. Dawn in a sense becomes Cinderella. She
is forced to work as a maid in her own home while her sister has the
freedom to come and go as she pleases. Only when their grandmother dies
does the Cinderella have her revenge.

Dawn inherits the family's hotel from her father, the man she
thought had been her grandfather, and now that she owns the hotel, the
entire family as at her mercy. Now, instead of treating her like an
unwanted intrusion, she is being treated like the princess she's always
wanted to be and turns the tables on the wicked sister by ordering her out
of the house and shocking her with the truth about her paternity. But this
act of revenge doesn't come without consequences. The wicked sister
strikes back in the most brutal way possible, she kills Dawn's unborn
child.

True to the fairy tale, the Cinderella prototype always gets
everything while the wicked sister gets nothing but she does have to
endure some heartbreaking losses in the process. For Heaven, her greatest
loss is life with her Prince Charming, and for Dawn, her greatest loss is
one of her children. And what do the Wicked Sisters lose? Fanny only loses
the chance to have her Prince Charming Logan, and Clara loses her life in
the most gruesome twist of the fairy tale.

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FEATURE BOOK
By The Pharaoh Adare

"Butterfly"

Janet Taylor’s petite body and fluttery personality gave her the
nickname: Butterfly. She was quiet and shy and on top of it... was an
orphan. All she wanted and ever really needed was a family to call her own
and be loved as someone else’s little girl.

Fate brought her to be with the Delorice couple...

Celine Delorice’s fairly sweet personality made her the perfect
candidate for motherhood. But under all the fake facade, was a woman that
wanted perfection at any cost, even at human cost. Restricted to a
wheelchair for life, Celine looked for someone young to take her place as
the ballerina in the family; Butterfly’s small body was perfect enough for
the ballet goal.

Butterfly was slaved through difficult lessons and dancing partners.
Celine’s husband, Sanford, could do nothing but allow his wife do
anything she wished though her wishes were unpractical and sometimes cruel.

Will Butterfly have the strength or the courage to survive it all?

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EXCUSES, EXCUSES
By Thomas Casteel

"Laura Sue Cutler"

JUDGE MILLER:
"Laura Sue, you took an oath to stay with your husband for better worse.
Yet from the start you were out having affairs. First with your
father-in-law. You then became pregnant. You hid it from those who
needed to know, with the exception of Lillian Cutler, and you played the
victim with her. When your mother-in-law came up with the plan of letting
Sally Jean and Ormand Longchamp kidnap the child you did nothing to stop
it. You let your little girl get kidnapped and you continued the ruse of
the victim. Then fifteen years later when your little girl was brought
back to you, you allowed Ormand be put in jail. He was falsely accused
for following your mother-in-law's plans because you are a weak, vain
person who doesn't care about anyone but herself. After the loss of your
little girl you go and cheat on your husband with Bronson Alcott. The
fact that you got pregnant and lied about the paternity was all your
doing. Your Husband paid more attention to his mother then you, so you
turned to someone who paid more attention to you. But the fact still
remains that you lied to your husband and told him that your little girl,
Clara Sue, was his.

When the daughter you gave away returned home you didn't welcome her with
open arms, nor did you spoil her like Clara Sue. You let your
mother-in-law treat her like an employee of the hotel. Have you no love
for your own flesh and blood? Conceivably you were too busy trying to stay
young and beautiful to care what happened. Besides it would be too late
for you to start caring about your children now."

VERDICT: GUILTY

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FEATURE CHARACTER
By Clara Sue Cutler

"Beneatha 'Beni' Arnold"

Beneatha, or as she was nicknamed Beni, was Rain's adopted sister. She was
younger than Rain and had a wild streak. She had always been jealous of
the love she felt Rain getting from their mother and their brother, Roy.
Beni always did the wrong thing, while Rain did the right thing. She
always felt like she was in competition for the love of their family, but
she still loved Rain all the same.

But Beni fell in with the wrong crowd. She had to be tough and strong
and disobey authorities. So she started to go to a sleazy bar called Oh
Henry's. She even got a boyfriend named Carlton, a known gang member. But
one night at a party someone put something in her drink and she passed out
naked and when she woke up she found an empty film container.

Once Beni found out Rain really wasn't her sister she became even more
jealous of Rain and even told Rain's secret to her friends Alicia and
Nicole who used it against Rain to manipulate her.

But Beni's friends weren't done with her yet. Carlton showed Beni the
pictures they had taken of her naked and told her a gang leader, who liked
Rain, had the negatives and would turn them over for two hundred and fifty
dollars. Rain decided to help Beni but even pooling all their money
together wasn't enough. Rain told Beni she'd pawn the bracelet their
mother had given to her for her sixteenth birthday and even though it
meant a lot to Rain. But when they went to the pawn shop the owner would
only give them one hundred and fifty for
it, not enough money still! So Rain pawned her gold chain necklace too.
Finally, they had the money!

When they went to meet the people who had their pictures the gang
leader, Jarod, acted like it wasn't Beni in the pictures and wouldn't give
them to her. He wanted proof, he wanted to see Beni naked "to compare."
But instead of that she attacked Jarod. He was too strong and he caught
her. When he let her go, she swung and hit him where it counts then told
Rain to run. But Beni wasn't behind her, Rain waited but instead of going
back she went to get help. She finally did get help but when they got back
it was too late, Beni had been stabbed to death.

Rain never got over her sister's death and always blamed herself for
leaving her. Their mother grieved heavily for Beni for she had loved Beni
as much as she possibly could.

In the end, Beni proved she wasn't such a bad character after all. By
attacking Jarod and losing her life, she proved that she truly did love
her sister.

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HEAVENLY REVIEWS
Cons By Lady Heaven
Pros By Jessica Doll

"Olivia"

***CONS***
1. Call me picky but the editorial goofs really made me mad. I think
there were three times in the book where Olivia and Belinda's names were
goofed up in conversation. This confuses the heck out a reader and makes
us wonder whether the writer really knows what he's doing.

2. The backyard funeral. This was highly grotesque. Belinda's baby was
treated like a dirty secret instead of an innocent who was not
responsible for his mother's lack of morals.

3. Belinda in general. This character disgusted me to the highest level.
There was not one shred of decency in her and everytime her family covered
for her mistakes, she would go out and do them again. Wasn't one time
enough?

4. I also found some problems with the parents. They should have kept a
tighter leash on Belinda instead of acting as if all the things she was
doing never happened. You don't have babies just kissing a boy. Did they
honestly think the whole town didn't know about it? Many boys brag and I'm
sure a few of Belinda's did.

***PROS***
The Logan series wasn't one of my favorite series, and Olivia wasn't
one of my favorite books but it does have some good qualities. The plot
was rather interesting...it was interesting how much Olivia and Belinda
were different, it was almost comedic. I liked the whole love story with
Nelson, Olivia, and Belinda. It made me feel sorry for Olivia, loving
Nelson the whole time and then her sister got pregnant by him. It pretty
much got me through the book. Another pro in the story was Belinda's
mental health. It was funny to see how Olivia handled the whole thing,
just going along with it so Belinda wouldn't think anything different.
Overall, this book was good in light that it followed VC Andrews's recipe
for success, and let's you in on a few secrets.

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DEAR DIARY
By Stacie Casteel

"Jade Lester"

All of my hard work and research finally came to fruition today. The
other OWP's think I'm some kind of spoiled, vapid, airhead but I think
that today they discovered that even I have some depth.

I invited them all over to my house for a luncheon. No big deal. The big
deal was taking them into my room. Not my bedroom, my room. I can almost
hear you gasping in shock, diary. Hadn't I always sworn that I would
never show any one that room? Well, I feel comfortable enough with the
other OWP's to reveal this very private part of myself. And when it came
out that I clean this room myself, they all looked at me with new respect.
Especially Star. I felt so nervous as I unlocked that door, as if they
would take one look inside my private sanctuary and immediately be able to
see my soul. Of course they can't, to them it is simply a room, they
don't hear all the
anguish that has been squeezed from me in that room the way that I
always do.

But once I got them inside, that is where my research came into its
own. Star and I had been discussing rituals and bonding and stuff. I got
onto the Internet and looked up those sort of things and found what I
thought would suit the four of us. Star seemed happy to take a back seat
and let me run the show, which I was quite grateful for. I mean credit
where credit's due, right?

Well! The looks on Misty and Cat's faces were priceless. They were
both staring at me as if I was some kind of modern day witch. Like I
could cast a spell and change my hair color or eye color like that girl
from "The Craft." Of course I can't, but wouldn't that be neat, diary?
Not to have to go and have treatments and conditioners and all the other
lotions and potions that the stylist puts in my hair. Just wish I had
healthy blonde hair for the day and voila, I do!

But anyway, I'm getting off the topic. We did our rituals and I
suggested ending it by showing just how much we trusted one another. I
was going to tell them about the time that I spied on Daddy, but as it
turns out, no one but Cat revealed anything. We all felt that nothing we
could say would possibly top that. Her horrible strict old mother is
actually her half sister!!! My God, but that girl has the most
interesting life. There are more twists and turns in her story than in
the most intricate of patterns. Turns out her real mother, who she
thought was her grandmother, had an affair and ended up convincing
Geraldine to look after her child.

So now we have an aim this summer. Try to find out more about Cat's
heritage. It will be a most interesting project, I'm sure.

Signing off, time for my daily manicure and pedicure,
Jade

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QUOTABLE QUOTES
By Raven Doll

"All That Glitters"

Ruby loves her home...
"The swamp, like some giant animal itself, seemed to stretch and yawn and
take shape as spring arrived and marched its determined way toward the
heat of summer."
Ruby, page 11.

On page 29, Ruby faces the same hardships many VC characters have faced
before,
"It seemed that everyone I touched, I managed to hurt. Was I born to
bring pain to those who loved me?"
Yes, but you're not alone!

Gisselle makes a grand entrance.
"There she is," she cried as soon as she set her eyes on me. "My dear,
darling twin, the mistress of Cypress Woods. I have to admit, sister
dear," she said, nodding as she looked around, "you ain't done bad for a
Cajun."
Gisselle, page 85.

On page 112, Ruby depresses herself, thinking about a beautiful wedding
that never was.
"I was filled with a heavy sadness and lowered my eyes. Had this most
wonderful part of a woman's life been denied to me or had I denied it to
myself? What dark threads of evil had woven their fabric in the bayou and
cast it over my destiny?"
Get over it!

Got some bad news--or is it good?
"She [Daphne] died... just a little while ago," Gisselle said. "I have no
father... I have no mother. I have only you."
Gisselle, page 116. Imagine Ruby's delight that she is the only one
Gisselle has...

"I can't help it, Ruby. I'll never stop loving you, and if it means I
have to live forever with an illusion, then that's what I'll do."
Beau, page 139, on why he married Gisselle.

Let's party!
"Laissez les bontemps rouler!" Paul cried. "Let the good times roll!"
Page 154.

The beginning of a terrible ordeal...
"He [the doctor] knew what it was immediately. Gisselle has contracted
St. Louis encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain caused by a virus
mosquitoes transmit to people."
Beau, page 190.

Poor Ruby--what did you do to Paul?
"I slapped my palms over my face and screamed. My shrill cry pierced the
darkest corners and shadows in the swamp, sending birds flapping, animals
scurrying, and fish diving. It echoed over the water and was finally
stopped by the wall of dark silence that
waits out there for all of us."
Ruby, page 285. Well, maybe if you hadn't concocted difficult plans and
given Paul the ailing sister, he'd still be alive!

The end... or is it?
"I sat back. In the distance a cloud shaped like a pirogue drifted across
the blue sky and I thought I heard Grandmere Catherine whispering in the
breeze again, filling me with hope."
Ruby, page 344.

Hope everyone's holidays were merry!

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THEORY CORNER
By Luke Sr

"Casteel: Religion"

Okay, so we have almost exhausted the vast amount of Casteel theories. But
I have found something new for you this
month. It is about religion in the Casteel series. I know what you could
be thinking. "There was hardly any talk of religion in the Casteel series,
save for the main character being called Heaven." Yes, they did have a
reverend who broke his promise to the church. Kitty and Cal went to the
church every Sunday with Heaven, and even Toby and Annie Casteel had faith
in God.

I think, though, that the underlying religion in this series was not
Christianity. If you take a closer look, you can find tones of different
views. The whole series never puts a good light on any organized popular
religion. Cheating, lying, stealing, revenge and hatred make up the lives
of the people that the main character met all through her life; it doesn't
exactly make us want to run out and join any clubs, now does it?

For one example, I have found more than traces of Pantheism in the books.
In a nutshell, "Pantheists do not propose belief in a deity; rather, they
hold nature itself as a creative presence. Pantheism reconciles science
and religion through ecology leading to strong environmental awareness."
Now you might say, "where??" It is in the first book most prominently. In
Heaven, they talk about nature, about knowledge and about how the woods
seem to have a life of their own. They talk about the different types of
vegetation there, and how the animals live within the woods working
together and feeding off each other. You hear descriptions of flowers and
trees; you hear how the wolves howl at night, announcing their presence,
even though they are said to be long gone from that region.

And the science fits in too. The metaphor fits in perfectly. You have
nature enfolding a house. In the middle of it all there is a bit of
technology -- more when the cabin becomes modernized. Everyone fits in
with the woods, taking from it and giving to it to and working together.

Another general aspect of this religion is the commonality for lack of
better wording) of divinity. "To the Pantheist, divinity does not
transcend reality; it surrounds, and is within. All share divinity. This
leads the pantheist to personal ethics of tolerance and
understanding." Ms. Deale, Tom and Heaven all had this sort of mindset. It
wasn't as if they were on the same level as God, no, but they were all on
the same level as others. They wanted to make a better way for themselves
and in the process helped others. Tom's death paved the way for the
Casteel family to receive respect. Ms. Deale helped the children learn as
much as they could in their poverty stricken lives. And who was more
tolerant than Heaven? (And yes, we are going to forget about the revenge
thing she had going on with her 'father' for so long.)

Understanding was a key emotion in these books. Do you notice that most of
the time when people get into trouble or they get hurt, it is because of a
misunderstanding? And when, finally, they do decide to think it out, they
understand, and all seems well again.

Well, this article is getting a bit long so I will stop it there by
saying, this isn't the only religion in the Casteel series, but it did
seem like one of the most prominent ones. You may not have seen it before
but keep reading. Seek and you shall find, right?

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COMING ATTRACTIONS
By Princess Annie

***News Flash***
New Series Announced: The Shooting Star series is due out in the summer of
2001. The first two books will be title "Cinnamon" and "Ice."

Last Hudson Book: "The End of the Rainbow" will be in bookstores come
February 2001. Keep your eyes open!

Rumor Snuffed: There will be no sixth Logan book about Haille. The rumor
was started a while back with questions being pondered about Haille's
"history." As the grapevine goes, this rumor is definitely not true.

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ASK DOC DUMAS
By Doctor Dumas

VCA Fan, Jeremy, asked: "What was Leigh's middle name??? I can't remember
for the life of me!"

Jeremy, Leigh VanVoreen's middle name was Diane.

VCA Fan, Tina, asked: "Do you think that there will be a 5th book to the
Hudson Series, like the other series have had in the past? And if so, who
do you think will tell the story? (i.e. Victoria, Grandmother Hudson,
etc)... and do you know if Rain's daughter, Summer, tells the story in
the fourth novel?"

Tina, at this time there is no fifth novel scheduled for the Hudson
series. As for the fourth novel, "The End of the Rainbow," it is written
from the viewpoint of Rain's daughter, Summer.

VCA Fan, Vix, asked: "I really enjoy V.C. Andrews books and am running out
of book to read (I have read all of them). Which is another author that
is similar to V.C.?"

Vix, I have found several authors I prefer in my own opinion but
everyone's opinion differs. A few good authors that aren't identical to
VC's style of writing but are wonderful reads in the horror genre are Anne
Rice and Douglas Clegg. Other fans prefer the likes of Katherine Stone,
Taylor Smith, or Thomas Harris...but the list could go on forever! :)

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EDITORS NOTE:

Happy 2001 to each of you. I hope your holiday season was wonderful!

We do have two available sections at this time: Obituaries and Olivia's
Observations. Please email me for an application.

With the holidays sneaking up on me, I have been rather busy and though EA
came out later than usual, it's here and I feel very proud that we're
starting the new year with a BANG! :)

Here's to a prosperous new year!

Editor-
Shay
shayruby@yahoo.com

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ADVERTISERS

This section is looking for someone to be in charge of handling people who
want to advertise with us. If anyone is interested, please email me for
an application. Thank you.

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*Attic Sanctuary-http://deviate.org/vcandrews

*The V.C. Andrews
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COPYRIGHT

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