At last! The newest 100% Yuri manga anthology from ALC Publishing, Yuri Monogatari 4, is available for pre-order on the Yuricon Shop!

I cannot begin to tell you how great this book is, really. And I am *not* just saying that because of the time and effort I put into it.

To begin, we have three artists returning for the fourth time, so you can expect great art and stories from Althea Keaton and Kristina Kolhi, and a really hysterical look at lesbian pulp novel tropes by Beth Malone in “Tales of Destruction.”.

Althea’s story “Cog” takes a look at a possible future, while Kristina’s “Happiness” (a page of which is is on the left) is another fantastic slice-of-life piece with a twist.

We’ve got a bunch of exciting stories by newcomers to our anthology as well. Lilyshield may be a first-time contributor, but after enjoying the art in “Model” I think you’ll agree that we’d like to see more of her work. And new for us, but a veteran in the Polish yuri community, Agatha Laguniak’s “Bittersweet Melody” is our very first gothic horror story in the collection.

We have three Japanese artists who have contributed to the collection – each one more fablous than the last. Tomomi Nakazora’s “Kissing the Petals” is a sharp look at modern life in Tokyo, while Akiko Morishima’s “Ichigo-Hime” (left) is a legend of old Edo – the contrast between the story and the art of these two talented women couldn’t be better, and we’re thrilled to have them both.

I’m thrilled to be able to have contributed a story myself, one that is near and dear to my heart – a story I wrote specifically to dedicate to Rica Takashima. “Playing House” is delightfully drawn by Kelli Nicely, who has also supplied cover art and some lovely incidental pieces throughout.

But most of all, beyond all of these great stories – and really, I’m not lying, they are great – I am pleased to announce the return of Rica Takashima’s Rica and Miho in “More Rica ‘tte Kanji!?” These four-panel comic strips were created by Rica for the Bilingual edition of Rica ‘tte Kanji!? (which is *still* one of our best selling books at ALC!) and we are absolutely thrilled to be able to include them in YM4. Get to spend some more time in the company of Rica and Miho after they move in together – and also et a glimpse of their life before they met. As always with Rica Takashima’s work, its fun and sweet and heartwarmingly realistic all at once.

I sincerely hope Yuri fans all over the world will get to read YM4. Get 176 pages of 100% Yuri by artists and writers from Japan, Europe and the US, support Yuri manga, (and Yuri manga artists!). It’s always a great time to give the Yuri fans in your life a copy of one of our 100% Yuri publications from ALC Publishing!

I wanted to share some very good things about the past and upcoming Yuri Monogatari anthologies with you all.

As of this evening, Yuri Monogatari 2 (seen here) is sold out. The last 14 books will be shipped this week. Yay! Boo hoo.

I want to thank everyone who bought a copy, enjoyed it, suggested it to your friends, etc. We’ve come a LONG way in quality and value since then and your support was – and is – greatly appreciated. ^_^

Moving forward, I wanted to give you a teensy clue as to some of the contents of the upcoming Yuri Monogatari 4, which I’m working on right now.

ALC Publishing is pleased to announce not only the return of well-known mangaka Akiko Morishima (of “Yuri Life” in Yuri Hime and the Girlish doujinshi circle) as well as brand new Rica ‘tte Kanji!? stories from Rica Takashima. Yay! Of course, we’ll also have the great stories you’ve come to expect from Beth Malone, Kristina Kolhi and Althea Keaton, as well as some fun new first timers, including a new artist from Poland. :-) Also, a special comic drawn by our own Kelli Nicely and written by me as a tribute to Rica Takashima. ^_^