Sanne’s Christmas art for Kevin Sorbo and fans

Hi, everyone, a very Merry Christmas to you all!

This year I wish to share Sanne’s beautiful holiday message with you. She is one of our amazing Kevin artists who also creates our monthly calendars.

Sanne recently revamped her popular Sorbo’s-Tribute website (story to come) and gave us some stunning art for Advent, as well as many other lovely pieces. She topped her Christmas art this year with the following great collage. Many, many thanks, dear friend!

Buy Steve Azar’s new CD, Delta Soul – Volume One, just released TODAY!

Wow! Exciting news, everyone!

Steve Azar, an amazing singer/songwriter/musician, just released his newest CD TODAY!

Entitled, “Steve Azar – Delta Soul Volume One,” the nine-track album features blues, rock, and soul from Azar’s Mississippi Delta roots.

Watch this blog in the next day or so for an interview with the talented Steve Azar!

Here’s more about “Delta Soul Volume One” from his website at www.steveazar.com

“It’s a style of music born in the people that come from the Mississippi Delta. It tells the stories of a hard life, the mixing of cultures and race, poverty and pride. It’s about earning a meager living from the cotton crop, or the long hours on the Mississippi river. The music of the Delta has influenced some of the greatest rock and blues music of all time. Eric Clapton, The Stones, Paul Simon, Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top and so many others have been inspired by the sounds that resonate deep in its very soil.

“‘Delta Soul’ is the music from a man born and raised in the heart of it all. It’s a mix of the sounds and musical lessons he learned growing up in Greenville, MS. It’s honest and pure, the lyrics are a journey through the places he’s been and the people he’s known. It’s the stories shared by family, friends and blues legends.

“Steve Azar mixes his Delta roots with blues, rock and soul, and a little touch of twang to create his sound, ‘Delta Soul.’ It’s a collection songs that take you along on Steve’s musical journey through his life in the Mississippi Delta.”

“Delta Soul – Volume One”

Released November 8, 2011

1. Highway 61 (Delta Mix) 3:35

2. Flatlands (Delta Mix) 4:59

3. Mississippi Minute (Delta Mix) 3:10

4. Gonna Be Good Lovin’ U (Delta Mix) 3:40

5. Bluestune (Delta Mix) 4:09

6. Indianola (Delta Mix) 4:24

7. Doin’It Right (Delta Mix) 2:49

8. Goin’ To Beat The Devil (Delta Mix) 4:19

9. The River’s Workin’ (Delta Mix) 6:01

Here’s a very cool video of “Highway 61,” the first track from “Delta Soul Volume One”

This deep male voice came on the phone and said, “It’s Kevin Sorbo here.”

Here’s the second part to Gina’s previous story about seeing Kevin at the Twin Cities Book Festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Ali’s phone conversation with Kevin…

For any of my friends that have not been on Twitter recently, I have a little story to tell…

Gina went to Kevin’s (Twin Cities) book signing and had advised me to have my phone ready. I thought she might try to get Kevin to talk to me via the phone, but I didn’t think he would have the time since we all know how busy the man is. So, Gina was tweeting away and told us to hush tweeting her ‘cause it was her turn with Kevin.

We stopped tweeting, and time went by and the phone never rang, so I had given up on it happening and thought, “Who knows, maybe Gina will pick me up a signed book ‘cause she knows there is no way I could afford one with me not having a job at this time.”

Then the phone rang and it was Gina. She talked for a bit and then started fumbling with the phone and told me to hang on. I heard her talking in the background and I figured she was asking her hubby, Chris, to hold the phone. Then this deep male voice came on the phone and said, “Hi, Ali.” I figured it was Chris pretending for a joke, so I said, “Hello.” And the voice came back and said, “It’s Kevin Sorbo here.”

“No, really?” I said. “I had to hear you speak again just to make sure it was your voice.”

“Yep, it’s my voice. I haven’t sold it yet,” he chuckled. At this point I was stunned. I knew he mentioned he was at the book signing and he asked me if I was freezing up in Canada yet. I replied with, and I believe I was squeaking by this time, that I wasn’t freezing yet, but would be getting winter soon, and that he must sell his voice because we all love it. (I know, stupid thing to say.) He asked how my family and I were doing and I answered with I don’t know what. I believe I was in the Sorbo Haze by that time. He said he just wanted to say, “Hi,” and an early Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and to take care of myself. I think I said “Thank you,” but I can’t be sure.

After I got off the phone with Kevin I couldn’t type or speak at this point. So, using an old tried-and-try method I took my stick and pounded on the floor three times. (It’s a code between my husband Gerry and I that I need him.)

Gerry had been doing well that that day and was quite aware of what was going on around him. This meant he was able to come up the stairs without much difficulty. He entered the room to find me with my hands clasped over my face and my eyes wide. He looked at me and said with a smile on his face, “You talked to Kevin, didn’t you??”

All I could do was nod my head.

“You don’t need to talk,” he said. He came around the side of the bed, sat down, and gave me a big hug. “I know how important this is to you.”

He patted me on the back and held me for a while.

Once I was coherent again, he knew it was safe to leave me.

I then went on Twitter to let the Sorbo Sisters know what had happened. My first tweet was, “Guess who I just talked to? WOW! WOW! WOW!”

Nobody answered me fast enough. So, I tweeted again to get their attention.

“I just got off the phone with… KEVIN SORBO”

Still, no answer, so, I tweeted one more time.

“Someone talk to me and tell me I ain’t dreaming, for godsake!”

Twitter exploded.

I had questions thrown at me left, right, and center. People just kept coming on and throwing questions at me and asking me what was going on (and) what did he say. Finally, I decided to write it on Facebook so everybody could see it.

I added the link on Twitter and everybody just kept talking about it. Seemed like hours. I sent a special Tweet: “Just wanted to say thank you to @GinaNyxx and @ksorbs for making a dream come true. I spoke to Kevin Sorbo on the phone, WoW! WOW! WOW!”

So, for any of you out there that have doubted if Kevin can really be that nice, I am here to say that he can and is. Three cheers to an actor who can be that nice to a lifelong fan. I hope you all get the chance that I have had. I hope to get out of the Sorbo Haze in the next year, lol.

Picture reads:  TO ALISON!   HEY YOU!   LOVE & HUGS   TO ALLEYCAT!   XXX     KEVIN SORBO

Book reads:    TO ALISON  I WILL SHOW YOU TRUE STRENGTH    XX

(Photos by Ali)

The more I read or watch videos on Kevin Sorbo, the more I get hooked…

You might remember that Fatima in Spain previously wrote a lovely story about her “Hercules” jigsaw puzzle that she planned to enter in last year’s Basauri Convention (Spain). Here’s her original tale of how she became a Kevin fan. Gracias, Fatima!

Here’s how it started:  My “Sorbino” fanaticism:

I got “infatuated” by Kevin very young. I think I was about 12- or 13-years-old (now I am 28) when the series began with “Hercules” on T.V. Mother of God! I did not know what to do, looking like a lunatic at magazines, looking for news about him, (and) recording all the episodes. I kept watching again and again… lack of control! My mother did not like me “obsessed” with this man and the series, either, because in truth (it) also happens that I liked Greek mythology, and, of course, what a combination.

(When) T.V. retired the series, I was “forgetting” about this man so charming; and, well, years passed. I could not do much more; the internet era had not yet arrived and I resigned.

But, last Christmas I found a friend who told me they’ve released the series (“Hercules: The Legendary Journeys”) again (DVD), and it was like a hormonal revolution! I think all of those feelings resurfaced again, but, even stronger.

Today, I still do not know how I waited so long to find the Fan Club (OEKSFC) or something. I do not know, I swear, I cannot find an explanation: perhaps family circumstances, the transition to college, work…

My friends also told me these days, “Fatima, can’t understand why you did it not before.” And so I joined this wonderful club.

It is for this reason that you’d say I’m not a big fan of Kevin, but, believe me when I say that the fact that I´m somewhat off the hook of his personal life in no way diminishes my admiration for him. The more I read or watch videos on him, the more I get hooked. And not only for his work as an actor, (but) also for his involvement in charitable causes.

(Collage by Loli)

I started getting more from life… Kevin Sorbo… this name is everywhere.

Claudia from Chile kindly sent us this cool story about how she became a Kevin fan… Thanks, Claudia!

How to describe what I’ve lived… It’s been years… I was 24 then, and my TV was airing “Hercules.”

I did not pay much attention at first; my mom used to watch the series each afternoon… Sometimes I’d join her and took a look, and I thought the hero was attractive, but I was really busy at that time.

One day, I joined my mom and watched the episode, and I thought…”OMG, what a beautiful man…” I started enjoying the show, and along time I got hooked by him.

Time went by and I started watching the show on cable TV every day at 4:00 p.m. Oh, I used to have lunch really fast so I could be able to watch and tape the show on VHS, and then I’d watch it again at evening… ’til early morning, so crazy… I was crazy!

Then I would get my camera ready, my VHS recorder all set… nothing more was so important, it was worth it not getting enough sleep.

By that time I was pretty alone, and that half-god kept me company along the days, in my dreams at night. Whew! His eyes made me suspire day and night…

Then I started to surf on (the) internet, reaching for information about him… craziness, plenty of photos everywhere, and I started a photo album with all I could pick up.

Time was passing by, and one day I got an email from Loli and one from Teresa, my Spanish friends. Since then it’s been five years ’til I met them, from 1995 ’til 2000. They sent me stuff (and) videos and we became great friends. So, slowly I started getting more from life… Kevin Sorbo… this name is everywhere.

I’m married today and I’m 40 now. Have got two kids and I keep admiring Kevin and getting in touch with my friends.

Teresa is today more hooked on him, and I really enjoy her photos from a Con… There is my autograph, happy and plenty of love for that actor, for that man, for that wonderful human being which, through Teresa, other fans and myself were able to learn about.

I’m also lucky for meeting Mara, my pretty Brazilian friend who supports my artwork. We don’t belong to any specific group; we are from different countries for a while now.

Sam, Kevin’s wife is a beautiful lady with whom he’s got three beautiful dolls… Yes, they look like beautiful dolls. Sam, the Golden Hind, an episode which I love… and then I’ve learned he’s got in love and married her… a beautiful couple I admire.

I also love Kull the Conqueror, which I’ve got a DVD copy (of), along (with) my VHS copies from “Hercules.”

Lovely memories and songs that I used to hear in the 90s watching the great adventures of Hercules…

Kevin Sorbo: “Why don’t you like me, I’m sweet!”

To celebrate Mother’s Day here’s an incredibly touching story from our amazing friend Mara in Brazil. I won’t tell you any more… You need to read it. But be prepared… I cried, and so might you. Thank you, dear Mara, and Happy Mother’s Day to all!

In 2007 I was going to meet Kevin at Dragon Con. I was really excited about it because the first time I met him was in 2001 in Denver a long time ago. Plus, I was going to meet lovely great fans I had only met on the internet.

At that time I was dealing with some hard health issues, but it was a wonderful, special Con. I had a wonderful time; it was all magic! Kevin kept smiling at us and joking around, and we all had a great time. Thank you for that, Kevin!

It’s been three days, and on day two, I was at Kevin’s line again and again… I had already bought a lot of special photos for some Brazilian fans and friends, so I decided the next one would be a gift for my mom.

Kevin was not her type, I knew that… My mom always loved kind of fat men, and she kept telling me Kevin was not her kind of “macho man”…

“He’s too sweet; he‘s too kind. I like not-so-gentle men,” (she said).

When I approached Kevin’s table I started looking for the right photo… I liked the preacher… bearded, not so clean, maybe she would like that one… So, I took it from the table and gave it to Kevin for signing. I wrote my mom’s name on a piece of paper so he would be able to correctly spell it.

And I stared at Kevin and casually told him, “This one is for my mom. She doesn’t like you…”

Kevin stopped, looked up at me and repeated, “She doesn’t like me… Why????”

And I said, “Well, you’re not the type of man she thinks to be sexy, not fat enough…”

Then Kevin took his pen, smiled and wrote: “To Ylner! Why don’t you like me, I’m sweet!”

When I came back home I gave her the photo. She could not believe me! Kevin signed her a photo, just for her! With a sweet sexual suggestion in it… so funny!

I’m going to tell you, my mom had a hard time most of her life: Her dad passed away too early; she married my dad, a poor man with alcohol issues; (and) she raised eight kids with almost not enough resources. She was a brave, sad lady!

After that she kept telling me Kevin was never her type, but she framed the photo and kept it in her T.V. room till the day she passed away last November… Now the photo remains with me.

Some way Kevin was special for her because my mom only used to frame photos of her kids and grandkids…

Kevin, you were the only man she kept framed at home… Guess you made her change her mind.

Kevin Sorbo in cross-stitch… It is certainly worth it in the end.

If you have been following this blog, you will remember that our lovely friend Sally in the UK designed an amazing cross-stitch of Kevin as Dylan Hunt in “Andromeda” several months ago about which we have excitedly kept abreast.

Well, everyone, she finished it! And the final piece is so cool that we just had to know her final thoughts about it. Here’s her story. Enjoy!

Kevin Sorbo cross-stitch story #2:

Fifteen thousand stitches and just over a year later I placed the final stitch onto Kevin Sorbo. I couldn’t believe the relief or the excitement of finally seeing Kevin finished. I have to admit, seeing him finished was the proudest moment so far in the (just coming up to) six years I’ve been stitching.

It was a lot of on-and-off stitching to be honest. At the beginning of 2010 I didn’t have all of the 47 colours that I needed, so I was limited to what I could do. For that reason alone I placed the project into my cupboard.

When I got him back out, I worked on him for a while. With Mother’s Day and a birthday coming up I put Kevin aside to work on presents and cards. Then mid-April we lost my sister Emma. I designed and stitched a memorial that was displayed throughout the service, so Kevin had to take a backseat for a while.

After that I worked on him for a while again. Knowing another birthday was coming up, I put Kevin aside one more time to work on the present. By this time just over half of Kevin was done. Unfortunately, the present wasn’t finished in time for the birthday, so I worked on a “Plan B.”

Christmas was around the corner, and I worked on another present. Both presents were turned into cushions.

After Christmas I solidly worked on Kevin (and) in mid-January the final stitch was done. The finished piece stayed on my floor stand for just under a day until I decided how I was going to “finish-finish” him. I decided to make him into a cushion. About eight hours later the cushion was finished.

Sometimes the Kevin cushion sits on my pillow. Others he is placed on a shelf where I can look at it.

It’s one of those things that looks better from a distance. All the different colours and shades really blend well together. You can lose interest in it after a while with all the colour changes and even the amount of stitching involved, but it is certainly worth it in the end.

It certainly is, Sally. What beautiful art! Thank you so much for sharing your journey.

Kevin Sorbo gave me four kisses… SUPER!!!!

Viviane from Belgium attended the 2009 F.A.C.T.S. Convention in Ghent, Belgium. Here’s her touching story of life, friendship, and how she became a Kevin fan:

I remember… I used to watch “Hercules” for at least four years, including the première, which I saw several times with great pleasure.

Thanks to “Hercules” my life regained beauty. My life used to be really hard and sad…

And I said to myself, “I can see in the actor’s eyes his good intentions; he’s honest, easy going, a good man (I work in Social Service). I can tell he’s a good father and a good husband, true to his wife.”

I surfed on the internet and found the Australian (fan club) website and then the European… I’ve read the forum, lots of questions. One thing (led) to another, and then a Heaven angel gave me a paid membership (to) the fan club as my birthday’s gift.

Someone then invited me to Facebook, and over there I met other people like Teresa, Evelyne, Heidi, and Lindsey.

I saved some money to see Kevin coming to Belgium, plus some more for a new dress, for I had lost a lot of weight due to my hard life.

I called my youngest cat with beautiful eyes, “Hercules.” (He) had almost died for lacking of his mother’s milk, but, survived for he’s stronger than his brothers… He’s almost two-years-old now…

Well, I finally came to meet Kevin… He’s so kind, so handsome, easy going; he likes to listen to what people have to say. He (has) thousands of fans around the world; he knows how to speak to his fans. He’s a busy man; I’m quite sure he tries to be among his family all the time he’s able to.

I am not disappointed! He became like part of my family, like an older brother… His wife and children are so beautiful!

Because of him I got new friends like Teresa, Evelyne, Silvia, Sandra, Mara, and lots of others. So happy you are all here because it’s been hard and you all gave me a new life because of my friends and because of Kevin… (one that) I’ve resisted.

If I win the lottery, I would never forget about Kevin’s charity (WFIT). I know what (it’s like) to not have a family around (and) living with my cats…

In Belgium Kevin was so sweet with every one of his friends… He (was) so busy signing pictures, taking photos… even jet-lagged he was smiling all the time.

I gave him a Keane’s CD.

Kevin gave me four kisses… SUPER!!!!

Happy New Year, Kevin and my Sorbo friends!

Happy New Year, everyone!! May 2011 find you happy, healthy, and prosperous.

As you know, Kevin has several movies slated for release, upcoming conventions, and charity golf events, including his tournament to benefit WFIT. We wish him well with his endeavors.

These, of course, give us more to talk and write about and more opportunities to get to know each other better. How exciting!

Don’t forget to check his Official Website, the Official European Kevin Sorbo Fan Club (OEKSFC) website and blog, and the many, many creative websites, blogs, and YouTube pages dedicated to him for news, art, vids, and just plain fun. Please refer to the blogroll at right for links. Let me know if you have a Kevin link you’d like me to add.

I have some great ideas and cool stories for the new year. I also have your Kevin stories to post. Apologies for my tardiness with those, and many, many thanks to all who sent them. Remember: If you have a Kevin story, we really want to read it, so, send it today! 

See you next year!

To Kevin Sorbo and friends: It’s a Wonderful Life! Merry Christmas!

Well, another year has passed, and here we are, still together, my lovely friends.

We laughed; we cried; we shared our hopes and dreams and worries and sorrows. We grew closer in many ways – ways for which I cannot express my extreme joy and gratitude.

Many of us experienced great losses from family and friends to jobs and even our homes. Yet, we have our dreams and our friendships. How, you ask?

Through all of the muck and mire, sadness and woe, laughter and smiles, we have Kevin. Sounds corny, doesn’t it?

But, think about it. He drew and continues to draw us together. He has a way about him that envelops good people because he is a good person, and so are we all. Not a fan have I met via the internet or in real life who doesn’t possess great qualities; each of us has a special gift, whether it be art, vids, writing, conversation, jokes, or just being a Kevin fan… we all have him in common, and, so begins our journey to discover each other across the miles and continents.

I truly appreciate the many things about your lives that you share here and with me personally. I am constantly amazed by you and hope to one day accept your kind invitations to visit your lovely homes. Thank you so much!

And it’s because of you, boss. I hope you never tire of how much we appreciate you and your fine work, our heartfelt sentiments cheering you on with your career, hopes that your family remains healthy and happy, and wishes that everything you do goes well, especially your fine efforts with WFIT and other great charities.

Many sincere thanks, everyone. You made this year great!

Merry Christmas to you, my special Sorbo friends…

It’s a Wonderful Life!