Cover story: Strings for Her by Robert Schrader "I met Tori through her producer on Little Earthquakes (Davitt Sigerson)," Shenale recalls, having come across her after he and Sigerson finished work on another Atlantic album. "She played and sang and blew our minds. Rarely do you find someone with such compositional and performance abilities [for both] voice and piano. And just a great person on top of that. From the first moment Tori and I met, it was like we had known each other many years."

Feature articles: Up Against the Fence by Angela Reid After I'd accepted that I was not going to see much more than her eyes over the top of the piano, I got very interested in the bits I could see. It had a kind of an allure all its own, like a strip show. The fluttering of her clothing as she crossed her legs. The reflection of her arms on the Bosey's raised lid. The insects circling the halo of light around her head. The flash of the ring on her finger as she played. They were definitely pieces of her I'd never seen. A Lottapianos by Cairn Hedland The boys took their places on stage and began to kick out the newly arranged and grooving intro to "A Sorta Fairytale". It seemed to be a little bit more laid back with a soft, watery wash on the bass. As anticipated, Tori sauntered her way center stage complete with Cheshire cat grin firmly in place, let herself slink into the groove, and then slithered over to her throne, surrounded by her loyal subjects, a lot of pianos and a lot of Ears with Feet. Boots for Pele by Rob Woiccak The Dew Drop Inn tour is a difficult one to pick favorites from. While not particularly longer than any of the other tours she's undertaken, the night-to-night emotional intensity of her performances in 1996 made these shows dear to many Toriphiles' hearts, cemented Tori's place as one of the most exhilirating live performers of the 1990s, and encouraged many fans to take up redheading. Strange Little Law and Order by Kenya McCullum Something about Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow captured the romantic imagination of the country, although their crime spree left several people dead and led to their own demise less than two years after they hit the fugitive road. Theirs was a twisted love story of two kids from the wrong side of the tracks rebelling against big business and government officials. Although school shootings aren't uncommon now, when 16-year-old loner Brenda Spencer opened fire on Cleveland Elementary School on January 29, 1979, they were unheard of...When a reporter called and asked what her motive was for the shooting, she gave the infamous answer, "I don't like Mondays. This livens up the day."

Tori Story: Giving Me Myself Again by JB Anderton 'Winter' started out delicately and frosty as the song title would suggest, but soon it warmed me up from the inside as it got to the refrain. As the strings began to soar, the words Tori was singing started to really speak to me, and for the first time, I felt that someone had gotten into my head and was singing to me exactly what I needed to hear at a time when I was very lonely, confused, and scared about my future.

Ask the Expert: Ask the Expert by Nadyne Mielke LBW's expert answers your questions about Australia, the "A Sorta Fairytale" video, and Tori's hand-art and hats.

Multimedia: Album review: Doria Roberts by Cheryl LaFountain Her music and performance style are often compared to that legend of the independent artists, Ani Difranco. The comparison is a fair one. Both artists take an urban approach to their acoustic folk music. But Roberts' singing style is softer, and has a bit more of a Rhythm and Blues influence...Roberts has performed at a number of woman-focused folk and rock festivals, including Lilith Fair, where she was originally a second-stage act and was later invited to grace the main stage after Sarah MacLachlan and the Indigo Girls saw her perform.

Reader submissions: Under the Radar by Charlene M. This past September, plagued with survivor guilt, I was in despair again. If not for an intervention, I don't think I would have survived. I placed two tattoos of Tori on me as a tribute to my co-workers and the flight that helped me survive. The portrait of Tori reminds me of my brothers and sister who died and the haunting things I have seen over the years. Tori's music helped me cope in tragic and overwhelming circumstances, and by holding onto these memories I hope to remain happy and healthy. ... Plus a poem by John Metcalf.