Queen’s Own The official Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon fan club

Queen’s Own newsletter — December 2000

Queen's Own

The Official Mercedes Lackey Fan Club

P.O. Box 749 Laguna Beach, CA 92652 USA

Series 3, Vol. 1, No. 8 December 1, 2000

Herald Auralynn and Sabyll Riding Circuit by Jan Tallevast

Heyla, Misty fans!

As we head into the holiday season we want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have helped make the new incarnation of Queen's Own a success. Since the new QO debuted eight months ago, our mailing list has tripled. Hundreds of approved personae are on our registry. (We're still missing records for February 1988 through March 1991; if you have any of them, please let us know!) Almost 9000 people have visited our website. In this issue we also announce a new Queen's Own chapter, the Vanyel Fan Club! (See their ad below for details.)

We think 2001 will be a very exciting year for QO. A new QO chapter is being organized in Singapore, and New England may see a new chapter soon as well. New personae are being added practically every month (Almost three dozen people have notified us that they are working on their requirements.), and old members are returning, sometimes after an absence of many years.

Please contact us with ideas about directions that you would like to see us take Queen's Own. We are hoping, among other things, to see a return of QO sections to various cons. If you haven't already done so, check out our private Delphi forum. There are several message boards with discussions in progress, and you can connect with other QO members for online chats. We post news that comes to our attention between publications of the newsletter in this area, so try to make a habit of visiting at least once a month. We also put out calls for art, ads, etc., on the Queen's Own chatlist. If you are a member and have not yet joined the list, we encourage you to do so. This will help you stay up to date on all the happenings.

Soon we will send out our holiday gift to all members who are on our mailing list, a graphic that we have designed exclusively for you. You have our permission to display it on a website, if you have one, or make use of it on your computer system. Please to not distribute it to nonmembers; this is something special, just for people who have created personae with QO.

The feature article for this newsletter is a special holiday message for all of you from Misty. You'll find the text immediately below.

Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas, Blessed Yule, and Holiday Greetings to one and all!

Herald-Mage Master Danya Winterborn and Healer Adept Moonstar

From Mercedes Lackey:

I'm thrilled that Queen's Own is back in business again! After a rather problem-plagued year for yours truly, it was good to see something go right!

Well, we didn't all die in the riots and chaos that followed the Y2K bug crashing everything that had microchips (and some things that didn't), but I must say that virtually everyone I know had things go wrong for them this year. I won't be sorry to see this one out, and here's hoping that things improve in the real Millennium!

The one thing that hasn't gone wrong is that I've gotten back to a great many of the projects that should have been completed a long time ago. The third Bedlam Bards book will be out around Christmas (for you late shoppers), and I'm nearly finished with the third Wizard War Chronicle (Elvenborn with Andre Norton). We've arrived at a solution for a substitute for the last Diana Tregarde mysteries---a vampire book, one of two possible, which my editor Melissa Singer is currently choosing between.

And as for right this moment---well, my busy fingers have been hard at work making some rather (if I do say so myself) lovely pieces of jewelry for the Alex Auction at Firebird. Now Dr. Irene Pepperberg is another of my friends for whom 2000 has been a year plagued with difficulties, and it would be wonderful if you all could go do some Xmas shopping there and give her a much-needed hand!

Thanks to all of you for good times in the last Millennium, and may there be more of them in the next!

Misty

Ren Faires:

Herald Auralynn by Jan Tallevast

Here are the faires we know about that are happening in December. Faires are indexed alphabetically by state. Have any information about any other Ren Faires in your area? Send it to us at shashtah@gmail.com

Florida

ALACHUA DICKENS FESTIVAL. Address: 12610 W State Rd 235, Alachua, FL 32615. Contact: Ruth Ballard 904-462-5797. Dates: 12/09/00 - 12/10/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Louisiana

LOUISIANA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Fax: 504-429-1726. E-mail: info@la-renfest.com. Website: http://www.la-renfest.com. Address: 4521 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 104, PMB 271, Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Site Address: 46468 River Road, Hammond, LA 70401-4248. Dates: 11/4/00 - 12/10/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Massachusetts

THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST. E-mail: renaissance@afairbrother.com. Website: http://www.afairbrother.com/dracula.html. Address: Dracula's Castle, 90 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970. Dates: 12/03/00 - 12/18/00. Open/Close: 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

Texas

DICKENS ON THE STRAND. FAX: 409-765-7851. Website: http://www.galvestonhistory.org. Address: 2016 Strand, Galveston, TX 77550-1631. Dates: 12/02/00 - 12/03/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM.

INGLESIDE RENAISSANCE FAIRE AND CHRISTMAS CRAFT BAZAAR. E-mail: wench500@hotmail.com. Address: P.O.Box 686, Ingleside, TX 78362. Dates: 12/09/00 - 12/10/00. Open/Close: 10:30 AM.

For additional Ren Faire information, visit the Renaissance Faire Homepage at http://www.renfaire.com/ and the Renaissance Magazine site at http://www.renaissancemagazine.com.

Companions and Friends by Jan Tallevast

Conventions:

These are the upcoming cons we know about. Have any information about conventions in your area? Send it to us at shashtah@gmail.com.

California

LOS ANGELES COMIC & SF CON. E-mail: lacbsfcon@aol.com. Website: http://www.comicbookscifi.com. Address: Shrine Auditorium Expo Center, Los Angeles, California. Dates: 12/10/00.

Florida

HI SEAS 2000 (A Highlander / Babylon Convention Cruise). E-mail: time-questvolunteer@juno.com. Website: http://homestead.juno.com/time-quest/HiSeas.html. Address: Royal Caribbean cruise ship the Majesty of the Seas, departing from Port of Miami, Florida. Dates: 12/1/00 - 12/4/00.

SMOFCON 18. E-mail: jsiclari@bellsouth.net. Website: http://sfsfs.org/SMOFcon. Address: Holiday Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Resort, Cocoa Beach, Florida. Dates: 12/1/00 - 12/3/00. FLORIDA CON-QUEST. E-mail: FloridaConQuest@aol.com. Website: http://www.floridaconquest.com. Address: Kings Inn, Jacksonville, Florida. Dates: 12/8/00 - 12/10/00.

Maryland

INTERCON 2001: A GAME ODYSSEY. E-mail: dwbl@ix.netcom.com. Website: http://www.ilfinfo.org/intercon. Address: Days Hotel, Timonium, Maryland. Dates: 12/29/00 - 1/1/01.

New Jersey

ATOMIC GENERATION COLLECTIBLES CONVENTION. E-mail: hercules@snip.net. Website: http://www.atomicgeneration.com. Address: Runnemede Holiday Inn, Runnemede, New Jersey. Dates: 12/3/00.

Oregon

W.O.W. CLUBHOUSE. E-mail: hthomson@teleport.com. Website: http://nhmgs.simplenet.com/conventions.html. Address: Western Oregon, Oregon. Dates: 12/??/00.

Virgina

EVECON 18. E-mail: Cherylz@fantek.org. Website: http://www.fantek.org. Address: Mclean Hilton, Tysons Corner, Virginia. Dates: 12/29/00 - 1/1/01.

Australia

CAMP COSTUME. E-mail: stilskin@netspace.net.au. Website: http://www.vicnet.net.au/~costume. Address: Polana Camp, Healesville, Victoria, Australia. Dates: 12/8/00 - 12/10/00.

GRASS CROWN 2000. E-mail: trailape@primus.com.au. Website: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Labyrinth/3927. Address: The Pymble Army Reserve Training Depot, Pymble, Holsworthy, NSW, Australia. Dates: 12/9/00 - 12/10/00.

MACQUARIECON 2000. E-mail: murps@hardy.ocs.mq.edu.au. Website: http://members.xoom.com/murps. Address: Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Dates: 12/9/00 - 12/11/00.

SECRETCON 2000. E-mail: alastair@ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au. Website: http://www.cia.asn.au. Address: Near Manjimup, WA, Australia. Dates: 12/??/00.

Czech Republic

DRACON 2000. E-mail: dracon@dracon.cz. Website: http://www.dracon.cz/dracon2000.html. Address: Santon Hotel, Brno, Czech Republic. Dates: 12/8/00 - 12/10/00.

Israel

ARMAGEDDOCON. E-mail: con@sf-f.org.il. Website: http://armageddoncon.org. Address: Kibbutz Shefayim (Tel Aviv), Armageddon, Israel. Dates: 12/27/00 - 1/1/01.

Poland

NORDCON 2000. E-mail: papier@gkf.3miasto.pl. Website: http://www.gkf.3miasto.pl. Address: Gdansk, Poland. Dates: 12/30/00 - 1/2/01.

Scotland

HOGMANAYCON. E-mail: andy.nimmo@net.ntl.com. Website: http://www.hogmanaycon.org.uk. Address: Central Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland. Dates: 12/29/00 - 1/1/01.

For additional Convention information, visit Convention Outpost by Jenga at http://go.to/conventions.

Frostbite by Jan Tallevast

Member News:

For definitions of our fannish jargon, read the 12-page booklet "Pros & Cons: An Introduction to Fandom" written by Elizabeth Barrette. Send $1.00 and a $0.34 stamp (or $1.00 and 2 IRCs) to Queen's Own, P.O. Box 749, Laguna Beach, CA, 92652. Make checks payable to "Linda Malcor" in US funds only.

Local chapters:

Flying Gryphon by Jan Tallevast

Zines and Newsletters:

Other Fandoms:

Purple Gryphon by Jan Tallevast

Collegium News:

We have individual handouts for aspiring Heralds, Healers, Bards, Blues, Mercenaries, Tayledras, Shin'a'in, and White Winds Sorcerers/Sorceresses and instructions on how to work for Herald-Mage status if you are already a Herald or for a Kal'enedral if you are already a Shin'a'in. You can find these handouts online at Persona handouts and submission instructions.

You need a release form (online at Release form instructions) if you write a story set in Misty's worlds or using any of her characters. You do not need a release for a character sketch, poem or filk. All Misty wants to do is protect her characters and her worlds. Send the release form (you do NOT need to include the story) to Misty c/o High Flight Arts and Letters, P.O. Box 2970, Claremore, OK 74017. Do NOT include the original of the release form with your persona material; send it to Misty. Send a copy to us.

All personae materials should be sent to the QO address or submitted by e-mail to shashtah@gmail.com and healermoon@gmail.com.

Gryphonlet by Jan Tallevast

From Herald-Mage Master Danya Winterborn:

Heyla and Happy Holidays, One and All!

A thousand thanks to everyone who has sent well wishes to my family and me. Healthwise, I'm doing better than I have in over a year--which means I'm completely swamped with work that people had put on hold until I was feeling well again <g>. Kassie is growing like a weed and already trying to hold her bottle. Her big brother, Joe, is completely enchanted by her, and her proud Da has to fight for "baby time" <G>.

I'm thoroughly enjoying serving as co-President of Queen's Own, and I'm delighted to see the club doing so well. To all who have asked, yes, I'm working on another Danya story. I hope to make it available to at least one of the QO zines in 2001. Also, yes, I'm working on my Adept rank. It takes a while to research and write those papers, though <G>.

Speaking of writing, anyone have any nonfiction papers for The Compass Rose? I'm hoping to come out with Issue 2 in either December or January.

Our URL has changed to Queen’s Own. Dragonfire went out of business, so we had to move to a new server along with our host, Dragonlords.

Best wishes to all of you in the coming year!

Zhai'helleva,

Danya

Fan Messages:

Kearie by Jan Tallevast

The newsletter is routinely posted to the Net. If you are concerned about your address falling into unfriendly hands, don't place a fan message! You may answer fan messages without ever placing one yourself. The editors reserve the right to edit--and shorten!--all messages. (Remember to tell your Post Office about your alternative name if you wish to receive mail addressed to your persona at an addressed where you receive mail under your real name.)

The only "fee" for a fan message is to write to two other people. If your mailbox is empty, don't complain--write letters!

Personals:

Queen's Own is the official Mercedes Lackey Appreciation Society. Our purpose is to share our enjoyment of Misty's worlds. We are a fan-run not-for-profit organization, not a business. Our address of publication: P.O. Box 749, Laguna Beach, CA 92652 USA. This newsletter is published solely to inform and entertain the club's membership; no infringement of anyone's copyrights is intended.

Newsletters are published on (or near) the first of each month.

Co-Editor/Co-President Herald-Mage Master Danya Winterborn (L.A. Malcor; AOL-IM SN Shashtah; shashtah@gmail.com)

Co-Editor/Co-President Healer Adept Moonstar (Kendra Renaud; AOL-IM SN healermoon; healermoon@gmail.com)

The featured artist for this online version of the newsletter is Jan Tallevast. All drawings in this newsletter are © to the credited artist. All rights reserved. If you would like your art to be featured in the online version of the QO newsletter, send .gifs or .jpgs to shashtah@gmail.com or hardcopy to Queen's Own, P.O. Box 749, Laguna Beach, CA 92652.

Mercedes Lackey does not receive mail at the Queen's Own address. Fanmail to Mercedes Lackey and releases for fan fiction should be sent to:

Mercedes Lackey c/o High Flight Arts and Letters P.O. Box 2970 Claremore, OK 74017

Zhai'helleva,

Herald-Mage Master Danya Winterborn and

Healer Adept Moonstar