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

Queen’s Own newsletter — April 2002

Queen's Own

The Official Mercedes Lackey Fan Club

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

Series 3, Vol. 3, No. 4 April 1, 2002

Morrigan 2 by Laura Cameron

Heyla, Misty fans!

There's lots of good stuff coming up (No April fooling!). Teri Lee of Firebird Arts & Music (http://www.firebirdarts.com), wrote to let us know that there will be "a new short story collection sometime later this year." Gates of Sleep, Misty's take on the Sleeping Beauty story is here! The massmarket paperback edition of The Serpent's Shadow, Misty's retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, came out in March. Misty and Andre Norton have teamed up to bring us Elvenborn, which has a July 2002 release date. Misty joined Eric Flint and Dave Freer to take us to Venice in the 1530's--with a healthy dose of magic added to liven things up-in The Shadow of the Lion, which was released in March. Check out Misty's review of the book on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0743435230/ref=ase_dragonlordsofdumA/104-5468109-5848768. You can find these titles and others list in our Mercedes Lackey section of the Dragonlord's Bookstore at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkfanml.htm. Remember, a portion of each purchase goes toward paying expenses for QO, which is how we can keep our memberships free. We really appreciate your support. (BTW, have you noticed that you can now read excerpts from a bunch of Misty's works on Amazon?)

We are in the process of putting excerpts from past Queen's Own newsletters online at Newsletter publication and submission guidance. We're including articles, letters about Misty's work, interviews and all sorts of good stuff. We are not including most of the old Con and Ren. Faire information, Fanzine info (most of them have folded), Other Fandoms, Fan Messages and Personals because of the out-of-date and personal information contained in those sections. We are also omitting out-of-date and personal phone numbers, addresses and the like whenever they happen to crop up. Most of the art from the past issues is not up yet, but we hope to be getting around to that soon (We have to find the time to scan it.). Hanna Bruin and Herald Nia, bless them, are helping me type (Healer Adept Moonstar is still recovering from shoulder surgery). We are also linking the approved persona list at Persona directory to the newsletter where each persona was recognized as we put that newsletter online, so you can read what each member did to earn approval and see what else was happening at the time s/he joined.

The first Heralds were recognized in Vol. 3, No. 2, Feb. 1990. We think the Herald requirements from Misty came out in October of 1989, since Sally Paduch, Judith's co-President at the time, started talking about interpretations of those requirements in the Nov./Dec. '89 issue. Does anyone have a copy of those original requirements?

We are also missing the following newsletters:

Did Robin send out anything after December 1999? We can't remember, so we don't know if we're missing a final newsletter from her. (Moonstar and Danya started publishing in May 2000, and all of those newsletters are online.)

Other than those exceptions, we have a complete set. We originally thought the project was going to take about six months, but it looks as if we may complete it within a month or two at the rate we're going.

Inspired by material we have seen in the old newsletters, we have contacted Julie Bowman of Mythical Creations (http://www.centaur.org/mythjulie/index.html) about the delightful Companions she used to make exclusively for members of Queen's Own. She's willing to start making them again for us, and she is researching the new price. Thank you, Julie!

Golden Grove/Queen's Own will be going to the Southern Renaissance Pleasure Faire on May 19th. Contact Herald-Mage Adept (Yes! See below!) Danya at shashtah@gmail.com if you would like to join us.

An important correspondence safety tip: Please do not send personal mail for Mercedes Lackey to the Queen's Own address. There was a time many years ago when Queen's Own received Misty's fanmail and forwarded it to her as a service for her fans. For well over a decade now, though, Misty has had her own address (Mercedes Lackey, c/o High Flight Arts and Letters, P.O. Box 2970, Claremore, OK 74017). Please send all fanmail for Mercedes Lackey to the High Flight address. We ask you to do this in every newsletter, on our Contact page for QO, on all the handouts, on the fanfic page and at several other locations on the website. Still, we have had several incidents recently where we have received letters address to 'Mercedes Lackey/Queen's Own' that we did not realize were fanmail until after we had opened the correspondence. We immediately sent those letters on to Misty at High Flight rather than returning them to the senders. Forwarding mail, however, costs us money. Since we don't charge dues, the money for postage and envelopes for misaddressed correspondence comes out of our pockets. (Plus we really don't feel comfortable opening mail that wasn't intended for us.) Please, help us by sending Misty's mail to the High Flight address and QO mail to the QO address.

Arrows OnLine has a new Dean. See their ad below for more details. Also, there is now a weekly Misty chat on AOL:

HOST EBK Royal Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar & Urban Fantasies 9-10PM ET Reading Room

This month's responder to the QO questionnaire is Herald Auric (Eric Dooley). If you haven't replied yet, please send your answers to the questions to Danya at shashtah@gmail.com.

Zhai'helleva,

Herald-Mage Master Danya Winterborn and Healer Adept Moonstar

  1. When did you join Queen's Own?

I have been involved since the early 90's now [Ed. Note: Herald Auric was approved in July of 1991.]. I got the privilege of helping out with one mailing day when Judith was doing the newsletter, and she is a wonderful/caring person. I met a boyfriend from Queen's Own, and we long distance dated for 4 months, and then he moved to be with me for four months before we broke up. (Don't do long distance relationships! They are very hard, and you don't really get to see the real, day-to-day person that way. (I've also recently had the pleasure of meeting our two hard working managers/runners of QO now. 2. What got you hooked on Misty's books?

Vanyel and the Last Herald-Mage Trilogy. I was captivated by one of the covers in the store, and when I realized the character was gay … I was amazed and overjoyed. Then I went back and found everything else Misty had written. Vanyel touched my heart and made me cry, but, most importantly, he made me see that there were other people who were gay out there. For that I'll always love Misty. I grew up in small town USA, being sheltered, and so it was a wonderful moment to discover these books. Finding that book changed my life and made me realize I could do something like that. So I've been working on my own book ever since, between school and working and all the other ups and downs in life. Misty really changed my life. 3. What else do you read?

I read gay books, biographies, sometimes scifi, murder mysteries, too. I like Murder She Wrote books, the Tek series by Shatner, Raymond Fiest's early works, Tanya Huff and her many books and series, Richard Knaack's Dragon series, Robin Wayne Bailey's Brothers of the Dragon, David Eddings many wonderful books, Robert Aspirin's Myth books, Sharon Green's Blending series, Armistead Maupin's Tales of the Cities series, books on I Love Lucy and Lucille Ball, Gay Astrology, lots of comic book stuff (I have over 10,000 of them), cartoon series things (I like super hero ones and Scooby Doo). I also like Vampire stories. 4. What types of music do you listen to?

I just saw Madonna in concert. Like dance and pop music. Samantha Fox, Gloria Estefan, Debbie Gibson, Cyndi Lauper, Ace of Base, Cher, Abba, soundtracks--all kinds of stuff. 5. What movies do you enjoy?

Beaches, Miss Congeniality, Mrs. Doubtfire, Galaxy Quest, Star Wars, Star Trek, Starblazers, Japanese Anime, Gatchaman, Charlie's Angels, Bounce, Broken Hearts' Club, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. 6. What was the first con you went to?

It was this summer, San Diego Comic Con International. I've never been to anything up till then but I've been collecting comics since I could read. 7. Why did you get involved in fandom?

Always loved escaping from reality into a comic book or a fantasy book, and it saved my sanity at times in my dysfunctional childhood. 8. What do you like best about fandom?

Creativity, the wide worlds of ideas and fantasies that every one can enjoy. 9. What other things besides Queen's Own occupy your time?

Gosh, I just graduated in December with a BA in psychology. It took me 11 years of college to finally get a degree in something. Now I work full time and a weekend job, so seven days a week to pay the loans and debts I have. I moved to San Francisco, CA, 6 years ago without a job and not knowing how to budget, so its been a learning and growing experience since then. I write articles for a gay comics zine and I also am working on my own book/series. I like to read, read comics, hang out, biking, romance, friends, the movies, plays--all kinds of things. 10. What types of things would you like to see Queen's Own do in the coming years?

I've already suggested some things to our editors/owners. I would love to see more interaction. Have Misty answer questions, write a note for each or every other newsletter. How about an article from Judith? Why she did it, how it felt doing all that hard work, what she felt was rewarding. How did it feel giving it all up? Does she keep in touch with anyone? More stuff than what we have now. Reviews of Misty's books, opinions, other authors people think are great and why. I think it should all be in one thing not spread out all over the place. We have chat groups, the newsletter and minizines everywhere. How about coming together to make this list the best and brightest. How about Q&A with other fantasy authors? What they are into? What are their latest books, etc.? There are lots of authors on the Net out there, or there should be ways to contact them. The old list used to get me excited when I saw a preview for something that was coming out from Misty. I also met and got to meet a lot of cool people through the fan messages section. I still talk to some of them now. I know Misty has lots of fans out there. Why not advertise our group in the back of her books? [Ed. Note: We've asked DAW about that several times, updating those ads in the back of the books and adding the ad to the new books. DAW has not responded to our queries.] That's how I found out about QO and Judith. It seems like there is a disconnect between Misty and the group. I also belong to a Tanya Huff group, and there we get info on where she is appearing what books she is working on next and an estimated time of arrival. I also used to belong to P.N. Elrod's fan club, and she would write in each newsletter, answer fan questions and interact. She even wrote me a letter once, which was really great and exciting. I just want this group to be the best that it can be and Linda and Kenny can't do it alone; it needs to be everyone pitching in. What do other people want to see? What are your ideas for bringing in new blood and making people interested enough? Anyway, that's enough about me and my opinions. Feel free to E-mail me at massage@ericdooley.com with comments or questions.

Ren Faires:

Here are the faires we know about that are happening in April. 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

California

BUTTE COLLEGE RENAISSANCE FAIRE. FAX: 530-566-1584. E-mail: aylworthHistProd@aol.com. Website: http://www.buttecollegerenfaire.com. Address: c/o Stephanie Aylworth, 1450 Springfield Dr., #8, Chico, CA, 95928. Site Address: Dates: 4/20/02 - 4/21/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

CROSSROADS EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL, CORONA, CA. FAX: 909-490-0040. E-mail: rensite@renaissanceinfo.com. Website: http://www.renaissanceinfo.com. Address: Crossroads Productions, P.O. Box 95, Riverside, CA, 92502-0095. Site Address: Crossroads Riverview Park, River Road at Archibald, Corona, CA. Dates: 4/13/02 - 5/27/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

ESCONDIDO RENAISSANCE FAIRE & SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK. FAX: 805-496-6036. E-mail: goldcoastprod@msn.com. Website: http://www.goldcoastfestivals.com. Address: 2509 Thousand Oaks Blvd., #351, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91362. Site Address: Felicita County Park, 742 Clarence Lane, Escondido, CA, 92025. Dates: 4/06/02 - 4/07/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

OJAI RENAISSANCE FAIRE & SHAKESPEARE AT THE LAKE. FAX: 805-496-6036. E-mail: goldcoastprod@msn.com. Address: 2509 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Ste. 351, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91362. Dates: 4/20/02 - 4/21/02. Open: 10:00 AM.

SHASTA HIGHLANDS CELTIC AND RENAISSANCE FAIRE. FAX: 530-244-0331. E-mail: shastahighlands@mindspring.com. Website: http://www.shastahighlands.org. Address: 1925 Shasta St, Suite A, Redding, CA, 96001. Site Address: Anderson River Park, Anderson, CA, 96007. Dates: 4/27/02 - 4/28/02 Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

TULARE COUNTY RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. E-mail: tulfair@prodigy.net. Website: http://www.stmortimer.org. Address: 1372 E. Finch, Tulare, CA 93274-3035. Dates: 4/27/02 - 4/28/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Florida

A MIDWINTER'S MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL. FAX: 813-949-4937. E-mail: mikedenson@verizon.net. Website: http://www.lakecomoresort.com. Address: 20500 Cot Road, Lutz, FL 33549. Dates: 4/06/02 - 4/07/02.

Louisiana

ACADIANA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. FAX: 337-993-1581. E-mail: acadianarenfest@excite.com. Address: Contribution Solutions Inc., P.O. Box 664, Maurice, LA, 70555. Site Address: Acadian Village, 200 Greenleaf Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506. Dates: 4/06/02 - 4/07/02. Open/Close: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA RENAISSANCE FAIRE. FAX: 919-554-9392. E-mail: fairqueen1@aol.com. Website: http://www.ncrenfaire.com. Address: P.O. Box 61280, Raleigh, NC, 27587. Dates: 4/06/02 - 4/07/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM.

Texas

SCARBOROUGH RENAISSANCE FAIRE. FAX: 972-938-1890. E-mail: TheRenFest@aol.com . Website:http://www.ScarboroughRenFest.com. Address: P.O. Box 538, Waxahachie, TX, 75168-0538. Site Address: 2511 FM 66, Waxahachie, TX, 75165-5527. Dates: 4/13/02 - 6/02/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

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.

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.

We regret that most of the e-mail links are not provided in this edition of the newsletter (We had promised that the links would be activated in the online edition.). Real life interfered with our good intentions. If you still need the missing e-mail links, you can find them at Convention Outpost by Jenga at http://go.to/conventions.

Alabama

HENRY BREWER-GUS SAILORS MEMORIAL DBM TOURNAMENT. Website: http://www.geocities.com/vsolfronk/birmingham_wargaming_association.html. E-mail: vsolfronk@mindspring.com. Address: Deluxe Inn and Suites, Birmingham, Alabama. Dates: 4/13/02 - 4/14/02.

California

BAY AREA GAMES DAY XXI. Website: http://www.best.com/~davekohr/gamesday/. Address: Los Altos Public Library, San Francisco, California. Dates: 4/02.

CONFURENCE 2002. Website: http://www.polarden.org/cf2002/. E-mail: Information. Address: Hilton Burbank Airport, Burbank, California. Dates: 4/26/02 - 4/28/02

CREATION SALUTES TO STAR TREK, XENA, SCI-FI TV AND FILM. Website: http://www.creationent.com/. Address: Masonic Center, San Francisco, California. Dates: 4/6/02 - 4/7/02.

FANIME 2002. Website: http://www.fanime.com/. Address: Westin Hotel & Convention Center, Santa Clara, California. Dates: 4/26/02 - 4/28/02.

WONDERCON. Website: http://www.wondercon.com/. Address: Oakland Convention Center and Oakland Marriott, Oakland, California. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

Colorado

STARFEST. Website: http://www.starland.com/. Address: Holiday Inn DIA Convention Center, Denver, Colorado. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

WEEKEND IN RAVEN'S BLUFF. Website: http://www.bengames.org/wirb/index.html. Address: Red Rocks Community College, Denver, Colorado. Dates: 4/20/02 - 4/21/02.

Florida

RECON 2002. Website: http://www.hmgssouth.org/recon.htm. Address: Travel Lodge, Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida. Dates: 4/26/02 - 4/28/02.

SPRING GAMEFEST-JACKSONVILLE. Website: http://www.advantageconvention.com/. Address: Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, Jacksonville, Florida. Dates: 4/12/02 - 4/14/02.

Georgia

ATLANTA COMICON. Website: http://www.atlantacomicon.com. Address: Gwinnett Civic Center, Gwinnett, Georgia. Dates: 4/12/02 - 4/14/02.

Hawaii

SUPERMAN FAN & COLLECTORS CONVENTION OF HAWAII. Website: . Address: Leeward Community College, Pearl City, Hawaii. Dates: 4/13/02.

Illinois

ANIME CENTRAL. Website: http://www.acen.org/. Address: Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

CODCON VII: OH NO, NOT AGAIN! Website: http://www.geocities.com/scificod. Address: Turner Conference Center, College Of Dupage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Dates: 4/12/02 - 4/14/02.

DAGORHIR SPRING WAR. Website: http://www.dagorhir.com/. Address: Forest Glen Forest Preserve, Westville, Illinois. Dates: 4/11/02 - 4/14/02.

EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN 2002. Website: http://www.siu.edu/~gamesoc/. Address: Student Center on the Campus of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois. Dates: 4/12/02 - 4/14/02.

OPCON XIII. Website: http://oprfhs.org/activ/scifi/opcon.html. Address: Oak Park and River Forest High School, Oak Park, Illinois. Dates: 4/6/02.

SPRING OFFENSIVE XII. Website: http://www.springoffensive.com/. Address: Illinois Central College, East Peoria, Illinois. Dates: 4/26/02 - 4/28/02.

WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 2002. Website: http://www.whc2002.org/. Address: Radisson Hotel O'Hare, Chicago, Illinois. Dates: 4/11/02 - 4/14/02.

Kansas

STAR TREK. Website: http://www.sfedora.com/. Address: The Doubletree Hotel-Kansas City, Overland Park, Kansas City, Kansas. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

Kentucky

SOUTHERN KENTUCKY FESTIVAL OF BOOKS. Website: http://www.sokybookfest.org/. Address: Warren County Convention Center, Bowling Green, Kentucky. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/20/02.

Louisiana

SCI-FI EXPO - BOSSIER CITY. Website: http://www.scifiexpo.com/. Address: Bossier City, Louisiana. Dates: 4/12/02 - 4/14/02. Location: Convention Center.

Maine

PORT CON MAINE. Website: http://www.portconmaine.com. Address: University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

Maryland

I-MANI CON. Website: http://sparklingemerald.com/imanicon/. Address: Embassy Suites Hotel - BWI Airport, Baltimore, Maryland. Dates: 4/6/02 - 4/7/02.

VIA 1936: HORROR. Website: http://www.vialarp.org/. Address: Decaying Edwardian Manse, 36 East Avenue, Hagerstown, Maryland. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

VIA 1936: HORROR. Website: http://www.vialarp.org/. E-mail: Gordon Olmstead-Dean. Address: Decaying Edwardian Manse, 36 East Avenue, Hagerstown, Maryland. Dates: 4/26/02 - 4/28/02.

Massachusetts

5 CON 10. Website: http://www.5con.org/. E-mail: Rebecca Bernstein. Address: Seelye Hall, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

HAVOC 18. Website: http://communities.msn.com/BattleGroupBostonsHavoc. Address: Fort Devens Sports Arena, Ayer, Massachusetts. Dates: 4/6/02 - 4/7/02.

OURCON 11. Website: http://www.umass.edu/rso/gameclub/ourcon/. Address: UMass Amherst Campus Center, Amherst, Massachusetts. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

Minnesota

MICROCON 2002. Website: http://www.mncba.com/. Address: Maplewood Community Center, Maplewood, Minnesota. Dates: 4/28/02.

Missouri

CONCOCTION: 02. Website: http://concoction.freeyellow.com/. Address: Moberly Area Community College, Moberly, Missouri. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

NEBULA AWARDS WEEKEND. Website: http://www.kc-sciencefiction.org/2002nebs.htm. Address: Westin Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri. Dates: 4/25/02 - 4/28/02.

THUNDERCON. Website: http://www.rpgkc.org. Address: Holiday Inn, Olathe, Kansas City, Missouri. Dates: 4/25/02 - 4/28/02.

Nebraska

WILLYCON 2002. Website: http://www.wsc.edu/student/activities/clubs/sfclub/willycon/. Address: Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/8/02.

New Hampshire

ECONOCON VI. Website: http://oz.plymouth.edu/~gaming/conVI.html. Address: Hartman Union Building, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, New Hampshire. Dates: 4/27/02.

SYRAANDOR: NERO ALLIANCE NEW HAMPSHIRE. Website: http://www.syraandor.com/. Address: Syraandor site, Claremont, New Hampshire. Dates: 4/26/02 - 4/28/02.

UNICON. Website: http://www.unicongames.com/. Address: The Radisson, Merrimack, New Hampshire. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

New Jersey

CHILLER THEATRE. Website: http://www.chillertheatre.com/. Address: Meadowlands Sheraton, East Rutherford, New Jersey. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

JERSEYDEVILCON 2: DEVIL RISING. Website: http://www.JerseyDevilCon.com. Address: Sheraton Inn, Raritan Center, Edison, New Jersey. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

LAIRE - LIVE ACTION ROLEPLAYING EXPERIENCE. Website: http://www.laire.com. Address: Camp Sacajawea Girl Scout Camp, Sparta, New Jersey. Dates: 4/12/02.

MONCON 2002. Website: http://www.moncon2002.com/. Address: Holiday Inn, 700 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

NERO NJ. Website: http://www.neronj.com. Address: Camp Sacawjewia, Farmingdale, New Jersey. Dates: 4/13/02.

SUPER MEGA SHOW. Website: http://www.supermegashow.com. Address: Meadowlands Expo Center, Secaucus, New Jersey. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

SVAHA: FALLOUT. Website: http://www.wildgazebo.com/. Address: The Somerset Marriott, Somerset, New Jersey. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

New York

GMT EAST. Website: http://www.gmtgames.com/. Address: Crowne Plaza Hotel, White Plains, New York. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

I-CON 21. Website: http://www.iconsf.org/. Address: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

POINTCON XXV. Website: http://www.usma.edu/uscc/dca/clubs/clubshome.html. Address: Thayer Hall, West Point, New York. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/6/02.

Ohio

CAMP DOVER PEACE CONFERENCE 2002. Website: http://www.fyi.net/~kordite/dover/home.htm. Address: Days Inn Hotel, New Philadelphia, Ohio. Dates: 4/26/02 - 4/28/02.

CAPCON XXV. Website: http://www.mgaosu.org/. Address: Ohio Union on the Columbus Campus of The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Dates: 4/12/02 - 4/14/02.

FRIGHT VISION 2002. Website: http://www.frightvisioncons.com/. Address: Sheraton Cleveland City Centre, Cleveland, Ohio. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

SPACE: SMALL PRESS & ALTERNATIVE COMICS EXPO. Website: http://www.backporchcomics.com/space.htm. Address: Rhodes Center at The Ohio Expo Center, Columbus, Ohio. Dates: 4/20/02.

VULKON CLEVELAND. Website: http://www.vulkon.com/. Address: Holiday Inn Strongville, Cleveland, Ohio. Dates: 4/27/02 - 4/28/02.

Pennsylvania

AURA FANTASY. Website: http://www.auralive.com/. Address: Robin Hill Camping Resort, Hamburg, Pennsylvania.. Dates: 4/12/02 - 4/14/02.

COLD WARS 2002. Website: http://www.coldwars.org. Address: Lancaster Host Resort Hotel, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

MEPACON. Website: http://www.mepacon.com. Address: Wind Gap American Legion, Wind Gap, Pennsylvania. Dates: 4/13/02.

PITTSBURGH COMICON. Website: http://www.pittsburghcomicon.com/. Address: Pittsburgh ExpoMart, Pittsburgh (Monroeville), Pennsylvania. Dates: 4/25/02 - 4/28/02.

XANODRIA MEDIEVAL FANTASY. Website: http://www.xanodria.com/. Address: Blue Mountain Campground, Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Dates: 4/13/02 - 4/14/02.

Rhode Island

WIZARDS GATHERING 2002. Website: http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/nproulx/. Address: Roger Williams living and Convention Center, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Dates: 4/02.

South Carolina

ROUNDCON 2002. Website: http://www.roundcon.org. Address: Holiday Inn NE, Columbia, South Carolina. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

Tennessee

KUBLAKHAN 2002. Website: http://www.fernblatt.net/kubla30.html. Address: Days Inn Airport/Opryland Area, Nashville, Tennessee. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

OMNICON 2002. Website: http://www.omnicononline.org. Address: Roaden University Center, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/6/02.

Texas

CHIMAERACON. Website: http://hometown.aol.com/chimaeragaming/main.html. Address: Park Inn, San Antonio, Texas. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

Virginia

OMAKECON. Website: http://www.omakecon.com/. Address: The Holiday Inn Tanglewood, Roanoke, Virginia. Dates: 4/12/02 - 4/14/02.

WHEELCON. Website: http://users.1st.net/talin/. Address: Best Western Inn, Wheeling, West Virginia. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

Washington

GAME FAIRE 2002. Website: http://www.gorillabobs.com/. Address: Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, Washington. Dates: 4/26/02 - 4/28/02.

SAKURA CON. Website: http://www.sakuracon.org/. Address: Seattle Airport Hilton & Conference Center, Seattle, Washington. Dates: 4/26/02 - 4/28/02.

Wisconsin

CHAOTICON 11. Website: http://www.geocities.com/uwgbgamersclub/. Address: UW-Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin. Dates: 4/13/02 - 4/14/02.

NOBRANDCON 2002. Website: http://www.trhonline.com. Address: Davies Center - University Of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/6/02.

ODYSSEY CON 2002. Website: http://www.venture-1.com/~oddcon/. Address: The Edgewater Hotel, Madison, Wisconsin. Dates: 4/12/02 - 4/14/02.

Australia

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS 15. Website: http://www.bobw.com.au/. Address: Millennium Hotel, Sydney, Australia. Dates: 4/6/02 - 4/7/02.

CONQUEST 2002. Website: http://www.conquest.asn.au/. E-mail: enquiries@conquest.asn.au. Address: Melbourne High School, South Yarra, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Dates: 3/29/02 - 4/1/02.

PHALLANGITE FURY 2002. Website: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Labyrinth/3927/. Address: Holsworthy Barracks Maxwell Club Theatre, Holsworthy, NSW, Australia. Dates: 4/20/02 - 4/21/02.

SWANCON 2002. Website: http://www.swancon.com/. E-mail: 2002@sf.org.au. Address: The Kings Perth Hotel, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Dates: 3/28/02 - 4/1/02.

WORLD DIPCON 2002. Website: http://wdc2002downunder.com/. E-mail: rstephenson@mfbb.vic.gov.au. Address: Canberra, Australia. Dates: 3/29/02 - 4/1/02.

Canada

FANTASTIC PULPS SHOW & SALE. Website: http://www.interlog.com/~girasol/. Address: Day's Inn, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dates: 4/27/02.

FILKONTARIO 12. Website: http://www.bserv.com/community/fkoa.htm. Address: Four Points Hotel Toronto Airport, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

GRYPHCON 2002. Website: http://www.uoguelph.ca/~games/gryphcon/. Address: University Of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Dates: 4/19/02 - 4/21/02.

ORION 2002. Website: http://www.rigelgroup.org/. Address: Primrose Best Western Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dates: 4/26/02 - 4/28/02.

Croatia

SFERAKON 2002. Website: http://www.sferakon.hr/. Address: Faculty of Electricity and Computing, Zagreb, Croatia. Dates: 4/26/02 - 4/28/02.

Denmark

FASTAVAL. Website: http://www.fastaval.dk/. E-mail: adam@nail.dk. Address: Aarhus, Denmark. Dates: 3/28/02 - 4/1/02.

Finland

FINDIPCON IV. Website: http://www.melankolia.net/sds/fdc4_en.html. Address: Inspehtorinkatu 4 B, Turku, Finland. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

Holland

ELF FANTASY FAIR 2002. Website: http://www.elf-fantasy.com/. Address: Castle De Haar, Utrecht, Holland. Dates: 4/20/02 - 4/21/02.

Ireland

DOMINICON. Website: http://www.dominicon.ie/. Address: NUI Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland. Dates: 4/02.

SILLICON 4. Website: http://sillicon.redbrick.dcu.ie/. Address: DCU Student Centre, Dublin, Ireland. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

New Zealand

AN EVENING WITH JASON CARTER. Website: http://www.pulpexpo.com/. Address: Turnbull House, Bowen St., Wellington, New Zealand. Dates: 4/10/02.

ARMAGEDDON PULPCULTURE EXPO. Website: http://www.pulpexpo.com/. Address: Aotea Centre Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Dates: 4/12/02 - 4/14/02.

Turkey

METUCON 2002. Website: http://www.metucon.com. Address: Middle East Technical University Campus, Ankara, Turkey. Dates: 4/20/02 - 4/23/02.

United Kingdom

BATTLEMASTERS. Website: http://www.eurolog.org/. Address: Leicester University, Louchborough, Liecester, UK. Dates: 4/20/02 - 4/21/02.

HELICON 2. Website: http://www.smof.demon.co.uk/helicon2.htm. E-mail: helicon2@smof.demon.co.uk. Address: Hotel de France, St. Helier, Jersey Channel Isles, UK. Dates: 3/29/02 - 4/1/02.

SALUTE 2002. Website: http://www.salute.co.uk/. Address: Olympia 2 Exhibition Hall, Kensington, London, UK. Dates: 4/27/02.

STUDENT NATIONAL WARGAMING AND ROLEPLAYING CHAMPIONSHIPS. Website: http://homepages.webleicester.co.uk/daggers/nationals/webpages/. Address: De Montfort University, Leicester, Bangor, North Wales, UK. Dates: 4/5/02 - 4/7/02.

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

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:

Zines and Newsletters:

Forest by Laura Cameron

Other Fandoms:

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.

Returning Misty fans who have activated their memberships include:

Welcome back! If you are a returning member who has recently activated your membership in Queen's Own and we have forgotten to list you, message Danya at shashtah@gmail.com, and she'll make sure you are greeted in the next newsletter.

Several former members have returned. Check out Persona directory as well as our Delphi forum to see who has reappeared! (If you know any of the people listed who do not have active memberships, please tell them about us so they can contact us and we can activate their memberships.)

Lost …

One of the challenges running an online club is that people don't always leave a forwarding address when they move <g>. We are missing current e-mail addresses for the following members:

Also, Healer Adept Sierra k'Treva, your account is over quota and your messages are bouncing.

If you know any of these folks, please have them contact Danya at shashtah@gmail.com with a current e-mail address.

From Herald-Mage Adept Danya Winterborn:

Huzzah! I did it! I've been taking an average of two years to go up in rank. Not sure how long Guardian will take me. Being a folklorist, I already have a lot of stuff written about urban legends. But I do have to get childcare in order to have the time to work on the other papers … In any case, it will probably be a while <g>.

I'm looking forward to joining the Golden Grove folk at the Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire on May 19th. I'm missing our Barnes & Noble get-togethers, but my littles are a bit mobile for that at the moment <G>. Perhaps we can do another online chat in the near future. I'm still working on the ConTours convention possibility, but I had to move it to a back burner for a couple of weeks (Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Easter-not to mention three birthdays and a wedding! My life suddenly started sounding like a movie title <G>.). I hope to get my act a little more together as we move into April.

I'm having my new Golds made (if I ever get my measurements to the seamstress!). She's very excited about the project and is re-reading the books for design ideas. I'll let you know how they come out (maybe even take a picture of them <G>).

Well, back to the "Infamous Old Newsletter Project" <G>!

Zhai'helleva,

Danya

Fan Messages:

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 newsletter is Laura Cameron. 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