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

Queen’s Own newsletter — August 2002

Queen's Own

The Official Mercedes Lackey Fan Club

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

Series 3, Vol. 3, No. 8 August 1, 2002

Desari by Natasha Williams

Heyla, Misty fans!

Profuse apologies for the tardiness of this newsletter! Real life seriously needs to calm down for the two of us. ::sigh::

The big news this month is that the Sonoran Collegium is back! This QO chapter covers Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas (however, anyone is welcome). See their ad below for details or visit

Sonoran Collegium

for more information. The first newsletter is scheduled to appear August 15th.

Misty's latest,

Elvenborn (Norton, Andre. Halfblood Chronicles, Bk. 3.) with Andre Norton), is now available! Take a Thief will be out in paperback in October, and Exile's Honor, the long awaited novel about Alberich, is scheduled for publication in hardback in October as well.

Coding on the next issue of The Compass Rose is proceeding slowly, but it is proceeding. With any luck, Danya will get the issue up within the next month (although we don't take bets <G>.).

The con we were going to try to attend as a club in September has been cancelled due to financial difficulties. We'll try something again next year. Meanwhile, if any of you will be attending specific cons, do let us know. We'll try to put you in touch with other QO members who might also be attending. Also, we do have many local chapters of QO, several of whom attend cons as a group. You can find our list of chapters at

Chapter directory

For more information, see their ads below.

Appearance alert: Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon are going to be guests at Crescent City Con XVII August 9-11, 2002 in New Orleans, LA. For more information please check out http://www.fatsnake.com/ccc/index.html. This is a rare US appearance by our favorite author. Do try to show up if you can-and, please, remember to give Misty and Larry the respect they deserve.

Firebird was at Journey to Camelot, St. Helens, OR, for those of you who will be able to attend. Look for Firebird at Shrewsbury Ren. Faire, September 14-15 2002, Phillomath, OR, as well.

In this month's interview, we get to meet the creator of Herald Jhenna Leisater. If you would like to be interviewed for the QO newsletter, simply send us your answers to the questions below. (Remember, answers will eventually be posted to our website, so don't tell us anything that you don't want the world to know <G>.)

Zhai'helleva,

Herald-Mage Master Danya Winterborn and Healer Adept Moonstar

  1. When did you join Queen's Own?

May 2001 (my birthday present to myself). 2. What got you hooked on Misty's books?

Talia … plain and simple. I discovered her when I was a freshman in High School. I could really identify with her since I myself was a bit of an outcast from my family and my peers. The only problem was that they ONLY had Arrows of the Queen in the library. It took me another year before I finally got my hands on the rest of Talia's story.

After that, it was fairly obvious what I was going to have to do. I sat down and DEVOURED every book by Mercedes Lackey that I could get my hands onto. 3. What else do you read?

I read Misty's dark fiction, her Free Bards books, Anne Rice, Anne McCaffrey, um … basically, if it's fantasy or scifi related, I'll at least give it a try. 4. What types of music do you listen to?

80's rock, classical, showtunes, filk (when I can find it). 5. What movies do you enjoy?

Do you really want the list? :-) Labyrinth, The Crow, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas, Dragonheart, First Knight, AKnight's Tale, Dark Crystal, most anime, the horror version of Snow White that I got to see, Flight of Dragons, Les Miserable, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Fiddler on the Roof, Cats … The list goes on and on. I like a lot of different movies. 6. What was the first con you went to?

Haven't ever been to one. They never seem to have one in Boise, Idaho, where I live. 7. Why did you get involved in fandom?

Because it was something I wanted to do. I never really got interested enough in the other books I'd read to get involved in their fan circles. But with Misty, I actually RELATED to her characters and to the world she'd created for them. I absolutely loved them and really wanted to be a part of it. It took me six years before I finally managed to join Queen's Own, but I did. 8. What do you like best about fandom?

Getting to know other people who like the books I do. 9. What other things besides Queen's Own occupy your time?

School, job hunting, working occasionally for a temp agency, my fianc', and helping my mom take care of my sister's two children. 10. What types of things would you like to see Queen's Own do in the coming years?

Certainly I'd like to see more things for the members to do. But then, Queen's Own is already very good the way it is so I'm not sure if there really is anything I'd like to see them do. Hmmmmm....

Ren Faires:

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

BIG BEAR CITY RENAISSANCE FAIRE: THE ENCHANTED SHIRE. FAX: 909-585-0220. E-mail: lynda@bigbearcityrenaissancefaire.com. Website: http://www.bigbearcityrenaissancefaire.com. Address: P.O. Box 3069, Big Bear City, CA 92314-3069. Site Address: 1351 Midway Blvd., Big Bear City, CA 92314. Dates: 8/10/02 - 8/11/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

PITTSBURG SCOTTISH RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. E-Mail hrrg@aol.com. Website: http://members.tripod.com/PSRF/. Address: 4446 Palo Verde Dr., Pittsburg, CA, 94565. Dates: 8/10/02 - 8/11/02. Open: 11:00 AM.

Iowa

IOWA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL & HARVEST FAIRE. FAX: 641-357-5177. Website: http://www.festint.com. Address: 508 Fourth Ave North, Clear Lake, IA, 50428-1610. Dates: 8/31/02 - 9/02/02. Open/Close: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Kansas

KANSAS CITY RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. FAX: 816-561-6493. E-Mail: renfest@kcrenfest.com. Website: http://www.kcrenfest.com/. Address: P.O. Box 32667, Kansas City, MO, 64171. Site Address: 628 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, KS, 66012-9045. Dates: 8/31/02 - 10/14/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM.

Kentucky

KENTUCKY CELTIC FESTIVAL AND HIGHLAND GAMES. E-mail: gaelicdreams2000@aol.com. Website: http://kiltedkinsmen.tripod.com. Address: Kilted Kinsmen of Kentucky, 731-A Carter Road, Oak Grove, KY, 42262. Site Address: Trail of Tears Commemorative Park, Hopkinsville, KY, 42240. Dates: 8/11/02 - 8/13/02. Open/Close: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Maine

MAINE RENAISSANCE FAIRE. E-mail: info@mainefaire.com. Website: http://www.mainefaire.com. Address: Cloak & Dagger, 12 Lewiston Rd., New Gloucester, ME, 04260. Dates: 7/20/02 - 8/18/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Maryland

MARYLAND RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. FAX: 410-573-1508. E-mail: rennfest@erols.com. Website: http://www.rennfest.com. Address: P.O. Box 315, Crownsville, MD, 21032-0315. Dates: 8/24/02 - 10/20/02. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM.

Massachuesetts

FESTIVAL OF THE LION. FAX: 508-839-9708. E-mail: info@festivalofthelion.com. Website: http://www.festivalofthelion.com. Address: POB 111, Grafton, MA, 01519. Site Address: 68 Brigham Hill Rd., Grafton, MA. Dates: 8/24/02 - 8/25/02. Open/Close: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

KING RICHARD'S FAIRE. FAX: 612-238-9916. E-mail: info@kingrichardsfaire.net>. Website: http://www.kingrichardsfaire.net. Address: P.O. Box 419, Route 58, Carver, MA, 02330. Site Address: 235 S. Main St, Route 58, Carver, MA, 02330. Dates: 8/31/02 - 10/20/02. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM.

Michigan

MICHIGAN RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. FAX: 248-634-7590. E-mail: renfestmi@aol.com. Website: http://www.renaissancefest.com. Address: 12600 Dixie Highway, Holly, MI, 48442. Site Address: 12500 Dixie Highway, Holly, MI, 48442. Dates: 8/17/02 - 9/29/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

Minnesota

MINNESOTA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. FAX: 612-445-7380. Website: http://www.renaissancefest.com. Address: 1244 S. Canterbury Rd., Ste. 306, Shakopee, MN, 55379-8944. Dates: 8/17/02 - 9/29/02. Open/Close: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

New York

NEW YORK RENAISSANCE FAIRE. FAX: 845-351-5646. E-mail: nyfaire@recfair.com. Website: http://www.renfair.com/NY. Address: 600 Rt. 17A, Tuxedo, NY, 10987. Site Address: RT. 17A, Sterling Forest, Tuxedo, NY, 10987. Dates: 8/03/02 - 9/15/02. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM.

STERLING RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. FAX: 315-947-6905. E-mail: office@sterlingfestival.com. Website: http://SterlingFestival.com. Address: 15421 Farden Road, Sterling, NY 13156. Dates: 6/29/02 - 8/11/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

Ohio

GREAT LAKES MEDIEVAL FAIRE. FAX: 440-474-4283. E-mail: questions@medievalfaire.com. Website: http://www.medievalfaire.com. Address: P.O. Box 376, Rock Creek, OH, 44084. Site Address: 3033 State Route 534, Rock Creek, OH, 44084. Dates: 7/06/02 - 8/11/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

OHIO RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. FAX: 513-897-7003. E-mail: info@renfestival.com. Website: http://www.renfestival.com. Address: P.O. Box 68, Harveysburg, OH, 45032-0068. SITE ADDRESS 317 Brimstone Rd., Wilmington, OH, 45177-8531. Dates: 8/24/02 - 10/20/02. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM.

Oregon

OREGON DAYS OF OLDE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. FAX: 503-365-0590. E-mail: dpiercy@pbdesigners.com. Website: http://www.oregonrenfest.com. Address: 5485 Macleay Road SE, Salem, OR, 97301. Site Address: Cascades Gateway Park, Salem, OR. Dates: 8/24/02 - 8/25/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Pennsylvania

GREATER PITTSBURGH RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. FAX: 724-872-1670. E-mail: info@pgh-renfest.com. Website: http://www.pgh-renfest.com. Address: P.O. Box 1670, Greensburg, PA, 15601. Site Address: 2100 Mt. Pleasant Rd., West Newton, PA, 15089. Dates: 8/17/02 - 9/22/02. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 6:30 PM.

Vermont

KILLINGTON RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. FAX: 802-775-7070. E-mail: info@killingtonchamber.com. Website: http://www.killingtonchamber.com. Address: Rte. 4, P.O. Box 115, Killington, VT, 05751. Site Address: Rte. 4, Killington, VT, 05751. Dates: 8/16/02 - 8/18/02. Open/Close: 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

Washington

CAMLANN MEDIEVAL FAIRE. Website: http://www.camlann.com. Address: 10320 Kelly Rd. NE, Carnation, WA 98014. Dates: 7/13/02 - 8/25/02. Open/Close: 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM.

WASHINGTON RENAISSANCE FANTASY FAIRE. E-mail: bryonm@earthlink.net. Website: http://www.washingtonrenfaire.com. Address: 12016 134th Ave. KPN, Gig Harbor, WA, 98329. Site Address: Minter Creek Ranch, 10215 State Road 302 NW, Gig Harbor, WA, 98329. Dates: 8/03/02 - 8/11/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Wisconsin

BRISTOL RENAISSANCE FAIRE. FAX: 847-395-0547. E-mail: lmcfeters@recfair.com. Website: http://www.renfair.com. Address: 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha, WI, 53142-7337. Dates: 6/29/02 - 8/25/02. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

Canada

ONTARIO RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. FAX: 905-878-6043. E-mail: orf@globalserve.net. Website: http://www.rennfest.com/orf/index.html. Address: P.O. Box 486, Milton, ON L9T-4Z1. Site Address: 6252 8th Line, Hornby, ON LOP 1EO. Dates: 7/20/02 - 9/02/02. Open/Close: 10:30 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.

California

COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL. Website: http://www.comic-con.org/. E-mail: CCIWEB@NUCGEN.COM. Address: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California. Dates: 8/1/02 - 8/4/02.

CONCHORD 16. Website: http://www.nyx.net/~bgold/conchord/. E-mail: conchord@sundry.hsc.usc.edu. Address: Van Nuys Airtel Plaza, Van Nuys, California. Dates: 8/2/02 - 8/4/02.

CONJOSÉ. Website: http://www.sfsfc.org/. E-mail: chairman@conjose.worldcon.org. Address: McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, California. Dates: 8/29/02 - 9/ 2/02.

CONQUEST 2002. Website: http://www.con-quest.com/. E-mail: info@con-quest.com. Address: Hyatt Rickeys, Palo Alto, California. Dates: 8/30/02 - 9/ 2/02.

FANGORIA'S WEEKEND OF HORRORS. Website: http://www.creationent.com/. E-mail: tickets@creationent.com. Address: Pasadena Center, Pasadena, California. Dates: 8/17/02 - 8/18/02.

GATEWAY. Website: http://www.strategicon.net/. E-mail: strategiconinbox@aol.com. Address: Los Angeles Airport Westin Hotel, Los Angeles, California. Dates: 8/30/02 - 9/ 2/02.

LOS ANGELES COMIC & SF CON. Website: http://www.comicbookscifi.com/. E-mail: lacbsfcon@aol.com. Address: Shrine Auditorium Expo Center, Los Angeles, California. Dates: 8/20/02.

Colorado

XIII-KHAN. Website: http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/xkhan/. E-mail: penny.tegen@itt.com. Address: Ramada Inn, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Dates: 8/2/02 - 8/4/02.

Florida

ANIME FESTIVAL ORLANDO. Website: http://www.anime.jyu.fi/~fleggett/. E-mail: fleggett@gate.net. Address: Hilton Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Florida. Dates: 8/16/02 - 8/18/02.

FLORIDA CONQUEST 11. Website: http://www.floridaconquest.com. E-mail: floridaconquest@aol.com. Address: Ramada Amtel Harborside, 2500 Edwards Drive Fort Myers, Florida, 33901. Dates: 8/16/02 - 8/18/02.

Georgia

**DRAGONCON.**Website: http://www.dragoncon.org/. E-mail: DragonCon@aol.com. Address: Atlanta Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, Georgia. Dates: 8/30/02 - 9/ 2/02.

WARFAIR. Website: http://www.warfair.com. E-mail: warfair@mindspring.com. Address: The Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, 1902 Sullivan Rd., Atlanta, Georgia. Dates: 8/16/02 - 8/18/02.

Iowa

ANIMEIOWA 2002. Website: http://www.animeiowa.com/. E-mail: info@animeiowa.com. Address: Collins Plaza, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Dates: 8/23/02 - 8/25/02.

Kansas

RA-CON. Website: http://www.ra-con.com/RaConHome.html. E-mail: Clinton@ra-con.com. Address: Wichita, Kansas. Dates: 8/02.

Kentucky

CONGLOMERATION. Website: http://www.members.iglou.com/shadowr. E-mail: shadowr@iglou.com. Address: Holiday Inn Lakeview, Louisville, Kentucky. Dates: 8/16/02 - 8/18/02.

Louisiana

CRESCENT CITY CON XVII. Website: http://www.fatsnake.com/ccc/index.html. E-mail: CCCNO@aol.com. Address: Landmark Best Western Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana. Dates: 8/9/02 - 8/11/02. Note: Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon plan to attend!

Maryland

FANEX 16. Website: http://www.midmar.com/filmfest.html. E-mail: MMarquee@aol.com. Address: Days Hotel Timonium, Baltimore, Maryland. Dates: 8/16/02 - 8/18/02.

HORRORFIND WEEKEND. Website: http://www.horrorfindweekend.com. E-mail: horrormaster@horrorfind.com. Address: BWI Airport Marriott, Baltimore, Maryland. Dates: 8/23/02 - 8/25/02.

VIA 1936: HORROR. Website: http://www.vialarp.org/. E-mail: vialarp@yahoo.com. Address: Greater Baltimore-Washington Area, Maryland. Dates: 8/2/02 - 8/4/02.

Minnesota

DIVERSICON. Website: http://www.sfminnesota.com/. E-mail: diversicon@SFMinnesota.com. Address: Holiday Inn Express - Bandana Square, St. Paul, Minnesota. Dates: 8/2/02 - 8/4/02.

Missouri

CONTEMPLATION. Website: http://www.contemplation-inc.org/. Address: Best Western Columbia Inn, Columbia, Missouri. Dates: 8/16/02 - 8/18/02.

Nevada

STAR TREK. Website: http://www.creationent.com/. E-mail: tickets@creationent.com. Address: The Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada. Dates: 8/2/02 - 8/4/02.

New Hampshire

SYRAANDOR: NERO ALLIANCE NEW HAMPSHIRE. Website: http://www.syraandor.com/. E-mail: Jester@Syraandor.com. Address: Claremont, New Hampshire. Dates: 8/9/02 - 8/11/02, 8/30/02 - 9/ 2/02.

New Jersey

CREATION SALUTES XENA AND STRONG WOMEN OF TV AND FILM. Website: http://www.creationent.com/. E-mail: tickets@creationent.com. Address: Cherry Hill Hilton, Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Dates: 8/24/02 - 8/25/02.

LAIRE - LIVE ACTION ROLEPLAYING EXPERIENCE. Website: http://www.laire.com. E-mail: r.farmer@att.net. Address: Camp Sacajawea Girl Scout Camp, Sparta, New Jersey. Dates: 8/9/02, 8/30/02.

NERO NJ. Website: http://www.neronj.com. E-mail: neronj@neronj.com. Address: Camp Sacawjewia, Farmingdale, New Jersey. Dates: 8/9/02 - 8/11/02, 8/30/02 - 9/ 2/02.

New Mexico

**BUBONICON (NEW MEXICO SF CONFRENCE).**Website: http://bubonicon.home.att.net/. E-mail: cwcraig@nmia.com. Address: Howard Johnson's East, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dates: 8/23/02 - 8/25/02.

Ohio

**CLEVELAND COLOSSAL CONVENTION.**Website: http://colossalcon.com. E-mail: wekovach@prodigy.net. Address: Holiday Inn 15471 Royalton Rd., Strongsville, Ohio. Dates: 8/4/02.

Pennsylvania

QEP'A' HUTDICH. Website: http://kli.org/stuff/qepa.html. E-mail: lawrence@kli.org. Address: Radisson Valley Forge Hotel, King Of Prussia, PA. Dates: 7/31/02 - 8/4/02.

XANODRIA MEDIEVAL FANTASY. Website: http://www.xanodria.com/. E-mail: info@xanodria.com. Address: Blue Mountain Campground, Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Dates: 8/31/02 - 9/ 2/02.

Tennesee

MIDDLE TENNESSEE ANIME CONVENTION (MTAC). Website: http://mtac.animenashville.org. E-mail: conchair@animenashville.org. Address: Clarion Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee. Dates: 8/9/02 - 8/11/02.

Texas

ANIMEFEST! 2002. Website: http://www.animefest.org/. E-mail: info@animefest.com. Address: Hotel Inter-Continental Dallas, Dallas, Texas. Dates: 8/30/02 - 9/ 2/02.

ARMADILLOCON 24. Website: http://www.fact.org/dillo/. E-mail: shiva@io.com. Address: Omni Southpark, Austin, Texas. Dates: 8/16/02 - 8/18/02.

Virginia

STAR TREK. Website: http://www.sfedora.com/. E-mail: sfedora1@aol.com. Address: The Doubletree Hotel-Crystal City, Arlington, VA. Dates: 8/16/02 - 8/18/02.

TCEP 9: TAD AND CRAIG'S LITTLE CON OF HORRORS. Website: http://barkingmad.org/. E-mail: info@barkingmad.org. Address: Dulles Days Hotel, Herndon, Virginia. Dates: 8/30/02 - 9/ 2/02.

VIA STARDUST: THE 2ND BE-IN. Website: http://www.vialarp.org/. E-mail: stephanie@vialarp.org. Address: Kempton, Virginia. Dates: 8/16/02 - 8/18/02.

Washington

DRAGONFLIGHT. Website: http://www.dragonflight.org/. E-mail: convention@dragonflight.org. Address: Seattle University, Seattle, Washington. Dates: 8/23/02 - 8/25/02.

Wisconsin

GENCON 2002. Website: http://www.GenConGameFair.com/. E-mail: GenConEvents@wizards.com. Address: Midwest Express Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dates: 8/8/02 - 8/11/02.

Australia

HOLODICTION - MELBOURNE. Website: http://www.startrek.com.au/. E-mail: holodiction@startrek.com.au. Address: Carlton Crest Hotel, Melbourne, Australia. Dates: 8/02.

HOLODICTION - SYDNEY. Website: http://www.startrek.com.au/. E-mail: holodiction@startrek.com.au. Address: Wentworth Hotel, Sydney, Australia. Dates: 8/02.

Belgium

29TH FRENCH NATIONAL SF CONVENTION. Website: http://www.multimania.com/bpara/conv2001/accueil.htm. E-mail: AlainHuet@aol.com. Address: Li'ge, Belgium. Dates: 8/29/02 - 9/ 1/02.

Canada

CANADIAN NATIONAL ANIME/COMIC BOOK/SCIENCE FICTION EXPO. Website: http://www.hobbystar.com/torontoconventions.html. E-mail: info@hobbystar.com. Address: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dates: 8/23/02 - 8/25/02.

CAN-VENTION XXII. Website: http://www.con-version.org. E-mail: president@con-version.org. Address: The Metropolitan Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dates: 8/9/02 - 8/11/02.

CONVERSION XIX. Website: http://www.con-version.org. E-mail: president@con-version.org. Address: The Metropolitan Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dates: 8/9/02 - 8/11/02.

GAMES WORKSHOP GAMES DAY CANADA GOLDEN DEMON. Website: http://www.games-workshop.com/news/us/events/events.htm. E-mail: Custserv@Games-Workshop.com. Address: The International Centre Hall, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Dates: 8/17/02.

Japan

HIROSHIMA 2002. Website: http://www.urban.ne.jp/home/hiroanim. E-mail: hiroanim@urban.ne.jp. Address: Aster Plaza, Hiroshima, Japan. Dates: 8/22/02 - 8/26/02.

Norway

SHADOWCON 7. Website: http://www.shadowproject.org/. E-mail: shadowcon5@hotmail.com. Address: Sophus Bugges/Sophus Lies Hus Blindern, Blindern, Oslo, Norway. Dates: 8/1/02 - 8/4/02.

Slovakia

TATRACON. Website: http://www.tatracon.host.sk. E-mail: tvreduta@mestosnv.sk. Address: Tatra Mountains, Slovakia. Dates: 8/5/02 - 8/11/02.

South Africa

DRAGONFIRE 14. Website: http://play.at/dragonfire. E-mail: clawthing@yahoo.co.uk. Address: University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Dates: 8/8/02 - 8/11/02.

United Kingdom

BRITCON 2002. Website: http://www.BHGS.CO.UK. E-mail: BHGS@netcomuk.co.uk. Address: Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK. Dates: 8/15/02 - 8/18/02.

DISCWORLD CONVENTION 2002. Website: http://www.dwcon.org/. E-mail: info@dwcon.org. Address: The Hanover International Hotel, Hinckley, Leicestershire, England. Dates: 8/16/02 - 8/19/02.

FESTIVAL OF FANTASTIC FILMS. Website: http://www.fantastic-films.com/. E-mail: harrynadler@lineone.net. Address: Renaissance Hotel, Deansgate, Manchester, England. Dates: 8/30/02 - 9/1/02.

HARMUNI. Website: http://www.chocky.demon.co.uk/harmuni2/index.html. E-mail: harmuni@oreos.org. Address: University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham Spa, UK. Dates: 8/9/02 - 8/11/02.

THE STRANGE GAMES SHOW. Website: http://members.aol.com/dudleybug/. E-mail: dudleybug@aol.com. Address: Hilton Metropole, Birmingham, UK. Dates: 8/23/02 - 8/26/02.

UNICON 2002: CONTEXXT. Website: http://www.unicon.org.uk/. E-mail: eboracon@psych.york.ac.uk. Address: University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham Spa, UK. Dates: 8/9/02 - 8/11/02.

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

Desari's Friend by Natasha Williams

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:

Desari's Court Dress by Natasha Williams

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.

We do not have any new personae to announce this month, but several people are very, very close to approval.

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.

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:

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:

Heyla, folks!

It's turning out to be a very busy summer, what with my mother moving, my eldest son getting ready to start kindergarten, and my youngest son starting to walk. (My 21-month-old daughter spends most of her time swinging from the rafters and doing her best to raise my blood pressure <g>.) My husband has to go on a business trip this month, which will be interesting since I've never had all three kids on my own for an entire week before … If my response time to mail slows down, please be patient with me. I have my hands a bit full <G>.

My mother's move means that I'm acquiring a ton of furniture that I don't exactly have room for. So my husband and I will be spending this weekend shifting our library to our living room, creating a bedroom from our daughter where our library used to be (She climbs out of her crib now, so she needs a real bed.), figuring out how to get yet another dresser in the boys' room, and putting everything else in the garage in some fashion that we can still access our art supplies, games, storage, beach equipment, decorations and all the other stuff we seem to get into all the time. (We gave up on trying to get either of our cars in the garage about five months ago. The van is too long, and we needed the extra square footage for bicycles, toys, balls, and so forth.)

I finally got my garden in some sort of decent shape. I have an English-style garden with lots of herbs, vegetables, holly, juniper, lilac, and other fun stuff (including a fairy and a bronze dragon!). The humming birds are out in full force this year, and they are turning up in an amazing array of colors. My butterfly bush, "Dark Knight", is in full bloom, as are my various flower boxes. I have miniature fruit trees in grey, Greek-style pots that flank arches that are loaded with Morning Glories and red flame grapes. Our grey flagstone patio boasts a plastic castle/clubhouse/slide that gets moved onto our grassy path when the kids need to get outside for a bit. I hope to get a little fountain and a gas barbecue eventually (I'm still dealing with a charcoal barbecue, but I'm finding that I don't much like the amount of time it takes to clean.). Tomatoes are everywhere! A raccoon keeps stealing my raspberries and blackberries (He doesn't seem to like the strawberries; go figure.). My yarrow bloomed for the first time this year, and my lavender is taller than my eldest son <g>. After two years of neglect, it's rather nice to see everything coming back to life.

In my nonexistent free time I've been reading several works on ancient Rome. I'm trying to decide whether my next book is going to be a nonfiction work about the Roman soldier who I think was the real King Arthur or whether I'm going to take a break from nonfiction and do an historical novel set in the Antonine period. It's probably going to be another couple years before I can get back to writing regularly, but I always like to have several projects in progress, just in case I happen to get the time to work on any of them.

Hope you all have a fantastic summer! Write and tell me what you are up to. I love hearing from you (even if it sometimes takes me a while to respond).

Zhai'helleva,

Danya

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 Natasha Williams. 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