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

Queen’s Own newsletter — April 2003

Queen's Own

The Official Mercedes Lackey Fan Club

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

Series 3, Vol. 4, No. 4 April 1, 2003

Gypsy Magik by Herald Alora

Heyla, Misty fans!

Can you believe it's spring already? This year is really flying by! Remember to set your clocks ahead this weekend.

Publications: By way of upcoming book news, the paperback edition of Misty's Spirits White as Lightning is scheduled for release in May. Stoned Souls, written by Misty and by Josepha Sherman, looks as if it will have a summer release. The Shadow of the Lion is due to appear in paperback this August, and the new Mad Maudlin should be released from Baen around the same time. Danya hopes to have these titles listed in the Mercedes Lackey section of the Dragonlords' Bookstore soon (http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkfanml.htm)! Remember, a portion of all sales through this site goes to support Queen's Own, which is how we keep our memberships free.

Button Contest: The results of the first annual button contest are in, and the winner is Laura Cameron. Her stunning artwork is now available on buttons or magnets available to Queen's Own members. They cost only $1.00 plus s/h of $1.50 for up to 9 buttons. Visit Happy Cat Buttons (http://trak.to/HCB or http://www.marymuse.com/happycat/) to see the artwork and purchase buttons or magnets. Our shopping cart is easy to use and powered by paypal. For more information email adeptstarfeather@marymuse.com. (We've decided to make this design contest an annual event. Collect your first edition now <g>! The buttons and magnets are absolutely gorgeous!)

Certificates: Judith Louvis, the former president of Queen's Own, wrote to say that the original plan to print certificates of membership eventually fell through. She can't remember who was in charge of it. Since we're online now, though, we've been thinking about designing and offering a 'membership seal' instead of a certificate. Approved members of Queen's Own would be authorized to display this seal on their websites and home computers. Does this sound like something people would like us to do? If so, please contact Danya at shashtah@gmail.com and let her know that you like this idea. If we get a large enough response, we'll announce the contest to design the seal in the next newsletter.

QO Events: Anyone up for a visit to the Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire? Contact Danya at shashtah@gmail.com if you are interested. She'll try to get discount tickets if we get enough people.

Several chapters have written to say that they are planning trips to Cons and Ren. Faires. Joining a local chapter is a great way to meet fellow members of QO in person. You can find our chapters listed at Chapter directory (See their ads below for more details.).

Communication Woes: Every hotmail address on our listservs has been bouncing. If you have a hotmail account, the odds are that you have been moved to 'no mail' status if you are on one of our lists. You will have to go into your preference page and reset your status to digest or regular mail service once your accounts start working again. (The same applies for non-hotmail account users who suddenly stop receiving mail from us, but the biggest problem is currently with hotmail.) Please keep your e-mail addresses current, and check your mail regularly. If our mail to you bounces, we have no way to inform you that there is a problem. You will simply stop receiving mail from us until you contact us again.

RP: The next QO RPG will be held on Monday, April 21st at 7 PM Pacific Time. Contact Danya at shashtah@gmail.com if you need more information.

In memoriam: We received this sad news through the Mercedes Lackey (UK) mailing list from Robert Martin, QA Analyst, Gateway Ticketing Systems, Inc.: 'This is at the request of the decedent's son, Shannon [Stefan] Barton: Jackie Madden, aka 'Lady Blue', was killed on 3/20/03 in Bend, OR, when her car was hit head-on by a semi. She was 46. She was active in NW fandom and with Norwescon, and also in the filk community. A memorial filk and party is to be held on 13 April at her son's home in Northridge, CA; e-mail him at stefanbarton@hotmail.com for details. (And yes, this is the day after the LAFA filksing in Torrance, CA.)'

Thanks: Special thanks goes out to Herald Valana Dorrandale for compiling lists of 'zines, newsletters and chapters from our old newsletters! Danya hopes to add the ones that are up for adoption to the QO website in the near future. We've had several longtime zines go under in the past few years due to lack of subscribers and contributors. You are what makes this aspect of fandom possible. Please support our publications by sending them your stories, poems, art, and other items of interest. See their ads below for subscription and submission details.

Zhai'helleva and Happy Easter/Passover/Spring,

Herald-Mage Adept Danya Winterborn and Healer Adept Moonstar

Noble Battles by Herald Alora

Ren Faires:

Here are the Faires we know about for 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: Butte Community College. 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: 4/12/03 - 5/26/03. 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/erenpg1.html. Address: 2509 Thousand Oaks Blvd., #351, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91362. Site Address: Felicita County Park, 742 Clarence Lane, Escondido, CA, 92025. Dates: 4/05/03 - 4/06/03. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

OJAI RENAISSANCE FAIRE & SHAKESPEARE AT THE LAKE. Fax: 805-496-6036. E-mail: goldcoastprod@msn.com. Website: http://www.goldcoastfestivals.com/renpg1.html. 2509 Thousand Oaks Blvd., #351, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91362. Dates: 5/10/03 - 5/11/03. 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: 5/3/03 - 5/4/03. 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. Site Address: Plaza Park in Visalia. Dates: 4/26/03 - 4/27/03. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Georgia

GEORGIA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Fax: 770-964-1477. Website: http://www.georgiarenaissancefestival.com. Address: P.O. Box 986, Fairburn, GA, 30213-0986. Dates: 4/26/03 - 6/08/03. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM.

Oklahoma

NORMAN MEDIEVAL FAIR. Fax: 405-325-7698. E-mail: llinn@cce.occe.ou.edu. Website: http://www.occe.ou.edu/medievalfair. Address: 1700 Asp, Norman, OK, 73072-6407. Dates: 4/04/03 - 4/06/03. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

Texas

FOUR WINDS RENAISSANCE FAIRE. Fax: 903-561-4590. E-mail: fourwinds@etgs.com. Website: http://www.fourwindsfaire.com/. Address: P.O. Box 1467, Whitehouse, TX, 75791-1467. Site Address: 21778 County Rd. 2138, Troup, TX 75789-5709. Dates: 3/15/03 - 4/20/03. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

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: 4/12/03 - 6/01/03. 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.

Alabama

Con'Stellation XXII: Pegasus. E-mail: constell@con-stellation.org. Address: Con*Stellation XXII: Pegasus, P.O.Box 4857, Huntsville Alabama, 35815-4857. Site Address: Holiday Inn Express, Huntsville, Alabama. Dates: 10/10/03-10/12/03. Note: * Guest of Honor: Mercedes Lackey, * Master of Ceremonies: Larry Dixon!

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: 4/26/03 - 4/27/03.

California

GAMES UNIVERSITY. Website: http://gamesucon.com/. E-mail: carlsonnc@attbi.com. Address: Radisson Hotel, Fullerton, California. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

GMT WEST. Website: http://www.gmtgames.com/. E-mail: alewis@gmtgames.com. Address: Hanford Mall, Hanford, California. Dates: 4/03.

WONDERCON. Website: http://www.wondercon.com/. E-mail: cciweb@nucgen.com. Address: Moscone Center, San Francisco, California. Dates: 4/25/03 - 4/27/03.

Colorado

OPUS: A FANTASY ARTS FESTIVAL. Website: http://www.faefests.com. E-mail: OpusFAE@attbi.com. Address: Holiday Inn Dia And John Q. Hammons Convention Center, Denver, Colorado. Dates: 4/18/03 - 4/20/03.

STARFEST 2003. Website: http://www.starland.com. E-mail: starland@starland.com. Address: Marriott Denver Tech Center, Denver, Colorado. Dates: 4/25/03 - 4/27/03.

Delaware

RELAXICON '03. E-mail: laranteer@aol.com. Address: Howard Johnson Inn and Suites and Conference Center, Newark, Delaware. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

Florida

CREATION CRUISE SALUTING THE XENA STARS. Website: http://www.creationent.com/. E-mail: tickets@creationent.com. Address: 7 Day Eastern Caribbean Cruise On Norwegian Cruise Line, Ship: Norwegian Dawn, Miami, Florida. Dates: 4/5/03 - 4/12/03.

RECON 2003. Website: http://www.hmgssouth.org/recon.htm. E-mail: rhettscott@aol.com. Address: Travel Lodge, Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida. Dates: 4/25/03 - 4/27/03.

Georgia

ATLANTA COMICON. Website: http://www.atlantacomicon.com. E-mail: atlantacomicon@atlantacomicon.com. Address: Gwinnett Civic Center, Gwinnett, Georgia. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

FANTASM. Website: http://www.fantasm.org. E-mail: info@fantassm.org. Address: Marriott Century Center, Atlanta, Georgia. Dates: 4/18/03 - 4/20/03.

Illinois

CODCON VIII. Website: http://www.geocities.com/scificod. E-mail: allenj@cdnet.cod.edu. Address: College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

LITTLE WARS 2003. Website: http://www.geocities.com/hmgsmidwest/. E-mail: sejanus778@aol.com. Address: Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, Lincolnshire, Illinois. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

OPCON XIV. Website: http://oprfhs.org/activ/scifi/opcon.html. E-mail: OpConXIII@yahoo.com. Address: Oak Park and River Forest High School, Oak Park, Illinois. Dates: 4/26/03.

WINDY CITY PULP & PAPERBACK. Website: http://members.aol.com/WCPPS/. E-mail: wcpps@aol.com. Address: The Radisson Lincolnwood, Lincolnwood, Illinois. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

Kansas

STAR TREK. Website: http://www.sfedora.com/. E-mail: sfedora1@aol.com. Address: The Doubletree Hotel-Kansas City, Overland Park, Kansas City, Kansas. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

Kentucky

SOUTHERN KENTUCKY FESTIVAL OF BOOKS. Website: http://www.sokybookfest.org/. E-mail: earlene.chelf@wku.edu. Address: Warren County Convention Center, Bowling Green, Kentucky. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/12/03.

Maryland

SON OF FANEX. Website: http://www.midmar.com/filmfest.html. E-mail: MMarquee@aol.com. Address: Days Hotel Timonium, Timonium, Maryland. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

Massachusetts

ANIME BOSTON 2003. Website: http://www.animeboston.com/. E-mail: info@animeboston.com. Address: Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts. Dates: 4/18/03 - 4/20/03.

**BOSTON COMIC BOOK SPECTACULAR.**Website: http://monkeyhouse-entertainment.com. E-mail: primatepro@aol.com. Address: Boston Radisson Hotel, Amesbury, Massachusetts. Dates: 4/13/03.

HAVOC XIX. Website: http://havoc.battlegroupboston.org/. E-mail: pkrenglish@erols.com. Address: Holiday Inn, Boxboro, Massachusetts. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

OURCON XII. Website: http://www.umass.edu/rso/gameclub/ourcon/. E-mail: 2003@OURCON.org. Address: UMass Amherst Campus Center, Amherst, Massachusetts. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

Michigan

OLD OERIDIANS SPRING FESTIVAL 2003. Website: http://www.old-oeridians.com/. E-mail: rogerbert@furyondy.com. Address: Pandemonium Game Center, Detroit, Michigan. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

STARCON 2003. Website: http://www.oakland.edu/org/theguild/. E-mail: silverchild@comcast.net. Address: Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan. Dates: 4/5/03.

Minnesota

MICROCON 2003. Website: http://www.mncba.com/. E-mail: MNCBA@AOL.COM. Address: Maplewood Community Center, Maplewood, Minnesota. Dates: 4/27/03.

MINICON 38. Website: http://www.mnstf.org/minicon/. E-mail: request@minicon.mnstf.org. Address: Millennium Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dates: 4/18/03 - 4/20/03.

Missouri

PLAGUECON. Website: http://www.rpgkc.org. E-mail: rpgkc@aol.com. Address: Blue Ridge Mall, Kansas City, Missouri. Dates: 4/25/03 - 4/27/03.

WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 13. Website: http://www.whc2003.org. E-mail: darkstr@mindspring.com. Address: Airport Hilton, Kansas City, Missouri. Dates: 4/17/03 - 4/20/03.

Nebraska

WILLYCON V. Website: http://wildcat.wsc.edu/clubs/sfclub/willycon/. E-mail: Scfanta1@wsc.edu. Address: Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

New Hampshire

ECONOCON VII. Website: http://oz.plymouth.edu/~gaming/conVI.html. E-mail: gaming@mail.plymouth.edu. Address: Hartman Union Building, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, New Hampshire. Dates: 4/26/03.

New Jersey

CHILLER THEATRE. Website: http://www.chillertheatre.com/. E-mail: webmaster@chillertheatre.com. Address: Meadowlands Sheraton, East Rutherford, New Jersey. Dates: 4/25/03 - 4/27/03.

JERSEYDEVILCON 3. Website: http://www.JerseyDevilCon.com. E-mail: jerseydevilcon@aol.com. Address: Sheraton Inn, Raritan Center, Edison, New Jersey. Dates: 4/25/03 - 4/27/03.

LAIRE - LIVE ACTION ROLEPLAYING EXPERIENCE. Website: http://www.laire.com. E-mail: rhondaatlaire@yahoo.com. Address: Camp Sacajawea Girl Scout Camp, Sparta, New Jersey. Dates: 4/4/03.

SVAHA: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. Website: http://www.wildgazebo.com/. E-mail: GM@wildgazebo.com. Address: Sheraton Edison in Raritan Center, Edison, New Jersey. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

New York

EERIECON V. Website: http://www.eeriecon.org/. E-mail: eeriecon@juno.com. Address: Days Inn at the Falls, Niagara Falls, New York. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

GMT EAST. Website: http://www.gmtgames.com/. E-mail: alewis@gmtgames.com. Address: Crowne Plaza Hotel, White Plains, New York. Dates: 4/03.

POINTCON XXVI. Website: http://www.usma.edu/uscc/dca/clubs/clubshome.html. E-mail: Brownt@trenwick.com. Address: Ike Hall Ballroom, West Point, New York. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/12/03.

North Carolina

IMPERIAL QUARTERMASTER. Website: http://www.imperialquartermaster.com/. E-mail: ts3306@imperialquartermaster.com. Address: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina. Dates: 4/19/03 - 4/20/03.

Ohio

CENTURY-CON 2003. Website: http://members.toast.net/toledoplasticmodelers/TPMCenturyConPage.html. E-mail: PZKW-6@worldnet.att.net. Address: Owens College, Perrysburg, Ohio. Dates: 4/12/03.

SPACE: SMALL PRESS & ALTERNATIVE COMICS EXPO. Website: http://www.backporchcomics.com/space.htm. E-mail: BackPorchC@aol.com. Address: Rhodes Center at The Ohio Expo Center, Columbus, Ohio. Dates: 4/5/03.

VULKON CLEVELAND. Website: http://www.vulkon.com/. E-mail: joemotes@aol.com. Address: Holiday Inn Independence, Cleveland, Ohio. Dates: 4/25/03 - 4/27/03.

Oklahoma

MINI-CON II. Website: http://www.Mini-Con.com. E-mail: SandSpringsAnime@aol.com. Address: Econolodge Airport, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dates: 4/5/03.

Oregon

PIGGYBACK TOURNAMENT 2003. Website: http://www.piggybackdip.org/pdx/home.html. E-mail: jtfest@piggybackdip.org. Address: Red Lion Hotel - Coliseum, Portland, Oregon. Dates: 4/03.

STAR TREK. Website: http://www.creationent.com/. E-mail: tickets@creationent.com. Address: Holiday Inn Airport Hotel, Portland, Oregon. Dates: 4/5/03 - 4/6/03.

Pennsylvania

MEPACON. Website: http://www.mepacon.com. E-mail: mc@mepacon.com. Address: Best Western Easton Inn, Easton, Pennsylvania. Dates: 4/25/03 - 4/27/03.

PITTSBURGH COMICON. Website: http://www.pittsburghcomicon.com/. E-mail: pcomicon@nb.net. Address: Pittsburgh ExpoMart, Pittsburgh (Monroeville), Pennsylvania. Dates: 4/25/03 - 4/27/03.

South Carolina

BATTLE OF COWPENS. Website: http://www.trianglesimsociety.org/cowpens2003.txt. E-mail: cpagano@clemson.edu. Address: Hendrix Student Center, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

ROUNDCON. Website: http://www.roundcon.org. E-mail: Roundcon@aol.com. Address: Holiday Inn NE, Columbia, South Carolina. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

Texas

DALLAS COMIC CON. Website: http://www.scifiexpo.com/. E-mail: scifiexpo@aol.com. Address: Richardson Civic Center, Richardson, Texas. Dates: 4/5/03 - 4/6/03.

**OVERLOAD-A-CON.**Website: http://www.overload-a-con.com. E-mail: convention@overloadinteractive.com. Address: Crowne Plaza Austin Hotel, Austin, Texas. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

Virginia

CAPITAL ASSOCIATES. Website: http://www.capicons.com/. E-mail: comicshow@aol.com. Address: Tysons Westpark Hotel, McLean, Virginia. Dates: 4/6/03.

NOVAG GAMECON 18 "BLOSSOM CON". Website: http://www.novag.org. E-mail: gamecon-signup@novag.org. Address: Westpark Hotel, McLean, Virginia. Dates: 4/5/03.

Washington

GAMES WORKSHOP SEATTLE GRAND TOURNAMENT. Website: http://www.games-workshop.com/news/us/events/events.htm. E-mail: Custserv@Games-Workshop.com. Address: Double Tree Hotel Seattle Airport, Seattle, Washington. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

NORWESCON 26. Website: http://www.norwescon.org/. E-mail: Info@norwescon.org. Address: Seatac DoubleTree, Seattle, Washington. Dates: 4/17/03 - 4/20/03.

SAKURA CON. Website: http://www.sakuracon.org/. E-mail: Lorna@shadowydreamer.com. Address: Seattle Airport Hilton & Conference Center, Seattle, Washington. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

Wisconsin

CHAOTICON XII. Website: http://www.geocities.com/uwgbgamersclub. E-mail: czahve24@uwgb.edu. Address: University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin. Dates: 4/12/03 - 4/13/03.

**CONCINNITY 2003.**Website: http://www.msoe.edu/st_orgs/gaming/concinnity/index.phtml. E-mail: MAGE_Concinnity@yahoo.com. Address: Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dates: 4/12/03 - 4/13/03.

CORFLU BADGER. Website: http://www.mailbag.com/users/billzilla/corflu.html. E-mail: corflu20@tds.net. Address: Best Western InnTowner, Madison, Wisconsin. Dates: 4/25/03 - 4/27/03.

KUBLACON 2003. Website: http://www.beloit.edu/~bsffa/kcon.php. E-mail: lopinaj@stu.beloit.edu. Address: Beloit College campus, Beloit, Wisconsin. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

**NO BRAND CON 2003.**Website: http://www.nobrandcon.com. E-mail: clarktr@uwec.edu. Address: University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

ODYSSEY CON III. Website: http://www.oddcon.org. E-mail: oddcon@oddcon.org. Address: Radisson Hotel, 517 Grand Canyon Drive, Madison, Wisconsin. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

Australia

ANZACON 2003. Website: http://users.bigpond.net.au/asl-victoria/Anzacon.htm. E-mail: andrewsn@ocean.com.au. Address: The Copeland Committee Room, Ashburton Public Library, 154 High Street, Ashburton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Dates: 4/26/03 - 4/27/03.

LEVIATHAN 2003 PART 1. Website: http://www.westernsuburbsgamesociety.com/. E-mail: TGock@bcs.org.au. Address: Quakers Hill High School, Quakers Hill, NSW, Australia. Dates: 4/26/03 - 4/27/03.

**SWANCON 2003.**Website: http://www.swancon.com/. E-mail: 2002@sf.org.au. Address: The Kings Perth Hotel, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Dates: 4/17/03 - 4/21/03.

VICTORIAN DIPLOMACY CHAMPIONSHIPS. Website: http://daanz.org.au/dip-tournaments.htm. E-mail: d.currell@ugrad.unimelb.edu.au. Address: Cramer's Hotel, Preston, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Dates: 4/18/03 - 4/20/03.

WHOVENTION. Website: http://www.dwca.org.au/whovention/. E-mail: enquiries@dwca.org.au. Address: Rydges North Sydney, North Sydney, Australia. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

Canada

FANTASTIC PULPS SHOW & SALE. Website: http://www.girasolcollectables.com. E-mail: info@girasolcollectables.com. Address: 239 College Street, Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario. Dates: 4/26/03.

Denmark

FASTAVAL. Website: http://www.fastaval.dk/. E-mail: generalerne@fastaval.dk. Address: Aarhus. Dates: 4/16/03 - 4/21/03.

Germany

ANIME MARATHON 2003. Website: http://www.anime-marathon.de. E-mail: info@anime-marathon.de. Address: Bildungszentrum Nord der Deutschen Telekom, Hamburg. Dates: 4/11/03 - 4/13/03.

Ireland

**BUFFYCON 2003.**Website: http://www.utevents.co.uk/. E-mail: info@utevents.co.uk. Address: Europa Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Dates: 4/27/03.

SILLICON 5. Website: http://sillicon.redbrick.dcu.ie/. E-mail: stocs@redbrick.dcu.ie. Address: DCU Student Centre, Dublin, Ireland. Dates: 4/4/03 - 4/6/03.

Israel

IGOR--ISRAELI GATHERING OF ROLEPLAYERS. Website: http://igor.corky.net/. E-mail: asaf@forum2.org. Address: Kfar-Batya campus, Tel Aviv, Israel. Dates: 4/13/03 - 4/15/03.

The Netherlands

ELF FANTASY FAIR. Website: http://www.elffantasy.nl. E-mail: info@elffantasy.nl. Address: Castle De Haar, Haarzuilens (near Utrecht). Dates: 4/26/03 - 4/27/03.

New Zealand

ARMAGEDDON PULP CULTURE EXPO. Website: http://www.pulpexpo.com/. E-mail: whoami@ihug.co.nz. Address: Aotea Centre, Auckland. Dates: 4/12/03 - 4/14/03.

EMOTICON 2003. Website: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~sfoz/cons.htm. E-mail: enquires@emoticon.sf.org.nz. Address: Auckland. Dates: 4/18/03 - 4/21/03.

Sweden

**GOTHCON XXVII.**Website: http://www.gothcon.se/. E-mail: ice@netg.se. Address: Hvitfeldska Gymnasiet, Gothenburg. Dates: 4/18/03 - 4/20/03.

United Kingdom

AN EVENING WITH CLARE KRAMER & JULIET LANDAU. Website: http://www.starfury.co.uk. E-mail: SeanHarry@aol.com. Address: Pages Bar, London, England, UK. Dates: 4/26/03.

AN EVENING WITH LISA RYDER. Website: http://www.wolfevents.co.uk/. E-mail: wolfevents@aol.com. Address: Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Heathrow Airport, London, England, UK. Dates: 4/12/03.

GEN CON EUROPE. Website: http://www.genconeurope.com. E-mail: lindsay@gencon.com. Address: Olympia 2 Convention Center, London, England, UK. Dates: 4/18/03 - 4/21/03.

SALUTE 2003. Website: http://www.salute.co.uk/. E-mail: Warlords@Salute.co.uk. Address: Olympia 2 Exhibition Hall, Kensington, London, UK. Dates: 4/26/03.

SEACON 03. Website: http://www.seacon03.org.uk/. E-mail: info@seacon03.org.uk. Address: Hanover International Hotel, Hinckley, UK. Dates: 4/18/03 - 4/21/03.

SFBALL - EVENING WITH SERIES. Website: http://www.sfball.com. E-mail: info@sfball.com. Address: Carrington House Hotel Knyveton Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, England. Dates: 4/25/03.

TRAVELLERCON. E-mail: cnw@globalnet.co.uk. Address: Salem Community Centre, Hebden Bridge, UK. Dates: 4/5/03 - 4/6/03.

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

Strife by Herald Alora

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 $0.37 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:

Water Gazer by Herald Alora

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.

No personas were approved this month (though several people are extremely close <g>). We hope to see a bunch of new members next month.

Formerly accepted members who have returned to Queen's Own this month 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!

I apologize for my continued delays in getting back to some of you who have written to me about various things. I still have a sinus infection that will not go away, and that's making it rather difficult for me to think. (The medicine isn't helping with that, either.) I had a CT scan last week to see if someone could figure out what's wrong, but I don't have the results yet. Please bear with me.

As we head into Spring Break, I thought some of you who have already read and reread everything Misty has published so far might like some other ideas for reading. Here are a few of the things I have my nose in currently:

My co-author Scott Littleton will be signing his scifi (UFO) novel Phase Two on Friday, April 4th, from 7-9 PM at Mystery and Imagination (also called Bookfellows), 238 N. Brand, Glendale. I'm planning to attend. If any of you can make it, let me know! I'd love to meet you in person. You can read more about Phase Two by following the link at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkscifi.htm.

Among the non-fantasy/science fiction selections on my nightstand is Seabiscuit: An American Legend. The book is a really good read so far, and the upcoming movie looks to be thoroughly enjoyable as well. (You can find links for this one at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkvideo.htm.)

Another one of my former professors, Elizabeth "Betchan" Wayland Barber, wrote a fabulous book a few years back that I'm just getting around to reading. How can anyone resist a book with a title like Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years: Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times? Betchan is a fabulous lecturer, and her verbal skill carries over to her writing in this superb work. (For more information, follow the links at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkmyth.htm.)

I finally got around to reading John Colarusso's Nart Sagas from the Caucasus: Myths and Legends from the Circassians, Abazas, Abkhaz, and Ubykhs (also at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkmyth.htm). For those of you who are unfamiliar with my nonfiction publications in this field, the Nart Sagas bear an uncanny resemblance to the legends of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table and the Holy Grail. If you enjoy these sorts of tales, you'll love this book.

For the English majors and other lovers of literature among you, there is The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde's entertaining yarn about people who can vacation in books and characters from books who can wander about in the real world is one of the best-written works I've read in a long time. (You might want to read Jane Eyre first, to help you keep track of the in-jokes.) His sequel, Lost in a Good Book, just hit the shelves this month (though I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy). Miss Havisham (of Great Expectations fame) is Thursday's mentor as the literary detective shifts careers to one in a world where the librarian is the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. The only drawback is that the novel leaves the reader hanging a bit at the end--and we have to wait until the next one comes out <g>. (See the links at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkscifi.htm for more details.)

Happy reading!

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 Herald Alora. 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