Queen’s Own newsletter — July 2005

Queen's Own

The Official Mercedes Lackey Fan Club

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

Series 3, Vol. 6, No. 7 July 1, 2005

Heyla, Misty fans!

Congratulations to all of you who graduated in June! Also, Happy Fourth of July to all of you fans in the U.S.! Hope all of you are having a great summer (or winter, for those of you south of the equator <g>).

The major news for the month is that Moonstar (Kendra Renaud) has tendered her resignation as co-President of Queen's Own. She will continue as a member, but there is simply too much going on in her life for her to keep up with the work of being co-President. Her letter of resignation appears in a special section below. Moonstar will continue on as the editor of Children of Velgarth, and she will still help field the Tayledras questions on the QO and QO Pending chat lists.

This is a reminder that Misty and Larry will be at Convergence in Minnesota July 1-3! (See the ad below for more details.) If you are a QO member and are able to attend, please report back to us about everything that happens (especially if you get to meet Misty and Larry!). We'd like to be there with you in spirit even though some of us cannot be there in person.

I have been able to get quite a few of the old QO newsletters online this month. Among these was the newsletter for March 1996, which can be viewed at Queen’s Own newsletter — March 1996. This newsletter is of note because both Danya and Moonstar were approved in this edition. (Can't believe I didn't have that one online yet!) I only have a dozen more to go, but things will slow down a bit now that I'm back to typing in the remaining letters. We are still missing copies of the first two QO newsletters, both only 1 page in length, from February and March of 1988, and parts of the January and February newsletters for 1990. If you have any of these, please scan them and send them to me or send a photocopy to the QO address. I'd love our collection of old newsletters to be complete.

One of the requirements on several of the QO handouts for extra points is to become a volunteer. As I was reading Family Circle this month I ran across the following list of several organizations that offer scholarships and other rewards to young volunteers:

• ANGELS IN ACTION: http://www.angelsinaction.com
• DO SOMETHING BRICK AWARDS: http://www.dosomething.org
• NATIONAL CARING AWARDS: http://www.caring-institute.org
• NESTLE VERY BEST IN YOUTH AWARDS: http://www.nestleusa.com/consumersite/promotions
• PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS: http://www.prudential.com/community/spirit/

Check out their sites, and let me know if you find any others like them. Also, if you have suggestions for places people may want to volunteer, write and tell me about them. (I love to spread the word about good causes.)

Publication News:

Bedlam's Edge, the next installment in the Bedlam's Bard series and coauthored with Rosemary Edghill, is still on track for an August release, as is the paperback release of Children of the Night.

The fourth and newest installment in Misty's Elemental Masters series, The Wizard of London, is coming in early October. You can see a complete list of Misty's Elemental Masters novels at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkmlem.htm. While you're there, you can pick up a paperback copy of the third Elemental Masters book, Phoenix and Ashes.

On November 1, look for the paperback version of Misty's Winter Moon: Moontide/The Heart of the Moon/Banshee Cries, coauthored with Tanith Lee and C.E. Murphy.

You won't have to wait too long for the next installment of the Bedlam's Bard series: Music to My Sorrow, by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill, hits shelves in hardcover on December 1.

If you've been itching for new stories in paperback about everyone's favorite fantasy realm, Valdemar, be sure to pick up Misty's Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar. You can pre-order this collection at the Valdemar bookstore page.

The New Year will be a busy one for you readers; Stoned Souls (with Josepha Sherman, edited by James P. Baen) will be released, as will two paperback Misty collaborations: The Wizard of Karres with Eric Flint and Dave Freer and Misty's latest editing stint, Mapping the World of Harry Potter.

Also, Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince is due out July 16th. If you pre-order by July 11th through the Dragonlords' Bookstore at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkjuvhp.htm, Amazon.com will guarantee delivery on the date of release.

You can now pre-order The Polar Express (The Movie) at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkholiday.htm. Please do! I've been waiting months for this. The song "Believe" should have an Academy Award, even though it wasn't nominated. Those of us with kids think the book is fabulous, and the movie was an excellent presentation of the spirit of the book. We couldn't imagine how anyone would make this into a movie, and they did it so well … Please encourage these folks to do more projects of this nature!

Remember, a portion of all purchases made through the Dragonlords' Bookstore, http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkstore.htm, go to support Queen's Own. This is how we keep our memberships free, so we greatly appreciate your patronage.

Trivia from a past newsletter:

Arrow's Message was the first approved QO zine. Stephanie Wong edited the first issue in April 1990. Organizational messages for the zine appeared in November/December 1989 and February 1990. You can view these and other past QO newsletters at Newsletter publication and submission guidance.

Darkover fans, take note:

I received the following from Peter Olotka, designer Cosmic Encounter Online: "I am one of the designers of the (long out of print) Darkover board game by Eon products (1979). We are running a'memorabilia eBay auction for Cosmic Encounter gamers off our site, and I unearthed a collection of Darkover board games from the archives. I thought there might be a few Darkover fans who might be interested." The URLs he provided are http://www.CosmicEncounter.com, http://cosmicencounter.blogspot.com/, and http://www.FuturePastimes.com/Peter_Olotka.

Congratulations to Herald Jhenna Leisater on the birth of her daughter, Jessica Louise! Herald Jhenna writes, "Jessica was 8 lbs. 4 oz.'and was 22 inches long.' She's even got a full head of red hair."

Special thanks to Amber Taufen for her help compiling this edition of the Queen's Own newsletter! I really appreciate the assistance.

There are all sorts of things that need doing with Queen's Own. If you have some extra time and would like to volunteer to help out, contact me at shashtah@gmail.com.

If you have news of interest to QO members, write to me (Danya) at shashtah@gmail.com. I love to hear what's going on and to announce the milestones in your lives in the QO newsletter. Attended a fandom or related event (a Faire, a Con, somewhere like Medieval Times, visited a special museum or archaeological site, an awards ceremony, took a tour of a press … )? Read a good book? Seen a good movie? Write a review! If you have pictures, send those as well! (We are in desperate need of art for the online version of the newsletter. Artists, please send me whatever you have at shashtah@gmail.com! Thanks!)

For our special section this month, here's my review of Jasper Fforde's The Big Over Easy.

Have a fabulous summer!

Zhai'helleva,

Herald-Mage Adept Danya Winterborn

Review of The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde. New York: Viking, 2005, 383 pages. Jasper Fforde, the amazingly creative author of the Thursday Next series, inaugurates a new mystery series, the Nursery Crimes. Detective Jack Spratt and his assistant, Mary Mary (yes, she's quite contrary) investigate the murder of Humpty Dumpty. As usual, Fforde keeps you on your proverbial toes (or perhaps "piggies" would be the better word in this case) with his clever literary references, this time to enough nursery rhymes and fairy tales to give even this folklorist's memory a decent workout.

This new series seems to be set in the same world as the Thursday Next stories, only this time the detective works for the Nursery Crimes Division (NCD). As in Thursday's world, literary characters cross over into the "real" world, but the nursery rhyme characters are not always aware that they are from fairy tales and other traditional children's stories. The greatest detectives in the world belong to the Guild, a body of detectives and Official Sidekicks, inspired by the work of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Guild detectives have their exploits published in Amazing Crime Stories, a serial magazine. These detectives get all the best cases and a lot of other perks. Jack's wife has nominated him for membership in the Guild, but Jack isn't sure he really wants to join. He has an uneasy feeling that something is wrong with the Guild, aside from the fact that his former partner, Friedland Chymes, is the number two detective in that organization. Jack would simply rather do good old fashioned detective work …

There's nothing good or old fashioned about the case when Humpty Dumpty turns up in pieces one morning (near a great wall, of course). As head of the NCD, Jack is assigned the case. Together with Mary Mary and an assortment of other misfit crime fighters (including an actual alien), Jack collects clues, follows leads, and tries to piece together the puzzle (which is about as hard to put together as Humpty's remains). The investigation would be tricky enough without Chymes trying to take the case away from the NCD. Jack has until the Jellyman arrives to dedicate the Sacred Gonga to solve the crime, otherwise the NCD will be disbanded and Chymes will get the case.

If that weren't enough, Jack's daughter (one of his five children) is dating his new lodger, Prometheus, and, after a misadventure with some magic beans, his mother now has an enormous beanstalk growing in her backyard … The Big Over Easy is quite the enjoyable romp for anyone who enjoys folklore and mythology'plus it's a wonderful detective story. Do treat yourself to this one for some enjoyable summer reading!

The Big Over Easy will be released July 25, 2005. You can pre-order this novel and order Jasper Fforde's other excellent books at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bksfjf.htm. (If you aren't familiar with this author yet, definitely try his works. They are wonderful reads!)

--by Danya Winterborn (a.k.a. L.A. Malcor)

Ren Faires:

Here are the Faires we know about for July. Faires are indexed alphabetically by state. Have any information about any other Renaissance Faires in your area? Send it to us at shashtah@gmail.com.

Alaska

Eagle River Renaissance Village. E-mail: info@cer.com. Website: http://www.cer.org/. Address: 11401 Old Glenn Hwy., Ste. 105, Eagle River, AK 99577. Site Address: Highway 1, Eagle River, AK. Dates: 7/16/05-7/17/05. Open/Close: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Sun. till 5 p.m.).

The Three Barons Faire. E-mail: info@3barons.org. Website: http://www.3barons.org/. Address: P.O. Box 233617, Anchorage, AK 99523-3617. Site Address: Tozier Track, 3400 E. Tudor Rd., Anchorage, AK. Dates: 6/4/05-7/19/05. Open/Close: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.

California

Central Coast Renaissance Festival. E-mail: "a href="mailto:hisrev@mchsi.com">hisrev@mchsi.com. Website: http://www.hisrev.org/. Address: 10147 Monte Cristo Dr., Kelseyville, CA 95451. Site Address: El Chorro Park, Hwy. 1, San Luis Obispo (across from Cuesta College). Dates: 7/16/05-7/17/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Sun. till 5 p.m.).

Heart of the Forest Renaissance Faire. E-mail: office@redbarnproductions.org. Website: http://www.forestfaire.com/. Address: P.O. Box 1768, Novato, CA 94948. Site Address: Stafford Lake Park, Novato Blvd., Novato, CA. Dates: 7/9/05-8/14/05. Open/Close: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Labyrinth of Jareth Fantasy Masquerade Ball. E-mail: loj@labyrinthmasquerade.com. Website: http://www.labyrinthmasquerade.com/. Site Address: Henry Fonda MusicBox Theatre, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. Dates: 7/8/05. Open/Close: 8 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Colorado

Colorado Renaissance Faire. E-mail: info@coloradorenaissance.com. Website: http://www.coloradorenaissance.com/. Address: Jim Paradise, 409 S. Wilcox Ste. F, Castle Rock, CO 80104. Site Address: I-25 Exit 172/173, Larkspur, CO. Dates: 6/11/05-7/31/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 6:30 p.m.

Connecticut

Southern Connecticut Renaissance Festival. E-mail: parkcityrenfaire@aol.com. Website: http://www.parkcityrenaissancefaire.com/. Address: Realistic ReEnactments LLC, P.O. Box 835, Seymour, CT 06483. Site Address: Warsaw Park, Ansonia, CT. Dates: 7/8/05-7/17/05. Open/Close: Fri. 6 p.m. ' 10:00 p.m.; Sat. 12:00 p.m. ' 10 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. ' 6 p.m.

Maine

Maine Renaissance Faire. E-mail: info@mainefaire.com. Website: http://www.mainefaire.com/. Address: Cloak and Dagger, 12 Lewiston Rd., New Gloucester, ME 04260. Site Address: Lord Rd., Lebanon, ME. Dates: 7/17/05-8/22/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 5:00 p.m.

Massachusetts

Robin Hood Faire at Hammond Castle. Website: http://www.hammondcastle.org/index.htm. Address: Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Ave., Gloucester, MA 01930. Site Address: Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Ave., Gloucester, MA. Dates: 7/15/05-7/24/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 6:00 p.m.

Michigan

Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire. Website: http://www.silverleafrenfaire.org/. Address: P.O. Box 2346, Portage, MI 49081-2346. Site Address: River Oaks Park, between Galesburg and Comstock, M-96. Dates: 7/9/05-7/31/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 5:00 p.m.

Western Michigan Renaissance Faire. Website: http://www.digitalalloy.com/wmrf.html. Address: Ludington area Jaycees, 6320 W. Dewey Rd., Ludington, MI 49431. Site Address: Piney Grove, Ludington, MI. Dates: 7/2/05-7/3/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 6:00 p.m.

Nevada

Genoa Renaissance Faire. E-mail: antiplus@gbis.com. Website: http://www.genoaevents.com/index_page0006.htm/. Address: Martha or Kristen Williams, P.O. Box 89, Genoa, NV 89411. Site Address: 2242 Main St., Genoa, NV. Dates: 7/30/05-7/31/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 6:00 p.m. (Sun. till 5 p.m.).

New Jersey

New Jersey Renaissance Faire. E-mail: info@njrenfaire.com. Website: http://www.njrenfaire.com. Address: 2604 Pacific Ave. Ste. 201, Wildwood, NJ 08260. Site Address: Wildwood Beach, Rio Grande Ave. (next to Wildwoods Convention Center, 4501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ). Open/Close: 11 a.m. ' 8:00 p.m.

New York

Sterling Renaissance Festival and Summer Marketplace. Website: http://sterlingfestival.com/renfest/index.html. Address: 15385 Farden Rd., Sterling, NY 13156. Site Address: Near Fair Haven Beach State Park, Rt. 104-A, Sterling, NY. Dates: 7/2/05-8/14/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 7:00 p.m.

Ohio

Great Lakes Medieval Faire. E-mail: questions@medievalfaire.com. Website: http://www.medievalfaire.com/. Address: P.O. Box 376, Rock Creek, OH 44084. Site Address: 7 miles South of I-90 on State Route 534, Geneva, OH. Dates: 7/2/05-8/2/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 7:00 p.m.

Oregon

Celtic Lughnasadh Games & Fair. E-mail: celtic@efn.org. Website: http://www.efn.org/~celtic/. Address: An Ceangal Mara Foundation, 27 West Fifth Ave., Eugene, OR 97401. Site Address: Iris Hill Vineyard, off Territorial Highway, Iris Hill Ln., Eugene, OR. Dates: 7/30/05-7/31/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 6 p.m.

The Faerieworlds Festival. E-mail: info@faerieworlds.com. Website: http://www.faerieworlds.com/. Site Address: Secret House Winery, 88324 Vineyard Ln., Veneta, OR. Dates: 7/23/05-7/24/05. Open/Close: 12 p.m. ' 10:00 p.m.

Faire by the Sea: Brookings/Harbor Renaissance Fest. Address: Upper Crust Designs, Hayley Farr, P.O. Box 23, Brookings, OR 97415. Site Address: Azalea Park, Azalea Park Rd., Brookings, OR. Dates: 7/9/05. Open/Close: 12 p.m. ' dusk.

Mid-summer's Renaissance Faire. E-mail: info@midsummersrenfaire.us. Website: http://www.midsummersrenfaire.us/. Site Address: Village of Drachenfels, 4780 Dee Hwy., Dee, OR. Dates: 7/16/05-7/17/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 6 p.m.

Utah

Utah Midsummer Renaissance Faire. E-mail: kedronvale@hotmail.com. Website: http://www.umrf.net/. Site Address: Main Street Park, Cedar City, UT. Dates: 7/13/05-7/16/05. Open/Close: 11 a.m. ' 8 p.m.

Vermont

Killington Renaissance Festival. Website: http://www.renfairekillington.com/. Site Address: Cortina Inn & Resort, 103 U.S. Rte. 4, Killington, VT. Dates: 7/23/05-7/31/05. Open/Close: 11 a.m. ' 5 p.m.

Shakespeare and Friends, A Renaissance Faire. E-mail: info@vtrenfest.com. Website: http://www.vermontfestival.com. Address: 122 Westminster St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101. Site Address: The Guildford Fairgrounds, Guildford, VT. Dates: 6/25/05-7/16/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Vermont Renaissance Festival. E-mail: info@vtrenfest.com. Website: http://www.vermontfestival.com. Address: 122 Westminster St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101. Site Address: The Guildford Fairgrounds, Guildford, VT. Dates: 6/25/05-7/17/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Virginia

Fairies of the GEM Fantasy Faire. Website: http://www.medievalfantasiesco.com/GEM.htm. Site Address: Big Gem Park, Rt. 340, Shenandoah, VA. Dates: 7/30/05-7/31/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Sun. till 5 p.m.).

Washington

Camlann Medieval Faire. Website: http://www.camlann.org/. Address: 10320 Kelly Rd. NE, Carnation, WA 98014. Site Address: 10320 Kelly Rd. NE, Carnation, WA. Dates: 7/23/05-8/28/05. Open/Close: 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games & Clan Gathering. E-mail: scots4ever@sshga.org. Website: http://www.sshga.org/. Address: SSGHA, P.O. Box 75685, Seattle, WA 98175. Site Address: King County Fairgrounds, Enumclas, WA. Dates: 7/30/05-7/31/05. Open/Close: 8 a.m. ' 5:30 p.m.

Wisconsin

Bristol Renaissance Faire. Website: http://www.renfair.com/bristol/index.php. Address: 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha, WI 53142. Site Address: 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha, WI. Dates: 7/9/05-9/5/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Camelot Medieval Mydsomer Fayre. E-mail: h20lily413W@charter.net. Website: http://www.historiccamelot.org. Address: Historic Camelot Project, 314 Park Ave., Beaver Dam, WI 53916. Site Address: Fox Lake, WI. Dates: 6/25/05-7/26/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Wasau Community Theatre Renaissance Festival. Website: http://www.wausaucommunitytheatre.org/RenFest.htm. Address: 136 Summer Ave, Schofield, WI 54476. Site Address: Oak & Fern Islands, Wasau, WI. Dates: 7/23/05-7/24/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. (Sun. till 5 p.m.).

Australia

Abbey Medieval Tournament. E-mail: admin@abbeymuseum.asn.au. Website: http://www.abbeytournament.com/. Address: Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, 1-63 The Abbey Place, Caboolture, Queensland, 4510, Australia. Site Address: Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, 1-63 The Abbey Place, Caboolture, Queensland, Australia. Dates: 7/2/05-7/3/05. Open/Close: 9 a.m. ' 4:30 p.m.

Canada

Casa Loma's Renaissance Festival. E-mail: info@casaloma.org. Website: http://www.casaloma.org/Main/MainDyn.asp. Address: John Labatt Centre, 99 Dundas St., London, Ontario N6A 6K1 Canada. Site Address: John Labatt Centre, London, Ontario. Dates: 7/9/05-7/11/05. Open/Close: 1 p.m. & 7 p.m., (1 p.m. on Sun.).

London International Dragon's Lair Jousting Tournament. E-mail: info@johnlabattcentre.com. Website: http://www.knightsofvalour.com/. Address: Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, Ontario M5R 1X8 Canada. Site Address: Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, Ontario. Dates: 7/1/05-7/4/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 5 p.m.

Transitional Tournament, Medieval Market and Feast. E-mail: kwr_edmonton@hotmail.com. Website: http://www.knightsofthenorth.ca. Address: Knights of the Northern Realm, 9630-85 Ave., Edmonton, Alberta T6C 1H4 Canada. Site Address: Dr. Wilbur McIntyre (Gazebo) Park, 104 St. & 83rd Ave., Edmonton, Alberta. Dates: 7/9/05. Open/Close: 11 a.m. ' 10 p.m.

England

Joust: A Weekend of Mediaeval Mayhem. E-mail: info@joust.com. Website: http://www.joust.info/frames.htm. Address: 271 Royal College St., Camden Town, London NW1 9LU UK. Site Address: Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, UK. Dates: 7/23/05-7/31/05. Open/Close: 10 a.m. ' 6 p.m.

Tewkesbury Medieval Festival. E-mail: info@tewkesbury-medieval-fayre.org.uk. Website: http://www.tewkesbury-medieval-fayre.org.uk. Site Address: Lincoln Green Lane (between the Council Offices and Tewkesbury Park Hotel), Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK. Dates: 7/9/05-7/10/05. Open/Close: 11 a.m. ' 6 p.m.

Germany

Kaltenberg Knight's Tournament. E-mail: info@ritterturnier.de. Website: http://www.ritterturnier.de. Address: Ritterturnier Kaltenberg GmbH, Schloss-strasse 8, Kaltenberg, Bavaria, D-82269, Germany. Site Address: Kaltenberg Castle, 30 miles west of Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Dates: 7/2/05-7/18/05. Open/Close: 11 a.m. ' 6 p.m.

For additional Ren Faire information, visit the Renaissance Faire Homepage at http://www.renfaire.com/, the Renaissance Festival Directory at http://www.renaissancefestival.com/rendir.asp, 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

CreationCon: Stargate. E-mail: info@creationent.com. Website: http://www.creationent.com/cal/sgbur.htm. Site Address: Burbank Airport Hilton and Towers, 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA. Dates: 7/8/05 ' 7/10/05.

Star Struck: Out of this World! E-mail: info@starstruckcon.com. Website: http://www.starstruckcon.com/. Site Address: Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 6151 H St., Sacramento, CA. Dates: 7/7/05 ' 7/9/05.

Florida

Earthbound: 2005. E-mail: Earthbound2005@yahoo.com. Website: http://www.earthbound2005.com. Site Address: Crowne Plaza at Sabal Park, 10221 Princess Palm Ave., Tampa, FL 33610. Dates: 7/22/05 ' 7/24/05.

Vulkon. E-mail: joemotes@aol.com. Website: http://www.vulkon.com/. Site Address: Tampa Airport Hilton Westshore, 2225 N. Lois Ave., Tampa, FL. Dates: 7/15/05 ' 7/17/05.

Massachusetts

CreationCon. E-mail: info@creationent.com. Website: http://www.creationent.com/cal/sgbos.htm/. Site Address: Executive Conference Center at Bayside, 200 Mt. Vernon St., Boston, MA. Dates: 7/15/05 ' 7/17/05

Minnesota

CONVERGENCE. E-mail: info@convergence-con.org. Website: http://www.convergence-con.org/. Address: 1437 Marshall Avenue, Suite 203, St. Paul, MN, 55104. Site Address: Sheraton South, 7800 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN, 55435. Dates: 7/1/05 ' 7/3/05. Guests: Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon!

North Carolina

Trinoc*coN. E-mail: info@trinoc-con.org. Website: http://www.trinoc-con.org. Address: Trinoc*coN Corporation, P.O. Box 10633, Raleigh, NC 27605. Site Address: Durham Mariott and Civic Center, 201 Foster St., Durham, NC. Dates: 7/15/05 ' 7/17/05.

Ohio

Origins 2005. E-mail: CustServ@GAMA.org. Website: http://www.originsgames.com. Site Address: Greater Columbus Convention Center, 350 N. High St., Columbus, OH. Dates: 6/30/05 ' 7/3/05.

Pennsylvania

Historicon 2005: "The Age of Fighting Sail." E-mail: sweethoneymelon@hotmail.com. Website: http://www.historicon.org. Site Address: Lancaster Host Resort, 2300 Lincoln Highway East (Route 30), Lancaster, PA. Dates: 7/21/05 ' 7/24/05.

Canada

Gatecon 2005. Website: http://www.gatecon.com. Address: Gatecon Productions, P.O. Box 76108, Colorado Springs, CO 80970. Site Address: Best Western Vancouver Airport Hotel & Convention Centre, 7551 Westminster Highway, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Dates: 7/25/05 ' 8/1/05.

Toronto Trek. E-mail: tt-info@tcon.ca. Website: http://www.tcon.ca. Address: Toronto Trek, P.O. Box 7097, Station A, Toronto, Ontario M5W 1X7 Canada. Site Address: Doubletree International Plaza Hotel, 655 Dixon Rd., Toronto, Ontario. Dates: 7/15/05 ' 7/17/05.

Westercon 58: "Due North." E-mail: info@calgaryin2005.org. Website: http://www.calgaryin2005.org. Address: Calgary in 2005, P.O. Box 43078, DVPO, Calgary, Alberta T2J 7A7, Canada. Site Address: Westin Calgary Hotel, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dates: 7/1/05 ' 7/4/05.

For additional Convention information, visit Convention Outpost by Jenga at http://www.geocities.com/jengacons/ or the Sci-Fi Guide at http://scifi.about.com/blcon.htm.

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:

• Arrows OnLine: Contact: Adept Grayfeather k'Varis (Kristi Reed). E-mail: DragonMamaK@aol.com. Arrows OnLine is the AOL chapter of QO. Chats will be held the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 8-10 PM ET. Topics will be posted prior to chat, hopefully as soon as a month in advance for book discussions. Although we have the scheduled chat, the Companion's Grove is open 24/7, and anyone can come in for informal chat. As far as instructions on how to get there … there are lots of hoops to jump through now. Go to the books community, find the message board link, then find the "Author A-Z" message board, and find your way to the Mercedes Lackey boards from there. She's no longer a keyword, but hopefully with more traffic in the future that will change. If you don't want to jump through hoops, you can e-mail me directly, and I'll give you the links. The links to the chatroom will be on my "signature" on the boards.
• German Heartstone: Website: http://www.heartstone.de. Contact: Sunny@heartstone.de or Shae@heartstone.de. A new chapter of Queens Qwn FanClub started in Germany for all German-speaking people within a brand new Misty-Fanpage on http://www.heartstone.de! For more information contact Sunny@heartstone.de or Shae@heartstone.de.
• Sapphire and White: Editor Ronald Glaser. E-mail: luckystar@abe.midco.net. We want members from all over the United States, but we technically cover the Great Lakes region, including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. Heyla there, everyone! Sapphire and White is looking for people who are interested in Mercedes Lackey and her works such as the Valdemar series and the many other books that she has written. You can contact me for more info at luckystar@abe.midco.net. I hope to have a chat list and maybe a fanzine going soon, but i am looking for submissions for that when it gets up and running.
• Valdemar Estate Waystation: Website: http://valdemarwaystation.iwarp.com/index.html. Contact: Herald Lily. E-mail: Valdemarestatearabians@mugglenet.com. Valdemar Estate is looking for members to join. Online is very welcome. The Estate specializes in things of an Equine nature and any queries about our four-legged friends of real or Valdemaran kind are welcome too. We have people here who are able to make or create just about anything you would want. Riding and other training happens at Palamino Reserve in Armadale, at the end of Palamino Place on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at 3pm. Changes in time will be announced on the website. Costume rides are on the 4th Saturday of every even month unless showing. Those wanting sword or archery training need to contact me so that I can either organizes some sessions or redirect you to the appropriate trainers in the area. Horse gear can also be purchased from the Estate by order. E-mail the details of what you are looking for and it can be found.
• The Vanyel Fan Club: Website: Vanyel Fan Club. Contact: herald_bastian@hotmail.com. The Vanyel Fan Club is a chapter of QO that started out as an independent fan organization. The chapter is devoted to fans of Herald-Mage Vanyel Ashkevron from The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey.

Zines and Newsletters:

• Children of Velgarth: Editor: Kendra Renaud, P.O. Box 749, Laguna Beach, CA 92652. E-mail: healermoon@gmail.com. I publish new and old personae, even previously published persona if asked by members in this new, official QO zine. I will only accept what was sent in for your persona to Queen's Own to be recognized. Any fan fiction written later should be sent to one of the other zines who really need it to keep their zines going. This fanzine will be published periodically when it reaches 80 pages or so to keep costs at $5.00 payable in U.S. funds or 12 IRCs. Make checks payable to "Kendra Renaud". The fee covers the cost of printing and mailing; you may share (but not duplicate!) copies of the fanzine. Watch the Queen's Own newsletter for release dates. Issues 4, 5 and 6 are currently in the editing stages! Each zine will have about 10 personas for a total of 30 personas that have been accepted in the last couple of years. For the contents list for issues 1,2, and 3 and additional information, visit Children of Velgarth.

• Companions' Grove: still needs stories, and artists to illustrate stories! (Remember, all contributors get a free copy of the zine in which their work appears.) Volume Eight is full, and awaiting the illustrations and final layout. ** If you contributed a story or promised me artwork for Volume Eight and have not heard from me recently, please get in touch with me, as I had to reformat my hard drive and lost my zine correspondence and address book earlier this year. If I don't hear from you by September 2003, I will have to drop your contribution from the zine. ** Volume Nine is open to submissions. Current prices (not including shipping) are:

  • Companions' Grove Volume One - $4.75 (40 pages, color cover)
  • Companions' Grove Volume Two - $6.35 (56 pages, color cover)
  • Companions' Grove Volume Three - $5.95 (51 pages, color cover)
  • Companions' Grove Volume Four - $4.95 (42 pages, color cover)
  • Companions' Grove Volume Five - $7.75 (69 pages, color cover)
  • Companions' Grove Volume Six - $6.55 (57 pages, color cover)
  • Companions' Grove Volume Seven - $5.95 (52 pages, color cover)
  • The Danya Winterborn Saga - $5.20 (52 pages, b/w front and back covers)
  • Endgame - $3.85(36 pages, b/w cover)
  • Fire Eyes - $4.40 (43 pages, b/w cover)
  • Shards of Autumn - out of print, see note below
  • The Sum of Duty - $5.80 (57 pages, b/w cover)
  • Do or Dye: A Guide to Companion Camouflage - $1.25 (20 pages, digest size, b/w cover, saddle stapled)
  • Cat's Cradle - $7.60 (76 pages, monochrome green cover)

  For orders shipping in the US, I've instituted a maximum shipping cost of $3.85. Multi-zine orders, which can be shipped in a flat rate envelope (usually 3 of the smaller zines, or 2 of the larger zines), will be sent Priority Mail; larger orders will be sent Media Mail Insured, which is only slightly slower and doesn't have the zone rates (which wouldn't work with my shopping cart). Smaller orders will be sent First Class.

  I take credit cards via PayPal, which is the cart's only payment option, but the cart can be used to calculate shipping, and checks/money orders mailed to Green Dragon Press, c/o Devin Harris, 4531 N. Kelishan St., Pahrump, NV 89060.

  Except as noted, zines are printed on high-quality, bright white paper, comb bound, with cardstock covers. Story excerpts and cover art-as well as submission guidelines and PayPal ordering information-can be found at http://www.greendragonpress.net/misty.htm. To order via snail mail, send check or money order (payable to Devin Harris; US funds only) to Green Dragon Press, c/o Devin Harris, 4531 N. Kelishan St., Pahrump, NV 89060.

  Note regarding Shards of Autumn: While this zine is officially out of print and no longer available on the website, a few copies are left over from convention appearances. Any remaining copies from MediaWest will be available at that con until they sell out; the others are being returned to me and will be auctioned off at http://www.auctionfen.com until they are gone. I also occasionally auction off zines which returned from cons a bit shopworn, so it's a good site to check periodically.

• Herald's Companion: Editor: Karen Bertke, 5694 Scarborough Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45238. If anyone has friends stationed overseas for the war, let us know and we'll send them a feezil mascot (to make anything feezilable). E-mail:submission instructions:

  1. Subject line must read "For Karen." (Anything else will be erased as a potential virus hazard.)
  2. Do not use strange fonts, which my computer will not recognize.
  3. E-mail:it to gbertke@fuse.net. (This is my father's e-mail address. Use it for submissions for Herald's Companion only.)

Other Fandoms:

• Lois Bujold: Lois Bujold can be reached at lois@dendarii.com. "The Bujold Nexus" is at http://www.dendarii.com. You can receive information about their newsletter, the "Dendarii Dispatch" by contacting Lyn Belzer, Editor, 25-16 18th St., #2 Long Island City, NY 11102.
• CrossGen Comics: Exciting New Fantasy Comic Books. Follow Prince Ethan's adventures the third Wednesday of each month as he gains the powerful sigil and accidentally puts his world on the brink of war. Meridian, on sale the fourth Wednesday of each month, is the fantastic saga of a teenage girl and her plight to save her floating island home. Go to http://www.crossgen.com, or call 1-888-COMICBOOK for details on a retail location near you.
• Tanya Huff: Nine Above! is a list for fans of author Tanya Huff. This list provides announcements about Tanya's latest work, publication dates, and personal appearances. NA! also provides a forum for Tanya's fans to communicate with each other, and will have discussion as well as announcements. Lurking is fine, but participation is encouraged. When you join, we'd love for you to send a "hello" to the group at large, telling us who you are! To start sending messages to members of this group, simply send email to nineabove@egroups.com.
• L.A. Malcor: Dragonlords of Dumnonia: L.A. Malcor, http://www.dragonlordsnet.com, shashtah@gmail.com.
• Adrian Paul of Highlander: **Peace,**APFC P.O. Box 4593, North Hollywood, CA 91617 or **Peace,**APFC P.O. Box 519, Broley, Kent, BR29WX, England.
• Michael Praed: Michael Praed Network Newsletter, c/o Kate Raymond, P.O. Box 516, Midlotioan, IL 60445.
• Melanie Rawn: Pandemonium- The official Melanie Rawn club invites you to join their ranks. SASE for more information: Irena Pereira, P.O. Box 18A146 , Los Angeles, CA 90018.
• N3F is one of the oldest general interest SF/F clubs, started in 1941. Members meet by snail mail and E-mail to discuss SF, Fantasy, and Horror genres. (Some gather at cons, too.) We have plenty to offer the hungry SF/F/H fan! Members receive Tightbeam, the club's quarterly zine, and The National Fantasy Fan, our bi-monthly zine. For inquiries, please snail mail me at N3F Secretary, Dennis Davis, 25549 Byron Street, San Bernadino, CA, 92404-6403. Check out our website at http://www.simegen.com/fandom/n3f.
• Star Trek: The USS Starfire is a writing group that writes original fiction set in the Star Trek universe. To find our more about our group, please visit our website at http://www.epix.net/~ckocher/starfire.html or e-mail us at trek01@epix.net.
• Doctor Who and other Media: **The Prydonians of Prynceton,**P.O. Box 3194, Princeton, NJ 08543-3194.

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.

• Court Musician Bard Marsaya, who was accepted in the December 2004 QO newsletter, has completed the work for her persona. Marsaya is Gifted with Bardic, Talent and Creativity. Elizabeth Davis wrote about Marsaya and her family and friends, composed a song, learned to play a musical instrument, performs regularly, and wrote a story.

We have no new personae to announce this month, but several people are very close to completion. If you were working on a persona who is no longer listed at Club chat guidance that means we have not heard from you in over a year. To revive your persona, simply message Danya at shashtah@gmail.com and tell her that your persona is in "Deep Storage." She will pull it out for you and reactivate your submission.

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:

• Bard Revelin Tionne (sazimarc@mindspring.com)
• Bard Valiena (laughsong@aol.com)
• Guardsman Faolan Ixran (Timmeu@scubadiving.com)
• Guardsman Vena LaRue (eflynt@starrtech.net)
• Healer Darnellon Gaither (mdprier@aol.com)
• Herald Darvith (goddess@universalmail.com)
• Healer Tamesin na Coille (brindle@bellsouth.net)
• Herald Alia Melyngar (aliamelyngar@aol.com)
• Herald Areolyn T-rel (chucky@localaccess.com)
• Herald Artavash Keletal (tmschneiderman@attbi.com)
• Herald Crystona Devanth Shekrevalas (crys@stny.rr.com)
• Herald Deborah (sjupiterdebi@home.com)
• Herald Ian Hawkwood (ianhawke1@aol.com)
• Herald Jolee Alsierra (tinkrbel@spiritone.com)
• Herald-Mage Apprentice Kadia Linder (Kadia@aol.com)
• Herald Kendryl Shadowwolf (kscarpat@altavista.com)
• Herald Keri Starfire/Mountianheart (WaltherM@imefdf.usmc.mil)
• Herald Kiana Wynter (saffyrek@hotmail.com)
• Herald Lisbeth Maye (wizardshome@hotmail.com)
• Herald Liselle Aravon (rusalka@nac.net)
• Herald Miracle Oceanfire (rhyme_reason@hotmail.com)
• Herald Paf (jaro@attbi.com)
• Herald Rhea Windsong (psistriker@worldnet.att.net)
• Herald Robihane (Tevye@speakintosilence.com)
• Tayledras Mage Autumnwynd k'Vaia (autumnwynd@aol.com)
• Tayledras Blackwolf k'Vala (HRHIce@aol.com)
• Tayledras Adept Oceanlaughter k'Shira (littlesweetchef@aol.com)
• Tayledras Adept Starfeather k'Valdemar (adeptstarfeather@marymuse.com)
• Tayledras Healer Adept Sierra k'Treva (katsanders@buffymail.com)
• Tayledras Healer Adept Skydance k'Chona (Sttawylime@hotmail.com)
• Tayledras Healer Adept Winterfire k'Tayle (garou@netspeed.com.au)
• Tayledras Scout Skyfire k'Chona (logroth@hotmail.com)
• White Winds Sorceress Cime Shadow Weaver (cimeshadow@aol.com)

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

From Healer Adept Moonstar:

I have greatly enjoyed my time as Co-President of Queen's Own. I have always enjoyed the correspondences have I had with members and future members and have loved answering all of your questions. I am thankful for all the friends that I have made. However, as many of you have noticed as my master's program has become more intense I haven't had the time to contribute as I should or as you deserve. I have had many personal issues come up which have resulted in two moves in the last three months and I expect to move at least once more in the next few months. This isn't fair to many of you who may have to wait days or weeks for answers from me or for me to have time to review your submissions. I am going to stay part of Queen's Own as a member, but am going to step down as Co-President.

Hugs to everyone,

Moonstar

Personals:

• From Cliff Hunter: I'm looking for a penpal I used to know through QO. Her name is Dara Murphy. Anyone with information about how I can contact her, please e-mail me at DeathrockCliffy@aol.com.
• From Jennifer M. Mackay/Herald Mallea D'Lar. I have a new email address: mackayjenn@yahoo.com! SNAIL MAIL:'PO BOX 66408, Portland, OR 97290. If you like to read, I'm your girl. Just give me a book and a quiet nook--I'm happy! 'Misty, Tad Williams, J.R.R. Tolkien,'Mindy Klasky (Glasswright series), DragonLance (the M. Weiss/T. Hickman original books and new), SF Classics like H.G. Wells, George Orwell, ect., ect. I'm about to sink my teeth into David Eddings on my sister's recommendations. I just finished watching SEVEN seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That was fun! I've gone through'all NINE years of The X-Files. I'm a huge X-Files fanatic. (Did I forget to mention my love affair with box sets on DVD?) I'm a fan of every Star Trek show made, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica (got my box set), Babylon 5, Quantum Leap, and just about anything else that grabs my attention.If you wish you could take a trip to the moon, or just get out of Mundania for awhile, please feel free to drop me a line!
• From Ellen Million: Not only is Ellen Million Graphics still around (ten years last October!), but I now offer an array of gorgeous new work by new artists, on many new products (including t-shirts!) and a brand new character portrait service. Ordering is available on-line or by snail mail: http://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com. I'd also love to get back in touch with lost penpals! (Use the contact form on the website to avoid death-by-spam-filters!)
• From Herald Valana Dorrandale/Rachel Valentine: 21-year-old college student needs relief from mundania! I enjoy Misty, Anne Rice, Mickey Zucker Riechert, Robert Jordan, Fiona Patton, Tanya Huff, C.S. Friedman etc. B5, Star Trek, Star Wars, Highlander, LOTR,all kinds of music, scaly and furry animals, Garfield, writing, drawing, singing, playing guitar, horseback riding, traveling and much more. Do you like this stuff?? Write me! TO: Robin S., Bess H., Bard Shiana, Harold P.: Are you all still QO members?? Please write me; I've missed you guys! E-mail: raeval23@yahoo.com.
• From White Winds Sorceress Cime Shadow Weaver. To All. Shadows of Goddess is now an online store. I offer 10 % discount to Queen's Own members. Be sure to tell me you are though. (:) I offer new items weekly. http://www.ebaystores.com/shadowsofthegoddess. My e-mail address is cimeshadow@aol.com.
• From Herald-Mage Danya. To: All. Re: Cookbook. If you've read my persona submission in CoV, you know that I like making up medieval-style recipes. I'm thinking about compiling a cookbook based on meals that Misty describes in the Velgarth series. If anyone is currently reading the books, could you note the book and page any food items are mentioned on and send them to me at shashtah@gmail.com? Thanks!

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.

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

The featured artists for this newsletter are Laura Cameron and Devin Harris. 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