(Note: These are excerpts from the original newsletter that was published on this date. The Queen's Own address has been updated. The current President of Queen's Own is Herald-Mage Adept Danya Winterborn. For more information, see http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/qo.htm.)
[Begin Excerpt]
Dear Misty Fans,
The "official" release dates of Misty's next three books are October '91, Mage Winds #1, Winds of Fate, DAW; also October '91, another Di Tregarde novel, Jinx High, published by TOR; and in November, The Elvenbane, with Andre Norton, TOR.
Remember, Winds of Fate, the first of The Mage Winds trilogy, has a release date of October. You won't find it in your bookstores now. BUT--if you're lucky enough to attend a convention where Misty and Larry are guests, I understand that not only is Misty reading from the manuscript, Larry is showing off his illustrations for the DAW hardcover. There may even be a pre-release, special edition of hte black and whites. They are expected to be smaller than the portfolio edition (8x10 instead of 11x14), signed by both Misty and Larry, and limited to 250 of each print, available only at cons.
Words from Misty:
"I was born in Chicago . . . and have lived in the Midwest most of my life. I began reading SF at a very tender age; nine, I think, picking up some of my father's SF books becuase they looked interesting. My parents were big believers in reading, going to the extent of verifying to our local librarian that I was 'mature enough' to check books out of the adult section. As a result, by age twelve I held an 'adult' library card. The first SF book I ever read was James Schmidt's Agent of Vega, my second, Beast Master by Andre Norton, thus beginning a love affair with Northon's books that has continued to this day. One of the most exciting things to happen in my career as a writer was to be invited to write a 'Witch World' story for the first of her 'Friends of Witch World' anthologies; it was literally a dream come true, since back in the dark ages, when I was a Kid, I wrote (handwrote, and illustrated) many Norton pastiche stories when I couldn't find any new books to read.
"I wanted to write professionally--but was perfectly well aware that writers don't make any money--so I chose instead a career in science, getting my B.Sci. in Biology from Purdue University in 1972. I then discovered that B.Sci.'s don't make any money either. As a result I ended up in a variety of jobs, from waitress to security guard to artist's model. I finally ended up in a job which started out as telephone survey work, and ended up as a 'programmer' doing some very simple 'cookbook programming' for Indiana Univerisy at South Bend. From there I went into a computer programming class for Associates . . . I stayed there for three years, then took a job with American Airlines, and finally made the break to full-time writer in October of 1990."
(More to come in the next newsletter, I promise.)
The prints of The Last Herald Mage covers are available now from Jody Lee, the cover artist. They are magnificent! Mine are still in their mailer--I know it sounds silly, but my apartment isn't worthy of them. I've got to do some heavy duty cleaning and organizing before I put them on my walls. "Magic's Pawn," "Magic's Promise," and "Magic's Price" each have an edition run of 250. The prints don't look exactly like the covers because they are not on foil paper; with proper care the photoprints will far outlast the foil paperback covers. And I repeat, they are magnificent!
[Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date pricing and order information withheld.]
Back to Misty, this time via GEnie (and thanks to Michelle Lutz, our GEnie reporter) to answer a frequently asked question:
"A 'filksong' is a folk song about a fantasy/sf topic. Some are very good. Some are very awful. I started out as a filksong writer. The reason they are called filk is because of a typo. Back in the days of the first LA worldcon, one of the local SF fanzines wrote a general article for neos (people new to fandom--ed.) so that they would know what they would find. This was in the days of mimeographs, and typos frequently were left uncorrected. The writer mentioned people getting togehter and singing sf FOLK songs, but 'I' is very close to 'O' (as I know to my sorrow) and there was a typo. It stayed. The problem was that it was the silly season, and the LA Times picked up the entire article for the Sunday supplement. Typo and all. FILK stuck."
Remember The Firebird Flyer, the special Mercedes Lackey edition, for Misty's books, tapes, and lots more. It's available from [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld. Firebird's website is at http://www.firebirdarts.com.].
Misty and Larry will be attending:
CoastConXIV The Year of the Dragon, March 15-17 in Biloxi, Mississippi. [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]
BamaCon, April 19-21, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Roc-Kon 15, May 3-5 in Little Rock, Arkansas. [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]
DeepSouthCon29/ConCat 3, June 7-9 at Downtown Knoxville Hilton in Knoxville, Tennessee. [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]
The ABA weekend, June 1-4, in Manhattan is a working weekend for Misty. She is DAW's featured author and will have many duties. And unfortunately, the weekend is not open to the public. However, she and LArry hope to arrive in New Jersey the previous weekend to spend some time with me. This is Memorial Day weekend; it is a crazy time on the roads of New Jersey. If you live nearby, and heavy traffic doesn't daunt you, come visit us Saturday afternoon, May 25th. If you were planning to take time off from work or school, or spend a small fortune on plane or train fare, please plan instead to meet Misty and Larry at a con. For folks in the Northeast I recoomend Contradiction 11, September 27-29 at the Radisson Hotel Niagara Falls, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. This looks like an excellently run con, with fun for all ages and interests.
For the Northwest, there's dreamcon 6, November 1-3 [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
Can't wait until fall? Attend ROC-KON 15, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
DeepSouthCon29/ConCat 3 is June 7-9 at [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
For you lucky fans in the Atlanta area, Misty will be autographing books a SF & Mystery Bookshop, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.] at 7 PM on May 10th. She'll spend most of Saturday, May 11th, with Larry at Dixie Trek, at the Castlegate Inn in Atlanta.
In the Palace Kitchen, our first Valdemar cookbook, is ready to go to the printer. Send [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
Tales of Valdemar and Beyond is available now [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
Circle of Light Is a monthly newsletter devoted to Heralds, Beauty & the Beast, and other facets of Fantasy. The cost is [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
"I want to create a QO Joke Collection. Jokes about HEralds, Companions, Hawkbrethern (and sistren), etc., etc. Daffynitions too, and uh, puns . . . "
Hello from the UK! Alison Pearl and Cari Woolveridge are starting a QO chapter in England. [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
To all Northern California QO members (or any who can make it):
Heyla! Hiya! Hoya! Come one, come all to the 2 in 1 Bay Area Get-Together. Not only can you meet your fellow Velgarthans in a carefree manner, but also enjoy the sights and sounds of BayCon '91. Yes, that's right. The Spring 1991 Bay Area Get-Together is being held at BayCon '91 in the Red Lion Inn, San Jose. There will be a pot luck brunch on Saturday, May 25 and 11:00 AM in a private party room. No need to attend the Con to come to the brunch (but it makes the weekend a whole lot funner!). For more information regaring the get-together, please contact [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. For more infor on BayCon '91, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
Herald Charna and Tia Schmidt are interested in hearing from all of you in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in order to start a regional chapter/newsletter. They would like to hear form you in time to get organized and publish by summer and make plans to meet at Orycon in November. Please write to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
Did you try to write to For Whom the Bell Tolls, the role playing writer's club set in an alternate Valdemar, only to discover that the zip code wasn't quite right? My computer gremlin loves to munch on zip codes. Try [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
"The Michigan Chapter of QO, Sapphire and White, is ready to roll! Our first real newsletter will go out in early April. It will contain all the membership information. A copy will be sent to everyone who has contacted me. Anyone else wishing to receive one, wishing more information on the club, or both, please send [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
It has been one year since I took over duties of editor as well as everything else here at Queen's Own. All mail that comes into PO Box 43143 is opened and read and answered by me. Don't think that this is a one-woman operation though. QO has survived because of the help of many members: people like Patricia Riggs, our "answer lady" the "Mailing Day Helpers" who come once a month to fold, dtaple, stamp and address the newsletters; the Mentors who are slowly being organized so they can help with specific aspects of fandom; the folks who send artwork for the side of the newsletter; Ana Casacuberta and Joanne MAttern who are still trying to organize the files (and me); my family, who are tolerant beyond belief of the way QO first took over the kitchen table, then the dining room, then Mom needed a computer . . . And lastly, all of you, who send me silly cards and cheerful ntoes and your whole-hearted support. Here's to many, many more years to Misty's writing career, and to her club, Queen's Own.
I kept count last month--338 letters received, 280 answered. I thank you for St. Patrick's Day cards, Easter cards, (including one measuring 16-1/2 inches by 2 feet!), and other assorted goodies. Our membership is over the 600 mark, and still growing.
Any ideas for a QO button design? Keep in mind that the button will be only 2 or 3 inches wide. A simple design in black ink is easiest to reproduce.
Misty's birthday is June 24th! Last year I secretly collected snapshots of members and put them in an album for her. No reason to be sneaky this year--if you're not in the birthday album, send me a picture so we can update it! Spapshots can be of you as Herald or mundane; include your cats, dogs, horses, little brothers . . . whatever.
The Collegium Registry will return next month. We have many new Heralds and Bards; we don't have space to list them.
One serious note first. Those of you who were Bobbi Sickmiller's penfriends will be as saddened as I was to learn of her death. My condolences to her family.
[Ed. Note 2003: Fan messages are not being posted online because of the personal
information they contained.]
[Ed. Note 2003: Personals are not being posted online because of the personal
information they contained. Remainder of the newsletter was out-of-date contact info, and has been withheld.]
[Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date subscription information withheld.]
Queen's Own is the official Mercedes Lackey Appreciation Society. We are a not-for-profit organization. Address of publication: [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. This newsletter is published solely to inform and entertain the club's membership; no infringement of anyone's copyrights is intended.
Editor, President, Dogsbody, Housemother--Judith Louvis [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]
Wind to Thy Wings!
Judith
[End Excerpt]
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 Adept Danya Winterborn (L.A. Malcor; AOL-IM SN Shashtah; Legend@malcor.com)
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
Zhai'helleva,
Herald-Mage Adept Danya Winterborn
Hello from Herald Housemother:
Fan Messages
Personals
Archivist, Registrar, Organizer extraordinaire--Patricia Riggs
Mailing Day Helpers (last issue)--Suzanne Brenner and her friend Laura, Ana Casacuberta, Robin Gladeau, Linda Gumkowski, Patti Hemeleski, Sean Miller and Susan Toro.
c/o High Flight Arts and Letters
P.O. Box 2970
Claremore, OK 74017
