(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:
Here is the last of an interview with Misty done by Jeanne Caggiano called "Breaking the Mold." It appeared in the October-December Baen's Books. Thank you, Jeanne and Baen Books, for sharing with QO members.
Jeanne: "There are very few sterotypes in this book (The Fire Rose); how did you keep it so original?"
Misty: "I did go to an awful lot of trouble to make them original. AndI think a lot of it came out of the resaerch I was doing. as I went through this, one of the things that was absolutely invaluable was about the time I was getting ready to write this book, a couple of companies did full reprints of Somerset Maugham's work. One of his early novels is in fact an occult novel based on Aleister Crowley; it's called The Magician. It's set in precisely the right time period, although in Paris, and it was absolutely invaluable because he wrote it around 1908 so the feeling for the time period and how people acted and reacted in various situations was very good, very fresh, and exactly what I needed."
Jeanne: "One funny scene involved Rose getting stuck without her glasses in a dangerous situation. Was this a scene written from personal experience?"
Misty: Hell, yes! I can't see my hand in front of my face if I don't have my contacts in. That ws something that occurred to me, readers tend to wear glasses, and anybody who's nearsighted would find being wihtout their glasses in a stressful situation absolutely terrifying. They'd also find being without their glasses in unknown stressful situations very frustrating. So they could definitely identify with Rose when she was without her glasses."
Jeanne: "The ending wasn't the usual fairy tale ending. Why did you choose not to go with 'happily ever after'?"
Misty: In part because I think having the curse broken would have been a copout, in part because, just because it's a book about magic doesn't necessarily imply there's going to be a happy ending, and in part because of the reaction of allof my adult female friends to the Disney Beauty and the Beast--which was that he was far more interesting as the Best than as the Prince."
Jeanne: "What are you doing other than writing?"
Misty: "Well, I've got the howling menagerie that you can hear on the phone. There are two macaws, one big one and one mini; two parrots, an African and an Amazon; three cockatoos; and I've just gotten a female lory for my male blue streak lory, who is a character called Visyr in Four and Twenty Blackbirds, by the way. I'm also doing wild bird rehabilitation. I just turned two loose, a barred owl and a red-tailed hawk. Both of them had concussions. So that's an ongoing thing. And I'm finally going to get my falconry license. Our falconry master, who also takes care of our security needs, has just gotten our newest acquisition, a German shepherd from Germany. I babble away to this dog in German. He's schutzhund trained, which is obedience and protective. He seems to be a bigd teddy bear until someone makes a threatening move, then he isn't a teddy bear anymore. Or like they say on Star Trek about the creatures the Vulcans have, they're teddy bears . . . with six inch fangs. Another new project I'm planning is to collaborate on music with our falconry master; he's a professional musician and I would do lyrics for him, not necessarily science fiction or fantasy lyrics, but more contemporary singer/songwriter lyrics. I think that would be lots of fun."
Jeanne: "What are you workingon now?"
Misty: "At the moment I'm doing something in the 'Bardic Voices' series, but it's again very different. It's called Four and Twenty Blackbirds, and it's inspired by my fascination with serial killers. It is a serial killer in Alanda, in Kingsford in fact. The two main characters are Lady Ardis, the Justicar mage, and a constable from a different city entirely who is obsessed with the case, in no small part because others are going 'well, he's just killing street trash and gypsies, it doesn't really matter.' He feels very profoundly that it does matter. He pursues this guy to the point of losing his own job. In Kingsford he finds a champion in Ardis. There is interesting sexual tension going on betweent he two of them because for the first time in their lives they're both finding someone wh challegnes them intellectually, but who they also find attractive. They're both middle-aged, which is kind of nice, but the other thing is that she, of course, is a priest. She is vowed to celibacy and chastity. So she's got the conflict of, is this what I should be doing, should I rethink everything that I've lived so far?"
Jeanne: "Will we be seeing more books like The Fire Rose in the future?"
Misty: "The book was a great deal of fun to write, and I liked working in a more contemporary rather than medieval period, and I'd love to do some more. I don't think I'm going to do another book with these characters specifically, but I'd absolutely adore doing another book like this."
On February 9th, elsie B. Wollheim of DAW passed away. She was very encouraging and helpful in the early days of Queen's Own, and I will always remember her kindness and patience. THe family has said anyone wishing to give a memorial gift should send it to the American Cancer Society in Elsie's name.
TEMPEST will appear in Montclair, NJ, April 19 at Outpost in the 'Burbs, [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.]. Meet other QO members at Ana Little's apartment, [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.], before the show if you wish. [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.] Hope to see you there.
Other TEMPEST tour dates are: [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Albums by David Arkenstone, Clannad, and TEMPEST;books by Misty, Tanya Huff, and Holly Lisle; Valdemar-related albums, songbooks, pewter and feather jewelry, T-shirts and stationery adn much, much more--all available form Firebird Arts & Music [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.]. For the most up to date information see Firebird's online catalog at [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Arrows OnLine is lovated on America OnLine. For help finding the Collegium, e-mail Dean Anne at [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Austal'a'in: Cassandra Vuksa [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
California chapter: c/o Stephanie Anderson [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Companion's Choice: Shanara Ravensong [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
The Farflying Arrow: Achtung, an alle deutschsprechenden Misty-Fans!! Write to [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
The Herald's Companion: c/o Karen Bertke [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Modems of the Queen: the official chapter of Queen's Own located on GEnie online entertainment network. Modems of the Queen can be found by joinoing GEnie and the logging onto the system. Once online, MotQ is located in the Science Fiction and Fandom RoundTable, Category 34.
Outkingdom: Y'larna Finnareth c/o Joanne Thwaites [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Pacific Northwest Collegium: c/o Charlene Ryan [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
R.C.M.H.--now forming in CANADA. Contact Pam Dziedzic [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Southern Arrows: A new Queen's Own chapter is fomring in the Atlanta area. We would like to meet all loval members and friends. Contact us at [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Micahel Praed--Michael Praed Network NewsLetter c/o [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Jennifer Roberson--Children of the Firstborn [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Robert Jordan--Under the Dragon Banner--Mareesa Rainseer c/o Sarah Herberth [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Doctor Who and other Media--The Prydonians of Prynceton [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Tanya Huff--Nine Above! [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Anne McCaffrey/Pern--Starfire Weyr c/o Prime Katya Ithsaari [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Anne McCaffrey/Pern--Sunfall Weyr c/o Senior Weyrwoman Yannia at [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.], Weyrleader R'nier at [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.] or Weyrleader Secondd K'rin at [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Lois McMaster Bujold--Miles' Minions [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
General Fandom--National Fantasy Fan Federation (N3F) William Center/N3F [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
SUPPORT OUR ZINES!! All the zines listed in Member News need contributors and subscribers. Artists, Poets, Writers--please share your talent. (Always send a SASE when writing to a zine or chapter, or a self-addressed envelope and 2 IRCs if writing from a different country.)
MOONLIGHT MASQUERADE, a journal of fantasy and adventure, mysticism and romance, where the night is eternal, and the splendor of your dreams awaits you amidst the brilliance of the Masquerade . . . Each issue of this full-size journal is yet another flimpse into the enchantment of the imagination and the magic of the Masquerade. Published quarterly, every issue is in 11 x 17" pro format with a cardstock cover and 60+ pages of poetry, artwork and tales. [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.]
The Editors of Outkingdom Chapter would like to announce to all and sundry that hte Chapter zine, thanks to an act of Cockatoo (do you really want to know?), is now officially called THE OUTKINGDOM CHRONICLES. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the naming process! (And don't forget . . . keep those submissions coming, both to the newsletter and the zine--thanks!) For more information on THE OUTKINGDOM CHRONICLES, write to [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.]. For information on Outkingdom Chapter write to [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Looking for great ways to spend the rainiest months of the year? EPIC! is the 'zine for you then! A Northeastern chapter working on its 4th issue, we're getting larger all the time but could always use another person/gryphon/kyree to share the saga with. Subscriptions are [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.]. Our mailbox is getting cranky--we need more submissions! For a sample issue, [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.]. Checks should be made out to David Ring, and expect prompt replies. Also, if you wish info on The Dragon Project, please write to the above address, and info may also be received by sending e-mail to [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Please tell me there are more than two people interested in a Canadian chapter of Queen's Own! I need more reponses than that to get the RCMH going. So far we've got the bi-monthly issue of "The Collegium News," and meetings are being organized in the Manitoba area. Drop me a letter and let me know if you want to get involved! (RCMH, by the way, stands for Royal Canadian Mounted Heralds!) [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
Due to lack of submissions (and high school taking up more of my time than I had originally expected), it seems that hte zine VALHALLA will not be published after all. I'm really sorry that it's taken me so long to get this out, but that little optimistic voice in my head (probably my Companion playing mind games with me) kept saying, "Well, let's wait one more day . . . " Unfortunately, the optimist was wrong this time. Again, I'm really sorry, and anyone who sent anything to me should be getting their submissions back really soon. I hope you submit your works elsewhere--they're great and deserve publication! Once again, I'm really sorry.
Featherlight caresses, murmured endearments, soft candlelight. THere's nothing like the exstasy of a lover's embrace. Come and be embraced by this new fantasy 'zine based on wonderful romance. LIFEBONDED is on its way to becoming a reality. I am currently accepting submissions in all departments, but am in desperate need of some good romantic fiction. Please keep in mind that hte submission deadlin for the first issue is May 18th. The zine should be out sometime in late June. Come on, all you writers, help me get this 'zine off the ground! Please send a SASE for more information to Kalere Nahrain [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.].
DUNFALL RISING, a new fantasy zine inspired by Anne McCaffrey's PErn series, seeks dragonriders, holders, crafters and other personae to contribue stories set on a shared timeline. SUNFALL RISING is distributed electronically ONLY to members of the online fanclub Sunfall Weyr. For information about how to join the fun, contact Senior Weyrwoman Yannia at [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.], Weyrleader R'nier at [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.] or Weyrleader Second K'rin at [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.]!
Dragons of Cime--small dragon friends to hang in your room. Handmade out of cloth with sequins and glitter trim (trim varies depending on stock). [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.]. Specify color or just choose "assorted" and I will surprise you.
We have individual handout sheets for the aspiring Herald, Bard, Healer, Tayledras, Shin'a'in, White Winds Sorcerer/ess, and Mercentary, and instructions on how to work for Herald-Mage status if you are already a Herald. Send a SASE to the QO address and specify which handout you are requesting. Please, one to a customer. Club dues pay for paper and photocopying.
The mail I recieve has to be the prettiest int he country. Envelopes with hand-drawn and painted pictures, embossed stamp designs, stickers--the post mistress in Shiloh assures me that it's a pleasure to sort my mail. Your letters brighten my day before I even open them!
I'd like some border designs from new artists for the front page of the newsletter. I have some on hand but all are from members whose work I've shown before. Designs should be in black & white (shades of gray do not copy well) and an inch wide or less.
Need something to read while waiting for Misty's Storm Breaking? I've just discovered David Weber's Honor Harrington series and heartily recommend it. If you like books by Lois McMaster Bujold and Elizabeth Moon I'm sure you'll enjoy Honor's adventures. Read them in order of possible.
Please check your address label--is everything spelled correctly? are there transposed numbers? is your subscription date what you think it should be? If I received your dues payment even two days before mailing day your label should have been updated.
[Ed. Note 2002: Fan Messages are not being posted online because of the personal information they contained.]
There are a few Personals that are addressed to folks who are no longer on the QO mailing list, in the hopes that one of you might know their whereabouts and pass the message along.
[Ed. Note 2002: Personals are not being posted online because of the personal information they contained. Dues and Disclaimer information replaced with the current info below.]
Deadline for newsletter contributions: May 24
Next Mailing Day: June 1, 1996--Call [Ed. note 2005: Out-of-date info withheld.] for directions. Call before coming; family emergencies cancel mailings.
Editor, President, Dogsbody, Housemother--Judith Louvis [phone withheld] (Call only before 10 PM and let it ring.)
[snip]
Newsletter Border Design: William Hall
Mailing Day Helpers (last issue)--Meredith Baldino and her friend May, Helen Edwards and Rusty.
[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)
If you would like your art to be featured in the online version of the QO newsletter, send .gifs or .jpgs to Legend@malcor.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 Adept Danya Winterborn
