Dear Misty Fans,
(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,
Book release dates:
Available now, HorseFantastic, edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Rosalind M. Greenberg. The DAW ad in LOCUS says it's "a stable full of magical tales certain to appeal to anyone ever bespelled by fantasy in its finest, or classic tales of equestrian adventure."
January brings us Bardic Voice: The Lark & the Wren, published by Ban.
(Nothing scheduled for February release--take the time to re-read your favorites!)
In March, Born to Run: The SERRAted Edge--by Misty and Larry Dixon, with hot cars, fast elves, rock and roll--and a serious message about child abuse. In the back of each SERRAted Edge book will be a Helpline 800 number.
Oops! Brad Sinor's interview with Misty appeared in the Devenber (#173) issue of STARLOG not the November. STARLOG is a media-oriented magazine. Other articles in the December issue are about Star Trek and ST:TNG, Alien Nation, Quantum Leap, Carel Struycken of the new Addams Family movie, and SF pilots that never sold. A subscription is [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. The STARLOG address is [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
In the interview Misty says, "I wrote a lot when I was a kid, mainly Andre Norton pastiches, because she wasn't turning out books at a fast enough rate to suit me."
She told Brad she turned away from writing as she got older, but not from lack of interest.
"I suffer from a minor dyslexia (a reading disability) that made typing excruciating," explains the writer. "So, naturally, I didn't want to do much of it. You could guarantee that if I needed to retype a page to fix one mistake, another problem would surface before I reached the bottom of the page." She trained herself to be "extra-extra" careful in checking her own work.
It was at the North American Science Fiction Convention in 1985 that Misty had an encouraging conversation with Betsy Wollheim of DAW Books.
"Betsy told me that they were seriously looking at buying my books," Lackey recalls. "But, at the same tme, she was feeling me out to find out if I was going to act hysterically when she said there were rewrites she wanted. I told her no problem, since by then I had a computer. If I'd had to do them on a typewriter, then I might have gotten hysterical."
Misty writes at least 10 pages a night, and she has been known to push for as many as 20. She explained to Brad: "It's something that I have to do . . . since I quite literally have a book due every two months until the middle of next year. Now that I don't have to be at work every morning at 8 a.m., I'll get up and putter around the house, do chores and clean up the place. If there are any errands, I'll usually do them between, say, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Then, around 4 p.m., I'll start to work, and I usually work until midnightish or later.
"For me, everything in storytelling starts from the characters . . . Once you have them, then you build your world and figure out the problem or problems they'll be facing."
Brad went on to explain that Misty spends two weeks to a month constructing an extensive story outline that contains action and some dialogue, but only a minimum of description.
She says, "As I go through, I can stop and think about what everything looks like, then start putting in the description, any additional dialogue adn scenes as they're needed."
There will be more from Brad Sinor's STARLOG interview with Misty in the next newsletter. STARLOG is sold in B. Dalton's and similar bookstores. I picked up my copy in a Petro Truck Stop, off the New Jersey Turnpike!
Another "p;Oops!" It's true that Steelwolf Armourie was commissioned to build the replica of Need that was presented to Misty at DreamCon and is crafting siblings. But, contact Firebird Arts & Music with inquiries or to place an order. Since each sword will be individually hand crafted, some choice over blade trim and leather is available. Write to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld. Firebird's website is at http://www.firebirdarts.com].
Other goodies from Firebird include hand crafted drums, limited edition prints by Larry Dixon, the Jody LEe book covers, T-shirts, and filk, filk, filk. All of Misty's books can be ordered from Firebird, too.
Send your holiday wishes to Misty and Larry in care of [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld. All fan mail to Misty should be sent to the High Flight address listed below.]. Please leave room on the envelope for the forwarding address. You can always write to Misty [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld. See below for the High Flight address.]
Jody Lee will be Artist Guest of Honor at Boskone 29 in Springfield, Massachusetts February 14-16 '92. She says "I'll be showing about 7 years worth of art so it should be a sight!" Send a SASE to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. Prints are still available for the "Vows and Honor" series (an edition of 250) and "The Last Herald Mage" (an edition of 350). Send a SASE [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
Misty is listed as Special Guest o fHonor at Chattacon 17, January 17-19 in Chattanooga. Send your SASE to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. Lots of QO folk are planning to attend--look for others in Whties!
Jacksonville is hosting CrackerCon March 13-15, 1992. The Guest of Honor is Misty, with Larry as Artist GoH and Doris Mager of Save Our American Raptors as special Guest on Saturday morning. Let's show Misty and LArry there be enthusiastic Heralds on the East Coast, too! For registration information, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
The Saint Louis Airport Hilton is the home of Name that Con 5, to be held May 1-3. Write to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
KeyCon 9 is May 15-17 at the Best Western International in Winnipeg. Terry Pratchett and Misty are Guests of Honor. Write to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
(Because the date was changed for BFAC, the Boise Fantasy Arts Con, Misty and LArry cannot attend as planned.)
From Greg Shaver, OryCon Art Show Chair:
"Greetings and Salutations, Heralds! Over the weekend of November 8, 9 & 10, a select group of volunteers appeared and impressed me not only with their competence and talent, but for unflagging enthusiasm and hard work unexpected in most volunteers. These several were part of the Pacific Northwest Collegium, Heralds all, and in formal whites which added unlooked-for elegance to the proceedings! (More than one comment on the appropriateness of HEralds running to cry announcements was overheard.) Whether during set-up, taking charge of some necessary facet of the show, or runing ubiquitous errands (and at several points where those 'in charge' were prepared to tear their own hair out), true to the ideals and principles of Heralds, these five showed a selfless, energetic and cheerful attitude infectious enough to carry the day. A very sincere Thank You to Tia Schmidt, Charlene Ryan, Glenda Schmidt, Cournty Crawford, and Deborah Stansbury, without whom I would have less hair today."--Greg Shaver, OryCon 13 Art Show Chair.
From Paul Fu, Jr., [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]: Magewinds, the newsletter for the Internet chapter of Queen's Own, is preparing to publish its first issue. All QO members with acces to e-mail on the Internet/BITNET/NSFNET/etc. and who are interested in receiving or contributing to Magewinds should send e-mail to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. Submissions are encouraged and welcomed and may be poetry, filksongs, letters or comments. Send to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. Problems sending can go to my USnail mail address or to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
There will soon be a QO chapter on GEnie--watch for it.
Place your order for the 1992 Sunhawk Calendar with Cris MArtins [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
For Whom the Bell Tolls is a role playing, pen pal club created to offer fans of Mercedes LAckey a chance to create personas in the scenario of Valdemar/Velgarth, and to develop them through letters and stories. For more information, please send a SASE t: [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
From Kevin Donesin, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]: I am still interested in starting a chapter/newsletter and am broadening the area to include all of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Of course, all are welcome from anywhere! Please write me and help me get this thing off the ground!
The second issue of Hearthfires (formerly Enchantress) will be available on January 15th. For guidelines and subscription information, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
"Do you live near Pittsburgh? Do you enjoy (or think you may enjoy) filk? A group of Pittsburgh filkers/Misty fen are trying to start some sort of organized filking here. If you'd like to get involved, contact me at [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].&uqot;
"Attention: The first issue of Tales of the Unicorn is ready. [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]"
"To all interested persons: Stormwinds, Winds of Velgarth's first zine, is ready for purchase. [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.] Also, WOV is still around. We are interested in getting you into the group. Send any inquiries for information on WOV or Stormwinds to: [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
"Attention, Central Plains inhabitants! The zine The Storyteller will soon be ready for submissions and will accept poems, stories, drawings, and advertisements. For guidelines and submissions for art & advertisements, write to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. Come one, come all!"
Sun and Shadow #1 is seeking art and a few more stories for its premiere issue. Sun and Shadow covers the HEralds of Valdemar. Justice is its companion zine, which if submissions permit, will cover the world of the Shin'a'in and non-Valdemar aspects of Misty's writing. Please also drop me a line if you're interested in submitting to Star Trek, Dr. Who, Robin Hood or other media zines. I am interested in being a mentor to any fledgling writer and have lots of zine addresses to pass on!--[Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.] (The newest newsletter of PErpetual Motion features a short section on Misty. Send me a SASE. Also, I'm doing a new Robin Hood zine, Kingdom of Outlaws--Patience)
If you are using Heralds or other characters from Misty's worlds in your RPGs, send that information to our Games Mentor Douglas Lent. He is often asked how to play Heralds; please share your ideas. Doug's address is [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
Vivki McElfresh, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.], sends apologies for the lateness of Companion's Rest, Issue #3. She is now accepting work for Issue 4 and is "in desperate need of artwork. Please, all artists in QO, send any work you can spare." Vicki would also like book and movie reviews. ,P> Wendy Sparkes (Herald Tarre), [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.] has designed ID cards for your Valdemar personas. The cards are [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. Please state which card is desired: Herald, Bard, HEaler, Shin'a'in, White Winds School of Sorcery. Please include a self-addressed envelope and an IRC (Internatioal Reply Coupon--buy at any post office). Tell Wendy your persona details, and she'll fill in the card for you, or it can be left blank.
For those who are interested in a zine on an alternate Pern and Valdemar, please send [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
Barbara McGowan sent news of a zine for letter writers. I'm curious, but too busy to write. If anyone does receive more information, please share it. The zine address is The Letter Exchange, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
Friends of the Pelagirs is the Pennsylvania, New Jersey & Delaware local chapter. We feature convention news, book reviews, and information on local places. [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. If you are interested, regardless of where you live, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.].
From Stephanie Anderson, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.], to everyone interested in the Shin'a'in newsletter, new and old: "please send your fifteen stamps in (if you haven't paid.) First newsletter is out!"
The Science Fiction Book Club cna be reached at [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. I suggested to them that they send me enrollment forms to pass out on request but they declined. Their special offers usually promise six free books when you join. Both Elvenbane and The Last Herald-Mage are available. If these books are not listed on the form you get, call Customer Service for their numbers.
To all future Heralds, Healers, Bard, and others who are creating personas: I will give five extra credit points if you send your stories and poems and art to one of our zines! Share your talents! Support our zines!
Thanks to the hard work of Pacific Northwest Coast Collegium members, we have a Helpful Handout of How to Become a Healer. On it, we give five points extra credit for learning CPR. We're going to add this to Herald requirements, too, as wll as extra points for martial arts training. And, both Healers and HEralds can get extra credit for being regular blood donors. Let's apply some Heraldic ideals to our mundane lives.
Welcome, Herald Heynna Kowa'kipe'sni Jerdyb N'Toka'he, Chosen by the mare Lyshmai and gifted with Mindspeech and Fetching. Kelly Anne Mummery sent descriptions of her persona and family and friends, a recipe, a sketch of Heynna, and a story.
Welcome, Berald Marlys Tatena'sa N'Toka'he, Chosen by the stallion Kadin and gifted with Mindspeech, Fetching and FarSight. From Maryalice Whitecliff Tomoeda came descriptions of MArlys and her family and firends, a sketch, a recipe and two stories.
From Rowan Fairgrove comes Herald Rohanna, Chosen by Randal and gifted with Mindspeech and Fetching. Rowan sent background information on Rohanna and friends, a recipe, and sketches of Rowan and Dori with explanations of their costumes.
Allison Edner introduces introduces Healer Veraina Cellaya. Veraina's special gift is Trauma Healing. Allison sent a description sheet, three stories, a letter home, and the academic schedule for a Healer.
Welcome, Herald Leena Hunter, Chsoen by Marley and gifted with Mindspeech and Fetching. Hilary Miller sent background information on her persona and a friend, a story, a picture of herself on horseback, and knows the care and feeding of horses.
From Paul Mathon comes Herald Storm Wyndbourne, Chosen by Camryn and gifted with Mindspeech and FireStarting. Paul sent information on Storm and his family and friends, five poems, and a story.
Annette Taylor introduces Herald Kymbrie Tavalynth, Chosen by Trene and gifted with Fetching and FarSight. Annette sent character descriptions, a story, a family tree, a Herald/Companion list, two drawings and a button design.
Welcome, Herald Cyric Silmaton, Chosen by Gedda and gifted with Empathy, Mindspeech, and weak Fetching. Ben Schindler sent background informaiton on Cyric and family, a Collegium entrant form and oath, a story and two poems.
From Debbie Delorme comes Herald Tiak Sunbinder, Chosen by the stallion Akanis and gifted with Mindspeech and Fetching. Debbie sent information on Tiak and his family and friends, two poems and told of her riding experience and her knowledge of horses.
Congratulations to you all. Now, send your work to one of out zines!
A sample Queen's Own newsletter is mailed to anyone who asks for informatino on the club, no matter what hte address. We're now big enough to attract a few crazies. Most of us are good people, BUT, re-read Tarma's story of the Snow Deamon. Do not assume that because a person is a QO member he or she has your best interests at heat. Do not participate in chain letters, fund raisers, or anything else that makes you feel uncomfortable. I have strong opinoins--that doesn't mean I know what's right for you. Investigate on your own, make your own decisions. Be careful out there!
If I am not printing your address correctly on the newsletter label, LET ME KNOW! If I get a newsletter back, I delete you from the membership list.
I received a request for help on forming a local chapter from someone who did not include a SASE, did not write her return address, and signed the letter with just her first name. How I could go through the membership list looking for that first name, and then I could try to match addresses with the stamped postal code, or I could go through the files and compare handwriting. But I won't. Come on, you all, I'm drowning in paper. Be considerate! (or be ignored)
Please "pay" for your fan message by answering at least one of the messages that appear in the same issue as yours. You may write to as many pen pals as you want without ever putting in a message yourself.
[Ed. Note 2003: Fan messages are not being posted online because of the personal information they contained.]
If your personal is addresed to one or two people, and all you want to say is "I'll write soon" send that message to your friend(s) on a postcard!
[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.]
Archivist and Organizer extraordinaire--Patricia Riggs [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]
Mailing Day Helpers (last issue)--Suzanne Brenner, Frank Burkhead, Joanne Mattern.
I wish you light and laughter, much happiness and good health, time to read and to daydream, and the energy and enthusiasnm to enjoy all life has to offer. Happy Holidays!--Judith.
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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
c/o High Flight Arts and Letters
P.O. Box 2970
Claremore, OK 74017
Zhai'helleva,
Herald-Mage Adept Danya Winterborn
