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

Heyla, Misty fans!

As people are starting to submit more persona projects to us and send more stories to the Queen’s Own-approved fanzines, we have been deluged with questions about when you need to use the release form that Misty requires for all fan fiction. Those questions have started us thinking that we need to go back and revise the Helpful Handouts to clarify when you need to fill out a release. Misty originally said (and it still says on the release form) that you only need to fill out the release if you write a "short story or novel" based on her work. She specified in the original Helpful Handouts that you do not need to fill out a release for "character sketches, poems or filk." This distinction was made quite a number of years ago, before the Net became ubiquitous and before several Supreme Court rulings on US Copyright law were handed down. The confusion that we’re seeing flood our e-mail boxes seems to stem from the definitions of these genres and the legalese in the release form. While we are not lawyers and our suggestions should in no way be taken as legal advice, we thought we would try to explain these terms and (hopefully) clear up some of the confusion.

A "short story" is essentially a prose narrative that is shorter and simpler than a novel. A "novel" is a long prose narrative that is usually complex. Of course, some "novels" are "short" (Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is less than 100 pages), and some "short stories" are rather long. Then, too, a "novel" like James Joyce’s Ulysses is filled with poetry, a stage play and several other genre forms, so "narrative prose" is not necessarily required for something to be categorized as a "novel." This has led to a distinction among literary scholars that essentially says that a short story concentrates on mood rather than plot whereas a novel relates human experiences. (Lost yet?)

We do not know what Misty meant by a "character sketch", but, according to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary: Tenth Edition this is a short narrative treatment that "resembles a short story" but that is a bit more informal. (How to tell a "character sketch" from a "short story" is something of a mystery to us.)

"Poetry" is a type of writing where the emphasis is on the language and the intention is to create an emotional response. But when a poem contains a plot, such as telling a story in bardic verse or epic style, then it becomes something of a matter of opinion whether that is really a poem or a short story (or novel, depending on the length) written in poetic style.

"Filk" is quite simply a headache. It can consist of parodies of existing songs or original music with words about science fiction or fantasy or the like. (Note: If you use an existing piece of music, you must parody the original song in order to avoid copyright infringement. If you simply take an existing tune and put new words to it, that is copyright infringement. If you write an original tune but use someone else’s words/lyrics, that is also copyright infringement.) The complication with the release form arises when the words of the song tell a story. (Is that a short story set to music?)

The release form used by Queen’s Own states in Item 1 that "I understand that, as the creator and copyright owner of the Valdemar and other series, you alone have the authority to authorize the preparation of derivative works based on the characters and world you have created in that series. I understand and acknowledge that the preparation of such a story constitutes a copyright infringement unless authorized by you. I acknowledge that the material submitted with this agreement is a derivative work based upon your previous work." (In this item, "I" is you the author of the derivative work, and "you" is Mercedes Lackey.) The key words in this item are "derivative works." According to Space 6 of the US copyright form for literary works (TX), "a ‘derivative work’ is ‘a work based on one or more preexisting works.’ Examples of derivative works include translations, fictionalizations, abridgments, condensations, or ‘any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed, or adapted.’" That strikes us as pretty broad, and the US Supreme Court is in the habit of interpreting copyright law in the broadest possible sense (which favors the original author).

Given the difficulty in telling the difference among short stories, novels, character sketches, poems and filk, with so much relying on the opinions of the person who is classifying the work, we strongly recommend that any time you write anything that is "based on" a work or works by Mercedes Lackey that you file the release with High Flight (for your protection and for Misty’s). Whether or not the release is "required" for a given piece is up to each fanzine editor to determine. From now on, however, we are requiring the release for anything that uses anything that Misty created (Companions and Heralds, Tayledras, the Star-Eyed, Vanyel, Kerowyn, Shin’a’in, anything that specifically comes from a work by Mercedes Lackey).

Since we now publish all submissions to Queen’s Own in Children of Velgarth, we have become increasingly concerned about our liability with respect to works that fall in the "grey area," that may or may not be considered by some people to be short stories. Therefore, we are going to be changing the "when to fill out the release form" rule on the Queen’s Own website and the Helpful Handouts. If you write a poem or filk about a unicorn, then you do not need to fill out the release. But if the poem or filk is about Vanyel and Bard Stefen, then we want to see the release filled out. We have also been seeing "character sketches" that are 5- to 10-page short stories inserted into the middle of a persona sheet taken from D&D or Pern or some other RPG-type form. This sort of thing has become so common (whether or not it is intended to get around the requirement for a release) that we are now requiring that the release be submitted for all "character sketches" as well. (Release forms are not required for art as long as you aren’t producing something like a storyboard or comic book.)

As it has long said on the Helpful Handouts, "Misty isn't trying to spoil our fun, but she must protect her interests." We want to make sure that you and all of our editors are protected as well. If you still have questions, feel free to contact Danya at Legend@malcor.com or Moonstar at healermoon@gmail.com, and we’ll do our best to answer you.

Have a great summer, and see you next month!

Zhai'helleva,

Herald-Mage Master Danya Winterborn and Healer Adept Moonstar

Ren Faires:

Here are the faires we know about that are happening in July. Faires are indexed alphabetically by state. Have any information about any other Ren Faires in your area? Send it to us at Legend@malcor.com

California

SANTA BARBARA RENAISSANCE FAIRE AND MIDSUMMER MARKET. FAX: 415-897-2162. E-mail: office@themeevents.com. Website: http://www.liveoakfaire.com. Address: 861 Sweetser Ave., Novato, CA 94945. Dates: 7/14/01 - 8/15/01. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

Washington

YE MERRIE GREENWOOD FAIRE. E-mail: eaglcrst@gte.net. Website: http://www.wizkeep.com. Address: 6015 W 20th Ave., Kennewick, WA 99338-1502. Site Address: Howard-Amon Park, Richland, WA 99352. Dates: 6/30/01 - 7/01/01. Open/Close: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

Wisconsin

BRISTOL RENAISSANCE FAIRE. FAX: 847-395-0547. E-mail: lmcfeters@recfair.com. Website: http://www.renfair.com. Address: 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha, WI 53142-7337. Dates: 6/30/01 - 8/26/01. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

For additional Ren Faire information, visit the Renaissance Faire Homepage at http://www.renfaire.com/ and the Renaissance Magazine site at http://www.renaissancemagazine.com.

Conventions:

These are the upcoming cons we know about. Have any information about conventions in your area? Send it to us at Legend@malcor.com.

Arizona

FBICON. E-mail: webmaster@flyingbuffalo.com, FBINC@aol.com. Website: http://www.flyingbuffalo.com. Address: Quality Suites, Scottsdale, Arizona. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

HEXACON 11. E-mail: the_lop@casfs.org. Website: http://www.casfs.org/hexacon/index.html. Address: Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

California

ANIME EXPO 2001. E-mail: reg@anime-expo.org. Website: http://www.anime-expo.org. Address: Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach Hyatt Hotel and the Long Beach Westin Hotel, Long Beach, California. Dates: 7/5/01 - 7/8/01.

COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL. E-mail: CCIWEB@NUCGEN.COM. Website: http://www.comic-con.org. Address: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California. Dates: 7/19/01 - 7/22/01.

COSTUME COLLEGE 2001. E-mail: darla@costumecollege.org. Website: http://www.costumecollege.org. Address: Airtel Plaza Hotel, Van Nuys, California. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

CRITTERCONDIEGO 2. E-mail: info@confurence.net. Website: http://confurence.net. Address: near San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California. Dates: 7/20/01 - 7/21/01.

POLYCON 2001. Website: http://polycon.punk.net. E-mail: polycon@polycon.org. Address: Trinity Dorm California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California. Dates: 6/29/01 - 7/1/01.

Colorado

XII-KHAN. E-mail: penny.tegen@itt.com. Website: http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/xkhan. Address: Ramada Inn, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Dates: 7/13/01 - 7/15/01.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN MEDIA CON. E-mail: zoerayne@chisp.net. Website: http://www.aithine.org/rmmc. Address: Denver Sheraton West, Lakewood, Colorado. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

Connecticut

RUNECON 2001. E-mail: runecon@runecon.com. Website: http://www.runecon.com. Address: Ramada Inn, Plainville, Connecticut. Dates: 7/20/01 - 7/22/01.

Florida

ANIME FESTIVAL ORLANDO 2. E-mail: fleggett@gate.net. Website: http://www.anime.jyu.fi/~fleggett/afo2. Address: Hilton Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Florida. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

FLORIDA CON-QUEST FT. LAUDERDALE. E-mail: FloridaConQuest@aol.com. Website: http://www.floridaconquest.com. Address: Inverrary Plaza Resort, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Dates: 7/20/01 - 7/22/01.

SUMMONING GAMING CONVENTION. E-mail: sido@themiamicircle.com. Website: http://www.themiamicircle.com/thesummoning. Address: Holiday Inn U.M. in Coral Gables, Miami, Florida. Dates: 7/21/01 - 7/22/01.

VULKON TAMPA. E-mail: joemotes@aol.com. Website: http://www.vulkon.com. Address: Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore, Tampa, Florida. Dates: 7/13/01 - 7/15/01.

Georgia

LUNAREVOLUTION. Website: http://www.lunarevolution.com. E-mail: lunarevolution@hotmail.com. Address: Savannah Marriott, Savannah, Georgia. Dates: 6/29/01 - 7/1/01.

SCI FI SUMMER ATLANTA 2001. E-mail: joeve@bellsouth.net. Website: http://www.sci-fi-summer.com. Address: Marriott Century Center, 2000 Century Blvd., Atlanta GA 30345-3377, (404) 325-0000. Dates: 7/6/01 - 7/8/01.

Illinois

G-FEST 2001: A JAPANESE MONSTER ODYSSEY. E-mail: johnlees@hanoversd.mb.ca . Website: http://g-fan.com/gfest2001.htm. Address: Radisson Hotel, Arlington Heights (Chicago), Illinois. Dates: 7/13/01 - 7/15/01.

SCI-FI FAN FESTIVAL 2001. Website: http://www.scififanfestival.com. E-mail: H1m2s3@aol.com. Address: Radisson Hotel O'Hare, Chicago, Illinois. Dates: 6/29/01 - 7/1/01.

Indiana

INCONJUNCTION 2001. E-mail: conchair@inconjunction.org. Website: http://www.inconjunction.org. Address: Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites, Indianapolis, Indiana. Dates: 7/13/01 - 7/15/01.

Kansas

CAMPBELL CONFERENCE. E-mail: jgunn@falcon.cc.ukans.edu. Website: http://falcon.cc.ukans.edu/~sfcenter Address: Alumni Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Dates: 7/7/01 - 7/8/01.

Louisiana

HOLLYWOOD EXPO. Website: http://www.hollywoodexpo.com. E-mail: scifiexpo@aol.com. Address: Shreveport Expo Hall, Shreveport, Louisiana. Dates: 6/30/01 - 7/1/01.

Maryland

CLASSIC FILMFEST 2001 FANEX 15. E-mail: midmar@aol.com. Website: http://www.midmar.com/filmfest.html. Address: Hunt Valley Inn, Baltimore, Maryland. Dates: 7/6/01 - 7/8/01.

DAGORHIR ALTHYNG CAMPOUT. E-mail: RavenRose@Dagorhir.com. Website: http://www.dagorhir.com. Address: Gaithersburg, Maryland. Dates: 7/20/01 - 7/22/01.

DEMICON X. E-mail: harfordadventure@hotmail.com. Address: Four Points Sheraton, Aberdeen, Maryland. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

SHORE LEAVE 23. E-mail: information@shore-leave.com. Website: http://www.shore-leave.com. Address: Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, Maryland. Dates: 7/13/01 - 7/15/01.

VIA 1936: HORROR - SPAIN. E-mail: vialarp@yahoo.com. Website: http://www.vialarp.org. Address: Hagerstown, Maryland. Dates: 7/14/01 - 7/15/01.

WBC. Website: http://www.boardgamers.org. E-mail: doncon99@toad.net. Address: Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, Maryland. Dates: 6/26/01 - 7/1/01.

Massachusetts

READERCON 13. E-mail: info@readercon.org . Website: . Address: The Burlington Marriott, Burlington, Massachusetts. Dates: 7/13/01 - 7/15/01.

STAR TREK. E-mail: sfedora1@aol.com . Website: . Address: Sheraton Framingham - Tara, Framingham, Massachusetts. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

TOTEMCON 2001. E-mail: info@totemcon.com . Website: . Address: Sheraton Ferncroft Resort, Danvers, Massachusetts. Date: 7/15/01.

Michigan

THE SISKO FAMILY REUNION. E-mail: emily@makeitsoproductions.com . Website: . Address: Hyatt Regency, Dearborn, Michigan. Dates: 7/21/01 - 7/22/01.

Minnesota

CONVERGENCE. E-mail: info@convergence-con.org . Website: . Address: Radisson, St. Paul, Minnesota. Dates: 7/6/01 - 7/8/01.

Missouri

GATEWAY SCI-FI/MEDIA CON. E-mail: gateway@stlf.org . Website: . Address: Henry VIII Inn & Lodge, St. Louis, Missouri. Dates: 7/6/01 - 7/8/01.

SAGACON. Website: http://sagacon.8m.com. E-mail: info@sagacon.8m.com. Address: Day Inn Hotel and Conferance Center, Springfield, Missouri. Dates: 6/29/01 - 7/1/01.

STARFLEET IC 2001. E-mail: ic2001@sfi.org . Website: . Address: Marriott Kansas City - Airport, Kansas City, Missouri. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

Nebraska

CONCUSSION 2001. Website: http://straylight.unl.edu/concussion. E-mail: comics@inetnebr.com. Address: Downtown Holiday Inn, Lincoln, Nebraska. Dates: 6/29/01 - 7/1/01.

New Hampshire

ODYSSEY. Website: http://www.nhc.edu/odyssey. E-mail: jcavelos@mindspring.com. Address: New Hampshire College, Manchester, New Hampshire. Dates: 6/11/01 - 7/20/01.

SYRAANDOR: NERO ALLIANCE NEW HAMPSHIRE. Website: http://www.syraandor.com. E-mail: Jester@Syraandor.com. Address: Claremont, New Hampshire. Dates: 6/29/01 - 7/1/01.

SYRAANDOR: NERO ALLIANCE NEW HAMPSHIRE. E-mail: Jester@Syraandor.com. Website: http://www.syraandor.com. Address: Claremont, New Hampshire. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

New Jersey

SHOUJOCON. E-mail: admin@shoujocon.com. Website: http://www.shoujocon.com. Address: Brunswick Hilton and Towers, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Dates: 7/14/01 - 7/15/01.

New York

NORTHEAST SUPERCON 2001. Website: http://www.supercon.org. E-mail: subspace@supercon.org. Address: Island Garden, West Hempstead (LONG ISLAND), New York. Dates: 6/30/01 - 7/1/01.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW YORK CITY: A HOMECOMING. E-mail: zenobia@zenitopia.com. Website: http://www.onceuponatimeinnyc.org. Address: Holiday Inn Midtown, New York, New York. Dates: 7/13/01 - 7/15/01.

North Carolina

BOTCON 2001. E-mail: info@botcon.com. Website: http://www.botcon.com. Address: Durham Marriott at the Civic Center, Durham, North Carolina. Dates: 7/14/01 - 7/15/01.

Ohio

ORIGINS 2001. E-mail: OriginsEvents@wizards.com. Website: http://www.OriginsGameExpo.com. Address: The Greater Columbus Convention Center and attached Hyatt Hotel, Columbus, Ohio. Dates: 7/5/01 - 7/8/01.

SCAPERCON 2001. E-mail: Heather@bluelady.org. Website: http://www.bluelady.org. Address: Cincinnati Marriott North, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dates: 7/28/01 - 7/29/01.

Oklahoma

CONESTOGA 2001. E-mail: kd.wentworth@sff.net. Website: http://www.sff.net/people/sfreader/conestoga.htm. Address: Sheraton Hotel, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

Oregon

WESTERCON 54 - PORTLAND 2001. E-mail: deaner@pacifier.com. Website: http://www.osfci.org/w2001/. Address: at both DoubleTree Hotels: Jantzen Beach & Columbia River, Portland, Oregon. Dates: 7/5/01 - 7/8/01.

Pennsylvania

ANTHROCON 2001. E-mail: anthrocon@anthrocon.org. Website: http://www.anthrocon.org. Address: The Adam's Mark Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

CONFLUENCE 13. E-mail: confluence@spellcaster.org. Website: http://trfn.clpgh.org/parsec/conflu/index.html. Address: Four Points Sheraton, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dates: 7/20/01 - 7/22/01.

HISTORICON 2001. E-mail: kingjt@aol.com. Website: http://members.aol.com/kingjt/HCPEL.html. Address: Lancaster Host Resort, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Dates: 7/19/01 - 7/22/01.

XANODRIA MEDIEVAL FANTASY. E-mail: info@xanodria.com. Website: http://www.xanodria.com. Address: Blue Mountain Campground, Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Dates: 7/7/01 - 7/8/01.

Rhode Island

NECON 21. E-mail: boothd@panther.adelphi.edu. Website: http://www.para-net.com/~necon. Address: Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island. Dates: 7/19/01 - 7/22/01.

WIZARDS GATHERING 2001. E-mail: nproulx@aol.com. Website: http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/nproulx. Address: Best Western Bay Point Inn, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Date: 7/14/01.

Tennessee

GAMEFEST-CLARKSVILLE. E-mail: tina@advantageconvention.com. Website: http://www.advantageconvention.com. Address: The Action Sports Plex, Clarksville, Tennessee. Dates: 7/20/01 - 7/22/01.

Texas

BIG D COLLECTIBLES SHOW. Website: http://www.collectortimes.com/cons_Tx.html. Address: Dallas, Texas. Dates: 7/9/01 - 7/11/01.

THE BORG COLLECTIVE. Website: http://www.makeitsoproductions.com. E-mail: emily@makeitsoproductions.com. Address: Adam's Mark Hotel, Dallas, Texas. Dates: 6/30/01 - 7/1/01.

CONSORTIUM - A SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY, & GAMING CONVENTION. Website: http://www.con-sortium.org. E-mail: corvaire_y@yahoo.com. Address: Radisson Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas. Dates: 6/29/01 - 7/1/01.

HOLLYWOOD EXPO. E-mail: scifiexpo@aol.com. Website: http://www.hollywoodexpo.com. Address: Convention Center, Plano, Texas. Dates: 7/14/01 - 7/15/01.

Virginia

CASTLECON 14. E-mail: cherylz@fantek.org. Website: http://www.fantek.org/fantek2/ccon/index.html. Address: Dulles Hilton, Herndon, Virginia. Dates: 7/6/01 - 7/8/01.

Australia

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS 12. E-mail: alc@nlc.net.au. Website: http://www.bobw.com.au. Address: Southern Cross Hotel, Sydney, Australia. Dates: 7/21/01 - 7/22/01.

DWARFCON. E-mail: nazgul@netlink.net.au. Website: http://www.bad-sports.com/~dwarfcon/index.html. Address: Lyndale Secondary College, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia. Dates: 7/6/01 - 7/8/01.

ILLAWARRA GAMES WEEKEND. E-mail: kcarcas@hotmail.com. Website: http://www.ozE-mail.com.au/~tarim/rpg/calendar.htm. Address: The Illawarra Senior College, Illawarra, Australia. Dates: 7/15/01 - 7/17/01.

OZCON 2001. E-mail: toowoomba_gaming_club@hotmail.com. Website: http://www.geocities.com/ozcontwba. Address: Harristown State High School Assembly Hall, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Dates: 7/7/01 - 7/8/01.

Canada

ALBERTA COMIC COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION COMIC & TOY SHOW. E-mail: reddskullcomics@home.com. Website: http://www.cadvision.com/acca. Address: S.A.I.T 16th Ave North West, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dates: 7/7/01 - 7/8/01.

ANIMETHON 8. E-mail: dross@ualberta.ca. Website: http://www.anime-alberta.org. Address: Grant MacEwan Community College, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Date: 7/2001

ATLANTICON. Website: http://www.atlanticon.org. E-mail: info@atlanticon.org. Address: Delta Prince Edward, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Dates: 6/29/01 - 7/1/01.

TORONTO TREK 2001. E-mail: tcon@icomm.ca. Website: http://www.icomm.ca/tcon. Address: Description: Science Fiction Convention. aka TT15, Regal Constellation Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dates: 7/20/01 - 7/22/01.

Czech Republic

PARCON. E-mail: londo@babylon5.cz. Address: Czech Republic. Dates: 7/6/01 - 7/8/01

Finland

FINNCON-BALTCON 2001. E-mail: ari.veintie@pp.htv.fi. Website: http://www.finncon.org. Address: University oj Jyväskylä, Helsinki, Finland. Dates: 7/14/01 - 7/15/01.

France

28TH FRENCH NATIONAL SF CONVENTION. E-mail: AlainHuet@aol.com. Website: http://www.multimania.com/bpara/conv2001/accueil.htm. Address: St. Denis, Paris, France. Dates: 7/12/01 - 7/15/01.

JAPAN EXPO. Website: http://www.japan-expo.com. Address: Espace Austerlitz, Paris, France. Dates: 6/29/01 - 7/1/01.

WORLD DIPCON 2001. E-mail: thibault.constans@vnumail.com. Website: http://www.diplomaticcorps.org. Address: Maison de l'Europe, Paris, France. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

Germany

AURYN 2001. E-mail: info@fsfev.de. Website: http://www.fsfev.de. Address: Waldheim Tannenberg, Böblingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Dates: 7/14/01 - 7/15/01.

FEENCON.01. Website: http://beam.to/feencon. E-mail: gildenmeister@gfrev.de. Address: Kulturzentrum Herne, Herne (Northrhine West), Germany. Dates: 6/30/01 - 7/1/01.

Ireland

Q-CON 2001. Website: http://www.quis.qub.ac.uk/ds. E-mail: Dragonslayers@qub.ac.uk. Address: Staff & Post Graduate Common Room, College Gardens, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Ireland. Dates: 6/29/01 - 7/1/01.

New Zealand

AUCKLAND DIPLOMACY CHAMPIONSHIPS. E-mail: willb@esp.co.nz. Website: http://www.ak2001.cjb.net. Address: Newmarket Returned Services Club, Auckland, New Zealand. Dates: 7/14/01 - 7/15/01.

Norway

SHADOWCON 6. E-mail: shadowcon5@hotmail.com. Website: http://www.shadowproject.org. Address: Sophus Bugges/Sophus Lies Hus Blindern, Blindern, Oslo, Norway. Dates: 7/01.

South Africa

GENCON SA 2001. E-mail: gracrom@icon.co.za. Website: http://www.rpga.co.za. Address: Edenvale Community Center, Johannesburg, South Africa. Dates: 7/14/01 - 7/15/01.

Turkey

CRUISE TREK 2001. Website: http://members.aol.com/cruisetrek. E-mail: cruisetrek@aol.com. Address: Istanbul , Turkey. Dates: 6/26/01 - 7/8/01.

United Kingdom

2001: A CELEBRATION OF BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION. Website: http://www.liv.ac.uk/~asawyer/2001.html. E-mail: asawyer@liverpool.ac.uk. Address: University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. Dates: 6/28/01 - 7/1/01.

AMBERCON UK. E-mail: ssu96sp@reading.ac.uk. Website: http://www.aparker.co.uk/amber. Address: Renaissance Hotel, Reading, England. Dates: 7/13/01 - 7/15/01.

ATTACK. E-mail: general_attack@hotmail.com. Website: http://www.geocities.com/ddwguk. Address: Devizes Corn Exchange, Devizes, Wiltshire, Great Britain. Dates: 7/14/01 - 7/15/01.

CON-STRUCTION. E-mail: con_struction@hotmail.com. Website: http://members.xoom.com/con_struct. Address: Cardiff, UK. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

CONTINUUM 2001. E-mail: info@continuum2001.co.uk. Website: http://www.continuum2001.co.uk. Address: Glasgow Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland. Dates: 7/14/01 - 7/16/01.

MANORCON. E-mail: manorcon@diplom.org. Website: http://www.diplom.org/manorcon. Address: Shackleton Hall, Birmingham University, Birmingham, England, UK. Dates: 7/20/01 - 7/23/01.

NEXUS 2001. E-mail: nexus2001@enterthenexus.com. Website: http://www.enterthenexus.com. Address: Jarvis International Hotel, Bristol, UK. Dates: 7/6/01 - 7/8/01.

ROCOCOCON. E-mail: rocococon@firedrake.org. Website: http://www.rocococon.org. Address: New Hall College, Cambridge, UK. Dates: 7/20/01 - 7/22/01.

STARFURY: CHARIOTS OF WAR 3. Website: http://www.cleopatra2525.co.uk. E-mail: SeanHarry@aol.com. Address: Radisson Edwardian Hotel, London, England, UK. Dates: 6/30/01 - 7/1/01.

STAR QUEST UK. E-mail: starquestuk@aol.com. Website: http://www.wolfevents.co.uk. Address: Norbreak Castle, Blackpool, England, UK. Dates: 7/28/01 - 7/29/01.

SUMMER STABCON. E-mail: hammy@riverbank.win-uk.net. Website: http://www.philm.demon.co.uk/RPGs/conventions.htm. Address: Woolton Hall, on the Fallowfield Campus of the University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. Dates: 7/6/01 - 7/8/01.

UK GAMES FEST 2001. E-mail: utopian.tiger@virgin.net. Website: http://freespace.virgin.net/utopian.tiger/gf.htm. Address: Sportcentre, Harlow, Essex, England. Date: 7/7/01.

VOYAGER THE RETURN. E-mail: starquestuk@aol.com. Website: http://www.wolfevents.co.uk. Address: Norbreak Castle, Blackpool, England, UK. Dates: 7/27/01 - 7/29/01.

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

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 $0.34 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: It’s back! Arrows OnLine has returned as an official chapter of Queen’s Own. To find them, go to Keyword Mercedes Lackey on AOL. Click on Mercedes Lackey Fandom. You can see their chatroom, Companion’s Grove, at that point, but to get to the message boards, click on Message Boards. For the Arrows message boards, click on Mercedes Lackey Fan Group (The other option, Mercedes Lackey’s Fiction, is a general discussion of Misty’s books and is not part of Arrows.). If you get lost or have additional questions, contact the Arrows Dean, Herald Ryhannon Gaia Degent, at MistyKalia@aol.com.
• Austral'a'in: Austral'a'in is a chapter of QO that has been running for more than five years now. Despite the name, which is a combination of Latin and Shin'a'in for "People of the South", we don't just have members south of the equator. Rather, anyone is welcome! Snail Mail: Austral'a'in, c/o Cassandra Vuksa, P.O. Box 1850, Woden ACT 2606 Australia. E-mail: garou@netspeed.com.au.

• Golden Grove: Membership is open to all. Send all questions to Golden Grove, c/o Theresa Young, 2573 Blue Heron Dr., Hudson, OH 44236. To query by e-mail, contact minna@adelphia.net. Visit our website at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/danyagg.htm for more information. (See ad below.)

• Herald's Waystation: This chapter covers the Gulf Coast Region, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisana, and adjacent. We plan to hold get-togethers during a Rennie Faire centered in these states; details to be announced later. We will have a quarterly snail mail newsletter called Companion's Quarterly. We are not going to charge new members for the first 3 newsletters; after that it will be 75 cents per newsletter. We will also have an online, nonfiction newsletter. Look for details and other fun stuff when we launch our chapter website. Snail mail: Jan Tallevast, Rt 1 Box 137, Milford, Tx 76670. E-mail: heraldauralynn@hotmail.net and HeraldEnyo@gmail.com. For more information visit our website at http://deserthorses.com/heraldswaystation.

• Pacific Northwest Collegium: Newsletter: Collegium Chronicles. $8 per year/$4 for a half-year, $2 per issue. Website: http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/danyacc.htm. General inquiries to: anjakiya@hotmail.com. (See ad below for more details.) Collegium Chronicles Back Issues: The Danya Winterborn Saga: 4 B&W issues: $4.00 each, 2 Full color issues: $6.00. Please allow 2-4 week delivery.

• The Vanyel Fan Club: 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. E-mail: VanyelFanClub@hotmail.com; Herald Bastian, President aka Western Guardian (herald_bastian@hotmail.com); Herald-Mage Master Danya Winterborn, Guardian of Questions aka Northern Guardian (Legend@malcor.com); Herald Kaeldra, Guardian of Trainees/New Heralds aka Eastern Guardian (healermoon@gmail.com). (The position of Southern Guardian, editor of the VFC newsletter, is currently open. Several people are interviewing for it.) There are currently no dues, but dues will probably be set at $10 per year for people who wish to subscribe to a hardcopy of the newsletter/zine. For more information, see the VFC website at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/vfcindex.htm.

Zines and Newsletters:

• Austral'a'in: Editor: Cassandra Vuksa, P.O. Box 1850, Woden, ACT 2606, Australia, E-mail: garou@netspeed.com.au. We print fiction (both fanfic on Velgarth and other fantasy stories), poetry, art, reviews, recipes, articles, personas, penpal ads and stacks more! Each issue is eight pages (four double-sided) and you get eight issues a year for the measly cost of $8 Australian (or 8 x 45 cent stamps) for Australians, or $12 Australian (or 15 IRCs) for people overseas. (If you can't get Australian funds or IRCs, e-mail me, because we might be able to negotiate some other form of payment, such as CDs that are unavailable in Australia!) The cost of membership covers postage and printing - we're a strictly not-for-profit group. If you are interested in more information, or have stories or other submissions that you would like to see published, contact me! Attention all writers and artists: Austral'a'in is desperately seeking submissions. We are also always looking for new members. Please? Contact me (Cassandra) at garou@netspeed.com.au for details!

• Children of Velgarth: Editor: Kendra Renaud, P.O. Box 749, Laguna Beach, CA 92652. 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. Volume 2, Issue 2 is now available! For the contents list and additional information, visit http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/qozine.htm. (Special Note: Make sure you use the P.O. Box Address and not my home address since I’m moving at the end of May. I don’t want any orders to go astray.)

• Collegium Chronicles: Editor: Laura Cameron, Pacific Northwest Collegium. E-mail: anjakiya@hotmail.com. The Venerable Pacific Northwest Collegium is looking for a few good writers and artists for its newsletter Collegium Chronicles. It would e preferable if folks had e-mail access. I am looking for stories that are primarily fantasy--QO persona requirements are acceptable, so long as they are in story format. Poetry, articles and essays also welcome. Come join us in what will be the final year of this nearly decade-long newsletter. $8 per year/$4 for a half-year, $2 per issue. Final issue will be June/July of 2001. Get your dues in early reap the full benefits! Great artwork (see our webpage at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/danyacc.htm) great stories, news of local events in the Pacific Northwest area. All are welcome. (P.S. If anyone is interested in taking over the Chronicles after next summer, let me know! I'd hate to see such a noble creature die out.)

• Companions' Grove: Editor: Devin Harris (Blue Devyn). It's back! The venerable warhorse--uh, make that venerable Companion <g>--of QO 'zines is resuming publication. Plans are underway to bring old issues back into print as well. For submission and subscription information visit http://greendragon.fanspace.com/misty.html or write to Green Dragon Press, c/o Devin Harris, 4531 N Kelishan St., Pahrump, NV 89060. If you have any of the original publications, please contact Blue Devyn at devin@greendragonpress.net. She's attempting to bring the old issues back into print in addition to offering new issues.

• Companion's Quarterly. The snail mail newsletter of Herald's Waystation (See chapter description above.). We are not going to charge new members for the first 3 newsletters; after that it will be 75 cents per newsletter. Snail mail: Jan Tallevast, Rt 1 Box 137, Milford, Tx 76670. E-mail: heraldauralynn@hotmail.net and HeraldEnyo@gmail.com. For more information visit our website at http://deserthorses.com/heraldswaystation.

• Dreamscape. Editor: Laura Cameron, Pacific Northwest Collegium. E-mail: anjakiya@hotmail.com. A 'zine totally devoted to fantasy art and artists is looking for submissions: black & white AND color. DREAMSCAPE will feature beautiful artwork, articles, Interviews with professional artists and other goodies pertaining to the fantasy art world. The frequency--and size of the 'zine depends on the amount of submissions and interest. The first issue will be out in the Spring of 2001! Approx. 20 pp., $10. Contributors get a $2 discount! If you have ideas, articles, artwork, and general inquiries, please send them to Laura Cameron at anjakiya@hotmail.com. Please stay tuned for more information!

• Golden Grove: Editor: Theresa Young. E-mail: minna@adelphia.net. A subscription to the newsletter is $4 US or twelve stamps per year. Foreign subscriptions are nine IRCs a year. Send your subscription requests and all questions to Golden Grove, c/o Theresea Young, 2573 Blue Heron Dr., Hudson, OH 44236. Visit our website at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/danyagg.htm for more information.

• Herald's Companion: Editor: Karen Bertke, 5694 Scarborough Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45238, E-mail: krbertke@bertke.com.

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.

• Marion Zimmer Bradley: Marion Zimmer Bradley's FANTASY Magazine. is being discontinued. Please contact us if you have any additional information about the future of her fandom.

• 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, Legend@malcor.com.

• Anne McCaffrey/Pern: The Third Pass Weyrs. Contact Weyrwoman Second Naerah at Nyco@aol.com or visit the website at http://www.3rdpass.com/ for more information.

• 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.

• Michae 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 email 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 e-mail vze28fbf@verizon.net or snail mail me at Jennifer Mackay-Douglas, 970 Main Street, Clifton Park, NY 12065. Check out our website at http://geocities.com/area51/atlantis/6270.

• 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 http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/qohandouts.htm.

You need a release form (online at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/qomlrel2.htm) 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 Legend@malcor.com and healermoon@gmail.com.

• Welcome to Tayledras Adept Fireblade k’Treva, Gifted with Mindspeech with Bondbirds, Humans and Other Races, and her Bondbird Kyr'na (a red-tailed hawk)! Kristi wrote about Fireblade and her family and her friends, drew a picture of her persona and wrote a poem.

From Healer Adept Moonstar:

Heyla, all!

I am sure you have been wondering about my move. I have finally settled down into my new house and have all the boxes unpacked. I got here June 11th, and found that my garage was stuffed floor to ceiling with my belongings. Thank you to Danya, who blew an entire day watching the movers, put it there. Only one thing disappeared, one of my brand new dog beds. <grrr> However, the damage to my other furniture, if it happened at all was minor and nothing to complain about. My pictures are up though to be quite honest the entire house needs new paint on the inside. Something else to chalk up to my to-do list, along with the large list of minor remodeling we want to do.

It is wonderful to live a couple of doors down from Danya. Yes that really worked out in my favor, and hers. We have spent a couple of days already huddled around her computer trying to catch up on pending personas and web pages that we have realized need to be changed. The main issue of releases we agonized over for better than a week, we don’t want anyone to have trouble with something that should have had a release and didn’t. We will also be updating our helpful handout pages in the next couple of months, so watch for that.

Another issue I wanted to bring up to everyone is “Children of Velgarth.” I am interested in doing zine or newsletter trades for those editors that I don’t have the agreement with yet. Most of you I think I do. Please contact me at healermoon@gmail.com to check. And I am hoping some of you with older personas will contribute your persona to me for the next issue. Volume 2, Issue 2 is in the works, Volume 2, Issue 1 is in the copy editing stage. Basically, like most of the zine editors I am sending out a plea for more submissions. More submissions allow me to put out more issues.

Thanks for all of your support during the move. Hearing from all of you always brightens my day.

Hugs,

Moonstar

Fan Messages:

The newsletter is routinely posted to the Net. If you are concerned about your address falling into unfriendly hands, don't place a fan message! You may answer fan messages without ever placing one yourself. The editors reserve the right to edit--and shorten!--all messages. (Remember to tell your Post Office about your alternative name if you wish to receive mail addressed to your persona at an addressed where you receive mail under your real name.)

The only "fee" for a fan message is to write to two other people. If your mailbox is empty, don't complain--write letters!

• From Jennifer Mackay-Douglas (vze28fbf@verizon.net) to all her old pen pals (and some new ones, I hope): I got married in May 99 and I moved around so much I lost track of my old pen pals. My interests include reading soft SF, short stories (primarily Asimov's because of budget), and fantasy. Nonfiction topics I usually read include: vegetarian cooking, pet care, natural health, history (my hubby and I do Civil War reenacting), and science research on genetic engineering (for my in-progress SF novel). I love going to SF/F cons, enjoy roleplay gaming, watching movies and TV. (I especially love Farscape on the Sci-Fi Channel.) I love all forms of Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and a ton of other shows and movies. I enjoy reading Misty, Tad Williams, Kate Elliott, Llewellyn, Tolkien, Ray Bradbury, Ursula K. LeGuin, Louise Cooper, Tara K. Harper, and many more! Write me snail mail or email and I'll write you back. :-) Send snail letters via the US Post Awful to: Jennifer Mackay-Douglas, 970 Main Street, Clifton Park, NY 12065.
• From Crystal Sarakas Kocher (crys@stny.rr.com) 26-year-old radio/television producer looking for friends who enjoy long, silly conversations, dreaming of Valdemar and other such things. I would love to hear from old friends that I have lost touch with over the years and from new friends, too!

• From White Winds Soceress Shadow Weaver. I am looking for gothic and sci/fi fantasy events in Ohio/KY/Indiana/West Virginia to merchant at. If you have any info please e-mail cimeshadow@aol.com or snail mail Lisa Brawner at P.O. Box 8335, Lexington, KY 40533-8335.

• From Herald-Mage Hedge Wizard Jensen Redstart/Kat Knafelc dragonfodder@gmail.com. 22-year-old college grad going back for her Master's in Ecology in the fall. Loves reading, writing, fandom, Scooby-Doo and comic books.

Personals:

• From: Healer Adept Moonstar. To: All. Re: QO Newsletter. Needed February 88 through March 91, Queen's Own newsletters. I am creating an archive for the club, and as you can see we are listing all the approved personas on the site. Anyone with these newsletters please send COPIES to the Queen's Own address, P.O. Box 749, Laguna Beach, CA 92652. Thank you very much.

• 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 Legend@malcor.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.

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

Co-Editor/Co-President Healer Adept Moonstar (Kendra Renaud; AOL-IM SN healermoon; healermoon@gmail.com)

The featured artist for this online version of the newsletter is Laura Cameron. 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 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 Master Danya Winterborn and

Healer Adept Moonstar

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