Heyla, Misty fans!
This month we continue series of interviews with the editors of the various Queen's Own fanzines and newsletters. The third editor we would like you to meet is Laura Cameron of the Pacific Northwest Collegium's Collegium Chronicles. (You'll find submission information below in the Fanzine section of this newsletter.)
Herald-Mage Master Danya Winterborn and Healer Adept Moonstar
"Unofficially," around 8 years ago. Er . . . Umm . . . I'm now in the process of "officially" joining. Really.
I picked up Arrow's Flight in the library because I'm a sucker for good cover art, and went out and bought the whole series because I'm also a sucker for a good story. I enjoy Misty's stories because she's not afraid to spotlight alternative lifestyles and beliefs and treat them as commonplace. Her use of strong female protagonists in many of her books--especially Diana Tregarde, Tarma and Kerowyn--kept me reading and wishing that I could meet these women in person!
Everything I can get my hands on--mostly fantasy and science fiction. Cross-genre works are my absolute favorite. I also read indie comics like A Distant Soil by Colleen Doran, The Desert Peach and Stintz by Donna Barr, Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore and Bone by Jeff Smith. After the demise of The Sandman, mainstream just doesn't cut it for me anymore. Non-fiction such as History, Arts & Crafts, Mythology, etc.
Depends on my current mood: Loreena McKennitt, Dead Can Dance, Classical, Nine Inch Nails, Various Soundtracks, Ethnic/World, Bluegrass, Folk, "New Age"--the occasional attack of 80's nostalgia--In other words, I have a wide range and eclectic taste.
Not counting the occasional Star Trek convention, the first con that had any fantasy leanings was the DreamCon-I-don't-remember-the-number) in Everett, WA where Misty was GoH. This is where I picked up a brochure about Pacific Northwest Collegium and learned about QO. The rest, they say, is history . . .
QO is a great opportunity to meet people of like mind who have a love of fantasy in general and of Misty's work in particular. Plus, it's a chance to meet and connect with people throughout the USA--and beyond.
PNWC was about to end after a lengthy six year run. I had the means and access to a computer, plus I had background in editing and a direction of where I wanted The Collegium Chronicles to go. Initially, I wanted to focus more on stories and art. So far (knock on wood), I've been lucky to have such a solid core base of talented folks to draw from.
Lots of blood--paper cuts and fingernail chewing; sweat--when I'm way behind on publication dates or am fighting for computer time with the rest of the family; tears--when the computer crashes before I have a chance to print out a master copy--or find a really dumb mistake after I've printed a whole run.
Seriously, the amount of time I spend on the newsletter sometimes comes in conflict with other aspects of my life. One sometimes cancels the other out.
Ideally? Good stories that I don't have to spend the time deciphering or correcting grammar. While they don't have to be set in Velgarth, persona stories (with the appropriate release forms) are welcome. Preferably, the authors would be contacted online so I can correspond with any questions. E-mailed submissions are strongly encouraged. Makes it easier for me to save to a disk and cut-and-paste later! As for artwork, fellow member Herald Alora and I supply the pictures. However, I would like to see fresh talent, and am always eager when someone is interested in submitting graphics or something new. As usual, black and white pictures are best.
I'm an artist by calling, and have started to participate in Con Art Shows mainly in the Seattle and Portland area. Costuming is also fun, especially at Cons where you can be as creative and weird looking as you like! My writing, alas, has taken the creative back burner for the time being, but I continually explore new ideas through my art. Just recently, I bought a previously-owned wire-strung Celtic harp and am in the process of taking lessons. It's one of the things I've always wanted to do and didn't want to keep putting off forever. It's harder than it looks--talk about my right had not knowing what my left hand is doing! Even so, I'm right proud to be carrying on an ancient and honorable tradition.
Here are the faires we know about that are happening in October. 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
ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE. Fax: 256-768-3005. E-mail: bwarren@fcs.k12.al.us. Website: http://www.geocities.com/alabamarenfaire. Address: PO Box 431, Florence, AL 35631-0431. Dates: 10/28/00 - 10/29/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
FOLSOM TOURNAMENT & RENAISSANCE FAYRE. Contact: Sandy Hilton, 916-355-7285. Address: 50 Natoma St., Folsom, CA 95630. Dates: 10/28/00 - 10/29/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
HANFORD CA, RENAISSANCE OF KINGS CULTURAL ARTS FAIRE. Fax: 559-582-1152. E-mail: info@RenOfKings.org. Website: http://www.RenOfKings.org. Address: Hanford, CA City Rec. Dept., Attn: D Terrell, 315 N Douty St., Hanford, CA 93230-3951. Site Address: Civic Auditorium Park, 400 North Douty Street, Hanford, CA 93230-3909. Dates: 9/30/00 - 10/01/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM.
RENAISSANCE PLEASURE FAIRE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. Fax: 707-453-0273. Website: http://www.renfair.com. Address: P.O. Box 7110, Nut Tree, CA 95696. Site Address: 1621 East Monte Vista Avenue, Vacaville, CA 95688. Dates: 9/02/00 - 10/15/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
SAINT PAUL NEWMAN CENTER RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Fax: 559-436-3430. E-mail: om@csufnewman.com. Website: http://www.csufnewman.com. Address: St Paul Newman Center, 1572 E. Barstow Ave., Fresno, CA 93710. Site Address: 1572 E. Barstow, Fresno, CA 93710-6503. Dates: 10/28/00 - 10/29/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM.
MEDIEVAL FAIR OF CAPE CORAL. Fax: 941-458-3852. E-mail: elitetrades@cs.com. Address:1013 S.E. 9TH Terrace, Cape Coral, FL 33990. Dates: 10/06/00 - 10/08/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
OLDE ENGLISH FAIRE. Fax: 815-732-7325. Website: http://www.essex1.com/people/strnghld. Address: PO Box 199, Oregon, IL 61061. Site Address: 1922 Illinois Rt 2 N, Oregon, IL 61061. Dates: 10/7/00 - 10/8/00. Open/Close: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
PERRY COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL RENNAISANCE FAIRE. E-mail: mikegibson58@yahoo.com. Address: 48 Luzern Lane, Tell City, IN 47586. Dates: 10/28/00 - 10/29/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
WYBREG VILLAGE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL (FALL). E-mail: brock@renfound.org. Website: http://www.renfound.org. Address: PO Box 40, Bonaparte, IA 52620. Dates: 10/7/00 - 10/22/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
GREAT PLAINS RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Fax: 520-447-2156. E-mail: info@eaglesrealm.8k.com. Website: http://www.eaglesrealm.8k.com. Address: P.O. Box 16326, Wichita, KS 67216. Site Address: Wiedemann Park, 1229 E. 85th St. N., Wichita, KS 67277. Dates: 9/30/00 - 10/01/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
MARYLAND RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Fax: 410-573-1508. E-mail: rennfest@erols.com. Website: http://www.rennfest.com. Address: PO Box 315, Crownsville, MD 21032-0315. Dates: 8/26/00 - 10/22/00. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM.
KING RICHARDS FAIRE. Fax: 612-238-9916. E-mail: info@kingrichardsfaire.net. Website: http://www.kingrichardsfaire.net. Address: P.O. Box 419, Route 58, Carver, MA 02330. Site Address: 235 S. Main St, Route 58, Carver, MA 02330. Dates: 9/02/00 - 10/22/00. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM.
AGE OF CHIVALRY RENAISSANCE AND CELTIC FESTIVAL. Fax: 702-455-8119. E-mail: fim@co.clark.nv.us. Address: 2601 E. Sunset Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89120. Dates: 10/13/00 - 10/15/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
CAROLINA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Fax: 704-896-5533. E-mail: carolinarenfest@royalfaires.com. Website: http://www.royalfaires.com. Address: P.O. Box 165, Davidson, NC 28036-0165. Site Address: 16445 Poplar Tent Rd., Huntersville, NC 28078-4620. Dates: 9/30/00 - 11/12/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM.
OHIO RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Fax: 513-897-7003. E-mail: info@renfestival.com. Website: http://www.renfestival.com. Address: PO Box 68, Harveysburg, OH 45032-0068. Site Address: 317 Brimstone Rd., Wilmington, OH 45177-8531. Dates: 8/26/00 - 10/15/00. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM.
CAERLEON MEDIEVAL FAIRE. E-mail: caerleonfaire@mail.com. Website: http://members.dencity.com/caerleonfair. Address: 1112 SW 77th Terrace, Oklahoma City, OK 73139. Dates: 10/20/01 - 11/04/01. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
KING ARTHUR FAIRE. E-mail: wnp@brightok.net. Website: http://www.kingarthurfaire.com. Address: P.O. Box 311, Davenport, OK 74026. Site Address: 4802 N. Graham Road, Stroud, OK 74079. Dates: 10/13/00 - 10/23/00. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM.
PENNSYLVANIA RENAISSANCE FAIRE. Fax: 717-664-3466. E-mail: royalspk@parenaissancefaire.com. Website: http://www.parenfaire.com. Address PO Box 685, Cornwall, PA 17016-0685. Site Address: 83 Mansion House Road, Cornwall, PA 17016. Dates: 8/18/00 - 10/15/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM.
DRACHENBURG RENAISSANCE FAIRE. E-mail: drachenburg@netzero.net. Website: http://drachenburg.homepage.com/. Address: 544 Nashville Pike, Suite #311, Gallatin, TN 37066. Dates: 10/07/00 - 10/29/00. Open/Close: 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM.
HAWKWOOD MEDIEVAL FANTASY FAIRE. Fax: 817-488-8182. E-mail: HawkwoodCEO@cs.com. Website: http://www.hawkwood.org. Address: PO Box 3222, Grapevine, TX 76099-3222. Site Address: RR 10, BOX 325, Roanoke, TX 76262-8558. Dates: 8/26/00 - 10/01/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM.
TEXAS RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Fax: 936-894-2391. E-mail: info@texrenfest.com. Website: http://www.texrenfest.com. Address 21778 FM 1774, Plantersville, TX 77363. Dates: 9/30/00 - 11/12/00. Open/Close: 9:00 AM.
WEST TEXAS RENAISSANCE FAIRE. E-mail: renfaire@camalott.com. Website: http://camalott.com/~renfaire. Address: 2347 N 6th, Suite 8, Abilene, TX 79603. Site Address: Perini Ranch, FM 39W, Buffalo Gap, TX 79508. Dates: 10/06/00 - 10/15/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM.
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.
These are the upcoming cons we know about. (Living in California, that's what I usually get information on.) Have any information about conventions in your area? Send it to us at Legend@malcor.com.
ALBACON 2000. E-mail: rothman@sff.net. Website: http://www.albacon.org/. Address: Albacon 2000, P.O. Box 2085, Albany, NY 12220-0085. Site Address: Ramada Inn, 450 Nott Street, Schenectady, NY. Dates: 10/6/00 - 10/8/00.
GAYLAXICON 2000. Website: http://www.lambdasf.org/g2k/index.html. Address: Gaylaxicon 2000, PO Box 1862, Annandale, VA 22003-9862. Site Address: Arlington Hilton & Towers, 950 N. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA. Dates: 10/6/00 - 10/9/00.
INCON 2000. Website: http://incon.skywalk.com/. Site Address: Spokane Shilo Hotel, E 923 Third Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202-2215. Dates: 10/27/00 - 10/29/00.
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.
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.
In the fanfiction world, Danya is the mother of triplet boys. In the real world, I am the mother of a four-year-old son, and I am about to become the mother of . . . well, we don't know if the baby will be a boy or a girl. What we are fairly certain about is that I will be induced in late October. That means that I'm already working on the November QO newsletter and will likely be sending it out early . . . or possibly late, if my second child decides to show up early of his/her own accord ::grin::. If you have anything for the November issue, make sure you send it to me as soon as possible!
In other news, if you would like to stop by and say "Heyla", my coauthor, C. Scott Littleton, and I will be signing copies of our book, From Scythia to Camelot, in Morrison Lounge at Occidental College (1600 Campus Rd., Los Angeles, CA) on Thursday, October 5, 2000 at 4:00 PM. I'd love to see you! For more information, e-mail me at Legend@malcor.com.
I also want to remind you that, as you prepare to do your holiday shopping, please consider purchasing from the Dragonlords' Bookstore at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/bkstore.htm. Books, videos, CDs, toys, electronics and much, much more are all available through this site, often at excellent discounts. A portion of the proceeds from every purchase goes to support Dragonlords, and Dragonlords is the group that grants Queen's Own free webspace, access to a PO box, and the like, covering Queen's Own's expenses so that we no longer have to charge for memberships. Your patronage is greatly appreciated!
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!
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 Herald Alora. 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