(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:
QUESTIONS, WE GET QUESTIONS . . . Although some of you may be tempted to laugh at some of these questions, or perhaps raise an eyebrow, please keep in mind that once-upon-a-time you too had to ask someone, or look up the answer, if the explanation wasn't clearly stated/printed the first time you heard/read about it.
SASE stands for Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope . . . [Ed. Note 2002: and is pronounced "Sassy", which is why we have a different opinion from the original editors about whether it is preceded by an "a" or an "an".] IRC [we think] is an International Reply Coupon [Ed. Note 2002: It is.] . . . You may send messages to other fans through our PERSONALS or FANMESSAGES columns [Ed. Note 2002: We prefer you use the QO chat list or private Delphi forum.]. These are not ads/advertisements. There is no charge. I do ask/beg/plead/harangue fans to print/type their messages, however, and have been known to threaten to eviscerate those which go on, and on, and on, and . . . The insert in some welcome-to-our-world letters is a bookplate, to paste inside the cover of one of Misty's books, with her [illegible] signature on it . . .
Membership in The Queen's Own is simplicity itself; once you've sent Judith your stamps and received our fanletter, you're a member. [Though if we keep growing in number, we may have to ask for dues out of financial necessity.] [Ed. note 2002: Instead of asking for dues these days, we ask that you create a persona. The persona types available are listed at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/qohandouts.htm.] . . . A map of Misty's "world" is in the we're-thinking-about-it state . . . "Zhai'helleva" means "Wind to thy Wings" . . . Misty will write about how one becomes a Herald. Until you read what her criteria are, and see whether or not you qualify or still have some work to do, it might be wise to hold off declaring oneself a Herald . . . Jody Lee has produced some prints of the covers of Misty's books. They have been available at some cons. We're working on making them more readily available to you . . .
FROM JUDITH: To all you patient people who have asked about Doctor Who; the national fan club is "Friends of Doctor Who" [Ed. note 2002: Out-of-date address withheld.] Membership is $5 for a badge and four issues of their newsletter. Send a SASE for more info . . .
Esotericon describes itself as a "religious and philosophical conference." It will be held in the Newark, NJ, area January 12-15, 1990. If you are interested in the non-traditional religions, this con is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about them in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Send me a SASE or call me at [Ed. Note 2002: Phone withheld.]. I am not connected with the con, but I plan to attend and I will try to answer your questions. Please do not call after 11 p.m. . . . !
For you Blake's 7 fans, Amy Manring is again making crystal beaded Liberators for your Christmas tree. These miniature DSV's come in white or red clear crystal. (I couldn't decide which I preferred, so I have one of each.) Send a SASE to Amy at [Ed. Note 2002: Address withheld.] for price information . . .
Last, but not least, thanks to all who sent stamps, and a reminder that if you want a sample fanletter sent to a friend you should send me a stamped envelope addressed with the friend's name.
WE ALSO GET REQUESTS, AND OFFERS OF HELP . . . Some of you have asked for pictures of Misty and a brief biography. Denise Park has been both generous and gracious enough to offer to send a copy of same from the August GenCon [Portland, OR] program for a SASE. Write her at [Ed. Note 2002: Address withheld.] Thanks, Denise!
A REMINDER FROM SALLY, to send requests for The Queen's Own--Mercedes Lackey buttons to our Post Office Box. And please make the check/money order out to Sally Paduch, not to QO. [We don't have a checking account.] [Ed. Note 2002: Out-of-date pricing information omitted.]
HOW AND WHERE TO GET MISTY AND LARRY'S STATIONERY AND BOOKPLATES, ETC. Through an oversight, we neglected to tell you in the August-September fanletter how to order High Flight Productions' [that's the name of their company] stationery and bookplates with the gryphon and/or lion designs.
FIREBIRD ARTS & MUSIC, INC., [Ed. Note 2002: Out-of-date contact info omitted. See their website at http://firebirdarts.com.] is offering these handsome items in addition to Misty's books and tapes. If you're impatient, you can write for their catalog. If you're really impatient, or are [sigh] beginning to think in terms of Christmas or other types of gifts, you can call Teri Lee at [Ed. Note 2002: Phone withheld.]. However, if you tend to procrastinate like we sometimes do, you can wait for our November-December fanletter in which we'll include a mini-catalog.
The stationery includes 10 printed sheets, 10 plain sheets, 10 printed envelopes, and 10 printed envelope stickers for [Ed. Note 2002: Out-of-date pricing info omitted.]. Be sure to say whether you want the gryphon on [rich] grey parchment or the lion on [equally rich] antique parchment.
Firebird accepts credit cards for orders over $25, otherwise please send a check or money order.
JULIE BOWNMAN'S COMPANIONS ARE AGAIN AVAILABLE! Continuing in the-holidays-are-coming mode, (and thinking not only of gifts for others, but for ourselves as well,] we are delighted to report that Julie is back in Companion production, having found a new supply of real silver bells for the harness.
For those of you who didn't see our reproduction of Julie's Companion in the November 1988 fanletter, these 10" tall soft sculptures are of white velour, with manes and tails of long white fur. The saddle pads are blue velvet and their tack includes a silver braid bridle and reins hung with bells. Their eyes, of course, are blue.
If you'd like to order one, [Ed. Note 2002: Out-of-date pricing and contact info withheld.]. She also makes fire lizards and Purrnese cats, among others.
RE RICHARD CORBIN FIASCO AND THE IT-NEVER-CAME-TO-PASS FANZINE "VOICES OF VALDEMAR": Richard wrote to both Judith and myself with lots of ideas and great plans for a Mercedes Lackey fanzine called "Voices of Valdemar". He even had Misty's okay. We told you all to send material to him . . . And he's never contacted us, or any of those who sent him their efforts, since. [The last letter I received was in January 1989.] Sorry, children.
OTHER ZINES MORE THAN COMPENSATE, like the ones listed below. For information on how to subscribe or submit material, send [one more time] a SASE with your request.
[Ed. Note 2002: Out-of-date fanzine info withheld.]
Most of these ladies are members of QO, and others of you, we're learning, are contributors. We'd mention names, but [not having a current mailing list handy] we don't want to take the chance of leaving anyone out, and some of you occasionally use noms de plumes.
CON REPORTS KEEP COMING IN and when they're about cons Misty has attended we'll put them in, as space and time allow. From Lynne Luerding about Con VI in August, "It was great to see Misty and the people from Firebird [Arts and Music] and to meet the artist Larry Dixon. It was a small con so it was easy to meet the guests and make most of the panels. I spent my time at the filk singing, so I can't tell anyone about the dancing, but did see some interesting costumes now and then. Which reminds me. In one of the restuarants near by, a waitress mentioned that someone came in and poked holes in the seats with something on [his/her] costume. This doesn't give us a good name in the area and makes it hard to find a place to hold conventions. If you can't change for dinner, at least take off your sword, morningstar, chains, etc. before you leave the con . . . "
Ana Casacuber wrote of Worldcon. [We're only sorry we can't include everything she wrote, which was both fun and funny to read.] "First of all, the convention was huge--6,000 people were there! The dealers' (hucksters') room felt as big as a football field (ok, maybe not THAT big . . . but it was big anyway!) . . . The art show was really nice . . . The Masquerade was very nice too--some of the costumes looked like they'd spent months making them . . . I didn't get a chance to attend many talks, but I enjoyed them a lot. My favorite was about the "10 worst fantasy topics"--from sickeningly pure unicorns to evil dragons and pure maidens, to dumb young apprentices who find magical weapons by mistake and beat incredible odds in 5 pages (that one was my favorite!) . . . My big favorite, though, was the filking . . . I heard a really funny song about a space ship that was about to fall on top of New Jersey. [Editor's "harumph"] My first night I was "d-wirginized"! (A wirgin is a person who never had heard filk before.) . . . It was quite an experience . . . I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would, especially since I arrived knowing nobody, but meeting the QO people helped. One of them spotted Misty, but I didn't see her at all, (maybe next time.) . . .
[Ed. Note 2002: Personals are not being posted online because of the personal information they contained.]
[Ed. Note 2002: Fanmessages are not being posted online because of the personal information they contained.]
Debbie Sanders, a/k/a the Debra F. Sanders of NA MELE O NA HOKU (The songs of the Stars) newsletter of the Hawaii Filksinging Society [Ed. Note 2002: Out-of-date address withheld.] and also the lyricist of many Misty-inspired songs, reminded us that REAP THE WHIRLWIND is scheduled to appear on bookstore shelves in November! A flyer she sent us promoting the book describes this collaboration between Misty and C.J. Cherryh [pronounced, we understand, as if the final "h" wasn't there,] as, "When a barbarian horde invades the lands guarded by the Order of the Sword disaster seems inevitable. But one of the scientist-mages discovers the truth beind the invasion: the barbarians aren't the bloodthirsty raiders they first seemed, but desparate refugees in search of sanctuary . . . " We can't wait!
[Editor's F.Y.I. for Debbie: We're now international; the QO gets sent to Australia, England, Ireland, Japan, Scotland and Canada at this time. How 'bout that!]
Debbie, who was also at the Portland con, used such terms as "great" and "terrific" to describe it and the people she met there, [you know who you are,] many of whom were easily identifieable by their TQO:MLFC buttons. [Ok, ok, we're allowed an occasional brag.]
WELCOME TO THE "CALIFORNIA ARROW"! Christa Miller, Arrow's editor-in-chief and Herald's Hall of California mavin, has produced TWO issues between our last and this one! And already it's doubled in size!! Plus it's fun and informative, not always easy to do.
Christa gave " cheers and congrats to Stephanie Shaver, also a QO member, for having one of her stories accepted by MZB for Sword & Sorceress 7, out in 1990. Stephanie, by the way, is 14 years old. We most enthusiastically add our "Way to go, Stephanie!"
We were particularly flattered that Christa said she modeled her newsletter after QO, mimicry being the sincerest form of flattery, we've always been told. And, too, the lady gave Chris Kunstt kudos for his advice, proofreading, and general-all-'round support. If you'd like a sample of this lively missive, send Christa a SASE. If you want to take our word about how good it is, send her [Ed. Note 2002: Out-of-date info withheld.] [Editor's Update: We're now at almost 400 members!]
We heard from several sources about Lisa Waters, MZB's factotum [and QO supporter], winning the prestigious Gryphon Award, sponsored by Andre Norton, for her as yet unpublished fantasy novel ACILA. We certainly wish her well, and thank her also for letting us know that Misty's story NIGHTSIDE is going to be in the next issue of MZB's Fantasy Magazine, [which should now be available].
Any Queen's Own who don't already subscribe and want to get a copy of this issue can [Ed. Note 2002: Out-of-date info withheld.]
MEROVINGEN NIGHTS #5, DIVINE RIGHT, edited by C.J. Cherryh, and including the inestimable Misty among its authors, is out! The editing exhibited here, using a "braided" format, is mind boggling. This is an absolute must for Misty and C.J. Cherryh fans.
FANZINE ADDENDUM: [Ed. Note 2002: Out-of-date info withheld.]
CON ATERT: [Ed. Note 2002: Out-of-date info withheld.]
Bright blessings and wind to thy wings,
Judith Louvis and Sally Paduch
[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)
The photograph for this edition of the newsletter was uncredited. If you have a clue who they were, please contact Herald-Mage Adept Danya at 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
