Q: Why Q&A, and not just a FAQ?
A: Because I like Q & A better . . .

Q: Why did you begin this Q&A in such a silly manner?
A: Because I thought it would be best to begin something as boring as a Q & A with humor . . . also it was 1:32 AM . . . and I was feeling a little silly . . .

Now onto the boring stuff . . .

Q: How did this fan club originate?
A: The idea was thought up during a posting on the Mercedes Lackey Mailing List . . . and was quickly dropped . . . However, one member thought it was a good enough idea to develop, so sought others to help develop it with him. Eventually the fan club began to form with one of members taking the possition of president . . . but after the initial ideas were planned and permission was secured from Mercedes Lackey . . . the president vanished . . . The boy was left with the whole club on his hands, and quickly sought someone else to head the club. Which he did, but that person too mysteriously vanished . . . So the undeveloped Vanyel Fan Club sat in its state of undeveloped existence for quite some time, living only as a "guestbook"-type file on the boy's system of Mercedes Lackey-related webpages, collecting names of those who were interested in joining such a club, but none of which were willing to take the possition of "president" . . . Until Bastian arrived . . .Within but a few short days, he lifted the weight of the club from the original conceptionist's shoulders and developed it, keeping true to its original creators' ideas . . .
The club is now a chapter of Queen's Own. We are still going strong and continues to develop.

I told you it was going to be boring . . .

Q: What is the Vanyel Fan Club?
A: The Vanyel Fan Club is a club devoted to the fans of the main character from The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey.

Q: Who is the main character from Mercedes Lackey's The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy?
A: Vanyel, of course . . .

Q: Who is Vanyel?
A: You really haven't read the books, have you?
Oh well . . .
Herald-Mage Vanyel Ashkevron is the last Herald-Mage (a user of two very different types of magic) of Valdemar.

Q: Why a Vanyel fan club?
A: Why not?

Q: What is it about Vanyel that you feel deserves a fan club all himself?
A: Besides the fact that the character of Vanyel has revolutionized fantasy literature - that for the first time, there was a "shaych" character with whom teen "shaych" boys could relate, making it easier for them to accept their own "shaych-ness" - that he also has help "non-shaych" people become more accepting of real world "shaychness" - that in these profound ways with such a simple character, Mercedes Lackey has found a way to help ease a bit of bigotry . . . He's just a really cool character!

Q: Why do you call this an "official fan club"?
A: Permission to have a Vanyel Fan Club has been secured from Mercedes Lackey.

Q: How do I join the Vanyel Fan Club?
A: Merely by joining the Vanyel Fan Club Chat List. (We are an online-based organization, so this list is how we communicate with our members.)

Q: Is there a mailing list for this club?
A: Yes! You can add yourself to thlist at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/vfcchat.htm!

Q: Are there any club dues?
A: No. The VFC is a chapter of Queen's Own and is financially supported by a portion of all sales through the Dragonlords' Bookstore. You do not have to make purchases through the store, but we greatly appreciate any support. This is how we keep memberships free!

Q: Who created these webpages?
A: Herald Bastian, Guardian of the Vanyel Fan Club. (Herald-Mage Adept Danya Winterborn, Guardian of Questions, has revised and updated the pages since they have been transferred to the Queen's Own site.)

Q: Why are these webpages riddled with spelling errors?
A: Although your Vanyel Fan Club Guardian has many virtues . . . perfect spelling does not fall onto that list . . . he would, however, appreciate friendly correction . . . So if you have a correction, please mail us and we will happilly correct it/them! :)

Q: What's with the huge fonts?
A: I like big writing! Also, after staring at a computer screen for hours on end, my sight isn't what it used to be . . .

Q: What if I have a question not covered in this Q&A?
A: If you have a question not covered in this Q & A, then please mail our Guardian of Questions with the question. Please also state whether or not you would like your question added to this Q&A.

Q: Is this the end of the Q & A?
A: For now . . . but as more new questions are asked of us, more new questions will be posted here.