Queen's Own
The Official Mercedes Lackey Fan Club

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

Series 3, Vol. 1, No. 4
August 1, 2000

Birds in Flight by Herald Alora

Heyla, Misty fans!

By way of announcements, for those of you who are interested in Misty-related filk, Bob Kanefsky's first CD, "Roundworm," was just released by Prometheus Music, including his parody "Threes: Take 3" (published with Misty's consent). Performers include Julia Ecklar, Heather Alexander, Jon Berger (formerly of Tempest) and many other top-notch filk and Celtic musicians. You can find the lyrics at http://www.songworm.com/lyrics/songworm-parody/ThreesTake3.html. Check it out!

For this month's feature article, we are starting a series of interviews with the editors of the various Queen's Own fanzines and newsletters. The first editor we would like you to meet is Cassandra Vuksa of Austral'a'in. (You'll find submission information below in the Fanzine section of this newsletter.)

Herald-Mage Master Danya Winterborn and Healer Adept Moonstar

Note: Cassandra Vuksa is Australian, so we have chosen to preserve the Australian spellings in her responses.

  1. When did you join Queen's Own?

    February 1995.

  2. What got you hooked on Misty's books?

    The first thing I read of hers was a combined book that she and Anne McCaffrey wrote. Then one of my friends bought the Vanyel trilogy and loaned it to me, and, well, how could anyone resist Vanyel? He's been my favourite ever since, although Talia is pretty cool too.

  3. What else do you read?

    Anne McCaffrey, David Eddings, Robin Hobbs, Raymond E. Feist, Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, Stephen King, JRR Tolkien, Stephen Lawhead, and loads more that I am probably forgetting. Pretty much all fantasy, with a sprinkling of mild horror and very mild science fiction. I also read a fair few White Wolf roleplaying books. *grins*

  4. What types of music do you listen to?

    Lots. We have an alternative station here called JJJ, and I mostly listen to that. The only things I don't like are your standard Top 40 pop stuff, and the extremes (hard core rap, hard core metal, hard core opera…!).

  5. What was the first con you went to?

    A convention called Phenomenon here in Canberra, Australia, in July 1997. It was much fun! Our team even won an award - "Best Killers", I think it was. (hee, hee)

  6. What do you like the best about Queen's Own?

    The personals can be interesting!

  7. Why did you choose to the editor of a Queen's Own fanzine/newsletter?

    Originally it was because I was doing a Technical Writing unit for my degree, and we had to do an analysis/report. I decided to do mine on the feasibility of starting up a Queens Own chapter in Australia. And, after I'd done all that research…

    Well, here we are, five years later, and still going.

  8. What does putting out an issue of your fanzine/newsletter involve?

    Whenever I get a submission on paper, I either scan it or key it in as soon as possible, so that way I have a whole bunch of electronic documents - poems, stories, pictures, etc. That way when the newsletter is due, I just have to sit down with Word and put it all together, including writing the introductions and doing the layout of pictures and stuff. So long as all of the preparation is done, it only takes a couple of hours to do. (I suppose I should use a desktop publishing program, really, but I can make Word 97 and 2000 sing and dance! *grins*)

    Then I have to copy it and write on all the envelopes…

  9. What do you like to see in the way of story and/or art submissions to your fanzine/newsletter?

    Characterisation. Originality. A faint grasp of the English language is preferable but not required (I can edit to get rid of spelling mistakes, etc). It's nice if it's Misty related, but any fantasy will find a place if it's good.

  10. What other projects besides Queen's Own occupy your time?

    I am a member of the White Wolf fan club called the Camarilla, which is, amongst other things, a live-action roleplaying society. I have a couple of characters that I play once a month, and there is an awful lot of e-mail roleplaying done too. (If you're interested, the main site is located at: http://vampire.tamu.edu/camarilla/index.html <— shameless plug, shameless plug!!)

    I also do Tai Chi and am studying IT part time. I work full time in the Department of Defence doing contracting, am a volunteer Emergency Control Organisation member in my building, and the small amount of time I have left after all of that I spend with my boyfriend, Jamie. (He made me type that!)

Ren Faires:

Sophie-Diane by Laura Felton

Here are the faires we know about that are happening in August. 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

LONG BEACH RENAISSANCE ARTS FESTIVAL. Fax: 562-438-4003. Address: 2116 E 4th Street, Long Beach, CA 90814. Dates: 8/27/00 - 8/28/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

SANTA BARBARA RENAISSANCE FAIRE AND MIDSUMMER MARKET. Fax: 415-897-2162. E-mail: questions@sbrenfaire.com. Website: http://www.sbrenfaire.com. Address: 861 Sweetser Ave., Novato, CA 94945. Dates: 8/12/00 - 8/20/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

Colorado

GRAND RIVER RENAISSANCE & FANTASY FESTIVAL. E-mail: ravencapt@gj.net. Website: http://www.faires.com/grandriver. Address: Carter & Lynn Reese, 3212 Mesa Ave., Clifton, CO 81520. Site Address: Intermountain Vetrains Memorial Park, 2785 US Hwy 50, Grand Junction, CO 81503. Dates: 8/26/00 - 8/27/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Maine

MAINE RENAISSANCE FAIRE. E-mail: info@mainefaire.com. Website: http://www.mainefaire.com. Address: c/o Cloak & Dagger, 12 Lewiston Rd., New Gloucester, ME 04260. Dates: 7/22/00 - 8/20/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM.

Maryland

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.

Massachusetts

FESTIVAL OF THE LION. E-mail: havoc.inc@mailexcite.com. Website: http://www.javanet.com/~andyli/havoc.htm. Address: P. O. Box 349, Leicester, MA 01524-349. Dates: 8/26/00 - 8/27/00. Open/Close: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Michigan

MICHIGAN RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Fax: 248-634-7590. E-mail: renfestmi@aol.com. Website: http://www.renaissancefest.com. Address: 12600 Dixie Highway, Holly, MI 48442. Site Address: 12500 Dixie Highway, Holly, MI 48442. Dates: 8/12/00 - 9/24/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

Minnesota

MINNESOTA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Fax: 612-445-7380. Website: http://www.renaissancefest.com. Address: 1244 S. Canterbury Rd., Ste. 306, Shakopee, MN 55379-8944. Dates: 8/12/00 - 9/24/00. Open/Close: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

New York

NEW YORK RENAISSANCE FAIRE. Fax: 914-351-5646. E-mail: renfair@frontiernet.net. Website: http://www.frontiernet.net/~nyfair. Address: 600 Rt. 17A, Tuxedo, NY 10987. Site Address: RT. 17A, Sterling Forest, Tuxedo, NY 10987. Dates: 8/05/00 - 9/17/00. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM.

STERLING RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. E-mail: office@sterlingfestival.com. Website: http://SterlingFestival.com. Address: 15421 Farden Road, Sterling, NY 13156. Dates: 7/01/00 - 8/13/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

Ohio

GREAT LAKES MEDIEVAL FAIRE. E-mail: glmf@knownet.net. Website: http://www.medievalfaire.com. Address: PO Box 376, Rock Creek, OH 44084. Site Address: 3033 State Route 534, Rock Creek, OH 44084. Dates: 7/01/00 - 8/06/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 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.

Oregon

DAYS OF OLDE FESTIVAL. E-mail: piercy@teleport.com. Website: http://www.teleport.com/~piercy/dayesofolde/. Address: 500 Lancaster Dr. SE, Salem, OR 97301. Dates: 8/26/00 - 8/27/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Pennsylvania

GREATER PITTSBURGH RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Fax: 724-872-1670. E-mail: info@pgh-renfest.com. Website: http://www.pgh-renfest.com. Address: PO Box 1670, Greensburg, PA 15601. Site Address: 2100 Mt. Pleasant Rd., West Newton, PA 15089. Dates: 8/19/00 - 9/24/00. Open/Close: 10:30 AM - 6:30 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.

Washington

CAMLANN MEDIEVAL FAIRE. Website: http://www.topnetwork.com. Address: 10320 Kelly Rd NE, Carnation, WA 98014. Dates: 7/15/00 - 8/27/00. Open/Close: 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM.

GIG HARBOR RENAISSANCE FANTASY FAIRE. E-mail: bryonm@earthlink.net. Website: http://www.gigharborrenfaire.com. Address: 12016 134th Ave KPN, Gig Harbor, WA 98329. Site Address: Minter Creek Ranch, 10215 State Road 302 NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98329. Dates: 8/05/00 - 8/13/00. Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

KENT CANTERBURY FAIRE. Fax: 253-856-6050. E-mail: lopsahl@ci.kent.wa.us. Address: 220 4th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032-5895. Site Address: 742 E. Titus, Kent, WA. Dates: 8/19/00 - 8/20/00. Open/Close: 11:00 AM.

Wisconsin

BRISTOL RENAISSANCE FAIRE. E-mail: lmcfeters@recfair.com. Website: http://www.renfair.com. Address: 12550 - 120th Ave., Kenosha, WI 53142-7337. Dates and Times: 6/24/00 - 8/20/00, Open/Close: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

Ontario, Canada

ONTARIO RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. E-mail: orf@globalserve.net. Website: http://www.rennfest.com/orf/index.html. Address: PO Box 486, Milton, ON L9T-4Z1. Site Address: 6252 8th Line, Hornby, ON LOP 1EO. Dates: 7/29/00 - 9/10/00. Open/Close: 10:30 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. (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.

Idaho

MOSCON. Website: http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/vfcindex.htm. Moscow, ID. Dates: 8/25/00-8/27/00.

Illinois

WORLDCON (Chicon2000). Website: http://www.chicon.org. Where: Chicago. Dates: 8/3100 - 9/04/00.

Washington

DRAGONFLIGHT GAME CONVENTION. Website: http://www.dragonflight.org. Seattle, WA. Dates: 8/25/00-8/27/00.

Female Archer by Herald Alora

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:

Companions by Laura Felton

Zines and Newsletters:

Other Fandoms:

Lovers by Herald Alora

Sorceress by Herald Alora

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.

We do not have any new personae to announce this month, but do check the list of people with approved personae who have contacted us. You'll find them at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/qolist.htm. Some of these folks haven't been seen around QO in many, many years, and it is delightful to have them back!

From Herald-Mage Master Danya Winterborn:

Things continue to grow. This month's newsletter will be going out to almost six dozen people, three times as many people as the first newsletter went out to in May. We know of about two dozen people who are working on personae. And our website has had over 5100 hits!

In this issue of the newsletter we are announcing the inaugural issue of Children of Velgarth, the QO fanzine. Look in the fanzine section for specific details. If you still have copies of your original persona submission floating around, you can find submission instructions at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/qozine.htm. We'd eventually love to publish all of the QO personae who have been approved.

We are also getting close to having enough material to put out the first issue of The Compass Rose, the QO nonfiction journal. There's still time to contribute. You can find submission instructions at http://www.dragonlordsnet.com/qojournal.htm.

Remember, you are all entitled to submit personals and fan messages. We are also chronically in need of art for the online version of this newsletter. Keep those submissions coming! This is your club, and all of you are responsible for helping to make it a success!

Companion by Laura Felton

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!

Scout by Herald Alora

Personals:

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 artists for the online version of the newsletter are Laura Felton and 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

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