(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,
News from Misty:
"The ABA (American Bookseller's Association) convention is not like any Con a fan has ever been to. It is actually a giant trade show for bookstore owners, book distributors, and publishers. If you can imagine a dealer's room three times the size of the one at the Los Angeles Worldcon, filled to the bursting with displays of books in print, books due out, and ancillary products for bookstores--then realize there are TWO MORE rooms about that size, one filled with small press displays and one with children's and foreign books and printers' displays, you have the ABA. And most of htese people are giving things away, from posters to bound galleys (like a trade-size paperback, but it still has all the typos and other errors that have not yet been corrected before the final printing), from rain-hats to golf-tees, from t-shirts to German wine and a wine glass. A pretty amazing sight . . . now, many of these goodies are reserved for folks with the coveted 'blue-badge' (bookstore owner or book distributor). After all, the companies ARE trying to get htem to buy THEIR books. But there was a lot of Loot to be had for those who were quick enough. Now, before you rush out to try to reserve your membership for the ABA next year--it IS for professionals only, and you have to ne a member of the American Bookseller's Association (bookstore owners and publishers). I was there to promote WINDS OF FATE for DAW books. We gave away bound galleys and t-shirts, and Larry and I signed the galleys and t-shirts for three of the five days of the ABA. THen, when the shirts and galleys ran out, we got to go out and forage. We collected bound galleys of books we wanted to read--by the way, science fiction is a very, very small part of this convention, and yet our autographing ran a half hour past when it was supposed to be over. I got a chance to say 'thank you' in person to Stephen King for hte cover quote he did for me for JINX HIGH . . . he remembered who I was, and actually hugged me! I was thrilled! He is a very, very tall man, and was wearing a beautiful white suit and a ponytail. I was very glad to be able to thank him, as he didn't have much time at all to spare. He had come in to give a speech to the ABA on this year's topic, 'Freedom To Read,' and wasn't even doing an autographing.
"We spent all of Monday with Betsy Wollheim and her husband Peter Stampfel, and Elsie Wollheim, Betsy's mother and the wife of the late Don Wollheim. They took us to lunch, and we walked around their neighborhood, which is in the middle of CHinatown, Little Italy and just off the Bowery. We had a lovely time buying Chinese Tea and other things, and Elsie got us a little cared bone boat to remember the visit by. THe next day Betsy has her baby, who is named Lily, and is just beautigul. We spent most of Wednesday and Thrusday at the DAW offices which are in the middle of Greenwich Village, making sure that the publicity people at Penguin knew who we were adn making sure also that they got everything they needed from us--we WERE there for business, you see, and we made sure that if there was anything we could do to help sell books, that it was done! We also checked over the second set of page-proofs for WINDS OF FATE, and we signed galley proofs for important DAW clients--and OF COURSE for all the people in the DAW offices! It was a lot of fun; can YOU imagine working for a publisher, and being surrounded by books, books and more books, all day long?
"We also visited with Jim Baen of BAEN books, and talked about our current projects, and he asked Larry to submit a cover for the second SERRAted Edge book, WHEELS OF FIRE. Jim moved the Baen operations out of Manhattan out to the Bronx, where he lives and works in a beautiful old mansion, surrounded by a lovely garden which contains 'the Mother of all Copper Beech Trees,' and an office dog, whose mother appears to have been a collie, and whose father was a tall, dark, handsome stranger.
"While we were in New York, we attended the ballet (American Ballet Theater) with Melissa Singer (TOR editor) and CATS with Elsie Wollheim (DAW publisher). Both were wonderful. We braved the subway with Melissa as our Trusty Native Guide, and walked on Broadway and over most of Chinatown, part of Greenwich Village, and some of SoHo. We have seen the NeYawker in his Native Habitat and survived. No one picked our pockets, was particularly rude, or even bothered us at all. The worst thing that happened was getting caught in a thunderstorm and finding none of the cabbies wanted to take us all the way to the Bronx; we solved that by finding a very expensive hotel and tipping the doorman to get us a cab that would go that way. We discovered the out-of-towner's secret: When in doubt or distress, find a hotel person and fling money at them. Things Happen.
"Will we come back to New York for a visit? You bet. Would we want to live here? Noway! While neighborhood plantings are trying to add some bits of green to the city, it's not enough, and I prefer to live somewhere where graffiti doesn't cover every flat vertical surface. However, there are lots of wonderful things we didn't get to see, and they are worth coming back for."
The design at hte top of this page was submitted by Tona Morrow as a possible QO button--I've "borrowed" it (with her permission, of course) for the newsletter.
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine is published quarterly and frequently contains a story by Misty. Other authors who appear are Diana L. Paxson, Elisabeth Waters, Jennifer Roberson, and MArion herself. Send me [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.].
Gaylaxicon '91 is a SF/Fantasy convention for gay people and their friends in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, July 19-21. Minors must be accompanied by parent or guardian. For registration, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.].
Rivercon XVI, August 2-4, in Louisville, Kentucky features Lois McMaster Bujold as Guest of Honor. Local QO members invite all who can attend to meet them there. Write to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.].
Chicon V is the 49th World Science Fiction Convention, held this year in Chicago over Labor Day weekend. [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.] Those who attend get to nominate and vote for the Hugo Awares. For ingo, write to [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.].
The New York State Renaissance Festival opens July 27th and is open weekends until Septenber 15th. It's located in Tuxedo, NY and the hourse are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Arrive early for parking ease.) You can call Creative Faires Ltd. "Faire Info Line"--[Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.]. Stop by "The Enchanted Cottage" and ask for "Lady Hawk" to get an unofficial tour of the Shire by QO member Cris Martins.
CONTRADICTION 11 is September 27-29 at the Radisson Hotel Niagara Falls, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.]. Ask for the special con rate when making your hotel reservation. [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.] This looks like an excellently run con, with fun for all ages and interests. ,P> Dreamcon 6 is November 1-3 at hte Quality Inn Hotel & Conference Center, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.].
From Cara Huffman, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.]: "Heyla! The third issue of the Valdemar Merchant is now ready. Take a look at what your fellow friends have to offer! To receive an issue please send a legal size SASE"
The summer addres for For Whom the Bell Tolls--Young Queen's Own, the role playing writer's club set in an alternate Valdemar, is [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.]. Leanne Brownlee says: "To all the people who have inquired about FWTBT--YQO: WOW! I really didn't expect this large a response! The amount of mail I get has almost doubled! I am trying to write back to each of you as quickly as I can. Please be patient. I will write. I hope you all enjoy yourselves! Herald-Queen Anastasia."
From Sapphire and White [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.]: "I've been overwhelmed with the response a 'Great Lakes' chapter has received. (You guys are great!) If you wrote before May 20 and haven't received a copy of our newsletter yet please write again. If you're from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois or anywhere else even remotely close to the Great Lakes you're more than welcome to join."
From Lynn Tucker [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.]: "Companions' Grove is a definite go; I'm just waiting for submissions now. A SASE will get interested parties a copy of the guidelines. The sooner I get subs, the sooner the first (uh oh, did I say FIRST?!?) issue can be published, so rev up those typewriters!"
Issue two of the zine Companion's Rest is almost ready; order from [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.]. Vicki invites those of you who read #1 to send her suggestions and criticisms. Damien Bunting will edit Issues 3 & 4, so send material to him at [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.].
Haven Sent, the Texas chapter of Queen's Own, is doing well, thanks to the guidance of Dan & Julie Bowen, [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.]. Their motto is "You give us news, you pay no dues." That's right--just share your opinions of characters, books, movies, whatever, and receive a free copy of their newsletter. And you don't have to live in Texas to play!
The Herald's Hall of California was the first regional chapter of Queen's Own. Christa Miller sent out a consistently high quality newsletter. Unfortunately for those of us who enjoyed reading the "California Arrow", Christa is gafiating. (To gafiate is to "get away from it all". The term is usually used when Mundania insists on taking up so much of one's time that fannish activities have to be curtailed.) Is there anyone in the California area who would like to keep the chapter going? If so, write to Christa at [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.].
From Scout Leader Stephanie shena Pretera'sedrin: Heyla, SHin'a'in brothers and sisters! I'm willing to set up a newsletter specifically for us. I know there are plenty of full, half, quarter, or of miniscule blood out there. It'll be kind of a "newspaper" of what's happening in different clans and personas. Contact Stephanie Anderson [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date contact information withheld.].
Misty's birthday is June 24th! Have you sent me a snapshot for hte album? You still have time if you act quickly. The picture can be of you as Herald or mundane; include your cats, dogs, horses, little brothers . . . .whatever.
Thanks to all of you who sent me cards and gifts for my birthday. I'm too old to enjoy being reminded that I'm now even older, but I appreciate the good wishes and the attention. (Growing old beats the only available alternative.)
Congratulations to our Heralds--you will receive the proper recognition in the next newsletter.
Of course the issue you received last month was the May issue. Granted, the header said "#7" and "April" but hey, I forgot to change it. (I can't believe I forgot to change the header!) Sorry 'bout that, folks. I won't even try to blame that one on the computer gremlin--I goofed!
To all zine editors and chapter leaders: The July issue is the last one this summer. There is no August issue. Please send me news of your zine schedule and plans of your chapter as soon as possible; otherwise, it's see you in September. To all who plan to send me a fan message or personal: See the above paragraph. If I don't receive your note by July 5th, it won't appear until the September newsletter. To all Mentors: I know you've been shamefully ignored. If you're still willing to serve, send me a brief description of your areas of expertise for the September issue. I promise to feature you all then.
05/28/91 Message for QO members:
"Hi! The spell on my cage was lifted by the Companions. The last four days I've been wandering around BayCon '91. My Q's Own button was recognized often. Misty's books and tapes were almost sold out by Saturday night. I enjoyed the filking I was privileged to hear. Luckily for them, I wasn't asked to sing.
"All too soon I was recaptured. It seems that hte sump pump at the Collegium was broken. Then 5 QO members converged on me, with 15 problems each.
"Egad--the cleaning staff just left my rooms. Hey! come back! No--I don't want my papers ironed.
"Have a nice summer! Hey--Come back here with that . . . "
Fan messages are for the convenience of those who wish to write to others. The QO membership list is not made available to anyone else, not even Firebird Arts and Music, but please remember that a sample issue of the newsletter is sent to anyone who requests informatino on the club. If you place a fan message I can't guarantee that it will be seen only by QO members. The "fee" is still the same: if you place a fan message, you must write to at least one other person who has a message in the issue where yours appears.
[Ed. Note 2003: Fan messages are not being posted online because of the personal information they contained.]
[Ed. Note 2003: Personals are not being posted online because of the personal information they contained. Remainder of the newsletter was out-of-date contact info, and has been withheld.]
[Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date subscription information withheld.]
Queen's Own is the official Mercedes Lackey Appreciation Society. We are a not-for-profit organization. Address of publication: [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]. This newsletter is published solely to inform and entertain the club's membership; no infringement of anyone's copyrights is intended.
Editor, President, Dogsbody, Housemother--Judith Louvis [Ed. note 2003: Out-of-date information withheld.]
Archivist and Organizer extraordinaire--Patricia Riggs
Mailing Day Helpers (last issue)--Ana Casacuberta, Linda Gumkowski, Cris Martins and Sean Miller.
Wind to Thy Wings!
Judith
[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)
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
