MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 2551 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Question by "Lorna Appleby" 2) Re: FanFic by "Molly McAllister" 3) Re: Question by "~*~ Ciara ~*~" 4) Sherrill's Varicolored Hair by "Abigail Laughlin" 5) Short Stories by Cariad 6) Re: Sherrill's Varicolored Hair by "Charlotte DiStefano" 7) Re: Question by "Misty's Secretary" 8) RE: FanFic by "Doreen Glynn" 9) RE: FanFic by Lish Monahan 10) Fanfic and copyright, favourite writers by troll-+AT+-netcomuk.co.uk 11) Re: FanFic by "Misty's Secretary" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2001 15:29:28 -0800 From: "Lorna Appleby" To: Subject: Re: Question Message-ID: <038201c0b4ba$45069570$f240a8c0-+AT+-backtalk.org> >> Another thing I've noticed, it's stupid, and nothing big, but in >> Arrow's of the Queen Sherrill is described as having brown hair, and >> in the last book of the triology, Talia says she " secreatly wished >> for long black hair like Sherrill" has anyone else noticed this? >Are you perhaps confusing two different characters? The queen during >Talia's time was named Selenay. She's saying that in the book "Arrow's of the Queen" Sherill is described as having brown hair. And in the book "Arrow's Fall" Sherill she's described as having black hair. She's actually described as having black hair in Arrow's Flight, as well.. As to the queen.. I think you're right on the wheat coloured hair. ^_^ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2001 23:48:16 -0000 From: "Molly McAllister" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: FanFic Message-ID: >From: "~*~ Ciara ~*~" Personally, I think Misty is afraid of her fans >comming up with better ideas than herself, and if she is, than why doesn't >she listen to us!! we're her fans, so why can't she write about the stuff >we throw around? Just like the Sun and Shadow ideas all us listsibs throw >around, or write about, say, Trevon and Jisa's rule. . ./etc. . . .i'm sure >we could all go on and on, but the point is, i don't get why she's so >"stuck up" about her fans writing about ehr fanfic. . . I think that the reason that Misty is wary about fanfic isn't because she is "stuck up" about it, or because she is scared that someone will come up with a better idea the her. I think that it is mainly a copywrite thing. Copywrites are tricky things and I don't know all the details surrounding them, but one possible problem I could see possibly coming up is maybe a fan writing a story that Misty never lays eyes on, and the she writes a story that is similar to it and that fan is like "Hey! That is my story, give me some money for it!" Okay, so I know that you you are thinking (maybe) "But I would never do that!" That may be, but that doesn't mean that there aren't people out there who would. Mist has come across some pretty scary situations involving over-zealuos fans, and she has learned to be wary. On the Selenay front, Selenay is often discribed as having long blond hair. Sherrill, I always imagined with black hair anyway. I don't recall if Arrows ever said differently, but I am inclined to let such trifle things slide ;-) Well, I am off to go study for the "Big Scary Mid-term" as my instructor jokingly calls it (I wonder how much of that is a joke) Oh well, wish me luck, and big fluffy sheep shaped pillows for everyone on the night after midterms. WTTW, Starshadow* She'enedra to Lightsong Royal Defender of the Brat _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: 25 Mar 2001 00:13:44 -0000 From: "~*~ Ciara ~*~" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Question Message-ID: <20010325001344.11317.qmail-+AT+-ninelives.chek.com> No, Selaney had Blond hair, I know Sherrill ened up with Kearn after Ylasa died, talia witnessed it. . .No seriously, it says in the first book that she has brown hair (Sherrill) and then later it say she has Black hair. . .It's probably a typo. . . . .I'm reading teh series now. . .but keep in mind I have the paper back versions, not the combine one On Sat, 24 Mar 2001 23:25:54 GMT Kenneth Allen Hyde wrote: >On Sat, 24 Mar 2001, ~*~ Ciara ~*~ wrote: > >> Another thing I've noticed, it's stupid, and nothing big, but in >> Arrow's of the Queen Sherrill is described as having brown hair, and >> in the last book of the triology, Talia says she " secreatly wished >> for long black hair like Sherrill" has anyone else noticed this? > >Are you perhaps confusing two different characters? The queen during >Talia's time was named Selenay. Sherrill was Talia's friend and fellow >herald. She was the les/bi one who ended up with Keren after Ylsa died. >Sherrill did, indeed, have black hair. I can't remember what color >Selenay was supposed to have had, although I always pictured her with very >pale wheat-colored hair. > >May the seas be your solace and the forests a refuge for your spirit, > >Cennydd >Councilor of Mist > >Kenneth Allen Hyde | No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife >Univ. of Delaware | between the shoulder blades will seriously >Dept. of Linguistics | cramp his style -- Old Jhereg proverb >kenny-+AT+-Udel.Edu | A mind is a terrible toy to waste! -- Me > >//www.ling.udel.edu/hyde/prof/ > > > ________________________________________________________________ Get Free Anime Email, News, Links, Forums and Shopping at http://www.AnimeNation.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 00:19:33 -0000 From: "Abigail Laughlin" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Sherrill's Varicolored Hair Message-ID: < Arrow's of the Queen Sherrill is described as having brown hair, and > in the last book of the triology, Talia says she " secreatly wished > for long black hair like Sherrill" has anyone else noticed this? Are you perhaps confusing two different characters? The queen during Talia's time was named Selenay. Sherrill was Talia's friend and fellow herald. She was the les/bi one who ended up with Keren after Ylsa died. Sherrill did, indeed, have black hair. I can't remember what color Selenay was supposed to have had, although I always pictured her with very pale wheat-colored hair.>> I don't think she meant 'Queen Sherrill', but rather was making a reference to Arrows of the Queen. At any rate, I've noticed the inconsistency with regards to Sherrill's hair--in AotQ, when she first appears, she is indeed described as having brown (my memory is spotty but I think the exact word was "chestnut") hair, and then later as having long black hair. And as far as I can recall, Selenay is in fact blonde--in By The Sword, she's described as looking a lot like Kerowyn, who is blonde and blue-green-eyed. Zha'hai'allav'a, Raven Darkblade and Mor the raven, Holy Hand of the Goddess of Elves, Member of the Mistic Circle, Webmaster of the Circle of Stone, Knight and Founding Member of the Order of Unsung Heroes; http://www.angelfire.com/ky/Ashke/ - The Labyrinth _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2001 20:27:41 -0500 (EST) From: Cariad To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Short Stories Message-ID: <389139025.985483661265.JavaMail.root-+AT+-web274-ec> Hi list-sibs! ::Cariad de-lurks for her second post in the same month, which is a very odd thing.:: Julia asked about short stories, and my fave Misty short story was one that she wrote for an anthology she edited called [I think!] Flights of Fantasy. I can't remember the title of the story, but it was about Honoria -- one of the extra princesses from "The Black Swan", and it was really, *really* good. So good, I wished Misty had written it into a full-length novel instead of "The Black Swan". I also *love* the stories about the African Grey parrot Grey and his human children friends. I have heard it rumoured that she was going to write a novel about them, does anyone know more about that than I do? Also, does anyone know about her up-coming projects?? And here, let me offer fresh out of the drier at the Mystical Laundromat sheep-shaped towels for all the newbies...you'll need them! : ) Wind to thy wings, list-sibs! -Cariad Singer of Fire (soprano), Official Member CfWD Keeper of the Mystical Laundromat (tm) ----------------------------------------------- FREE! The World's Best Email Address -+AT+-email.com Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 02:10:57 From: "Charlotte DiStefano" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Sherrill's Varicolored Hair Message-ID: ----Original Message Follows---- From: "Abigail Laughlin" Reply-To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk To: talia27-+AT+-hotmail.com Subject: Sherrill's Varicolored Hair Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 00:33:36 GMT < Arrow's of the Queen Sherrill is described as having brown hair, and > in the last book of the triology, Talia says she " secreatly wished > for long black hair like Sherrill" has anyone else noticed this? In the beginning of AotQ, when Dean Elcarth first introduced Taila to Sherrill, she is described as having brunette hair. In one of the other Arrows books (I don't remember which one off the top of my hair), it says that Taila secretely yearned for long black hair like Sherrill's. I think this was probably just a mistake...Misty probably didn't remember how she described Sherrill in the first book. That's my take on it anyway. Okay, it's back to lurkdom for me now...friendly comforting sheep to Starshadow who is a bit lonely right now... ~Lightsong Royal Defender of the Brat Dame of OoAM She'enedra to Starshadow ~ ~ Do not live merely in harmony, and some say, but in melody. ~ ~ _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2001 22:13:01 -0600 From: "Misty's Secretary" To: Subject: Re: Question Message-ID: *laugh* Well, Misty does occasionally make mistakes you know. Continuity errors and so forth. You try keeping all those details accurate over so many books with no mistakes! In actual fact, Misty often deliberately leaves some of the "how things work", especially the stuff that happens offscreen, like the spirit worlds and so forth, obscured from the reader. Firstly, if all the details were revealed, there would be little artistic license available to change who what why where and when gets reincarnated etc. Secondly, it would make for a much bigger book, and one that was really very boring. If you read a book and it doesn't make you want to know more than the book gave you - it doesn't fire your imagination. And well.. if it didn't do that, we probably wouldn't have this mailing list to discuss it! Bottom line: It's all about telling tales in various settings. Sometimes those settings might have holes you can pick in them. Sometimes that's part of the fun - but don't *blame* misty for them, enjoy them! If you look at any other series of books, or a TV show, you can find errors and logic holes in them too. In fact, as an owner of one of the Star Trek nitpickers guides, I can see just how many too. The point is that hopefully this doesn't detract from the telling of a good tale. All the best. Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: "~*~ Ciara ~*~" To: Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2001 12:47 PM Subject: Re: Question > Dev ~*~ > >> Does anyone else ever get the impression we put a lot more thought into > >"how things work" than Misty does? > > I totally agree!! no offence to her, she's gret writer, but I think she needs to spend more time on details!!! > Another thing I've noticed, it's stupid, and nothing big, but in Arrow's of the Queen Sherrill is described as having brown hair, and in the last book of the triology, Talia says she " secreatly wished for long black hair like Sherrill" > has anyone else noticed this? (sorry it's sooooo lame but it's bee bugging me) > Ducks to advoid flying sheep > ~*~ Ciara ~*~ > > ________________________________________________________________ > Get Free Anime Email, News, Links, Forums and Shopping at http://www.AnimeNation.com > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2001 23:9:14 -0600 From: "Doreen Glynn" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: RE: FanFic Message-ID: <41200130255914650-+AT+-earthlink.net> I think it's kind of smart. As much as she writes, and as much fanfic as she would be likely to get, someday, somewhere she would write something that was even superficially similar to some fan fic. In the litigious society we live in now that somebody would probably tie her up in court for decades and she would spend years and thousands trying to prove she didn't copy the idea, word, phrase story line whatever. I personally would much rather she spend her time at her computer where she belongs writing as fast as she can. Oh and I think Selaney was blond like Kerowyn but i don't have the quote and i am too lazy to look it up. > [Original Message] > From: ~*~ Ciara ~*~ > To: > Date: 3/24/01 5:31:20 PM > Subject: FanFic > > >>ultimately all the answers run back to Misty. I suppose that is one > >reason why she disapproves of fan stories > > Personally, I think Misty is afraid of her fans comming up with better ideas than herself, and if she is, than why doesn't she listen to us!! we're her fans, so why can't she write about the stuff we throw around? Just like the Sun and Shadow ideas all us listsibs throw around, or write about, say, Trevon and Jisa's rule. . ./etc. . . .i'm sure we could all go on and on, but the point is, i don't get why she's so "stuck up" about her fans writing about ehr fanfic. . .didn't she let some of her fans do so and she published them? Maybe she could start a contest like Writer's of the future, only for Valdamar. . .or something of the like. . . .What do you all think? > > ~*~ Ciara ~*~ > > ________________________________________________________________ > Get Free Anime Email, News, Links, Forums and Shopping at http://www.AnimeNation.com --- Doreen Glynn --- timedancer0624-+AT+-earthlink.net Live long and may the forc ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 03:05:20 -0500 (EST) From: Lish Monahan To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: RE: FanFic Message-ID: Okay, I would like to prepend this note with the fact that this thought was not my own, but actually that of my boss who I work with at the loacl comicbook store in Philadelphia... Chris' thoery is taht the reason that misty doesn't allow fanfic is that she actually orginated from the fan community instead of being someone who set off from the beginning with the goal of becoming a published author and as such did things like attend college at a English/Creative Writing major, or otherwise trained herself to become such. She was just a fan, like any of the rest of us, and when Marion Zimmer Bradley started her Swrods and Sorceress series, Misty submitted some of her better work. Also, she had the added advantage of already being known within the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fan community in the U.S. Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andre Norton and others already knew who she was and were friends with her. Thank god for that as misty's Tarma and Kethry short stories are fantastic, and as I'm sure some of you will agree some of the better things she has written. After writing those pieces, and getting enough recognition to actually get some of her own full-length pieces published, she started noticing that fan-fic was being written based on her work. I used to be part of a fan-fic orgination focussed on Misty's books that started back in 91 or 92. I was active from 1993-1995. In that time we were fine for a few months but starting early in 94 we were constantly harrased by Misty's publishers until we were forced underground at which point we slowly died, due to the lack of new blood. (sigh) So... the whought is that since she started in the fan communisty as a fan-fic writer, she obviously realizes the quality fo work that fans are capable of prouing, and the amount of power that fans are capable of exerting. As to the issue os copywrite, even if we came of with something brilliant within her world we wouldn't have a leg to stand on as far as lawsuits(if she were to steal that idea), as has been shown by the Star Trek, Anne McCaffrey, Star Wars, Etc. groups. Its purely her fear to acknowledge that she was once one of us, and the same possesiveness that any artist has for their creations. If one creates something that one knows, deep inside, is GOOd, one os afraid is you share it with otehrs, they'll screw it up. What she doesn't realize is that while we can play in her world as much as we want we CAN'T screw it up. In the end its all hers, and she doesn't have to pay a lick of attention to us if she doesn't want to. But that's Chris' theory. I'm sure their's some truth in their, but I'm not sure what I believe. Really one would have to ask her. But if she answers that its the copywrite issues its bullshit (pardon my french), as any of the people who publich or write fanfic with in Star Trek, DragonLance, Middle Earth, or assorted other places can tell you. Zhai'hai'alleva, Lish k ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 23:14:21 +0100 From: troll-+AT+-netcomuk.co.uk To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Fanfic and copyright, favourite writers Message-ID: <2001325231746141-+AT+-netcomuk.co.uk> This is one of those things that has gone around and around the list in the past... IIRC (I'm sure Cennydd or someone can correct me if I'm wrong) the late MZB got stung legally by a fanfic writer, with effect that MZB was unable to publish a story because the fanfic person claimed the idea. Misty, as a friend/protegee of MZB, took steps against fanfic precisely to prevent this happening to her. As a writer myself (as yet unpublished) I can certainly see her point - however frustrating it may be to some fans. Personally I'm of the opinion that the creator of a worldsetting should automatically have final control over anything in that setting unless s/he actively signs it away - but various countries' legal systems disagree. The existence of the Internet as a cross-jurisdictional medium complicates things too. Just wish she'd write faster herself :) Re Lish's mention of the Dragonlance and Star Trek lines: just want to point out that in those particular cases, the copyrights are owned/managed by corporations rather than individuals, which further complicates things - as well as often leading to contradictions between books! A belated addition to the poll on favourite non-Misty authors: I heartily second the mention of Patricia Kennealy-Morrison. FINALLY got a copy of Blackmantle last week - Amazon UK had to order it in from Amazon US - and I highly recommend it. My favourite yet of the eight "Keltiad" books she's done so far - and the blurb inside the cover lists another dozen or so forthcoming. I like an author who plans ahead :) Also, David Weber is another I've been reading recently, for those who like the SF side of things as well as the fantasy. His "Honor Harrington" series (nine books at last count, think tenth is forthcoming soon)are well worth reading IMO. Trollhugs and chocolate sheep to all, Muranog Shadowbane ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 16:19:22 -0600 From: "Misty's Secretary" To: Subject: Re: FanFic Message-ID: The reason is as has been stated in the past. Misty has been advised by her publishers and her agent that she should not read Fan Fiction. The existence of it doesn't actually bother her, excepting that it runs onto the issues of copyright and the worlds that she has created. She follows their advice about reading it since that is her only defence against litigation that she stole the idea. Nobody here at highflight reads fanfiction for just that reason I'm afraid. I have no doubt that people out there can write material of fantastic quality - and if they can do this, they should really crteate their own world and get it published. It sounds kinda harsh - but remember that this is Misty's livelihood, and in order to pay the bills on an ongoing basis, she really does have to protect that. We still accept the release forms from people writing fanfiction - and there are places that such creations can be released to the public. However, we cannot read the actual stories. Paul ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 2551 **********************************