Anne

Dec 052011
 

This is the eulogy Alec Johnson, Anne’s eldest son, read in the funeral service held for Anne McCaffrey November 26th, 2011.

For nearly 60 years it’s been my distinct honor to be Anne McCaffrey’s eldest son. And it is with equal measures of joy and sorrow that I accept the honor of addressing you now as we celebrate the life and mourn the passing of the Queen of Science Fiction. I’m joined today by my brother, the author Todd McCaffrey, and my sister, Georgeanne, her husband, Geoffrey, and their son Owen. My daughters Eliza and Amelia couldn’t be here, nor was Todd’s daughter Ceara able to join us. Yet this list is far from being the sum of Anne McCaffrey’s family. Beyond my Mother’s legendary accomplishments as a writer, she was first and foremost a magnificent human being with the largest heart that ever warmed so many in its loving embrace. Her home, Dragonhold, boasts several lovely fireplaces, but it is the hearth erected from her heart, the vast mantle of which includes so many present here and even more unable to join us today.

My mother was like a river to her family and her friends. Many here will recall the zeal with which she approached Christmas when Dragonhold became a veritable warehouse of gift baskets from floor to ceiling, filling room after room. I doubt Santa had any elf more devoted to the Yuletide than Anne McCaffrey.

Yet the greatest gift I ever received from my Mother was her love. With every atom of my being I knew she loved me unconditionally and that gave me the confidence to grow and become the man she was so very proud of. Looking around this room, I know I’m not the only recipient of this gift. I’m sure Derval Diamond and her Daughter Jennifer received it. I know all the Callahan sisters did. Maureen Beirne, Ceara O’Connor, Maryanne McCarty, Margaret Kennedy, and too many others to name here, all knew Anne McCaffrey’s love. And when our family joined the Kennedy clan through Gigi’s marriage to Geoff, our Irish family became delightfully enlarged, extending my Mother’s hearth further still.

One of my earliest memories of family life with my Mother was a time when we were gathered around the television watching “The Wizard of Oz.” Mom loved it as much as we did and I’ve lost count of the number of times we watched it together. I’m reminded of this because of the Tin Man and what the Wizard told him about the heart he longed to possess. “A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” By this measure there is no limit to my Mother’s heart. Since the day she passed and even now as I stand here before you, your love for her comes over me like warm, sweet sunrise. Anne McCaffrey could enjoy no finer legacy than this we all bear witness to today. And what a blessing it is that we are bound together today by mystic chords, spun from our memory of this truly remarkable woman and the love we share with her that not even death can diminish.

 Posted by at 3:03 pm

A Letter from Rick

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Nov 042011
 

Dear Ms. McCaffrey:

For many years I have enjoyed your books. I have lived among the dragons and the crystal – both in my mind and in reality – though your worlds have ways of making this world more bearable. Through your books you have been an inspiration for my continued writing efforts. While my s.f. has had few sale, many of my other writings have. I know this is just another fan letter among hordes, but if this note happens to come to your attention, please know that you have made a difference. I only hope that someone, someday, will say the same of my writing.

Sincerely,

Rick Meehan

Thank you, Rick!

All the best,

Annie

 Posted by at 12:42 am

Brainship Question

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Nov 042011
 

Hello, could you please tell me the chronological order of the brainship series, every website that I go to seems to be different from each other. thank you very much for your time.

Dan Crocker

Oh, Dan!

My memory’s not so good and those stories were written a loonng time ago.

I’m told that Wikipedia has a listing — and they usually get things right.

 Posted by at 12:37 am

eBooks

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Nov 042011
 

As a fan of your work, specifically the Rowan series, I’ve always wanted to ask if all your books would ever be available as eBooks. Though I own several of your books in paper back I tend to read on the go a lot and like the ease of ebooks.

Thanks for your time.
Chris S.

Chris,

I really don’t keep track of that.  That’s something my publishers deal with.

Ciao,

Annie

 Posted by at 12:32 am

Dragon*con Deferred

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Aug 182011
 

Dear All,

Mum wants me to relay to you how terribly sorry she is to have to cancel this year’s apperance at Dragon*con.

What seemed to be indigestion last week has now turned out to be something more serious – some incident with her heart, the full details of which are still to be determined by tests.

Mum very specifically asked me to apologize to those who had hoped to see her there, saying: “Sorry that old age came up and bit me on the a**.”

The Directors at Dragon*con have said that she’s to rest and get better so she can come next year.

Sincerely,
Todd McCaffrey

 Posted by at 10:00 pm

From a devoted reader

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Apr 262011
 

Dear Anne McCaffrey,

About 25 years ago, I discovered your book, The Harper Hall of Pern, when I was sixteen. Your beautiful writing entranced me and after all these years I still haven’t forgotten Menolly and her story. I recently introduced the book to my own sixteen year old daughter who loves it. I’ve read your other Pern books since and have enjoyed them all. I realized recently that out of all the books I’ve read in my life, and specifically all the science fiction and fantasy books, your stories have impacted my writing the most. You have a distinct way of pulling your readers into your fantasy world, and making us care about the characters. I’ve completed a few fantasy novels of my own and hope to be published one day. I just want to thank you for planting the seed.

If you have any advice for a new writer who wishes to become published, I’d welcome your thoughts. I hope I’m not being too forward in saying this, but I’d love to share my writing with you and see what you think. I hope to one day meet you in person. I wish you well and hope you are recovering from your surgeries.

All the best and with love,
Loretta Torossian
New York, NY

Loretta,

I’ve been asked this so many times I never have the same answer anymore!

First — keep reading. Writers are readers. Writers are also people who can’t not write.

Second, follow Heinlein’s rules for getting published:

1. Write it.
2. Finish it.
3. Send it out.
4. Keep sending it out until someone sends you a check.

There are variations on that, but that’s basically what works.

Ciao,
Annie

 Posted by at 12:20 am

Question from Tom – Freedom Series

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Apr 262011
 

will there be more books to this fantastic series? seems like they were left off in limbo.

thnx!

Tom, I’m glad you liked the series but I really think I’ve said all I want to say in that universe.

 Posted by at 12:08 am

Additional news from Steve Hoban of Copperheart

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Apr 132011
 

Steve says:

David [Hayter]’s wife, Marisa Cody, just said the following, “You can tell them that not only am I a fan, but I lived those books when I was growing up. I read them so many times, they were falling apart.”

That means she has good taste and has a lot of company. It also means David will have extra pressure to do a great job from a fan point of view.

As you can see, we really made sure Pern is in good hands!

 Posted by at 4:14 pm

The Dragonriders of Pern to be adapted for the big screen!

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Apr 122011
 

I know everyone has been waiting and asking for a long while to see what’s going to happen with Pern and film.

Today, Copperheart made a major announcement and I couldn’t be more pleased.

David Hayter, of X-Men fame (among many other films) has signed on to write the screenplay and Don Murphy, who has worked on many films including Splice and Transformers, has signed on as an executive producer.

For full details, click here.

 Posted by at 10:13 pm

Dragon*con 2011

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Oct 272010
 

Dear All,

I just got off the phone with Bill Fawcett, the multi-talented.  On behalf of Dragon*con, he invited me to attend next year’s convention — their 25th!

It turns out that he, Todd, and Gigi have all been working together quietly to see if this would be something that I’d like and if it were possible, from a health standpoint (after all, I’ll be 85 by then!).   And while no one can guarantee the future, they all agreed that with precautions, I should be fine — particularly as Gigi will accompany me on the flights there and back.

So, health permitting, I’ll be at Dragon*con 2011.  I apologize that I won’t be able to do nearly as many appearances as I’d like (oh, to be even 20 years younger!) but I can’t think of a convention I’d rather attend in my 85th year!

Ciao,
Annie

 Posted by at 8:28 pm