Month: March 2004

Letter from Linda

Letter from Linda

Hi Todd —

Like your website and enjoyed reading an early copy of Dragon’s Kin. I got to review it, but they didn’t use my short blurb on the DRIN. I am delighted that you and your Mom are writing together! I am a long-time fan of your Mom’s (since 1973! – boy does that sound like a long time, now) and I’m delighted that you are helping to carry on the tradition of writing excellent Science Fiction/Fantasy. Am looking forward to reading Dragonsblood when it finally makes its appearance!

Quick question: I’ve been a very infrequent visitor to your Mom’s website and perhaps I missed any mention of her stroke. When did it happen? I caught that she had one when I was taking a look at your pictures, one of which you said was taken before she had her stroke. Apparently, not much damage was taken from it, I guess?

Toured all of your various spots on this website and enjoyed everything. I am a frustrated wanna be pilot, but have NO $$ to even THINK of trying to take flying lessons now. First husband took lessons and I got to go along and it was QUITE fun!!! But when his lessons were done, we had no more money for me to learn. Rats. Second husband hates to fly!!

When I worked at McClellan AFB, I got 1st hubby and myself memberships in the Aero Club there. We (the club) had an SR71 Blackbird crew come and tell us about flying those planes. Wow!!! It was really cool to hear the things they did/could do in those birds! I also got to go up to Beale to take a look at them “up close and personal,” when they decomissioned them. They had some powerful cameras and magnification in those things, and they sure could go high and fast!!! Saw not too long ago that they have taken them out of mothballs, even though they are quite expensive to maintain and fuel.

Didn’t mean to get long-winded! Take care and keep writing!

Linda

Hi Linda,

Thanks for the e-mail. I’m glad you liked Dragon’s Kin. We’re hoping to do some more collaborations following on from Dragon’s Kin.

Mum had a stroke in January of 2001. It was very mild, thank goodness. Indeed, it was so mild that only my sister, Gigi, recognized it and convinced Mum to get to the hospital. It happened that I was there at the time, and extended my stay until we could be sure that she was out of danger.

She had a heart attack in September of 2000 as well.

Mum’s pretty tough!

Cheers,
Todd

Aggiecon35

Aggiecon35

Was a blast!

For all of you who didn’t make it, you might consider it — particularly if you live near Texas.

The convention was an interesting mix of college students and older fans. Aggiecon is sponsored by Texas A&M’s science fiction fan club, Cepheid Variable. Many pasts “Cephids” have stuck around College Station and have been kept on coming back year after year. This year they were celebrating their 35th year!

I was quite thrilled to share the GOH spot with Jacqueline Carey, award-winning author of “Kushiel’s Dart”, which won the 2002 Locus Award for Best First Novel. You can learn more about her at jacquelinecarey.com.

I read some of my revised Dragonsblood — and revised some more in consequence! The reading was well-received (no lynch mobs formed afterwards).

I got to judge my first costume contest. I was quite nervous about it. In the end, however, Jacqueline, myself, and Teresa Patterson — a Master costumer — were able to make good choices from the many very excellent entrants. But I now understand why it takes so long for judges to come to a decision at costume contests — the contestants are usually so good.

On my last panel on Sunday, I talked about “The Future of Pern” — and read a bit of the first chapter of Dragonsblood as so many of the audience hadn’t been at my reading on Friday.

I was also glad to see Anna Smith, Weyrfest director, Angelina Adams, Weyrfest second, and Virtual Magpie’s own Megan Morris at the convention. They’d driven down especially to keep an eye on me and we had a rousing time.

Susan Martin was my Guest Relations “slave” (her word, not mine). The first night I had dinner with her husband and three kids which was a really nice treat.

Lots of photos were taken at the con and I think there’s a plan to get some of them uploaded here.

Letter from Teanette

Letter from Teanette

Dear Todd,

I am so happy to have found your website! I want to let you know I loved your Dragon’s Kin, and am waiting for more of your work. Thank you for carrying on with Pern, and I hope to read other wonders that you create in the future from your own “worlds”. I am sure they are in there, just waiting to be heard and read.

So, hello from Missouri and I hope you will also be at Dragoncon 2004 so I can meet you and have you sign my book.

Sincerely,

Teannette Major

Dear Teanette,

Thank you for such a marvelous letter! I do plan to be at Dragon*con this year and I’ll be happy to sign your book.

Cheers,
Todd

Letter from Chad

Letter from Chad

Todd,

I’ve always been a stickler for continuity (sorry) so I had a question regarding an apparent inconsistency in the Pern storyline.

In “The White Dragon,” “The Renegades of Pern,” and “All the Weyers of Pern,” F’lar and Lessa are rather emphatic about the borders of Toric’s Southern Hold. This being the case, why are there small holders in the Dragonrider-claimed territories east of the “Black Rock River?” While Paradise River Hold and Cove Hold would seem to have been “grandfather claused” into the region, I was curious about the minor Holds mentioned in “The Skies of Pern.”

With Regards,
Chad.

Chad,

You really need to ask Mum these sorts of questions.

Todd