Tag Archives: Jean Weber

Fans Okay After Yasi

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Jean Weber and Eric Lindsay and their home near Townsville, Queensland on the northeast coast of Australia came through Tropical Cyclone Yasi unscathed reports Robin Johnson who spoke with them by phone.

The storm has left a trail of devastation and damage elsewhere after striking the coast on February 2 (U.S. date) with winds stronger than Hurricane Katrina unleashed on New Orleans. Authorities say the force of the storm is the largest in Australia’s history.

Australia’s ABC News adds that the cyclone, now headed inland, has been downgraded to a category two storm, but many residents remain trapped in their homes as the storm continues on a path of destruction.

Johnson wrote that potential communication problems might make it hard for Jean and Eric to contact people for the next few days.

Bring Lyn McConchie to NatCon 50

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Lyn McConchie

The 2011 Australian National Convention (Swancon 36/Natcon 50) will be held at Easter, only a few weeks after the 20th anniversary of Lyn McConchie’s first professionally published short story, “The Sar Shan Kelpie” which appeared in the March 1991 issue of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Fantasy Magazine.

Lyn lives in New Zealand and fans would like to bring her to Australia for this year’s NatCon. With Lyn’s permission Jean Weber has been raising funds to pay Lyn’s travel expenses.

Now is the time to push the McConchie fund over the top. Easter isn’t that far away when you’re waiting to make definite plans and secure travel reservations.

 For more info and to contribute, click here.

Celebrating 20 Years of Lyn McConchie’s Fiction

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Lyn McConchie

The 2011 Australian National Convention (Swancon 36/Natcon 50) will be held at Easter, only a few weeks after the 20th anniversary of Lyn McConchie’s first professionally published short story, “The Sar Shan Kelpie” which appeared in the March 1991 issue of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Fantasy Magazine.

Jean Weber would like to bring Lyn to Swancon to celebrate her professional anniversary:  

Lyn has published at least 23 books in various genres (mainly fantasy), with more books under contract, and I’ve lost count of how many hundred short stories. She’s won awards. But with all that, she doesn’t earn a lot of money from her writing, so travelling abroad is financially difficult.

With Lyn’s permission, Jean has started a special fund to fly Lyn to Perth for the convention — to pay for her airfare, room and membership, plus food and incidentals. The goal is to raise A$1500. Jean can accept contributions via Paypal, or by check.

Fancyclopedia Update

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Jim Caughran, announcing the latest additions to the online Fancyclopedia, sends links to Jean Weber’s updates of the articles about Fan Funds, GUFF and DUFF.

Weber’s list of a fund winner’s duties includes:

Fund winners become administrators of the fund until the next winner returns from a trip. Fund winners are expected to publish a trip report.

Well, I always do expect them to write a report, and some funds enjoy a good track record when it comes to that. A surprising number of TAFF winners have not felt obligated in that way. Fortunately, there is Chris Garcia’s good example to point out (donation required for access to the full online report; individual chapters have been published in several recent fanzines that are freely available on http://www.eFanzines.com).