Kim Huett of Australia has published a collection of my fanzine writing from 1987-1995 and I must say I'm impressed. I'm impressed that he's gone to so much work, I'm impressed by the pieces he chose, I'm impressed that the arc of improvement in my writing is so evident, and I'm especially impressed that he did this when he's barely got two cents to rub together. I consider it evidence of his total devotion to the essence of fanzine publishing.
It's also a huge ego boost, of course. Kim says it's only the second collection of a female fanzine writer's work done other than in association with someone's appearance as Guest of Honor at a convention when it's traditional to publish a Best Of collection. We've got more than fifty years of fandom to draw upon so you bet I'm flattered.
The collection is called A Bright Particular Star which sounds appropriately dramatic. Of the twelve essays only two have ever been reprinted, and one was reprinted twice: once by me, once by Art Widner. Some of the pieces are funnier if you know the context or the people involved but I think they're enjoyable on their own. Two of them made me really happy to see again as I hadn't read them since publishing them originally. I think they hold up well. Oh hell, I'll just say it, I think they're really good. One of them made me cry, which means either I'm a brilliant writer or I'm incurably sentimental.
In 1987 I was 30 and at the height of my fannish popularity. Most of the writing I did was published by others, both here and abroad. By 1990 I was living in Nashville and deeply unhappy about it. I began writing and publishing Southern Gothic in an attempt to cope with the alienation. In 1995 I discovered the Internet and published only one more paper fanzine before permanently embracing online publication.
There's humor, there's personal insight, there's autobiographical material, there's serious social commentary, there's pop psychology, and there's just plain me telling you how the world works from a woman's point of view. It's seventeen pages, double sided, and includes an introduction which covers my fannish career. If you'd like to read it, Kim would be happy to mail it to you for the low, low price of five dollars. You can pay me and I'll send it to him, or if you have Aussie dollars you can mail the fiver directly to him; email me and I'll provide the appropriate address.
Support an independent publisher and get more Lucy goodness. Find out what this "fanzine" stuff is all about. You'll understand why I consider online diaries and weblogs to be reinventing the wheel. You'll also find out a deep, dark secret about me. How can you resist?
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