Well, it's been over 6 months now since I last updated this site (or even really looked at it, to be honest), and I've been feeling guilty about that, so I decided to pick up this loose end. Everyone's lives have changed to some degree since the fall, and I certainly was no exception. Without getting into all the sortid details, I became a first-time home owner back on November 20th, and on the exact same day I became a full-time employee for Ernst & Young. Both are wonderful and I'm very happy. ;^) Moving to Virginia, buying this place, accepting this job—they're all the best decisions I've made in a LONG time. And while I know I disappointed a lot of you folks, I'm also glad I decided not to do Kiss 3—I can look back now and sigh with relief that I hadn't added that to my plate.

I've decided to finally unload my personal collection of fanzines. Many of them are complete sets, most are from the 1980s-90s, and nearly all of them are classic Star Wars-related. Some are Harrison Ford or Indiana Jones in nature, some are multi-media (Star Trek, TV shows and movies, etc.). For more details, click here or email me and I'll send a PDFed list. Most of them had something Han/Leia related in them, but they all had some quality that made me buy them in the first place. The majority of the contents are not available online, particularly the artwork, and probably never will be. Depending on the situation and volume of orders, I'm flexible on prices and might even throw in shipping. Make me an offer!

Finally, please keep tuned because I'll be steadily adding new material to this website, including fanfic, artwork, and collectibles for sale. I'm also open to suggestions for additions. If you have something you'd like to contribute, just let me know.

That's it for now.

Sue

I'm posting this message now in part to dispel or relieve rumors regarding the third issue of Kiss. First I want to point out that until today, no decision was finalized regarding submissions, and therefore all rumors were just that—rumors. Also, I was never contacted or informed by any contributor as to their wish to withdraw a submission—again, a rumor. Don't be a rumormonger. Go to the source if you want the truth.

Now for the facts:

All plans for a printed third issue of Kiss are now canceled. All contributors are free to either submit their work to other zines, or to contribute them to the Kiss Online Archives, which will continue to be updated and maintained. (If you require hardcopies of submissions returned, please notify me and I will mail them back.) If you have any questions or comments, please contact me. I sincerely apologize for the delay in my decision, but I'd honestly hoped that things might still change at the last moment and that I could do a third issue. I also apologize for an inconvenience I may have caused. I only hope that you will understand and respect my decision.

This decision was not easy for me, and I can only assume it's not easy to hear. Due in part to the recent events and current economic atmosphere in the Washington DC metro area where I live, I simply cannot dedicate the time and effort I feel would be required to produce a quality zine the likes of the previous two issues. Between my work hours being cut back—and hiring freezes everywhere—and the increased living costs I now face with a new home of my own, the disposable cash and time is no longer available.

This says nothing of the lack of enthusiasm and the very real shift in personal priorities that I've felt in the past two months. I feel that my free time would be better used volunteering for more worthy causes, and I would encourage everyone reading this to likewise consider volunteering if you aren't already. Go to the American Red Cross website for more information on how you can contribute, and to find your local Red Cross chapter. Today's tragic airline crash demonstrates that life—and suffering—did not begin or end on September 11, 2001, and that they need your support.

Fandom is a fun and indulgent distraction, but it is NOT real life, and it should never be a substitute for real life. Part of the reason for my diminished enthusiasm has been because I've watched so many fans over the years allow this distraction to control and influence their lives and relationships. I've seen so many motivated by revenge or ego or the pure need to be accepted by others. Nothing made this fact sink home more than when I read comments from fans immediately following the terrorist attacks. One announced that she now understood how Princess Leia felt. Others immediately began relating these horrific and REAL events with the fantasy of Star Wars, etc., as if they were unable to relate in any other way. I can't begin to describe how much this disturbed me. I feel sorry for them and their apparent inability to understand or acknowledge the real world around them.

It's no secret that all our lives have been changed forever in the past two months since the unforgivable and purely evil attacks upon the U.S., and our very freedom and right to exist. There's little I can say that hasn't already been said regarding the sadness, horror, and sheer anger I feel. Living and working within one of the major target areas drives this fact home every day for me. I feel immense pride in being an American (I know I won the lottery by being born a citizen), and I'm doubly proud to count many of my ancestors as patriots and founders of this great country. My heart beats a little faster to see the policemen and military personnel that stand on every street corner to protect me from further threats, and it's painful at the same time to feel gratitude for their service, and anger that this sort of constant presence is necessary.

Hi folks, sorry it's been a while since I've updated. It's been a busy summer and such a beautiful one weather-wise that it's difficult forcing myself to sit in the basement to work.

Lots of news on the home front and in fandom. First of all, please note that my address will be changing once again (you think you're inconvenienced?!), but this time it's definitely in my favor. I'm about to buy a home and escape "renter's prison". I'm very excited about it, but it's taking time finding the right home and I may be out of touch for a little while until I'm reestablished. This means that there might be a SLIGHT delay in the ultimate release date of Kiss 3. It will all depend on how long it takes to find my new home, close on it, and move, etc. I should still be able to answer my e-mails, however, if you have any questions. I've received a number of fantastic stories so far for the upcoming issue of Kiss, so I think it will be well-worth the wait.

And in the meantime, please check out the latest addition to the Kiss Online collection of fanfic. Barbara Anderson, IMO, was one of the most talented and yet relatively unknown fanzine writers from the 1980-90s; this was mostly due to the fact that she usually only submitted work to Flip of a Coin, a Harrison Ford multi-media fanzine. I'm proud to call her a friend and to debut her fanfiction online. Please don't hesitate to send her comments--I'm sure she'd love to hear them. Although her stories were originally printed with artwork by Yvonne Zan and Wanda Lybarger, I was unable to obtain permission from them to post their art online. In their stead, Laura Sherman was more than happy to reillustrated them for you here, so my thanks to Laura as well.

That's about it for now.

Sue

6/8/00

Wow, it's amazing how productive you can be when the network at your job is down for over 62 straight hours! They still make us come in and I'm required to look busy, so I just HAD to keep myself busy, so it was the perfect excuse to do some overdue housekeeping online. Hope you like what you see. I've been having a blast experimenting with PhotoShop and so on. As you can see, I've totally revamped the Kiss site; it's something I'd wanted to do to coincide with the release of Kiss 2, but just ran out of time. I'm also about to finish revamping the website I designed and maintain for the Zine Union.

Well, it's been a while since I've updated and a LOT of things have happened. First of all, obviously, was the long overdue released of Kiss 2. The reception has been very warm, to say the least--just check out the reader reviews so far. I initially had 150 copies printed and bound, and I'm already down to 20 left. That's got to be close to a some sort of record for a SW zine--now if only George would catch the hint. I did have 200 sets of the color covers made, so I intend to eventually assemble another 50 copies, but I may just call a halt at that point. It'll all depend on whether there's a continuing demand and if the printer will cut me a deal on color printing.

The trip and extended weekend at MediaWest Con was also a flying success for Kiss 2. For some demented reason, I'd only brought along 25 copies, plus tribs. (I blame heat exhaustion--I'd just finished carrying 80 copies down three flights of stairs and into the car, then hauled them into the post office, all in the sweltering heat.) As it was, half of them were sold before the Con even officially started, and the rest were gone before the end of the first day. I was completely thrilled, but a little peeved that I hadn't brought more. Oh well, live and learn...

I had a great time seeing old friends and meeting online friends in person for the first time. That always makes the trip to the Con worthwhile.

It was also a successful day at the STAR aWARdS for Kiss 1. In all we took home 3 awards and 3 honorable mentions. Ken Keisel won Best Poem, plus 2 honorable mentions, one for best poem and one for best filk. Cindy Olsen won Best Short Story for "Day and Night." Monique got an honorable mention for best short story for "New Beginnings." And I won for Best Filk. Overall, Kiss 1 took home more than any other zine in 1999. Congratulations to all those contributed, and to these guys in particular.

However--and it kills me to say this--the Con was rather a disappointment this year. The atmosphere has seriously changed from when I first started attending back in 1987. It used to be very well balanced in fandoms and scheduled panels, etc., but this year it was almost exclusively Sentinel or Phantom Menace slash. Because I get no kick out of slash, it was almost nauseating by the third day--the art show was nearly as bad as walking into a gay porno-flick. I have nothing against that, but I don't really want to watch it, either. And not a single Harrison Ford or original trilogy piece to be found--it was depressing!

So anyway, I'd still recommend the Con for finding the new and old zines, and for the friendships...but be warned of the atmosphere that dominates the Con now. I fear it will be even more lobsided next year as more SW fans abandon it. Maybe we just need to start our own SW/fanfic/zines con, huh? (And NO, I don't need another project!!)

I also wanted to give a special thanks to those who've already praised the zine, and my story in particular. I'm sorry if I haven't been able to respond. I'm very pleased that folks are enjoying the story--it was a baby/demon of mine for many years and at least now people can stop nagging me about THAT one. ;^)

Sue

It's been a rush of a day! On the spur of the moment, I decided to leave early for the Con--so I bumped up the pick-up date for the rental, loaded all the pre-ordered and contrib zines in the trunk (nearly 100 copies!), rushed them to the post office, and now I'm in the process of loading everything I'll need for the Con. I'll be hitting the road shortly and with any luck I'll make Michigan before Midnight! I'm looking forward to meeting those of you attending. Ah, just like a Con SHOULD be! It's no fun unless it's spontaneous.

So, for those still anxiously waiting by their mailboxes, they are now indeed in the mail. I'm sorry again for the wait, but it's next to impossible getting to the post office during business hours anymore and I hated the idea of waiting until this weekend. With any luck, you'll have it in your hands in time for the holiday.

Sue

Finally! They're here!! I picked up the five huge, full boxes on Thursday night--and nearly blew out a rear tire, they were so heavy! Then I nearly blew out my back carrying them up 3 flights of stairs to my apartment! It's Friday night now and I'm getting things set up to do the annual binding frenzy that will begin tomorrow. I'm waiting for my volunteers to arrive. We're probably just going to talk about it, about SW in gereral and Han and Leia in specific, and just smooze this evening, and that's fine with me. It's good to ease your way into this job and I'm looking forward to this last stage--it's very rewarding at the end, to see them all finished. They look wonderful and I know you'll be very pleased when you see them. I just wanted to update a little and make an important announcement right away.

First of all, unfortunately, this zine has managed to tip the scales at a whopping 2.1 pounds--meaning that it's just pushed it over the $3.20 postage rate. I've thus been forced to up the cost of U.S. postage for future mail orders to $4.30 (the next level). This will be effective for all orders I receive after tonight. While I'm not going to enforce this increase on the existing orders, I wouldn't turn away any kind souls who might feel generous to send in that extra dollar to help defray the costs. Anyway, please note the new increase in price. For a zine in the US via Priority Mail, the new price is $31.30.

I also thought it'd be nice to have a change of artwork about now to show off a little more of what Kiss 2 contains. I'd like to start rotating art here more regularly, just to give you a taste.

That's all for now,

Sue

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