Ben Ohlander is a SFWA member and has coauthored novels with David Drake and Bill Forstchen. His first publication was a 1995 short story in the anthology Tapestries . He has returned to the short story format to explore aspects of conflict. He is a career Army officer with service in Afghanistan and Iraq and has worked as an analyst, software developer, and technical writer. He is married and lives in Ohio with three stepsons, one daughter, two cats, and a varying number of amphibians.
Fiona Patton lives in rural Ontario with her spouse, Tanya Huff, and a pile of furry creatures. She has written seven novels for DAW, the latest being The Shining City, the third and final book in the Warriors of Estavia series. She has written over thirty short stories for DAW/Tekno Books anthologies. “The Watchman’s Ball” is her sixth story set in Mercedes Lackey’s world of Valdemar, the fourth featuring the Dann family of Haven.
Kate Paulk masquerades as a mild-mannered software quality analyst during the day and spends most of what she sardonically describes as her “abundant spare time” writing. She is a regular contributor to the Valdemar anthologies, and her first novel, Impaler, is available in electronic and print form. She lives in semirural Pennsylvania with her husband, two demanding cats, and a very demanding imagination.
After having been a production coordinator, proofreader, loan document researcher, and bookseller, Dan Shull is currently working full-tilt toward a degree in Communications, since all the cool jobs he is interested in look for that sort of thing. He was born, raised, and still lives in California, though he wouldn’t mind a change of scenery now and again—especially during the summers. He has been known to engage in the hobbies of reading, role-playing games, and vigorous, meandering discussions on everything from history to physics. While this is his first published work, he has been writing off and on since his parents gave him that electric typewriter back when he was ten.
Kristin Schwengel’s work has appeared in several of the previous Valdemar anthologies, among others. She and her husband live near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a gray-and-brown tabby cat named (what else?) Gandalf. Her work as a massage therapist leaves her just enough time to divide between writing and other pastimes.
Stephanie Shaver lives in Southern California, where she works in the games industry and enjoys soaking up the sunshine. When she isn’t working or writing, she’s probably cooking, camping, or herding cats. You can find her online at www.sdshaver.com.
Elizabeth A. Vaughan writes fantasy romance. Her first novel, Warprize, was rereleased in April 2011. The Chronicles of the Warlands continues in WarCry, released in May 2011. You can learn more about her books at www.eavwrites.com. At the present, she is owned by three incredibly spoiled cats and lives in the Northwest Territory, on the outskirts of the Black Swamp, along Mad Anthony’s Trail on the banks of the Maumee River.
Elisabeth Waters sold her first short story in 1980 to Marion Zimmer Bradley for The Keeper’s Price, the first of the Darkover anthologies. She then went on to sell short stories to a variety of anthologies. Her first novel, a fantasy called Changing Fate, was awarded the 1989 Gryphon Award. She is now finishing a sequel to it, in addition to her short story writing. She also edits the anthology series Sword and Sorceress. In addition to her writing, she has worked as a supernumerary with the San Francisco Opera, where she appeared in La Gioconda, Manon Lescaut, Madama Butterfly, Khovan-schina, Das Rheingold, Werther, and Idomeneo.
Michael Z. Williamson and Gail Sanders are both veterans, though Mike is now retired from the military. For twenty years, they’ve run their own businesses selling historical weapons and armor, photography, and occasional prop, armorer, and consulting services for movies and TV. They work so well together that only one of them drafted this bio. You’ll have to guess which one. They can be found online at SharpPointyThings.com and www.MichaelZWilliamson.com
About the Editor
Mercedes Lackey is a full-time writer and has published numerous novels and works of short fiction, including the bestselling Heralds of Valdemar series. She is also a professional lyricist and a licensed wild bird rehabilita-tor. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and collaborator, artist Larry Dixon, and their flock of parrots.
TITLES BY MERCEDES LACKEY
available from DAW Books:
THE HERALDS OF
VALDEMAR
ARROWS OF THE QUEEN
ARROW’S FLIGHT
ARROW’S FALL
THE LAST HERALD-MAGE
MAGIC’S PAWN
MAGIC’S PROMISE
MAGIC’S PRICE
THE MAGE WINDS
WINDS OF FATE
WINDS OF CHANGE
WINDS OF FURY
THE MAGE STORMS
STORM WARNING
STORM RISING
STORM BREAKING
VOWS AND HONOR
THE OATHBOUND
OATHBREAKERS
OATHBLOOD
THE COLLEGIUM
CHRONICLES
FOUNDATION
INTRIGUES
CHANGES
VALDEMAR ANTHOLOGIES:
SWORD OF ICE
SUN IN GLORY
CROSSROADS
MOVING TARGETS
CHANGING THE WORLD
FINDING THE WAY
UNDER THE VALE
BY THE SWORD
BRIGHTLY BURNING
TAKE A THIEF
EXILE’S HONOR
EXILE’S VALOR
Written with LARRY DIXON:
THE MAGE WARS
THE BLACK GRYPHON
THE SILVER GRYPHON
DARIAN’S TALE
OWLFLIGHT
OWLSIGHT
OWLKNIGHT
OTHER NOVELS:
GWENHWYFAR
THE BLACK SWAN
THE DRAGON JOUSTERS
JOUST
ALTA
SANCTUARY
AERIE
THE ELEMENTAL MASTERS
THE SERPENT’S SHADOW
THE GATES OF SLEEP
PHOENIX AND ASHES
THE WIZARD OF LONDON
RESERVED FOR THE CAT
UNNATURAL ISSUE
HOME FROM THE SEA*
And don’t miss:
THE VALDEMAR COMPANION
Edited by John Helfers and Denise Little
*Coming soon from DAW Books
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Acknowledgements
The Simple Gifts - Mercedes Lackey
Catch Fire, Draw Flame - Rosemary Edghill and Denise McCune
In an Instant - Elizabeth A. Vaughan
A Healer’s Work - Daniel Shull
A Leash of Greyhounds - Elisabeth Waters
Warp and Weft - Kristin Schwengel
Discordance - Jennifer Brozek
Slow and Steady - Brenda Cooper
Sight and Sound - Stephanie D. Shaver
The Bride’s Task - Michael Z. Williamson and Gail L. Sanders
Fog of War - Ben Ohlander
Heart’s Peril - Kate Paulk
Heart’s Place - Sarah A. Hoyt
Family Matters - Tanya Huff
The Watchman’s Ball - Fiona Patton
Judgment Day - Nancy Asire
Under the Vale - Larry Dixon
About the Authors
About the Editor
TITLES BY MERCEDES LACKEY