Della Van Hise
Fan | |
---|---|
Name: | Della Van Hise |
Alias(es): | Alexis Fegan Black, Carlin Rae Thorne, Pagan Blue, and many more, see Pseuds |
Type: | fanwriter, zine publisher, concom member, writer of tie-in novels and profic novels |
Fandoms: | Star Trek: TOS, K/S |
Communities: | |
Other: | |
URL: | at AO3 |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Della Van Hise was a prolific Kirk/Spock fanwriter who later published an official (and infamous) Star Trek tie-in novel, Killing Time.
As Alexis Fegan Black (and many, many other pseuds) [1], Della Van Hise wrote over fifteen novels, a multitude of novellas, poems, short stories, and vignettes. [2] [3] [4]
Their press for fanfiction is Pon Farr Press.
Some of her fiction was posted at AO3 starting in 2014. However, as of February 2017, the stories are no longer available apparently due to TOS violations.[5][6]
Fan Reaction
A fan in 1989 wrote: "Alexis Fegan Black - No other author appears as often on my mental list of "most memorable and favorite K/S stories". She combines an excellent writing talent with the loving warmth that I admire most about K/S. I do get a little tired of all the metaphysical stories at times, and that makes me all the more appreciative when she strays to the more raw, erotic stories, such as "War Games" (OFF DUTY 1), and to a very fun read such as Things That Go Bump in the Night (NAKED TIMES 21). I believe my most favorite of hers are the DREAMS OF THE SLEEPERS series, Past, Present, and Always" (NT 7), and "A Time to be Born" (K/S COLLECTED). Where would K/S be without Alexis Fegan Black?" [7]
Some Troubles in the Early 1980s
There is a long, long letter in Datazine #29 (as well as in Universal Translator #22) in the personal statement section by Della in which she responds to multiple complaints in "Datazine" and numerous letterzines regarding to zines fans have paid for but have not received. She cites poor health, problems with the originals for at least one zine (Naked Times #4/5) being lost at the printer, and says she just plain "F----- Up. I can't make it any clearer than that... I hope this can be resolved as quickly and painlessly as possible for all involved. As I stated before, I DO intend to fulfill all commitments for back orders and current orders. We all make mistakes; unfortunately, mine have been more apparent than many... There really isn't much I can do other than apologize and reassure you that 'time will tell.' At this point, threatening letters aren't doing any of us any good. I honestly couldn't do anything more right now if I was under full-scale attack by Klingons, Romulans, Gorns, and Tholians. But as soon as the attack is over, I hope to prove to you that I'm not some dishonest evil alien."
In Datazine #32, Della had an update. She explained in detail which zines have been sent out, and which ones are still in the works. She mentioned she is having to re-do Naked Times #4/5 part two as her "born-again printer" had completely destroyed the original and the dummy copies after she had paid her bill in full. "It seems he overlooked that commandment about coveting and/or destroying his neighbor's property." She closed with a thank you to fans. "... thanks again to those who have written kind letters of support and encouragement over the last few troubled years. I look forward to being able to re-establish the trust and harmony we all shared in the past."
Many reviews of her zines in On the Double (~ 1987) go out of their way to praise how speedy the zines arrived.
Her Pseuds
[1987]:[1987]:One of the main reasons [I use several pseuds] is that I'm hopeful of publishing more professional books, and it seems that K/S is indeed frowned upon by some of the major publishing houses. Other reasons are that I enjoy reading honest letters of comment, and many letter-writers are more likely to give honest critique of a story if they don't know their letter is going straight into the hands of the editor/writer. I'd rather have honest negative criticism than insincere ego-boo so I'll occasionally toss in a story under a different pseudonym for that reason. [8]
[2015]:Additionally, from my own personal experience, I have learned that it is seldom if ever wise to use one's true name on any material associated with K/S — particularly if one has any hopes of ever publish ing his/her work professionally. The wide-spread opinion is one of "Oh, nobody really cares that I write K/S", or "Paramount wouldn't hold it against me if I decided to do a professional STAR TREK book". Guess again. A lot of people are adamantly, rabidly opposed to K/S and to those who write, edit, publish, read or review it. And, as a personal note, Paramount sure as hell does care and can easily "hold it against" one. So while it's idealistically preferred to use one's "true" name or even one's most commonly used "fandom name", it isn't always practically sound for reasons which may never occur to the majority of people involved in K/S fandom. [9]
A couple of people have said to me over the years - "Gee, Della, do you think it's wise to publish your Quantum Shaman books and your erotica under your own name?" Who knows? In this new day and age of indy publishing, it seems that just about anything goes - and I can only say that anyone who is SERIOUS about their spiritual journey already knows that what we do isn't necessarily who we are. Then again, we are sensual and sexual beings because we are human beings, so I make no apologies for what I've written, nor for who and what I am.
I personally feel a writer should be able to do anything s/he wants, but because I also acknowledge that we live in a world of "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts" (two of the most dangerous words in the English language), I made the decision to publish Prince of Umberlight under my long-established pseudonym (which I've never kept secret), Alexis Fegan Black. Of course, now that I've told you, what's the point of a pseudonym? But I suppose some people worry more about the name on the cover than the content inside. *lol* It's a funny, funny world in which we live. [10]
Confirmed Pseuds
Alexis Fegan Black, [11] [12] [13], Carlin Rae Thorne [14], Christopher Randolph [15], Pagan Blue, [16] Keith Donovan [17] Tracey Alexander, [18] Phaedra Merin Jones [19], Morgana October, [20], Janna Steele, [21], Seane Malone, [22], Janna Steele [23], and James Carlson [24].
Possible Pseuds
A.M. Berman, Brenda Joyce, C.D.M., Cassia Williams, Jamie Belle, Jane Wray, Jessica Eurlynne, Kalen Storm, Kaylan Storm, Kalindi Brown, L.M. Kincade, Lillian Dawn, Marilyn Lansford, Marina Alverez, Morgana Coldcreek, Peter Silverton, Rachel Abbot, Scott Hunter, Shauna Ann Mason, Sue Denim, Syreta Knight, Tay Garian, Z.M.A. Hopkins, and others.
Note: some of these pseuds may also be Natasha Solten.
Zines In Which Della/Alexis Was Involved
The 25th Year | Against All Odds | Beyond the Veil | A Collection of Dreams | Coming of Age | Covert Action | Crossroads | Daybreak | Dreams of the Sleepers | Fever | The Fifth Hour of Night | Dreams of the Sleepers | Imaginary Lines | K/S Collected | Naked Times | Oasis | Otherwhere/Otherwhen | Off Duty | Private Possessions | A Question of Balance | Psychic Storm... and other K/S stories | Speed of Light... & other K/S stories | Starry Seas, Earthly Planes | Styx and Stones | Taking Command | Time Out of Mind | Unholy Alliances | Vagabonds | Warlords | The Way Home | The Year of the Ram
Interviews
- On the Double Interview with Alexis Fegan Black (1987)
- Interview with Della Van Hise (Slash Alexis Fagen Black) (2011)
Example Works
Fanfiction
- Still Waters (Star Trek: TOS story by Alexis Fegan Black) (1986)
- Echoes (Star Trek: TOS story by Alexis Fegan Black) (1978)
- Decisions (Star Trek: TOS story by Alexis Fegan Black) (1979)
Meta by Van Hise
- If we, as K/S fans, do not collectively, and SUDDENLY stop "feeding the flames," it is certain that no one ever will. (1978)
- A Careful Analysis: The Roddenberry Footnote by Christopher Randolph (1979)
- In regards to the rumors - I'm not surprised that they're circulating... (1982)
- Time Will Tell (1984)
- K/S - A Personal Experience (1986)
- K/S: Freedom of the Press? (1986)
- Open Letter by Della Van Hise Regarding "Killing Time" (1986)
- Out in the Open: Alexis Fegan Black's 1987 Open Letter Regarding "Courts of Honor" (1987)
- A Dangerous Trend? (1988)
- For the most part, K/S editors are looking for something "different." (1988)
- An Open Letter to Fandom by Della Van Hise (1988)
- Open Letter to Fandom by Alexis Fegan Black Regarding Zine Pirating in 5 of Hearts: The Collected Short Novels of Alexis Fegan Black (1993)
- Once Upon a Mad, Mad Time... (about writing the professional Star Trek novel Killing Time) (2014)
- Bring Your Own Marshmallows; WebCite (some subjects: disappointing book sales, a proposal to burn her inventory in a bonfire) (October 2015)
- Indulgences, Negative Pleasantries and "Gaslighting"; WebCite (some subjects: writing, trigger warnings, Star Trek fandom, her fiction at AO3, interpersonal relationships, victimhood) (July 2015)
- Interesting Times?; WebCite (some subjects: Amazon, self-publishing, profit) (June 2015)
- Crickets and Cat Bellies; WebCite (some subjects: has reading become obsolete?, why don't people who love her fanfiction buy her other books?, disappointing sales, some discussion of writing fanfiction) (May 2015)
- Sorry I Sat On Your Rose-Colored Glasses ; WebCite (some subjects: writing, disappointment, promoting original fiction using fanfic on AO3, book piracy) (April 2015)
- Alexis Fegan Black is Dead (some subjects: AO3's terms of service regarding advertising, fiction being removed, fandom as a disappointment) (February 2017)
Further Reading
- Gay Romance Press, Publisher's of Exceptional Gay Erotica: The Artistry of Della Van Hise
- Your source for the hottest Star Trek fan fiction and gay romance erotica! -- A Little Bit of History...; WebCite
- bio at Goodreads; WebCite
References
- ^ only Cinda Gillilan has more pseuds
- ^ Gay Romance Press, Publisher's of Exceptional Gay Erotica: The Artistry of Della Van Hise
- ^ description of the book "Ragged Angels" at Amazon
- ^ Your source for the hottest Star Trek fan fiction and gay romance erotica! -- A Little Bit of History...; WebCite
- ^ From her AO3 profile page: "Just wanted to let my reader fans from AO3 know that the self-righteous brats who run the joint have removed ALL of my works from the archive because it was their (false) accusation that I was "advertising." What it really comes down to is that they don't want REAL authors to provide even the smallest mention that they ARE real authors - no links to your blog, your Amazon page, or anything else." -- Alexis Fegan Black is Dead; WebCite. A similar statement can be found at her blog: Alexis Fegan Black is Dead, 25 February 2017.
- ^ Note that in 2016, a 20-year-old Australian fan also reported running afoul of AO3's strict no-advertising policy by linking to commercial activity: PSA: DON'T MENTION COMMISSIONS/PATREON ON AO3, tumblr post by whalehuntingboyfriends, 25 September 2016. (Accessed 26 June 2017.)
- ^ from On the Double #10
- ^ from On the Double #3 (1987)
- ^ from On the Double #3 (1987)
- ^ Erotica: A Return to My Roots (February 19, 2015)
- ^ The 2017 open letter to fandom entitled Alexis Fegan Black is Dead, after a fandom flounce on AO3.
- ^ the 2011 interview Interview with Della Van Hise (Slash Alexis Fagen Black)
- ^ on Archive of Our Own: "Yup, that's my real name - and I am the ghost inside the machine that is Alexis Fegan Black. Carlin Rae Thorne and several other K/S nyms whose names escape me at the moment." --Pseuds for AlexisFeganBlack
- ^ on Archive of Our Own: "Yup, that's my real name - and I am the ghost inside the machine that is Alexis Fegan Black. Carlin Rae Thorne and several other K/S nyms whose names escape me at the moment." --Pseuds for AlexisFeganBlack
- ^ "For those who have read ALL THAT WE SEE OR SEEM (originally published in STARRY SEAS, EARTHLY PLANES), and who might think the plot of DREAMS OF THE SLEEPERS similar, the editor would like to point out that Christopher Randolph and Alexis Fegan Black are 'one' -- quite literally." -- from Starry Seas, Earthly Planes (1984)
- ^ "Pagan Blue (yes, I have changed my fandom name one more time, and for personal reasons. Until I can think of a better one Pagan Blue is it, guys.) -- from Naked Times #19 (1988)
- ^ Keith Donovan and Nathan St. Germaine are linked on the Fanzines Plus website -- "TIME OUT OF MIND Publication date: 1985 164 pgs.- 2 column, very small print. Originally pubbed under the pseudonym, "Nathan St. Germaine & Keith Donovan", this is an alternate universe K/S novel by A.F. Black & Natasha Solten." -- STAR TREK FanZineS Gay Romance K/S Novels of Alexis Fegan Black, male/male, ship
- ^ by way of Stellar Gas and Enterprise Incidents
- ^ linked in Unholy Alliances
- ^ linked in Unholy Alliances
- ^ linked in Unholy Alliances
- ^ linked in Psychic Storm... and other K/S stories
- ^ linked in Psychic Storm... and other K/S stories
- ^ connected in Speed of Light... & other K/S stories, as well as at Fanzines Plus, the author's webpage