ROSWELL: Late for the Sky: About Us

ROSWELL'S FIRST FANZINE!

ABOUT US

Irene Shafer had a vision. With the successful first season of ROSWELL almost at a close, and the outpouring of fan support which helped get the novice show renewed for a second season, she envisioned the creation of an old-fashioned fan fiction publication (nicknamed a 'fanzine') dedicated solely to ROSWELL. Fan fiction has become an Internet phenomenon over the past 10 years, but Irene recalled the days when fanzines were the only way fans were able to go beyond the television and movie worlds of Star Trek and Star Wars and look into their favorites characters futures and pasts.

Irene felt the printed word was somehow more special and solid, and that the care taken in the writing and presentation would make the end product of ‘zine fiction, versus net fiction, that much more weighty and beautiful. She believed that there was a certain romance to fanzine writing that would distinguish it from the fiction available on-line, an artistry that would not be lost on the truly devoted fan.

At the same time, she also began to realize how strongly the music of ROSWELL identified the emotions and experiences of its people and set them irrevocably in our hearts and minds. Listening to the radio became an adventure in which she saw and heard the characters play out their lives against this soundtrack.

In the back of her mind, LATE FOR THE SKY was starting to take shape.

In May, 2000, Irene crossed paths with Bella Richards, who shared Irene's love of ROSWELL, fan fiction, and music.

A relative newcomer to fan fic, Bella—insightful and ever-energetic—was very quickly making a name for herself. (Her “Wizard of Roz” is destined to become a ROSWELL fic classic.) It was also clear that she shared a similar musical passion with Irene. . .

Flipping through the Crashdown’s fiction archives one day (“trolling for writers whom I could beg for fiction” <g> -- IBS), Irene stumbled upon a compelling fic, the inspiration for which was yet another Jackson Browne song. (LATE FOR THE SKY gets its title from the Jackson Browne album of the same name, the themes of which will be echoed in the ‘zine.) Jackson Browne? ROSWELL? Great fan fic? It was too serendipitous! The two became fast friends. With talents that complement one another, Bella’s logic, drive and creativity are the perfect foil for Irene’s dreamy inspiration, tenacity and devotion. (No surprise that Bella is the Candy and Irene, the Dreamer. . .)

What also became clear was that they both shared a dream—a dream to create a collection of ROSWELL fiction with the highest of standards and quality.

Together, they set out to make the dream a reality.

Knowing there had to be others who saw, heard and felt things as they did, they set out to gather the very best of ROSWELL fan fiction writers and artists to create a collection of stories, poems, artwork, and humor that represented the finest ROSWELL fandom had to offer.

And LATE FOR THE SKY was born.

With a tight-knit group of writers, and a special environment of encouragement and editorial feedback, the material for the first edition of LATE FOR THE SKY is slowly coming together. As we painstakingly edit the fan fiction, and the artists lovingly illustrate the stories and poetry, we move closer and closer to publication!

The months of preparation, creation, and design for the first ROSWELL fanzine are almost at an end . . .