Snowfire (Star Wars zine)

Snowfire is a gen Star Wars zine with an emphasis on Princess Leia stories. It contains stories, filks, art, and poems by multiple authors.
Issue #5 won the Star aWards "1999 SW ZINE UNDER 100 PAGES" award. Issue #6 won the Star aWards "2000 SW ZINE UNDER 100 PAGES" award.
The zine ran six issues in print. In the sixth issue's editorial, Fox said she was taking the zine to fanfix.com as an e-zine as the cost of creating a print zine had become too onerous, and she wanted to move along with the times and get online. Another possible reason for this format decision may have been the release of The Phantom Menace and differing opinions of whether "Snowfire" should branch out into carrying material about Leia's mother, Padmé Amidala.
==Descriptions==
From a flyer for issue #3: "More Leia action than you'll find anywhere!"
From another flyer for issue #3: "The reason why fanzines were made"
From a flyer for issue #5: "Viva la diva!"
From an ad in Southern Enclave: "The first zines of its kind in over a decade, Snowfire is totally dedicated to celebrating the feminine side of the Force. Join fellow SW fans from around the Galaxy in this loving tribute to everyone's favorite princess/senator/rebel leader/etc."
From an ad in Southern Enclave #38: "Yvette Ghilan and I will be producing a one-time only zine devoted to the hippest girl in the galaxy, Her Worshipfulness Princess Leia. We want art, poetry, stories, filks, cartoons, even essays all about Leia, from any time frame in the SW universe. We want only the best, most positive material you can create: no trashin', no bashin', and no sleaze. This is going to be a lovezine, a celebration of girlpower. The working title of the zine is Snowfire: A Celebration of Princess Leia, and we're shooting for a May 1995 release."
==Some Extensive 2015 Comments by the Editor==
See How I Ended Up Running A Fan Fiction Zine.
==The Creators==
Yvette Ghilan had the idea for this zine in 1993, passed this idea along to Mary Jo Fox, and the two of them decided to create "Snowfire."
Ghilan was very much involved in the first issue, and somewhat involved in the second one. After that, It was Fox's creation.
In the sixth issue, Fox wrote: "I can't thank enough Yvette Ghilan, the fan whose idea this was in the first place. It's been a long time since I've been in contact with her, but I haven't forgotten her inspiration brought this zine to life."
==Controversy==
While there wasn't a lot of controversy and heated discussions in this zine, at least two fans objected to some of the art in issue #4, that of a tasteful Leia nude, and of a portrait in a long-running series of portraying Leia as various historical figures, specifically Leia as the Madonna, the latter as "an attack on my faith." This was something that the editor addressed directly. Regarding the nude: 
Regarding the Madonna art: 
File:snowfire4-1.jpg|from issue #4, Rhydderch Wilson (the nude)
File:starwarshilldebrandart.jpg|this MAY be the art the editor of the zine said was the less-tasteful "infamous Leia au naturel portrait in the "Shadows of the Empire" trading card set"
File:snowfire4-4.jpg|from issue #4, Rhydderch Wilson. Ironically, one of the fans who complained about the nude, said of this illo in the same zine: "I do have some good news for R.W., though liked your Leia-as-Jabba's-slave-resting-on-pillows art.")
File:Snowfire2-1.jpg|from issue #2, "Mona Leia" by Rhydderch Wilson (Leia as Mona Lisa)
File:Mona leia.jpg| the original "Mona Leia" (not in this zine) was in color
File:snowfire4-2.jpg|from issue #4, Rhydderch Wilson (Leia as the Madonna and Child)
File:Snowfire4-3.jpg|from issue #4, Rhydderch Wilson (Leia as a Renaissance woman)
==Issue 1==
Snowfire 1 was published in 1995 and contains 100 pages.
The art is by Kymm August, Matt Busch, John Fredericks, Amanda Palumbo, and Rhydderch Wilson.
It is dedicated to "The Princess' fans everywhere. Time to come out of the carbonate, y'all!"
From the first issue, a message require ownership and distribution: 
The editorial by Mary Jo: 
The editorial by Yvette: 
Comment from the editor in a letter to Southern Enclave: 
* Child's Play, fiction by Matt Kirkby (2)
* Childhood's End, fiction by Pia Rasmussen (5)
* Stream of Consciousness, poem by Mary Jo Fox (9)
* To Be a Regular Little Girl, fiction by Mary Jo Fox (10)
* The Captain's Son, fiction by Louise Turner (14)
* The Hunter and the Hunted, fiction by Matt Kirkby (18)
* A Few Short Words on Meeting Your Maker, fiction by Tim Blaes (reprinted from Grip #18) (24)
* Nightmare, poem by Tim Blaes (originally in Hyperspace #5/6) (25)
* Chosen Path, fiction by Mary Jo Fox (26)
* Enmeshed, poem by Emma Gilbert (29)
* Love's a Dance, fiction by Wendy Schwartz (30)
* No Easy Resolution, fiction by Amanda Palumbo (34)
* You, poem by Yvette Ghilan (44)
* Keeva, fiction by Pia Rasmussen (46)
* Vader's Daughter, poem by Yvette Ghilan (60)
* My Guy, filk by Wendy Schwartz (61)
* Innocence Lost, fiction by Brian Harris (62)
* Insomnia, fiction by John Fredericks (66)
* Her Royal Highness' Top 10 Disadvantages to Life in an All Male Universe (69)
* Leia Take a Bow, filk to the tune of The Smiths' "Sheila Take a Bow" by Mary Jo Fox (70)
* Take Me Out of This World, filk to the tune of "Don't Take the Girl" by Tim McGraw, by Debbie Kittle (71)
* Ballad of a Princess, poem by Amanda Palumbo (72)
* Leia's Mysterious Ways, filk to U2's "Mysterious Ways," by Amanda Palumbo (73)
* Leia, Light of Alderaan, original music by Amanda Palumbo (76)
* I Wonder If It's Me, fiction by John Fredericks (76)
* Soul Sacrifice, fiction by Kymm August (87)
* Reflections, fiction by Amanda Palumbo (92)
* Thankful, poem by Yvette Ghilan (94)
* The First Time, poem by Yvette Ghilan (94)
* Haiku of a Princess, poem by Matt Kirkby (94)
* Untitled, poem by Emma Gilbert (95)
* Leia, poem by Matt Kirkby (96)
File:snowfire1-1.jpg|from issue #1, possible clip art with "Leia" added?
File:snowfire1-2.jpg|from issue #1, Matt Busch
File:snowfire1-3.jpg|from issue #1, Amanda Palumbo
File:snowfire1-4.jpg|from issue #1, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire1-5.jpg|from issue #1, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire1-6.jpg|from issue #1, John Fredericks
File:snowfire1-7.jpg|from issue #1, Amanda Palumbo
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1==
==Issue 2==
Snowfire 2 was published in 1996 and contains 150 pages. The art is by Matt Busch, Donna Frayser, John Fredericks, Sarah E. Glasgow, Adam Hughes, Kyla, Bert-Olof Lundin, Amanda Palumbo, and Rhydderch Wilson.
From a flyer in 1996: 
From a 1995 LoC in Southern Enclave #42 from the editor of "Snowfire": 
From the zine: 
Editorial by Mary Jo: 
NOTE: titles in bold are part of the "zine within the zine" called "The Princess and the Scoundrel" that "features stories and poems that celebrate the galaxy's cutest couple."
* Letters of Comment
* Foreshadows, fiction by Amanda Palumbo (1)
* Age of Consent, fiction by Mary Jo Fox ("The 13-year-old princess finds adventure and romance while working as a senatorial apprentice on Coruscant.") (9)
* From a Certain Point of View, fiction by Pia Rasmussen (16)
* Voices of the Dead, poem by Sarah E. Glasgow (27)
* Pieces of Home, fiction by John Fredericks (29)
* Lifeline, part one, fiction by John Greenhalgh ("Part one of an all-original comics series! A diplomatic mission goes awry as Leia finds herself caught up in planetary intrigue and Imperial treachery.") (32)
* Reflections, fiction by Debbie Kittle ("Leia wakes up on an unfamiliar ship...and hey, what's with the Imperial uniform she's wearing?!!") (44)
* Soul Mate, poem by Yvette Ghilan (55)
* Princess and the Scoundrel, poem by Emma Gilbert (57)
* The Princess and the Pirate, fiction by Mary Jo Fox (58)
* Carbonite, poem by Sarah E. Glasgow (60)
* Reunited, poem by Wendy Schwartz (60)
* First Times, poem by Anne Marie Gazzolo (63)
* War's Blessing, poem by Sarah E. Glasgow (63)
* Hold Me, poem by Yvette Ghilan (72)
* Where It All Started , fiction by Wendy Schwartz (61)
* Scenes from a Love Affair, fiction by Anne Marie Gazzolo (64)
* Thoughts on a Princess, fiction by Barbara Fuchs (73)
* Ship of Dreams, fiction by Matt Kirkby ("In this "prequel" to the bestselling novel The Crystal Star, Leia's fears and inner strengths are tested as she journeys alone on her new ship.")
* Lifeline, fiction by John Gallagher ("Part one of an all-original comics series! A diplomatic mission goes awry as Leia finds herself caught up in planetary intrigue and Imperial treachery.")
* Leiapunzel, fiction by Amanda Palumbo ("Han Solo's galactic take on a familiar fairy tale...will anyone believe it??") (75)
* Han and Leia's Theme, filk by Wendy Schwartz (78)
* Love to Shake the Stars, poem by Matt Kirkby (79)
* Web of Force, filk by Linda Budinger (81)
* Tell Me I Was Dreaming, filk to the tune of "Tell Me I Was Dreaming" by Travis Tritt, by Debbie Kittle (82)
* Alderaani Dreaming, filk to the tune of "California Dreaming", by Mary Jo Fox (83)
* At All, filk to the tune of "Anymore" by Travis Tritt, by Debbie Kittle (84)
* Everytime You Walk in the Room, filk to the tune of "Everytime That You Walk in the Room" by Pam Tillis, by Debbie Kittle (85)
* Ice Princess, filk by Amanda Palumbo (87)
* Opportunity Knocking, fiction by Paul Michael Kane (90)
* Sister Moon, poem by Judith Klinger (93)
* Blood Bond, poem by Sarah E. Glasgow (103)
* Bitter Memory, poem by Matt Kirkby (103)
* Darth's Daughter, poem by Matt Kirkby (105)
* Compensation, fiction by Matt Kirkby (107)
* Reunited, poem by Anne Marie Gazzolo (112)
* Family , poem by Anne Marie Gazzolo (112)
* Run Away!, poem by Amanda Palumbo (113)
* Hole in the Sky, fiction by Kyla (115)
* Her Royal Highness' Top 10 Advantages to Life in An All-Male Universe (130)
* An Empty Cradle, fiction by Brian Harris ("In this sequel to "Innocence Lost," Leia finds the source behind her frightening visions on a far, exotic planet.") (131)
* A Day Long Remembered, fiction by Bianca Gallegly (140)
* Leia is All Right, poem by Matt Kirkby (145)
* Princess Remote by Amanda Palumbo and Brian Harris (146)
File:snowfire2-1.jpg|from issue #2, "Mona Leia" by Rhydderch Wilson, the original was in color, see Controversy
File:snowfire2-2.jpg|from issue #2, Amanda Palumbo
File:snowfire2-3.jpg|from issue #2, Sarah E. Glasgow
File:snowfire2-4.jpg|from issue #2, Bert-Olof Lundin
File:snowfire2-5.jpg|from issue #2, John Greenhalgh
File:snowfire2-6.jpg|from issue #2, Amanda Palumbo
File:snowfire2-7.jpg|from issue #2, John Fredericks
File:snowfire2-8.jpg|from issue #2, Adam Hughes
File:snowfire2-9.jpg|from issue #2, Donna Frayser
File:snowfire2-10.jpg|from issue #2, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire2-11.jpg|from issue #2, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire2-12.jpg|from issue #2, Bert-Olof Lundin
File:snowfire2-13.jpg|from issue #2, Amanda Palumbo
File:snowfire2-14.jpg|from issue #2, Rhydderch Wilson
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2==
==Issue 3==
Snowfire 3 was published in April 1997 and contains 120 pages. The sparse art is by Matt Busch (cover), Rhydderch Wilson, Kyla, and Amanda Palumbo.
From the zine: "Pirate this zine and you will be fed to the almighty Sarlacc, where you will learn a new definition of pain and suffering as you are slowly digested for a thousand years."
The editorial: 
* Editorial
* Letters of Comment ("Snowdrifts")
* Vision Quest Memorium [sic], poem by Amanda Palumbo (1)
* Catalyst, fiction by Amanda Palumbo (2)
* Tortured Solitude, fiction by Paul Michael Kane. With Alderaan gone and with no hope of escaping from the Death Star, Leia loses the will to live. Little does she know about a plan to rescue her. (6)
* Rings of Gold, poem by Mary Jo Fox (9)
* Turnabout, fiction by Richard Pfeiffer. A pirate band is about to learn the hard way not to mess with the Rebel Alliance. (10)
* Maternal Instincts, fiction by Mary Jo Fox. An infant girl miraculously survives an Imperial massacre and captures the battle-hardened heart of a princess. (16)
* You might be a Leia fan iff... (20)
* Confusion, poem by Mary Jo Fox (21)
* Fate and Favors, fiction by Gina Goad. Fate has stalled Han Solo's departure from Hoth; it's up to Leia to keep him around a little longer. (22)
* For Friends and Lovers, fiction by Wendy Schwartz (27)
* Healing, fiction by Anne Marie Gazzolo (33)
* Thoughts/Letting Go, poem by Anne Marie Gazzolo (35)
* Silence of the Stars, filk by Deborah Kittle (36)
* Rebel Spirit, filk by by Linda Budinger (37)
* If Only I Had Known, filk by by Deborah Kittle (38)
* Leia, filk by by Linda Budinger (39)
* If Tomorrow Never Comes, filk by by Wendy Schwartz (40)
* A Little R and R, fiction by K. Willis Sterling (41)
* Betrayal, fiction by Linda Budinger, translated by Pia Rasmussen (66)
* First/Endings and Beginnings, poem by Anne Marie Gazzolo (70)
* Supernatural Birth Machine, fiction by Kyla and Amanda Palumbo (71)
* Father, fiction by Anne Marie Gazzolo. Anakin Skywalker's ghost attempts to patch things up with his daughter, but she's not quite ready to forgive him. (89)
* Leiapunzel, fiction , part 2
* Revenge of a Jedi, fiction by Amanada Palumbo (97)
* The Rescue, poem by Monique Robertson (100)
* Vacation Time, fiction by Amy S. Farmer (101)
* All a Matter of Time, fiction by Matt Kirkby. Leia goes into hyperspace through a wormhole, sending her back 800 years to a showdown between clones and Jedi Knights. (104)
* Golden Years, fiction by Emma Gilbert (113)
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3==
==Issue 4==
Snowfire 4 was published in 1998 and contains 77 pages. The interior art is by Rhydderch Wilson, Bert-Olof Lundin, Linda Buldinger, and Gina Goad. It has a cover by Matt Busch.
The editorial: 
* , fiction by Michele Slaughter (After spending only one horrible night on the Death Star, Leia may spend the rest of her life as Vader's prisoner unless she can break his hold on her psyche, as well.) (1)
* Tears of Fire, fiction by Mary Jo Fox ("Anger and grief can be powaful catalysts tar action.") (18)
* Rematch, fiction by Kirkby ("Leia and her old enemy Grand Admiral Gimdt match wits once more.") (23)
* First Contact, fiction by Anne Marie Gazzolo ("The first inklings that there's something more between Luke and Leia than friendship.") (31)
* Two of Hearts, poem by Anne Marie Gazzolo (36)
* Wonderings, poem by Anne Marie Gazzolo (37)
* I Love You, poem by Anne Marie Gazzolo (37)
* Every Breath You Take, filk by Linda Budinger (39)
* The Princess of Alderaan Blues, filk by Mary Jo Fox (40)
* Ten Thousand Jedi, filk by Debbie Kittle (41)
* Star Trails, filk by Pia Rasmussen (42)
* Crazy for You, filk by Wendy Schwarz (43)
* Filk #236, filk by Mary Jo Fox (45)
* Shadows of Night, fiction by Linda Budinger, translated by Alexander Lohmann ("Luke and Leia discuss the Dark Side.") (reprinted from Star Wars Vision) (47)
* Absence Doesn't Always Make the Heart Grow Fonder, fiction by Wendy Schwartz ("Han and Leia have some serious relationship issues.") (51)
* Expectations, fiction by Mary Jo Fox ("For once, a story where Han and Leia are happy about being pregnant.") (57)
* A Jedi, Finally, poem by Gina Goad (65)
* A Mother's Heartache, poem by Karen Sorrell (67)
* A Brother Lost, fiction by Anne Marie Gazzolo ("Leia must use her Jedi skills to save a disembodied Luke from death's icy grip.") (68)
* Sisterly Concerns, fiction by Gina Goad ("It's only natural for a sister to be curious about her brother's new love.") (73)
* Dear Mom, poem by Gina Goad (76)
* Surfin' the Net With Leia... ("Last issue I told you about a very cool Leia web site only to discover shortly thereafter that our favorite princess has even more sites dedicated to her. There's even a Princess Leia Web Ring (it's like a connected series of related web sites) established last year. The sites run the gamut from containing fan fiction to containing film/audio clips. There are pictures galore of course, a treasure trove for still/photo collectors. I must issue one warning though—given the mercurial nature of servers and webmasters I cannot guarantee ALL of these sites are still up or at these URLs. All I know is that these were up and running as of press time. I also realize there may be dozens more Leia-related web sites I don't know about. The following information was culled from the Organa-zation web site:") (77)
File:snowfire4-1.jpg|from issue #4, Rhydderch Wilson (one of the illos to which some fans objected, see comments in the next issue, also see Controversy)
File:snowfire4-2.jpg|from issue #4, Rhydderch Wilson (one of the illos to which some fans objected, see comments in the next issue)
File:snowfire4-3.jpg|from issue #4, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire4-4.jpg|from issue #4, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire4-5.jpg|from issue #4, Linda Budinger
File:snowfire4-6.jpg|from issue #4, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire4-7.jpg|from issue #4, illo by Linda Budinger, poem by Pia Rasmussen
File:snowfire4-8.jpg|from issue #4, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire4-9.jpg|from issue #4, Linda Budinger
File:snowfire4-10.jpg|from issue #4, Bert-Olof Lundin
File:snowfire4-11.jpg|from issue #4, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire4-12.jpg|from issue #4, sample text
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4==
==Issue 5==
Snowfire 5 was published in April 1999 and contains 100 pages. It won a 1999 Star aWard.
The art is by Jason Brown, Matt Busch (cover), Z.P. Florian, Josh Howard, Bert-Olof Lundin, Amanda Palumbo, and Rhydderch Wilson.
From the flyer: 
The editorial: 
* Editorial (1)
* Letters of Comment (2)
* Stealing Candy, fiction by Mary Jo Fox (4)
* The Smiles of War, fiction by Selinthia Avenchesca (Ed: "Editor's Note: This is an alternate universe story. Normally I don't publish a.u. material but since the author didn't know that and I forgot to tell her, I made an exception this one time.") (6)
* Stardance, fiction by Diana Lee (9)
* An Internal Dialogue, fiction by Mary Jo Fox (12)
* Snowfire, poem by Amanda Palumbo (13)
* Dreamscape, poem by Gina S. Goad (13)
* Corellians Make Great Lovers????, fiction by Wendy Schwartz (24)
* Legacy, fiction by Amanda Palumbo (26)
* Run to You, filk to the tune of Whitney Houston's "Run to You", by Wendy Schwartz (29)
* Alderaan, filk to the tune of "Adia" by Sarah McLachlan, by Mary Jo Fox (31)
* Must've Been Love, filk to the tune of "Must've Been Love" by Roxette, by Wendy Schwartz (32)
* Saying Goodbyes (Leia's Song), filk to the tune of "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" by Patty Loveless, by Wendy Schwartz (33)
* Just to See You Smile (Hans's Song), filk to the tune by Tim McGraw, by by Wendy Schwartz (34)
* Leiapunzel Part 3: Dianogas Do!, fiction by Amanda Palumbo (35)
* His Hands, fiction by Michelle Slaughter (43)
* Waiting, fiction by Michelle Slaughter (45)
* Alderaan Morning, fiction by Nicole Medina (47)
* The Subjugation of a Twi'lek, fiction by Amanda Palumbo (49)
* The Tapestry , fiction by Mary Jo Fox (73)
* What a Coincidence, part 2, fiction by Michelle Slaughter (74)
* Anniversary Letter, poem by Gina S. Goad (80)
* Sleepless Nights, fiction by Gina S. Goad (81)
* For Omega, fiction by Karen Sorrell (82)
* Ghosts, fiction by Matt Kirkby (90)
* A Late Delivery from Alderaan, fiction by Matt Kirkby (94)
File:snowfire5-1.jpg|from issue #5, Josh Howard
File:snowfire5-2.jpg|from issue #5, Amanda Palumbo
File:snowfire5-3.jpg|from issue #5, Z.P. Florian
File:snowfire5-4.jpg|from issue #5, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire5-5.jpg|from issue #5, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire5-6.jpg|from issue #5, Jason Brown
File:snowfire5-7.jpg|from issue #5, Amanda Palumbo
File:snowfire5-8.jpg|from issue #5, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire5-9.jpg|from issue #5, Rhydderch Wilson
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5==
==Issue 6==
Snowfire 6 was published in July 2000 and contains 65 pages.
The art is by Rhydderch Wilson, Linda Budinger, and Amanda Palumbo.
It won a 2000 Star aWard.
The editorial: 
* Amidaia's Upcoming Talk Show Appearances by Mary Jo Fox (1)
* Musings on a Handmaiden, poem or filk by Mary Jo Fox (1)
* Childhood Sweethearts, fiction by Mary Jo Fox (2)
* Icky, Icky Goo, fiction by Mary Jo Fox (3)
* Naboo Queen, filk to the tune of "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, by Mary Jo Fox (4)
* Naboo Moon, fiction by Diana Lee (6)
* Final Visit, fiction by Matt Kirkby (8)
* Leia & Amidaia: World and Family Gone, poem by Jennifer Moore (9)
* Leia & Amidala: Children, poem by Jennifer Moore (9)
* An Ember of Resolve, fiction by Selinthia Avenchesca (10)
* The Garden, poem by Anne Marie Gazzoio (14)
* Tapestries and Intersections, fiction by Amanda Paiumbo (reprinted in Millennium #1) (15)
* Leia's Upcoming Talk Show Appearances by Wendy Schwartz (30)
* Aideraani Clipper, fiction by Diana Lee (32)
* One Fine Day on Hoth, poem by Amanda Palumbo (34)
* You Love Him, Don't You?, fiction by Anne Marie Gazzoio (35)
* A Poem From Han, to Leia poem by Tim Rogers (38)
* Of Vice and Virtue and a Princess, fiction by Wendy Schwartz (40)
* For Leia, fiction by Gina Goad (41)
* Celebration of a Private Kind, fiction by Wendy Schwartz (47)
* Bacheiorette Party, fiction by Amy S. Farmer (52)
* Home, poem by Anne Marie Gazzoio (55)
* Acceptance, poem by Anne Marie Gazzoio (55)
* Trial & Temptation, fiction by Amy S. Farmer (57)
* Daughter, poem by Anne Marie Gzczoio (58)
* Passing the Torch, fiction by Mary Jo Fox (59)
File:snowfire6-1.jpg|from issue #6, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire6-2.jpg|from issue #6, Linda Budinger
File:snowfire6-3.jpg|from issue #6, Amanda Palumbo, (reprinted in Millennium #1)
File:snowfire6-4.jpg|from issue #6, Amanda Palumbo, (reprinted in Millennium #1)
File:snowfire6-5.jpg|from issue #6, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire6-6.jpg|from issue #6, Rhydderch Wilson
File:snowfire6-7.jpg|from issue #6, Amanda Palumbo
File:snowfire6-8.jpg|from issue #6, Linda Budinger
== References ==
Category:Star Wars Zines
Category:1990s
Category:2000 Zines