Cynthia McQuillin (July 25, 1953 – January 14, 2006) was a filk singer and writer as well as an author and artist. She lived in the San Francisco Bay area. Her songs touched the usual filk topics of science fiction, fantasy, and cats, but also feminism, love, Paganism, and Sizeism.
Her life partner and frequent musical collaborator was the filk singer James Robinson, who was then known as Dr. Jane Robinson. McQuillin reportedly said, upon meeting James for the first time, "At last I get to meet the man I fell in love with!"- Robinson guest of honor biography for LosCon 34
Cynthia was inducted to the Filk Hall of Fame at FilKONtario in 1998.- Filk Hall of Fame, FilKONtario
A book of songs by McQuillin, title The Cynthia McQuillin Songbook ("everything that Dr. Jim Robinson, Kristoph Klover & Margaret Davis, Harold Stein, Mary Creasey, Kay Shapero, Bob Kanefsky, Alan Thiesen, and Lee Gold could find in 2013") was compiled and published by Lee Gold in 2013, but is now out of print.Cynthia McQuillin Songbook
Discography Crystal Singer - 1981 Crystal Vision (with Phillip Wayne) Singer in the Shadow - 1983 Minus Ten and Counting - 1983 Shadow Spun - 1986 Dark Moon Circle - 1987 Moon Shadows - 1989, reissued by Shadowsinger Records Dreams of Fortune - 1991, reissued by Shadowsinger Records Midlife Crisis - performed by Midlife Crisis: Cynthia McQuillin and Dr. Jane Robinson Bedlam Cats - 1992 - performed by Midlife Crisis, plus Margaret Davis, Kristoph Klover, Patrick McKenna, and Sharon Williams Uncharted Stars - 1993 This Heavy Heart - 1994 Witch's Dance - 1998
Bibliography A partial list of McQuillin's published short stories. This list includes only professional publications, not the many that were published in fanzines. Cat's World - CATFANTASTIC 3, DAW Books 1994 The Chieri's Godchild - SNOWS OF DARKOVER, DAW 1994 Daelith's Bargain - Sword and Sorceress 13, DAW 1996 Deep as Rivers - SWORD AND SORCERESS 17, DAW, 2000 The Exterminator - Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine #37, Autumn 1997 The Forest - THE KEEPER'S PRICE, DAW 1980 Humphrey's Dilemma - MZB's Fantasy Magazine #29, Autumn 1995 Leaves of Iron - SWORD AND SORCERESS 20, DAW, 200 The Mages of Carthia - MZB's Fantasy Magazine, issue 21, Fall 1993 The Mage Who Dreamed of Gryphons - MZB's Fantasy Magazine, issue 26, Summer 1995 MZBeans (a soup) & Spiderfish Stew - Serve It Forth: Cooking with Anne McCaffrey Parri's Blade - SWORD AND SORCERESS 21, DAW, 2004 Seliki - SUCH A PRETTY FACE, Meisha Merlin, 2000 Shadow Harper - SWORD AND SORCERESS 12, DAW 1995 Space Station Annie - SPACE OPERA, DAW Dec 1996 The Stone-weaver's Tale - SWORD AND SORCERESS 14, DAW Mar 1997 Toyen - MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY'S FANTASY WORLDS, Sep 1998 Virgin Spring - SWORD AND SORCERESS 11, DAW 1994 Waking the Stone Maiden - SWORD AND SORCERESS 16, DAW, 1999 Whistle the Wind - MZB's Fantasy Magazine #38, Winter 1998
Honors
Pegasus Awards 1999 Best Writer/Composer 2006 Best Writer/Composer (awarded posthumously)
Pegasus Nominations 1987 Best Filk Song, "Crimson and Crystal" 1988 Best Writer/Composer 1989 Best Writer/Composer 1991 Best War/Vengeance Song, "The Tyrant's Tale" 1992 Best Writer/Composer 1993 Best Filk Song, "I Would Walk With You" 1993 Best Writer/Composer 1996 Best Filk Song, "Black Davie's Ride" 1997 Best Writer/Composer 1997 Best Sorcery Song, "Crimson and Crystal" 1999 (w/ Jordin Kare) Best Fool Song, "Fool to Feed the Drive" 2004 Best Classic Filk Song, "Black Davie's Ride" 2006 Best Writer/Composer 2007 Best Classic Filk Song, "Black Davie's Ride" 2008 Best Tragedy Song, "Black Davie's Ride"
Convention Honors Baycon, 1991: Special Guest of Honor (Filk) OVFF, 1991: Guest of Honor Fourplay, January 31-February 2, 1992: Guest Conterpoint Too!, June 21–23, 1996: invited but unable to attend ConFurence 10, April 1–4, 1999: Guest of Honor (along with Mary Hanson-Roberts, artist) FilKONtario, 2003: Guest of Honor (along with Dr. Jane Robinson) Fourplay (UK national filk convention #4), 1992 Guest of Honor (along with Dr. Jane Robinson) Marcon 39, 2004: Filk Guest of Honor (along with Dr. Jane Robinson)
References