That time I wasted my life editing together a ‘new’ J.R.R. Tolkien book, then lost it

That time I wasted my life editing together a ‘new’ J.R.R. Tolkien book, then lost it

Posted inBooks & Authors, Geek Stuff, Random Musings
The recent announcement of a 'new' book by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fall of Gondolin, which will compile previously published material about one of the great tragic epics of Middle Earth's early days, brought to mind a few weeks of wasted life circa 2002 or so. It's a waste that still frustrates me to this day. Years ago, I got this idiotic idea in my head to edit together a load of Tolkien stuff into a standalone book. There was a wealth of material about a character called Turin, a cursed man who goes through some truly awful stuff, up to…
J.R.R. Tolkien is the reason why I write

J.R.R. Tolkien is the reason why I write

Posted inBooks & Authors, Geek Stuff, Writing
I've no interest in writing epic fantasy, have gotten past the days when I wanted to construct a complex mythology, and hell, haven't even rolled a 20-sided die in many years. Yet I would not be writing today in any capacity were it not for the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. Middle-Earth first entered my consciousness in the sixth grade or so. The Hobbit was assigned reading. Unlike most students, I didn't consider assigned reading a form of torture. (Well, except when the books sucked -- which they often did.) I liked reading, and the books we had to read were…