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Reclaiming Khazad-dûm  by Ellynn 5 Review(s)
LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 13 on 6/7/2021
p.p.s. on reviews... I understand. Back in 2004/2005, I was driven to write by the stories and characters piling up in my mind as if demanding release. I would have kept writing for myself, reviews or no reviews, but I have to admit that it was the reviews that kept me posting. It wasn't so much the feedback itself as much as the feeling I wasn't just talking to myself. However, it was the conversation - the interaction with readers who generously shared their impressions and thoughts - that often sparked new ideas and new insights and infused energy into the writing process.

I guess that's why I make the effort to offer some kind of thoughtful response. I appreciate the effort that goes into crafting and posting a chapter, and I remember the empty feeling that I was talking to myself when I would see that people clicked on a chapter but nobody left any acknowledgment, either positive or negative. Yes, you can see "hits" on a posting, but when there are no comments, you might imagine those hits are people clicking into a chapter, reading the first sentence or two, and clicking out again because of lack of interest or whatever.

When I started posting again after a long time away, it was such a warm feeling to read reviews and realize that some readers still remembered my stories and were happy that I'd returned to work on the WIPs and try to finish them.

Anyhow, I'm possibly being too wordy today. I need to dive into my work, but I've been so enjoying dipping my toes into fanfic yesterday and today, it's hard to tear myself away. LOL!

Author Reply: Thank you so much for this, too.

I will not stop writing (reviews or no reviews). As you know, writing really helps me a lot in this difficult period. A new novel (somewhat shorter than Reclaiming Khazad-dum) is finished and currently being translated, and I have a new idea. I *LOVE* writing too much to stop. But as you wrote yourself, you understand how it feels when you are in (almost complete) silence of the readers.

And yes, just like in your case, a few times reviews gave me new ideas.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 13 on 6/7/2021
p.s. I had the odd thought that the legend about the origins of the Beornings had a grain of truth, sort of like the Shire-folk's talk as JRRT mentioned about the Tooks having a fairy ancestor (Dreamflower wrote a lovely story about this, Ancestress, posted here on SoA). I wondered if perhaps one of the Valar might have been exploring/enjoying Middle-earth in the guise of a bear and encountered or was testing the Man who became the Father of the Beornings. I don't know how plausible it is, as it has been some years since I read up on the Valar while writing a story about the origins of the Shire-folk.

Author Reply: Interesting idea!

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 13 on 6/7/2021
Oh, how I love the depiction of Grimbar, and the many details that round out his portrait. The description of the cottage, his changing expressions, the simple meal, his brief retelling of history. (Does he know about the spiders in the Forest?) As I was reading, I remembered that Beorn came to support the Dwarves in the Battle of the Five Armies, so I broke off and went to find that account. Because I have the Kindle version of The Hobbit, it was easy to search on the word "bear" and find mentions of him... which led me further in the search results for the book, to the passage describing Bilbo's journey home, which says that Beorn was with him "for much of the way" along with Gandalf, a detail that I had never really noticed before!

And then, of course, I returned to finish reading this chapter. I am so glad to be back, able to read more, and definitely looking forward to it!

I find myself wondering if the Dwarf folk would have stories/legends passed down from Thorin's time, of the encounter with Beorn on their way to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug (or whatever it was they were doing - I find myself wondering, now, why they merely engaged a Burglar... what did they hope to attain?) and his decisive role in the Battle of the Five Armies.

But even with the Eagles they were still outnumbered. In that last hour Beorn himself had appeared—no one knew how or from where. He came alone, and in bear’s shape; and he seemed to have grown almost to giant-size in his wrath. The roar of his voice was like drums and guns; and he tossed wolves and goblins from his path like straws and feathers. He fell upon their rear, and broke like a clap of thunder through the ring. The dwarves were making a stand still about their lords upon a low rounded hill. Then Beorn stooped and lifted Thorin, who had fallen pierced with spears, and bore him out of the fray.

Tolkien, J.R.R.. The Hobbit (Lord of the Rings) (p. 291). HMH Books. Kindle Edition.

Author Reply: Hey, it's so good to hear from you again! I didn't like this long silence, and it's good to know that you're fine. :)

I prefer paper editions; I don't have a Kindle and I have no single e-book. But I do have Tolkien's works in pdf, and I love them for the reason you mention - it's so easy to find something. Find and find/replace commands are one of my favorite commands!!! :)))

You'll find out the answer (about stories from Thorin's time) at some point later in the story. :)

Thank you so much!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 13 on 3/16/2021
Love the backstory for Beorn's people, and the reactions it elicits from the two Dwarvish women. A wonderful encounter.

Author Reply: Aww, thank you, I'm glad you think so. :)
And what to add in the end of this set of reviews? I had a very difficult day today (a long story)... But you just made it so much bette. Thank you. Thank you for everything.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 13 on 2/8/2021
I enjoyed this lovely encounter as much as they did. And it's nice to know that the Beornings survive, with families and good lives and good hearts.

Author Reply: I'm so glad to hear this *happy* I also enjoyed writing it. :)))
Thank you! :*

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