Reviews (840)

Author's reply

Thank you! I love a good turn of phrase, and it's fascinating how prose that flows resembles poetry. Some of my favorite authors here at Stories of Arda have that knack, which means I'm really enjoying getting back into reading fanfic again. Thank you so much for reading and pausing to leave some encouraging words!

Author's reply

When we were hiking with our little ones in days gone past, we ran across a father hiking with his young son. (Are you in Germany? You'd know what I mean when I tell you it was a Volkswalk, I think.) They played a game; on downhill stretches, they pretended they were toiling uphill and talk about what a relief it would be to reach the top and go down again. And on the uphills, they'd laugh together and talk about how easy the going was! And then, after the walk was done, while enjoying Käsebrot or Frikadelle (I'm not sure if I spelled that right), while the kids were off playing to the side of the picnic tables, the dad told me he'd hit upon that device as a way to distract his son from feeling tired or complaining. It worked! I don't think I ever knew that "going uphill" is a positive idea in German! How interesting! (Früher war ich fleißig auf Deutsch, aber ich habe viel vergessen. Jetzt übe ich mit Duolingo und ich habe viel [ein zweites Mal] gelernt. [I'm not sure how to say "relearned" in German... and I make plenty of mistakes in my lessons. Ah, well. At least between Duolingo and fanfic, I'm hoping to keep my brain from withering away after retiring.])

Author's reply

He is very special, though I doubt he'd think such a thing about himself. He'd say he was simply doing his best. Sweet pony. Thanks! I appreciate your generous sharing of your thoughts. I'm always so glad to see you've left a comment. (I should return to LJ; it's been too long since I stopped there to see how various people are doing. Every time I bring up that site, I get interrupted, and then I forget, and I start writing or turn to SoA and start reading again. I think I'm making up for lost time, at least so far as fanfic is concerned. And still! So many stories yet to read...)

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Thanks for the suggestion! I followed through... (((hugs)))

Author's reply

It's fun to take proverbs or idioms or cliches or whatever such statements are called and consider them from a perfectly literal standpoint. :) I have always found ponies and horses to be quite literal (if not literary) creatures. Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts!

Author's reply

Thank you for the encouraging words! I got sidetracked by holiday busyness and only just now found your review when I came back to post another chapter.

Author's reply

Thank you! I aimed to portray Gandalf's wisdom and empathy in this moment between the two. Somehow, as the scene emerged, I could see in my mind's eye Ian McKellen's face superimposed over the Gandalf of my imagination (constructed as I read The Hobbit and LOTR as a teen), especially the scenes where he recognised mortal frailty, such as his confrontation with Bilbo in Bag End over leaving the Ring to Frodo, his quiet conversation with Frodo in Moria, his description of death while encouraging Pippin in Minas Tirith... He profoundly understands Bill's strength, which he honours, and weakness, which moves him to pity the pony even as he is resolving to do what he can to aid him, both now and after the upcoming and inevitable separation. I'm glad you're along on the journey, and I very much appreciate your stopping long enough to leave a good word.

Author's reply

Looking for Gimli's interactions with Bill was interesting, especially when I couldn't find any! (Except for Gimli imitating a piece of luggage on the pony's back whilst going back down Caradhras, that is.) I still haven't made up my mind if Bill will get a pat and a gruff word of thanks... Gimli shifting his weight to make the descent safer could apply to viewing the pony as a tool as well as seeing Bill as another living being. (Unfortunately, maybe. I'm still trying to get a handle on Dwarf personalities and views in writing the WIP about Faramir Took's journey to the Lonely Mountain at about the same time as When the Merlin Cries takes place. Envisioning Dwarfish customs and society is way outside my comfort zone.)

Author's reply

Thank you for reading and stopping to leave an encouraging word! More coming soon, I hope.

Author's reply

*hugs back* I'm glad to hear that you see the responses! The horses I knew seemed to live mostly in the present moment, though they were capable of imagining (A blowing sheet is a monster that eats horses!), remembering (There was a puddle here the last time I passed through, and even though there is not a puddle there now, there was one, and so I must balk), and even (seemingly) projecting into the future (The stables are ahead! Food! Water! Rest! I must go faster!) Bill is a simple, straightforward creature, for certain. It's even possible he tried to go back to Rivendell but could not get past the memory of the River rising up to wash the Black Horses away. (That idea is in one of the versions of the draft, but I haven't yet decided which version to follow after the Watcher in the Water scares Bill witless.)

Author's reply

Ah, yes, Sam has Bill's entire heart. Well – almost, anyhow. Bill has a big heart, after all, with plenty of room enough to cherish all his present and future companions and former People. (With one exception, of course) Thanks so much for reading and stopping to leave a good word. The rest of the story is slowly taking shape from the outline to draft chapters to final form (the writing process aside, I'm always hoping I'll be able to post regularly again); thus, Bill, in the latest chapter underway, has just fled the fearful "snakes" and faces a long (in miles at least if not chapters), uncertain journey to find "home" again and, hopefully, safety. We've been "puppy"-sitting all summer, as you know, and the pups demand scads of attention and leave me quite worn out. But their Person will be coming to claim them soon (to his joy, and theirs), which will give me more free time again. Here's hoping. Hobbits keep popping up out of nowhere and demanding my attention, and I'd love to write down their stories or, at the very least, finish the WIPs lingering (or do I mean languishing?) on my list. I hope you will see this note, and that it will find you and yours well.

Author's reply

You're right. I had to go back and look, and it is indeed a sad chapter. While writing it, I remember, I had to keep my mind firmly fixed on Rivendell to come in order to get through the hard parts in between. The current writing process is undergoing the same kind of strain; there are some really difficult scenes to get through before we break through to the joy of Bill's reunion with his Sam at last. I just have to keep looking forward as I write so that I don't lose heart. Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts! I'm so glad to hear from you again. (((hugs)))

Author's reply

Thank you! It is good to get a rest before some awfully intense events start to happen. Sort of the calm before the storm. Thanks for taking the time to leave a good word. *hugs*

Author's reply

I’m so glad! You are very welcome. I am managing to write a little more every day. I am only updating three WIPs right now, and one of the three is almost finished, so this one should get updated regularly if all goes well. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. *hugs*

Author's reply

Amen to that! The coming chapters will build towards a delightful reunion with Sam in Bree... though there are a few troubles to get through between here and there. Thanks for coming along and offering good wishes. *hugs*

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Alas, poor Bill! The wolves, and the "snakes", and the separation... It's a good thing I've already written his reunion with Sam in Bree, or I wouldn't have the heart to write the next few chapters! Whew. Thanks so much for reading and stopping to leave your thoughts. *hugs* Author Reply: p.s. I read the chapter over again this morning, looking for typos (they seem to grow overnight after posting, or my eyes are too tired to see them, I suppose), and found that a bit about Sam's doings had been left out of the posted version, so I added it back in. Just to let you know, he was fixing a meal while all this was going on.

Author's reply

The picture of Legolas running over the top of the deep snow struck me in my first reading of LOTR, at age thirteen, and has stayed with me since. Elves can walk on top of snow? Astonishing. Even more so to Bill, I'm sure, weighed down and trapped by heavy snow as he was, watching the Men toiling below. And you're right, Frodo has always seemed empathetic to me, perhaps part of what generated such fierce loyalty in his cousins to engage in their conspiracy to guard and protect him, even Freddy, who stayed behind and nearly gave his life in playing his part at Crickhollow. Thanks for stopping to leave a good word. I am doing my best to finish the puppy story, in honour of two Giant Schnauzers now, both of them indelibly inked upon my heart. I don't think I'll be able to finish before Panda leaves us, but there isn't much left to the story, so I will keep working at it until the last chapter is posted. And then (sigh, but only because I am grieving, and fanfic is but a temporary respite at the moment), it will be time to pick up another WIP, either "Farry and Ferdi Go to Gondor", or a Farry-and-Goldi story, or (and I know you'll be glad to know this one is progressing) "Thain".

Author's reply

Thank you. I found something at IO, though no recent posts (last messages in 2023); would that be the one you're thinking about? (((((hugs))))) to you and DF.

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All too soon, I'm afraid. Glad to hear from you. *hugs* (What is the SoA listserve? Did it replace the SoA Yahoo group? Or maybe it was a Google group? I've been away so long, I don't remember. I just know I belonged to a group. Sigh.) Thanks so much for stopping to leave an encouraging word! Please convey my best regards to DF. I think of her often.

Author's reply

Bill is a lovely character, according to the glimpses JRRT provided of him. He is also a product of the company he keeps (cute and wholesome Shire-folk, that is). Thanks so much for stopping to leave a word of encouragement and share the parts you like!

Author's reply

That makes sense, considering the company he's keeping! An Elf, a Dwarf, two Men whose traditions stretch back generations, and Hobbits who often seem to be spouting a song or poem ('Won't somebody give us a bit of a song, while the sun is high?' said Merry, when they had finished. 'We haven't had a song or a tale for days...' Fellowship of the Ring). Not to mention his beloved Sam and Sam's 'bit of nonsense' under the shadow of the Trolls' legs, 'out of his own head' (according to Frodo), Frodo's lament for Gandalf in Lórien, and Sam's small addition about the Wizard's fireworks... Author Reply: p.s. If you sometime once again find yourself struck by the yen to write a little something, I would beg for a glimpse of the fab foursome at Cormallen as comfort reading. To be clear, I am not laying any expectations on you, for you have provided so many good stories that are on my list to go back and revisit (and I must thank you again for sharing your wonderful work with the rest of us). Covid laid me low last month, and while I'm slowly getting better, the lingering lack of energy is (hah, lame play on words coming up) so tiresome.

Author's reply

I loved my birthday present! Thank you so much. I suppose that Brandybucks have no problem talking about swimming, but then, you probably know what they say about Brandybucks (but not in polite company, of course!). Hugs. I hope this note finds you well. Sorry if I sounded inebriated when you telephoned; just chalk it up to Covid brain. I'm getting better by fits and starts. Today, I feel as if I could sleep the day away. (But I'm hoping a nap will help so I can read some fanfic on my "want to read" list...) God bless, and take care.

Author's reply

Thank you! Hearing that news is so heartening. I have posted the next chapter and am now working on the one after that. Think good thoughts that the words will continue to flow...

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The Muse has some surprises up her sleeve, and no mistake! I'm sure Gandalf's 'words of guard and guiding' will be a great help. Thank you so much for stopping to leave a good word. Blessings to you and DF. I keep beaming get-well wishes in her direction...

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My writing pace is about as slow as a hobbit plodding up Caradhras in the teeth of a blizzard, but I keep plugging away. While I'm dreading Bill's separation from the Company, I'm also rather delighted with some of the turns the story will take. (Crossing fingers that the writing will continue to flow.) Thanks so much for stopping to leave your thoughts! I appreciate your vote of confidence.