Articles written by: Valdis

Valdís is a classic nerd, with many geeky interests, but her life-long love of Tolkien rules them all. She was completely hooked the first time that she read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings at age 8. Since then, she has read the books at least once a year, and delves into Middle-earth at every opportunity with a fervor that would make any dwarf proud. She also deeply loves Peter Jackson’s films, and defends them staunchly when need arises. When reality forces her out of Middle-earth, Valdís is a university professor, a wife, mother of two daughters, and servant to two cats.

A Tolkien Reading Day 2022 Musing: Love and Friendship

Happy Gondorian New Year, my dear hobbits, elves, dwarves, ents, wizards, humans, and any other folk I’ve left out! Somehow, Tolkien Reading Day sneaks up on me every year, despite my best efforts to remember […]

Tolkien Birthday Toast 2022

It’s another New Year, so you know what that means, Tolkien fans: it’s time to join together once again to celebrate the birthday of J. R. R. Tolkien! The beloved author of The Hobbit and The Lord of […]

Dragon Con 2021: Tolkien Panels and the Dragon Con Parade

Tolkien content has long been a staple of Dragon Con programming, and Dragon Con 2021 was no exception. Even with somewhat pared-down programming, Tolkien content was well-represented in the High Fantasy Track live programming, throughout […]

Dragon Con 2021: Tolkien-themed Parties

Dragon Con 2021 had a different feel, to be sure, but the always popular Tolkien-themed party events offered plenty of hobbit cheer and con camaraderie. As in past years, the two fun-filled celebrations, An Evening […]

Dragon Con 2021: Tolkien Content Preview

The Dragon awakens! In a story, a returning dragon would be a big problem. This is, however, good news to fans when the Dragon concerned is Dragon Con, the annual pop culture celebration that takes […]

Dragon Returns in 2021 with All-star Cast

Press Release from Dragon Con Media Engagement WILLIAM SHATNER, EDWARD JAMES OLMOS, MARY MCDONNELL, AND DAVID RAMSEY LEAD AN ALL-STAR CAST OF HEROES AND VILLAINS AT 35th ANNUAL DRAGON CON Olmos, McDonnell Lead a Meet-up of […]

Tolkien Birthday Toast 2021

The New Year has arrived (thank goodness!), and with it the time for Tolkien fans to symbolically join together all over the world to honor the man who brought us Middle-earth and all of Arda. […]

Dragon Con Goes Virtual for 2020

In more normal times, I would already be safely ensconced in a hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, getting ready for Dragon Con to get full and truly underway. As we know too well, the times are […]

Return of the 6 Week Middle-earth Movie Marathon!

We saw the beacons! We saw your call for aid! And Middle-earth News will answer! Muster the fandom! While we can’t do much to help with the real crisis, we CAN help our fellow Tolkien […]

Tolkien Reading Day 2020

Tolkien’s world has long been one of my refuges. I first visited Middle-earth at age 8 and have made frequent pilgrimages there in the more than a half century since. I think that we need […]