@iamjaynaemarie / iamjaynaemarie.tumblr.com
If it’s Tuesday, Thranduil has done it again. I’ll have to process everything but The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy (and all the other books) continue to break barriers and all the rules. And that includes films & bookstores. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Newsfeed #100 April 2, 2018 (8 Nárië)
I always release the PDF version of Book II: The Saga of Thranduil on Father’s Day–after all, it is dedicated to my father. There will be a Table of Contents in this version (second draft). This year, there is more to be thankful for.
Book II: The Saga of Thranduil was invited (as it were) to be submitted to professional readers in order to be seen by publishers and literary agents. This is a first for me; nothing I said to them scared them so they are well aware of all things that will come for any publisher or agent that chooses to represent The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy–including the fact that I recently began working on the “second” book of the trilogy. All they said to me was, “We look forward to your submission.”
Book II: The Saga of Thranduil might get to see actor Lee Pace (with the first news, this “secret” news probably won’t remain quiet forever). Fans of the book and Lee Pace have been wanting him to read it and an opening to do that became available. (I won’t say when, where or how just yet–stay tuned; that one’s complicated and more so with the first news).
So there it is: the Father’s Day gift I never expected to be able to give to my father (that received an autographed copy of my book for him for his birthday). He wondered out loud when people in the literary world were going to see this book. This year I can say with 100% certainty they will. It is a dream come true for my first book and trilogy. No matter what happens, Book III: The Last Tale of Legolas Lasgalen will always be dedicated to my readers all over the world–whether they are reading the PDFs or maybe one day, holding the book in their hands. Because of you, I got the chance.
Up and ready to prepare. 😊 9 days and counting.
I need a moment. I’m back to answering questions about Thranduil again. I don’t want to, but I have to, I know. I think now the only difference between me and Lee Pace is the fact that he’s a guy and I’m a girl when it comes to Thranduil. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t anticipate this. I was hoping this would happen after I was dead like every respectable writer, @fortunatelyclevercandy. I just wish I knew if this thing is popular because it’s good or because I have an uncanny talent for mimicking sounds and my Thranduil talks like Lee.
Some guy asked me about why I don’t like all the attention outside of just interacting with readers
1) I suck at it.
2) I feel like I’m being interrogated and it makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong even if I haven’t done anything wrong.
3) I always have flashbacks to that red carpet thing--when I got out of the car in front of the Egyptian Theater in L.A. to attend the Italian Film Festival and I was met with flashbulbs and yelling and all I remember is the door at the end of the carpet getting further and further away and I couldn’t get there fast enough. I felt horrible because I had two actors in two films that day and I was representing my talent agency. I hyperventilated and Chad Lowe had to get me a paper bag. I was so traumatized, they brought the car around to the alley so I didn’t have to go out the front. I’m not the only one that has panic attacks (Meatloaf is just as bad), but the thought of having to return to that scares me.
4) Doing this is hard enough with family--I don't have anyone to stand with me through all this. I’m all alone and furthermore, I’m afraid that if this book does get published, my family won’t like it. They tend not to like it when I do well. The only time my sister cared I got a voice over job for Li’l Amazing Ashley was when Oprah Winfrey gave out a couple hundred of them to poor girls in Africa so she had to tell the world her sister was the voice of the doll. My family’s like that. Just love me when something like that happens--not really any other time. I think I like pretending I’m a failure so they’ll be happy. No matter what I do, whenever I’m good at it, they notice and take the credit for it. I always hated being good at anything--I never enjoyed what I did even if I loved it. I was the only person not in my own high school graduation picture--my birth mother and adopted mother kinda pushed me out of it.
5) I always think people are thinking that I’m better than they are--no matter what I do. I don’t think about myself that much. I think I’m rather boring if you must know. I just like what I do. I’m not competing with anyone. I’ve been talked about a lot--none of it good. Nothing the least bit true, but it’s not the first time I’ve had to deal with it. I’m from Hollywood; you can’t go a block anywhere that someone isn’t talking bad about someone--sometimes it’s true, but often it’s not. It bothers me, but not enough to stop what I do because I love it too much to give it up.
I just think of the story in all of this mess. I want it to be good for my dad and to live up to what Tolkien might have liked. He was a professor after all. He taught about what he wrote and the history of such things. It’s a tradition just like playwriting is Shakespearean. I just want it to be good enough for them so they are always in my thoughts--dad and Professor Tolkien--when I write. I’m humbled when people think it’s good enough to sit on a bookshelf next to Tolkien, but I didn’t write it for that purpose. I just love writing is all. I think everyone is talented in their own way--they just have to find their story and tell it. This is just how I write. I don’t think about if I’m good, I just want the story to be--has nothing to do with me.
6) My hair is a mess; seriously. I just cut it off not long ago--not all of it, it’s still long on top. I had to; I was so stressed out about six months ago, I pulled most of it out. It grows fast, and most of it has grown back, but still, it’s a mess.
Looks a little like this, @fortunatelyclevercandy. Just a little longer. I don’t have a beard, thankfully. My hair is that color, though--especially in summer when the red and gold highlights show up and people think I dyed it. As a girl, of course I worry about appearances--the more this book gets noticed, the more anxious I get because there is really no way the world isn’t going find this fascinating--I’m a little black Country girl abandoned at a hospital at birth from nowhere that wrote a book about a tall blonde-haired Elvenking. Not just any Elvenking, but the Elvenking of Mirkwood. I don’t think it’s remarkable or unique, but considering who played the Elvenking in Jackson’s film trilogy, that is a lot of pressure--even if my king is more Tolkien than Jackson. He’s gorgeous, let’s not beat around the bush. Lee Pace is drop dead gorgeous--blond or otherwise. For the rest of his life, Lee Pace will be Thranduil--no matter what he does. He was very good, too. To have someone like me to come up from behind telling that story he didn’t know he was telling me just being Thranduil and putting it into Middle Earth isn’t easy; he’s a hard act to follow.
We are both Thranduil. I literally am becoming known for being Thranduil now myself (because I wrote Book II from his point of view) to the point I had to change my Facebook profile photo to Thranduil so people Googling me know who they were looking for and whether we know it or not, we are two parts of the same character created by Tolkien and that will be forever.
I do look like my avatar, and if it’s pretty, I give credit to the photographer (Alan Weissman). But that was the same year I met the elusive stranger--I gave him that and another headshot for some reason) and now I’m skinnier and paler having my illness go into remission but I like to look presentable. It’s a girl thing. I don’t want to look like I have been in a barn with a rooster.
If doing this book has taught me anything is that when you get past 2000 readers being confused with the grandfather and creator of the high fantasy genre and are tagged so much with Lee Pace people literally can’t seem to separate us from Thranduil, the odds of remaining obscure is probably not in my favor. And making the announcement I have to make at some point isn’t going to make this any easier. I have to decide between what my family wants and what I want--more so now than ever. That’s a hard thing to do and made harder still by the fact I have to do it alone.
I doubt anyone will remember me as Oropher or Legolas as much as Thranduil--I started this journey as Thranduil. I didn’t write the story from the POV of an onlooker. I couldn’t tell this story any other way but through the eyes of Thranduil. I don’t think this story could be told by anyone but Thranduil. I don’t regret that for one minute because I wrote what I felt should be written and will continue the same why whether I’m Orothôn, Oropher or Legolas.
This is the only thing that sets me apart from any other story. This is what came from inside of me. I’ve written many things but this was the first time I’ve written a book and from a place inside of me. I lived every minute of every word I wrote. If that makes me an author worth publishing, then let me become a real book one day.
“I am Thranduil, Elvenking of Mirkwood.”
FROM OBSURITY to the MAINSTREAM: THRANDUIL CAUSING TROUBLE
You won’t mind terribly if I’m late with my next excerpt--or the release date of December 22 (well, that might not be necessary). Seems Thranduil has hit a little snag--people keep sending screenshots of my blog to the Mythopoeic Society (with my mentions about them, no less)--and boy is it driving them nuts. Never mind the endless questions people keep asking them (and me) about the actual Tolkien Estate.
I am a member of the Mythopoeic Society, yes. But it’s rather crazy over there because of the recent unusual popularity of this book, The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy and at first, I thought they were asking me to take down 10 blogs dedicated to The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy. I can’t do that--for as many followers as it has here and across the web, if it were a published book, I would be considered a best seller on Amazon (okay, I’d be well over their estimation of a best-seller and you can already read me on Kindle).
It’s finally time to decide what to do with Book II: The Saga of Thranduil before this gets any crazier. But FIRST--stop sending them screenshots about what I say about them--not everyone of them know what’s going on--especially on Facebook. They have a website: http://www.mythsoc.org and a Twitter: https://twitter.com/mythsoc. Send that stuff officially. The Facebook Page for The Mythopoeic Society is not where they know it all--not everyone is even a member there and those I speak with are not always there so, from what they’ve told me, they have no idea what you’re talking about.
I know more about copyrights, licensing and all that hullabaloo far more than they do. I deal with intellectual properties all the time--I have a celebrity attorney that specializes in it and we’ve been working on copyright protection for over 20 years. He’s an artist himself and represents all types of artists from visual to music. Kevin Kline (Beauty and the Beast, 2017) is one of his clients.
Secondly: Tolkien Estate--yes, you can acquire about fan fictions and the like, just not on the Mythopoeic Society Page on Facebook. Go here: http://www.tolkienestate.com/en/home.html. That’s where the paperwork is and all the interesting questions and even some answers.
I just got it two years ago when they put it up. I had no idea that a) it was all that important to anyone and b) that The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy would get to the point where it have to consider being a published book outside of the Mythopoeic Society where I was planning to take it. Yes, you can ask the ESTATE about The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy all you want if you like--people are doing it; might as well make it a party.
Now that I’m done with that, now I’m forced to decide exactly what this book is and where it actually can go because now it’s everywhere and somehow flowing slowing into the mainstream dialogue--how fun; it hasn’t been three months since people started confusing me with Tolkien and an LOTR series popped up, having half of my known world asking me if it’s about my story.
It’s getting increasingly harder to write these days because somehow I’m pelted with secret admirers on Twitter and for some reason no one KNOWS exactly what “kind” of book this is and want to know. It’s become “something”--far more than I even thought possible. No one can decide if it is fan fiction or it’s Tolkien; is it an branch of Tolkien or a stand alone. Either way, before 2018, that decision now has to be made and whatever I decide, there will be a lot of people claiming it--it has already begun.
This escalated quickly. I guess the time has finally come to actually do something with Book II: The Saga of Thranduil. I guess it’s time for Thranduil to claim what is his--whatever that is. Whatever it is, it’s pure Thranduil.
“I would love to read your book from start to finish and I'm literally begging you not to stop. You have a gift that should not be lost to this world.”
My friend told me to “have the cunning and strength of the Dunedain.”
Someone wants said to me:
I have to go--I have a meeting with Estel shortly, then prepare fight another battle in Mirkwood and Dol Guldur and get Elwë to Melian. He just married Orothôn and Mîrwen, you know. And Oropher is about to be born soon. What he can tell you about little Thranduil...☺️ That part, no one has yet to do with it what they will. I know the story of the Silvans better than anyone.
Newsfeed #89 October 20, 2017 (20 Narquelië)
YOU HAVE NO IDEA: THE REAL SAGA OF THRANDUIL
I know it seems to take forever to get here or to post an excerpt–as if the research isn’t hard enough, the demand for this story is no longer ever so often: it’s now every day and all day. Between the demand and dealing with my father who will get an obsession once and awhile and end up calling at all hours sometimes five times a day for three days, writing is hard.
1) Fan girls. I didn’t know they existed–rather, I didn’t know they would be so mesmerized with “my” Thranduil. His only edge (and the edge with his grandfather, father and son) is they tell their own story from their point of view. The fact that I’m a girl writing seems to go over the head of some people–he’s got male fans on Instagram that call me “dude”. I’m just getting used to love notes on a regular basis.
2) October 13, 2017–Friday. After a night of no sleep, I answer a message on the books Facebook page from someone that had read excerpts from somewhere–not hard anymore, this thing has its own Google Search these days. She asked me the usual question: Where is this book? Is it really a book? So I told her about it and she conveniently told me that she had been looking for awhile and even sent a message to The real-life actual TOLKIEN ESTATE asking about when this book is coming out. Aside from being liked on Twitter by Jason Voorhees, that was scary. She thinks they may ignore her question and I’m praying they do because I wouldn’t be hard to find as the widow of a friend of J.R.R. Tolkien knows who I am and what I’m doing. So does Netflix. So, yeah–no pressure whatsoever.
3) My laptop decided to die nearly losing half my work–that luckily was retrieved from my iPad Pro from the iCloud. Then my dad became obsessed I couldn’t work without a laptop and called all day the day before he bought me a new one and still calls now asking me if it still works–it’s the latest version with Touch Bar–yes, it works very well. He’s got Alzheimer’s. His Alzheimer’s is special because it has yet to affect the part of his brain that remembers how much my Compaq laptop cost back in 2000. He’s doing pretty good, I can report–except for his latent obsession with whether or not Lee Pace shaves.
It’s gotten so busy, one of my doctors suggested an assistant to stay on schedule–and a housekeeper (only because she’s already asked for an autographed copy). It’s probably a good idea because if things keep going at the pace they have been, I won’t have to call my family to tell them about what I’ve been doing for the past 22 months. My sister was mad at me when I had 100,000 search results–she’ll pass out with 900,000 and close to at least 2300 estimated readers all over the world–and one of those readers (thank you for reading–none of this could have happened without you) brought me to the attention of the Tolkien Estate. There is no going back now.
I can safely say that all is pretty good in spite of writing around so much activity. I don’t know what will come of the “now” very real Tolkien Estate situation. Book II have fans in the already-published world of authors–it’s probably only a matter of time that I find myself on the other side of the pond for some reason other than going to University for my PhD.
The past few weeks have been harrowing but exciting. It’s one of those gifts you don’t give back. It’s a once in a lifetime thing–I told the Mythopoetic Society about it: no one acted surprised. I was compared to an “Inkling” after all.
To be a non-British woman of color considered good enough to stand with the likes of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis doesn’t happen every day–neither does having your “fan fiction” confused with the father of High Fantasy to the point where people are asking his estate when the new book is coming out. I never thought I’d get here–and while my father is still around to witness what little he may remember of it. Whatever happens, it already has become life-altering and historical.
I never thought I could write a book–I was afraid of it since Creative Writing in college. I thought I was horrible with narrative. But Tolkien once said, “A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a short cut to meet it.” You can only run so far before fate makes it impossible for you to run any longer. I’m not the same person I was when I started this journey in December of 2015. I can’t go back to what was–I can go forward to what will be: no matter where the road takes me.–J.M.M.
Images: ©2012, 2013, 2014. Warner Brothers Pictures. The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. All Rights Reserved.
Images: ©2001, 2002, 2003. Warner Brothers Pictures. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. All Rights Reserved.
Thranduil has done what many people thought impossible–in 924 pages (and that’s just Book II: The Saga of Thranduil).
Thranduil—he’s come so far and I’m so proud. Now if my Dad would stop worrying if my laptop is working. I love my dad. 💗 I did this for him.
Friday October 13, 2017: The Day Thranduil Changed The World
My Facebook mail box keeps filling up with people I don’t know talking about Tolkien. What’s going on here? Fan girls, the perpetual tagging with Lee Pace (the real guy)--what’s happening? You do realize I am prone to hyperventilating in crowds, @fortunatelyclevercandy. This isn’t what I think it is, is it? I can’t be “that way” right now. I need to buy clothes to wear that came from this decade.
You know, I normally wouldn’t care. Why should I care? I mean, at this point in my life, I might a well just throw in the towel, marry one of a myriad of idiots I seem to attract like moths to a flame, have a kid or two and forget any of this ever happened. I mean, I wrote my first book while my Dad was still here. That was the plan all along. Sadly, those lackadaisical fantasies are gone forever. I started to like this book. I have 924 pages done right now just for Thranduil’s book alone (two versions of Book II, of course). It will be as long (if not longer) as The Lord of the Rings 50th Anniversary Edition--a nice doorstop.
It is only a matter of time before Lee Pace shows up, @fortunatelyclevercandy. You know how awkward it will be to talk to the person who inspired an entire Tolkien-esque trilogy about the elves of the Woodland Realm based entirely on the sound of his voice and a look in his eye? That is not an exaggeration--that is the truth. Tolkien inspired me to find the elf in his world I knew Lee was.
--God, I just know that I this is going to turn into the public relations nightmare from hell--
Look, if The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy gets anymore attention, then I’m going to have to change my name to Holly Golightly and move to Tuscany. I just got a message yesterday from a self-proclaimed “Tolkien-phile” telling me he’s going to pass this book along to other “Tolkien-philes” he knows like a joint at Woodstock and there will be zero chance that the Tolkien Estate is not going to find out about this book if that happens--
--unless, of course you count the person that mistook my story for a new Tolkien novel and sent an email directly to The Tolkien Estate asking about it--
--God, I just know that I this is going to turn into the public relations nightmare from hell--
Based on what this lovely person told me, they asked the REAL Tolkien Estate, they left them with a message something to the effect of “When/where is the book about Thranduil coming out”, thinking of course, my book was a bonafide Tolkien novel. Something like that.
Whoever wanted a “film” about Thranduil, @bellevox, @thranduilings @thranduilthings, @elven-nicknacks, @thranduilsqueen, @themiddleearthworldoftolkien, @freakingvantastic, @storytimeteller1, @emitis17, @leepace71, @kerstin1864, @kelcipher, @babschwi, you just got closer to that reality--closer than anyone has ever come before.
It is no longer in the world of wondering of what if it could be done. It has moved into the realm of it could be done. It still has a long way to go--it’s just now it probably is a shorter distance.
Anything can happen, @fortunatelyclevercandy and it probably will. I was hoping I had time to think about submitting to the Tolkien Estate and it would be at the end of the book. Well, I guess Thranduil’s story is headed into the stratosphere now--not only that, there a two different endings to choose.
I can’t say it’s impossible anymore and neither can anyone else who said it couldn’t be done. I didn’t start out wanting this to happen--I just wanted to finish something while my father was still with me on this earth. I wanted to make him proud of me. I’m glad he was here when I finished my first book dedicated to him. I never expected any of this--The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy began as just another story about Thranduil in a sea of Thranduils. For whoever has been reading, thank you. You made this all possible.
You asked me once, “what would you call this book”, @fortunatelyclevercandy. Fan-fiction? Part of Tolkien’s world? I call it a miracle. No matter where it ends up, it changed my life and has changed the way people look at Thranduil. He’s come into his own--he has truly become Thranduil Everlasting. His story has been told and it will never be forgotten.
“Tell them I am more than the Elvenking. I have a name as they well know. They may not want to hear it nor say it, but you will tell them that I am Thranduil, Elvenking of Mirkwood.”--Book II/Chapter I: I am Thranduil by J. Marie Miller
There are no accidents in this world. Everything happens for a reason.
Oh, my little daddy let me pick whichever laptop I wanted. I had to get a new one--they couldn’t fix the old one and it was outdated--MacBook Pro doesn’t have DVD-CDRW anymore--Good thing I bought an external PC/Mac one some time ago. Anyway, Daddy remembered to say “I’m your only Daddy” when I said “You’re my favorite Daddy.” We talked about Lee. I asked him how tall he was. “6′5″” he said. I said, “you remembered”. He said, “Of course I did. You tell me how tall he is every day.” No I don’t. I don’t see him every day. He just remembered some things. Not my car, but me and Lee and to tell me to eat my vegetables at lunch.
He also remembered my book. So, I got a brand new laptop and a great day with my Dad. Now, just trying to get all my files back so I can get to work. The Tolkien Estate now knows for 100% certainty there’s a book out there called The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy mistaken for one of theirs starring the one and only Thranduil, Elvenking of the Woodland Realm. I have a feeling they’ll be looking for him. What a Friday so far. Friday the 13th has always been my good luck day (knock on wood). Here’s hoping.
Yeah, @fortunatelyclevercandy, @storytimeteller1, @freakingvantastic, the chances of Lee Pace finding out about this thing just went from 50% to about 99.9%. And that’s if I’m not hiding in that hole in my back yard. I need sleep. I haven’t done it yet. 😴
I’m supposed to go out with my Dad tomorrow to replace my laptop 💻 because he wants to be there when I pick it out—at 9am. He’s obsessed with the morning. He wants to see the yard again. I guess I can let him. No. He’s got to stay with me longer—can’t have him doing stuff that would hurt him no matter how much he wants to do it. I spent most of the night looking for my exact laptop so I could do a trade-in and lucky me! They don’t do that in my area for some reason.
🙄 I am grateful he remembers and wants to help out because he remembered my book— and that I need it for classes as well. He had to ask my stepmother for access to his own bank account since he’s not in the right mind anymore—even though he can tell me how much I spent on food and bills last week like Sherlock 🕵️ on a case.
Either way, I get to return to work on my book very soon. 🙂
I have a serious obsession with the man who is my alter ego. I wonder who I should blame. Pete, Freddie or Carl. @fortunatelyclevercandy or @leepace71. 😏 Maybe myself or Lee. Me and Lee. Could be worse—we could be idiots. I’m going to miss him when it’s over.
You’re going to miss Thranduil.
But you gave him a voice, an identity and this will make him immortal for real. 😊
Aww...☺️ I can only take 1/4 credit. Tolkien created Thranduil, Peter Jackson gave him a look and picked Lee Pace to perfect that look and give him life and a voice that got stuck in my head long enough to give Thranduil a backstory based on Tolkien. It is the Circle of Life, sort of. I am humbled by it and blessed to be a small part of it. @fortunatelyclevercandy
I’m not leaving behind Thranduil—he’s born in Book I. I just will be seeing him from Oropher’s point of view, then Legolas’. Being Oropher’s father right now is fun because I believe it was said Thranduil was a lot like Orothôn. When I finish everything, it will be for me like the last day of shooting the last Harry Potter film—extraordinarily good for accomplishing something, yet tremendously sad for leaving everyone of the characters I called family. I watched them come of age, fall in love and marry and have children of their own. I think they gave me more of a life than I gave them. But to see them blossom like Êlúriel mentioned as a favorite character or a parent wanting to dress their child like Isílriel, that’s where my immortality lies. If I gave something back to Tolkien, that’s a tiny part of my legacy. ❤️ If people like what I write, that’s the rest of my legacy. For now, Thranduil has a whole lot of life to live and I can’t wait to get back to it. 😁
So, I’m taking the day to make a schedule. I was told today I would benefit from not only a housekeeper/maid but also a personal assistant due to getting busier with the book. I do have a big home that requires a lot of work I haven’t gotten to do as much since my father got ill. I am slightly overcome with so much book activity lately. Must have a schedule that includes working out 🏃🏽♀️and me time. It is starting to catch up with me with nearly all TKWRT pages often going off at once from time to time. I need to get a handle on it all. It won’t take long. 😘
I’m going to sleep because I haven’t slept in almost 48 hours and @fortunatelyclevercandy will kill me if I don’t sleep. But I’ve officially ruined someone’s life. I got a message from a reader on Pinterest that is trying my excerpts. “I need t stop with these ‘cause it’s tearing my life apart and my heart out.”
Is that a good thing? I mean, I’m ruining lives now. I get to share that with Lee Pace, too? I need some sleep. Maybe I’ll wake up and I won’t be ruining lives anymore. I doubt it. I know what’s coming next in the extended version and the next excerpt for Book I. Sigh...😏
And Thranduil is officially in public. I have no more secrets left to keep about writing @tkwrtrilogy. There is little doubt anymore as to what I’m doing with “The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy.” Now, it begins, @fortunatelyclevercandy. Oh, well..what could possibly happen? I mean, I woke up this morning to work and found out there are secret people liking my stuff. Want to know what they liked? Ned the Pie Maker gif....talking about the guy that calls me dude and the girl that writes love letters. Wondering if I’m so good no one can tell I’m a girl. That’s all I need is for Ned to be the one liking things. It’s all out in the open now. If you’ll excuse me—I had to move the double wedding outside. The banquet hall was too small. And Thranduil’s grandparents are on their way to Beleriand and set up shop in Doriath. Oh, this day couldn’t get any sunnier unless I was in Philadelphia. If I get Ned’s phone number I’m not telling you. I’ll just show up at your door with him and Richard.
I answered the dinner invite: I just ❤️it. No words. Safer that way at this point. I expect more fan girls, though as Thranduil's romantic side goes viral. Also, my claim to fame in five words: I am writing as Thranduil. In five more: I am writing as Legolas (soon enough). Don't ask; it was a Twitter thing.
If I get to post before dawn, it will be a miracle. Seems Thranduil being himself and reeking havoc on Facebook just now...what dreams may come...Facebook wanted me to pay to reach 7800. That's okay. I got to 9900 on my own. How, I have no idea. I just remembered Lee Pace, @fortunatelyclevercandy.
Did discuss writing for a living. That would erk my sister. 😁 But, after my second largest post reach in less than 24 hours, it may actually happen. 2,207. Yeah, Thranduil is having a great day...up to 8,007 views; up to 8,012 in a few minutes..☺️ Yeah, Mirkwood should go ahead and go full-on public I guess....Give me until Wednesday--I have another appointment tomorrow. Making it to making a living would be a dream come true. If the web would stay up...it will be time for The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy to get its own website.
Wouldn’t you know it? The ONE weekend I can’t post anything anywhere because my internet is down, The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy’s Facebook page reaches 6,725 people! That’s the first time since its inception it reached well above its usual audience (usually about 100-300) because I don’t promote it on purpose--I’m still catching up to its Tumblr audience.
Heads are going to roll...
God, I love my work...
Hmmm...just wondering if I should allow The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy be illustrated and/or turned into a graphic novel...still thinking. There has been some interest. I’ll think on it. I have some writing to do for now. Thranduil just keeps getting bigger. He’s currently about push his first 200 followers on Facebook (I’d have more but I’m low-key; this attention began when a Mythopoeic Society member unintentionally “outed me” early last year and it’s been a roller coaster ever since). True, he does have some name followers on Twitter and elsewhere (Instagram, Pinterest, WordPress), but that only gets him so far. He had to have readers.
TKWR Trilogy has broken a few ceilings since its inception (12-22-15)--one of them being readership--for an unpublished book it’s doing well (even though people including professionals are now questioning what TKWR is: they can’t decide whether it’s a fan fiction, a continuation or a whole new genre). It’s already pinned under films, books, fan-fiction, LOTR/HOBBIT or Tolkien on Pinterest. It’s safe to say the flagship book, The Saga of Thranduil has opened the door to many opportunities--all of which would make my Dad proud.
I’m kinda glad it’s not a real book at the moment--TKWR Trilogy is the reason my family isn’t talking to me--they’ll say otherwise, but this is the actual reason). But if I get anymore readers, they won’t have a choice but to deal with it.
I don’t like to talk about the numbers because it bothers me and I only shared it with an editor in Canada because she deals with that sort of thing and they are enough now that I have to start thinking in the long term and my family will hate me even more for it. It’s only a matter of time and I know it, @fortunatelyclevercandy. I can’t even say for sure what Lee knows. I try not to think about it but it’s starting to get big enough where it would be a near impossibility the Tolkien Estate won’t notice and with enough readers for them to care. I just want to finish the story and make it good and not upset my family anymore than necessary, @mystarlightblr. I have to keep up looking like a pathetic loser so they’ll have something to talk about. They are most happy when they think I am a failure--I’m not kidding. I wish I were.
There are a lot of people waiting for something--what, I have no idea. But it’s safe to say that Thranduil has put Mirkwood on the map and out in plain view of the world in a way never seen before. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t exciting--I never expected this to even get noticed in a sea of other “Thranduil” stories--much less Tolkien professors, collectors and those close to the Tolkien family. It’s a whole new world now--anything can happen.
I’m editing the first book even as I write the next one and the extended versions, so there is some time to decide the end game for this trilogy. I just have to start thinking more about the future of Thranduil and this story in more professional terms--now that a business asked if I wanted to put his story on a tee-shirt.
