When facing their worst crisis, the Fellowship rises to the challenge. We can learn from their example…like invisible friends, they walk with us. I sometimes ask myself how Legolas would handle a given situation. Can my wisdom rise to Gandalf’s level? Karen Dennen, Lessons from Heroes

Before this trip, I reduced this magnificent point where the plains meet the mountains to a series of images from Jackson’s masterpiece: Éowyn standing alone, searching the plains…Merry watching…as his beloved cousin rides away from him; Aragorn smoking a pipe on a starry evening when the landscape is washed blue/white. To see these images come alive for me, with me—that is magic in itself. Ravenna of Buckland, Mount Sunday

At a crossroads in the journey of my life, I paused for a moment in Middle Earth and met its unforgettable inhabitants. Their journey of courage, love, strength, and friendship inspired me to search for the happiness I thought I’d never have again. A J Caywood, Walking with Hobbits

I have been hunting for dragons all my life. I grew up with my nose in a book, especially books filled with swords, knights, princesses and magic. When I first met my husband, what cinched the deal for me was not our mutual interest in backpacking…nor that he made me laugh, but the fact that he knew his Nazgul from his Uruk-Hai. Kristina Ricks, Dragon Seeker

It was thanks to Captain Faramir that for once, I found the courage to listen to my heart and conscience…and walk away from what was a no-win situation. This was the first time any character in a story influenced me to do anything as drastic as quit a job! Dana Clark, A Lord of the Rings Spell

On the bus tour of the North Island the driver put on a DVD – The Fellowship of the Ring. I had the most surreal experience of watching the movie and looking out the window to see the same scenery going by. Tears started pouring down. I had made it. I was in Middle Earth.

Last year I got my first tattoo. My daughter’s reaction? “Oh my God, Mom. I hope it’s not some Hobbit thing!” Linda Turner, The Time That is Given Us

I wear a silver engraved spinning ring. When I went to visit my doctor, she asked what words were written on my ring because it looked Elvish! We chatted about her love for the books, how she had read them oh, so many years ago….Another connection made….Pam Bardwell, Connections

The day after I finished the appendices, I started reading the books to my kids. For the only time in my parenting career, I had perfect kids; if they misbehaved, all I had to do was say “If you don’t behave, I won’t read tonight....” Edie Head, Legendarium as Lembas

In January 2002, I sat in a darkened theater with my husband as TheFellowship of the Ring came on the screen. Cate Blanchett’s voice cast a spell of enchantment and my own adventure began. I had never heard of a hobbit, or read the works of JRR Tolkien; but here was this place in my heart, a place that just seemed to be waiting for them….

Alan Lee was looking at my painting, right in front of me! He carefully read the letter, studied the painting again, then talked to me about them like he might to any other artist. It was a dream come true! Catharine Mallard, From Bag End to The Darkling Woods

The day of the Line Party wore on. I was called to duty as a Mearas trainer (a.k.a. Equine Assisted Psychotherapist) for a few hours. Though a black steed of Sauron trod on my foot and broke my toe, my will was set…. I gathered food from Ithilien (who knew Gondor had a Wendy’s?) and returned to the line. We partook of the food of Gondor, then the lembas bread I had made. My elven blood flowed strong that day, and all those around us were soon clamoring for more lembas….Kelly Silvey, The Fellowship of the Line

When my son was born, my husband produced a familiar DVD and a laptop. The first music my son heard was the soundtrack from The Fellowship of The Ring. We watched it in my hospital room until we fell asleep. The nurse had to wake us up to turn off the movie because the girl next to us said the Moria orcs kept her up. Thank god she was a fan! Anna Ochitkov, Born to the Rings

 …That song always takes me back to being a 12-year-old sitting on the roof of our house in Iran reading The Lord of the Rings. In that unusual sanctuary, I could envision and laugh at Frodo’s dumb-founded expression in “A Conspiracy Unmasked”… Andrea Ball, Up on the Roof

I read the first chapter of my fantasy novel and listened to strangers critiquing it at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. They liked it a lot. I was here by luck and a shared love of Tolkien with a lady who believed in me. I would not have been there had it not been for a certain Elf. Dana Tonello, Elf Obsession