J.R.R. Tolkien BackGround
Ross has been a life-long reader of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, beginning when he was in 6th grade and read the Hobbit and then the Lord of the Rings.
He has been reading the Professor's work his entire life.
During Covid he attended the Tolkien Society's annual conference Oxonmoot 2020. During the conference he met a group of fans and together they resurrected the 2nd Breakfast Smial of Pennsylvania (see below).
The group encouraged Ross to present at the conference on a topic of his favorite story, the Children of Hurin. Since 2021 his proposals have been accepted and he has spoken each year:
Several years ago Ross participated in the Tolkien Experience project. Here are his answers to the standard questions asked:
He has been reading the Professor's work his entire life.
During Covid he attended the Tolkien Society's annual conference Oxonmoot 2020. During the conference he met a group of fans and together they resurrected the 2nd Breakfast Smial of Pennsylvania (see below).
The group encouraged Ross to present at the conference on a topic of his favorite story, the Children of Hurin. Since 2021 his proposals have been accepted and he has spoken each year:
- 2021 Exploring Tolkien's Tragedy
- 2022 Neithan the Wronged, an Approach to Better Understanding Turin
- 2022 (joint presentation) Lessons to be Learned from Bad Decisions
- 2023 The Women in the Children of Hurin
- 2024 The Kalavala to the Children of Hurin, the Evolution of Story (Also presented at the NYC Tolkien Society)
Several years ago Ross participated in the Tolkien Experience project. Here are his answers to the standard questions asked:
2nd Breakfast Smial of Pennsylvania
A smial is a local group that often meets locally, but as this group is rather spread out a monthly Zoom call is used to discuss topics.
Our group has also created an Ent(ertainment) video for Oxonmoot attendees. The first was in 2022 and was so well received the President of the Tolkien Society wanted to be a guest on our 2023 video and in 2024 we had the privilege of working with two of the top Tolkien based podcasters who participated in our video.
While Ross has been speaking at the conference, Betsy often works with the technology group at Oxonmoot, and Amanda is the editor of the Societies' bi-monthly journal Amon Hen.
Our group has also created an Ent(ertainment) video for Oxonmoot attendees. The first was in 2022 and was so well received the President of the Tolkien Society wanted to be a guest on our 2023 video and in 2024 we had the privilege of working with two of the top Tolkien based podcasters who participated in our video.
While Ross has been speaking at the conference, Betsy often works with the technology group at Oxonmoot, and Amanda is the editor of the Societies' bi-monthly journal Amon Hen.
The Tolkien Reading Room
This fall Ross renovated a bedroom into an upstairs Tolkien reading room. The room has afternoon and evening sunlight and houses his collection of Tolkien based books and artwork, along with his coin collection. The room has two final improvements until completion, a ceiling fan with light and a print from his favorite story the Children of Hurin.
