Tolkien Reading Day

[dreamflower]

March 25 is Tolkien Reading Day.

I got up the nerve to volunteer to do a reading at the local library! After a few days of phone tag, I finally talked to the librarian in charge, so March 25, 6:30-7:30, I'll hold a reading event there!

Now I'm really nervous. I don't know if *anyone* will show up-- there aren't many Tolkien fans in this small town...

And I have to decide what to read!

I need some encouragement here, please! And maybe a little advice on spreading the word-- there's no radio or TV station here, and the only paper is a tiny local weekly. I'm wondering if I did the right thing...but it's too late to back out now!

Comments

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness, you're brave! I can't think of anything I'd be more chicken to do, except maybe jumping out of an airplane.

Maybe if your town has a bulletin board in the local grocery store, you could put up a flyer? That's what we do here in our little dinky town. That and flyers get sent home with the school kids. Maybe talk to the principal(s)?

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you will do great. How about a reading of the eagles announcing the news of Sauron's defeat as that happened on March 25th, or the Hobbits meeting Strider at the inn, that is great passage?

I second Cairistiona's suggestion.Does your church hall have a noticeboard too?

[shirebound]

Posters in store windows? Are there any local fantasy groups or blogs?

I think this part from 'The Stairs of Cirith Ungol' would make an interesting and inspiring reading:

'The brave things in the old tales and songs, Mr. Frodo: adventures, as I used to call them. I used to think that they were things the wonderful folk of the stories went out and looked for, because they wanted them, because they were exciting and life was a bit dull, a kind of a sport, as you might say. But that's not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually – their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn't. And if they had, we shouldn't know, because they'd have been forgotten. We hear about those as just went on – and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end. You know, coming home, and finding things all right, though not quite the same – like old Mr Bilbo. But those aren't always the best tales to hear, though they may be the best tales to get landed in! I wonder what sort of a tale we've fallen into? '

`I wonder,' said Frodo. 'But I don't know. And that's the way of a real tale. Take any one that you're fond of. You may know, or guess, what kind of a tale it is, happy-ending or sad-ending, but the people in it don't know. And you don't want them to.'

'No, sir, of course not. Beren now, he never thought he was going to get that Silmaril from the Iron Crown in Thangorodrim, and yet he did, and that was a worse place and a blacker danger than ours. But that's a long tale, of course, and goes on past the happiness and into grief and beyond it – and the Silmaril went on and came to Eärendil. And why, sir, I never thought of that before! We've got – you've got some of the light of it in that star-glass that the Lady gave you! Why, to think of it, we're in the same tale still! It's going on. Don't the great tales never end? '

'No, they never end as tales,' said Frodo. `But the people in them come, and go when their part's ended. Our part will end later – or sooner.'

'And then we can have some rest and some sleep,' said Sam. He laughed grimly. 'And I mean just that, Mr. Frodo. I mean plain ordinary rest, and sleep, and waking up to a morning's work in the garden. I'm afraid that's all I'm hoping for all the time. All the big important plans are not for my sort. Still, I wonder if we shall ever be put into songs or tales. We're in one, or course; but I mean: put into words, you know, told by the fireside, or read out of a great big book with red and black letters, years and years afterwards. And people will say: "Let's hear about Frodo and the Ring! " And they'll say: "Yes, that's one of my favourite stories. Frodo was very brave, wasn't he, dad?" "Yes, my boy, the famousest of the hobbits, and that's saying a lot."'

`It's saying a lot too much,' said Frodo, and he laughed, a long clear laugh from his heart. Such a sound had not been heard in those places since Sauron came to Middle-earth. To Sam suddenly it seemed as if all the stones were listening and the tall rocks leaning over them. But Frodo did not heed them; he laughed again. 'Why, Sam,' he said, 'to hear you somehow makes me as merry as if the story was already written. But you've left out one of the chief characters: Samwise the stouthearted. "I want to hear more about Sam, dad. Why didn't they put in more of his talk, dad? That's what I like, it makes me laugh. And Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam, would he, dad? " '

`Now, Mr. Frodo,' said Sam, 'you shouldn't make fun. I was serious. '

`So was I,' said Frodo, 'and so I am. We're going on a bit too fast. You and I, Sam, are still stuck in the worst places of the story, and it is all too likely that some will say at this point: "Shut the book now, dad; we don't want to read any more." '

`Maybe,' said Sam, 'but I wouldn't be one to say that. Things done and over and made into part of the great tales are different. Why, even Gollum might be good in a tale, better than he is to have by you, anyway. And he used to like tales himself once, by his own account. '

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of reading Flight to the Ford. It's exciting and tense and it might get people who have not read LOTR before to want to dig into it! :)

oooh, you're going to do awesome! If nobody shows up, well, you have to prepare yourself for that, but probably some people will come! And you'll do great!

[gayalondiel.livejournal.com]

Good for you! Tolkien Reading Day is made of win *says the Tolkien Society cheerleader*. And I'm very impressed that you're going to be doing a reading yourself, I'm far too much of a coward to do that. Let us know what you decide to read?

[lily-the-hobbit.livejournal.com]

You are so brave! I'd love to come if I were anywhere near. Can't you just post an add in the newspaper anyway - something colourful if they let you that catches the eye of the reader. Or ask supermarkets and other public places if you can put up flyers. Maybe even distribute them after church on Sunday?

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Oh, good for you! I'd love to be there to hear you read. Can you put up a flyer on the bulletin board at the local market?

[topaztook.livejournal.com]

Good for you! Publicity: don't ignore the local newspaper, even if it is just a "tiny local weekly" (and for goodness sake don't call if that when you talk to them! ;) -- there should be an events calendar listing. (Which is free -- an ad is paid.)

Type up your submission with pertinent information: event, date, short description and send to them via their submission guidelines (probably printed in small print at the bottom of the events calendar), both in the body copy of the email and as a Word attachment (less typing for them, more likely publicity for you). Do the same for any print media in surrounding towns. Send in ASAP as most local weeklies come out on Wednesdays or Thursdays, which means their deadline for stuff printed next week (in other words, before your event) is pretty much immediately.

Also check to see if the newspaper has a website where you can input event info. Most small newspapers are (unfortunately) now part of larger conglomerates, so they have this technology -- and the deadline isn't quite as close.

Also, don't forget the other suggestions about places to post flyers. I'm going to assume the library will post info on their own bulletin board, but it wouldn't hurt to check. Also: grocery stores, coffee shops, how about the dairy place where you work? (That could also get you some guaranteed attendance -- from your coworkers.)

Check to see if there are local meetups/event listings on Craigslist/online bulletin boards (maybe the library has a forum/website?) where you could post information. Also, local bookstores, community center.

Feel free to email me if you want more thoughts/help with writing a press release -- this got kind of long.

Good luck!

[harrowcatliz.livejournal.com]

No advice to add but good luck and I am cheering you on!

[mumstheword54.livejournal.com]

How exciting!

I second other people's suggestions, with only a few of my own comments:

Definitely contact the school librarians; they and the English teachers will be at least familiar with LOTR -- and they'll know which students are into Tolkien, Lewis, or even just general fantasy.

Local paper: If it comes out on Wednesdays, there are still a couple of issues before the 25th, and the submission deadline is probably Friday or Monday.

If there's a video store, you might be able to get a flyer put up near the Fantasy section.

If Tulsa or Oklahoma City has an SCA group, now might be a good time to contact them and invite their members to your reading. (Not an official SCA thing, I know, but it might be a good way to meet some of their members.)

The people who attended your Lenten series on Tolkien at church would probably be interested in attending a reading. And you'd be delighted to learn how many ministers enjoy Tolkien! So do contact churches (including youth pastors -- another youth connection).

If you're willing and able to add refreshments to your reading, and if the library is willing to let you serve refreshments, "Shire Cookies served" would be an attention getter. (And maybe helping serve refreshments would be something your DH would enjoy.)

And lastly, maybe your DH is allowed to post flyers in clinics, hospitals, etc., when he makes his rounds.


As for the reading itself, your choice will be excellent! Even if it's only the librarians who attend, you'll have an audience.

My only suggestion: play some of your LOTR music collection very softly in the background.

Oh, also: have fun!!

[gamgeefest.livejournal.com]

I'm impressed! I could never do something like that! I see you have lots of suggestions already. I've always liked the quote Shirebound provided, and also when Sam finds Frodo in the tower by singing.

Depending on the age of your audience, you may want to have different options, such as The Hobbit if there are a lot of young children. There's also the Silm - Luthien freeing Beren from Sauron is one of my favorite passages from there. Don't forget Tolkien's other works. This could be a good opportunity to introduce people to Farmer Giles of Ham, for instance.

How long is the reading session supposed to be, and will you be the only one? You may consider a question and answer session.