An interview with Morwenna

When and why did you join CoE?
I can’t remember exactly how I found the site, probably via Google or another website. I was looking for either the Very Secret Diaries or pictures of Legolas (blush). I looked at a lot of Lord of the Rings sites, but kept on coming back to CoE time and time again and in the end decided that I wanted to be part of this community.

I joined CoE in July 2003, having lurked for a number of months. I was impressed by the friendliness of the site and the huge amount of information on it. I’d never been a member of an online community before and was impressed right from the start at how friendly CoE was and how it encourages its members to contribute in whatever way they can to the site.

How were you introduced to LotR, and when did you first consider yourself a fan?
In the 1970’s the books were really popular amongst teenagers, my older brother had read Lord of the Rings and really enjoyed it, so I asked for a copy for a Christmas present (his copy had all but fallen apart). As soon as I got it I sat and read it all the way through, it took me about 10 days if I remember right. I can still remember some of the feelings I had when I first read the book, my initial suspicions about Strider, the devastation when I thought Gandalf had died and the joy when he re-appeared, the appendix with Arwen and Aragon’s story, such a beautiful poignant tale which made me cry and still does (stops here to blow nose).

I still have my original copy of the book, complete with pressed rose petals in the pages (taken from a bouquet given to me by a long forgotten boyfriend) and a homemade Snoopy bookmark.

So I’ve been a fan since then. I can actually remember when the Silmarillion was first published and being an impoverished student having to wait to get it from the library!

I didn’t watch the movies until December 2002! I had resisted seeing them as I didn’t want them to “spoil” my love of the books. I was given Fellowship of the Ring as a Christmas present and it sat there on the shelf until New Year’s Eve, when, as there was nothing worth watching on TV, I decided to give it a go. I was hooked! Yes, some things are not as I imagined them and certain characters have been left out or altered, but my love of the books (and my own image of them) is as strong as ever and I also love the movies.

What do you like about your job on CoE?
I love searching out LotR and Tolkien news on the net. It’s great to read the news comments, especially when people say thanks for posting a particular item or send me a PM about it. I’ve recently started working in the Last Homely House (with Goldsand) and I really enjoy having an outlet for my “crafty side”. Most of all I love feeling a part of this community.

Which character out of all Tolkien created resembles you the most and why?
Difficult question! When I first read the Lord of the Rings I really wanted to be Galadriel and longed to live in Lothlórien , however, as I look more like a Hobbit (but with small non hairy feet) this was a forlorn hope.

I suppose the person I most identify with and probably resembles me the most, although there’s not much written about her, is Estë. I love the night, tend to wear quite a lot of grey and work in the healing professions.

What is Tolkien’s universe to you? A sacred haven? A place of inspiration
and relaxation?
Somewhere I can escape to if I feel stressed out; I can immerse myself in Middle-earth and forget about any other worries.

If we say Yavanna, what comes to mind?
Trees, specifically the Two Trees.

by Lossendiliel and LadyEowyn_of_Rohan