Comments | elandulin: Chapter 20

elandulin

Chapter 20

Jan 13, 2008 11:15

Chapter 20

It has been four months (!) since I last posted a chapter to A Secret Gate: my excuses are an amalgam of Real Life, unexpected rites of passage, physical setbacks, intersections with the children’s busy adult lives, holidays-and a surprising mutiny in that part of my brain that quietly, and mostly benignly, oversees the creation of ( Read more... )

Comments 15

dreamflower02 January 13 2008, 21:33:43 UTC

*grin* I *do* so understand what happens when the material starts telling you what to do, rather than the other way around...

Frustrating and painful, on the one hand, and delightful on the other!

Expect an email from me on a completely unrelated matter.

elandulin January 13 2008, 23:18:05 UTC

It's magic, once you realize what's happened, but before you get it, you just feel like such a failure! I do: you'd think I'd get used to it after awhile!

Do I have that e-mail, or is there another yet to come? :)

maniac1 January 13 2008, 22:04:23 UTC

What a lovely chapter, Elanor! A nice introduction to the Men that Merry and Pippin will be involved with at the beginning of their journey. I especially liked Baranor, Bergil's son. It lends a sense of continuity between Merry and Pippin's past and the present.

The descriptions of the Ranger's station are very vivid, and I could almost see the maps' details as Jamy studied them.

I very much like that you touch on the approaching sorrow that Jamy will be facing as the Master prepares to leave. Poor guy; he only just got to know Merry, and now must say good-bye. The emotions must be brutal.

Well done, Elanor!

elandulin January 13 2008, 23:08:40 UTC

Thanks, Deb! You're so nice!

I was quite surprised to find out who Baranor was, and pleased, too. Fascinating trying to imagine HOW part of my mind knows these things, but doesn't tell the other part right away....

I'm glad you liked the ranger station--it's a bit grand, but the guys have to live there, now, as opposed to camping like they used to in the old days. The King has wrought some nice changes over the years! :)

danae_b January 13 2008, 22:39:45 UTC

You are brilliant, you know. I am just about to start reading this, finally, so expect eventual feedback. I have read bits and pieces, and I was using the "oh but it's a WIP" excuse to keep myself from reading, and from therefore becoming too attached. Because, well, I've loved what I have looked at.

Anyhow, just wanted you to know it :) DF really thinks I'll love it, and I expect to love it as well.

elandulin January 13 2008, 23:10:00 UTC

Yikes! I hope you aren't disappointed! DF has been extraordinarily kind over the long haul. :)

danae_b January 13 2008, 23:10:58 UTC

Not at all, not at all! The prologue made me happy beyond belief - but then, you've seen that already, I hope :)

elandulin January 13 2008, 23:12:12 UTC

I have indeed--just now! Thank you, thank you, and I'll be getting back directly.

Thread 5

celandine_g January 14 2008, 06:04:06 UTC

How nice to hear from you, Elandulin!!!

Oh this so reminds me of how long it has been since I escaped to your lovely world of Merry and Pippin and their last adventure. Can hardly wait to read this--but it's too late tonight to enjoy it properly. I do hope to get to it soon and I'll be back to comment. :)

I think one of the great joys of writing (or perhaps the greatest) is when the story and/or the characters take over and you are just "writin' it down" as fast as you can. These are great moments and impossible to explain to non-writers. I remember a few all-night sessions when that happened to me. Such fun.

Congrats on the grandchild! Lucky you.

elandulin January 14 2008, 16:38:21 UTC

Well, thank you so very much!--given the travel and whirlwind of your life (I love your journal posts) I count it a great compliment that you would give up any precious free time to read my story. I hope you enjoy when you get to read it! And you're right about those amazing, magical moments. They are astonishing experiences.

Thanks on the grandchild--his name is Fletcher and he is a marvelous child (of course!). If I had Photobucket or something, I would regale you all with charming pictures of his adorableness, but mercifully for you all, I don't have any way to post them. :)

mcat711 January 17 2008, 04:20:09 UTC

Just letting you know that I saw this post and am hoping to get to the latest chapter over the weekend.

And I've probably asked this before and am just being stupid, but what's Stories of Arda? If it's another fic site, I would be most interested in seeing it.

Hope you're having fun with the grandchild. :)

elandulin January 17 2008, 04:46:40 UTC

Thanks, MCat!

Stories of Arda is a LOTR fic site. You can find it here: http://www.storiesofarda.com/index.asp. Lots of good stories, Elves, Men, and Hobbits!

The grandchild IS fun! He has just recently discovered his hands and feet. :)