Introducing the 2021 Silmaril Hosts
That most fantastical time of year is soon upon us, dear Reader…
What?
No, I’m not talking about Christmas.
If I meant Christmas, I’d have said “most wonderful time of the year” not “fantastical.”
Now that we have that cleared up…
September is drawing near. And that, of course, means the SILMARIL AWARDS are just around the corner. It’s only THE fantasy event of the year! That time of year when we celebrate our love for all things Tolkien, as well as all our other favorite characters in the fantasy genre.
And YOU, dear Readers, get to pick the winners!
But before we get into that, I wanted to take a moment to introduce this year’s hosts.
I couldn’t do this event on my own, you see. The reason this event is so much fun is due to the sheer number of people involved. You, of course, as you nominate and comment and vote for your favorites, but also the unsung heroes of the event. The hosts.
They not only put up with dozens of fantasy characters descending upon their homes each year (some of them are NOT the best house guests!), they also choose the locations for the award ceremonies, set up all the decorations and coordinate the parties, as well as all the clean-up afterward (and boy, is there ever cleaning up to do!)
They also spend hours meticulously tallying up all the nominations and chatting with all the guests. It is a blast, but it isn’t for the faint of heart!
So this year, I wanted to take a moment to spotlight each of them for a minute before the event begins. But I’m not just sharing bio information, no, you can already find that over on the SILMARIL AWARDS WEBSITE by asking them each a question or two so you can get to know them a bit better.
(And if you click on their names, you’ll find their website, so you will know who to follow for all the Awards Updates and Shenanigans this year! Also, these are some of my favorite bloggers of ever, so if you’re not following their blogs already, you totally should be!)
Exciting note: this year, the Silmaril Awards has gone not only international (USA and Canada) but INTERCONTINENTAL, as Jem Jones is joining us from Australia!
It’s fun watching our little awards event stretching its way across the globe!
DJ Edwardson
If you could have lunch with one LOTR/Hobbit character, who would it be and why?
Without a doubt it would be Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo was the first character I fell in love with from Middle-earth. The Hobbit is probably the book most responsible for me falling in love with reading, so Bilbo would certainly be my pick. It also doesn’t hurt that Bag End is the most famousest of hobbit holes and it’s a lifelong dream of mine to visit a real genuine hobbit hole some day. It also doesn’t hurt that Bilbo is the consummate host with a larder chock full of the most scrumptious of treats. But the crowning glory of the meal for me would be if we could sit beside the fire afterwards and recite poetry to each other. I mean, as a writer myself, I’m sure Bilbo and I would have so much to talk about and share of from all the wonderful things we’ve written and read. It would truly be an experience to remember.
What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you?
As the host of the Strangest Character award, it seems only natural that I should pick this question to answer. The only problem is, I’ve lead one of the most unstrangestest lives of anyone I know. But I do have a very unusual story about how I met my wife and since unusual is strange’s cousin, you’ll have to settle for that, I suppose.
It happened something like this…
I was in Guatemala (my wife’s home country) learning Spanish in order to work as a volunteer for an underprivileged boy’s home in Honduras. And I happened to be there during Valentine’s Day and the school I was attending decided to do a little blind gift exchange. I had spoken in passing with my (future) wife a few times, but nothing more than “hello” and small talk here and there. Still there was something about her that made me think, “wouldn’t it be amazing if I drew her name?” And…you guessed it, I did! My relationship with her actually began by drawing her name out of a hat! Talk about Providence!
But it doesn’t stop there.
While I was out buying her gift I bumped into her in the market and she asked what I was doing. “Buying a present for my secret valentine,” I said. “Do you have any suggestions?” I added slyly. She proceeded to pick out her favorite perfume! Priceless!
But it doesn’t stop there.
Since I am horrible when it comes to wrapping things the next day I asked her if she would wrap it for me!
I’m so cruel. I can’t believe she married me.
And then on the big day when all the gifts were given out, she turned beet red when I announced that she was my secret valentine because she had picked out and wrapped her own gift. I even serenaded her in front of the whole school. Needless to say, the whole event made quite the impression on both of us!
And there you have it, the very unusual story of how I met my wife.
Grace Taber
You are about to get eaten by ravenous lions, when a hideous little gnome pops out and offers to save you, but you have to promise to marry it in return. What do you do?
I would definitely agree. I've read enough fairy tales to know that either the gnome is under some kind of curse that I can help to lift and then we'll live HEA, or that if he's not cursed and more like a Rumpelstiltskin kind of character, someone will be along to get rid of him and I'd get an HEA with that guy instead. Or alternatively he's just a nice gnome who's awkward and desperate for connection and we end up being pretty good friends in this marriage of convenience thing.
If you could eat anything you've read about in a book, what would you want to try
The otters' shrimp 'n' hotroot soup from the Redwall series! I'd probably have to scoff a whole lot of something tamer afterward (maybe some deeper 'n' ever pie), but I've always wanted to try it.
Christine Smith
If you were a character in a fantasy book, which role would you fulfill?
This one is pretty easy, because I’ve thought of it plenty of times. I’d 100% be that strange woman in the woods who the travelers stumble upon and have no idea who is, but she gives them much needed rest, advice for their journey, and probably some random helpful gifts and sends them on their way. I’d also have half a dozen cats who may or may not be magical.
That or the fairy godmother which, granted, is more or less the same thing.
I’d fail miserably as a protagonist. Sauron can have the Ring. I have no desire to do all that walking.
If you were stranded on a deserted island (with plenty of food/supplies) but could only have one fictional book with you to read till the end of time AND it had to be a book you’ve read in 2021...which book would you want to have with you?
*checks the books I’ve read so far this year*
Ah! I read Andrew Lang’s The Red Fairy Book this year, which would be PERFECT. I’d have a whole book of multiple fairy tales to forever keep me amused and entertained with, instead of just one specific story, AND I could while my days away by coming up with retellings for all the fairy tales.
So...basically what I already do. It wouldn’t be much different. *sheepish grin*
Jem Jones
Would you rather fight a single dragon-sized platypus, or a hundred platypus-sized dragons?
One dragon-sized platypus. I had been thinking "oh, I'll pick the hundred tiny ones and just! stand on the table!" Buuut dragons fly and also breathe fire. The table is less likely to be safe than I'd hoped. (Then again, platypuses are venomous, so I'll need to be careful when I'm training my new platypus steed to charge into battle...)
Tracey Dyck
If you were a character in a fantasy book, which role would you fulfill?
In book one (because of course this is going to be an epic series), I would be the sidekick keeping the hero organized and offering an inspiring pep talk at just the right moment.
Later, once I had a few adventures of my own under my belt, I would become a mix of the reluctant mentor and the eccentric old lady who possesses some ingredient crucial to the plot.
If you could eat anything you've read about in a book, what would you want to try?
Hands down, it would be the November cakes in Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races. I would fight off man-eating horses for a taste of that sticky honey goodness.
E.E. Rawls
Would you rather fight a single dragon-sized platypus, or a hundred platypus-sized dragons?
Okay, I'm going to go all animal-nerd here and say that, first, it's important to know if the platypus is male or female. Because the males have venomous spurs on the backs of their feet which cause excruciating pain. And if the male is the size of a dragon... Well, I don't think any of us could survive that, lol! So, I'll go with the small platypus-size dragons and bring my heavy suit of armor and lots of dragon treats to hopefully keep them happy! Maybe they will be friendly like Toothless, or vegetarian like my dragon character, Pelur, from Madness Solver in Wonderland. ;)
If you could only visit one place in Middle Earth, where would you go?
Ooh, this is SO hard! For me it's a cross between Rivendell and Lothlorien. Because #1 Elves, and #2 I love nature and gorgeous architecture, both of which these places have in abundance! I can't help but fill the books that I write with beautiful scenery!
Sarah Pennington
If you were a character in a fantasy book, which role would would you fulfill?
The role I would want to fulfill would be a mentor or expert sort of role — someone with either loads of knowledge or very specialized knowledge, who the heroes come to for information and end up getting good life advice from as well (usually stuff like "Stop overthinking everything, you overdramatic pumpkin ball. This is a conversation problem, not a brooding problem.") And naturally I would need goals and a mission of my own, apart from the heroes, so that I'm less likely to fall to the usual mentor fate. I'm not sure if I'd actually get to fulfill that role — I suspect most fantasy narratives would slot me in as "bumbling sidekick" — but it's nice to imagine.
If you could eat anything you've read about in a book, what would you want to try?
Oh my goodness, so many options. I think I'll go with a classic, though, and say that I want an invitation to a Redwall feast. Trifles! Cakes! Breads! I'd sample the Deeper'n'Ever Pie, though I'm not one for turnips, and I'd drink my fill of Starberry Fizz. Even just the cheese table would be enough to keep me happy for a very long time!
Josiah Dyck
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
I'd take teleportation in a heartbeat. Can you imagine all the benefits of being able to teleport wherever you wanted? No more driving to work! You can save so much money that you would've spent on gas or car maintenance. And if you want to travel to some other country in the world? Not a problem! This would make vacationing and visiting friends so much easier. So if scientists ever decide to experiment with this . . . I'm signing up!
If you were suddenly transported into a fantasy realm, what one thing from our world would you want to bring with you?
Honestly, I think I'd take some kind of music player that had all of my music on it. I'm not sure how long I'd be in this other realm, but I feel like I'd need something to keep me grounded and in a good mental space. Of course, charging up said player would very likely become an issue. But if I could have some means of keeping the battery going (or maybe unlimited battery power!), that's definitely what I'd choose.
Madeline J Rose
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
I've always loved the idea of telekinesis. It would be such a useful power, both in fighting crime and for menial tasks! You would not believe the amount of times I've been sitting somewhere, the thing I want just slightly out of reach, and wishing I could just will it towards me XD
If you lived in a fantasy book, what would your profession be?
I would love to be the proud owner of a whimsical, magical bookshop. I could help people find exactly what they need, fix (or at least try to fix!) any problems they might have, and of course recommend to them all the wonderful books I come across.
Mackenzie Keene
You are about to get eaten by ravenous lions, when a hideous little gnome pops out and offers to save you, but you have to promise to marry it in return. What do you do?
Okay, but like OBVIOUSLY marry the gnome, right? He certainly ain't no Mr. Darcy, but if it's a choice between a ferocious death or watching a singular ugly gnome singlehandedly beat up said ravenous lions to defend my honor...? Friends, there really is no other choice. Marry the gnome. He's clearly desperate and deserves a good wife. XD
If you were a character in a fantasy book, which role would you fulfill?
Probably the Comic Relief! I'm definitely not Protagonist worthy (hello, instantaneous death!), but I'm a good supporting cast member! I'm also very quick with random puns and have a slightly dark sense of humor to lighten the mood when we get in a pickle.
I mean, it's either the Comic Relief or the Villain. Which... if I'm being COMPLETELY honest, I would love to play the villain at some point... (someone please cast me as a villain. it would make my life.)
Yours Truly
If you had to turn into an animal, what animal would you choose?
A hawk. Definitely a hawk. And not just because Ladyhawk is my second favorite movie of all time. I have ALWAYS wanted to be able to fly, and I sort of feel like if I were part of the animal kingdom I’d need to be something up near the top of the food chain in order to last more than a day or so.
If you could add any event to the Olympics, what would you add?
Psssh. Quidditch. Duh.
So there you are! I hope that these mini-interviews were entertaining for you to read, and that you feel like you know the presenters of this year’s Silmaril Awards a little better!
Also, just a note, it’s good to know… if the Silmaril Awards ever suddenly go on a campaign to TAKE OVER THE WORLD… well… you know Kenzie is behind it. grin
Talk to us, dear Reader! We would LOVE to hear your answers to any of these questions!
And we’d love to hear what you think of OUR answers! So leave us a comment, and let’s get this Silmaril Awards party STARTED!!!