In this episode, Andrew visits with Julia Golding, successful author with works such as the Cat Royal series and the Companions Quartet. They discuss the project that Julia has launched to purchase Tolkien’s home at 20 Northmoor Road in Oxford and turn it into the first literary center devoted to Tolkien and his works. Project Northmoor, as it is called, kicked off in November 2020, with a goal to raise 4.6 million pounds, or $6 million US dollars to buy the house and convert it into a literary center. Andrew and Julia discuss the project and what she has learned about fundraising through her efforts. It's a fascinating conversation with lessons and parallels to fundraising of all kinds. If you want to learn more about the project or make a donation, you can find more information at www.projectnorthmoor.org. So as they say in the books, let the quest begin.

There are few literary phrases that are more well known than Middle Earth, Gandolph the Grey, Hobbits in the Shire and One Ring to Rule them all. These concepts and characters are almost universally recognized and would not exist were it not for the gift of JRR Tolkien and his quest to create a language, world and story called The Lord of the Rings. A lifelong Catholic and member of a group of authors called the Inklings, Tolkien created a world that has inspired countless authors, readers, actors, movie lovers and fans through his writings. One interesting thing about Tolkien however, is that there is no literary center celebrating his life and work anywhere in the world. Centers exist for Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and others but for the inventor of Lord Sauron, Frodo Baggins and Smeagol, there is not. It is an effort to change this that brought today’s guest to us.