Blog design update for 2023

Image from "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" - Episode 8: Alloyed

Moving forward in 2023, I’ve updated and redesigned the blog visual look from the 2021 design.

Blogger has changed since the last update so you can’t make sticky posts anymore. Instead I’m using the “Featured Post” gadget to keep the all important “What is the Green Book of the White Downs” post accessible and using “Pages” gadget to give easily-navigable links.

The Hall of Lore features the main (core) posts including the hubs for Tolkien Trewsday, gaming and other new sections.

The Archive is where I highlight essential and relevant posts on the blog. There are also changes and additions to the various blog sections (as below).

Key visual elements across the blog include:
🖌 Green Book
🖌 Rings of Power (there are 20 Rings)
🖌 Line of the White Downs (with stylised Ridgeway graphic from the 2016 photograph)
🖌 Wisps of smoke (originally from the "Lacho Calad! Drego Morn!" LOTRO event poster)

The Title banner

The “What is the Green Book of the White Downs?” banner

The Hall of Lore - welcome page banner

The Archive banner

The core sections: News, Academic, Book releases, Gaming updates, Walking

Shire Post: News across the Bounds
Covering any recent and current news about J.R.R. Tolkien and Middle-earth.

Scholars of the Undertowers
Research and scholarly resources on Tolkien and Middle-earth.

Imladris: In the Library of Elrond
Book releases from and about J.R.R. Tolkien and Middle-earth.

Gaming in Middle-earth
Focused on gaming in Middle-earth: Roleplaying games, board games, card games, console/computer games.

In the Footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien
Discovering the real-world locations associated with Tolkien and his invented world.

Out the Door: Exploring the “wilds”

Inspired by Bilbo, my own adventures out in the “wilds.”

Other Hands: Tolkien Adaptations (New for 2024)

Exploring adaptations of Tolkien’s life and works across cinema, television and theatre.

Essays on Middle-earth adaptions: The Lord of the Rings Online and The Rings of Power

Rana’s Lore: Exploring LOTRO
Examining the lore used by “The Lord of the Ring’s Online” by Standing Stone Games.

Rana’s Events: RP-Lite LOTRO Storytelling
Showcasing upcoming events run in LOTRO.

Ninimiel’s gossip: LOTRO News
Ninimiel, Falathlorn Homesteads own’s Town Crier, brings you news about The Lord of the Rings Online.

Illuminating the Rings of Power
Writing about Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” TV series.

Thoughtful Chorus: Twitter essays
Collecting the various Twitter essays I’ve written about The Rings of Power, J.R.R. Tolkien and Middle-earth.

Advertising the blog on social media and other places

Twitter blog advert example