May 2016 Newsletter

[nelyo-russandol.livejournal.com]

The May 2016 edition of the SWG newsletter is now available on our website.

http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/news/may2016.php

We had another spam incident during April. As a result, a new process for new user registrations is now in place at SWG. It does not affect existing users!

This edition features a biography of Nienna. After Varda and Yavanna, The Silmarillion names Nienna as the most powerful of the female Valar. This month's biography explores the many connections Nienna shares with other goddesses throughout world mythology, as well as Nienna's surprising evolution throughout the history of The Silmarillion from a goddess of death to one of the most compassionate Valar and a fitting mentor for Gandalf.

If you are looking for new Silmarillion fanfiction to read, don’t miss this month’s list of stories completed or updated at the archive over the last few weeks. Our Around the World and Web section includes links to articles on a variety of topics, from nanophysics and the Silmarils to the question of canon and canonicity in fictional universes, and to an interview with Tolkien artist Qitian (aka Lyra) in Deviant Art, as well as announcements about fannish events going on in the Tolkien community in the near future.

Looking for inspiration? Look no further than our challenges section. This month we continue with the challenge "Proverbs", and we revisit “To Be Free”.

Thank you to our newsletter contributors this month—Angelica, Rhapsody, Elleth, Oshun, and Dawn.

We all hope you enjoy this month’s edition!