"Devoted" chapter listing

I've gotten so far behind on this story, and I don't know when I'm going to catch up. But I'm so grateful you're doing this kind of post, so when I can get back to it I'll be able to find it all. Thanks!

You're welcome! I hadn't expected it to turn out to be this long. It's sort of turning into "As the Shire Turns." There are two scenes I'm trying like mad to get to. We're almost there, for one of them!

As someone who's been way too busy lately, I sympathize. Hop on board when you're ready -- I'll likely still be here, typing away. :-D

Good grief, Dearest, you're on a roll--it's very good: meep!

*hugs*

Thank you, Angharad! I'm doing my best to keep this rolling, while I have a bit of time between deadlines. *types urgently*

Next week! Yes, next week I'll go check the latest chaps!

I hope you'll soon find the time to enjoy them. Thanks!

Finally finished all of this enthralling tale. Spent the entire read alternately crying for Frodo and Sam and hurling nasty invectives at evildoers.
I've never read anything to equal this fic for emotional turmoil.
Frodo's ordeal is heart wrenching. As if his carrying of the Ring needed another layer. That he had to bear the thing round his neck, makes my skin crawl just to think of it.
Sam, my heart is breaking for Sam.
Your Hobbits are perfect, hugs Hobbits, the Shire fairly leaps off the screen in living screaming color.
I can't believe you have churned this out at such a rate.
Thank you and like so many others I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter.

(((Monet!))) Thank you for the wonderful comments. You really made my night. Work does get in the way, but I am continuing to work steadily on this. I want my poor little hobbits to be happy, but it will take a little more work. Thank you so much for reading, and sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate it. Cheers!

I haven't said anything yet, but I must let you know that I am greatly enjoying this story. It has the plot and wording of a novel and keeps my interest unlike other works I have read. Thank you!

Thank you so much, Cherry! I'm certainly plotting it like a novel. Er, it got a little away from me, and I thought it best to give it its head. I'm so glad you've come along! Cheers, and thanks for reading!

What a place to end, you devil. You know we all love it.

I had to end somewhere! Thanks for all your comments. I really appreciate it. :)

I know I'm unspeakably late to the party here (what with life getting in the way, I've been out of touch with the fandom for years xD), but after I stumbled across a bunch of your writing in an archive, and particularly after I finished this one, I felt a comment was due. I don't normally read this type of fic at all, but despite that, you not only got me to interrupt a re-reading of FoTR for a week in favor of finishing this, I actually think I'm enjoying the books more after having read some of your fantastic character portrayals. That's a hell of a thing to pull off with fanfic, especially working with such difficult subject matter.

I don't know if you write original fiction, but I know I'd certainly buy it if you did. :)

Elanivalae, you just made my entire year. Thank you so much for the wonderful comment! Of course, Professor Tolkien deserves the lion's share of the credit for having created this mesmerizing world and these enduring characters. It provided the platform for the kind of exploration I wanted to conduct. "Devoted" was an arduous journey for me as well as the characters, but I'm very proud to have written it.

I do indeed write original fiction. I have one (now 10-year-old) published novel at Amazon.com, "For the Time Being". It's humorous science fiction, so quite a different book. Last year I had a couple of short stories published, "From the Ground Up" in the September 2009 _Analog Science Fiction and Fact_, and "The Silent" in Flash Me Magazine's special fantasy issue (see http://www.wingedhalo.com/compilation.html)-- which is more this mood but quite short. I haven't written much this year because of work issues, but I'll try to get on that horse again. Your comment has certainly given me inspiration.

Thanks again for the wonderful gift of your attention and your words. I appreciate it. Cheers and best wishes for the new year.

Hello, Mariole

I cannot believe that it has been over four years since you finished “Devoted,” and I have only just recently (as in about a week ago) found this beautiful gem. Ah, well. No point in mourning lost time, I suppose.

It’s a little difficult to know what to say. I meant to leave more than one comment for you, but your story absorbed me so very much that it was all I could do to stop myself from simply reading round the clock, sleep be damned (not that I did a very good job of stopping myself, lol).

Your work has truly left me in awe. It has been a very, very long time since I have had the pleasure of reading something that has made me cry in every way possible. You handled the difficult subject matter with grace and respect, which I very much appreciate. I have not been in such a position myself, but with the recent passing of my father, I feel almost protective towards others in pain, and I could feel such empathy in your words. Indeed, so much so that when I came to the depiction of Frodo’s ordeal, I found myself covering my eyes and crying a little before reading it (and then I cried some more).

Every piece of this is so raw and poignant – Frodo’s hurts, Sam’s unrequited love, Merry’s courage, Pippin’s insatiable infectiousness, everyone. I especially admire how you’ve handled the characters whose names we’ve only seen in family trees and passing mention. I don’t think that I can see them in any other way now. Everything ties so well together that I feel like someone who hasn’t ever read The Lord of the Rings could easily pick it up right after your story. It just…fits so well!

I could never give you enough praise for this. You’ve actually inspired me to pick up the pen that I dropped a few years ago, and I thank you for both that and this amazing experience of a read.

I hope that you don’t mind if I friend you. After reading through all of the comments on each of the chapters and your replies, I feel almost like I’ve gotten to know you. After all, now I’ve laughed and cried with you and everything else in between. ^^

You are a wonder. God bless.

~ Tsukasa-magic

Dear Tsukasa-magic,

What a wonderful comment! Would you believe it arrived on my birthday? :)

Thank you so much for the wonderful review. I think it's almost harder to write a single review summarizing one's impression of the overall book rather than the comment along the way. I was so glad you chose to share your reactions about how the story affected you. This one really grabbed hold of me and didn't let go, for a long time, until the tale something inside me wanted to come out had finally unfolded.

I would be honored if you friended me. I'm not posting very much these days. I'm in an unfortunate situation where I have a cumbersome commute on either side of a long day in the office, so I found myself dropping fiction for the most part, for over a year. I miss writing, but I don't have the mindshare for it just now. As I adjust to my new circumstances, I expect that part of me will begin to emerge again. I've never gone very long before starting a new work-- which quite often turns into a novel. I just love to write.

Thank you again for your kind and wonderful review. It was the most delightful birthday present I could have had.

Best wishes,
Mariole