The wandering minstrel and founder of Lonely Mountain Band, John Di Bartolo @lonelymountainband.bsky.social graced us at #westmoot25 with his famed musical storytelling. The beautiful song “Ballad of Aiglos” is written from the perspective of Gil-galad's spear! #westmoot #intothewest

Can’t thank enough to @knewbettadobetta.bsky.social for supporting me and Westmoot on our big and meaningful journey 🙏🏻

Spotted in the wild: Subcommittee member Clare Moore repping her #Westmoot25 tee! We love seeing Tolkien's legacy carried into everyday life. Got your #westmoot tee? Tag us and show us where Middle-earth meets your world! #intothewest

And we were blessed to have his parents’ permission to share this wonderful moment 🥰

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake baker's man Bake me a cake as fast as you can Roll it, and pat it, and mark it with "B" CAST IT INTO THE FIRE!!!ISILDURRRRR!!!!!

“All is GROND; GROND is all.” - DeuteGRONDomy 1:1 “As above is GROND, so below is GROND.” - DeuteGRONDomy 1:2 #Tolkien #Westmoot

GROND is good, all the time. And all the time, GROND is good. #Westmoot #Luinelle #Tolkien #GROND

This weekend I presented a paper on Turin at #Westmoot. Here's the link to the text (not the video!) at The Journal of Tolkien Research. #tolkien

Another fun thing I learned at Westmoot was that JRRT apparently rescued spiders he found in the house rather than smushed them.

It was such a pleasure hanging out with the truly wonderful Jeremy from @tolkienguide.com at #westmoot25! I loved his presentation, and it was so fun to look through the treasures at his table. Hopefully we’ll see each other at #westmoot again next year!

What a pleasure to was to meet Bonnie, Ed, and Ty in person at #westmoot25! After meeting folks online, seeing them in the real world feels like a gift! I’m missing #westmoot so much today! #intothewest

Calling all #Westmoot25 attendees! You have received an email from Shaun Gunner with a link to the #Westmoot 2025 feedback form. We want to hear from you! To help make our next moot even better, please fill out the feedback form. Your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated! #intothewest

@teawithtolkien.bsky.social is inviting you to a Hobbity phase - slow down - take a moment to breathe and join this wonderful community where everyone supports one another 🫶🏻

On another note; the backdrop they stood in front for this photo was created by Cheryl 🫶🏻 Many thanks to our photographers, who relentlessly worked throughout the event. 🙏🏻

@donatoarts.bsky.social ‘s keynote was so moving, I asked to myself; why we scheduled two keynotes in one day, overwhelmed with emotions, only to mark the ending of the event yet with another splendid keynote! I know the answer, question is only rhetorical. Thank you Anna, Thank you Janet&Donato 🙏🏻

It feels like it’s been months since we said goodbye until the next meeting, feeling like Gandalf falling into the abyss, fighting Balrog, only to come back again 🧙🏻‍♂️ Meet me at Fangorn Forest 🫶🏻

And the triumphant Publicity Officer of #westmoot25 ! Stef joined us late, and never we had a dull moment after her arrival! Her energy, her work discipline put her on top of the re-hire list. There is no way out ! ::laughs in evil:: 🤭

John @lonelymountainband.bsky.social wasn’t only our opening act for the big night of #westmoot history, but also the creater of the exclusive gifts that the Westmoot Attendees received at the registration. Every single one of them #handmade More on that after the event 🫶🏻

Really excited for the first day of panels at Westmoot! Looking forward to learning a lot and being around Tolkien folks. #westmoot #westmoot25 #intothewest

Ready for Day 2 of #westmoot25! I'll be giving my first (public) Tolkien-related talk, and I'm very excited to share it. Come check it out at 2 p.m. today! #westmoot #tolkien

Highlight of the Westmoot masquerade for me last night was the Leeds era purple typewriter ribbon cosplay. That just about killed me. #iykyk #westmoot #westmoot25 #intothewest

Ahahah that started hot ! 😁 am so concerned for 2026, higher expectations! No pressure 😄

Wish you will be able to join us next year my friend 🫶🏻

We were so spoiled over keynotes this past weekend @annasmol.bsky.social being one of them, I did not leave her side for a single moment 😍

We will be reminding you 😅

Westmoot!

The Will Fliss talk on the unpublished page of manuscript was outstanding. What a great way to end the day! #westmoot #westmoot25 #intothewest

This is what happens when you hang out with Ed, the Witch-King of Angmar, at #westmoot! #westmoot25 #intothewest

We had the best time presenting Athrabeth at #westmoot25! A huge thank you to the incredible @knewbettadobetta.bsky.social for joining Jude and me for this silly panel! It was such a blast! Thanks to all who came and to @westmoot.org for having us! #westmoot25 #intothewest #tolkien

It was a brilliant keynote moment 🖤

Yesterday at #westmoot I gave a talk on finding echoes of Middle-earth here among the mounds, muddy rivers, and monuments of the American Midwest. I’m mostly happy with how it went. Still amazed to have had the chance to present something at a Tolkien Society event. #westmoot25

🥹🫶🏻

Farewell #Westmoot! It was such an amazing adventure. But now it’s time for “… and back again”

True story 🖤

We missed Leslie Donovan, but we had a good time and had excellent questions! #Westmoot #TeachingTolkien

Well I had a great time at Westmoot this weekend with @queencelebrian.bsky.social and @blu3r4d0n.shutdown.network! Hope this will be the first of many Westmoots! (Westmeet?)

Westmoot book haul!

😇🫶🏻

Relating to the resignation in the orcs’ voices as they sing “we don’t wanna go to war today” as I log on to my work computer the day after Westmoot.

I think Where There’s A Whip, There’s A Way is my sleeper agent activation key.

See ya later Kansas City! It's been amazing! #westmoot #westmoot25 #intothewest

As I've gotten older, my social anxiety has gotten worse, but this weekend at Westmoot, I pushed past the little but loud voice in my head that tell me to isolate, to hold back. I'm so glad I told that voice to shut up, because I got to meet and hang out with so many awesome people.

I miss everyone already! Westmoot 2026, please come soooon! 💚 #westmoot25 #westmoot #intothewest

This year, we were spoiled with keynotes by @annasmol.bsky.social, @donatoarts.bsky.social, and @banzailibrarian.bsky.social. It will be tough to come up with a lineup any better than that! #westmoot #westmoot25

🤣

also: hello new tolkien followers from westmoot, i also do a truly stupid podcast called Babpod where we watch 90s scifi and i dunno. recap? discuss? talk about how hot the lizard men are? i love it dearly but its a very strange place

Luke’s words really capture the wonderful experience that was Westmoot. A huge thank you to everyone that attended and made this a fantastic inaugural event!

my cats are extraordinarily happy that i am back home, but i am having the WORST post-con blues. oh my new westmoot friends how i miss you !!!!!! next year can't get here soon enough!

Enjoyed your remarks and I, too, was sorry Westmoot came to an end. I haven't had that much of good time at a conference in recent memory.

First up in my #westmoot25 memories are the @athraplay.athrabeth.com babies, @jude.athrabeth.com, @velvetthedragon.bsky.social, and @tenetke.bsky.social! Thank you all for coming to Westmoot! It was wonderful to be together in person! 💜