Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Happy Holidays

We hope everyone is having a safe & happy season.

Thanks to generous donations January site funding is covered and we have a good start on February! Thanks to everyone who made a donation and thanks to everyone for reading and writing and enjoying HASA.

Julie

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Donations for January site hosting needed

HASA is an ad-free, fee-free Web site, run for the enjoyment of quality JRRT fanfiction. Currently, our monthly hosting costs are $150 US.

Currently our balance is at $48.99, which means we will need donations to pay the December hosting bill, which is due January 8th. If you look down at the bottom of any HASA page you will see a message, "Visitors Currently Online". As I write this it's at 161 visitors. If a fraction of that number who have not donated yet can donate $5 each we will be funded for next month. I'll keep you informed.

To see the HASA donation page, click here: http://www.henneth-annun.net/about/donate.cfm

Thanks for enjoying HASA,

Julie

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

We're OK for December!

17 Nov Update: Thanks everyone! With donations from readers & members, we now are covered for December. Thanks very much for reading, enjoying & supporting HASA

Julie

=========


HASA is an ad-free, fee-free Web site, run for the enjoyment of quality JRRT fanfiction. Currently, our monthly hosting costs are $150 US.

Currently our balance is at $42.83, which means we will need donations to pay the December hosting bill, which is due December 8th. If you look down at the bottom of any HASA page you will see a message, "Visitors Currently Online". As I write this it's at 117 visitors. If a fraction of that number can donate $5 each we will be funded for next month. I'll keep you informed.

To see the HASA donation page, click here: http://www.henneth-annun.net/about/donate.cfm

Thanks for enjoying HASA,

Julie

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Site hosting update: OK for November, Donations for December needed

HASA is an ad-free, fee-free Web site, run for the enjoyment of quality JRRT fanfiction. Currently, our monthly hosting costs are $150 US.

Currently our balance is at $154.21, which means we have November covered, but will need donations for December. If you look down at the bottom of any HASA page you will see a message, "Visitors Currently Online". As I write this it's at 118 visitors. I've seen it over 200 and never under 50. Readers, thanks for visiting and enjoying! Writers, thanks for writing and posting your stories! If a fraction of that number can donate $5 each we will be set for December. I'll keep you informed.

To see the HASA donation page, click here: http://www.henneth-annun.net/about/donate.cfm

Thanks for enjoying HASA,

Julie

Friday, September 26, 2008

Site Hosting update

Thanks to recent donations, HASA is funded through November.

HASA is an ad-free, fee-free Web site, run for the enjoyment of quality JRRT fanfiction. Currently, our monthly hosting costs are $150 US.

I am very happy that readers and writers continue to support this site. (As I write this message, “Visitors currently online” is at 123 – a fun number that makes me smile.) If you haven’t yet made a donation, please consider doing so sometime soon. Since November and December are busy months for me, I am hoping that December will be fully funded by the end of October. I will keep you informed.

To see the HASA donation page, click here: http://www.henneth-annun.net/about/donate.cfm

Thanks for enjoying HASA,

Julie

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Funding update: OK for October, Donations for November needed

HASA is an ad-free, fee-free Web site, run for the enjoyment ofquality JRRT fanfiction. Currently, our monthly hosting costs are$150 US.We have been getting a series of $5 and $10 and $25 donations so thathosting fees for next month are covered. There are stillmatching funds left over for the 3rd quarter challenge that areavailable through September 30th. We still need about $35 forNovember.

If you look down at the bottom of any HASA page you will see amessage, "Visitors Currently Online". As I write this it's at 153 visitors. I've seen it over 200 and never under 50. Readers, thanksfor visiting and enjoying! Writers, thanks for writing and postingyour stories! If just 7 of you can donate $5 each, HASA will be setfor October. If you donate before the end of this month, we may get ahead start on December. I'll keep you informed.

To see the HASA donation page, click here: http://www.henneth-annun.net/about/donate.cfm

Thanks for enjoying HASA,

Julie

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Qtr. 3 Funding Challenge

When checking over the site for problems after the recent attack, I noticed that site hosting donations are a little over $50 short for the August hosting bill due week after next.

I spoke with HASA's Secret Admirer, who generously agreed to do another matching funds challenge!

Our funding goal is $200, which will pay for August and September. Our Secret Admirer will match dollar for dollar up to $200 from now through September 31. This way, every dollar you give is worth $2.

Thank you for your support!
Anglachel

Friday, July 25, 2008

Site Restored

Beginning in the late afternoon of Monday, July 21, I received emails from a number of HASA site visitors that something was terribly wrong with the site. Because of regulations at my workplace, I had to wait until I got home to view the site. My heart sank when I saw the errors affecting almost every page of the site. It was obviously malicious work, so I shut off the site to prevent further access.

Looking at source code, I saw information that should not have been there - JavaScript snippets, strange URLs, and other text garbage. A quick Google search revealed the problem. There had been a worldwide SQL injection attack on ColdFusion sites that ran on IIS web servers. Many sites had been brought down and a lot of data had been corrupted. Luckily, the attacker had only tried to insert code to convert site links to go to his own web site, and had not tried to delete data or erase databases. The ColdFusion community had responded quickly. By the time I was looking for information, the exact attack had been identified, various clean up scripts had been posted, and I had the tools necessary to fix the database.

What is a SQL injection attack? It is the nastiest, most destructive web site attack out there. In general terms, a coder takes a site form or URL, looks for a variable that appears to be an ID used by a database to locate a record, such as a story. Most database driven web sites work like this. The coder then resends the URL or form with a string of database commands (Structured Query Language statements) and tries to take over your database. If their SQL string is written well enough and if the database under attack is not protected, these commands can do anything from insert text to delete the entire database to (under very rare conditions) take over the server itself.

ColdFusion has a number of features to foil SQL injections right on the server and there are coding practices to help prevent the attacks. Just over a year ago, I had spent a month retrofitting much of the site to protect the main data tables and search functions from attacks. However, real life demanded my attention, and I did not get all the tables protected. Some of the lookup tables, like Story Era, were still vulnerable, and that's where HASA was attacked. In addition, the SQL statement used for the attacks was very sophisticated and bypassed most of the server-level protections.

The first thing to do was assess the damage. I ran some scripts and discovered there were 29 fields in 11 tables where trash data had been inserted. None of them affected the main story, forum, comment or review tables, which was a great relief. Also, non-HASA databases had not been affected, which meant damage was contained. Next, I ran a scrubber on those tables which located the bogus text and stripped it out. The biggest advantage here was that I did not have to run a restore from a backup, which would have lost content added to the site since the time the backup was run.

Data restored, I now had to track down those vulnerability points in the site. That is what has taken so long as every individual page in the site that an external (not logged in) user can reach had to be examined for all database connections and then those connections had to be evaluated for whether they were injection points. After the pages were reviewed, corrections made, and new code posted to a hidden site for the testers to check for bugs, all the forms had to be gone over. Forms are more dangerous than URLs, though more difficult to compromise, because they are the most common way to insert data into a database. The forms were completed yesterday. After that, the revised code was merged with the production code, uploaded again to another protected test area and put through its paces. That went on until pretty late last night.

There are a few glitches left. One form, the Knowledge Base search in the Research Library, could not be fixed and has been taken offline. The index search and all of the individual section lookups the Research Library are working. Also, the pop-up forum window attached to story pages will throw an error message if you try to use it. The Who's Online feature for logged in members does not appear to be working in production. There are a few conditions on a few forms we were not able to reproduce, so it's not 100% certain that they are working.

More testing will continue over the next month to be certain all access points were caught and to fix any bug accidentally introduced during the fixes. If you encounter an error message or you see something that just seems wrong on the site, please use the Contact form and send me an email at Tech Support.

This was the worst technical problem the site has experienced in its seven year history because of the data corruption. We got away with correctable damage, but it could have been much worse had the attacker been trying to destroy data. My deep thanks and appreciation for the site members who alerted me to the attack and provided their assistance to get the site fixed.

Anglachel

Sunday, June 29, 2008

HASA Announcement - Reviews

BIRTHDAY CARDS



The following members have birthday this week. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

Linaewen (June 17) requested "a tale of pre-Quest Boromir – specifically, a tale of him having an adventure on his way to Rivendell."

The following drabbles have been written in the following week:

Fording the Greyflood by Jay of Lasgalen for Linaewen
Arrival by Larner for Linaewen

And the July thread is up! If you have a birthday in July and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.




This Week's Focus:

REVIEWS



The review process is probably one of the trickiest aspects of the HASA website. Here we ask members to decide whether a story should be recognized as examples of outstanding JRRT fanfiction. Whenever something is judged, especially something as subjective as good fanfiction, there is the potential for unfairness and hurt feelings. Members are provided with criteria to consider when evaluating a story, but the final decision in most cases rests with those members who choose to review.

For more on HASA Reviews, check out the following links (you must be logged in):

--- Reviews Overview
--- Review Policies
--- Review Criteria

As you can perhaps guess, member participation is crucial. The more people that are involved in the review process, the more opinions will be represented, and the less impact any one opinion will have on the process. Having more people involved also means that stories pass through review more quickly – which benefits everyone.

If you've been a member of HASA for thirty days and think this might be an area you'd like to get involved, it's easy to get started. Ready the pages I link above, and then click "Reviews Home" and click on the link to "Activate my status now." You'll be taken to a list of stories awaiting reviewers. Click on the title, read it, and enter your review.

Here's a simple thing to try. You're all familiar with the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." By submitting a story for review, you are asking nine other members to read and evaluate it. So why not do until other authors in reviews as you'd like other reviewers to do unto you: check out one of the stories already in review and give it a read. Put more simply: put one in, take one out.

There are currently fourteen stories waiting for reviewers. To whet your appetite, here are a few of the stories you can choose from.

"Here You Cannot Leave Me"
A poem about Arwen's final farewell to Estel.

"A Maid Waiting"
Some who came to Minas Tirith did so in hopes of pursuing a larger ambition. For Systerien of Celebstrand in Dor-en-Ernil and Ivormil of Bidwell in Lossarnach, to find themselves in the presence of the King Returned served to put those ambitions into perspective.

"To Establish Ties"
Gil-Galad meets his future herald for the first time. Drabble.

So go forth and review!

Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please contact me here.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

HASA Announcement - Stories + Forum Posts

Hey guys,

Due to a mix-up on my part, last week's announcement wasn't posted. Ergo, this week you get all the features that would have been posted last week as well as this week.




BIRTHDAY DRABBLES



No members had birthdays last week or this week. If you're in the drabbling mood, you can still write a drabble for this month's sole birthday baby:

Beruthiel [June 7] requested "a scene between Pippin and Faramir, before Pippin leaves for the battle at the Black Gate."

The following drabble has been written in the following week:

For Want Of... by Larner for Beruthiel

If you have a birthday in June and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.

The thread to request drabbles for next month isn't up, but it should be before too much longer. Keep an eye out for it!




Last week's focus:

RECENTLY UPDATED STORIES



All of us writers love feedback. It is the lembas and miruvor that sustains us as we write our story, and leaving a few words about a story is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA hilights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. The current story is

Drink a Cup by SheBit
A drinking song sung by the men of Gondor in remembrance of those who fought against Sauron over Mordor.

Why not go here and check out the currently featured story?

Many talented writers are publishing every day. Check out these stories just added to HASA:

Reviewed Stories
My Shing Stars by Oshun
And now for something controversial: Elrond stands on the deck of the ship carrying him to Aman writing notes in a journal.

The Green Flash by DrummerWench
Written as 2007 holiday gift for Dawn Felagund to following prompt: "Fingon and Turgon, younger, in Valinor. You hint about their relationship--or lack thereof--a lot, and I find myself thinking on this when reading your stories. So I'd like to see a scene between them. It doesn't have to be serious or even revealing; just a hint of what there was between the two brothers in Aman."

~*~

General Stories
Prince of Horses, Lord of Stone by Elen Kortirion
Prince Theodred is prevented from travelling to the Fords of Isen by a strange message, and is sent to Parth Galen to rescue Boromir... 'where the quest balances on a knife-edge'... and the changes this entails, when Theodred eventually fights at the Pelennor and Boromir at the sieges of Lothlorien and Dol Guldur. (Adult, WIP)

With Hope and Without Hope by docmon
One decision made differently - the Three Hunters run through that second night of their chase after the Orcs rather than rest - and everything changes. Well, not everything. They're merely captured by the Orcs like Merry and Pippin. Not in the plan. (WIP)

~*~

Beta Stories
(Please note, you need to be logged in to view these stories.)

A Woman of Valor by Red's Head
The Return of the King told through the eyes of a Haradrim woman, a tale of her escape from enthrallment to the redemption of her spirit. (WIP)

Orcs in Hobbiton by The Lauderdale
AU. Two years after Sauron won the war, his Orcs have come to a Shire under Saruman's dominion. The hobbits that are its proper inhabitants are caught in the middle. Told in drabbles and double-drabbles. (AU)




This week's focus:

FORUMS



One of the best ways to get involved at HASA is through our forums. People are discussing research questions and stories as well as having fannish squees regularly there.

Some useful forum links:

"On Our Minds" displays the ten most recent posts in forums open to all HASA members. It's a good way to catch up on what you've missed, though the page can move quickly when lots of forums are active at once.

If you've been out of touch for longer than a few days you might want to use the "One Month of Posts" page. This page has just what it sounds like: a list of forums that have been posted to in the last month, beginning with the most recently updated.

Workshops are specialized writing communities. They allow you to share stories you aren't ready to post to the whole site, and many have interesting forums attached to them. Explore workshops to find a group of members interested in similar topics. (You must be logged in to see this link.

Now, here are some of the most recently-updated threads in HASA forum. Don't be shy. If any interest you, why not jump in?

HASA Birthday Card Forums
Subject: Re: June 2008 Birthdays

Prospective Challenges
Subject: Re: Challenge Proposal: Tiny AUs

MEFAs – The Middle-earth Fanfiction Awards
Subject: MEFA 2008: A Reminder for Nominated Authors

Here's hoping this week finds you having many interesting discussion about all things Tolkien. Because, really, you were trying to cut back on sleep anyway, right?

Until next time,
Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please contact me here.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

HASA Announcement - Recent Resources Additions

BIRTHDAY DRABBLES



The following members have birthday this week. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

Beruthiel requested "a scene between Pippin and Faramir, before Pippin leaves for the battle at the Black Gate."

The following drabbles have been written in the previous week:

"At the Sign of the Prancing Pony" by Nath for Dwim
"Inevitable" by Gwynnyd for Dwim

If you have a birthday in June and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.




This week's focus:

RESOURCES.



The HASA Research Library is a very useful resource for writers as well as for online discussions on book canon. You can find entries on characters, settings, events, and items, containing cited quotes about the item you are trying to find more information on. This portion of the site is available to both members and non-members at http://www.henneth-annun.net/resources/index.cfm.

Would you like to get involved with Resources? If you like researching and want to help develop this section of HASA you can contact the Resources & Research Library through the contact form at http://www.henneth-annun.net/about/contact.cfm.

What's new in Resources:

Timeline Events:
Tidings of Sauron's passing reach Minas Tirith. (25 March, 3019 T.A./1419 S.R.)
Elven Smiths of Eregion begin to Forge Rings of Power (1500 S.A.)

Character Biographies:
Nahar
The Tooks

Places
Straight Road
Sirion

Things:
Thains of the Shire
Laurelin

Good luck researching your story! If you enjoy this section of the site please feel free to thank the researchers, listed at the bottom of every entry.

And always remember, grasshopper: the path of wisdom leads through proper citations. *grins*

Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please contact me here.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

HASA Announcements - Bday Drabbles, Funding Update, Challenges

HASA FUNDING UPDATE



No website is truly free. HASA does not display ads or charge for memberships, but there are still costs associated with running the website. The website depends on member donations to pay its monthly hosting fee of $150.00.

Currently available funding: $220.78
To provide funding through: June 2008

If anyone would like to make a donation, you may do so here.




BIRTHDAY CARDS



No birthday drabbles have been requested for June. Get those requests in so we can write you something!

The following drabbles have been written in the following week:

--- "Least Expected" by Imhiriel for Dwimordene
--- "The Stitch in Time" by Dwimordene for Nath
--- "(untitled double drabble)" by Aiwendiel for Dwimordene
--- "Cerin Amroth" by Elena Tiriel for Nath
--- "Winnowing" by Gwynnyd for Dwimordene
--- "The Least of Rings" by Marta for Dwimordene

--- "A New Road or a Secret Gate" by Marta for Dwimordene
--- "Inevitable" by Gwynnyd for Dwimordene
--- "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony" by Nath for Dwimordene

If you have a birthday in June and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.




This Week's Focus:

CHALLENGES



Unfortunately, there are no ongoing challenges right now, except the ongoing birthday drabble challenge. Why not select a new one? If we get five people interested we can get another challenge going.

Suggest challenges at the Prospective Challenges forum.

You can also peruse the Nuzgul Hutch (for ideas that have never been challenges) here, or the Oliphaunt Pen (where you can enter pieces for past challenges) here.




Happy writing!

Fangedly yours,
>:-E Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please contact me here.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

HASA Announcement - Recently-Updated Forums

BIRTHDAY DRABBLES



The following members have birthday this week. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

Dwim [May 25] requested any AU drabble or "fics dealing with political situations.

The following drabbles have been written in the following week:

--- "Mercy" by illereyn for Dwimordene
--- "Our Lily" by thelauderdale for Dwimordene
--- "Narn i Hîn Elrond" by Jay of Lasgalen for RiverOtter, Nath, and Dwimordene
--- "(untitled)" by maya_ar for Dwimordene
--- "Land Stroke" by Elena Tiriel for Dwimordene
--- "Least Expected" by Imhiriel for Dwimordene

If you have a birthday in May and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.

The thread to request drabbles for next month is not up yet, but should be soon. If you have a birthday in June, be on the lookout for it.




This week's focus:

FORUMS



One of the best ways to get involved at HASA is through our forums. People are discussing research questions and stories as well as having fannish squees regularly there.

Some useful forum links:

"On Our Minds" displays the ten most recent posts in forums open to all HASA members. It's a good way to catch up on what you've missed, though the page can move quickly when lots of forums are active at once.

If you've been out of touch for longer than a few days you might want to use the "One Month of Posts" page. This page has just what it sounds like: a list of forums that have been posted to in the last month, beginning with the most recently updated.

Workshops are specialized writing communities. They allow you to share stories you aren't ready to post to the whole site, and many have interesting forums attached to them. Explore workshops to find a group of members interested in similar topics. (You must be logged in to see this link.)

Now, here are some of the most recently-updated threads in HASA forum. Don't be shy. If any interest you, why not jump in?

May 2008 Birthdays (in HASA Birthday Card Forum)

Question About Avari Elves – Physical Appearance (in Research Questions)

Science in Middle-earth (in Prospective Challenges)

Here's hoping this week finds you having many interesting discussion about all things Tolkien. Because, really, you were trying to cut back on sleep anyway, right?

Until next time,
Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please contact me here.

Monday, May 19, 2008

HASA Announcement (May 19-26) - Recently Updated Stories

BIRTHDAY DRABBLES



The following members have birthday this week. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

Nath (May 18) requested, "I would like anything related to 'time', any characters and any rating, though my current favourites are the Northern Dúnedain."

Dwimordene (May 25) requested, "I realize that it can be tough to write an AU in only 100 words, but give for my birthday, I'd like to see you give it a shot. Choose your time, your incident, and your desired divergence. Alternately, if the AU idea is just too big to be reducible to 100 words, I have to teach a socio-political philosophy course next term. So fics dealing with political situations would be welcome. (Especially if they have to do with the Kin-strife in Gondor.)"

The following drabbles have been written in the following week:

at http://henneth-annun.net/forums/messages.cfm?confId=0&forumId=482&messageId=51739
--- "Mercy" by Illereyn for Dwimordene
--- "Our Lily" by thelauderdale for Dwimordene

Also, Larner wrote a belated longer story for RiverOtter, "Embassy to a New Age".

If you have a birthday in May and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.




This week's focus:

RECENTLY UPDATED STORIES



All of us writers love feedback. It is the lembas and miruvor that sustains us as we write our story, and leaving a few words about a story is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA hilights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. The current story is

Sam I am by Vistula the Dunadan
Sam and Frodo meet for the first time when Frodo comes to live with his cousin Bilbo in the Shire. Also includes Hamfast Gamgee.

Why not go to http://www.henneth-annun.net/ and check out the currently featured story?

Many talented writers are publishing every day. Check out these stories just added to HASA:

Reviewed Stories
Seeking the Sun by lindahoyland
While most of Minas Tirith celebrates the end of the Ring War, one war-wrecked soul is filled with anger toward the new King. With grateful thanks to Raksha.

Full Brothers in Blood by Oshun
Written as 2007 holiday gift for Dawn Felagund to following prompt: "Fingon and Turgon, younger, in Valinor. You hint about their relationship--or lack thereof--a lot, and I find myself thinking on this when reading your stories. So I'd like to see a scene between them. It doesn't have to be serious or even revealing; just a hint of what there was between the two brothers in Aman."

~*~

General Stories
An Elf By Any Other Name by Marta
...or, A Short Speculative History of a Certain Elven Emissary. An attempt to construct a history for the emissary sent by Cirdan to the Council of Havens from the hints sprinkled through canon, that also functions as a case history in how to characterize minor characters.

Opus of Tales Untold by Tinni
What happened to Maglor? Does Elured and Elurin live? Did the sons of Elrond choose the doom of man or the fate of the eldar? Find out in the Opus of the tales untold!

~*~

Beta Stories
(Please note, you need to be logged in to view these stories.)

Orcs in Hobbiton by The Lauderdale
AU. Two years after Sauron won the war, his Orcs have come to a Shire under Saruman's dominion. The hobbits that are its proper inhabitants are caught in the middle. Told in drabbles and double-drabbles. (WIP)

Ways Round, Ways Through by Larner
Not all who have been maimed in war acquiesce to remaining on the sidelines afterwards.




And now for your mid-month nuzgul. Because the only way to get stories to read is for someone to write them, and that requires our fangy little friends.

Wanderers Speak
Write a story about a character overcome with wanderlust. Write about rangers trying to settle down or elves exploring in the early days. Maybe a hobbit has itchy feet? Or a dwarf leaves to search out new metals and discovers he loves to travel. Write about what is just over the horizon and the character who yearns to see it.

If you don't feel the tickle of little fangs in your ankle yet, there are many more potential stories just waiting to be written. Read all of HASA's many story prompts in our Nuzgul hutch.

Do you have a suggestion you'd like to see added to the hutch? Submit it using the "Submit a Story Suggestion" form.

Happy reviewing!
Marta
PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please contact me here.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

HASA Announcement (May 11-18)

BIRTHDAY DRABBLES



The following members have birthday this week. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

RiverOtter (May 6) requested, "I would like to see the Fourth Age of Middle Earth. Any place, any character is fine."

Nath (May 18) requested, "I would like anything related to 'time', any characters and any rating, though my current favourites are the Northern Dúnedain."

The following drabbles have been written in the following week:

http://www.henneth-annun.net/forums/messages.cfm?confId=0&forumId=482&messageId=51652
--- Ties of Love by Imhiriel for Ainaechoiriel

http://www.henneth-annun.net/forums/messages.cfm?confId=0&forumId=482&messageId=51739
--- (Untitled) by thelauderdale for Dwimordene
--- Seeds Under Stone by Raksha the Demon for RiverOtter
--- The King's Time by Larner for Nath
--- A Treasure Retrieved by Larner for Dwimordene
--- Amends by Nath for Dwimordene
--- Prisoner of Time by Raksha the Demon for both Nath and Dwimordene

If you have a birthday in May and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.




REVIEWS



There are several stories in HASA Review, a few of which have been there for quite a long time. All members who joined HASA at least thirty days ago, you can become a reviewer. To look at the available stories, log in to HASA and visit here.

To whet your appetite, here are the summaries of three stories currently available in Review.

"An adventurous Elwë (Thingol) and a lonely Nowê (Cirdan) form a friendship before the First Age. Slash"

"Short AU: Forgetting every impossibility, the Three Hunters overtake the Orcs and contrive a plan to save the two captives."

"This is one Orc's story of his time working the Mordor convoys. Not all of them saw battle, after all.."




This week's focus:

RESOURCES



The HASA Research Library is a very useful resource for writers as well as for online discussions on book canon. You can find entries on characters, settings, events, and items, containing cited quotes about the item you are trying to find more information on. This portion of the site is available to both members and non-members here.

Would you like to get involved with Resources? If you like researching and want to help develop this section of HASA you can contact the Resources & Research Library through the contact form here.

What's new in Resources:

Timeline Events:
Narsil reforged and renamed Andúril.
Merry and Pippin captured in the Orc-raid at Parth Galen.

Character Biographies
Denethor II
Will Whitfoot

Places
Withywindle
Cerin Amroth

Things
Palantíri
Old Man Willow

Good luck researching your story! If you enjoy this section of the site please feel free to thank the researchers, listed at the bottom of every entry.

And always remember, grasshopper: the path of wisdom leads through proper citations. *grins*

Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please contact me here.

Monday, May 5, 2008

HASA Announcement - Challenges

Hey guys,

Sorry, this is a day late. But better late than never, right? >:-E




HASA FUNDING UPDATE



No website is truly free. HASA does not display ads or charge for memberships, but there are still costs associated with running the website. The website depends on member donations to pay its monthly hosting fee of $150.00.

Currently available funding: $154.12
To provide funding through: June 2008

If anyone would like to make a donation, you may do so here.




BIRTHDAY CARDS



The following members have birthday this week. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

Nath requested, "I would like anything related to 'time', any characters and any rating, though my current favourites are the Northern Dúnedain."

And Dwim requested, "I realize that it can be tough to write an AU in only 100 words, but give for my birthday, I'd like to see you give it a shot. Choose your time, your incident, and your desired divergence."

(She also said, "Alternately, if the AU idea is just too big to be reducible to 100 words, I have to teach a socio-political philosophy course next term. So fics dealing with political situations would be welcome. (Especially if they have to do with the Kin-strife in Gondor.)")

The following drabbles have been written in the following week:

--- "Forty" by Nath for Fliewatuet
--- "Half a Life" by meckinock for Fliewatuet
--- "His Birthday Wish" by Larner for Fliewatuet
--- "Messengers from the West" by Jay of Lasgalen for Fliewatuet
--- "New Daughter" by Larner for Ainaechoiriel

All here.

If you have a birthday in May and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here




There are currently no challenges so there is no Challenges bulletin this month. However, you can change that! There are some porspective challenges. Sign up for one, and we'll get some challenges rolling:

Science in Middle-earth, proposed by littlehobbitlost
She says, among other things, "If you landed in Middle Earth say during the War of the Ring (or your favourite age Gondolin? Hollin?) and survived through to see Aragorn become king-how would you like to contribute to society? With 21st Century knowledge how would you contribute?"

I also proposed a Minority Rulez! challenge

I said, among other things, "Why don't we have a challenge of our own in honor of the fact that a woman or minority might soon be the U.S. president? Write me a story, poem, drabble, or essay about the challenges a woman or ethnic minority might have faced in Middle-earth? "




Happy writing!

Fangedly yours,
>:-E Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please contact me here.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

HASA Announcement - Forums

HASA ANNOUNCEMENTS – April 27-May 4



BIRTHDAY DRABBLES



The following members have birthday this week. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

fliewatuet (April 29) asked, "Since my all-time favourite character is Aragorn, I would like to read how he dealt with that age (or the Dúnedain equivalent of 40). This can be anything from a birthday party to mid-life crisis. Though I wouldn't mind reading about your favourite character either :-)"

The following drabbles have been written in the following week:

"Deliverance" by Imhiriel for Elena Tiriel

The May thread isn't up yet, but should be sometime this week – be on the look-out for it.

If you have a birthday in April and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.

The May thread isn't up yet, but should be sometime this week – be on the look-out for it.




This week's focus:

FORUMS



One of the best ways to get involved at HASA is through our forums. People are discussing research questions and stories as well as having fannish squees regularly there.

Some useful forum links:

"On Our Minds" displays the ten most recent posts in forums open to all HASA members. It's a good way to catch up on what you've missed, though the page can move quickly when lots of forums are active at once.

If you've been out of touch for longer than a few days you might want to use the "One Month of Posts" page. This page has just what it sounds like: a list of forums that have been posted to in the last month, beginning with the most recently updated.

Workshops are specialized writing communities. They allow you to share stories you aren't ready to post to the whole site, and many have interesting forums attached to them. Explore workshops to find a group of members interested in similar topics. (You must be logged in to see this link.)

Now, here are some of the most recently-updated threads in HASA forum. Don't be shy. If any interest you, why not jump in?

Prospective Challenges
Subject: Science in Middle Earth

HASA Birthday Cards Forum
Subject: Deliverance

Prospective Challenges
Subject: Minority Rulez!

Here's hoping this week finds you having many interesting discussion about all things Tolkien. Because, really, you were trying to cut back on sleep anyway, right?

Until next time,
Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please contact me here.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

HASA Announcement - Recently-Updated Stories

BIRTHDAY DRABBLES



The following members have birthdays coming up. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

Fliewatuet (April 29) requested, "Since my all-time favorite character is Aragorn, I would like to read how he dealt with that age (or the Dúnedain equivalent of 40)."

The following drabbles have been written in the following week:

"Paranoia is Sweet Revenge" by Vistula for Larner

If you have a birthday in [month] and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it at




This week's focus:

RECENTLY UPDATED STORIES



All of us writers love feedback. It is the lembas and miruvor that sustains us as we write our story, and leaving a few words about a story is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA hilights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. The current story is

Weary beyond Joy or Sorrow by Imhiriel
"When Aragorn 'could labour no more, he cast his cloak about him, and slipped out of the City, and went to his tent just ere dawn...' (RotK, The Houses of Healing) - but what awaited him there? Drabble."

Why not go to http://www.henneth-annun.net/ and check out the currently featured story?

Many talented writers are publishing every day. Check out these stories just added to HASA:

Reviewed Stories

Lothiriel's Journey by Lady Bluejay
A light-hearted look at how Lothiriel and Eomer could have met. Contains some fun sexual innuendos and humour.

Final Choice by Meril
Nimloth's last moments in Menegroth.




General Stories
Leather by Marta
Sometimes, a sensation as simple as touch can have a powerful affect. Boromir/Theodred.

A Cat in King Elessar's Court by Agape4Gondor
A royal descendant of Beruthiel's cats spends time with us, reminiscing about life in Minas Tirith once a certain Hobbit arrives. Drama/humor. (WIP)




Beta Stories
(Please note, you need to be logged in to view these stories.)

Never shall the sun that morrow see by Peregrin Ionad.
"Find the King's son" the call came, cutting through the sound of the upon the rocks, echoing off the surrounding mountains. Please beware this story is very AU. (WIP)

Untold Tales of the Mark: The Banishment of Eomer by Katzilla
A very dark AU take of what Eomer's banishment could have been like... angsty as you would expect from me. (WIP)




And now for your mid-month nuzgul. Because the only way to get stories to read is for someone to write them, and that requires our fangy little friends.

Minority Rulez!

"So, there was recently a minority_rules challenge over at LJ that was inspired by the fact that the Democratic nominee in the U.S. presidential election would likely be a woman or an ethnic minority. I missed the sign-up for that challenge, but it got me thinking about the many women and racial minorities who are in places of authority in Middle-earth. There are obvious canonical women rulers like Eowyn and Galadriel, and less obvious ones like Gollum's grandmother who is described as a matriarch.

"And then there's possibility for original ones, situations where the younger men would likely be away, for instance at Dunharrow or in the Angle, or after the destruction of Laketown when so many of the men rode north.

"That's not even touching the problems faced by the ethnic "other." A Sindarin Celeborn in Valinor would have likely faced problems, as would Eowyn in Gondor. And let's not even talk about the ways Eol was misunderstood in Gondolin.... I'm sure there are other possibilities, too.

"So why don't we have a challenge of our own in honor of the fact that a woman or minority might soon be the U.S. president? Write me a story, poem, drabble, or essay about the challenges a woman or ethnic minority might have faced in Middle-earth? "

If you don't feel the tickle of little fangs in your ankle yet, there are many more potential stories just waiting to be written. Read all of HASA's many story prompts in our Nuzgul hutch.

Do you have a suggestion you'd like to see added to the hutch? Submit it using the "Submit a Story Suggestion" form.

Happy reviewing!
Marta
PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please contact me here.

Friday, April 18, 2008

HASA Announcement - Funding Update, Challenges, Drabbles, & Resources

Hey guys,

There was a slight confusion between Arandil (the other volunteer who helps post announcements) and myself; we each thought the other was posting the weekly HASA Announcements. Sorry about that! Here's the highlights of what would have been posted the last two weeks, and I'll post the normal Sunday announcement starting this Sunday.

HASA FUNDING UPDATE



No website is truly free. HASA does not display ads or charge for memberships, but there are still costs associated with running the website. The website depends on member donations to pay its monthly hosting fee of $150.00.

Currently available funding: 285.50
To provide funding through: May 2008

Ang asked me to pass on the following message about the First Quarter funding drive:

"Since December 25th, when the drive started, site members and the public have donated $345. HASA's Secret Admirer has donated her original $200 pledge, and then has gone on to match every donated dollar for a total of $345. After Amazon and Pay Pal fees are deducted, this gives HASA $682.05 in new donations. Added to our base amount before the drive began, $203.45, HASA has a 2008 donation total of $885.50.

All three Quarter 1 hosting payments have been made, for a total of $450 in hosting costs. This leaves HASA with $435.50 for Quarter 2 hosting costs, only $15 short of all expenses through June.
"

[Please note, this amount of $435.50 was before the payment was made for the April hosting fees. 285.50+150.00 = 435.50]

If anyone would like to make a donation, you may do so here.




BIRTHDAY CARDS



The following members have requested a birthday drabble. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

RS (April 4th) requested: "My favorite character is Aragorn. I would love to see a relaxed and fun Aragorn... or Aragorn on vacation! Or maybe Aragorn and Arwen in an argument (there's no such thing as a perfect couple!)."

Ainaechoiriel (April 7th) requested: "In light of our now-started adoption process of a little girl from Russia[...], I request adoption stories. Please, not all Aragorn and Frodo[...] Anyway, orphans that needed care. And there were likely adults who chose to take them in. Let's meet some of them and find what's in their hearts. Interracial or intercultural is a plus.

Larner (April 13) requested: "Following a perceived insult of some kind, Frodo has determined to play a prank on his friend Aragorn. It can be anywhere along the road. [...] One of the others may warn Aragorn of his peril, and that he's in danger of retaliation by a master of retaliatory pranks."

Fliewatuet (April 29) requested, to mark her 40th birthday: "Since my all-time favourite character is Aragorn, I would like to read how he dealt with that age (or the Dunedain equivalent of 40). This can be anything from a birthday party to mid-life crisis. Though I wouldn't mind reading about your favourite character either."

The following drabbles have been written so far this month:

--- Symbols of Love by Larner for RS
--- Paranoia is Sweet Revenge by Vistula the Dunadan for Larner

If you have a birthday in April and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.




CHALLENGES



There are no challenges currently open. Why not propose a challenge at the Prospective Challenges Forum? If five people are interested, we can get a challenge going. Or, if you're looking for something to write, check out the Nuzgul Hutch. (You'll need to be logged in for that last link.)




This week's focus:

RESOURCES.



The HASA Research Library is a very useful resource for writers as well as for online discussions on book canon. You can find entries on characters, settings, events, and items, containing cited quotes about the item you are trying to find more information on. This portion of the site is available to both members and non-members here.

Would you like to get involved with Resources? If you like researching and want to help develop this section of HASA you can contact the Resources & Research Library through the contact form here.

What's new in Resources:

Timeline Events:
--- Reinforcements arrive from the Outlands for the Siege of Minas Tirith (March 9, 3019 T.A.)
--- Elvensmiths of Eregion begin to forge Rings of Power (c. 1500 S.A.)

Character Biographies
--- The Brandybucks
--- Herb-master of the Houses of Healing

Places
--- Straight Road
--- Imloth Melui

Things
--- Palantiri
--- athelas

Good luck researching your story! If you enjoy this section of the site please feel free to thank the researchers, listed at the bottom of every entry.

And always remember, grasshopper: the path of wisdom leads through proper citations. *grins*

Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email me.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Forums

NOTE: Please be sure you are logged in when clicking on the links.

BIRTHDAY DRABBLES


The following members have birthday this month. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

RS (April, 4th) requested: my favorite character is Aragorn. I would love to see a relaxed and fun Aragorn...or Aragorn on vacation! Or maybe Aragorn and Arwen in an argument (there's no such thing as a perfect couple!).

Ainaechoiriel (April, 7th) requested: ...in light of our now-started adoption process of a little girl from Russia[...], I request adoption stories. Please, not all Aragorn and Frodo[...] Anyway, orphans that needed care. And there were likely adults who chose to take them in. Let's meet some of them and find what's in their hearts. Interracial or intercultural is a plus.

Larner (April, 13) requested: Following a perceived insult of some kind, Frodo has determined to play a prank on his friend Aragorn. It can be anywhere along the road [...] One of the others may try to warn Aragorn of his peril, and that he's in danger of retaliation by a master of retaliatory pranks.

If you have a birthday in April and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.




This week's focus:

FORUMS


One of the best ways to get involved at HASA is through our forums. People are discussing research questions and stories as well as having fannish squees regularly there.

Some useful forum links:

On Our Minds
"On Our Minds" displays the ten most recent posts in forums open to all HASA members. It's a good way to catch up on what you've missed, though the page can move quickly when lots of forums are active at once.

One Month of Posts
If you've been out of touch for longer than a few days you might want to use the "One Month of Posts" page. This page has just what it sounds like: a list of forums that have been posted to in the last month, beginning with the most recently updated.

Workshops
Workshops are specialized writing communities. They allow you to share stories you aren't ready to post to the whole site, and many have interesting forums attached to them. Explore workshops to find a group of members interested in similar topics. (You must be logged in to see this link).

Here's hoping this week finds you having many interesting discussion about all things Tolkien. Because, really, you were trying to cut back on sleep anyway, right?

Hugs and Cookies,
Arandil

PS: Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email HASANews.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Story Updates + Mid-Month Nuzgul

NOTE: Please be sure you are logged in when clicking on the links.

MARCH IS TALE OF YEARS MONTH


Resource volunteers are pleased to announce that March is Tale of Years month! Each day, many of the events that occurred on that day in the Tale of Years will be featured on the HASA Welcome Page. Be sure to stop by and see what events from the Research Library are highlighted each day!



BIRTHDAY DRABBLES


The following members have a birthday this month. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

Elena Tiriel (March, 14) requested, "I'd love a drabble about any character, event, place, or object from Tolkien's world that especially fascinates you... the (Middle-earth) sky's the limit!"

Vistula the Dunadan (March, 20) requested, " ...having spent the past nine months settling into a new - long anticipated - home, I'd love a drabble centered around a new home, or new place to live. And if you could slip my dear Samwise in it somehow, that'd be even sweeter."

Obsidianj (March, 24) requested, " I would like a drabble about either Aragorn or Boromir and if it would be possible to have both in one drabble that would make my day."


The following drabbles have been written in the past week:

The King’s Colors by Dwimordene for Obsidianj

Home Is Where The Heart Is by Larner for Jay (and Mothers everwhere)

If you have a birthday in March and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.




This week's focus:

RECENTLY UPDATED STORIES


All of us writers love feedback. It is the lembas and miruvor that sustains us as we write our story, and leaving a few words about a story is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA hilights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. The current story is:

Essecarmë by Dawn Felagund
Curufin, the fifth son of Fëanor, is said to have been his favorite. Why did Maedhros get passed over for this honor? This story looks at Eldarin naming traditions and the family dramas they create.

Why not go to http://www.henneth-annun.net/ and check out the currently featured story?


Many talented writers are publishing every day. Check out these stories just added to HASA:

Reviewed Stories

Upon the Pebbled Shore by Peregrin Ionad
Upon the pebbled shores of the sea stand two brothers, but as the tide begins to turn the sound of the gulls will choose their futures. This is for my brother, who didn't get the ending he wanted.

Pierced by Nieriel Raina
Elrond receives a most grievous wound shortly after Celebrían’s departure from Middle-earth.

~*~

General Stories

The Adventures of Scaldo and Dwarf by Kitt Otter
Scaldo Chubb is a hobbit who wants nothing more than to eat for the rest of his days, until one horrible day when a rude traveler of no name drags him off into the unknown. At the mercy of an insane dwarf, Scaldo must face unseen enemies, hungry water, and even uncooked meals…

A Cat In King Elessar's Court by Agape4Gondor
A royal descendant of Berúthiel's cats spends time with us, reminiscing about life in Minas Tirith once a certain Hobbit arrives. Drama/humor.

~*~

Beta Stories
(Please note, you need to be logged in to view these stories.)

The Romantic and the Balrog by Lady Donalwen
Based loosely on the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast, it tells the story of a bookish woman and the scary Balrog that lived in the nearby castle.

Leönalta by fremmet
A sad tale of how Legolas and Elladan became bonded mates.




And now for your mid-month nuzgul. Because the only way to get stories to read is for someone to write them, and that requires our fangy little friends.

Modern girl goes to Middle-earth...
...and takes up with Sauron! What would be the consequences of introducing gunpowder, artillery, modern military tactics, etc. - all on the side of evil? Points for introspection - don't just make her an ostracised [expletive] who wants revenge on the pretty people who ignore her, give her a valid reason for joining the dark side. Double points for tackling and/or overcoming the language barrier (contrary to popular belief, English was NOT spoken in ME!).

If you don't feel the tickle of little fangs in your ankle yet, there are many more potential stories just waiting to be written. Read all of HASA's many story prompts in our Nuzgul hutch @ http://www.henneth-annun.net/members/challenge/nuzgul.cfm.

Do you have a suggestion you'd like to see added to the hutch? Submit it using the “Submit a Story Suggestion” form at http://www.henneth-annun.net/members/challenge/suggest.cfm.

Hugs and Cookies,
Arandil

PS: Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email HASANews.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Resources

NOTE: Please be sure you are logged in when clicking on the links.

MARCH IS TALE OF YEARS MONTH


Resource volunteers are pleased to announce that March is Tale of Years month! Each day, many of the events that occurred on that day in the Tale of Years will be featured on the HASA Welcome Page. Be sure to stop by and see what events from the Research Library are highlighted each day!



BIRTHDAY DRABBLES


The following members have a birthday this month. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

Elena Tiriel (March, 14) requested, "I'd love a drabble about any character, event, place, or object from Tolkien's world that especially fascinates you... the (Middle-earth) sky's the limit!"

Vistula the Dunadan (March, 20) requested, " ...having spent the past nine months settling into a new - long anticipated - home, I'd love a drabble centered around a new home, or new place to live. And if you could slip my dear Samwise in it somehow, that'd be even sweeter."

Obsidianj (March, 24) requested, " I would like a drabble about either Aragorn or Boromir and if it would be possible to have both in one drabble that would make my day."

The following drabbles have been written in the following week:

Epiphany by Larner for Elena Tiriel
Star-Songs of the Eorlingas by Tanaqui for Elena Tiriel
The Legend of the Grey Riders by Jay of Lasgalen for Elena Tiriel
New Quarters by Larner for Vistula

If you have a birthday in March and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.




This week's focus:

RESOURCES


The HASA Research Library is a very useful resource for writers as well as for online discussions on book canon. You can find entries on characters, settings, events, and items, containing cited quotes about the item you are trying to find more information on. This portion of the site is available to both members and non-members at http://www.henneth-annun.net/resources/index.cfm.

Would you like to get involved with Resources? If you like researching and want to help develop this section of HASA you can contact the Resources & Research Library through the contact form at http://www.henneth-annun.net/about/contact.cfm.

What's new in Resources:

Timeline Events
Corsairs attack the South Road to Minas Tirith
Fëanor improves the written alphabet of Rúmil

Character Biographies
Rúmil of Tirion
Nahar
Lothíriel

Places
Ringló
Mounds of Mundburg

Things
Tengwar
Ainulindalë
Aldudénië

And always remember, grasshopper: the path of wisdom leads through proper citations. *grins*

Good luck researching your story! If you enjoy this section of the site please feel free to thank the researchers, listed at the bottom of every entry.

Until next time,
Hugs and Cookies,
Arandil

PS: Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email HASA News.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Challenges

NOTE: Please be sure you are logged in when clicking on the links.

HASA FUNDING UPDATE


No website is truly free. HASA does not display ads or charge for memberships, but there are still costs associated with running the website. The website depends on member donations to pay its monthly hosting fee of $150.00.

If anyone would like to make a donation, you may do so here.



MARCH IS TALE OF YEARS MONTH


Resource volunteers are pleased to announce that March is Tale of Years month! Each day, many of the events that occurred on that day in the Tale of Years will be featured on the HASA Welcome Page. Be sure to stop by and see what events from the Research Library are highlighted each day!



BIRTHDAY DRABBLES


There are no members asking for birthday drabbles for March. If you are a
March baby, go and request your drabble!

DRABBLE SUGGESTION: Jay of Lasgalen suggested:

It's not my birthday, but today (March 2nd) is Mother's Day here in the UK. How about drabbles with any mother and child of your choice?



This Week's Focus:

CHALLENGES


X takes the Ring - AU challenge – Closes March 25, 2008


This challenge states: I have seen a few stories over the years where for instance Galadriel takes the Ring when Frodo offers it to her. But what would happen if others were to take it, for any reason, good or evil? Aragorn? Boromir, Gandalf, or Pippin perhaps? Or Sam abandons Frodo at Cirith Ungol and goes on alone to try to destroy the Ring...

It wouldn't have to be a member of the Fellowship; maybe Barliman Butterbur finds a golden ring in the room the Hobbits used… or Bilbo loses it on one of his walking trips in the Shire…

These could be anything, serious, funny, dark; from drabbles to multi-chapter AUs, and anything in between.


Entries for this challenge include:
Answering the Call by docmon
A Lesser Treason by Jay of Lasgalen
Dark Elf by Jay of Lasgalen
Old Man Willow by Nath

If you don’t have a story written yet, you can enter the challenge with a placeholder and submit your story when it is ready.

Nuzgul Hutch

If you’re brave enough… venture into the Nuzgul hutch.

Oliphaunt Pen

Or, if none of those little buggers nip at your heel, it’s not too late to adopt an Oliphaunt. Just because its challenge is closed, doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a little love.




Happy writing!

Hugs and Cookies,
Arandil

PS: Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email HASA News.

Monday, February 25, 2008

New Forum Posts

NOTE: Please be sure you are logged in when clicking on the links.

BIRTHDAY DRABBLES


There are no members asking for birthday drabbles for February. Quick! If you are a
February baby, go and request your drabble! There is still a week left!

February Birthday Drabble Requests

And if you have a birthday coming up in March, be sure to go and request it at Birthday Drabble Forum




This week's focus:

FORUMS


One of the best ways to get involved at HASA is through our forums. People are discussing research questions and stories as well as having fannish squees regularly there.
Some useful forum links:

On Our Minds
"On Our Minds" displays the ten most recent posts in forums open to all HASA members. It's a good way to catch up on what you've missed, though the page can move quickly when lots of forums are active at once.

One Month of Posts
If you've been out of touch for longer than a few days you might want to use the "One Month of Posts" page. This page has just what it sounds like: a list of forums that have been posted to in the last month, beginning with the most recently updated.

Workshops
Workshops are specialized writing communities. They allow you to share stories you aren't ready to post to the whole site, and many have interesting forums attached to them. Explore workshops to find a group of members interested in similar topics. (You must be logged in to see this link).

Now, here are some of the most recently-updated threads in HASA forum. Don't be shy. If any interest you, why not jump in?

From Afar Discussion
Subject: What did Boromir do…

Research Questions
Subject: Getting Faramir Drunk

Gandalf’s Apprentice, pro and con
Subject: The Scarred Man, new chapter in The Sword of Elendil

Here's hoping this week finds you having many interesting discussion about all things Tolkien. Because, really, you were trying to cut back on sleep anyway, right?

Hugs and Cookies,
Arandil

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email HASANews(AT)henneth-annun(DOT)net.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Recently-Updated Stories

BIRTHDAY DRABBLES



No requests have come in yet from February drabbles. If you have a birthday or other special occasion you'd like a drabble for, you can request it here.




This week's focus:

RECENTLY UPDATED STORIES



All of us writers love feedback. It is the lembas and miruvor that sustains us as we write our story, and leaving a few words about a story is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA hilights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. The current story is

Night Course in Pet Care by Werecat
A story inspired from this tantalising question: were fell beasts house-trained? Set in Carn Dum, it sheds light to an unknown side of the Witch-king and his, well, household. Introducing Fuinraw, the Chieftain of the Cats of Angmar.

Why not go to http://www.henneth-annun.net/ and check out the currently featured story?

Many talented writers are publishing every day. Check out these stories just added to HASA:

Reviewed Stories

Feanorian Fates by Alassante
A poem and a series of drabbles based on the series of events beginning with the creating of the Silmarils and including the kinslayings.

Stolen by Meril
A dark AU about Galadriel. (Adult)

~*~

General Stories

A Cat in King Elessar's Court by agape4gondor
A royal descendant of Beruthiel's cats spends time with us, reminiscing about life in Minas Tirith once a certain Hobbit arrives. (WIP)

A Light in the Darkness by Wildbearies
Haldir wakes after Helm's Deep suffering terrible injuries. As he slowly recovers, he recalls years before and the adventures (and misadventures) of his younger days. Definitely NC-17 for M/M Slash and sexual situations. Definitely AU, non-canon, angst. (WIP) (Adult)

~*~

Beta Stories
(Please note, you need to be logged in to view these stories.)

Blessed Day by AngelQueen
S.R. 1463-Faramir Took marries Goldilocks, daughter of Samwise.

Accursed Dawn by AngelQueen
A princess of Númenor finds what she needs in the darkness, but the dawn always comes. (Adult)




And now for your mid-month nuzgul. Because the only way to get stories to read is for someone to write them, and that requires our fangy little friends.

Death
We know that Arwen has become mortal. But what does she think about it? Does she discuss it with anyone? Write a story where Arwen discusses the thought of dying with one other person. Anyone you like - it doesn't have to be Aragorn or Elrond.

If you don't feel the tickle of little fangs in your ankle yet, there are many more potential stories just waiting to be written. Read all of HASA's many story prompts in our Nuzgul hutch.


Do you have a suggestion you'd like to see added to the hutch? Submit it using the "Submit a Story Suggestion" form.

Happy reviewing!
Marta
PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email me.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Resources and Challenges and

BIRTHDAY DRABBLES



No members have yet requested a birthday drabble for February. If you have a February birthday, please request it here.

The following drabbles have been written in the last two weeks:

--- "A Final Toast" by Ignoble Bard for Jay of Lasgalen

Read this drabble here.




HASA FUNDING UPDATE



No website is truly free. HASA does not display ads or charge for memberships, but there are still costs associated with running the website. The website depends on member donations to pay its monthly hosting fee of $150.00.

Currently available funding: $389.67
To provide funding through: April 2008


If anyone would like to make a donation, you may do so here.




FEBRUARY 2008 CHALLENGES BULLETIN



I wasn't able to post the monthly challenges bulletin last week, but it is up at the website. You can view it here.

(you'll need to be logged in to see it.)




This week's focus:

RESOURCES



The HASA Research Library is a very useful resource for writers as well as for online discussions on book canon. You can find entries on characters, settings, events, and items, containing cited quotes about the item you are trying to find more information on. This portion of the site is available to both members and non-members here.

Would you like to get involved with Resources? If you like researching and want to help develop this section of HASA you can contact the Resources & Research Library through the contact form here.

What's new in Resources:

Timeline Events:
Elessar and Arwen visit the Hobbits at Brandywine Bridge
Elessar and Arwen dwell in Arnor awhile

Character Biographies
Morwen of Lossarnach
Gleowine

Places
Barrowfield
Rath Dinen

Things
Marshals of the Mark
Grey Company

Good luck researching your story! If you enjoy this section of the site please feel free to thank the researchers, listed at the bottom of every entry.

And always remember, grasshopper: the path of wisdom leads through proper citations. *grins*

Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email me.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

BIRTHDAY CARD FORUMS



No members have requested birthday drabbles for this week, and no new drabbles have been written this week. HOWEVER - the thread to request birthday drabbles for February is up. If you have a February birthday, please put your request up here.




This week's focus:

FORUMS



One of the best ways to get involved at HASA is through our forums. People are discussing research questions and stories as well as having fannish squees regularly there.

Some useful forum links:

"On Our Minds" displays the ten most recent posts in forums open to all HASA members. It's a good way to catch up on what you've missed, though the page can move quickly when lots of forums are active at once.

If you've been out of touch for longer than a few days you might want to use the "One Month of Posts" page. This page has just what it sounds like: a list of forums that have been posted to in the last month, beginning with the most recently updated.

Workshops are specialized writing communities. They allow you to share stories you aren't ready to post to the whole site, and many have interesting forums attached to them. Explore workshops to find a group of members interested in similar topics. (You must be logged in to see this link.)

Now, here are some of the most recently-updated threads in HASA forum. Don't be shy. If any interest you, why not jump in?

HASA Birthday Cards Forum
Subject: February 2008 Birthdays

The Heart is Highland
Subject: Trading Pledges

Imhiriel's Imaginings
Subject: The Heart of a Knight

Here's hoping this week finds you having many interesting discussion about all things Tolkien. Because, really, you were trying to cut back on sleep anyway, right?

Until next time,
Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email me.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Recently-Updated Stories

BIRTHDAY DRABBLES



No drabble requests for this week! But it's not too late to write a drabble for one of the earlier requests this month. Those requests are:

The following members have birthday this week. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

January 3 – Imhiriel: I'd like to get drabbles from the PoV of something that normally has no voice - a tree, a building, an heirloom, a landscape, a constellation etc. - time or place don't matter, but the more unusual the PoV, the better.

January 7 - Jay of Lasgalen: As most people know, my favourites are Elladan and Elrohir - but I'd like a drabble about one of the twins, alone. I'll leave you to decide why, and where the other might be.

You can post a drabble for either of these requests here.

Also, February babies, start thinking about what you'd like for your drabbles. It will be time to request a birthday drabble soon.

There was one drabble written this week:

Reflection by Ignoble Bard for Imhiriel

Feel free to read it, and leave IgnobleBard a review.




This week's focus:

RECENTLY UPDATED STORIES



All of us writers love feedback. It is the lembas and miruvor that sustains us as we write our story, and leaving a few words about a story is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA hilights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. The current story is

Ai Elbereth by Tehta
A Glorfindel/Ecthelion PWP, full of dodgy humour, neurosis, and blasphemy. (Adult)

Why not go to http://www.henneth-annun.net/ and check out the currently featured story?

Many talented writers are publishing every day. Check out these stories just added to HASA:

Reviewed Stories
Coming Home to Crickhollow by Calanthe
Back in the Shire, Merry has to confront how much the experiences of their journey changed both Pippin and himself. (Adult)

Blue Book of Melleth: Different Skills by Elen Kortirion
A young Boromir has one of 'those' conversations with his 12 year-old brother.... telling him a few things not so much about the 'birds and bees'.... more about the preferences between 'snails and oysters'. (Adult)

~*~

General Stories
Outmatched by Tiana Luthien
Eomer & Faramir have a few matches on the training field. Set during Faramir's visit to Rohan at the end of ROTK.

Journeys by Aria
One of our favourite minstrels goes wandering in the south during the Fourth Age, and finds something strangely familiar. A story of hope unlooked for. (WIP)

~*~

Beta Stories
(Please note, you need to be logged in to view these stories.)

Beyond the Storm Clouds by Windfola
First steps towards an exploration of the childhood of Aragorn at Rivendell from the age of ten. (WIP)

The Tenant From Staddle by Larner
When Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee was ennobled on the Field of Cormallen, Gondor and Arnor granted them lands held in the King's name for their maintenance in keeping with the customs of the lands. And now a farmer formerly from Staddle learns he must have permission from the Lord Iorhael in order to remain where he has begun excavating a new smial and setting up a farm for himself and his family.




And now for your mid-month nuzgul. Because the only way to get stories to read is for someone to write them, and that requires our fangy little friends.

Wanderers Speak

Write a story about a character overcome with wanderlust. Write about rangers trying to settle down or elves exploring in the early days. Maybe a hobbit has itchy feet? Or a dwarf leaves to search out new metals and discovers he loves to travel. Write about what is just over the horizon and the character who yearns to see it.

If you don't feel the tickle of little fangs in your ankle yet, there are many more potential stories just waiting to be written. Read all of HASA's many story prompts in our Nuzgul hutch @ http://www.henneth-annun.net/members/challenge/nuzgul.cfm.

Do you have a suggestion you'd like to see added to the hutch? Submit it using the "Submit a Story Suggestion" form.

Happy reviewing!
Marta
PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email HASANews(at)henneth-annun(dot)net.