A Shire Walking-Party is now published!

I hope all my friends will celebrate the news with me that my second book, A Shire Walking-Party: Paintings Inspired by Tolkien's Little Folk, is now published!

You are invited on an immersive walking-party through hobbit homelands, history, and culture in this 190-page book featuring 60+ works of art. Praise is already coming in from luminaries in the Tolkien community:

• “All readers of Tolkien create their own images of the Shire, the friendliest utopia in all of literature. Miriam Ellis’s new book goes a step further, bringing settings and moments to life: Hobbiton and Michel Delving, the Ivy Bush and the Green Dragon, and also things barely glimpsed by the rest of us. Gandalf in the Long Winter, the hobbits’ first crossing of the Brandywine. It’s not only a resource but an expansion. How Tolkien himself would have loved to see it!” - Tom Shippey, author of J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century

• “A Shire Walking-Party is a work of exquisite artistry and prose by Ms. Ellis. It's hard to imagine a more delightful and immersive plunge into the lore of Tolkien's hobbits!” - Ted Nasmith, artist and illustrator of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion

• “Miriam Ellis's visions of Tolkien's world are as original as they are beautiful. Every image of Middle-earth in A Shire Walking-Party glows from within with a light both warm and pure.” - Dr. Michael D.C. Drout, author of The Tower and the Ruin

• “Miriam Ellis is an exquisite artist and a writer of exceptional talent. A Shire Walking-Party is proof of these gifts. Blending beautiful art with extraordinary prose, Ellis delivers a book that serves as a warm and welcoming companion for anyone wishing to embark on a journey through the Shire. Ellis’s research is meticulous, providing a wealth of information about hobbits that will delight every Tolkien enthusiast. The book’s insightful questions encourage readers to pause, reflect, and engage deeply with the text while uncovering their own inner hobbit. Through her conversational tone and breathtaking paintings, Ellis draws readers in for a heartfelt discussion and invites us to picture ourselves at the very heart of the hobbits’ world. A Shire Walking-Party is a joyful celebration of Tolkien’s work and a true testament to Miriam Ellis’s remarkable artistry and literary skill.” - Dr. Hannah McDonald, Chair of The Tolkien Society’s Board of Trustees

• “Much has been written about the great battles and noble lineages of Middle-earth, less so the little folk upon which its fate was decided. Ellis does just that in A Shire Walking-Party with her wonderfully approachable writing and beautifully rendered paintings as she invites us down the paths and up the hillocks of this less traveled part of Tolkien’s world. By focusing a fresh light on the little places and simple joys of a life among hobbits, Ellis allows us to take a much needed break from the machine even if just for a moment.” - Graham Judd, co-author and illustrator of Flora of Middle-earth

• “Aglow with life as always, the art of Miriam Ellis lights us through the wood, down the lane, and along the water to the warm lamps of evening and home in the Shire.” - Tom Hillman, author of Pity, Power, and Tolkien’s Ring

• “Miriam Ellis's A Shire Walking-Party is an invitation to slow down, step into the Shire, and linger there as long as we like in the company of Tolkien's beloved little folk. Across nearly two hundred beautifully painted pages, Ellis takes us through hobbit history, culture, and landscape with the warmth of a knowledgeable and deeply personal guide, illuminating corners of the legendarium that Tolkien himself cherished. Her paintings glow with the cozy hearths, rolling green hills, and quiet pleasures that we associate with hobbits and the Shire, and her prose carries the same spirit: consoling, curious, and full of good cheer. This book is a wonderful gift to the Tolkien community: a walking-party well worth joining.” - Dr. Sara Brown, Language & Literature Department Chair, Signum University

• “Miriam Ellis’s latest book is an exquisite gem, beautifully fashioned and imbued with the light and magic of Tolkien’s world. Her illustrations are stunning, painterly in style and featuring scenes and characters that are at once homely and epic. Rarely have the meadows, woods and gardens of the Shire been so evocatively depicted, or the material culture of its inhabitants so meticulously realised." - Dr. Joel Merriner, author of Illustrating The Lord of the Rings in the Soviet Bloc

• “Miriam's fantastic artwork is combined with thoughtful essays on Tolkien’s writings from the perspective of the hobbits. Combining history (ours and theirs), geography, interesting facts, and suggested further reading, this was a pleasure to read and I am sure I will revisit it often.” - Jeremy Edmonds, Tolkien Collector’s Guide

• “In A Shire Walking-Party, Miriam Ellis invites us to slow down — to set aside the great tales of dire danger for a while and simply linger with hobbits in their homeland. Her new book is a glorious feast of paintings, a thoughtful tour of Shire history and culture, and a quiet argument that the "merrier world" is closer than we think.” - Alan Sisto, co-author of Why We Love Middle-earth and host of The Prancing Pony Podcast

• “Miriam's works are a joy, and A Shire Walking-Party is no exception. It was an absolute delight from beginning to end. The paintings capture the warmth, charm, and quiet beauty of the Shire with remarkable skill, inviting the reader into a world that feels both familiar and freshly discovered. What impressed me most was how deeply informed the artwork is by Tolkien's legendarium; every location, moment, detail, and scene reflects a genuine understanding of the lore; celebrating the rich culture, landscapes, and everyday life of the hobbits. Equally commendable are the accompanying written pieces, which are thoughtful, engaging, and perfectly complement the visual journey — it truly feels like we're ambling together through the Shire, enjoying a glorious, sunny day with a friendly pub at the end. Together, the art and text create a wonderfully immersive and relaxing visit to the Shire — one that any Tolkien admirer will treasure. It will forever live on my coffee table next to my comfy reading chair and a cup of tea!” - Dr. Maggie Parke, Studio Director, Signum University

Preview:

J.R.R. Tolkien felt most at home in the Shire, and he and Christopher Tolkien relished hobbit-talk. A Shire Walking-Party is your chance to spend as much time as you like in hobbit country, where the hills are green, the inns are inviting, and the doors of hobbit holes are open to you.

Heartfelt thanks to my publisher, Uppsala Books, and especially to Dr. Tom Shippey for his unfailing encouragement. This is a day for Gandalf's fireworks!

A Shire Walking-Party is available in both hardcover and paperback editions from Amazon and other fine booksellers.

https://youtu.be/b1rMVgsADfM

About the author

Miriam Ellis is the author of The Art of Mercy in Middle-earth and A Shire Walking-Party, published by Uppsala Books. She is a Tolkien Society Award-winning fine artist. Her paintings have appeared in numerous publications, including Amon Hen magazine, Mallorn, Translating and Illustrating Tolkien (edited by Will Sherwood), the Beyond Bree calendar, and more. She is the designer of the 2025 Tolkien Society Christmas card and the 2026 Oxonmoot logo. She has spoken at many conferences, including Westmoot, Cascade Moot, Middle Moot, and Holy Moot. She has been devoted to J.R.R. Tolkien's works since the age of 5 when her father chose The Hobbit as a bedtime story.