And so it begins. The first LOTR booksigning of the new year (at least to my knowledge) was held on January 16 at 3pm at Booksoup (“Booksellers of the Great and Infamous”) on Sunset Blvd, and featured Visual Companion author Jude Fisher, and our very own Aragorn son of Arathorn: Viggo Mortensen (also known in some circles as “the barefoot prince”).

It was a gorgeous day in Los Angeles: crisp, clear blue skies and golden sunshine, very reminiscent of the land we have come to identify so closely with Middle-earth, New Zealand. It was 2pm by the time I arrived and there was already over 150 people in line. So much for trying to make this a low key event by scheduling it in the middle of a week day! The first person in line had been there since 9:00am! As usual at this type of gatherings, I was glad to recognize among the fans many friends of old, and to discover numerous strangers from distant lands as well. Then started the longest wait in the slowest moving line in recent memory. Photographs were not allowed, but everyone got the opportunity to get up to four items signed. This, combined with the fact that Viggo likes to take a moment to chat with each fan and personalize his autograph, probably explains the excruciatingly slow pace of the line.

The bookstore staff was gracious and supportive, with a great sense of humor, much needed to keep the crowd’s spirits high and guide them through what seemed to be an endless, at times hopeless, wait. By the time I finally made my way out of the windy street and into the store, it was already 6:30pm. One more hour would pass before I finally found myself in front of Viggo and had my copy of the Two Towers’ Visual Companion signed. Jude Fisher, still smiling and gracious after over five hours of signing, started to go down the line, stopping by every fan to sign their books. All the way in the back of the store, standing behind a counter, was Viggo. He was wearing the “cowboy” hat he’s been sporting on many recent pictures, as well as a beige “political” shirt which inscriptions (obviously home made) read “WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER” in the front, and “SUPPORT OUR TROOPS – BRING THEM HOME” with the drawing of an American flag underneath, in the back. He was, as always, a perfect gentleman, taking his time with each fan, answering questions, even posing for the occasional photo request – in spite of the studio’s veto -. He recognized me from previous events I attended and told me in French “I remember you…”. He graciously signed my book as I thanked him, we shook hands, and I was off.