A Sneak Peek into Middle-earth Network's New Websites

You've been hearing it from us for some time now: "We're working hard on our new websites, can't wait to share!" and it's about high time we gave you a sneak peek. When we founders of Middle-earth Network first launched My Middle-earth we were shocked to see how fast it gained your attention and it was apparent that fantasy fans had been waiting for a social network where they could find news, music, films, videos, blogs and groups all in one place. It wasn't long after the launch that we started talking about creating a brand new platform where we could offer fans even more. The talks turned into plans and now those plans are near completion. We are so excited to share our dreams and visions with you because you are the reason we do what we do. We at Middle-earth Network want to build a community, one that doesn't slap our logo on your individuality, but gives you the tools you need to make your own dreams become a reality. 


In this post you will learn about some new features we've added and ones that have been improved upon and you will get your first look at our new websites.


New Look

Right away you can see some vast changes compared to our old site. Gone is the drab darkness of the old site and all the thanks goes to some amazing artists within the community. Give a big round of applause to Ted Nasmith and Jef Murray for allowing us to use their creative masterpieces on our sites! These two are on my top "most amazing people EVER" list and I would encourage all of you to check out their websites where you can buy their art because, lets be honest, you are now jealous of our new look and want it on your living room wall.

New and Improved Features

While the old social site had some cool features, it lacked in them actually working. On the new social site you will now have the ability to use Facebook "like" buttons as well as "like" buttons within the network. You can create and join groups and upload photos and videos in your status updates, blogs and group forums. The chat bar on the bottom of the page will have a slightly different look and now comes with the option of a pop out window so your chats aren't lost when navigating away from the network. And here's one of my favorites, the "Who's Online Avatars" plug in. Now you can see which of your friends are online so it's easier to socialize. Brilliant!


There's much more, but I don't want to give it all away just yet. For now, let's raise a pint of Green Dragon ale to everyone who's helped us with this endeavor. Without you, none of this would have been possible. Cheers!

New Middle-earth Network Radio Show Explores the Lands and Peoples of Middle-earth

If you, like millions of others from around the world, find yourself captivated by Tolkien's Middle-earth and the lands and peoples he created, then Middle-earth Network Radio's new show will catch your interest. Titled 'Beneath Your Feet', every "episode explores a region of Middle-earth and looks at it's geography, history, and peoples" says the shows host who goes by the name of Shipwreck. "I have been a Tolkien fan since the movies captivated me and the books spirited me away to parts unknown." he went on to explain when I asked him what had inspired him to host the show. "I've been a LOTRO player since 2008 and enjoy many other online games. I wanted to create a show that would be informative for general Lord of the Rings fans and LOTRO players as well to enhance their experience of Middle-earth."

The 'Beneath Your Feet' pilot airs tomorrow, August 21, at 2, 6, 10 AM EST and 2, 6, 10 PM EST so be sure to tune in and don't forget to check out the 'Beneath You Feet' official website.

'Mirkwood' Novel to Become a Hollywood Blockbuster?

By now we all know about Peter Jackson's much anticipated Hobbit films which are based on J. R. R. Tolkien's book The Hobbit, but did you know Tolkien himself is about to hit the big screen? Well sort of. Mirkwood, written by Steve Hillard, caught The Eye of the Tolkien Estate back in March of this year. In it, Hillard uses Tolkien as one of the main characters and sends him to New York City searching for lost documents.



"[Tolkien is] a man haunted by the very myths he rewove into his famous works. As much literary criticism as boisterous epic, this episodically-driven plot explores the blurred borderlands where ancient tales, lost heroines, and epic journeys are stalked by dim monsters that will not be still. In 1970, Professor Tolkien makes a little-known visit to America-and sets in motion elvish powers embodied in a cache of archaic documents. Destinies are altered, legends become real, and two heroines must race for their lives in vastly different worlds."


The Estate cried fowl and demanded all copies of the book be disposed of, however, now it seems they've come to an agreement and not only will the book survive but it is also in the process of becoming a Hollywood script. EMO Films and Steve Hillard plan to make Mirkwood into a blockbuster hit, providing there are no more issues where the word "copyright" is involved. As the author of the novel explains, 


"The adaptation of 'Mirkwood' will follow the template of the novel, but will delve considerably deeper into Tolkien's little-known back story, such as his original plans to become a codebreaker in World War II up through the writing of his enduring works."


Whether EMO Films and Steve Hillard's plans come to fruition or not, Tolkien fans will be revisiting Middle-earth next year when The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theaters on December 14, 2012 and The Hobbit: There and Back Again premiers the following year on December 13, 2013.

EXCLUSIVE: Middle-earth Network Takes on Publishing, Producing, and a Record Label

If you think there has been a lot of news surrounding Middle-earth Network lately with the launch of Mythgard Institute for Tolkien Studies, then hang on to your churchwarden pipe. In a recent letter posted on My Middle-earth (the network's social site) from network founder, Mark Ostley, we find out what other exciting projects the company has up their sleeves.




Mark writes, "We have indeed been promising a new blogging platform for awhile now. And yes we are a bit behind schedule. Keep in mind though, that this beta launched roughly 12 weeks ago. In the meantime we've have been working with the platform developer and budgeting ... both time and money resources to make this happen. And trust me, it will in [just] a few days. What we've done is to contract the individual who built the guts and platform for Ning and other social network providers. I've seen some of the bells and whistles he's come up with, and they're pretty impressive. In fact I'll go as far as to say that I think there's nothing like it out there."


Mark goes on to state that the new social platform will be tested this week and over the weekend and hopes to launch it within a week or two.


Meanwhile, Mythgard Institute, although newly launched, will also be seeing some improvements. Mark explains, "We've already brought in as guest lecturers 4 of the most recognized Tolkien scholars in the world. We're also working on full accreditation and are offering a Masters Degree program, and will be adding many more classes in the spring." 

So, Middle-earth Network is a social site, news source, radio station, and partner of an Institute. What else could they take on? How about producing, publishing, and a record label? 


In a phone interview I had with Mark moments ago he stated, "We are in the midst of negotiations with the well-know producer Kate Madison ('Born of Hope') and Actors at Work Productions on creating a high end fantasy movie/video series and as soon as things are finalized we'll announce the details."


Further down the letter we find out Middle-earth Network is also working with the members of the My Middle-earth social network community on a publishing label as well as a music label (with four bands already under it's belt) which Marks calls "a humble and hopeful start". 


Mark ends the letter with this: "Part of our vision and goal is to provide quality content, but the other goal is to become a haven and vehicle for artists, writers, educators, broadcasters & podcasters, musicians, and a greater community of people and fans who believe, as I do, that we can actually inspire the world around us by sharing the world we have in common. Many of these people who write music, literature, or work in the medium of paint and brush, for too long have been overlooked and have been given no support and no real outlet for some of the brilliant things they're doing...Already you see this reflected in [our] social community. Because in the end that's exactly what we are. A community. We started this because we all felt there was a need for people, and artists to interact and develop real working relationships and friendships. I personally believe (idealistic as I am) that this, in a small way actually makes the world a better place. Our job has been to not only develop some of these things, but to provide the best vehicles we can to make it work well, and make it as easy as possible for people to access... so suffice it to say that we've big plans, high hopes, and a massive amount of determination."


You can follow Middle-earth Network on Facebook. For the latest in network news follow Middle-earth News on Twitter.


To donate to the Middle-earth Network community click here.

The One Ring: Adventures Over the Edge of the Wild

This week Cubicle 7 announced they are now excepting pre-orders for their newest table-top role-playing game The One Ring: Adventures Over the Edge of the Wild. This officially liesenced game releases in early August. Featuring new and classic artwork by such famous Tolkien artists as John Howe and John Hodgson. It was written and designed by veteran game designer Francesco Nepitello, this latest incarnation of Middle-Earth table-top gaming will allow players to take on the role of their own original heroes in the lands surrounding Dale, Mirkwood, and the rest of the Wild in the aftermath of the Battle of Five Armies.

It is being released as a slip-cover set featuring a Player's Guide, a Loremaster's Guide, several maps, dice and a Loremaster's Screen. Priority pre-orders will be featured at $69.99, while standard pre-orders will be available for $59.99. Both pre-orders feature the same product, but the priority pre-orders will ship about a month earlier than standard. That is, priority orders are scheduled for an early August shipping date, while standard orders are scheduled for a mid-September release date.

Bilbo Baggins: A Character Synopsis

(R to L: Martin Freeman as younger Bilbo Baggins and Ian Holm as older Bilbo Baggins

Bilbo Baggins-

Bilbo Baggins is Uncle to Frodo Baggins (destroyer of The One Ring in The Lord of the Rings) and the resident of Bag End, located in the Shire. It is from Bilbo’s perspective that J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit was written. Bilbo is content with his solitary life having no spouse or children of his own. One morning Gandalf the wizard pays the Hobbit a visit and deliberately entangles Bilbo into a very unexpected adventure. From that moment on his life is thrown out of routine as fate sends Bilbo, Gandalf, and 13 Dwarves on a journey across Middle-earth to reclaim a lost treasure, guarded by the dragon Smaug.

Martin Freeman-

Martin Freeman, playing Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit films, was born on September 8th, 1971 in Aldershot, England. He is well known for his roles in Love Actually (John), The Office (Tim), Sean of the Dead (Declan), Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Arthur Dent), Sherlock (Watson), and more. This past year Freeman won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Watson in the TV series Sherlock. Freeman is due back in New Zealand come October 2011 when filming for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again continues after a brief hiatus to allow Freeman to film Sherlock’s second season.

Ian Holm-
Ian Holm Cuthbert was born on September 12, 1931 in Goodmayes, England. It was seeing the play 'Les Miserables' that first inspired his interest in acting and in 1950 he graduated from the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has won 16 acting awards, nominated for 13, and was knighted for his acting career back in 1998. Some of his best known films include Chariots of Fire (Sam Mussabini), Hamlet (Polonius), Frankenstein (Baron Frankenstein), The Madness of King George (Dr. Willis), The Fifth Element (Father Vito Cornelius), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Bilbo Baggins), and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Bilbo Baggins).

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is scheduled for release on December 14, 2012, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again on December 13, 2013.

EXCLUSIVE: Middle-earth Net and The Tolkien Professor Launch Mythgard Institute

That's right Tolkien fans! This is big news. Huge News! Thanks to Corey Olsen (The Tolkien Professor) and Middle-earth Network, anyone from around the world can have a chance to study Tolkien, his life, novels, and the effect they've had on us.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:

Mythgard Institite: Offering Tolkien Studies

Starting this fall, Tolkien fans will have an exciting new opportunity to learn more about the works that they love at the Mythgard Institute.

Mythgard is a new center for Tolkien studies, offering fully interactive courses online with world-class professors. The Institute is founded by Professor Corey Olsen, host of the celebrated Tolkien Professor podcast, in partnership with founders of Middle-Earth Network. Mythgard will be offering classes on Tolkien, the Inklings, and other fantasy authors which students can either audit or take for credit towards an MA in English. 

This Fall 2011, Mythgard is offering its first class: Tolkien and the Epic.  Readings will include Beowulf, the Volsungasaga, The Children of Hurin, and the Lord of the Rings.  The course will be taught by Professor Olsen with very special guest lectures by Tom Shippey, Verlyn Flieger, and Michael Drout.

Be sure to listen in to Middle-earth Network Radio this Tuesday, July 19th at 10pm EST for the official live radio announcement of the Mythgard Institute with Dr. Corey Olsen and founders from Middle-earth Network. You can also access MEnet Radio through the Tune-in application for mobile devices.


Follow Mythgard Institute on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest information on class schedules.

UWIC’s "J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth and Middle-earth in Context" Class Starts in October

UWIC’s accredited online course (MA-level) J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth and Middle-earth in Context will run again in the autumn semester starting in October 2011. Enrolment is now open!

For more information about the contents of this online course please see our detailed video presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-56l5lYbbM.

To enrol, please use this link: http://www.uwicpress.co.uk/online-courses-c-29.html

For Frequently Asked Questions, please see: http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/English/education/Enterprise/courses/Pages/FAQs.aspx

Sideshow Collectibles Reveals War in the North Snow Troll

Hey Guys more War in the North goodies coming our way with a nice piece head lining the Fearsome Snow Troll. Not much is mentioned in Tolkien Lore about these Savage Brutes, though there is in Merp Lore (Middle Earth Role Playing) referred to as Ice Trolls mainly. Located in the Northern Wastes these Trolls bigger then their Kin and much Nastier (If possible) they do not turn into stone when daylight comes but huge slags of ice instead, so wary Travellers resting and using these seemingly innocent blocks of Ice for shelter may wake in the night to find a hungry Troll looming over them. It does look great with what looks like a Dwarf in a tricky position with the Troll grasping him by the waist.

Sideshow Collectibles are doing a full range mainly of the Fellowship but also including one of the Snow Trolls from War in the North, different looks of Arwen after her encounter with the Ring Wraiths and a celebrating Borromir just after the regaining of Osgiliath, seen in the Extended versions of the film, Borromir has a movable arm from downward into a victory pose, Gimli also looks impressive leaping over a Rock with Axe in hand.

From what we at Middle Earth News have seen the pieces are very well done, great attention to detail they are also a nice size adding a fantastic center piece to any Lord of the Rings fanatics collection. With many more pieces available including busts of the Balrog of Moria other Troll breeds and other well known characters from the series its well worth a look for yourself Here is a link to Sideshow's site so you can check out the Video yourself.

Harry Potter Based 'Hog's Head PubCast' Joins Middle-earth Network Radio

As the Middle-earth Network continues to grow, we are striving both to recruit the highest quality content and to diversify our programming and reach out to new communities. In the last decade, many Tolkien fans have embraced  another series, one that is radically different in its worldview, basic rules and structures, and writing but has the same tug on our moral imaginations and many of the same essential core values, including the value of friendship and self-sacrifice. The series we're speaking of centers on a boy wizard by the name of Harry Potter.

Middle-earth Network is proud to announce today the first of what we hope will be many Harry Potter shows to join the Middle-earth Network: this show is the Hog's Head PubCast. The PubCast, as its fans call it for short, broadcast its first episode back in late 2006, and this week, after a nine-month hiatus, it makes a triumphant return by joining the Middle-earth Network family. The PubCast is hosted by thehogshead.org, a fantastic site for serious discussion of fantasy literature, and it's produced by Travis Prinzi, one of the Leaky Cauldron's Potter Pundits, and a trailblazer in serious Harry Potter scholarship, having written books such as "Harry Potter & Imagination: The Way Between Two Worlds" and most recently "Harry Potter for Nerds." And we'll let y'all in on a secret: Travis is also an avid Tolkien fan.

We are thrilled to be partnering with The Hog's Head and to be working with them to build bridges between our two communities who have so much in common. Keep your eyes and ears open for further announcements to come in the next week and be sure to give a warm welcome to any Hog's Head fans who join us at the My Middle-earth social network.


BREAKING: Airing TODAY at 2 PM EST- Travis Prinzi was able to screen the new Harry Potter film, Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (due to hit theaters this Thursday, July 15th, 2011) and will be reviewing the film LIVE on Middle-earth Network Radio!


Also Airing today is Travis' newest Hog's Head Pubcast at 1 PM and 6 PM EST.


The Hog's Head Pubcast on Twitter.
My Middle-earth Network Radio on Twitter.

BREAKING: First Look of Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins!

These pictures were just released by Entertainment Weekly, hot off the press! What do you think, Hobbit fans? Does Martin Freeman capture your image of Bilbo Baggins? Let’s play “Caption it!” with the top image! Leave your thought of what’s going through Bilbo’s head on our comment section below.

Tune into the Tolkien Professor’s Silmarillion Seminar -LIVE on Middle-earth Network Radio

Last December, Corey Olsen, the Tolkien Professor, started up the Silmarillion Seminar, a weekly discussion that has been proceeding chapter by chapter through Tolkien's stories from the First Age of Middle Earth. Recordings of the proceedings are being made available through the Tolkien Professor podcast feed.  

Now, listeners are invited to tune into Middle-earth Network Radio at 9:30 PM EST every Wednesday to listen LIVE as Professor Olsen and his seminar group engage in their weekly discussions.  Silmarillion enthusiasts can even contribute to the ongoing discussion.  During the broadcast, those who might have a question or an observation to offer to the discussion can go to the Silmarillion Seminar group page in My Middle-earth and post their thoughts on the wall.  As many as possible of those comments will be relayed live to the seminar group in real time.  

This week at 9:30 PM EST on the Silmarillion Seminar we will discuss Akallabeth, the Downfall of Numenor. We'll be looking at the actual sinking of the island and its aftermath. After this, there will only be 2-3 more weeks, on "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age." Recordings will still be available later on for those who miss the live broadcast.

Middle-earth Network’s Art Contest Has Been Extended

Since the announcement of our Middle-earth Network Art Contest, many fans have written in conveying their disappointment because they would be unable to participate due to summer vacations and previous plans. Our hope and wish is that this contest would be available for all artists, whether art is your profession or hobby, and we wouldn’t want a summer vacation to come between you and your chance to have Jef Murray and Ted Nasmith judge and critique your art, nor your chances at winning one of our Ringer’s dream prize packages slip by! Therefore, we have decided to extend the contest.

The new dates are as follows:

-From now until 12 PM EST Wednesday, August 10, 2011 we are taking submissions.
-On Monday, August 15, 2011 5 submissions (in both categories) that have been hand picked by our judges, Jef Murry and Ted Nasmith, will be posted on My Middle-earth for ALL members to vote on.
-Polls will close at 12 PM EST Friday, August 19, 2011.
-At 9:30 PM EST Friday, August 19, 2011 the winners will be announced LIVE on Middle-earth Network radio.

Submission Requirements:

The subject of the art will be a Middle-earth spin on Uncle Sam’s classic line, “I want you for the U.S. Army”. Submitted art should hold the text,  “Middle-earth wants you!” with the body of the art entirely up to each individual artist. However, submissions must not contain any nudity or pornographic material. Judges reserve the right to refuse any art submitted that they deem inappropriate. In order to submit your work, you must be a member of My Middle-earth Social Network and join the “My Middle-earth Art” group. Submissions can be entered under one of the two categories: amateur artist (i.e. I am not regularly paid for my work) and professional artist (i.e. I am a regularly paid artist).

To submit:

Post a photo of your entry onto “My Middle-earth Art” group’s wall with the following information by 12 PM EST Wednesday, August 10, 2011:

-Specify: “My Middle-earth Art Contest Submission”

-Name

-Specify amateur (not paid) or professional (paid)

-Title of submitted piece

-Brief description of your artwork (2-5 lines)

Casual Stroll to Mordor Interviews ‘The Fellows Hip’ Cast on Middle-earth Network Radio

Tune in to Middle-earth Network Radio this Saturday, June 25th at 9:30 PM EST to hear Casual Stroll to Mordor (CSTM) conduct a live interview with the cast of ‘The Fellows Hip: Rise of the Gamers’. This latest film from Opening Act Productions promises to be “Full of Tolkien-references and good-hearted parody, ‘The Fellows Hip’ will appeal to Tolkien-fans and gamers alike, as well as anyone who's never been part of the in-crowd.”  See the full synopses below:

“Randall Dooley is a geek. His three best friends are geeks too. He works in a game shop, he spends all his free time playing online games, his older brother bullies him unmercifully, his widowed mom doesn't understand him, and he's hopelessly in love with the prettiest cheerleader in high school. In short, he's a loser. All of that changes when he hears of the Lord of the Rings gaming competition in Orlando, Florida. Finally! Meaning in life! ‘The Fellows Hip’ is a buddy-comedy written in honor of online gamers and ‘The Lord of the Rings’.”

Among those to be interviewed are Ron Newcomb (co-writer, Producer, Director, co-founder of Opening Act Productions), Justin Moe (Actor) “Randall”, Jayme Bell (Actor) “Squirrelly”, Cole Matson (Actor) “Nate”, and Emma Earnest (actor) “Stacey”. CSTM will be accepting questions for the crew during the interview and listeners can pose their questions for the guests in CSTM’s chat room.

Official Trailer:

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition Watch and Chat with War in the North!

For all of you Ringer fans out there who are unable to catch The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions in theaters this month, here’s your chance! War in the North has announced their “Watch and Chat” event where fans can join in and watch The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition while getting the opportunity to chat with some special guests from the War in the North development team. The film starts rolling tomorrow, June 17th, and runs from 2 PM to 6 PM PDT. See the office press release below:

If you are as excited as us, please send us a note of thanks to the awesome guys over at War in the North and we'll be sure to pass it along.

Follow War in the North on Twitter and Facebook.

Take a Walk on the Tolkien Side

Penkridge Library

Mark your calendars, UK Tolkien fans! Penkridge Library, located in Staffordshire, is offering fans a  chance to see where the esteemed author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy once lived. The Staffordshire Newsletter reports,

“Literary lovers can join a guided walk from Penkridge Library across the Teddesley Estate, passing through Gipsy Green where Tolkien’s cottage still stands. Tolkien, who wrote ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’, spent a short period of his early life living at the army training camps on Cannock Chase and in a cottage in Great Haywood with his wife Edith. In 1918 he moved briefly to the the Teddesley Park Estate, which later featured as Fladweth Amrod or Nomad’s Green in his writings for ‘The Silmarillion’.”

The walk start at 10.45 AM on June 30, will be under 8 miles in length and take around 4 hours to complete. The cost is £3.50 and only £2.50 for members of the library. On your return to Penkridge Library, refreshments will be provided.

To book a place call Penkridge Library on 01785 712916.

Halfling Clothing Co. Releases First Limited Tee Series

Meet Tom Miller, owner and designer behind the newest apparel company to hit Middle-earth, Halfling Clothing Co. Whether you want to strut your Shire pride with their “The Brew for the Brave and True” tee or support the worlds most famousest of wizards with their “Architect of Plans” tee, they design it all. In this Q&A learn what inspired the company, their designs, and what’s in store for the future.


M-ENews- What was it that inspired you to start Halfling Clothing Co.?
   
Tom- I've always had a love for graphic design, from a young age I've loved drawing things out or expressing ideas on paper. But unlike most kids who began doing this at a young age... my pictures still look like I am 5 yrs old. I have a horrible time using any kind of normal art medium. This is why I love graphic design. I'm able to take what I see in my head and finally create it using a tablet or mouse. My artistic ability seems to work best on a computer I'm afraid.

My love for Lord of the Rings I guess is the biggest part of this though. I love Tolkien Literature to a point that I even went as far as basing relationships around it. So when I decided one day "I'd like to try making a T-Shirt", it was natural that my designs would be inspired by fantasy literature in a strong way.

M-ENews-  What's the story behind the company's logo?
   
Tom- The story is fairly simple. I knew I wanted to do something that was easy to relate to for fantasy literature fans. The "Halfling's Frontdoor" is a great way to do this for us. It symbolizes the sense of close to home environment our company uses, but also shows that all adventures begin with stepping outside your front door.

Our design "Of Good and Evil" was adapted from this original logo to the design we now have. It shows the green good earth and happy lands we all would love, and the dark sadness and terror we all face during our lives. But - as in all things that we hope and dream, good always ends up on top!


M-ENews- Who creates the t-shirt art?

Tom- Although the art is all designed by myself (Tom), I can't take credit for the ideas we come up with. Many are ideas that are bounced around the loft (our home base of Ops) as well ideas from around the community. Its really a chance for me to take small jokes or ideas and turn them into something more visual in the form of a shirt design.


M-ENews- Why are your tees sold in limited series?

Tom- The limited series is our way of both keeping the company in a controllable size and making sure that those who buy our shirts have something unique. You can't buy our shirts at any Walmart, or shopping mall. Its something that was created for those who appreciate the ideas and inspiration it conveys.

M-ENews- Do you only make t-shirts/ will you expand to create accessories?

Tom- You know, this is something we've been getting a lot of interest in. We're working on a line of Sweatshirts as well. That is where we are currently at, but I don't think we are limited to only apparel. We have a few surprises up our sleeves still. And I can't wait to show them to our customers and friends.

M-ENews- Where would you like to see the company in 5 years?

Tom- I can't really say. I'd like to see the company expand into something really special. A place where people can look for the kind of shirts we design. I'm not sure what to expect. We love what we do, and we will do it even if its only for a few people out there! Something we have looked at is expanding to sell through some select websites like Jinx and ThinkGeek, but that is something we want to happen when the time is right. We are just enjoying what we do, one day at a time.

Follow Halfling Clothing Co. on Twitter and Facebook and check out their full line of apparel here.