“Welcome! I’m Mark Wollacott, an author, teacher, and podcaster exploring philosophy, history, and stories that inspire. Discover my books, podcasts, and insights below.”
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COMING SOON
Mark is the author of 7 books including 5 novels, a short story collection, and a haiku collection
Tales of the Runari is Mark’s podcast which explores philosophy, history, and interesting stories.
COMING SOON
How were orcs made in Lord of the Rings?
My childhood was filled with fantastical tales. I did not grow up on J.R.R. Tolkien’s work because by the 1980s, most of the shelves were filled with the derivatives and the knock offs. I grew up on Dragonlance and Raymond E. Feist. Yet, the primary races - the elves...
How many Black Riders are there?
While arachnophobes might not agree, the Black Riders are one of the scariest things in The Lord of the Rings; particularly as they track Frodo and the Ring through the shire. There are some questions about the Black Riders, otherwise known as the Nazgûl or...
What are the five armies in the Hobbit?
The Battle of the Five Armies has a movie named after it, but is it not immediately obvious to anyone watching it what the five armies are. We have the dwarfs - a mixture of Erebor and the Iron Hills, we have the wood elves of Mirkwood, the humans of Lake Town,...