Chrissystriped is a prolific author on the SWG whose work spans characters and ages and topics. For Mereth Aderthad 2025, chrissystriped is writing for Shadow's presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien," and will be sharing a Third Age story that features Bilbo and Boromir as aromantic characters. Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.

You can read Dawn's interview with chrissystriped here.

Since our first challenge back in 2005, Strong Women, the SWG has sought to establish a creative space where fanworks about characters from underrepresented groups aren't just welcomed but explicitly encouraged. Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien," is the perfect example of a fan-turned-scholar bringing forward a character identity that typically goes unseen and unacknowledged. Silmalope is the featured artist for Shadow's presentation, bringing their vibrant style and diverse character representations to the project. Dawn spoke with Silmalope about their inspiration as a creator of Tolkien-based fanworks, their connection to Shadow's topic on ace-aro characters, and the importance of diverse representation in fanworks.

You can read Dawn's interview with Silmalope here.