Chris CollinsHelping Struggling Dealerships Build Profitable, High-Performing Service Departments | Automotive Coaching Expert | CEO

How The Lord of the Rings Changed Victoria Aveyard's Life

18 Aug 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:44

In this interview excerpt, Victoria Aveyard reflects on the moral complexities of judgment and destiny, recalling a vivid memory of being told at age twelve that she would become a successful fantasy author. She describes her immediate, emotional reaction—anger and disbelief—highlighting the pressure of expectations. The interviewer then asks the central question: how did The Lord of the Rings change her life? Aveyard begins to answer, indicating that Tolkien's work served as a pivotal influence on her decision to pursue fantasy writing as a full‑time career. The segment blends philosophical musings with personal anecdote, setting up a discussion of the lasting impact of Tolkien’s narrative on her creative path.

This chapter is all bangers. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death and judgment, for even the very wise cannot see all ends. If someone came back and told me at 12 years old, like, hey, you're going to be a fantasy author and you're going to be successful for wherever I am in the world of fantasy, and this is how you're going to support yourself, and you're going to be doing this as your full-time job, I'd be like, You shut the hell up right now. How dare you? I'm gonna go cry.
Okay, so the big question: how did The Lord of the Rings change your life?
The Lord of the Rings—