Articles by John Di Bartolo

John Di Bartolo is a longtime creative force in the worlds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien fandom. As a musician, speaker, and storyteller, he has spent years celebrating the imagination and faith of both authors—bringing their timeless themes to life through song, art, and lectures at gatherings across the United States and abroad. John’s work bridges the beauty of myth and music, inviting audiences to rediscover wonder through the sub-creative lens that Lewis and Tolkien cherished. His Lewis-inspired song, Old Enough for Faerie Tales, can be heard on Spotify. In May 2025, John was a featured speaker and performer at the first U.K. Tolkien Society conference held in the United States—Westmoot—hosted at the National WWI Museum & Memorial in Kansas City. His presentation and song performance captured the enduring power of myth and music to connect generations of readers and dreamers. A photo from the event can be viewed here on Facebook. Through his creative projects and collaborations, John continues to inspire audiences “further up and further in,” celebrating the shared legacy of Lewis and Tolkien for a new generation of fans.