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Another Arlington resident is using the online tools at Kickstarter to raise money for a business start-up -- this one a cookbook that explores the food in the writing of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Heath Dill, 36, wrote to friends this week that, with the imminent release of the film version of "The Hobbit,"

as well as Corey "The Tolkien Professor" Olsen '96 book Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "it's prime time" for such a cookbook -- "from Lembas Bread to Bilbo's Meat Pies and into whimsical territory with recipes like Naz-goulash!"

Dill, who grew up in Bedford, has lived in Arlington since August. He spent all his life in the Boston area, except for a stint at Williams College.

He said he aims to raise at least $10,000 for the Kickstarter to write the basic 30-recipe cookbook.

As of Tuesday, Nov. 20, Dill's Kickstarter page showed 53 backers had pledged $2,051 with 29 days to go in his campaign. A week later, his pages showed 185 backers who pledged $6,709.

For now, he said with more funding, he has "fun foodie plans."

Learn more about Dill's style at his blog, Dillicious.

"This is a passion project for me," he told friends, "but I hope the idea sparks your enthusiasm, too – that you feel inspired to donate as one of the first project backers."

In his spare time, Dill works as a software engineer, sings early music, and cooks.  For some inexplicable reason, he thinks people want to hear about the latter.

Arlington-based Quinn Popcorn got its start from Kickstarter in 2011. Read about them here >>

This story was published Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, and updated Nov. 27.