Alecia Flores
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I read the post on FB regarding Penric 14, (& was thrilled); the idea of it not having a title yet made me wonder; I've read about authors who start with a title before, but not one who ended with one. Is this an authorial quirk?
Lois McMaster Bujold
For me, it varies from story to story. Sometimes the title arises early in the writing process -- "Penric and the Bandit" actually had its title first. "The Warrior's Apprentice" came up about Chapter 5, as I recall, and stuck. Other times, a tale will arrive at its end with none, or a joke working title -- "Ivan, His Booke", "Miles to Go", "Cordelia on Sergyar" -- and I have to flail around, like now, to come up with anything satisfactory. (I think I've finally settled on "The Adventure of the Demonic Ox", unless something obviously better comes along before the cover art and final edit are done.)
"A Civil Campaign" was another late entry. It went through its whole composition joke-titled "ImpWed". I thought I had it nailed when a clever friend suggested "Rules of Engagement" but it turned out Elizabeth Moon had a book already in Baen's publishing pipeline with that title, so it was back to the drawing board. After some more flailing, I drew inspiration from Heyer's "A Civil Contract" (which has a nice double meaning for its book), retooled for Miles's military madness. I'm actually happier with it now, as no other book has the same much-used title.
Ta, L.
For me, it varies from story to story. Sometimes the title arises early in the writing process -- "Penric and the Bandit" actually had its title first. "The Warrior's Apprentice" came up about Chapter 5, as I recall, and stuck. Other times, a tale will arrive at its end with none, or a joke working title -- "Ivan, His Booke", "Miles to Go", "Cordelia on Sergyar" -- and I have to flail around, like now, to come up with anything satisfactory. (I think I've finally settled on "The Adventure of the Demonic Ox", unless something obviously better comes along before the cover art and final edit are done.)
"A Civil Campaign" was another late entry. It went through its whole composition joke-titled "ImpWed". I thought I had it nailed when a clever friend suggested "Rules of Engagement" but it turned out Elizabeth Moon had a book already in Baen's publishing pipeline with that title, so it was back to the drawing board. After some more flailing, I drew inspiration from Heyer's "A Civil Contract" (which has a nice double meaning for its book), retooled for Miles's military madness. I'm actually happier with it now, as no other book has the same much-used title.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Daiv
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hi. Before Captain Vorpatrils Alliance was published, it was released and sold as an e-arc. I gathered at the time that was a bit of an experiment. Did that work out for you? Is that some thing you would consider doing with future releases? Assuming you have a say in such things, of course. I, for one, will buy anything you care to publish. Thank you. -Daiv
Stephen
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
"Ivar Ragnusson, better known as Ivar the Boneless. He was born, so it is said, with ‘only gristle where his bones should have been’. Ivar almost certainly suffered from osteogenesis imperfecta. He would have been very short, unable to walk without aid and with badly deformed limbs and spine. " (Sykes, Blood of the Isles). He led a Danish attack on Britain in 865! Another Miles?
Diane
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Did you read about this while prepping The Sharing Knife series? Very interesting research!
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May 30, 2025 03:32PM · flag
“The Adventure of the Demonic Ox” is quite striking and seems a good title, though of course I’m sti ...more
May 30, 2025 03:37PM · flag
Ta, L. ...more
May 31, 2025 05:40PM · flag