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
Shaun Rosel
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hi Lois, I've just started reading your Vorkosigan books (only 2 so far) but I absolutely love them. I'm the type of person that really enjoys looking up the reading order of long series and tackling them as the author intended, I've read your recommendation here on goodreads and appreciate the clarification from you. I have a 2 part question (EDIT character limit please see following separate messages)?
Guillermo Martinez
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Dear Lois. I just finished Gentleman Jole and I was delighted by it. I really appreciate you developing the characters to new stages of life, though I admit I miss the more exciting times when they were young. Please accept my heartfelt Thank you for your creative proccess and many good moments spent reading your work. I hope you are planning to keep on writing Miles Books along these lines in the following years?
Andy Lucas
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I just finished all of your Vorkosigan books and I loved them! For the majority of them I listened to the audio version during my commute to and from work. There were to items that seem to have changed pronunciation as the series progressed. Dendarii changed from den-der-ee, to d den-der-ee-eye. Galeni changed from guh-len-eye to guh-len-ee. Can you tell me which are the most appropriate? Thanks! Andy
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