Tea G
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Dear Lois, I just read the Curse of Chalion and I really liked how the plot was fluid. I was delighted by Caz. My question: is Caz designed as a central character or occurring after the idea of the curse? What came first the chicken or the egg? Big warm greetings from Croatia.
Lois McMaster Bujold
Caz came first, and hung around in limbo for rather a long time till his setting, with a lot of pre-fabricated plot elements, arrived in the form of 15th C. Spanish court history. The idea of the curse slotted in subsequently -- I mean, a curse would explain so much about the real historical place and period...
The proto-Caz might have alighted in some other country of the era, as I was especially interested in that cadre of men who rose from the middle classes to become the right hands of assorted kings and queens and wrangle the transition from medieval realms to more modern styles of nation-states. Walsingham, Cisneros, Richelieu, the ill-fated David Riccio, etc.
In general, potential ideas or settings don't do much for me till an interesting character arrives. Only then does a story come alive.
Ta, L.
Caz came first, and hung around in limbo for rather a long time till his setting, with a lot of pre-fabricated plot elements, arrived in the form of 15th C. Spanish court history. The idea of the curse slotted in subsequently -- I mean, a curse would explain so much about the real historical place and period...
The proto-Caz might have alighted in some other country of the era, as I was especially interested in that cadre of men who rose from the middle classes to become the right hands of assorted kings and queens and wrangle the transition from medieval realms to more modern styles of nation-states. Walsingham, Cisneros, Richelieu, the ill-fated David Riccio, etc.
In general, potential ideas or settings don't do much for me till an interesting character arrives. Only then does a story come alive.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Gelis
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hello! I wanted to thank you first, you are one of my favourite authors. I discovered that I have trouble introducing miles to new readers. Cordelia's Honor works with women, but they want a Cordelia book after. Warriors Apprentice- a friend said, fun read, but she did not crave for the next book. it really had me thinking. Maybe Memory is a good start for readers who shy away from space opera?
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