Mitali

Mitali asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Does the Duchy of Orbas correspond to a specific real-world place? I have asssumed it to be vaguely based on the various Balkan countries, positioned as it is to the south of Cedonia, which appears to be based on Greece (in your inverted version of Europe). Do you have a more specific inspiration for Orbas? And ditto for the city of Vilnoc?

Lois McMaster Bujold This fantasy geography is inspired by but by no means identical to our-world, but I frequently use our world the way an artist uses reference photos, as a quick way of getting the proportions right. With that caution... Orbas would be in the western Balkans, on the Adriatic coast; Croatia roughly. (That "roughly" matters.)

Vilnoc follows more-or-less logically, drawn somewhat freehand and from what I've learned about assorted ancient and medieval Mediterranean cities.

Ta, L.

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Jean Lant

Jean Lant asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Happy New Year Lois. My question is that I have recently published my first book (Redemption My Father's Story) and I used Covenant Books Publishing. The editing is terrible. It's distracting to the reader. I just am at a loss of how to handle this and could use some advice. I know that they sent it to me for approval and I regret that. I'm in no way an editor and I told them that. Any thoughts, please?

Donna Brown

Donna Brown asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Is there a short story or something between the Orphans of Raspay and the Physicians of Vilnoc? There are references in the text of Vilnoc that make me feel like I'm missing something and I went back and re-read from Penric's Mission forward.

Erin Kellison

Erin Kellison asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

My mother and I share a love of your books. I have all of your Penric novellas in ebook, but she only reads print. I would love to give her the novellas for her 80th bday, but Penric's Demon is not in print...so I can't even get her started. Do you know if it is going to be back in print any time soon? I have searched online and can only find one used copy for $190...which is a little out of my price range :)

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Lois McMaster Bujold

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