#and there’s a similar reference to that in one of the stories in Tortall and Other Lands

[raoulgoldenlake]

Love this! Tyra always struck me as Italy-like, but now that I’m thinking about it, I don’t know why. There may have been a reference to canals, or maybe I just wanted there to be an Italy stand in!

Seconding that the Bazhir seem to be based on nomadic groups in the Sahara Desert. The Amazigh people, for example and yes I did once write a fic with a similar premise.

My best guesses on which cultures/countries Tamora Pierce bases her places and peoples off of. Obviously these aren't perfect copies, but more of where the idea may have come from.

Tortall is definitely Europe. Knights, castles, European names like John and George, ect. Easy.

Bazhir Desert: this one is trickier. Very likely based on Arab deserts or the Sahara and the peoples who live there. It's very ambiguous, just a basic desert culture, not a ton of world building here, but it's been a long time since I've read the Lioness books.

Galla and Scanra: I believe these are both based off Northern countries, with Scanra definitely based on Viking culture. Galla is less so, more like Lithuania or Poland, but neither is Russia. We will get to Russia in a bit.

Sairen and K'miri: Definitely Mongolia and steppe people and place.

Roof of the World: Tibet

Carthak: Egypt. Definitely based on ancient Egypt. Crocodiles, hyenas, lots of gold and darker skinned people. Old, powerful and center of learning.

Yamani Islands: Japan. I don't need to elaborate.

Copper Isles: This one I think is a bit of a mix of Indonesia and Hawaii.

Now, for Circle of Magic! (aka the fun and interesting culture and worldbuilding)

Emelan and the Pebbled Sea: Definitely Mediterranean, but I'm not sure which. My best guess is a sorta Turkey/Persian influence. It's not as obvious as Tortall. I believe the Chandlers and Tris are from a more Italian culture, probably from a country up North, but close enough to border Emelan and making travel easy. The whole merchant family thing made me think of Italy.

Traders: Likely based of Roma/Romani people. Trading caravans and largely persecuted. Not an exact copy, but similar.

Namorn: Russia! Definitely Russia. Large empire, very cold, far north and uses vaguely Russian terms. Powerful and not to be messed with.

Tharios: This one was tricky and fascinating. Probably ancient Greece, but I believe there were some other influences. The world building was massive as the plot directly involved the culture of the city. We also view the city from the scholarly but judgemental eyes of Tris.

Chammur: My best guess is India. Briar is more concerned with gangs and Evy so he doesn't really let us see the city as well. But India seems like a fair bet.

Yanjing: China. No needed discussion here lol.

Gyongxe: I'm guessing Tibet, again. The Roof of the World was way too quick, so Im glad Tamora re-visited this culture in a better way. Who knows, the Shang Dragon was very Chinese inspired, maybe Alanna did travel that far and missed Briar, Rosethorn and Evy by a few years! I'm still firm in the belief that all the books are in the same world.

If you agree or disagree with my picks, feel free to comment and propose your own theories! Or if I missed a country.

[thewritershelpers]

I'm struggling to come up with a title for my story. I know what my story is about, I've done the planning, and I have the first few chapters done, but coming up with a title has left me with a massive goose egg. Any tips? Thank you!

Hi there!

First off, happy NaNo to anyone participating in any way/shape/form this year!

I think we sometimes forget that titles go through a process just like our actual writing. We get a little idea that turns into a big one but we end up scrapping it and twisting it into something else we’re not quite happy with but then we cute it and find something we like more….and the cycle goes on. Even if you come up with a title you love and it fits your story perfectly, it may not end up still working further on down the line due to a variety of reasons. So my first piece of advice is to not take the title too seriously. 

Titles can come from all sorts of places; it could be derived from your main character’s names or traits, it could stem from the conflict of the story, or it could be something more meta and/or abstract.

For example, Harry Potter. The series is just referred to as the Harry Potter series, but each individual book is “Harry Potter and…” followed by an object or person that’s important to that specific plot.

Then you have Twilight. Each of the books has similar titles (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, Midnight Sun) but those titles aren’t strictly tied to the content or conflict of the books. 

Sometimes your titles don’t always make sense until the end of the story. Take Tamora Pierce’s Tortall universe for example. Each of the quartets has an overarching title, and then each book has a separate title. The “Protector of the Small” series has an overarching title that makes sense from page 1, but also grows in depth and meaning as you progress through the books. Same with “Song of the Lioness”. 

Personally, coming up with a title depends on the project. My current WIP for NaNo has a title that probably won’t last once I start sharing it more because of how generic it is and how many businesses/other stories use it already. When I write fanfics, I try to be a little more dramatic/abstract and that means using a line from the fic itself or some sort of complex phrase that kind-of-barely-relates (titles of various things I’ve written, for example: Your Move, He Knows, Hesitation Lasts but a Moment, The Truths Plants Tell). 

Ultimately, it’s up to you how direct you want the title to be. Just don’t forget that the title isn’t permanent until you publish, and even then there’s room for an adjustment!

-S

[withickmire]

If you like Deltora Quest...

I love making book recs! Finals are here, and one of my procrastination outlets was to make a short list of book recs that people in our lovely fandom might enjoy. Although a couple of the series listed are high-fantasy, more are not, but still remind me of Deltora Quest based on similar themes. All of these recs are series, but I’ve just linked to the first book in each! 

The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver – These books are aimed at a younger audience than the rest of my list (though still older than DQ). I started them when I was twelve, and then kind of forgot about them, and picked them back up in high school where I fell in love. The series is set in Stone Age Europe, and begins with a boy named Torak, as he reluctantly fulfills a prophecy with the help of a wolf cub, and a hot-tempered girl named Renn. While the first book is good, I’d say the story really picks up after the second or third, where it becomes this beautiful, rich narrative full of incredible character development that expands over the course of a few years. It’s full of brilliant plot twists, emotional arcs, and beautiful relationships. Renn is definitely one of my favourite characters, and she carries some major shades of Jasmine. And Torak can talk to animals! If you like the darker, more emotional aspects of Deltora Quest, you might like this series!

Tortall Realm by Tamora Pierce – Tortall isn’t so much a series, but rather a universe where Pierce sets her books. Each individual series is quite self-contained, with references to the others, but you can really read each series in whatever order you like (though I recommend reading them chronologically). Pierce has built this incredibly vast medieval high-fantasy world, with a detailed geography, its own pantheon. All of her protagonists are remarkable women, strong in their own ways. My personal favourite heroine is Kel, the protagonist of the Protector of the Small quartet! Most of the series follow the heroines over a long period of time, so you get to see them become these amazing women. The books are full of magic, intrigue, very cool sword fights, and fascinating creatures.  

The Lynburn Legacy by Sarah Rees Brennan – This series is probably the most different from Deltora Quest of the ones listed here. But I am a sucker for found families, and this series has one of my favourite examples. It’s set in a small English town, full of buried secrets, and even deeper buried magic. On it’s own, the series is great! It’s full of magic, it has a wonderful protagonist, it’s full of hilarious dialogue. But it is the relationships between the characters that make it as special as it is. There are some great romantic relationships, but Brennan makes it clear that her focus is on the friendships, particularly of the protagonist, Kami, and her best friend, Angela. All of the characters have complicated relationships with their families, and wind up forming this lovely family of their own, who would (and sometimes do) sacrifice anything for each other. 

Graceling Realm by Kristen Cashore – Another expansive medieval high fantasy world. The books here can be read as stand-alones, particularly the first, but they work so much better together. The rules of the magic in this universe are really creative! Certain people are ‘Graced’ with singular magical abilities, that either cause them to be revered or hated. Katsa, the protagonist of the first book, has a Grace that enables her to torture and kill with just a touch. This might have caused her to be cast out or killed, but because of her highborn status, the king uses her as his personal executioner. The books are full of secrets that are uncovered, and powerful rulers that need to be overthrown and replaced. 

Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness – This series is actually science fiction, rather than fantasy. To be perfectly honest, I think the first book is just good, however, the second and third are mind-blowing. The series is set far, far in the future, after Earth has begun to colonize other planets. Todd is the last boy in a village full of men– the women had all died of an illness that left the men with the ability to experience each other’s thoughts. Todd eventually meets a girl, Viola, and his whole world changes. The first book has Todd and Viola on the run, constantly chased down by the men of Todd’s town. Along the way, they uncover horrible secrets, and undergo amazing character development. The second and third books are a really fascinating exploration of what people are capable of when they believe that anyone they chose to ‘other’ are somehow subhuman. The things that Todd and Viola do to keep each other safe are beautiful and heartbreaking. I see a bit of Lief in Todd, and there’s something about the tone of Ness’s writing that reminds me of the third series of Deltora Quest. There’s actually a movie being filmed right now starring Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley that I am… nervous and excited about.