Caldryn Parliament

Author: Jenny Schwartz

  • A Space of Our Own

    Last week I mentioned Patricia C Wrede, her fantasy novels, and their brilliant world-building. If you’re an author, let me recommend her advice on writing and world-building.

    But I also want to talk about world-building from a different perspective. In creating Caldryn Parliament and its Realm I deliberately set about building a safe space. There is danger in it, as well as heartbreak and grief. Nonetheless, it is a space removed from real life; one where I can guarantee a happy ever after.

    The intriguing aspect of a created safe space is that it becomes a place where we can play. Novels are where we safely explore and test ideas. In reading we become different people in different worlds making courageous decisions and surviving (at least in my books) to go on to new adventures.

    Underpinning this concept of a safe space is Foucault’s notion of heterotopia, of “other spaces”.

    Writing this post I took a deep breath, and then, opted for the sensible decision of providing you with a link to his thoughts on heterotopia rather than trying and failing to summarise them. This isn’t just intellectual inability or laziness on my part. The article I’m linking to gives so many jumping off points for understanding how the setting we choose for a novel frames the otherness of the story and contributes to what we explore.

    So, thank you to MIT for sharing the article. It is a pdf and will probably download automatically, so please be aware of this before clicking the link: https://web.mit.edu/allanmc/www/foucault1.pdf

  • Website Updates & Book Recommendations

    frog wearing a top hat

    I’ve added a trivia page to the site and I’ll update it sporadically. Some of the trivia will be relevant to future books. Other bits of trivia are just an overflow of world-building energy. Also up is the May 993 collection of snippets from Forum City News.

    Once again I’ve wildly overestimated the amount of time/energy I have in a day. Consequently, many of the things I’d hoped to add to the website haven’t happened this month. Fingers crossed that April is kinder to my plans.

    But I have managed to read some great books, including:

    Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith. I have no idea how I’ve missed reading this till now. It reminds me of Patricia C Wrede’s books; young, female protagonist in a brilliantly developed fantasy world. If that’s the kind of book you enjoy, I also recommend Andrea K Host’s Hunting.

    The Beast of Gloomenthrall by Jane Cousins – a romantasy with a lot of action and some violence.

    Spark the Flames by Ivy Asher – an even hotter romantasy!

    Grave Situation by Louisa Masters – gay romantasy with the crankiest, sweetest teacher/mage/reluctant hero protagonist.

    Return of the Runebound Professor series by Actus – progression fantasy (and another teacher hero)

    I also bought digital copies of a couple of my favourite books: House of Many Shadows by Barbara Michaels (also wrote as Elizabeth Peters – and if you haven’t discovered her Amelia Peabody books you’re missing out) and Year of the Griffin by Diana Wynne Jones.

    What have you been reading?

  • New Subgenres

    a cat flying a biplane watched by a cat on the ground

    Continuing my musing on what we can discover if we follow trends in the publishing industry, there’s currently a bit of chatter about the decline in the number of historical romance novels being acquired by traditional publishing. Apparently, historical romance authors are having to add other elements; that is, a bit of mystery, some paranormal shenanigans, even fantasy.

    Genre blurring has existed for ages in historical fiction.

    Look at steampunk, which never took off the way I thought it would. I don’t understand it. Re-imagining history is fascinating!

    But maybe steampunk added too much. Maybe the key to weaving history into a novel isn’t to ornament it with new things, but to hack away at it till a new vision emerges.

    Could the next big thing in historical fiction be important events told through an animal’s eyes? There is a lot of potential there. Say a cat intent on its feline activities but interrupted by its owner’s attempt to ::insert famous event, whatever it might be::

    Speaking of books from history…

    Janet Neel’s mystery novels are now available in ebook (she was also a British lawyer and a Peer in the House of Lords). They’re from the 1980s and 1990s, and so, they’ve become historical or vintage or retro or whatever you want to call the PAST THAT I REMEMBER! …ahem. Her books are beautifully written as well as well-plotted. I like some more than others. If you’re curious, you can dip into The Complete Wilson & McLeish Set.

    Similar blasts from the recent-ish past now available in ebook include mystery novels by Charlotte MacLeod and Marian Babson.

  • Heroic Revelations

    a wizard rescuing a kitten from a tree using magic

    If you study the publishing industry you can identify fascinating trends that reflect wider societal concerns. Romance novelists are important to watch. They’re astute analysts and forecasters of trends. Their heroes are an expression and response to readers’ hopes and fears.

    Alien heroes stand outside (human) society, unconstrained by our social norms.

    Paranormal heroes (werewolves, wizards, vampires) are a less extreme version of aliens. The paranormals challenge society and its systems (legal, political, and social).

    Farmers, cowboys, and doctors sustain and heal society. Theirs is a life of sacrifice, routine, and endurance.

    Mafia (anti) heroes navigate the corruption in the system. They aren’t outside society, but they play by different rules.

    Police and military heroes defend society.

    Hockey players and other sportstars and celebrity heroes express escaping ordinary life while staying true to it.

    I suspect there’ll be a new type of savior hero soon, one who redeems society by enforcing a moral code. I’m really curious what form this hero will take. Religious monk? Cult leader? Political activist? What’s your guess?

  • Writing Heroes. The New Moral Virtue of Clear-Sighted Self-Interest

    A drawing of an ordinary woman, dressed to shop in a mall, wandering screaming through a garden of oversized plants

    You’ve probably heard of a Mary Sue character (or the lesser known male version, Gary Stu). It’s the character who is perfect. They know everything, can do everything, and command everyone’s love and respect (in their fictional world). Anyone who challenges them is, obviously, a villain of the worst kind.

    They can be relaxing to read, especially when the author also offers them a plot that miraculously solves their problems.

    For example, confronted by a woman-eating carnivorous plant, Mary Sue has just the thing. Out of her purse she whips a spray bottle of non-toxic (to everything but this specific carnivorous plant), instantly effective weedkiller and directs a jet of it to the heart of the plant. Said plant shrivels into a repentant mess, its flowers bowing to the earth to worship Mary Sue, before it rots away into a rose-scented fertiliser which will grow the nicest strawberries next summer.

    What I’ve noticed recently about these obnoxiously good characters is that they’re morphing into heroes of a different type. They’re not perfect any longer, other than perfectly self-interested. As long as they pursue a path of pure self-interest, the plot bends to their brilliance.

    Litrpg contains some good examples. I’m assuming it’s because when you play a video game (the basis for this subgenre of science fiction and fantasy) you play to win. Therefore, self-interest is the guiding light.

    Somewhere along the way that guiding light has turned into the defining feature of this type of hero. Whatever the hero does is right and proper and, most of all, successful because it is done out of self-interest.

    However, if a different character acts in their own self-interest they are punished severely. Selfishness is a sin when directed against the hero, but a virtue when wielded by the hero.

    It’s a strange twist in storytelling. It used to be that you could craft a villain by giving them a single-minded obsession that they sacrificed everyone and everything, too. Now, that passionate conviction renders them the hero.

    Truly, we are writing in interesting times.

  • A Busy Week

    The cover of Stars Die (featuring a cubist painting of a parliament with a black silhouette of a woman in a trenchcoat in front of it) against a background of a luxury apartment overlooking a futuristic city

    Thanks for popping in for a visit. It feels a lot like you’ve dropped in for a cup of tea, and I’ve left you to wander in the garden while I jot down an idea before it escapes. For me, this website is a nice balance between being sociable as an author and losing myself in my writing. I’m glad you could join me.

    It’s been a very stressful few days. Release weeks are, but launching a new series takes it to a whole new level. Thank goodness you loved Stars Die. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your reviews. Not only do they prompt Amazon to put the book in front of more readers like you, but they encourage me to keep writing. I cannot express how much your reviews mean. Thank you.

    I’ve been reading I Ran Away to Evil by Mystic Neptune. It is as warmly comforting as a hug. To everyone who recommended it as cozy fantasy – you’re the best!

    The Dragon’s Gambit (Book 1, The Underkeepers) by Hankthemoose wasn’t as cozy, but it is an enjoyable progression fantasy. I like scrappy heroes who strive to grow, but also remain loyal to their friends.

    What have you been reading (apart from Stars Die, of course 😉 )?

    If you’re interested in the state of the publishing industry, Jane Friedman has been reporting on it for years. I’m subscribed to her paid newsletter and love seeing it arrive in my inbox. It’s always full of fascinating trends, opinions, and happenings. However, she’s also starting a free version. I’m not sure of the details, so I recommend checking out her website.

    Next week I hope to share a writing-related post. I have a topic in mind that’s been bothering me. LOL I’m generous like that. If it’s bothering me, I’ll share it with you 😉

  • New Release: Stars Die

    purple picture of a futuristic parliament house as the backdrop to the cover of Stars Die, featuring a cubist parliament house and a woman's silhouette

    Stars Die is out today! I am so freaking happy. This is the start of what I hope will be a wonderful journey. You have so many, many surprises ahead of you ::insert evil author laughter::

    To celebrate, I’m rewarding myself with a new book or four.

    I’m impatiently waiting for “Folk-Spelled” a Sherlock Holmes retelling by Forthright. It sounds fabulous. I’ll add a link as soon as I notice it go live.

    I’ve also pre-ordered the first book in Anne Bishop’s new series, An Isle of Wyrd. Turns of Fate looks amazing. Sadly, it’s not out till November.

    Fortunately, I only have to wait till June for Kate Elliott’s The Witch Roads. And I have a debut author’s book on pre-order for July because I couldn’t resist the title and concept, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy.

    “Books, glorious books…” to be sung to the tune of Oliver Twist’s “Food, glorious food!”

    Happy reading!

    P. S. Because it’s a release day, I’ve posted this a day later than when I hope to regularly blog – this is a note from the agitated admin part of my soul.

  • Revealing Secrets!

    Caldryn Parliament is the secret project I’ve been working on for so long. Have a look around. Explore! I’ve built this website while thinking about the Realm—how it works, the people in it, and the mysteries to be revealed.

    Stars Die is book 1. The ebook edition releases February 27 and is available for pre-order.

    In 2025 my goal is to release the first three books in this magic parliament mystery series as ebooks. They will be available in Kindle Unlimited.

    Audio and paperback editions are planned, but not my priority.

    If 2024 taught me anything, it’s that I can’t do everything I want all at once. Audiobooks and paperbacks will happen after I’m happy with the first three ebooks (or if I manage to clone myself or learn to function without sleep).

    One of the tasks I’m adding to my ever-growing to-do list is keeping this website up-to-date.

    The idea for caldryn.com is for it to be a place where I can share ideas relating to the series. Some of the ideas will make it into books and short stories. Others will just live here.

    I’m also going to use the blog as a place where we can chat. I know this plain blog set up is old-fashioned, but it works and I think I can manage it without being overwhelmed. So, we’ll give it a go. I’ll be opening up discussions about the world of Caldryn Parliament, but also about other books, writing, and the publishing industry.

    P.S. I’ve just noticed that this new template puts the comments section at the VERY bottom of the page, so please scroll down to join the conversation.