Crafting Immersive and Historical Settings
Is it important to be historically accurate in Ensemble HaremLit? That depends 😘
I like the feel of real history for my stories. How historic events are part of them, or how specific details hint at a location. Let me to give you a few examples:
In Merchant Zayed’s Harem Adventures there is no real history. I use the 1001 Nights as inspiration. That means that the story takes place in Persia at around 1000 AD. I try to calculate distances to get a feel of how long voyages take. The names of the places are real. Even the dynasty that Atossa belongs to is historical. The sweet Sekanjabin syrup is an actual drink from that period and from that region. Somehow, I believe that these details make my worlds come to life.
In The Valentine Empress, I’ve created an entirely new world. The look and feel, I was aiming for is late medieval Europe. The period when magic and science mix and there are first traces of Enlightenment. The story is set in the Plyterre Dominion. I wanted it to be like France and Great Britain with its court intrigues. I modeled the Autradian Dynasty on a combination of Austria and Hungary. The ambassador’s name Lumnije Juhász is supposed to give an East European feel. Walchelin Baron Venrock has ancestry in the Belgirian Kingdom, which I thought would sound like Belgium. For such a short stoy, I think I have too many characters, but I needed them all for the mystery/court intrigue.
Prospector Finch’s Harem Adventures is even more ambitious. In it, I made an even deeper mix of history, fiction and science fiction. Readers have told me that it is a tough read. I guess they’re right. It’s more of a science fiction story with steamy bits than the more accessible HaremLit stories. Although I try to stay true to the actual historical occurrences, I fiddle with some dates. For example, in Belleville, Finch and Adelheid attend a reading of Five Weeks in a Balloon by the author Jules Verne. That story was written a few years later. I was writing about airships so, I introduced this fantastic author as an inspiration. There are more liberties in the dates, but I tried to stay as close as I can to the actual history.
What I loved doing is trying to find ways so that Finch can marry the harem companions who want to. In a fictional setting, it wouldn’t be a problem, but I wanted the social rules to apply. Charlotte, Adelheid and Gayatri all have a real wedding. I speculated that a small announcement in a newspaper in Germany wouldn’t reach the US. Even a grand wedding in one of the kingdoms in India wouldn’t attract attention. So, I felt those were safe to do. Once Finch wants to marry Lydia or Constantia, their ties to San Francisco will make that challenging to hide. In the final part of Prospector Finch’s Harem Adventures, I hope to find clever ways to make it possible anyway. I hope you will like them.
For me, the world building is about historic events, specific details, and interesting customs. They all help transport you, my readers, into the narrative and help you feel the story come alive with depth and authenticity.
Ensemble HaremLit Musings
Introducing Ensemble HaremLit
Introducing Ensemble HaremLit – One man, fabulous harem companions, multiple points-of-view
Read On
Exploring the Complexities of Ensemble HaremLit
In this post, I delve into the intricate relationships and character dynamics that make Ensemble HaremLit stand out from traditional HaremLit stories.
Read On Balancing Intimacy and Intrigue
As an Ensemble HaremLit author, I’m constantly juggling the delicate balance between intimate character moments and high-stakes plot developments.
Read On Memorable Harem Companions
As an Ensemble HaremLit author, I want interesting and relatable harem companions for my readers. People who enjoy my stories should root for some companions and maybe even fall in love with them. Because they are all different, I don’t expect them to fall in love with all them the way the main protagonist does. Or do you?
Read On World-Building in Ensemble HaremLit
Is it important to be historically accurate in Ensemble HaremLit? That depends 😘
I like the feel of real history for my stories. How historic events are part of them, or how specific details hint at a location.
Ensemble HaremLit and Holidays
As we approach the holiday season, many of us are faced with the daunting task of navigating complex family dynamics and relationships. So, how does a guy with a harem do this? In Ensemble HaremLit, multiple points-of-view can make this especially challenging and fun.
Read On Distilling HaremLit Elements
As I prepare to embark on my new series set in mysterious China, I find myself thinking about the essential elements that make different HaremLit subgenres work. Like a master chef selecting the finest ingredients, I want to take the most compelling aspects of each genre and blend them into something fresh and exciting. Let me share my creative recipe with you.
Read On Serializing Ensemble HaremLit
As I continue to write and publish my Ensemble HaremLit stories, I’ve been thinking a lot about the format and how I can best deliver these complex, character-driven tales to my readers. Compared to other Haremlit, Ensemble HaremLit packs a lot – multiple plot threads, complex character relationships, and a rich, detailed world to explore. That’s why I’m considering a new approach: serializing.
Read On Behind the Scenes of The Three Tiffanys
Join me as I reveal how The Three Tiffanys brings 1920s Arabia to life. From the bustling pearl markets of Ras Al Qummah to the intricate politics of Farouz’s harem, discover how historical details and cultural nuances shape our characters’ world.
Read On The Three Quests of Ensemble HaremLit
In Ensemble HaremLit, the harem companions are more than just love interests – they’re fully fleshed-out characters with their own motivations, desires, and challenges. One way to create this depth is by giving each harem companion three quests.
Read On Companions Who Leave the Harem
In a genre where companions rarely leave, I made a different choice in the Finch Trilogy. Some left. One returned. And all of them reshaped the story. Here’s why I did it.
They may be gone from Finch’s life, but they’re never gone from mine. Writing them changed the story. Losing them changed me.
HaremLit: What a Great Genre
When I started writing HaremLit, I wondered why? Did I have a new take on the formula: one great guy, multiple beautiful women who are drawn to his exceptional qualities, have lots of sex, and shape destiny. When I started reading HaremLit, this was tried-and-true approach that clearly works.
So what could I possibly add to all that?
Villains in Ensemble HaremLit
In Ensemble HaremLit, where emotional arcs, companion quests, and complex relationships take center stage, it’s easy to forget how important a strong antagonist can be. But trust me: nothing tests the bonds of love, loyalty, and lust like a credible threat.
And no, I’m not talking about moustache-twirling supervillains or cackling madmen. My villains tend to be… well, people.
Do All Companions Need to Stay?
In Ensemble HaremLit, where emotional arcs, companion quests, and complex relationships take center stage, it’s easy to forget how important a strong antagonist can be. But trust me: nothing tests the bonds of love, loyalty, and lust like a credible threat.
And no, I’m not talking about moustache-twirling supervillains or cackling madmen. My villains tend to be… well, people.
Why I Write Across Genres
I have a confession: I can’t stay in one genre. I’m a wanderer, a time-traveler, a hopeless romantic who falls in love with every era I visit.
Read On
–Tiffany