Dear Gentlereaders,
I do like to keep my promises. In my previous blog post I introduced my forthcoming novel BARON HARON TELLS HIS TALES. I labeled this novel a cozy romantasy. If you are not familiar with the term, let me refer you to that previous blog post.
I do like to keep my promises. In my previous blog post I introduced my forthcoming novel BARON HARON TELLS HIS TALES. I labeled this novel a cozy romantasy. If you are not familiar with the term, let me refer you to that previous blog post.
I mentioned how this novel came about. As the third book in a trilogy united by setting, this story follows the misadventures of the grown-up grandson of the narrator of the previous epic novel A TIME OF KINGS. On X just today, in responding to a promotional post, a would-be marketer asked me where the idea came from. I could refer that marketer to my blog post but that would be too easy. Instead, let me tell you the truth:
After the rough life that Prince Jack has in A TIME OF KINGS, I wished to write a kinder, gentler tale which featured another member of the Baumann family (no relation to the author). Therefore, I chose the baby in the final scene of that epic novel and let him grow into a fine young man: Haron.
You can read the transition here in the final page of A TIME OF KINGS (left) and the first page of the Prologue in BARON HARON TELLS HIS TALES (right); click image to enlarge:
I began writing BARON HARON during that interval when I let A TIME OF KINGS rest prior to the revision phase. It wasn't an idea I had during the writing of A TIME OF KINGS, but I did imagine some third novel to make a complete Medieval America Trilogy. All three books are set in the future America where medieval society is the norm. This is the result of everyone in America reading my FLU SEASON SAGA books and agreeing to play along with a pandemic that collapses society as we know it and with several attempts to rebuild yet failing, we finally rise to the level of medieval culture, featuring walled cities, dangerous outlands, a royal court and all manner of rogues, rapscallions, and ruses aplenty. Trust me: it makes perfect sense.
Into this medieval America of the future, say in the year 3095 - long after the War of the Five Princes in A TIME OF KINGS - come a young man full of promise but without much to speak of for his years. He seeks a wife to dote on, a woman who will bolster his baron title. Barring that he might as well go on a journey whereby he could gain adventures and tell about them once he returns home. Then he will gain attention and admiration and, perchance, woo woman and gain a wife.
Happenstance has Haron meet a farmer fellow of similar age named Stewt (supposed to be Stewart but the ink smeared on the registration parchment). Stewt offers to introduce Haron to his cousins. None suit Haron - but for one who has ambitions of her own: Nelda. A journey, you say? She will go along in hopes of finding a fit husband. And the three set out.
The way across the northern tiers of the Kingdom of Chicageaux into the less settled Ioway territory is where our story unfolds, with many mishaps, turnabouts, new companions, and horrors. The land has become wilderness, the remnants of a failed nation, far from the reach of Chicageaux - a place where being a baron on parchment carries no clout. Yet Haron learns to rise above his title and act for himself in often heroic ways, thus gaining the attention of Nelda.
The rest of the story is, as we may surmise from the 'cozy romantasy' label, already well-written. Now it is for you, dear gentlereader, to follow along for yourself and gain such entertainment that my next trilogy shall be set upon your calendar!
BARON HARON TELLS HIS TALES launches November 20 in paperback and for Kindle. Preorder for Kindle is now open.
Update on my next book. SAVAGES OF AMERICA is completed and undergoing revision. I expect it to be available in Spring 2027. Meanwhile, the second book in what will be a new trilogy which follows survivors of the future Yellowstone eruption, is underway and already 4 chapters in following the 50,000-word goal of this current November Novel Month effort. Thanks for your support!
(C) Copyright 2010-2026 by Stephen M. Swartz. All Rights Reserved. No part of this blog, whether text or image, may be used without me giving you written permission, except for brief excerpts that are accompanied by a link to this entire blog.
Violators shall be written into novels as characters who are killed off. Serious violators shall be identified and dealt with according to the laws of the United States of America.
