I want to write children's stories using a real country, a southeast Asian country like Vietnam, Thailand or Cambodia. I was wondering is it okay to use a fictional Prince or do I have to use a character based on a real person i.e. a real prince? Normally, I realize that you can use fictional characters but a real country.....but we're talking about royal families-can they be fictional? Thanks for your help.
Is it Ok to write about a real country but a fictional Prince?
- Thread starter ESL
- Start date
Sure, why not have a fictional prince? I'm sure you'll need to have the usual note saying that he's fictional but there's no reason you couldn't do this. You could always set the story on Vietnam but call the country a different name if you felt like it. Like Nietvam 
Royal families can definitely be fictional.
I'd be very careful about writing anything about the real Thai royal family though as there's a lesse majestie offence in that country, whereby you can be imprisoned for anything that might insult the royal family. This is an offence that is litigated.
MM
I'd be very careful about writing anything about the real Thai royal family though as there's a lesse majestie offence in that country, whereby you can be imprisoned for anything that might insult the royal family. This is an offence that is litigated.
MM
It would most likely fit in the subgenre of alternate history, which can cross over into fantasy if you add in magical elements.
I will bet you that very few people can recite the names of the ancient kings of Ireland. Consider the prescident of King Arthur, which there is scant evidence, and most of that is fictional. How many people think King Arthur was a real king?
Oh, they can't do anything to someone in America. Can they? I don't think European royal families have jurisdiction over someone on another continent.
Do you have to literally say "Vietnam" or "Thailand" in your story to make it fit? It seems if you took all of the qualities of one of these countries, and made up a name, it would still work fine. I like the first person's suggestion re: a wordplay on the country you've decided on (Nietvam). Or, you could just say "A small country in southeast Asia" (or similar) and leave it open to interpretation.
I think you're getting way ahead of yourself, to be honest. Just write the book. If an agent or editor wants you change the name of the country, they'll let you know. But first you have to write a great story that'll get their interest.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Well it's an academic point given that no one here is writing about the Thai royal family, but there was a case earlier in the year of an Australian writer who wrote a book that mentioned a member of the Thai royal family in a way that the authorities took to be insulting. The writer was arrested (either while entering or trying to leave the country - I can't remember) and put on trial.
In theory, given that it's a criminal offence if a book was made available in Thailand that breached the offence, then the Thais could put in an extradition warrant to the US. Whether it would be honoured or not is subject to debate given that it's not easy to extradite someone from the US, but the potential is there.
MM