Map

Final Map

The map of Andorah (an-door-ah) is finally finished, and I’m absolutely thrilled with the results. The artist did a fantastic job! If you look back to my previous posts, you’ll see the evolution – from my sketched version, to a digital rendition, to this final artists drawing. Take a look below (click to enlarge) and post a comment to let me know what you think.

Map Question

I showed the work-in-progress version of my map to several beta readers. Everyone really liked it and provided some great feedback. However, I was quite surprised to discover the range of interest readers have on maps in general. This varied from poring over in detail prior to starting a new book, to one reader who pretty much ignores maps entirely, preferring to visualize the world himself as he reads. What do you do? Which of the following best represents your view on maps while reading a new fantasy book (you can pick more than one)?

  1. I review the novel’s map in detail before starting, often looking for symbols or hints about the story
  2. I glance briefly at the map before reading
  3. I frequently refer to the map as I go
  4. I only occasionally refer to the map when needed
  5. I pretty much ignore the map entirely

Let me know by replying below. Thanks!

Map Progress

Received the first digital version of my map today and I’m thrilled with the results. The artist really did a terrific job converting my hand-drawn sketch into something amazing. I need to make some minor modifications, and add in a few extra features, but am looking forward to seeing the final result. I’ll post it once done, and you can take a look and let me know what you think.

Update: Here’s the work-in-progress version of the digital map (click to enlarge). Hope you like it!