Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘Writing’

The sometimes lonely art of writing books

Posted in A writer's life, Creative passion, Indie Publishing, Life, the universe and everthing, reviews, science fiction, SF romance, tagged , , , , , , , , on September 9, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Sometimes writing books is yelling into a void. Maybe it is an indie publishing thing. You know, at least in the traditional model, you might have an agent that says, well done or an editor that says they like your book, and marketing obviously like it and the booksellers have ordered it and maybe you get sales and reviews. You might get book blurbed by another author, a famous one, and that will go on the cover or in the end pages.

The indie model is a little bit more fraught, I think. I have beta readers and they might say-this is good- or I liked it- along with comments to fix things that aren’t working as well. An editor might say that they enjoyed it, but here you are paying them so can you believe that? Maybe, they don’t have to say that after all. Goodness I sound paranoid as all hell. Well no false modesty there!

But the real proof is in books selling and book reviews and ratings. Sometimes there is this nerve wracking period where they are no reviews. Just crickets! And honestly, reviews were more the thing say ten years ago. I had heaps of reviews for Shatterwing, but once retailers bought in ratings, you get them instead of textual reviews, if the person comes back to give you a rating. Also, people used to review books. I haven’t stuck my nose in because it’s become one of those things that people want money for and once you start paying, retailers like Amazon will shut you down. No paid reviews. And honestly, review blogs have been replaced by Booktok and well I haven’t really got my head around that.

BTW I stay away from Goodreads mostly because it’s kind of a cess pit, although there are some great reviews in there and I love aspects of it but it can be hard going.

On Apple Books just now I saw someone had given The Founders’ Legacy a three star rating. I think it’s great that someone rated it. But as a writer, I’m craving dialogue, what did they like? what did they hate? what did they think? There are no other reviews. Anyway, I shall twiddle my thumbs and wait.

This is probably because The Founders’ Legacy is a thinky SF book and it’s going to be divisive I think. It’s sort of in the book banning category in the USA kind of thing because it’s talking about gender, equality, gender roles and it’s not an easy read because of the pronouns (single non-gendered pronouns). Dr Craig Cormick who did the launch speech said it ‘does your head in’ and it’s meant to do that. In that way, it’s not like my normal novels, which are action and adventure and story and meant for fun.

Anyway, if you have read The Founders’ Legacy, please leave a review and or rate it where you bought it. Or blog, or post or make some noise. That is really, really helpful.

The reality is this book isn’t going to be on bookshelves. People aren’t going to be drawn to the pretty cover, the internal decorations, the back cover blurb. That’s the reality of indie publishing. While I have set a recommended retail price, the price at book retailers is really high. I think Amazon has the paperback for $47!! Anyway, there is a buy direct link on my website where you can get it at the RRP of $30.00 including the gst.

By the way, the ebook of The Founders’ Legacy is currently 99 cents for September. Here is the link This is a universal link that should take you to your preferred ebook retailer.

One last thing, I have been doing a lot of book events this last year or so. What is fun and interesting is return readers. I am surprised sometimes when a reader says, I read that and that. What can I read next? So awesome. Also feedback. For example, I was at an event in Newcastle a few months back and a reader said she’d really like more space pirate stories. I do have one in mind and they sell okay at book events, but yeah colour me surprised. They are rather fun and uplifting I think.

And another interesting thing for me, is The Silverlands series. I have the box set on Kobo and Apple Books and it is my best seller on Kobo Plus. Go figure. It was my first fantasy series I wrote, first series to indie publish and sometimes I think it’s the poor sister, but I don’t know some people really like it. It would be more romantasy these days because it has three romantic relationships, and a coming of age thing, and well my favourite hero ever, Oakheart. Now that Amazon have altered their pricing I may put the box set up there too.

Anyway, I should stop looking at what is happening with The Founders’ Legacy and get on with other stuff. Gentleman Magician goes live tomorrow. I have Amethyst Way in progress and another book I’m meant to be restructuring. Mind you I have hurt my back shifting a desk and that has dented my ability to sit at the desk quite a bit. So while I feel sorry for myself, I shall blog!

Read Full Post »

Upcoming appearances and Pre-order forms

Posted in A writer's life, author appearances, Author signing event, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 4, 2026| Leave a Comment »

I have a number of appearances coming up in September and October and some early next year.

First up, a late invite to Oz-Comicon in Sydney next weekend for Matthew Farrer and me (12-13 September). Matthew will be up for talking about Warhammer 40K writing, other game writing that he does. He won’t have stuff to sell but he might have QR codes.

I’ll be up for talking about books or selling books or signing books or saying hi.

Oz-Comicon pre-order form is here. It will open on a new tab. Pre-orders work if you are in a hurry and it’s crazy busy at the convention. Also, you can get a preview of what might be on offer but I may not bring all my stock.

Next up is Books and Beyond in Ourimbah, NSW on 27 September, 2026. This is a great book event. Here is the link to the website. Here. Free entry and indie authors of all kinds. It’s a cute space too, with a cafe and next to a massive hardware store. The pre-order link is here.

Then in October we have Once Upon a Fairytale, October 10 in Campbelltown. A first time event, which looks to have sold out, but do check for tickets. The pre-order form is here.

Then there is the Steampunk Fair in Goulburn. I’m so looking forward to two days and I’ll be dressing up. I’m hoping to make a new costume but mmm time is getting away from me. The pre order form link is here.

Then a big one Books in Sight in Canberra. I don’t think there’s been one here before. There is a typo in this ad so I’m waiting for a new one. Pre-order link is here.

In 2027 I have a couple of early appearances.

First up is Orchards and Authors in Batlow. I have never been to Batlow. It’s not far from Canberra and the event seems so fascinating. Here is a little about the event. My pre order link is here. Why not step out and check out Batlow and the Apple Thief Cider place?

And then on 14 March, it is Romantic Rendezvous time in Canberra! I’m so excited! My pre-order form is here. Although I may have yet another book or two before then so keep checking back.

That is it for now. I am looking forward to a rest in November and December!

Read Full Post »

Back home and launching books

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »

It was always going to be a tight squeeze, getting home to Canberra and also doing the leg work for my physical book launch for The Founders’ Legacy. So home to Canberra Saturday evening and Sunday to start cleaning and such and then Monday evening the launch. The only hiccup was the cupcakes but they ended up being delivered and everything went off smoothly.

The venue upstairs at Smiths Alternative was so cute. Very shabby chic!

Matthew and I got there in time to set up and relax a bit. I’d been tense all day, worried about the launch and reading aloud. I need not have worried because everyone is a friend.

Dr Craig Cormick did the launch speech and did a bang up job. He talked about the book, tackling gender and genderless pronouns and how reading does your head in, but does it in in a good way. I did read a bit from the beginning. There was a bar and that made most people really happy as we had a bar tender. The cup cakes went down a treat too.

My daughter took that shot and I think it is really good. Many thanks to Canberra Cupcakes. My first time with a book cover image topper thing.

Here is a picture of me and Craig waving books around.

You will note I’m wearing a toy stethoscope for me being a Dr Donna Hanson. Craig always comes up with clever gags. Thank you Craig.

Photos by Cat Sparks and Erana McCoy.

Matthew manned the book table and I manned the signing table. It was a really fun evening as many of my friends know each other so they caught up.

I am very grateful for the venue and every one who came along. I really did have a fun evening. Matthew and I slunk off afterwards to eat dumplings at CBD in Civic.

If you missed the launch and want a copy of the book, do let me know. I take paypal and can deliver to Canberra.

Otherwise, you can order directly from the printer. They print in Australia, the UK and the USA.

The Founders’ Legacy

Hanson, Donna Maree

Buy Now

Oh in other news, there is currently a special on the ebook. The Founders’ Legacy is $0.99 for September. Link here.

There is more book news in the next post.

Read Full Post »

It’s me again

Posted in A writer's life, am wrinting, Creative passion, Life, the universe and everthing, Singapore, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

My last day in Singapore.

I reached 30,000 words on Amethyst Way, Cry Havoc Book 5, which is not too shabby. I’m very excited about this.

With Gentleman Magician, Cry Havoc Novella, I’m waiting on feedback from Matthew on the blurb. I need to blurb to create entries of the National Library and the ISBNs and preorders and so on.

Now I have reached my goal, I’m about to head out to do some gift shopping and we might eat out for my last night here. At present I still have to pack but all my clothes are on the bed waiting to be stuffed around gifts and things.

In other world news, there are terrible floods in Nepal, which are awful and bring back horrible memories of the Boxing Day tsunami. I was not affected directly, just emotionally by that disaster. Climate change disaster!

As well as Dolly Parton passing away, Tim Curry has joined her. More icons falling.

In the old days of Live Journal I used to blog about life and stuff. And I’ve been thinking about this recently, particular AI and it’s impact. My writer brain goes into story mode and I toss ideas around. The trouble is those thoughts are scary.

My latest thought is that our children or grandchildren or even ourselves will have to pay for knowledge. At present, you Google something and the AI comes back you, offering help and so on. But when we are all dependent on AI, and our children can no longer think for themselves, the billionaires may start charging us for knowledge, for information.

Information that was created by humans, created by us and that is mostly free.

That’s a bit scary right. Then, what about AI changing information and us losing our history. How will we know what is right and what is wrong?

My answer? Librarians and books. Real, analogue books. But what if they disappear as wekk? What if we can no longer learn from history because that history has been rewritten and knowledge is transactional on a fee for service basis. I am sure someone has written a book like this already.

It sucks to be a writer sometimes because the brain goes to weird places.

Read Full Post »

The Countdown Begins!

Posted in A writer's life, Food overdose, Life, the universe and everthing, new release, Singapore, Writing, tagged , , , , , on August 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Today is Tuesday and I fly out very early Friday morning to return to Australia. My last full day is Thursday. I have mixed feelings, of course. I love hanging out with my son and my daughter-in-law and I love being in Singapore. I also miss home, my partner and my family and friends. We need instantaneous travel right now so I can see family and friends everyday. I’d probably need one of those time slowing devices as well to fit all that visiting into a day. Mmm.

I’ve spent a bit of time here, writing and working on writing administration tasks. I’ve mixed that up with trips to malls, the grocery stores and restaurants and cafes and a museum. I’ve caught up a couple of times with Singaporean friends. I’ve bought local books! I’ve visit Don Don Donki a lot and bought some interesting snacks. One of my daughter-in-law’s favourite things is to go to Fair Price on the weekend to buy fresh prawns. They have other live seafood too, but it’s the prawns that are the favourite. I am allergic to fish so my darling kids don’t eat it when I’m around, even though I don’t mind if they do.

I had a sinus thing that lasted for about a week and really made me suffer. I’m great now and I am surprised how much energy I have. My daughter-in-law makes sure I eat well. (low salt, low fat, low sugar). She cooked up another feast last night. She always cooks some kind of soup (broth) with herbs or fungus and so on. I felt so full even though by volume it’s much less than I eat at home. This visit has brought home to me how much we eat at home, how much meat and carbs. I like how with Chinese culture the food is shared. Even if we eat a western type meal, Ferdi and I will swap and share as much as we can. Restaurants here don’t blink if you ask for share plates. I hope to take away a few of these habits so Matthew better watch out that we might be sharing meals instead of feeling obliged to eat everything on the plate.

I have exercised in the pool every day except for two days due to sickness. According to Google that is about 250 calories burned per day. However, I use the pool exercise to trim and tone muscle, exercise my core and work on my knees. A trip to anywhere via MRT (Metro) uses around 5000 steps. More if there is a mall and looking for things. I’m going to head out to the supermarket later as I’m cooking tonight. On the menu is crispy pork belly. (this is high fat and salt but I’m not making a huge amount). What that all equates to is that I’ve lost 3 kilos. Probably fluid mostly. I think I would have lost more but now that I’m well, I’m eating more. The week I was sick by daughter-in-law despaired of me. I had no appetite and she had to cook inventively to encourage me to eat. New discovery for me is these long green chili things that have very little heat and taste great with stir fry pork and garlic. I tried this at Xiang Xiang restaurant. I don’t know their name but I will have to go looking for them. Google tells me they are called Chinese Screw Pepper.

On Sunday, which was my last Sunday here, we chilled by the pool then took the gondola from Mt Faber (not Barker) across to Sentosa and then the Sentosa one. We went to the Bikini Bar where we had a drink because it was hot and then walked around a bit. We went over 10, 000 steps just on Sentosa as we took a car to Mt Faber (not Barker!) and back. It was lovely just to forget stuff and hang out. We had Xiao Long Bao which were yummy. We tried crab ones as well and mmm well not as nice and very fishy tasting. We also bought some Pierre Herme macarons. Very yummy and tres cher. By the time we got home we were all very tired.

I do have some reflections that don’t relate to food and shopping. That is live in the moment. This might seem kind of weird but when I see an old woman, maybe 80-90 walking slowly or an elder person in their mobility scooter, I think, they are lucky because they made it to that age. I guess recent loss affects my thinking. Russell Kirkpatrick was a year younger than me. However I have been thinking like that for a while. You can’t take your good health for granted. You can’t demand that you live to 100. You have to live in the moment, do the best you can and look after yourself. Don’t do stupid things. I’m 66 and reasonably healthy but I have liver problems and I had eye issues last year. I don’t know what the future holds for me but I can live today and hope to be here tomorrow. As I begin leaving Singapore, I can’t assume that I’ll come back here and things will be the same. I can’t assume I’ll come back. I hope I will. I know I leave part of my heart here with my son and daughter-in-law and I wish them happiness and health.

What fascinates me most about Singapore is what they have achieved as a country. The rich cultures here also make the country unique. Of course, there are many places that have a similar cultural mix (hello result of British colonisation) but Singapore do it with purpose.

Okay well that was a bit deep, even for me. So on the writing front. Yesterday I finished taking up the edits on Gentleman Magician and now I need to read it through aloud. That might take a couple of days. I also need to register ISBNs and what not that will take a few hours. I am also at 24,500 words on Amethyst Way. I was hoping to get to 30,000 words before I get home. But here I am blogging instead of writing!

Overall, I am happy with what I have achieved on the writing front, given I was behind when I got here.

Edit: I made it to 26,000 words and then got a migraine so I did not cook.

Read Full Post »

Spicing things up on the writing front

Posted in A writer's life, am wrinting, Edits, fantasy, general excitement, new release, self publishing, Steampunk, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 20, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, Amethyst Way word count increased to 20,000 words. All that pool inspiration is working. I have a lot more to do just to jazz up the three scenes I have targeted. But, the edits for Gentleman Magician have come in and this morning I diverted to them. Not that I’m racing to get it out the door and published as that takes a bit of work.

I publish wide and a do a print version so this means I have ISBNs to assign, which in turn means I need to work on a blurb and assign the different ISBNs. Admin work, but still work.

I need to register the book with the National Library of Australia so it makes the catalogue.

If I do a preorder, which I can as I have all the things I need, I would then need to register the book on all my sales platforms and that takes more time. More admin. I would also then need to do the layout, which in Vellum is pretty easy, except I have to do things like write author notes, update also buy links and well more admin.

Then there is the proofreading. This time I will do this myself by reading the story aloud. I had a good copy edit so am confident that the MS is pretty clean. This may take a while because I hate people hearing me read aloud. Go figure. But if I sent it for a proofread I would need to book it in and wait a couple of weeks or more for the proof to be completed, then take up the changes.

Then when I am happy I will upload the final manuscript to all the ebook retailers. And then I will know the physical page count so I can do my cover template to send to the cover designer. Then when she sends me the cover, I am ready to upload the print book. The printer (Ingram Sparks) does an eproof and then I can hit print if everything is okay.

Then there is announcements, soft launches, ordering copies and so on.

Admin is the opposite of creativity! Like doing your taxes while trying to draft a massive fantasy novel. For me, admin is the pits and the bane of creativity. I don’t know why because I was a public servant and they live for admin! Hahaha!

I also have some logistics for the physical book launch of The Founders’ Legacy in Canberra upon my return.

However, nothing compares to a good new book unboxing. You find most authors will show photos, videos, post you name it. Because their baby is born. Anyway, it is possible, Gentleman Magician will be out in the world mid-September. In time for Books and Beyond in Ourimbah or Ozcomicon in Sydney earlier.

It is official. I’m excited. Here is the awesome cover again.

Read Full Post »

The Magic of Water

Posted in A writer's life, inspiration, Zen zone, tagged , , , , on August 19, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Today I had a whole hour in the pool, gently exercising and occasionally engaging my core. And then, what I had been waiting for occurred. My zen zone inspiration beamed in. Walking back and forth in the pool is pretty boring but it’s the right kind of activity to kick the zen zone into gear. I had been lamenting its absence. But there it was.

Yesterday I had a few scenes in my head and I wrote them down. I knew I would be reworking them because that just seems to be the way I work. Sketch out a scene, go back and tweak the dialogue, add thoughts, scenery and so on. About 3 am an idea came to me about one of the scenes I wrote and I hurried to write it down, even though I kept saying to myself you won’t forget this. But I’m 66 years old. I forgot stuff like what did I walk into this room and what was the name of that character I invented and what was that scene I thought was great. So writing down.

Anyway, in the pool my brain went into hyperdrive–ideas, tensions, actions, dialogue, consequences all coming out. Basically, the upshot is–Don’t be so pedestrian. Give those ladies are very hard time. Make them suffer. do this. And remember this and do that. So, of course, I’m writing a blog post.

As my excuse I have not had a coffee yet.

Also other ideas that came to mind were…don’t give up on yourself. You can do this. All by yourself if you need to.

Read Full Post »

The funnel path

Posted in A writer's life, am wrinting, Food overdose, Singapore, Travel, tagged , , , , on August 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »

When I came to Singapore this time, I thought it was a long time, but it is going very quickly indeed. I’m in the funnel path to head back to Australia. Technically, the 27th will be my last day as I get up at some incredibly early time to catch a 7.15 am flight on the 28th. Nine days left. My son gets back from his work trip tomorrow, so yay!

I’ve been a bit sick-not sick, sick, just you know a sinus/cold thing that made me pretty miserable, particularly, yesterday. (Neg RATS) (I think it picked it up at the cinema!)Today at least I felt well enough for some gentle exercise in the pool. I think I have trimmed a few kilos during my stay. I have a fatty liver and liver inflammation so I have to lose some weight and change my eating habits. Luckily, Ferdi advises me when we eat out and cooks really lean and less salty food when at home. The last couple of days she has cooked feasts! I shall share photos. Things my daughter-in-law and I planned went on hiatus and maybe we can revive some of those plans. I believe the deluxe hair spa will open up again before I leave.

On the writing front, slow progress compared to normal me. 16,000 words into Amethyst Way with scenes in my head fighting over their placement. A good thing you can select sections and relocate them in a document without too much fuss. If I had more energy I could get back onto restructuring and revising Tainted Lady, but it appears my energy is on holiday somewhere. I still write everyday about 1000 words.

And what did I mean about a funnel? Well, I have one weekend left and my son, some friends work 9-5 so that is the last opportunity to meet people and get together. There is a YumCha lined up for Saturday so that’s excellent.

When I get back to Canberra, I shall be working logistics for my first physical book launch in an age. Years, and years. I am very grateful that Dr Craig Cormick has agreed to launch The Founders’ Legacy.

Now some awesome food photos.

This was dinner, the first day I was pretty incapacitated by a cold/sinus. Ferdi went to get live prawns. We already bought this delicious pineapple. I must mention the soup. Soup is a must.

Next was lunch the day after. We don’t normally have such big lunches, but there were left overs from the above.

The prawn leftovers were mixed with squid, and the egg omelette had snake beans in it.

Then last night!

Steamed egg with tofu, Japanese curry chicken with potatoes and beef ball and broccoli and mixed fruit, including flat peaches that were divine.

Thank you Ferdi. I think we can eat out tonight so you can take a break from looking after me.

Read Full Post »

Amazing cultural differences insight

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 15, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, I was bumming around on Instagram, when I caught sight of one of the channels I watch fairly regularly. It’s a big tall English guy, Isaac, married to a Chinese woman with kids and in laws. He has some really interesting posts. This one was about washing shoes in the washing machine, which led to a whole conversation with my daughter-in-law. The Instagram channel is @fisherzhangs_in_china and the post was about their new washing machine, Chinese designed and made, Little Swan Xiao Wu Mei Multi-drum laundry room with dedicated shoe-washing drawer.

So I started commenting on the post and Ferdi, my D-I-L says yes, I was so surprised when I saw you put your runners in your washing machine when I first went to Australia. Now, I have to admit that when Ferdi and my son first came to stay just after they got married and Covid allowed them to travel, I thought Ferdi was germ phobic. You know with Covid and all that, who wouldn’t be.

She was very particular, used disinfectant in the washing machine, cleaned her phone screen with alcohol wipes, every day (maybe more often)-(this habit I have adopted because eeww! phone screens and germs). Also, even with things that go in the fridge. Uncovered things etc. Nope.

But last night, the whole cultural difference was pulled out and explored. Chinese people wash their underwear separately. They also wash socks separately and then the clothes go together. I haven’t asked about towels and stuff but I will. I tend to wash towels together so I’m not completely ick!

She explained how Taamati now sorts the washing like a Chinese person and that they have three baskets for underwear, socks and then clothes. How did I not know this?

Here is me, time poor, generally, just shoving whatever into our large 10kg front loader. I mean separating the whites from the darks is hard enough but, this information has me reconsidering.

There is definitely a logic behind it all.

Ferdi says most people will probably handwash their underwear but they would not put shoes in the washing machine. According to Isaac’s relatives, you send your shoes to a shoe cleaning shop or clean kids shoes with a brush.

Now the Little Swan has a shoe cleaning drawer!

Ferdi and I popped onto Tao Bao to look up the washing machine, which probably costs around $2000 Singaporean. We even called Taamati, who is currently in Shanghai and he’s like -not until we buy a house. It’s a very cool looking machine. I think I can find a link for laundry eye candy. Link here.

Anyway, what a clever thing.

While we were on the call, Taamati showed us the hotel toilet, which the lid opens when you walk in. It’s a Japanese style one with bidet etc. Everything is button controlled and you don’t touch the toilet except with your butt I suppose.

Generally we ended the conversation on how clever the Chinese are.

But for me, it made me understand how little things, like how you wash your clothes (and shoes) can create barriers to understanding and expose cultural differences.

Also, how cool is my daughter-in-law because our family is completely weird and non-traditional compared to Chinese families and culture and she is very open minded, even when I weird her out by washing my runners in the family washing machine. I had been thinking this before we discussed laundering methods, btww.

There is probably a lot more cultural differences to flesh out between us.

Read Full Post »

Mad about maps

Posted in A writer's life, am wrinting, Creative passion, Maps, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 14, 2026| Leave a Comment »

In a recent post, I talked about losing Russell Kirkpatrick. Yesterday, I dug up the maps he made for my books over the years.

I remember him telling me to draw a map and on one visit to Australia from NZ I showed him my hand drawn map of Argenterra, of which I was very proud. Of course, it was a bit like the expression his family included in their powerpoint about Russell at the memorial. “That’s terrible. I appreciate the effort.”

Although he may have been a bit more scathing. Lol. (I do really suck at this map thing). He was ‘Mad about Maps’ and I think his Twitter handle was ‘Insane Mapboy’ and you can imagine him seeing my pitiful drawing compared the carefully crafted maps he drew for his books. They were real places to him, everything considered carefully, cause and effect, geography, perfectly envisioned. And there’s me with a map, my head in a story and not really able to imagine and draw the place as well as him. However, he was helpful and liked to instruct.

The map helped me navigate the land in the Silverlands series and he sat with me to talk about naming conventions and how languages changed over time. I had a place called Two Rivers Meet and he said that it would be better as Trivers Meet or something similar. He also talked about some place names and from whose perspective they were named from. It was an incredibly helpful discussion and he also helped me flesh out a few things about the geography. He also prompted me to give the place a few more names so it wasn’t just empty in places. I also had the Lake of Reflections drawn way to big!

This is the map of Argenterra he did for me, based on my drawing but with extensive Russell improvements.

The next set of maps we worked on were Dragon Wine maps, three in total. It wasn’t a matter of just handing him a rough drawing. No, I had to sit with him and learn stuff too. Dragon Wine opens in Shatterwing at the prison vineyard and this is how we envisioned it. It was Russell’s idea to have the vineyard broken into types of grapes and we also had fun naming the rivers and things to fit in with what I had mentioned in the book. This map was included in the Pan Macmillian version of the book but somehow slipped out of my self published version. I’ll be fixing that soon.

The other map pertinent to the first and second books, Shatterwing and Skywatcher, is the map of the Sartell region. They also work for Nightwings and Bloodstorm. It also shows where the prison vineyard is, where the observatory is and Vanden town as well as Sartell. Some of these places are explored in the rest of the series.

For the last two books, I needed a map of the whole world of Margra. As it was post-apocalyptic, after a moon fell, there would be significant changes compared to the past, which is unknown. The map needed to be a sort of pieced together map that identifies past continents, swamped shorelines and maybe even conjecture. Russell did a bit of research on this and also drew on past experience of seeing maps where things were guestimated rather than measured and so on.

So for Skyfire and Moonfall, we have a different map. I love the little note at the bottom saying it was compiled by Nils of Barr. Sitting with Russell to do this was not easy because I had to have the names of all the things I referenced and then explain them to Russell. Some are just mentioned in reference to pre-Shatterwing and are not actually travelled during the story. I think Russell wanted to educate me but I can’t replace him with regards to maps. Some people are just good at visualising. Me not so much.

If I do maps in the future, well not sure how that is going to go. I use sketches of houses and things to navigate and describe but not publish them.

Russell thank you for helping me envisage worlds. You taught me so much but I have a lot to learn still.

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »