News and notes

[pbray]

Puttering around with various writing related activities. One thing I need to do is draw a map for the world of my new series. I'm not a visual person, and my drawing skills are decidedly lacking. If I thought my readers would accept a world with square countries and rectangular seas, I'd be good. But I expect they want a tad more realism. I'm using the collage method of making a map-- photocopying bits of maps of actual places and then pasting them together on a sheet. Then, with suitable application of chocolate, I'll bribe a friend into making a clean trace of it.

I'm also putting together an updated list of FAQs for my website, and continuing computer shopping. The back to school sales are starting so I should be able to get a good deal on what I want.

Reading: Earlier this week I finished reading matociquala's SCARDOWN, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It's a refreshing change to read an action packed adventure where the main characters are mature adults rather than teenage daredevils. I'm looking forward to WORLDWIRED and seeing how she wraps everything up.

Started reading Jane Lindskold's THE BURIED PYRAMID. It's a departure from the style of her other novels, a Victorian era mystery/adventure set in Egypt that reminds me of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series. So far it's predictable but fun.

Also need to go through the TBR stack to pick out books for the trip out to the west coast. Mass market paperbacks only, since I have enough other things to carry.

Comments

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Well, thank you!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

[jlawrenceperry.livejournal.com]

Ooh! I'd draw your map without chocolate.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Being able to draw definitely comes in handy if you're planning on writing fantasy novels.

The first map for Devlin's world was described as "a rhinocerous wearing a hat." And that was a version I'd made with a mapping program. It was tossed away, and replaced with a hand drawn version. But if you look closely, you'll see the island chain remains rather rectangular :-)

[jlawrenceperry.livejournal.com]

I thought it worked fine. Actually it made me think that I could just let my maps be simple, without all the unnecessary topography and other jazz. Sort of encouraged me, really.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked the final map. It came out pretty well, actually, but it was a struggle to get there and I'm grateful to the artist that Bantam found who rendered my hand drawn map into something suitably professional looking.