#mapping it out

[quitepossiblyknot]

The way in which you/we/"I" move is seen/scene/zeen/zine. Do "I"/we/you see our impact/influence on our environment? The whole of it, existence, is breathing, an organic process that encompasses all of life, not separate from the parts. Today, will you start with you(the source)?

[ruinguard-blog]

mapping it out

@prismamagical

The Ruins had been a tricky place to become accustomed to. Puzzles were regular obstacles and often progress, if one did not already know the answers, was slow. However, the Ruins had been a rather linear maze unlike Koi’s streets and canals whose pathways could easily confuse and confound the new and unfamiliar. 

Holding a rather poorly drawn map, this had been acquired from one of her well-meaning but inept map-making kids, in one hand, Toriel glanced at the stretching streets and buildings. “Oh dear.” Deciding that it would be better to not continue on crayon-based sketches, Toriel approached one of the few people in her path. “Pardon me, dear, but if you could please direct me to Queen Anne’s Flowers it would be very helpful. I have just recently arrived in this city and have found myself quite lost.”

[thenovl]

Salt & Storm: Mapping It Out

by Kendall Kulper

Maps are one of my favorite research tools—they’re gorgeous, intricate little works of art—and by the time I finished writing Salt & Storm, Drift & Dagger, and Saltwater Heart, I’d amassed a huge collection.

As I wrote these stories, I created my own images for specific places in the novels, and they turned out to be incredibly helpful guides. I can see these places so clearly in my head, thanks in large part to my hastily-sketched-out drawings.

But I always wanted an excuse to try some real cartography, so I’m thrilled NOVL asked me to share this special look into the world of my stories! Here they are: the maps of Salt & Storm!

1. Salt & Storm

An early version of this map is one of the first things I ever created for the book that would become Salt & Storm. Long before I plotted out any of the novel, I sat down with an atlas and some graph paper and sketched out the shape of Prince Island.

I modeled it off of Nantucket and Chappaquiddick Island, and its geography would form an important aspect of the story. The Roe cottage, where main character Avery is born, sits far out away from everything else, practically its own island, while New Bishop, the town in which Avery lives and is trapped, nestles on a northern harbor.

New Bishop, which is modeled off historic whaling towns like New Bedford and Edgartown, also has its own map, as much of the story takes place within its borders. I needed to know where Avery lived, what shops she’d visit, and how she’d get down to the docks, her favorite place in town.

2. Drift & Dagger

This next map comes from the world of Drift & Dagger, where main character Mal makes a living tracking down and selling magical artifacts. In order to find new jobs and offload goods, he has to travel to a hunters’ market, and the biggest and best in the world is the Fleet Street Hunters’ Market in London.

I designed this map as though Mal had written it himself, with notes of warning (like that the house special at Miss Lucy’s saloon will have you breathing fire) and advice (the Wedge Pub always has good gossip).

At the bottom of the map are the two buildings Mal mentions in the novel: the covered markets. Inside the East Covered Market are rows and rows of stalls belonging to smaller traders, like their friend and former hunter, Ruth. The West Covered Market has a slightly shadier reputation; it’s where hunters bring their most dangerous magical objects, as well as where some traffic in buying and selling magical people.

Designing this map was a lot of fun. I loved imagining a real magical community within the confines of London, and I took a look at a lot of fantasy city maps for inspiration (including the most famous magical alley in the world, Diagon Alley).

3. Saltwater Heart

The final map is modeled off real historic whaling charts and maps the route taken by the Agenor, the ship that young whaleman James sails in Saltwater Heart. These whaling charts proved extremely useful when writing my stories since they gave me an idea of where typical whaling ships would travel and what they’d encounter.

This map has are some purposeful errors; modern nautical charts more accurately show things like where sperm whale live and travel and the location of the Gulf Stream, but I took my inspiration from historic (and not-quite-correct) sources.

And because this is a world of magic, I included some fun magical creatures sailors would have to be on the watch for, from beautiful sirens to ferocious dragons to the terrifying, mysterious kraken.

I hope you enjoyed this special look into the world of my books! I loved taking the opportunity to create these beautiful maps, and I’m so thrilled with how they turned out that I’d like to share them with you! I’m giving away signed posters of the Salt & Storm map to five lucky readers! Check out my website for more information on how you can win one, and don’t forget to check out Drift & Dagger, Saltwater Heart, and Salt & Storm!

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How gorgeous are those maps?! 

We already had a crush on Kendall because of her beautiful writing and the gorgeous stories she gives us... and that crush has now reached a whole new level. THESE. MAPS. We’re obsessed! Kendall, thanks so much for sharing your beautiful artwork, and giving us insight to the world of Salt & Storm. We love it. 

If you haven’t read Salt & Storm yet, right now is an excellent chance to start. The eBook is on sale for just $2.99. Time to dive in! 

+ learn more about Kendall’s books here. + check out The Old Whaling Island tumblr here.

[thenovl]

Court of Fives: Mapping It Out

One of the best things about reading fantasy novels is... drumroll... getting to see the maps! We LOVE being able to get a visual representation of the world that we’re diving into. So much that we’re launching a new feature: Mapping It Out. Get ready to learn more about the world of the Fives in Kate Elliott’s newest novel. Take it away Kate! 

5 Visual Descriptions of the City of Saryenia, from Court of Fives 

I’m a visual writer, and when it came time to imagine Saryenia and what sights my heroine Jes would see as she walked the streets of the city she grew up in, I relied on images of places I have seen and places I’d like to visit.

1. The King’s Hill and the Queen’s Hill and the Harbors

The city of Saryenia lies on the shore of the Fire Sea which, like the Caribbean and Indonesian archipelago, is home to volcanoes. The idea for the city’s distinctive twin hills comes from the island of Oahu’s iconic Diamond Head and her sister tuff cone Koko Head. The idea of a pair of small extinct caldera around which a city has grown up appealed to me.

The map and layout of Saryenia is based on the ancient city of Alexandria, with its famous harbors.

But to be honest, the beautiful Hanauma Bay, formed within a volcanic cone, also influenced how I saw the shape of the West Harbor. It’s seen here with KoKo Head to the right.

2.  The Lantern District

Imagine first a street of shops, that at night are lit by lamps. The more lights and lamps the better, in all colors. Besides shops selling beautiful items (including lamps!), the Lantern District is famous for its many places to drink and eat, as well as people (here two women) hard at work brewing beer. 

The Lantern District is particularly famous for its many playhouses where theatrical performances are held.

3. The Theaters

The most famous theater district in the USA looks like the above picture. 

Now imagine it without the neon and modern streets and cars, and instead with banners along the street advertising the plays on offer that month. Each of the small theaters flies banners at their entrance to mark what performances you can see there.

I imagine the theaters of the Lantern District as looking something like intimate versions of Greek theaters. And the crowds engaged and vocal and excitable. Maybe eating and drinking or gossiping while the play is going on. 

For a quiet afternoon or evening you would have to go elsewhere.

4.  The Archives

The Archives are based on the famous Library of Alexandria, one of the largest repositories of scrolls and books in the ancient world. Here is a fanciful reconstruction that I quite like, although the terrain is completely wrong.

5. The City of the Dead

Finally it would be remiss not to mention the City of Dead, that lies on a peninsula, separated from the city by Eternity Temple which is, in fact, just a huge long wall.

Tombs have always fascinated me at the same time they creep me out. They are homes for the dead and therefore places we may visit briefly while nervously glancing toward the entrance, eager to see the sky and breathe fresh air before the deceased is sealed away forever.

As readers travel through the pages of Court of Fives, I hope they can imagine strolling along streets that look something like this painting of a Roman street scene, as well as striding briskly down the Avenue of Triumphs, modeled after the wide boulevards seen here in a rendition of ancient Alexandria:

I often think of reading fantasy as being a form of travel, because you are journeying to a place you’ve never before visited. I hope you enjoy the trip!

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Thank you Kate for taking us on a tour of everything that inspired Saryenia! We love, love, love all the visuals that bring the world you created to life. 

Court of Fives is one imaginative escape into enthralling new lands, and we can’t wait for everyone to dive in. Clear your schedule and get ready to visit Saryenia by page!

+ read the first five chapters of Kate Elliott’s latest. + check out the blog tour to get more insight into the world of the Fives. + let us convince you why you need to read Court of Fives right now!

[vortexproject]

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[clone-a-willy]

[threemilesanhour]

I SHALL NEVER FORGET THAT DAY THOUGH I WANT TO