Maps

As a fantasy author and artist, I often find myself inventing new worlds to go along with my stories.  And also being very particular about knowing where everything is, I tend to sketch out maps to help me along.  Of course, having an artistically trained background doesn't let me just stop there.  Most maps I sketch out, I eventually turn into full blown projects that I include in the books or post on my site.

When I read fantasy that takes place in an entirely invented world, I love it when the author includes a map.  Sure, I can live without it and a good book doesn't need any extra bells and whistles, but it's nice to have that resource to help me find my bearings.  That being said, I'd like to dedicate this page to the maps I've created, both for my own works and for those of others. 

The map I recently designed for author Lindsay Buroker's fabulous steampunk, fantasy adventure series, the Emperor's Edge.  After having read the books myself, Lindsay asked if I'd be interested in drawing up a map for her.  It was quite an honor to be asked and a nice challenge for me since I had to create something that fit well with another author's imagination. 

This is the basic template map for my fantasy series, The Legend of Oescienne.  I drew this on 8 1/2"x11" paper, added color and then scanned it in and saved it as a jpeg image.  Later, I pasted it into a word document then added the names of places and locations etc. using strategically placed text boxes.  When I was done, I saved it as an image.  Before 'discovering' the method of coloring and then adding in the wording later, I used to hand-print the names of places.  I'm glad I moved on from that, because not only does that limit your image and make it permanent, but it also doesn't look very professional.

 Here is another map for the Oescienne series, this one a map of the province of Oescienne.  In this one, I followed the same method as I mentioned above: drawing and coloring the map, scanning it in, then adding the descriptions in a word document.  This way I can use the map template again if I decide to move things around, add other locations or change the font.

 

This is the map for one of my works in progress.  As you can see, in this case I had drawn and colored the map and written in the words, so I don't have a template for it.  Also, I drew it on paper larger than my scanner, so I had to scan it in sections.  I'll probably end up re-drawing it on smaller paper and maybe using a different color combination for the land mass (I happen to like the black sea).

 

 

Here is the map I created for my Otherworld series.  I made this map by taking pictures of a painting I did in college and then arranging them together using text boxes in Word.  I then cut and pasted parts of my other maps to make the hills, mountains and forests, and drew a few symbols for the dolmarehn and castles.

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Attention indie authors!  I am available to design your maps!

My going rate for a full-color map drawn on 8 1/2" x 11" paper with all the place names and locations is $100.  You, as the author, have full rights to use the finished map in your books or on your website, and may also request the original artwork if you wish.  As the original artist, I would ask that I have your permission to display any artwork (created by myself) on my website and to credit you with the world you have imagined.  If you are interested in commissioning me, please send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com.  Thank you and happy creating!