Matt Barron's Blog
April 22, 2022
The map of Dweltford
We're just over a month out from the launch of Rage of Lions Book 2: Rats of Dweltford.
Dweltford is the capital of the Western Reach Duchy that was introduced in book 1 and book 2 will take place primarily in the town and its environs. So that folks will have a better sense of what's happening, a map of will be included in the book. It will be sepia toned to match the parchment-like style of the map of the Reach in book 1.
As a prelude, here's a link to the original colour version of the map. I composed it in a program called Inkarnate - it's an online resource, primarily for tabletop roleplaying games.
In my time I've used a number of such programs, including Campaign Cartographer (1, 2 & 3) and Wonderdraft. Campaign Cartographer remains the most powerful I've used by far, but it is the most challenging to use and very difficult to do well. Wonderdraft is more user friendly but much less versatile. I used Wonderdraft to make the map of the Western Reach in book 1.
Inkarnate has impressed heck out of me though and I think most of my future mapping will be using it.
So, without further ado, the map of Dweltford, ducal capital of the Western Reach of the Grand Kingdom.
Dweltford Town Map
Dweltford is the capital of the Western Reach Duchy that was introduced in book 1 and book 2 will take place primarily in the town and its environs. So that folks will have a better sense of what's happening, a map of will be included in the book. It will be sepia toned to match the parchment-like style of the map of the Reach in book 1.
As a prelude, here's a link to the original colour version of the map. I composed it in a program called Inkarnate - it's an online resource, primarily for tabletop roleplaying games.
In my time I've used a number of such programs, including Campaign Cartographer (1, 2 & 3) and Wonderdraft. Campaign Cartographer remains the most powerful I've used by far, but it is the most challenging to use and very difficult to do well. Wonderdraft is more user friendly but much less versatile. I used Wonderdraft to make the map of the Western Reach in book 1.
Inkarnate has impressed heck out of me though and I think most of my future mapping will be using it.
So, without further ado, the map of Dweltford, ducal capital of the Western Reach of the Grand Kingdom.
Dweltford Town Map
March 19, 2022
And so it begins...
Well I am now a traditionally published author guy. That's right, over fifty years old and finally the dream is coming true. Persistence is paying off.
But even better than racking up that little achievement has been the initial response folks have given the release of Rage of Lions book 1. It's been so exciting to read people's reviews and to find out that you like it.
Special thanks to everyone who took the time to write a review. I appreciate it, so much. I absolutely would like to engage with you all, so how about you tell me how you'd like me to do that. My plan right now is to discuss stuff that people bring up in their comments and reviews on this blog, but if people would like me to comment directly to their reviews I can do that as well. As I think about it, I might do both. We'll see what happens. At any rate, it looks like the good people here at Goodreads provide a message service, so if you want to get in touch with me, I'll be checking that reasonably regularly - I'll try for once a week. Also, I'm on Facebook and am working to be consistent there too.
Let me just say that I really do want to hear from people who read my books. These stories have sat in my mind for so long, I think they're cool and I genuinely want to hear that other people agree. I've been a part of fandom since before that word existed and I know what it's like to long to connect with creators you love and respect. I want to be a creator people can connect with.
A few years ago, my daughter bought me tickets to the first Red Dwarf convention in my hometown. Red Dwarf, for those who do not know, is a UK sci fi/comedy television series dating from the late 1980's. It had a complicated and checkered life for its twelve season run, but I've loved it since the early 1990's and seasons 4 - 6 are works of comic genius the equal of any television in the English speaking world. I raised my kids on it.
And so, when the convention came to town, with several of the actors as guests, my daughter bought two tickets, one for me and one for her. I wasn't sure about going; I know the stories about stars who loathe their fans. I've seen the interviews with actors who dis fandom and I had a fear that's what I would find when I went. Cynical performers cashing in on my love for their work when they themselves would much rather forget all about it.
It was nothing like that.
They were engaged and happy (mostly). They talked freely and openly and shared our enthusiasm. My daughter and I stood in line to have our photo taken with three men I'd never before met and we must have been about the fiftieth persons they'd had a photo taken with by the time we got our turn. But they welcomed us, they laughed and joked and made us feel, if not exactly like a friend, like an acquaintance they were glad had shown up to an important event. As if we were doing them a favour by coming to the convention. They were obviously drawing energy and pleasure from meeting with their fans. It was really a great day, a special day for me and for my daughter. I'll never forget it.
I hope to make this blog that kind of experience for anyone who's read my books who comes here. I'm so pleased and flattered that you like what I wrote (when you do); I really want to hear about what you didn't like and why and how you think I could do better - I might not agree with you, but I want to hear and learn from you. And I promise to tell more stories. It's what I do - I'm a storyteller and if you want to listen, I want to tell.
Thanks everyone and come back again soon - I'm going to try to make this weekly, but will settle for fortnightly.
My Facebook page
But even better than racking up that little achievement has been the initial response folks have given the release of Rage of Lions book 1. It's been so exciting to read people's reviews and to find out that you like it.
Special thanks to everyone who took the time to write a review. I appreciate it, so much. I absolutely would like to engage with you all, so how about you tell me how you'd like me to do that. My plan right now is to discuss stuff that people bring up in their comments and reviews on this blog, but if people would like me to comment directly to their reviews I can do that as well. As I think about it, I might do both. We'll see what happens. At any rate, it looks like the good people here at Goodreads provide a message service, so if you want to get in touch with me, I'll be checking that reasonably regularly - I'll try for once a week. Also, I'm on Facebook and am working to be consistent there too.
Let me just say that I really do want to hear from people who read my books. These stories have sat in my mind for so long, I think they're cool and I genuinely want to hear that other people agree. I've been a part of fandom since before that word existed and I know what it's like to long to connect with creators you love and respect. I want to be a creator people can connect with.
A few years ago, my daughter bought me tickets to the first Red Dwarf convention in my hometown. Red Dwarf, for those who do not know, is a UK sci fi/comedy television series dating from the late 1980's. It had a complicated and checkered life for its twelve season run, but I've loved it since the early 1990's and seasons 4 - 6 are works of comic genius the equal of any television in the English speaking world. I raised my kids on it.
And so, when the convention came to town, with several of the actors as guests, my daughter bought two tickets, one for me and one for her. I wasn't sure about going; I know the stories about stars who loathe their fans. I've seen the interviews with actors who dis fandom and I had a fear that's what I would find when I went. Cynical performers cashing in on my love for their work when they themselves would much rather forget all about it.
It was nothing like that.
They were engaged and happy (mostly). They talked freely and openly and shared our enthusiasm. My daughter and I stood in line to have our photo taken with three men I'd never before met and we must have been about the fiftieth persons they'd had a photo taken with by the time we got our turn. But they welcomed us, they laughed and joked and made us feel, if not exactly like a friend, like an acquaintance they were glad had shown up to an important event. As if we were doing them a favour by coming to the convention. They were obviously drawing energy and pleasure from meeting with their fans. It was really a great day, a special day for me and for my daughter. I'll never forget it.
I hope to make this blog that kind of experience for anyone who's read my books who comes here. I'm so pleased and flattered that you like what I wrote (when you do); I really want to hear about what you didn't like and why and how you think I could do better - I might not agree with you, but I want to hear and learn from you. And I promise to tell more stories. It's what I do - I'm a storyteller and if you want to listen, I want to tell.
Thanks everyone and come back again soon - I'm going to try to make this weekly, but will settle for fortnightly.
My Facebook page
