Map of Eldmoor

Once upon a time I almost added a minor in cartography to my degree after taking a few map making classes. I’ve been forever been enthralled by maps and map making, so of course I have been itching to make one for the book. (I didn’t end up adding the minor, by the way, as I discovered the classes a little too late and it would have caused me to graduate a year and a half later than planned unfortunately…) Alas, thanks to the wonders of Procreate and Photoshop, I’ve been able to rekindle my love and share Kellandale as I see it in my mind’s eye!

The story takes place in an imaginary world with fictitious lands, and is set within Eldmoor—a country I envision to have overcome most human-related barriers to equality. In the story, the only social barrier that exists is unequal access to and control of education as it was my intention to write a hopeful story for a young audience that encourages kindness, compassion, open communication, recognizes and embraces diversity, and to inspire a desire to work with others to enact positive change. If you’ve read the story, I hope you enjoy seeing this world come to life in map form!

This rendition is a first draft as I am working toward a final, potentially hand drawn, watercolor version to be included in a hardback edition should I decide to embark upon that quest!

If you haven’t read it yet, The Way of the River is available via the shanspykerauthor.com Shop and everywhere books are sold online (and in some indie bookshops, too!)