Why write epic fantasy?

I'd written five books before I finally plucked up the courage to write epic fantasy. It's always been my favourite genre so perhaps I was a little apprehensive to take it on. But come on... epic fantasy. It's a made-up world and it's epic! So what writer wouldn't want to take up the challenge? 

Where to start? I decided it would begin with a map. I became fascinated with maps when spending the summer holiday with my grandmother when I was around 8 years old. She had a huge world atlas from the 1...