Novel Notes: Of Maps and Heroes

Paper littered the card table around my sketch of a portion of Elderland, the fantasy world of my Tales of Faeraven trilogy. I worried my bottom lip and murmurred to myself. "I'm in big trouble."

It seems fantasy worlds are much easier to imagine than to chart. With the artist waiting for my preliminary sketches, the rubber had to meet the road.

It wasn't that I was unfamiliar with Elderland. After years of carrying the story around in my head, not to mention the year spent writing the novel and the additional months of editing, I knew it like the back of my hand.

No, the problem stemmed from the amount of detail an epic adventure requires. The three books of my trilogy chew through a lot of terrain. Certain plot elements demand accurate propotions and even dictate the shape of the landscape.

I paused to respond to a Facebook comment from Holly Heisey, the artist who will render the finished maps. "Oh boy, do we have our work cut out for us, Holly. Why'd I have to create such a complex world?"

Holly responded with a Pollyanna-esque, "It'll be great."

This remark from someone who carries an entire universe in her head (Holly's Krynaston will release with Port Yonder Press in 2012), failed to reassure me. I'm not sure what I've done to warrant such an expression of faith. How could I fulfill her expectations?

Enter my husband, John, who gave me valuable advice on the geography of Elderland and even offered to draw a neater version of my map. John has a mathematical bent whereas I, well, I write poetry. I accepted his offer.

The last time I accepted an offer from this fellow, it turned out well.

© 2010 Janalyn Voigt

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