Felicitations Mapmakers!

[Carolyn]

Hi,

I'm working on a novel set in 38 AD Mediterranean that follows a seafaring merchant as he seeks out a living, battles pirates, and deals with trouble at home in Alexandria. It's become clear to me that I would be happier if I had maps of the neighborhoods he lives and interacts in, layouts of the inside of buildings he visits, deck plans of ships (his and the pirate ships), and maps of his journeys. I recently took a course on illustrated maps, which inspired me to create something like that for myself.

In addition, I'm a gamer and would like to create maps for our games.

Finally, I'm married to a historian and I'd like to create historical maps as well.

Currently I'm using Photoshop and Illustrator, but I am very tempted by Ortelius. I've downloaded the demo version and started playing around. I welcome any comments from people using it.

I'm very happy to have found this place!

[Lars]

Hello and welcome,

I just wanted to commend you for writing a novel in a historical setting. I like fantasy as much as the next guy, but when writing historical fiction you have to do your due diligence. You can't get away with the kind of stuff a fantasy writer can by just saying 'because...magic/elves/the gods'. So good luck with the writing and map making!

[Carolyn]

Hello and welcome,

I just wanted to commend you for writing a novel in a historical setting. I like fantasy as much as the next guy, but when writing historical fiction you have to do your due diligence. You can't get away with the kind of stuff a fantasy writer can by just saying 'because...magic/elves/the gods'. So good luck with the writing and map making!

Thank you for the kind welcome, Lars! I also enjoy both fantasy and historical fiction (and several other genres as well).

I thought it would be very hard to craft a fantasy or SF world from scratch. I've since discovered that historical fiction has its own challenges. Sources don't agree. Some sources are fragmentary with enticing details that are not supported by other details. Maps (and other details) have to be accurate even though the sources are not always clear and the details don't always exist. So I've been pulling together everything I can from archaeological information, history books, and other sources to figure out how the details of my characters lives would have worked. Because there's a lot even archaeologists and historians don't know and even more that I don't know as a layperson, I am sure that I will get some details wrong. You are right that I can't say "that's just how the world I made up works". So it's a challenge, but a fun one!

I am blessed to be married to a historian and to have historian friends who are generous with their knowledge. I don't know what I would do without their many kindnesses. I'm excited to be here. The maps I've seen in the gallery and the contest threads are stunning!