I was flicking through one of my favourite book series, The Jack West Jr series by Matthew Reilly, and noticed the use of maps and diagrams throughout his book. I never really paid attention to them before, I mean, I looked at them obviously, but I hadn’t really thought about his use of illustration throughout his work.
The diagrams he uses help to explain rather complicated contraptions, and they are useful in just being able to look over once to get an idea of what is happening and where everything is.
In my current book, Prophecy of Stones, I have also added illustration. Not in such a way as diagrams of traps, but I have used a map and also added runes.
When I planned this book I really wanted there to be a map, as I love maps in fantasy books. I think it adds something to the feel of another world and culture. But, also, the group of characters in the story are going on a journey, and I thought having a map would help readers quickly visualise where it is the characters are having to go. So, I plotted the route and drew a map, one that I hoped would be accessible to all types of reader.
Map of Lahrinn:
Copyright- Mishka Jenkins
Prophecy of Stones is also the first time I have written a book using multiple POVs. This wasn’t just a writing choice, but also because it suited the story, which revolves around three champions of the prophecy, and I wanted the story told from each of their varying points of view.
To help readers understand when the point of view changes, I have separated them using chapters, but also I created a separate rune to add to the header of each chapter.
Copyright- Mishka Jenkins
Being a very visual person, I enjoyed the look that these small illustrations give to my work. But also, because I created them and drew them myself, it also adds a uniqueness to my book that I hope readers will enjoy and appreciate.
Adding them into an eBook, especially to the Kindle, has been a fighting process, but one I managed to achieve in the end! 😀
Prophecy of Stones will be released on July 31st 2014!
Do you enjoy illustrations in books? Do you like maps in fantasy stories? Do you think they can add to a book or do you think detract? Have you ever tried to add pictures to an eBook?
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Progress Report:
Status of Prophecy of Stones: Final read-out. Formatting. Marketing.
Books read: 3/4
July eBook review: Written and ready.
A Writer's Life For Me. 