BEA and MAP

Next week I won't be blogging until Friday, because I'll be at BEA for the first half of the week.

This is a first for me. This is AMAZING for me. I started writing less than three years ago, and next week I'll be at BEA. Signing my books. For anyone who looks mildly interested. Watch out, people.

If you happen to be attending BEA, please come visit me. On Wednesday, June 6th, from 11am-12pm, I'll be in the Amazon Children's Publishing booth (#2663), signing ARCs of SANCTUM.

Also, I will have thirty copies of a map of the dark city, the place featured on the cover, where most of the story unfolds. I'll be tucking them into ARCs as I sign. The map is going to be in the final version of the book that's being published in October, but it's not in the ARCs. And the maps I have for BEA are very special. I think you want one. Probably because I spent hours getting them ready, and because I think they look pretty neat. Each one is different and unique. Really.

In the book, Malachi draws this map on the wall of his quarters. The map in the book is HIS map. My cartographer, Luka Rejec, obviously kept that firmly in mind as he created it. I could go on and on about how amazed I am at this thing, and we'll unveil it on my website later this month. But first, on Monday, June 11, I'll be interviewing Luka (who is very charming and funny), and giving away an ARC or two of SANCTUM with one of these special sneak-preview super-cool maps tucked inside. If you're interested in either my book ... or in maps ... or in the process of commissioning a cartographer ... or any of the above, please stop by that day!

And would you like a sneak peek at the map?  Here you go ...




Intrigued?



(I really hope so)


Have a great weekend, everyone, and I'll be back next Friday!

A map of my WIP research beware spoilers below!

I'm about 20k words into my new WIP, and it's been a pretty fascinating ride so far (er, to me). This one seems to be coming slow and steady, in part because it's complicated and I'm still figuring things out, and in part because my job has been incredibly demanding lately. I took a pause yesterday afternoon to plot my way through the next 30k words or so (I usually do a broad outline with lots of notes, then create more detailed scene-by-scene maps, connecting the "dots" of the big moments). I also did some more research.

I don't know how you guys do this, but when I get going on research, I really go. It's a little like Alice down the rabbit hole. Sometimes I follow a thread that ends up being irrelevant to the WIP, but I don't mind because I learn a lot of new stuff and I think it's just part of the process. To show you what it's like, I've created a map of my research-y thoughts and searches from one afternoon. But beware. There are spoilers down there. Somewhere. Maybe.

There we go. That is ... pretty much what the inside of my head is like. For most of those boxes (plus several others I couldn't fit onto the page), I did multiple searches, followed hyperlinks, cross-checked facts, explored related topics, and occasionally watched instructional or informational videos. For some, the search wasn't quite as intense--like for "sundresses", I was just looking for something to describe my MC as wearing, because fashion for my characters is not exactly my strong suit (heh). Then I went scampering back to my WIP outline and frantically typed notes to myself, tying things together and mapping things out.

If your brain works like mine does, then you are now privy to my entire plot, so SHHH! Don't tell! If you're wondering about my organizational skills ... bwahahaha! I'm well known at work for having the messiest office in the suite. I get a lot done, but my organizational style is idiosyncratic at best.

What's your research process like? Do you chase down every thread in order to be completely accurate? Do the minimum because you don't want it to interfere with your creativity? Get it all done up front? Pick up information as you go? What would your research map look like?

Remember to check out Lydia's Medical Monday post and Laura's Mental Health Monday post (Laura's is a must-see today)!