Wednesday 16 March 2011

Mapping a Series and Authors for Japan

Welcome to Hingle - My Fictitious Village
Click on it to see a larger version 
This was my last year's birthday present from Husband up the Hill - an A2 map of the fictitious village 'somewhere in North Staffordshire' where the characters in my (proposed) series for 8 -10 year olds live. 
I think Loretta, the graphic designer, has done a fantastic job; she had to work off my really, really rough and messy plan.
I always find having a map gets the muse working on more storylines.
So, what gets your muse working?


If either of my bids at Authors for Japan win, it will be one of the stories for this series I'll have critiqued.

13 comments:

Posie said...

Do you know I always find maps in children's books so appealing, something about them really draws you in, I can still remember the maps in the Milly Molly Mandy series as a child, and then more recently the wonderful maps of the 'Isle of Struay' in Mairi Hedderwick,s Katie Morag books....love your map and I am sure it will light up the imagination not just of the author, but of all the readers, old and young, too!

Pat Posner said...

Aww, thank you Posie. First it's got to light up the imagination of an editor!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

This is gorgeous.

I love maps, especially the ones you find in the beginning of some books.

Anonymous said...

Edward (9)

What book is this map in? I would like to read some stories about Hingle and see on the map where things happen. I like its got a railway can there be a train in one story?My sister likes the library van and the helter slide.

Flowerpot said...

I thinkn that is fabulous, PAt. How very clever. As for muse - it can be anything that just sparks an idea. A chance phrase, a look, a piece of music, line of a song - who knows?

Pat Posner said...

Yes, Debs, it is. I often do maps myself that look like a sort of bad montage, so it's great to have a professionally done one.

Pat Posner said...

Edward, the Hingle stories aren't in a book yet. I hope, one day, they will be. Hingle Station is one of the stations on a preserved railway line - and I am planning to write a story with a steam train in.
I'm glad your sister likes the library van because I think that means she likes reading, too.

Pat Posner said...

Hi, Flowerpot
Yes, a line of a song can get my muse going.

Honeysuckle said...

That's such a lovely, thoughtful present, as well as gorgeous.

suzy doodling said...

Hi Pat,
Your blog is wonderful, and I'm sure I've been through Hingle on the way to a Chresanthemum show over Stafford way. What a great present from hubby up the hill. Can't wait to read that book. My daughter loved My Little Pony, so I'm sure I've read her some of your stories. She's 31 now, and working on a cruise ship.

Pat Posner said...

Hey, Honeysuckle
Only just seen your post. Great to see you again? Hope the shop is doing well and giving you story ideas, too!

Pat Posner said...

Hi, Suzy
Thanks for visiting. Glad you like the blog. I hope you will be able to read stories set in Hingle some day soon!

I wrote My Little Pony for over 8 years and I loved writing those stories. I bet your daughter can still remember the ponies' names!

Amanda Ashby said...

Wow - that map is adorable! I forgot that you were getting it for a present - what an amazing treat!