Some of you may have already seen this, but I'm so excited about it that I'm posting it everywhere. Several months ago, I commissioned an artist to illustrate Mirabelle Island, the setting for seven of my books. He finally finished it just last week and here it is!
I don't know why it looks fuzzy here, but click on it and an expanded version will show up on your screen.
An editor at Harlequin suggested I try to make the map clickable. In other words, if you click over a location, a close-up picture appears. Not sure if I'm going to be able to make that happen, but I'll try!
So what do you think? Does this kind of thing make the reading adventure more enjoyable for you, or is it too much information?
HER SURE THING, my August Mirabelle Island romance is in stores now! To celebrate, I'd love to give away a book from my backlist, so checkout my website to see what book you'd like!
Helen
27 comments:
I saw this map somewhere else the other day – I can’t remember where.
It’s always great to be able to picture what it actually means when Character A runs from Location #1 to see Character B at Location #2! Especially helpful for the final chapters of Her Sure Thing…
If you can make that map clickable, then you’re much better with technology than I will ever be!
The map is gorgeous, it's perfect to try and put things into place on the island. Loving where Jamie and Natalie's cabins are!
Helen,
The map is gorgeous. It makes me want to rush out and read everything I can put my hands out to find out what happens here.
You need to find yourself a tech-savvy teenage programmer who can make the map clickable!
Oh Helen,
I love the map! What a wonderful gift to your readers. That's so cool.
That's a cool map. I enjoy having something like this to relate to.
Lot's of mysteries do have a map. When I read Jan Karon's Mitford series of books I was always checking out the map. It was printed inside both the front and back covers. By the end of the series I had it memorized.
Debra Salonen did a map of Sentinel Pass for her series.
A clickable map would be awesome! I am impressed with just being able to make the map larger here. I'm not tech savy at all.
Great idea. I'm sure to most of us readers Mirabelle has already come alive and seeing a map makes it even more realistic.
Yes I know it's fiction, but there has to be a dose of reality in there somewhere.
I will miss Mirabelle once the series is done (waiting for last book to arrive from eHarl now)
Love your map, Helen. What a great idea!
While I read your books, I will be flipping back and forth to check it out later, as I think the map gives an even better "feel" for the location. Hope that makes sense.
Helen, I love the map! When I'm reading a book, if you give me a map, I can't help myself. I will study it. It brings reality to the fiction.
I think I said this elsewhere but I always like it when maps are included in a book especially when there is more than one story set in the same place. I can imagine how much work it takes to set up a map but it adds something real to the stories when it is included.
PS: don't include me in the drawing as I have all your books and really enjoyed them.
What a beautiful map. Thanks!
debby236 at gmail dot com
Morning everyone! Allergies are kicking my butt, so I'm moving slowly today!
I didn't know Deb did a map of Sentinel Pass - great minds think alike! lol
Kristin mentioned this being a gift to readers and that's a nice way to describe it. And, Toni, you're right - a tech savvy teen could probably get the clicking done!
I visualize things as I read them, and I often get a bit distracted trying to picture where the H/h are going relative to other places that have been mentioned in a story. So I LOVE the map concept. It just adds that much more realism to the story for me and brings me into it more deeply.
An interactive map sounds great to me, too. And I've loved your Mirabelle Island books!
Helen this is a great map and it sure does make it more interesting to read the books... I have this book on my list of books to buy... can't wait..
How cool to create an entire island! A clickable map would be fun for your readers. I love when authors included these types of things in the front pages of their books for easy reference.
I WISH I could get this in my books. Not gonna happen, though. You could print it off my website and use it as a bookmark in my books! lol
I love the map, I'm all for anything that enhances the reading experience, it's like a great extra on a DVD.
I'm having trouble posting here....tried 3 times yesterday.....trying again. I love your map idea!
Love the detail, Helen!
And extra on a DVD - that is fun stuff!
Jackie, so sorry. Blogger can me such a pain. Thanks for sticking with it!
Print it off and use it as a bookmark ~ Awesome idea Helen. I would probably just have it handy.
I love the map but then I loved maps of everything from Swiss Family Robinson to Hawaiian tales to Treasure Island.
It does help me visualize the island. I tend to be more of an auditory learner so need extra help in visualization! :-)
Your island paradise is up there with Kauai in my mind btw!
Peace, Julie
Very cool map, loved it. It helps to visualize the Island and everything. Thanks for sharing.
lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com
YES!! Maps are cool! Too bad it's too late to put them in your books. I love it when there's maps and you can figure out the places that are being talked about. I like to flip to the map while reading. I assume it is all fictious except Lake Superior and Chequamegon Bay. It is so cool that you developed this island in a real place. One of my favorite things to do especially in interconnected stories is to see where things are. Since it's not in the books, we can print it out and have it posted while reading :) The other thing I like in books that are interconnected, is a chart of how people are connected.
Kaelee and Helen, Deb Salonen stole the idea from C.J.Carmichael. LOL.
Yours is everything I wanted mine to be, Helen. Way to go!
Deb
Ingenious! WTG.
Linda
What a lovely map! And clicking on it makes it humungous, not at all blurry. I've enjoyed your Mirabelle Island series. This makes it so much more visual.
Hi Helen,
Thanks for the map - I am enjoying your Mirabelle Island series and I love your books.
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