by Shona Husk
This May I’ve been published for 10 years. There’s been some ups and downs, but I’m still here and still writing and still publishing. I tried being a full-time author but decided I needed to be making more than I was for it to work out, so I retrained as a bookkeeper and went back to part time work last year. It didn’t kill my creativity at all. In fact, having a weekly income took the pressure off.
But toward the end of the year I started looking for something else to do on the side, still connected to writing. I know a lot of writers do covers or edit, and while I can do structural edits, I can’t copy edit to save myself.
The answer was so obvious once it was pointed it out to me: map making.
For twenty years I was a civil draftsperson. I designed and drew roads, roundabouts, sewerage and drainage systems and subdivisions. I was in one of the last classes to be taught manual drafting (at the big tables with either pencil and paper, or ink and film) as well learning CAD. I’d also done art at school (and won a few prizes at the International School) and I had consumed vast amounts of fantasy novels.
In a Venn diagram of my skills, drawing fantasy maps was right in the middle. It also fit squarely with my desire to do more artwork in 2020.
I spent a few weeks reading about maps and studying the different techniques. I experimented with black and white ink on paper, with colour and grey scale. I also dabbled with my tablet…but honestly, I prefer the tactile sensation of paper and ink and only use the tablet for a final clean up and edit. Maybe that will change as I get better at drawing on my tablet—it is easier to correct errors, and change colours electronically—but maps have a different feel when drawn by hand. And I’m trying to find something to get me off the computer.
Here’s to another 10 years of writing and creating!
This May I’ve been published for 10 years. There’s been some ups and downs, but I’m still here and still writing and still publishing. I tried being a full-time author but decided I needed to be making more than I was for it to work out, so I retrained as a bookkeeper and went back to part time work last year. It didn’t kill my creativity at all. In fact, having a weekly income took the pressure off.
But toward the end of the year I started looking for something else to do on the side, still connected to writing. I know a lot of writers do covers or edit, and while I can do structural edits, I can’t copy edit to save myself.
The answer was so obvious once it was pointed it out to me: map making.
For twenty years I was a civil draftsperson. I designed and drew roads, roundabouts, sewerage and drainage systems and subdivisions. I was in one of the last classes to be taught manual drafting (at the big tables with either pencil and paper, or ink and film) as well learning CAD. I’d also done art at school (and won a few prizes at the International School) and I had consumed vast amounts of fantasy novels.
In a Venn diagram of my skills, drawing fantasy maps was right in the middle. It also fit squarely with my desire to do more artwork in 2020.
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| Source: Deposit Photos |
Here’s to another 10 years of writing and creating!
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Romance author Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn’t looked back.
With over forty published stories, ranging from sensual to scorching, she writes contemporary, paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.
Visit Shona at her website.
Shona's latest release is the romantic suspense, Close to the Truth.
Is the truth worth dying for?
TV biologist, Jasmine Heydon, escaped Bitterwood once. She was 16 and run out of town by the cops for the crime of being born on the wrong side of the tracks. Ten years later, she's changed a lot but Bitterwood hasn't. The town's only claim to fame is the legend of the River Man, a murderous creature who first killed a century ago. Back in town to film a show about the River Man, Jasmine plans to put the mystery to rest once and for all.
Bitterwood's favourite son, Gil Easton, has never forgotten Jasmine, and he's never forgiven his father, the chief of police, for running her off. But now Jasmine is back, stirring things up. This time, Gil is determined to stand by her even when the locals want her silenced.
As Gil works to unearth the truth, Jasmine tries to understand her own childhood sighting of the monster. As the threats escalate, the search for the truth grows dangerous ... because the River Man is killing again.
Wow, what an interesting choice. We don't often think of the people who do the maps.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading Close to the Truth.