I got this, Part 2—The House Paperback edition #AmWriting

Wednesday, 13 May 2026

The last changes need to be submitted on May 20, so it’s time to get into the final revisions!

P.S. And no, that ugly KDP proof banner is not part of the cover! Perfect placement though …

#mapmaking #speculativefiction #fantasybooklist #nzauthor #bookillustrations

\(^-^)/

Monday, 11 May 2026

The first KDP proof arrived from Australia! Still a few kinks to iron out. First, the bathhouse map doesn’t sit well next to the House maps. Obviously. So this is a different approach—Eass’ notebook page with her evac plan.

\(^-^)/

#mapmaking #speculativefiction #fantasybooklist #nzauthor #bookillustrations

Sunday, 2 May 2026

Things are finally coming together \(^-^)/! The House paperback files are all set up at KDP, the first proof is ordered, and the release date is set. I’m pretty happy with how far I’ve come. I’m still thinking about adding a few notebook illustrations in the style of The Fragments… I’ll see how the next week unfolds.

Compared to the audiobook edition for The Fragments, this part of the publication process went without major bumps. Probably because I had some idea of what I was doing.

I think I’ve got this. Right? 

#bookcover #speculativefiction #fantasybooklist #nzauthor #paperback #bookdesign

Sunday, 26 April 2026

Here it is! The archives map, all set and ready to go. I’ll be adding more notebook sketches soon—one for the chandelier and another for how Tayl curves the passage in a spiral around the auditorium during the big finale. But for now, the map will have to do.

I thought it would be a good idea to put the maps on their own pages: one for the bathhouse, one for the House precinct, and one for the Archives. To make them work in portrait orientation, the bathhouse and the archives show the whole building and zoom in on the spots our heroes hang out in most.

Time-wise things could have gone better over the last four weeks, but there might be one or tow too many things be going on.

#freitagbooks #paperbookinteriors #fantasymaps #mapmaking #speculativefiction

Friday, 10 April 2026

Last map! The archives and the auditorium. I swear I had much better sketches somewhere … but this is what I found, so this is what I’ll be working with. 

I do have a system—separate projects go into separate sketchbooks or boxes. In theory. In practice, I sketch on whatever paper is nearest—work notebooks, art sketch pads, printer paper—and file it under somewhere over there. ✨ \(^-^)/

Fixing this before Book Three. Probably.

#freitagbooks #paperbookinteriors #fantasymaps #mapmaking #speculativefiction

Tuesday, 7 April 2026

Dress rehearsal for The House KPD trade paperback. After months of digital mockups, it is good to test and see the cover in a more hands-on approach. I usually print the PDFs and test them on a book in approximately the right spine width.

One more map to go, and I can order proof copies from KPD!

Yay!

#amwriting #speculativefiction

Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Well, this wasn’t exactly fun, but it looks almost convincing. And in case you are wondering why on earth I have been drawing a floor plan for an Art Deco-style bathhouse …

Eass and Mitt are setting up a new safe house in an abandoned bathhouse in the old town. It’s a place full of history and allows them to feel safe… for a time. But neither of them will ever be quite the same when they leave.

#fantasymap #worldbuilding #mapdrawing #mapmaking #amwriting #indieauthor #speculativefiction

Wednesday, 25 March 2026

Got stuck on the map for the abandoned bathhouse and ended up finishing the paperback cover jacket instead. Spent way too long on the wolf that nobody will see, but honestly? Happy with it. Side quests included: ordering the ISBN and finally removing the last traces of TikTok and Twitter.

✨ \(^-^)/

#bookcover #speculativefiction #fantasybooklist #nzauthor #paperback #bookdesign

Friday, 20 March 2026

Moving on to the second map / illustration—the abandoned bathhouse Eass and Mitt use as a save house in the city. The sketches are … terrifying. I might need to go back to the description to make sense of some of the parts. 

Well … never said it’s going to be easy …

#fantasymap #worldbuilding #mapdrawing #mapmaking #amwriting 

Monday, 16 March 2026

Progress—the map for The House is taking shape. Founders Square, the Archives, Lacier House, Rath’s Hall… it’s starting to look like somewhere you could actually get lost in. Still a work in progress, but I’m pretty happy with where this is heading.

Having said this … it’s taking ages!

#fantasymap#worldbuilding#mapdrawing#mapmaking#amwriting

Friday, 13 March 2026

I’ve been avoiding the maps and illustrations in the paperback edition of ‘The House’ for months, but now is the time, I guess. I’ll turn the rough sketch I used during the revisions into something print-worthy.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.