Mapping out Lily’s World!

As many of you know, I am working on "LUNA LILY," a science-fiction/fantasy graphic novel aimed at middle-grade readers. The story unfolds in present-day New England, drawing inspiration from my childhood home. In those days, before the internet and video games, my best friend and I would embark on woodland adventures, discovering enchanting places like "The Seven Caves," a long outcropping of rocks, and an abandoned dam called “The Stone Dam”. These cherished memories have inspired the magical realms that Lily explores.

A map can add immense depth to a story, and I was determined to include one. Initially conceived in 2021, I envisioned a vast property adjacent to a town I dubbed Greenville. As the concept evolved, I expanded the map, naming trails and depicting ruins that mirrored the dam I frequented as boy. To maintain a sense of enchantment and isolation, I sketched a formidable wall encircling the entire property, marked by a dashed line. Yet, this barrier didn't sit right with me; it raised practical questions about its construction and purpose.

Months of contemplation led to a breakthrough: mountains! Abandoning the confines of a small canvas, I embraced a grander vision. With each sketch, the land expanded, and the mountains grew taller and more imposing, encircling the estate save for a narrow pass near the neighboring town I now call Lawson, guarded by a solitary wall. This shift in perspective transformed the flat map into a vivid, three-dimensional landscape.

The map you see above is a work in progress, capturing the essence of a journey that has been both challenging and exhilarating. I am thrilled to have crafted a world brimming with mystery for Lily to explore—a world facing an impending threat. Just as Adam and Eve were exiled from paradise, humanity has longed to return to that lost garden. I invite you to delve into my story and discover the fate of Lily's enchanted realm.

Thanks for reading! -Bob