Steve Stanley does fabulous maps, and I hope to use him on one of my current projects. And I agree with you about maps in magazine articles, too.

Eric

Drew

Drew

I couldn’t agree with you more about maps. I assume you’ll say something similar about illustrations. For me, books (including my own) almost can’t have enough maps. There’s some compromise between what an author envisions and what a publisher will allow, but there’s no excuse other than cheapness if a book has no maps or too few.

As you know, with my recent magazine articles, I’ve been working extensively with another respected cartographer, Steve Stanley of Colonial Design in Gettysburg. Steve is famous for the maps he does for the CWPT. For my two most recent articles in “America’s Civil War” magazine (Buford at Gettysburg and Elijah White’s 35th Battalion VA Cavalry) I had to create one map for each from scratch. Neither scenario had ever been mapped before. I started out by taking a large piece of blank paper and literally drawing the whole thing by hand. I’m absolutely no mapmaker (Jed Hotchkiss would have killed me in my sleep where I on his staff!) but when I sent them to Steve, he made wonderful maps of them. Drawing a map that has never been done before is nearly as difficult as writing of an event that’s never been treated previously.

As you said, maps make or break a book, and I’d submit the same is with articles. Good maps are the next best thing to actually being on the ground (no replacement of course, but next best). Good maps are as essential as the text itself, and without them a book is often rendered virtually worthless.

J.D. Petruzzi

The book is completely laid out. Some of the maps needed tweaking, and the cartographer is wrapping that up. As soon as he’s finished, it’s ready to go to the printer. We have reason to believe–and hope–that he will wrap up in the next few days and that it can go to the printer some time next week.

Eric

Many thanks, and I’m glad you find something worthwhile in my rantings.

As for maps, I would prefer new maps that reflect the current state of scholarship, but as long as they are factually and historically accurate, I’m not opposed to using historical maps, either.

Eric

What’s your opinion on a new book using maps from 19th-century CW books? OK as long as the maps are accurate? Or, should a “new” work contain “new” maps?

BTW, you’ve done an excellent job with your blog! It’s now one of my daily surfing stops.

Paul

I’m glad to hear that you find something useful in my rantings. Thanks for indulging them.

To answer your questions…

I have two cartographers that I have worked with extensively, Blake Magner and John Heiser. Blake has done the maps for five of my books (and is about to start on another), and John has done three (sadly, John is no longer doing maps). I have good working relationships with these fellows, and they know what I’m looking for in a map.

For instance, when we were working on the maps for my book on the Battle of Trevilian Station, Blake spent two days on the battlefield with me, and we stomped it together, so he could get the terrain features correct. That’s the only time we’ve done that, but it was invaluable. Both Blake and John have tremendous personal knowledge, and I rarely have to provide them with baseline maps. With Blake, if I give him my manuscript, he takes it and runs with it.

Typically, I pay a per-map fee. John and Blake are both very reasonable in what they ask per map, and they do good work. I always insist that they be credited on their maps–even though they are work for hire and I own the copyrights to them, it’s their work, and the world should know that.

Normally, they will provide me with drafts of the maps, which I will review carefully and then changes are made. As an example, on a map of Stuart’s shelling of Carlisle on the night of July 1, 1863, John had the Cumberland County court house misplaced. Having gone to college in Carlisle, I was well-acquainted with the proper location, pointed it, John fixed it, and that was that. I sign off on the maps, they bill me, and I pay them.

A good cartographer can make or break a book.

Eric

I absolutely agree with you on maps–they are essential.

I know there are many experienced writers who read your “Rantings,” but some of the novices (like me) might appreciate hearing more about how maps are done for good CW books. Do you sketch them yourselves and then find a talented cartographer? How are the map-makers compensated? Why are graphic designers and cartographers sometimes credited, and sometimes not? What’s the process like? (Etc.)

I learn something every day from your site. Keep up the great work.

Russ