Daniel Hasenbos Interview I As the Sparrow Flies

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Daniel Hasenbos Interview I As the Sparrow Flies

04/19/2024 9:31am

As the Sparrow Flies: Sojourners' Saga

Daniel Hasenbos Interview l As the Sparrow Flies

In addition to a wonderful cover, As the Sparrow Flies, the new YA title from Chad Corrie, boasts a two-page world map. Drawn by Daniel Hasenbos, it not only introduces readers to the world of Annulis but guides them, along with the rest of the characters, on journeys throughout the Sojourners’ Saga series.

As we near As the Sparrow Flies release we reached out to Daniel to learn more about what went into making this unique map…

Maps can have a powerful affect on how people experience stories. What is the process you go through in order to help bring the world from a book to life?

When I set out to create a fantasy map, I always try to bring the author’s vision to life. I like to start with a rough sketch that helps get all the elements in the right place and communicate my ideas to the client. Any elements that are inconsistent with the story are then changed and altered, and from there on we go through several rounds of revisions and the map gets closer to the final version. This way I can make sure that the map represents what is important to the story.

What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered in bringing maps to life?

One of the fun challenges that often comes up is finding the right balance between what should be included in the map, and what should be left out. It’s easy to want to fill every corner of the map with details, landmarks, or terrain features. I find that it is often best to only include the locations that are crucial to the story. This makes the map easier on the eye and gives all the elements room to breath.

Was there a certain theme, aspect, or concept you were trying to convey in this map for the Sojourners’ Saga series?

What I tried to achieve was to create a map that felt like it could have been made by someone from that world. I wanted it to feel like a main character could have drawn the map as they went on their journey.

Was there anything in particular you found of special interest with this world map for Annulis?

One fun challenge in making the map was the layout. The map was supposed to fit on two pages, which meant that the binding of the book would run through the center of the map. It took some figuring out where to place elements from the map, while maintaining the right proportions and distances between locations. Another thing that I liked a lot were some interesting terrain features. For example, the Grand Rift was a very intriguing bit of terrain to bring to life.

How did you find your way into becoming a cartographer? Was there a certain path you set out on—any schooling or the like—that brought you to your present place?

For me it started when I read Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. The map of Middle Earth in the front of the book immediately made me feel like I was entering a new world. Before I even started reading I was exploring all the locations. It inspired me to make my own maps and I spent years doodling maps for my own fictional world. After years, I learned that there were professional map artists, and from there it didn’t take long for me to decide that I wanted to do the same.

Making maps can often be a time consuming process. How do you manage to stay focused on a project and see it to completion?

For me, making a map is almost like a journey. I start with a very clear image of what the final result should be, but the way there is rarely straightforward. As I work on a map and share my progress with the author I often find other aspects of the world that I hadn’t considered before, which makes the journey only more fun. Throughout that I never lose sight of what I want the final version of the map to be like, and when we arrive at the final draft I feel like I have actually explored the world that we mapped.

You’ve worked with Chad Corrie on another upcoming project. Do you find it often easier working with authors again—even for different titles/work?

I wouldn’t say that it’s easier or harder than working with a new client, but it’s certainly different. Every map I make feels different and I work with people multiple times I try to make sure that there are recurring themes and style choices. This way their maps have a consistency and are more easily associated with their work.

Where can folks find out more about you and your work?

If you want to find out more about my mapmaking you can visit my website at https://danielsmaps.com. There you can check out countless maps that I have worked on over the years. If you’re interested in tabletop roleplaying you can find my RPG maps on https://patreon.com/danielsmaps where I have over 200 maps that are all part of the same world.

Thanks for sharing your insight and time, Daniel! As the Sparrow Flies publishes May 14th with preorders available.

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