My first ten books have been stand-alone novels. As I mentioned in a previous post, I am coming out with my first 
series this year, called Tales From Ivy Hill. Book One, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill, releases in December.
One of the main reasons I am looking forward to trying my hand at writing a series is that it will allow me to stay in one place for awhile. I have often lamented that after I spend all the time to create a village (usually fictional but based on a real place) with history, traditions, estates, and a whole cast of characters, I don’t want to leave it after only one book. (And I’ve heard from some readers who don’t want to “leave” either!) So I’m really looking forward to staying in Ivy Hill for at least three books, not only for the location, but to spend more time with the characters I’ve already grown to love.
To celebrate this happy thought and my first-ever series, I thought it would be fun to have a map of the village inside the book, to help readers visualize Ivy Hill and keep track of the various buildings, 
landmarks, and streets as they read. With my publisher’s blessing and support, I found a great website featuring mapmakers for hire from all over the world. I had no idea there were so many talented cartographers out there.
We chose Bek Cruddace, who lives in England. (I liked the idea of working with a British mapmaker who would be familiar with things like coaching inns, manor houses, and ivy-covered cottages.) Bek is a designer and illustrator who specializes in hand-drawn, illustrated maps. The fact that she happens to live less than 50 miles from where I set the series is icing on the cake. 🙂
I sent her the rough, cut & paste map I had put together for my own reference as I wrote the book, along with a few photos and descriptions of the village and main buildings (coaching inn, church, cottage, two grand houses). She took it from there, adding her own charming style and so many creative, fun touches.
Without further ado, here is the black and white version of the map which will be printed in the book across two pages as shown. I love how it turned out!
What do you think? Have you read a book with a map in it before? If not, do you think it might be useful?
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You are living my dream as an author, Julie (no, NOT in writing historical…I’m in AWE of you who must do so much research!) But I’m talking about the map! I absolutely love maps, have drawn them since I was a child, and adore books with maps! In fact, for a while as a child, that was how I CHOSE a good book! They’re not as common in adult novels (to our loss!) but I was thrilled to discover a map of Mitford in the endpapers of one of Jan Karon’s wonderful Mitford novels. It made the town come alive for me! Your cartographer’s vision of Ivy Hill is charming! I want to live there (but in the 21st century. 😉 )
The map is a wonderful idea and looks great. I truly prefer to read a series over stand alones.
I love a series, maps to study and refer to over and over and all things “Julie Klassen!” Can’t wait for the release!!
I love having a map to help me immerse myself in a story…the Mitford Series comes to mind. I am a huge fan of your stand alone books and am thrilled that you’re embarking on a series. I cannot wait until December!
I love maps in books. It helps you keep track of where you are. Looking forward to your new series.
I love maps in books! I can picture our hero/heroine at a specific location. I typically refer to it a couple of times during the course of reading the book.
I love when a fictional book has a map! I’ve read several with maps, and I find myself going back to the map many times as I read the book just to get a better picture in my head of what’s going on. Can’t wait to read this one!
I love having a map to refer to. Makes it easy to imagine walking the streets there. Congratulations on your series.
I love to have maps in the books I’m reading! It helps me picture the places and keep things in perspective in a much clearer manner. Thanks!!
Yes, the Mitford series by Jan Karon. Looking forward to your new series, Julie!
What a wonderful idea, Julie! I love a good map. I often draw crude maps for my own reference when creating fictional towns so I can remember which building is next to which and which direction the river flows, etc. But to have a professionally drawn map? That is fabulous! And so charming. She did such a lovely job. I found myself peering closer to see where everything was located. Love it!
Love it Julie!
Yes, I have read books with maps enclosed and do find myself glancing at it. It is especially helpful when reading a book after months or even years after an earlier book.
Thank you for adding this to this series. I look forward to reading these books.
I have read books with maps, and it is such a help in being able to visualize what is going on. I hope that your book will include the map in the kindle version. It’s so disheartening to get an ebook that promises a map or photos and then they aren’t there. I seldom buy hard- or paperback books these days, but have 3 kindles. That way I can take my whole library with me to assisted living when the time comes. I am 70, so that might not be as long away as I could wish. Congratulations on your new endeavor.
Some Bible versions have maps in them. Some are special in that they show Pauls journeys when he was out on missions. Gave me a better understanding of where ancient cities or countries were located.
I believe it was Vannetta Chapman who added a map in one of her series about a hotel that had Amish shops built up like a community around the hotel. There was a lake and I believe a trail where people would walk. She included a map in one of the books in her series if memory serves me right. I enjoyed that because it gave me a better understanding of where each shop in the story was located. I hope your new series is very successful for you.
I love reading books with maps, because it gives me such a better idea of how & where it all takes place. Can’t wait to read your new series!
I love a good nap! But most the books I read now are e books, so I forget to look back at them! When’s this new book releasing by the way?
Late November, early December, Alice. Thanks for asking!
I love the idea of a map. It is handy to go back and reference places and events in the story that haven’t quite stuck in your brain. I like your map. Very British with the High Street and church steeple! Can’t wait for the series!
Mary Koester
I love to have maps in a book. Most of the time I don’t look at them until I finished reading , just to see if I pictured it in my head anywhere near what the author had imagined . It good fun. 🙂
The addition of the map sure helps visualize things as the story line progresses. Looking forward to your first series.
Maps in books, especially series, are so helpful! They allow me to better envision where everything takes place. Julie, I applaud you for giving a series a try! Hope you enjoy it and write many more, sprinkling stand-alones in there every now and then (because I love those too). That cover is so gorgeous! Can hardly wait to read this book!
Blessings,
Andrea
I love books with maps in them because it helps me picture where everything is. It helps to bring the story alive.
It looks great! Nice to have a visual reference of the village.
Looking forward to learning more!
I think the only set of books I can come up with that has a map would be the J.R.R. Tolken books. I really like them as they give me more of a visual image for the setting. Since I’m a visual person, it really helps bring the story to life 🙂
I have this book per-ordered and I SO can’t wait to read it! I’m very excited for your newest adventures Julie, you are one of my top favorite authors of all time 🙂 I know I’ve told you that a million times, but it’s true! My love for all things Regency or historical is because you first introduced me to that time period. Thanks for all you do for us readers!
I love the idea of a map! It will make people feel as if they have really been there. For some reason I think Jan Karon included maps in the Mitford Series, but I’m not sure. You may want to update the book as the series progress because you may be coming up with new sites to add in every new book. If I were reading I would flip to the map first and try to anticipate what you have added and where it will be taking me in the book!
I love books with maps! I find myself leaving a bookmark at that page, so I can go back and look as I read.
The cover is beautiful, and I love the map. I’ve read a number of books with maps, and they really add to the story. An ongoing series I read with maps is The Irish Country Doctor series.
Looking forward to your book!
The map looks great !! Like others, I too think about the Mitford series by Jan Karon. I’ve worked in a Christian bookstore for 23 years and still have the promo Mitford map that were were sent for our endcap many years ago. It’s a fun idea to give your readers a sense of where everything is. =)
I love maps in books, on my walls….and yes I think it is helpful especially for a series. By the way, I love your work and I know I will enjoy your new series.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who loves books with maps! A good map just adds so much to a book. It helps me better visualize the setting of the story. I’m looking forward to reading this new series.
I love maps! Helps me keep track of everyone. As long as each book can be read as a stand alone, then I like series books. Learning about all 6 brothers or something like that! The trilogies that you have to read all three parts to get the full love story is too frustrating for me.
Julie,
Maps are fun and helpful in a story. Robin Gunn included a map in her series and it was nice to refer to the locations which were taking shape. I’m excited to read your new series!
Julie! I love this! I am a huge fan of your books! I also love Jan Karon and her Mitford series! I LOVE MAPS! I can’t wait! Something to look forward to! Thanks for all your hard work and lovely stories…..I devour them and then impatiently wait for the next one! Great Job!
Hi Julie. I have indeed read a book with a map in it. As a matter of fact, I’m currently reading a series of books with a map in them.
Have you heard of Jan Karon’s books about Mitford. It is about an Episcopalian Father and the people of Mitford. I love it.
In the past I have read other stories with maps in them also. They are really enjoyable, and to be able to see a map so that you can better imagine the layout of the town just adds to the fun.
It looks as though there are a few of us Jan Karon fans! She’s really worth a read if you decide to read something other than your own books.
Yes, I am a visual person and appreciate maps. I have your books in “book” form, although I use my Kindle most of the time. I’ll have to get the “hands on” books for the series. Love your characters and settings.
I have read books with maps in them and I do look at the map to place myself in the reading. I always love your books and buy them in book form, so going back to look at the map will be easy also. I can hardly wait!
I liked Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin’s map…
Yes, I have read books that have maps, which I like, and also the connection between characters written in the front. Looking forward to coming back to Ivy Hill! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House