Lick 'Em Tomorrow Part 2

Ooops, I failed again. 😭

Yippee! 😂

Why am I happy about another failure? Because it came from pushing the envelope. 📩

Instead of using my sketches, I made three maps for Float the Boat on Inkarnate.com, the go-to website for Fantasy authors and fans of Dungeons and Dragons. Turns out my one-page maps are super cool but might be too small for most readers. I couldn't master the two-page map design process because of new software overload 🤯 and other reasons. And I didn’t anticipate the size reduction that occurs when the PDF manuscript file becomes a printed page.

Ooops! 😭

Yippee! 😂

A couple of years ago, I was reading a Civil War history book and one of Harry Turtledove’s alternative history novels when the idea to include maps struck me. Maps will enhance the reader’s experience, I figured, and set me apart from John Grisham and David Baldacci. Besides, who doesn’t love maps? 💖🗺️

Undersized maps do set you apart . . .

Ooops! 😭

Yippee! 😂

Once again, I find solace in history made by General U.S. Grant.

Grant's worst day came two years after Shiloh Day One, during the final assault of the Battle of Cold Harbor, VA. In eight minutes, he saw 7,000 Union soldiers fall to Lee’s 1,500. Then, as he negotiated to retrieve his wounded, he watched them die in the hot summer sun. What would the defeated Grant do next? Lee wondered. Retreat from the northern gate of Richmond to the safety of the Potomac’s far shore, like one of his hapless predecessors? Or make another futile attack and add to the butcher’s bill?

Grant did neither.

Instead, he executed his strategy and did the unexpected. After having his engineers build the longest pontoon bridge of the war, he crossed the James River and moved the entire Army of the Potomac around Lee's right flank to the southern gate of Richmond! Taken by surprise, Lee went into siege at Petersburg. Cold Harbor was his final victory of the war. Ten months later, he surrendered to Grant at Appomattox. 🕊️

So what will I do next? I’m putting my defeat behind me and executing my strategy, which is to engage you!

I improved the maps I posted the other day and upgraded my map-making skills. Soon I’ll release new editions with two-page maps. If you already bought my print book, you might’ve been disappointed by the maps. As a first step, please visit the "Maps Page" on my website and check out the maps. If that’s not enough, contact me and let’s chat. Who knows? Maybe I’ll do the unexpected like my hero, U.S. Grant! 😲

ORIGINAL SKETCH REVISED THIRD MAP