In A Map of the Known World, Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt suffocated by her small town and high school. She seeks solace in drawing beautiful maps, envisioning herself in exotic locales. When Cora begins to fall for Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, she uncovers her brother's secret artistic life and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. This is the tale of one girl's journey through the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love.

As I think about why I wrote A Map of the Known World, it is my grandparents, Bessie and Sydney Sandell, who sadly passed away recently, who spring to mind. Losing them was one of the most painful experiences of my life. It was not my first brush with death, but their passing affected me so very deeply. My grandfather, Sydney, was an artist. He sculpted, painted, took photographs, and drew. He was a draftsman and a carpenter, as well. I admired his talent and skill so much when he was alive, and truly, it was his work that inspired me to pursue art. My grandmother, Bessie, was a storyteller. When she would sit down beside me, and we’d huddle around the kitchen table, she’d tell me stories about my dad’s childhood — wonderful, vivid tales that made his adventures come alive. She’d tell me about her own childhood during the Great Depression in Montreal, too, keeping me riveted whenever we met. Her storytelling made me want to tell my own stories. I loved them both fiercely, and I treasured my time with them. But, I am ashamed to admit, it is only now, when I feel their absence so intensely it takes my breath away some days, that I fully appreciate these amazing gifts they gave me, along with the gift of their love.

Writing this book was an incredible and wonderful challenge for me. Art plays such an important role in my life, and I wanted to try to capture the vital dynamism that marks the way art connects humans to each other, to the world, to life. As we engage in creating or being involved at any level with art, we are forced to think about who we are as human beings and our place and role in this world. What a thrilling notion! I remember years when all I wanted was to run away from my life, to go somewhere new and exciting and to have an adventure. Some days I still feel like this, but now I know I can always make my escape into a great book or a museum filled with transporting works of art.

So, armed with my memories of my grandparents, an appreciation for their talents, and the knowledge of what art means to me, I set about writing Cora’s story. Art can tell us about the world in which we live, and it can give us reason to hope and to dream.