The Loch Norim is Released to Alpha Readers!

The fourth novel in the Dianis, A World In Turmoil chronicles has been sent to alpha readers. The story behind this novel -- not the plot -- is it was written in between the publishing of The Citadel, the third novel, and the writing of Owan Jbar, The Erlking. Owan Jbar -- for short -- is the lead novel of the next series of books in the Dianis universe. Owan Jbar was written (but not published) ahead of The Loch Norim for a variety of reasons, not least of which was marketing. Agents and publishers are big fans of lead novels. Sci-fi readers are streak readers. That means they start from book one and go from there. Rarely do they jump into the middle of a series. So, if the story encompasses twenty novels and there are exciting plot twists, character dynamics, and massive changes in story direction in book thirteen, you are asking the reader to journey through the first thirteen books to get to the epiphany. Usually that's fine, but writers are antsy. They want to give their readers multiple on-ramps into the universe.

Owan Jbar gives the Dianis reader two entry points into the universe: One at the beginning, and one where the plot has moved to a major nexus. The promise the writer has to make is that Owan Jbar -- in this case -- comes complete, with no prereqs of having read the books before it. Indeed, Owan Jbar, while thriving in the Dianis universe, will come marketed as new and stand-alone, the start of a new series. Those of you who are fans of Outish, Fire Eye, and others will find your faves living their lives in Owan Jbar, but time will have advanced, just a smidge.

Having written Owan Jbar, the author knew how The Loch Norim ended. And endings are sooo important!