Originally published October 8, 2013
Today we shall do something a bit on the lighter side of things. Way back in March I posted a bit about how a writer finds a path between showing passion for their subject without getting pushy with the reader. If you are truly passionate, you want to share the things you love so much and not overwhelm someone and chase them away. I had asked Dianne Gardner to share a bit of her style in the process of writing her series, Ian’s Realm. That article can be found here.
Well, here we are many months later and Dianne has become a fast friend and we’ve managed to get mixed up together in a number of projects. I have read all of her books and novellas with the exception of Cassandra’s Castle. Never fear, I have an advance copy sitting on my computer.
I find the series absorbing and rollicking good fun. In fact, Ian kept me company into the wee hours of the morning during a recent hospital stay. Add to a great story a truly talented artist and you have an irresistible mix. I have been invited to be one of Ian’s stops as Dianne showcases her anniversary edition of Deception Peak. She has since republished the book, added more stories in the Realm, as well as other tales mixed with history, or not.
My vision for the series!
When I began the Ian’s Realm Saga, the goal was to complete the three-book story arc and get it published. Simple undertaking (not!). Once the trilogy was completed something unsettle remained inside of me though, as if I hadn’t really written the whole story. There just wasn’t enough magic. The history was missing. And there wasn’t enough explained about the Meneks or the Kaemperns and their cults. Hence A Tale of the Four Wizards took shape, and a very loveable character named Silvio emerged. What happened to the old wizard in that first short story couldn’t be the end, and it wasn’t. You see him make a cameo appearance in The Dragon Shield (edited after the short stories were completed). There was more!
After Rubies and Robbers, I personally didn’t want to leave the Realm. I already missed Ian. But of course, I’ve already introduced plenty of dynamic personalities to carry on. Fast forward a few years and we have Ian’s daughter Cassandra.
Her story came from some real life events that occurred not long ago. I was helping a friend do some interesting research on her family tree which branched into Portuguese royalty at the turn of the century. The more I researched the more I got sidetracked until I discovered the last king of Portugal, Manuel II. Such a compelling story, I needed to write this young king into one of my characters and so enters Martim of Cassandra’s Castle. Cassie is one of my favorite tales and I’m not sure why.
Having had so much fun filming The Dragon Shield , it was time to make a trailer for Cassandra’s Castle, though the book won’t be out for a while. Our crew filmed at Fort Worden State park and Manresa Castle here in WA, and everyone was so excited about working together, we vowed to make a movie.
When I say crew I’m talking about a group of very talented, and experienced people. You can meet them on my website.
Currently, we’re writing the script, and making plans. I’m not sure how long the movie will take to film but we’re working toward that being our goal.
As far as other visions for the series? Anything! Like a piece of artwork I want to sculpt this story into 3D with audio and music (note the lovely music that Lexa Rose wrote with the lyrics to the songs of the Realm), audio narrative, a Boxed Set, a large coffee table edition with full color illustrations and gold leaf. We’ll see where this takes us, but it’s a project!
And that’s my friend, Dianne! Full of never-ending energy and ever-growing ideas. She left one thing out though, I really, really want to see Xylon and Promise dolls out by next Christmas…you’ll have to read to learn why.
So far the series includes: Deception Peak, Dragon Shield (scheduled to be re-released), Rubies and Robbers (also scheduled to be re-released), and four novellas about the wizards. In process is Diary of a Conjurer and Cassandra’s Castle.
Now, for all the places you can find Ian, Abbi, and Dianne:
Dianne’s Art Site (there is some amazing fine art here, folks).
No Comments