The Jaia Diary Blog
Information, updates, and current events.
The Nujainja Newsletter - 1st Edition
Dear Reader,
Thank you for joining the official mailing list for The Jaia Diary: The Nujainya News. Whether you have already ventured into the vast elliptical galaxy IC 1101 and onto the shores of planet Jaia, or are simply waiting for the right moment to begin your journey, I am honored to have you here with us.
The State of The Jaia Diary: Volume I - The Jaierion Nucleus
Bringing Volume I to fruition has been a rigorous and rewarding labor of passion. My objective was not to simply tell a story, but to create an immersive multimedia experience for the reader. In an effort to enhance the narrative, two original music compositions were created from scratch, alongside a wide variety of realistic, full-color images; a process that presented countless challenges. Despite the obstacles encountered along the way, the end result is something I am proud to share with you.
The Jaia Diary: Volume I - The Jaierion Nucleus is now available as:
Digital eBook: Available on Amazon Kindle (and free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers).
Paperback: Now available via Amazon and Ingram Spark.
Hardcover: The deluxe, case-laminate hardcover, the superlative collectors edition, is now available worldwide through Ingram Spark.
For those seeking a permanent acquisition for their library, the hardcover is truly the ultimate presentation of this tale. Click the Order link at the top of this newsletter to learn more
Looking Forward: The Jaia Diary: Volume II
While my focus has been on creating the highest quality publication of Volume I possible, I have some exciting news regarding the sequel.
I am thrilled to announce that the manuscript for Volume II is officially complete.
Spanning approximately 72,000 words and over 400 pages, this new volume sees many familiar faces return while introducing a host of new and interesting characters to the fold. The foundation is laid, the story is drafted, and the preliminary edits are finished. As with the first volume, the final product will be an uncompromising blend of narrative and art, featuring full-color imagery and original music compositions. I am genuinely excited for you to experience Volume II; while the narrative stands on its own, the journey is greatly enriched for those already familiar with Volume I.
The Path Ahead
The written word, however, is only the beginning. To ensure Volume II meets the high standard of its predecessor, I have now entered the most intensive phase of creation:
Visuals: Crafting and refining the realistic imagery that brings the characters of Jaia to life.
Audio: Composing two new original songs to enhance the overall atmosphere of the narrative.
Polishing: The final meticulous steps: developmental editing, copy and line editing, cover art, the back cover blurb, and the compilation of the glossary of terms.
My goal is to publish Volume II before the 2026 Christmas holiday. I will continue to share my progress with you right here in your inbox, and also via the blog at WJAI.COM.
Thank you for your patronage, your support, and for venturing into The Jaia Diary and the world of Jaia with me.
Together, we will fight Jaia's battles alongside its heroes. We will vanquish its foes, uncover its jealously guarded secrets, and take a deep dive into the unsolved, the unknown, and the unknowable.
Warmly,
William Joseph Johnson
Author of The Jaia Diary series
The Jaia Diary: Volume II
I have finished writing volume II! I estimate that I've spent about a year creating the story and writing it, although a couple weeks have been spent working on images. I have done a preliminary copy edit, and I have done a full developmental edit. The book is approximately 72k words and 386 pages. Adding the images will grow the page count past 400. I'm going to begin working full-time on the images until I need to take a break from that. Then I will produce the glossary, do a final copy edit, copyright volume II, write the blurb, and do the cover.
My plan is to publish volume II before the 2026 Christmas holiday if possible. That gives me another six months to complete the work. I'm only going to say that I spent more time working on volume I. So, I'm getting a little faster, and that's probably due to not having to do so much research. I'm biased, but I think volume II is going to be a treat. The cast of volume I is back, and many new characters have been created. The image work will contain some interesting surprises, but is also going to be very challenging. In keeping pace with volume I, volume II will also contain two original songs. I sincerely appreciate your patronage and support!
Paperbacks
I received my first paperback copies of The Jaia Diary: Volume I - The Jaierion Nucleus, and they look great. I'm pleased with the quality of the color images, and the overall production quality. It's challenging to create a POD PDF for the books. The page layout and numbering are tricky and can be frustrating. After handing the finished cover art and PDF over to the printer, they make the final formatting decisions prior to printing the book. I don't have a lot of experience with this, but they did a great job with the printing. Thanks guys! I have now published another perfect bound paperback with Ingram Spark. They have finished it and I have provided a link to it. The price is the same as the Amazon paperback, as is the print quality. Depending on where you are located, the shipping may be a little cheaper. The Ingram Spark author copies cost me more, but I'm going to buy a couple of copies to check the print quality. I sincerely appreciate your patronage and support.
Happy Birthday Jaierion Nucleus!
The Jaia Diary: Volume I - The Jaierion Nucleus color, case laminate, hardcover is now available for worldwide distribution and sale on Ingram Spark. I approved the final cover and manuscript this morning and set the US and UK prices. The case laminate hardcover is the highest quality edition currently available. The price is very reasonable for a full-color, case laminate, hardcover with thirty images and two original songs. If you're looking for a good read, or a quality gift book, this is it. I sincerely appreciate your patronage and support.
Thanks for Dropping In
Welcome to the official journal of The Jaia Diary. I am currently working on the website and publishing Volume I - The Jaierion Nucleus. The eBook and deluxe 6x9 paperback are both available on Amazon. The eBook is available on Kindle Select for $3.99, and Kindle Unlimited for free if you subscribe. The deluxe hardcover edition is still being processed by Ingram Spark and will be available for distribution and sale within a couple of weeks. My objective has been to keep the price of all editions as low as possible. This is next to impossible for full-color books with many images. This results in the paperback: $21.99 and hardcover books retailing at a higher price while still at a very low profit margin. I can produce a cheaper black and white edition, but for now I've decided to go with the highest quality I can provide.
The Jaia Diary: Volume II
I have been asked about new releases of the Jaia Diary. Publishing Volume I is taking up all my time, but please stay tuned, I have been working on The Jaia Diary: Volume II - TBD for over six months and it's very much a work in progress. Many of the characters from Volume I reemerge in Volume II, and many new and interesting characters are introduced. The finished product will be of the highest quality possible and include many full-color images, and at least a couple more original music compositions. I'm very enthusiastic about Volume II, it's definitely going to be a good read!