Alania Press FAQs

Author & Series FAQs

• What is The Chronicles of Durajan about?
  The Chronicles of Durajan™ is the debut epic fantasy series by A. H. Lewis. It is a story of banishment, memory, and the struggle to rebuild something sacred from the remnants of a fractured world. Told through the voices of those who rise from ruin, forge unlikely bonds, and carve their names into history, it is a tale of defiance against the forces that seek to erase them.
• What should I expect when reading The Chronicles of Durajan?
  ‍The Chronicles of Durajan is, at its heart, a continuous story told through a chorus. It unfolds in-scene through narrative and dialogue, alongside signed journal entries and written recollections that deepen context, theme, and character. Spanning seventeen years, the book weaves multiple voices into a single living chronicle of banishment, endurance, and rebirth.
• Who is A. H. Lewis?
  A. H. Lewis is a lifelong storyteller drawn to questions of faith, memory, and what endures when all else is stripped away. The Chronicles of Durajan is the fulfillment of a promise to himself, a return to the creative spark that never left, even when time, love, and responsibility set it aside.
  
  Born from scattered notes and late-night thoughts, the world of Durajan grew into something he could no longer keep to himself. It is a love letter to the stories that shaped him and a meditation on strength, resilience, and the power of reclaiming identity. He writes not to follow trends but to explore what connects us and what we are willing to stand for.
  
  Lewis lives in Connecticut with his wife, Anne, his closest collaborator and fiercest supporter.
• What is A. H. Lewis' creative background?
  With over thirty years of experience in design, storytelling, and creative direction, A. H. Lewis has worked at the intersection of creativity, technology, and narrative—building teams, campaigns, and worlds that inspire connection and meaning. The Chronicles of Durajan brings together a lifetime of creative exploration into one cohesive universe.
• Is The Chronicles of Durajan part of a series?
  ‍Yes. Book 2 is underway and Book 3 has a solid outline. A fourth book in rough outline stage. However depending on how things pan out Book 2 and / or Book 3 may need to be split further.
• In what order should explore the related materials?
  The Chronicles of Durajan  → Map of the Awakened World → Calendar of the Awakened World → Book of Nosnah Valesura → Dialects and the Duravela → The Art of Durajan

World & Lore FAQs

• What is the Duravela?
  The Duravela (“Dura-vela,” The Enduring Story), is the oldest known script of the Awakened World, the written language of the Time Before. Thirty-six glyphs are known and studied by the most faithful scholars of the Nine. → Dialects and the Duravela
• What is the Nalduravela?
  The Nalduravela, (TheForgotten Story), is an expanded set of the same script that even the most learned have failed to decipher. While the countless symbols and sigils that lie scattered across ruins, carved into stone and whispered in ritual and rite, continue to be recorded and studied, it is widely believed that they cannot be read but only awakened as gifts from the gods.
• What languages or dialects appear in the world of Durajan?
  Each nation’s tongue bears the weight of its ancestors, its land, and its pride. To speak in the tongue of Skarn is to echo the howl of the wolf. To speak as Tharios is to carry the order of Houses. To speak as Shadura is to weave beauty into mourning.
  
  Each dialect is a lineage of memory, born in the time after the Silence, when the Nine first found their footing and spread across the Awakened World. Alive, fierce, and unbroken.
• Is the world of Durajan inspired by real cultures or histories?
  I like to say that the the Awakened World is inspired by many, beholden to none. There are thematic and philosophical roots from several cultures, but not direct analogues. Many are a blend.
• Where can I learn more about the maps, calendars, and glyphs?
  You can dive into the map of the Awakened World here
  You can explore the seasons of the Mother, Wolf, Maw and Mountain here
  You can explore the glyphs and language of the Awakened World here

Publication & Media FAQs

• Where can I buy The Chronicles of Durajan?
  ‍The Chronicles of Durajan is available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and other major realtors.
• Are review copies available for bloggers or media?
  For a review copy please contact a.h.lewis@alaniapress.com
• Is there a media kit available?
  A media kit is available here.
  
• How was the book received by critics?
  Excited to say that the Chronicles of Durajan has so far received great reviews from the likes of BookLife by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews and Booktrib.
  ‍
  “Spellbinding… a heartfelt reminder that our voices, no matter how small, matter more than we realize.” - BookLife by Publishers Weekly
  
  “Enthralling… lovers of rich, character-centered world-building will delight.” - BookLife by Publishers Weekly
  
  “Readers will feel the frost in their lungs as Svirva stalks the frigid wilderness, the sweat and vitality of Dothemia’s Market Row, and the weight of leadership as Dothemides grapples with the costs of his dream.” - BookLife by Publishers Weekly
  
  "Enthralling characters usher readers into a fascinating, mysterious, and war-torn world." — Kirkus Reviews
  
  “From the beginning, Lewis establishes an unhurried pace, affording time for assiduous worldbuilding.” — Kirkus Reviews
  
  “This novel, the first in a series, leaves plenty of narrative avenues to explore.” — Kirkus Reviews
  
  “The Chronicles of Durajan is a triumphant debut that feels both classic and fresh.”— BookTrib
  
  “It's the humanity of its characters that truly sets it apart. A. H. Lewis writes with a sincere conviction that stories matter, that even the smallest voice can echo through history.” — BookTrib
  
  “The novel stands out in the genre for its big heart and thought-provoking themes, reminiscent of the works of N. K. Jemisin and Ken Liu in the way it merges social insight with epic storytelling.” — BookTrib
  
  View the BookLife by Publishers Weekly Review
  View the Kirkus Review
  View the Booktrib Review
• Is The Chronicles of Durajan being adapted for television or film?
  Not yet, but I’d love to see it someday. I write with a cinematic and character-driven approach, built on a foundation of intricate world-building. I believe the world of Durajan was made to live beyond the page, and rights inquiries are always welcome.
• Is there an audiobook?
  The audiobook is officially in production and will be released within the coming months.
• What formats are currently available?
  Hardcover, paperback, and ebook.
• Who illustrated the art for Durajan?
  All illustrations from the book trailer and within the Book of Nosnah Valesura were created by by the author, A. H. Lewis and can be seen on his The Art of Durajan YouTube page.
• Can I use images or text from Durajan for fan projects or reviews?
  Absolutely. I welcome creative engagement with the world of Durajan. Non-commercial use is perfectly fine as long as proper credit is given. You’re welcome to quote short excerpts, share artwork, or create fan projects inspired by the series, provided they include attribution to A. H. Lewis / Alania Press and a link to AlaniaPress.com when possible.
  
  For any commercial or published adaptations, please reach out for permission first.

Philosophical / Creative Process FAQs

• What themes does the series explore?
  Identity and memory—alongside resilience and resistance—in defiance of powers that seek to silence others and erase them. As one reviewer put it, the series is “a heartfelt reminder that our voices, no matter how small, matter more than we realize.”
• What inspired the creation of Durajan?
  I’ve poured a lifetime of questions into this project, but at its core, it was born from a search for meaning and identity. The world can be both profoundly beautiful and mercilessly cruel. Throughout history—across tribes, empires, and nations—some have been embraced by their societies while others have been cast out.
  
  The lines that define us shift constantly. People once deemed less than human fight to claim their place. Those who simply wish to live as themselves are exiled for their truth. Ancient faiths and traditions fade, leaving descendants who have forgotten where they came from.
  
  Faiths rise and fall. What we call divine changes with every generation, yet the search for meaning endures on this small blue world we all share.