Monday, October 21, 2019

Wielder's Prize: Debut Novel by Elle Cardy


Warm welcome today to Elle Cardy.

Thanks, Susan, for letting me take over your blog for the day.

While Wielder’s Prize is my debut novel, it’s not the first novel I wrote. In my teens and early twenties I wrote two massively-epic length fantasies. I didn’t finish them. After a long break from writing fiction, I wanted to dive in again with something new. It takes time to build a world from scratch, so I decided to base Wielder’s Prize in my pre-made world, set a thousand years later. Place names on a detail map and the world’s history were already done. I have a deep love of the eighteenth century tall ships, so I decided to build the story from there. At the time, I didn’t write any outlines so the adventure was as much a surprise for me as it was for Jasmine, my main character.

Confession time: Getting no further than its first draft state, I set the story aside. I foolishly thought it wasn’t good enough. Years later—yes, years—I read through it. Even though it had missing sections, mainly descriptions, it was good. Way better than I had thought. I felt like such a goose because of all that wasted time. I quickly polished it into a little gem. And I learned an important lesson: Don’t let doubts hold you back. If there is something you want to do, stop comparing yourself to others, stop listening to your fears. Get off your proverbial and get it done! If you hit roadblocks, then find a way around. Time is short. Don’t waste it.
Wielder’s Prize by Elle Cardy
A young adult fantasy adventure
To survive the outside forces, she must first control the inside forces.
Snatched from the only home she’s ever known aboard the Wielder’s Prize, Jasmine is forced to work as a crew member of a different ship. To survive, Jasmine must dodge her captor who has a personal vendetta against her, outsmart a fearsome magic wielder who has taken a dangerous interest in her, and get back to her ship. Somehow.
Just when she thinks things couldn’t get worse, she learns she too is a wielder—an untrained wielder who is a threat to everyone on board if she can’t control her magic. And she’s not the only out-of-control wielder on the high seas. The secret of that wielder could shatter everything Jasmine thought she knew.
Time and hope is running out. At any cost, she must get back to her ship and discover the truth behind all the secrets before everything is lost.

The ebook and paperback are now available on Amazon

A tense adventure that will keep you guessing with all of its wicked twists and turns. – Alex J. Cavanaugh, best-selling author

Jasmine is one of the most fully realized fantasy characters I've read in a long, long time.—Tyrean Martinson, author of Champion in the Darkness

About the author:
Elle Cardy is the pen name of Lynda R Young. She is an author, editor, game developer, 3D artist, graphic designer, photographer, gamer and so much more. Wielder’s Prize is her debut novel, a YA fantasy adventure. She also has a number of speculative short stories published in print and online. Having lived in Sydney most of her life, she is now living in Brisbane with her sweetheart of a husband.






 Have you ever taken out a manuscript that you've set aside and found a gem that only needed some polish? Don't you love those tall ships and adventure on the high seas? Add some magic and you have an epic tale.


16 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I set one aside for almost thirty years, so I can definitely relate. Glad you went back to it - it's a great story.

Jemi Fraser said...

My first MS was a Star Trek: TNG fan fiction that was so much fun to write - full of angst and action. It's on a floppy disk somewhere... :)
Looking forward to Wielder's Prize!

betty said...

Neat that you took something that you set aside (neat that you still had it) and made it work now! Good luck with the book!

betty

Natalie Aguirre said...

Glad you picked up your manuscript again. I have one like that too that I hope to pick back up someday. Congrats on your book!

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I saw the picture and thought- hey, I know that lady!

Another book to add to my to-read list.

Mark Koopmans said...

LoL to what Liz said above - me, too!

Super congrats on the publication of your book, Lynda, and here's to it being the first of many:)

Pat Hatt said...

Goes to show that sometimes we really need to put doubt aside and give things a second look.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Susan, Thanks again for letting me take over your blog!!

Alex, aren't we silly for holding onto awesome stories for so long?! At least we eventually got there.

Jemi, ah the good ole floppy discs. A few years back I transferred all my old stories from my floppy discs so I wouldn't lose them.

Patricia, I love that kind of surprise

Betty, I keep everything! ;)

Natalie, I hope you do pick up your ms again.

Elizabeth, I'm glad you recognized me via my author pic :) It's hard work starting with a pen name from scratch.

Mark, Ha! Thanks so much :)

Pat, I can vouch for that!

nashvillecats2 said...

I'm trying to get through some memories of my son for my new book but am finding it difficult to write without getting upset.
I enjoyed your post very much Susan.

Yvonne.

Juneta key said...

Congrats Lynda! That is a really cool story. Sometimes when I go back I find it is better than I remember too. LOL>

lostinimaginaryworlds.blogspot.com said...

How brave of you, a young adult fantasy, wouldn’t know how to tackle this, well done, Lynda 🌹

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

I like the theme of this fantasy: That she must learn to control the internal forces in order to deal with external forces. (I like ships, too!) Meanwhile, I have a book I've been setting aside repeatedly for about fifteen years! I don't know why. I keep saying I'm "stuck" and then I work on a different book, but I think it's something beyond that. Your advice is a good reminder.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan and Lynda - I'm way behind ... but I did so love Elle/Lynda's story ... I really enjoyed it - and I hope she makes a series from it. I just congratulate anyone who writes a novel - let alone a series ... but hope you will - I can see people really remembering and loving your stories. Good luck - cheers Hilary

Slitherio2020 said...

I’m much pleased with your good work. you have good knowledge for article writing and this article is amazing. I am waiting for your next article…. Thank you so much

Free Games Online For Girls

Kids Free Games Online

Online Free Games

Free Games For

Top Free Games

Free Games Online

Best Free Games Online

All Free Games Online

Free Games For Kids Online

Best Free Games 2020

Slitherio2020 said...

I’m much pleased with your good work. you have good knowledge for article writing and this article is amazing. I am waiting for your next article…. Thank you so much

Free Games Online For Girls

Kids Free Games Online

Online Free Games

Free Games For

Top Free Games

Free Games Online

Best Free Games Online

All Free Games Online

Free Games For Kids Online

Best Free Games 2020

Wormax 2020 said...

I thank you for your efforts, bringing you interesting information. Thank you so much

Free games online pool

Cool math games

Cool games for kids

Cool Cool Cool games

Cool Games to Play Online

Cool Games for Kids Free

Poki Games Online

Free Games PC

Pogo Games Online

Pogo Free Game