A Writer's Dreams vs Reality #IWSG

So, I started a new Instagram account. The old one no longer exists. You can find my new one here: @Elle.Cardy

I'd really appreciate it if you could like and follow my new account.

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IWSG Question of the month: Do you remember writing your first book? What were your thoughts about a career path on writing? Where are you now and how is it working out for you? If you're at the start of the journey, what are your goals? 

When I was bright eyed and bushy tailed, full of unrealised dreams, I decided I wanted to be a writer. I had no idea how to make that a reality. All I wanted was for my stories to be in every bookshop across the world and to have movies made from my books. Not too much to ask, right? 

I shake my head at my younger self. At that stage, I hadn’t even written a book. So that’s where I started. I threw everything into it. If I only could’ve won on enthusiasm alone. 

First mistake: Other than reading a lot of my favourite genre, I did no research. I had no idea what made a good book, structurally or otherwise. Consequently, my first book was not up to scratch. It was insanely long. Some chapters were 10k plus words. For a single chapter! And that’s just one of its many flaws. 

I had no idea how to approach agents and publishers. Which agents? Which publishers? What was a query letter? What was a synopsis? I hadn’t even wondered how to get my story across in any form of interesting manner that might pique ANYone’s interest. Erm, it’s a fantasy. Lots of adventure and stuff. You’ll love it. 

I soon realised this dream of mine wasn’t going to fall into my lap. I finally did the research. How to write, how to structure, how to edit. I also researched my genre of choice, preferable book lengths, chapter lengths, story beats. And I wrote a whole new book. Then I edited it and edited it some more. Then delved into the business part: finding an agent. 

Second mistake: I gave up too easily. I convinced myself my new book wasn’t good enough. So I stopped looking for an agent and started writing another book. (As if I couldn’t do the two things at the same time). I went through the process again. And did the same thing again. 

Then life got in the way. 

When I finally got back to writing and publishing, life had taught me a tough lesson: It’s short. After some mighty rough times, I wanted control back. So, I took the self-publishing route and haven’t looked back since. 

I’m proud of my books. I love the stories I’ve written. I’m living the dream where I can continue to write what I want, when I want, all within the parameters based on my research of what readers want to read. Life is continuing to throw those nasty curveballs, but I’m not stressed about my writing. As long as people are still reading my stories and enjoying them, then I’m in a good place. And that makes me smile. 

What makes you smile? 

 

Wielder's Prize, Wielder's Curse, Wielder's Fire, 

Wielder's Storm Trilogy Box Set, 

Well of Ash a fantasy novella.

 

This post was written for the IWSG. Every first Wednesday of the month, members post on their blogs about their writing insecurities or offer some encouragement to others. If you are new to the IWSG or want to learn more, then please go HERE.

 

 

 

Note: I'm not actually here. I'm 6.5 hours away visiting family again for a week. When I'm back, I'll tour around the blogsphere to say hi.

7 Ways to Find the Motivation to Write #IWSG

This month in the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, we have these optional questions: When writing gets tough, how do you stay motivated to write? What holds you back from writing? How can you get your groove back? 

1. First you need to know why writing is tough, why you’ve lost your motivation. This can be any number of reasons. Below are just a couple. 

Fear and doubt are the biggest and nastiest creativity killers. If you let them, they will sap you dry and hold you back. Writing is such a personal endeavor that we leave pieces of ourselves in our words. They are there for all the world to see and judge. It’s inevitable the nasties creep in: Will my writing be good enough? Am I wasting my time? I got one bad review out of fifty, so is that the end of my career? 

Then there’s those outside forces we have no control over: Health concerns, jobs with long hours and high stress, family tragedies, and the list goes on. Caring for my brother with a terminal illness stripped away my creativity for two years. I had nothing left in the tank. And now, after two years of a pandemic, of being shut in and putting life on hold, it seems that also affected my creativity. 

So, how do we get that creativity back? 

2. Being kind to yourself. Life happens. Fears happen. But the more we stress over not writing, the harder everything becomes. Sometimes you have to give yourself permission not to write. Sometimes you have to deal with those unavoidable demands on time and energy. Remind yourself it’s okay if that’s all you have left. And remember that this too shall pass. 

3. Try not to isolate yourself. In isolation, fears and doubts fester. In isolation, that creativity tank remains dry. Inspiration comes from rejoining the real world. It comes from living through those hard times, enjoying the good times, and breathing fresh air. Try going for a walk, lunch with friends, a visit to the local museum. Soak in sunlight and laughter. 

4. Read more. Make the time to read. Read often. Read something new, something old, something within your genre, and something completely different. It doesn’t matter. Just read. Reading wakes up the brain. It triggers those creative juices and inevitably encourages us to get back to that blank page. 

5. Reassess those impossible dreams. If you’ve been secretly harboring massively grand dreams, like becoming the next JK Rowling or Stephen King, then maybe it’s time to have a long, hard look at what it takes to get that big. Is it even attainable? Is it what you really want? Or is there something else that fits you better? Is it novel writing you love, or do you actually prefer writing short stories? Do you have an achievable plan to reach those goals? These are things you might need to ask yourself. The answers might surprise you. 

6. Start small. If you’ve lost your motivation, try getting back into it by taking baby steps. Write something only you will see. Something short. Don’t write for publication. Aim to write a single paragraph, if that’s what you need. A bunch of small achievements eventually leads to big achievements. 

7. Remember why you started writing in the first place. Like all relationships, our love of writing needs to be nurtured. The moment you forget why you love it, why you used to spend hours at the keyboard, is the moment you start to fall away. I love writing because I love stories. I love creating different worlds and populating those worlds with interesting people. I love playing with words and scenes and bringing them to life. Writing fulfils me. 

Why do you love writing? How do you get your groove back? 

This month, the IWSG Book Club is reading my book, Wielder’s Prize. 

I’m honored and excited. Grab your copy quickly while the ebook is still only $2.99. The price will be going up soon.You can grab it HERE. 

Unable to control her magic, Jasmine is a danger to everyone, but someone worse on the high seas wants her dead. Wielder's Prize is an epic fantasy adventure that's full of twists and is hard to put down.

I believe the book club discussions begin on the fourth Thursday of the month, so 23rd June. You can go HERE for the discussion.

Happy reading!

5 Reasons to Quit Writing #IWSG

The question of the month for the IWSG: What would make you quit writing? 

I thought about this question for some time and decided to focus on the word quit. Plenty of things have caused me to take a break from writing, but I’ve yet to quit altogether. So below is my carefully curated list of reasons that would make me quit writing. 

1. The zombie apocalypse. I imagine it would be difficult to write on the run from slathering zombies who want nothing more than the taste of my sweet, sweet brains. But then, maybe I wouldn’t quit. To occupy my time while holed up in my zombie-proof fort, I’d likely write manuals to help others to avoid the infestation. 

2. Stranded on a deserted island with no writing materials. Even then, I’d write stories in my head at night, or find a way to record my thoughts. Maybe I’d create paper from seaweed and ink from sea slugs. 

3. Abducted by aliens. Nope, not even then. That would likely give me even more reason to write. 

 4. If I were offered a million bucks to stop writing—nope, make that a BILLION, and even then, I’d likely keep writing under an alias. Because writing! 

 5. If I found something more creative and expressive than writing. Yep, that’s likely the only thing in this world that would stop me from writing. 

I must have that creative output, otherwise I get grumpy or depressed or both. So it’s in everyone’s best interest if I continue to create. 

How about you? What would make you quit your favourite creative outlet? 

This post was written for the IWSG. Every first Wednesday of the month, members post on their blogs about their writing insecurities or offer some encouragement to others. If you are new to the IWSG or want to learn more, then please go HERE.

On Resting a First Draft #IWSG

The IWSG question of the month: How long do you shelve your first draft before reading and re-drafting? Is this dependent on your writing experience and the number of stories/books under your belt? 

Regardless of my six published books and the countless others I’ve written, the drafting process of every book has been different. 

The first book I ever wrote has been shelved for a gazillion years—after years of writing the first draft, then multiple rewrites with little sitting time between drafts. Same with the second and third books, although the third one got shelved after the first draft.

The fourth was the first I got published and that had mere months between polished drafts while I sent it off to friends, family, and an editor and waited for their feedback. Once completed, though, it sat for years more, because I hadn’t been sure what to do with it. It was non-fiction—my daily devotional, Cling to God, and my writing focus had changed back to fiction during that sitting time. 

Then life unceremoniously reminded me that it would be tragic to let the completed book disappear into oblivion. So I found a wonderful publisher, edited it again, and got it out there. 

My fifth book then got a revisit. I had paused worked on that one after the first draft, stupidly convincing myself it wasn’t good enough. Because of that foolishness, it languished in isolation for too many years. That was Wielder’s Prize. It ended up being my fantasy novel debut. And I’m so proud of it. During its editing phase, it percolated for a couple months between drafts as I waited for professional feedback. 

Wielder’s Prize needed a series. So Wielder’s Curse and Wielder’s Fire were written. Wielder’s Curse was born during a particularly difficult time in my life. It was a mess when it was first drafted. I had to let it sit before I could finish it, let alone rewrite it. Finding clarity had been a massive struggle. Time and pigheadedness fixed that. 

Wielder’s Fire wrote itself and it got almost no sitting time by comparison. Only a few months while I worked on marketing and covers and everything else associated with releasing books. 

And that’s just part of the story. I have more books under my sleeves, but as I said, they’ve all been different—different in the way I approached them, how long it took to write them, how long I let them sit, how often I reworked them… and so forth. 

There is no magic formula. I am a slave to the needs of each story and the demands of life. 

How about you? What’s your writing process and how long do you let a story sit? 

This post was written for the IWSG. Every first Wednesday of the month, members post on their blogs about their writing insecurities or offer some encouragement to others. If you are new to the IWSG or want to learn more, then please go HERE.

 

The Joy of Getting Reader Feedback #IWSG

The IWSG question of the month for May: Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way you didn't expect?

Whenever a reader responds--a good review, a fan email, a smile, a quiet thanks--I'm always surprised. Why? Because it means my writing touched someone enough that they went out of their way to let me know. It's easy to think you write in a vacuum, even when you're getting good sales. The stories go out, but percentage-wise, it's rare for anything to come back in terms of a response. Good, bad, or otherwise.

The time that surprised me the most was at a book festival. I was sitting around with other, better known authors, and a random person came up to the group and looked straight at me. 

"I know you," he said. 

I scrambled to place where I might've known him. At work? At school? At church? Nothing triggered.

"You wrote [insert novelette in an anthology that's now out of print--the same one I ended up rewriting and turning into the novella, Well of Ash]. I loved it!"

I kind of blinked at him. How on Earth did he recognize me? Turned out, he was a quiet follower of my blog and social media. This was an actual fan.They exist!

Don't think I've ever been more blown away.

So, if you love a writer's work, please let them know. We can live off that happiness for years to come ;)

Have you ever let an author know how much you loved their work? Have you ever been surprised by a reader's response?

 

This post was written for the IWSG. Every first Wednesday of the month, members post on their blogs about their writing insecurities or offer some encouragement to others. If you are new to the IWSG or want to learn more, then please go HERE.

The Reason Behind Choice of Genre #IWSG

Today is the official release of Well of Ash, a YA fantasy novella. 

I have a special treat for you. For a limited time, you can get a free copy of the novella. Get your free copy here. 

If the whispers call your name, run! 

Seventeen-year-old Ashina has more in common with an untamed fire lizard than the people who are supposed to be her new family. After running away, she’s drawn to the city’s mysterious Great Well. No one knows who built them across the world or why. To linger near makes the skin crawl and the mind drift in nightmares. And yet this one calls to Ash in whispers that pull her closer. 

Despite the warnings from a handsome stranger with gorgeous eyes, Ash searches for answers in dangerous places. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of peculiar events she can’t explain or escape. When both her sanity and life are threatened, she realizes she has more to lose than she thought. Ash must find the answers before she loses everything she holds dear. 

If you like dragons, magic, and a fierce heroine with a wounded heart, then you’ll love Well of Ash, a YA Fantasy novella by Elle Cardy. Jump in today to unravel the secrets. 

If you’d like to support me by buying a copy, then it’s also available on Amazon for Kindle and Paperback. 

If you don’t have a kindle, you can download the free kindle app for your phone, tablet and/or computer. 

A quick shout out to some supporters. Please visit their blogs and say hi from me:

Jemi Fraser, Diane Burton, Tyrean Martinson, C. Lee McKenzie, Ronel Janse van Vuuren.

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The optional IWSG question of the month: Why do you write what you write? 

As Elle Cardy, I write young adult epic fantasy. I also write scifi short stories and anything that has speculative elements. My fiction will always have something otherworldly and unusual. It will always have fierce female leads. And it will always have some kind of mystery that needs unraveling mixed in with high stakes. Why? Because that’s what I love to read. 

I prefer stories that are set in other worlds, or stories with otherworldly elements. 

Stories that are quick and easy to read. 

Stories with heroic acts and lots of heart. 

Stories that show people overcoming impossible odds. 

Stories that aren’t bogged down in politics or court intrigue. 

Stories that aren’t weighed by complex worldbuilding that has nothing to do with the plot or characters. (But I do love intriguing worlds) 

Stories that open the door to imagination and adventure. 

Why do you read or write certain stories? 

 Please mark Well of Ash "To-Read" on Goodreads. Every little bit helps.

Cover Reveals and What it Means to be a Working Writer #IWSG

I have two cover reveals for you today. Both novellas! The first is the young adult fantasy novella I've been working on for longer than expected. I blame a dead computer and other distractions. Well of Ash is a standalone with dragons, magic, and a touch of romance. It will be released early November. 

I am currently looking for more critique partners and/or early readers. If you're interested, let me know in the comments or in an email.

 

The second cover reveal is a YA scifi novella by Tyrean Martinson. Liftoff is book 1 in the Rayatana Series. The release date is November 10th.

A fast-paced read for fans of Code 8, Captain Marvel, and Cobra Kai. 

An old movie theater welcomes Amaya in and wraps her up in the smell of popcorn and licorice. But one sunny afternoon during a matinee, the movie screen goes dark. The theater rumbles. 

A spaceship in disguise, an Earth girl searching for a sense of home, and a Thousand Years’ War between alien races of The Great Galaxy, all collide on a summer afternoon. 

When the spaceship rumbles to life, it traps Amaya in the middle of an ancient alien conflict. Angry and frightened, Amaya entangles herself in a life-changing cultural misunderstanding with Sol, a young alien who keeps omitting key information, even while they’re on the run from his enemies. 

What will it take to survive a battle between alien races involved in an ancient war? 

Liftoff is an action-packed science fiction novella for teen/YA book lovers who enjoy space battles, fistfights, and a hint of romance. 

Pre-order Sale: 99cents for Kindle. This price is only guaranteed through the first day of book release.

To find Tyrean Martinson: Blog, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.

The IWSG question this month: What is a working writer? 

I started writing in my early teens and it took nine years to finish my first book, which I promptly shelved. I literally wrote a sentence here and there, a single paragraph one month, then I'd have a burst before slowing down again. It may have taken close to a decade to finish, but I still saw myself as a working writer because my ultimate goal was to get published. It didn't matter that the first book didn't reach that goal. I'm a firm believer that no writing is wasted writing. You're only a hobbyist if you strictly write for yourself with no intention of sharing it with anyone else. At least, that's my definition. What's yours?

Wielder's Storm Box Set Release

It's here at last! Wielder's Storm Trilogy is now available as a complete set on Amazon. It's available as an ebook for cheaper than if you'd buy the series separately.

Wielder's Storm Trilogy is an action-packed epic fantasy that will sweep you across the high seas on a thrilling adventure full of exciting twists.

This complete box set contains Wielder’s Prize, Wielder’s Curse and Wielder’s Fire.

Wielder’s Prize
Snatched for what she isn’t. Hunted for what she is.
Despite having an abusive cook as a father, Jasmine wouldn’t change her life on the high seas for anything—until that life is shattered. When she’s snatched from the only home she’s ever known and forced to crew a different ship, she learns a terrible truth. She is an untrained magic wielder who is a threat to everyone if she can’t control her power. But she’s not the only out-of-control wielder on the high seas, and the secret of that wielder could change everything she thought she knew—if she can survive.

Wielder’s Curse
A dark vision. A dangerous curse. A fierce girl caught in between.
Jasmine thought her adventures were over, but terrifying visions continue to haunt her. When a loved one’s life is threatened, she risks everything to hunt down the would-be assassin. What she finds is not what she expected. Too late, she realizes she’s endangered the ship and crew. On the run, she is pursued across the high seas to an unknown land. If she can’t master her power, she won’t be able to protect anyone. If she can’t accept help, then she could turn into something worse than the thing that hunts her.

Wielder’s Fire
Jasmine’s secrets have been laid bare, her magic stripped. All she has left is a fire in her soul to defeat the oncoming storm.
Shipwrecked on a forsaken island, Jasmine has nothing but her anger and determination to keep her warm at night. Without her magic, she must find a way to defeat a powerful enemy that can raze townships and summon sea monsters. When she discovers an ancient magic, she embraces it. But it may not be all it seems, and she could be exchanging one sword to the throat for another.

For fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, who love exciting tales with dark secrets and unexpected twists. Lose yourself today in Elle Cardy’s epic fantasy adventure.


And if you've already read the series, please consider leaving a review.

Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub
 
Please head on over to S. A. Larsen  for a spotlight on Wielder's Storm.

Writing Unexpected Genres and New Releases

In two weeks, on August 17th I’ll be releasing the box set of the Wielder’s Storm trilogy in ebook form. I’m super excited about it. You'll be able to get all three books as a set for a discounted price.

I’d hoped to share the new cover today, but alas, I’m still working on the final touches. If you’re eager to see it early, though, the members of my VIP Club will get to see it first. I’ve decided not to put it up for pre-order this time, so keep your eye out on launch day.

To join the IWSG, sign up HERE.

The IWSG Question of the month: Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn't planned on writing in? Or do you choose a form/genre in advance?

When I first started writing I had incomplete stories in my head that I needed to put down on the page to discover where they went. Because I loved fantasy, that was what they were. What kind of fantasy? Fantasy was fantasy, wasn’t it? (The answer to the question is a definite no). When I started branching out and reading more widely, I started writing other genres. It was fun and fed my creativity.

Now that I’m published, I’m learning a lot about marketing. For the story I’m currently working on, I first researched categories (genres and sub-genres) to give the book the best chance it could get based on what I’ve already published and my author brand. I even wrote the book description and the tagline before working on the story. Having that framework actually helped my creativity, though I’ll admit the story still wants to head in a direction I hadn’t anticipated, into a sub-genre I hadn’t tried before. That’s ok. I’ve added another category to the list and it probably fits the description better now that I see it.

While stories often have a mind of their own, it’s super helpful to do the research of where they might fit first. It helps with focus and in the long run, it helps with sales.

How about you? Have your stories headed in unexpected directions?

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New Release: Against All Odds 

Book 3 in the Crossroads series
by Jacqui Murray 

Xhosa’s extraordinary prehistoric saga concludes, filled with hardship, courage, survival, and family.

A million years of evolution made Xhosa tough but was it enough? She and her People finally reach their destination—a glorious land of tall grasses, few predators, and an abundance that seems limitless, but an enemy greater than any they have met so far threatens to end their dreams. If Xhosa can’t stop this one, she and her People must again flee.

The Crossroads trilogy is set 850,000 years ago, a time in prehistory when man populated most of Eurasia. He was a violent species, fully capable of addressing the many hardships that threatened his survival except for one: future man, a smarter version of himself, one destined to obliterate all those who came before.

From prehistoric fiction author Jacqui Murray comes the unforgettable saga of a courageous woman who questions assumptions, searches for truth, and does what she must despite daunting opposition. Read the final chapter of her search for freedom, safety, and a new home.

A perfect book for fans of Jean Auel and the Gears!

Available digitally (print soon) at: Kindle US, Kindle UK, Kindle CA, Kindle AU

To connect with Jacqui Murray: Amazon Author Page, Blog, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, Website.

On Writing Series and a Secret Revealed #IWSG

Today I'm over at Denise Covey's blog talking about my experience writing a series. Please pop on over and check it out.

I will also have a mention on Literary Rambles with the release of Wielder's Fire, the conclusion to my Wielder's Storm trilogy.

And last week I was with the wonderful Diane Burton. If you missed that, then you can check it out here.

The IWSG question of the month: Writers have secrets! What are one or two of yours, something readers would never know from your work?

While Wielder's Prize is my debut epic fantasy novel, and the Wielder's Storm trilogy is my debut series, they are not the first novels I wrote. I previously wrote (but did not publish) an extensive fantasy series set in the same world about a girl named Galia. She features in the Wielder's Storm series as Gley. All her secrets are revealed in this series. And I hope to publish it this year. However, because I wrote it many years ago, it needs a major rework and tidy up. I can't just throw it out there. I want it to be as good as the Wielder's Storm trilogy, and I'm super excited about it. So, shhh, it's a secret...

What's your secret? What have you been reading or writing lately? 

Don't forget to pop on over to Denise's for more on writing a series.

This post was written for the IWSG. Every first Wednesday of the month, members post on their blogs about their writing insecurities or offer some encouragement to others. If you are new to the IWSG or want to learn more, then please go HERE.

Wielder's Fire Launch Day

I've been working super hard to make this happen and at last, the Wielder's Storm series is complete. The final book in the trilogy, Wielder's Fire, releases today. Grab your copy quickly while it's still at a special launch discount of only $2.99

Today I'm over at Diane Burton's blog. (I'll be there shortly. My timezone difference meant I needed to post earlier). Please pop on over and say hi. 

What is Wielder's Fire about?
Wielder’s Fire is the thrilling conclusion to the sweeping Wielder’s Storm trilogy. Lose yourself in this epic fantasy adventure set on the high seas.

Jasmine's secrets have been laid bare. The one who was supposed to love her, stripped her of her magic. Now she’s shipwrecked on a forsaken island with nothing but her anger and determination to keep her warm at night. Alone and defenseless against a powerful enemy, she must find a way to survive.

She will get her magic back.

She will escape the island.

She will face the enemy and defeat it once and for all.

But how can she when her heart is blistered to a crisp?

One fierce step at a time.

For fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, who love exciting tales with dark secrets and unexpected twists.

Please share the love on social media:
I'd love it if you could spread the happy news on all your favorite social media platforms. Below are some samples to make it easier, or use your own. Feel free to use any of my Wielder's Fire images you see around my blog.

Samples:
Wielder's Fire, the thrilling conclusion to the #YAFantasy Wielder's Storm trilogy, is out today! #Free w/ #KindleUnlimited @ellecardy https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0892SBQGT/

Wielder's Fire, the thrilling conclusion to the #YAFantasy Wielder's Storm trilogy, is out today! The exciting series is #Free w/ #KindleUnlimited @ellecardy https://www.ellecardy.com/

Her secrets have been laid bare, her magic stripped from her. She has nothing left except a fire in her soul to defeat the oncoming storm. Wielder's Fire OUT NOW @ellecardy #Free w/ #KindleUnlimited #EpicFantasy #fantasyreads https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0892SBQGT/

Marooned on an island, stripped of her magic, she must find a way to mend her heart and defeat the oncoming storm. The thrilling conclusion is OUT NOW. Get the trilogy #fantasybooks #YAFantasy #epicreads #fantasyreads #FREE w/ #KindleUnlimited http://ellecardy.com

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

And don't forget to say hi to Diane and check out my guest post.

What have you been up to lately?

Wielder's Fire and Writing in the Zone

At last I can announce the launch date for Wielder's Fire, the third and final book in my Wielder's Storm trilogy. 25th May! I'm super excited.

The first two books are currently available for free on Kindle Unlimited.

Wielder's Prize: Without training or discipline in the art of magic wielding, she is a danger to everyone, but there is someone worse on the high seas who wants her dead.

Wielder's Curse: Dark visions haunt her. Shadowy assassins stalk him. Together they must stop a powerful enemy from destroying their world.

Wielder's Fire: Marooned on an island, stripped of her magic, Jasmine must find a way of mending her heart and defeating the oncoming storm.


What are your rituals when you need help getting into the ZONE?

Below is my daily ritual when I'm editing. It looks different when I'm writing a first draft. With first drafts, I'm more focused, but that might be because I handwrite them while relaxed on the comfy couch. A necessary choice for less distractions.

After breakfast, I go for a morning walk.
Ready to start working, I sit down at my computer and check my sales. Because I can't help myself.
I check my emails for anything urgent.
My desk cries out to be cleaned and organized.
Nope. I have work to do!
I open the file I'm editing.
I stare at it for ten seconds then realize I need a glass of water...
and maybe some chocolate...
I settle back and check my emails again.
I do some editing...
until I come to a difficult section that requires more thought.
I stretch.
I get more water.
Facebook calls.
I ignore it.
Facebook calls again. I check it.
Fitbit tells me I need to get up and move around.
Why not? It's a good time to grab more chocolate. Don't judge. I'm editing!
I do a bunch of editing.
My stomach tells me it's time for real food.
Brain stops functioning mid-afternoon.
I try to keep working anyway.
I fail.
I give up and play a game, or read, or go for another walk.

As for "helping me get into the zone" for work? Well, it's more just a matter of deciding to stop being distracted and get on with it. Scheduling the same time each day to write/edit also helps. Deadlines are awesome too. Oh, and when the hubby is being super distracting because he is working from home due to the pandemic and we share the office, I put on headphones and listen to epic music (nothing with lyrics). That works a treat.

What are your rituals? What do you do to focus?

This post was written for the IWSG. Every first Wednesday of the month, members post on their blogs about their writing insecurities or offer some encouragement to others. If you are new to the IWSG or want to learn more, then please go HERE.

The Impact of a Pandemic #IWSG

The official word in Australia:
The number of confirmed cases in Australia exceeds 4000. As of 31st March, my state, Queensland has 55 new confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) raising the state total to 743. Our Prime Minister announced that Australians "must stay at home" except to shop for essentials, for medical care or compassionate needs, to exercise, and for work and education if either can't be done at home. People over 70 are strongly advised to self-isolate. And we're only allowed out in groups of no more than two now. Fun times.

How this affects me:
My husband works in IT which is considered an essential service, so he still has a job. Yay! And he gets to stay at home to work. A bigger yay! However he has recently been asked to take a massive chunk of leave. Boo! We'd been saving up the leave for Iceland. I guess we won't be going to Iceland for a while anyway. Boo!

As a writer, I work from home anyway. Yay! But now there are a lot more distractions. I had hoped to release book 3 of my Wielder's Storm trilogy at the end of April, but it looks like it won't be until May now. Boo! But I do have a cover reveal for you. Yay!

Marooned on an island, stripped off her magic, Jasmine must find a way of mending her heart and defeating an ancient evil. Wielder's Fire, the explosive finale in the Wielder's Storm fantasy trilogy.


I've also noticed a general drop in sales. Boo! I had expected an increase with more people having time to read, but alas they are choosing to binge Netflix or play online games. Read people!! Expand your brain! Find an escape through awesome stories! Try some of these:

Sea of Rust: Available on Kindle Unlimited. Loved this scifi. Great premise and world-building and I loved the characters. I think Amazon is offering a free month at the moment (maybe 2 for US customers), so check out my affiliate link if you're interested.

Obsidio: Loved it too. YA scifi

The Vine Witch: Also available on Kindle Unlimited. This is a historical fantasy. Loved it.

Ash Princess: If you like YA royal fantasies, then you'll probably like this one.

Wielder's Prize: Also available on Kindle Unlimited. It's awesome (if I do say so myself). Read this YA epic fantasy. You won't be disappointed.

And if you're looking for spiritual support, then Cling to God and read my daily devotional.

*(assume all my book links are affiliate links)

Back to the impact of world events:
The grocery shops are struggling to keep up with demands on some items. I can't get flour anywhere. And that means no cake! Boo!!!!!!!!

Notice at a local cafe. lol.

And I can't visit my folks. Not only are they over 70, but they live in a different state and the state borders have closed. I can get through by request, but I'd then have to self isolate for two weeks when I get there and then self isolate when I get back for another two weeks. Yikes. That's when this change of life really hit me.

Overall, though, I've been super lucky. I should say blessed. An income is still coming into the house. This isn't the case for so many people. I'm not on the front lines. So many are risking their health for others. A HUGE thank you to those people. And I'm still able to write. Kinda. Yay!

Join the IWSG for support from like-minded writers. We're in it together!

How are you faring in this difficult time? What are you reading?

Wielder's Curse Unleashed and Inspirations #IWSG

The second book in my high seas epic fantasy adventure series is finally complete and unleashed onto the world! There was a while there I didn't think it was going to happen. And now it has. I'm super excited. Wielder's Curse is now available in ebook and paperback. The discount for the ebook's release will be available for two more days only, so pick up your copy today.

If you haven't read book one, Wielder's Prize, then you can pick it up here: ebook and paperback

Both of my novels are also available for FREE via Kindle Unlimited. 

Her curse isn't the only darkness waiting to break the world.

Months after the victory at Sapphire Cove, Jasmine is haunted by terrifying visions of burning seas and blackened skies. It’s the dark future she thought she’d evaded, but now it’s back to bring her nightmares of the Beast, a mad creature trapped in the void between worlds. It fights to escape its prison, and it wants one thing: to devour the world.

To make matters worse, Finn’s life is threatened by an unknown assailant. At the risk of losing everything, Jasmine must hunt down the would-be assassin, find a way of defeating the Beast, and stop the oncoming storm. And she has to do this while struggling to control her untamed magic, guard her secrets, and avoid becoming a true Abomination and a danger to everyone.

If you have time, I'd deeply appreciate a review on Amazon,  Goodreads and Bookbub. Reviews are proving to be difficult to come by and yet so important.
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Another Adventure on the High Seas

I literally JUST came back from my own high seas adventure. I took a break for a week on a cruise to Papua New Guinea. I put my feet up and relaxed and did a bunch of reading. Now I'm ready to start on the edits for book 3, the conclusion of the Wielder's Storm series.

IWSG Question of the month:
Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?
Absolutely. Because I'm a visual person, I often hunt for images to inspire a story or evoke a feeling or help me describe a place. But once, I caught the quickest of flashes from the movie trailer of The Tempest. It was one second of footage of a character jumping from a drain or something. That glimpse inspired an entire character and an entire fantasy series. I even finished book one. But I haven't yet released it. I need to finish my Wielder's Storm series first. 

How about you? What has inspired your stories?

Review Copies Available, Cover Reveal, and My Writing Journey #IWSG

Happy New Year everyone!! May 2020 be a year full of joy, grace, success, and awesomeness. May there be no dramas except in the books you read.

Cover Reveal:

I will be releasing book 2 of my Wielder's Storm series on January 27th. Below is my grand cover reveal for Wielder's Curse.

A dark vision. A dangerous curse. A girl caught in between.

I'm currently giving out a limited number of Review Copies. If you are interested, let me know in the comments or send me an email.

If you haven't read book 1 yet, Wielder's Prize is available as an ebook or paperback on Amazon.

OR, you can read it FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Check out my affiliate link above for Amazon's 99c limited deal for the first 3 months. Or try the 30 day free trial deal. Either way, you'll be able to read my book for free. Win, win.

If you don't own a Kindle, just download the FREE Kindle app for your phone, tablet and computer. Easy peazy.

The IWSG question: What started you on your writing journey?

When I was young, I got ridiculed for my slow, stuttered reading ability. So I avoided it. Then I came across my mum’s collection of Enid Blyton Famous Five books. Adventure stories about kids, for kids. I devoured them in the privacy of my own room. I had no easy access to books, so that’s where I stopped. It wasn’t until a teacher read The Hobbit to the class at the end of primary school (Middle Grade?) that I discovered the joys of fantasy. True escapism. At the age of twelve or thirteen, I read The Lord of the Rings. I couldn’t put it down. The boring books I had to study in school could’ve turned me off reading for life, but then I discovered my high school library. So many fantasy and science fiction books to read! I was hooked and from there, it was inevitable I would want to write my own adventure fantasies.

How did your love of books, reading, and writing develop? 
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With the New Year comes a time of renewal and refreshment. My book, Cling to God, is a daily devotional that you can use to refresh your faith every day of this new year. 

Available in paperback and ebook:

Amazon, Kindle, Nook, B&N, Kobo, ITunes, Goodreads

And please consider leaving a review.

Living the Writerly Dream and Favourite Books 2019 #IWSG

We made it to the end of the year. My goodness time is whizzing by. Not happy about that!! So much to do! So little time. I’ve been busy editing Book 2 of my Wielder’s Storm series. It’s taking longer than I had anticipated so I’ve had to delay the release until January. If you'd like to stay up to date with my releases, please join my VIP Club.

If you haven’t read it yet, Wielder’s Prize, Book 1 of the series, is available in ebook and paperback. Pick up a copy today or buy an extra copy as a gift this Christmas.

While you're at it, also pick up a copy of Cling to God: a Daily Devotional. This one will make a perfect gift for Christmas too. 

The IWSG question for the month:
How would you describe your future writer self if you were living the dream?

I’d have a bunch of bestsellers under my belt,
I’d be living in a castle with a secret passage leading to my writing nook (of course),
I’d have a movie or two made from my books,
and a popular TV series.
And I’d have the luxury and confidence to just keep writing (which I’m going to do anyway because I love writing so much)

How about you? What’s your dream?

Favourite books I’ve read this year:
Below is a list of affiliate links to my favourite books I read this year. I bought more than I read. Because time. But these are the standouts that I did get to read, and I highly recommend:

Illuminae (book 1 of the Illuminae Files) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – a fast-paced young adult sci-fi. This one is a little different because it has whacky formatting that doesn’t detract, but adds to the story. If you like YA stories with a smart female lead, an insane AI, planetary invasions and space battles, then this is for you.

Navigating the Stars (Sentinels of the Galaxy book 1) by Maria V. Snyder – another young adult sci-fi. This one is also a quick, light read with plenty of action and cool stuff. Like the discovery of the ancient Chinese terracotta warriors on other planets. I have a soft spot for extra-terrestrial archaeology. The Aussie cover for the book is awesome too and I love the sassy main character.

Chasing the Shadows (Sentinels of the Galaxy book 2) by Maria V. Snyder – It’s not often I continue reading a series, but I had to read more of this one. I’m super busy, so I’ve been snatching what little time I can to read. And I’m loving book 2. I’m three-quarters of the way through. I know I’m going to have a hard time waiting for book 3 to be released.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (book 1 of a duology) – Loved it! This one is a young adult fantasy. The characters are all distinct and interesting and the story is super engaging. Not as fast a read as the books I mentioned above, but super enjoyable.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (book 2 of the duology) – Also loved this. And the ending is satisfying.Yay!

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff (book 1) – This is a dark fantasy for adults even though the protagonist is a sixteen year old girl. There are some adult themes. But I loved it. Wonderfully written. It won the Aurealis award for a reason (a prestigious Aussie award for speculative fiction).

What were your favourite reads this year?


What's your Christmas going to look like?
Mine will be sweltering in the summer heat with family.

Wishing you all a joyful and safe Christmas. See you in the New Year!! 

The Joy of Researching for a Story #IWSG

Today I'm over at Denise Covey's blog while she is off gallivanting across Europe, doing research of her own. The lucky thing!! Please pop on over to Denise's blog and say, Hi.

The IWSG question of the month is a great one: What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story? 

I'm a huge fan of research and I've learned so much over the course of my writing career. For Wielder's Prize, my debut novel, I did a lot of research into eighteenth century tall ships, life aboard those ships, even the naming conventions on ships, for example there are no walls on ships; they're called bulkheads. Stairs are ladders. Windows are ports. I even learned the names of sails, what sailors eat, their superstitions. There is a scene later in the book that required me to look up the best conditions where various clams and mussels grow.

For book two, which I hope to release this year...yes, I said this year, yikes... I researched Icelandic words, Icelandic landscapes, the kind of vegetation that grows in cold environments. I've fallen in love with the country. So much so, that next year I'm hoping to travel to Iceland. We'll call it research, but by that time all three of my books for the Wielder's Storm trilogy will be out.

As for the strangest thing I've researched, I'd have to say that would be diseases. I wrote an Apocalyptic novel where the end of the world begins with a virus. No, not a zombie novel. I needed to look up germ warfare, terrorism and everything else associated with it. I felt like I had to throw up my hands and cry, "This is research for my novel. I swear!" That novel isn't out yet. I'm holding on to it until I finish my multiple fantasy series.

What have you researched recently?

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I've been busy with edits for Book 2 of my Wielder's Storm trilogy. The title is Wielder's Curse. I hope to release it early December. I won't put it up for preorder this time, but I will give it a discounted price for its first week of release, so keep an eye out!  (Or join my VIP Club for updates and you won't miss out--you'll even get a free hi-rez map of Erenna, the world where the Wielder's Storm trilogy is set in).

The photo above is one I took when I went to Sydney's Maritime Museum and checked out the replica of the Endeavor. So...much...fun!

I'm now on BookBub as Elle Cardy, so if you want, you can follow me and recommend my book there ;)

Don't forget to pop on over to Denise's blog. I'm there talking about how writers evolve.

How Movies Inspire and How Wielder's Prize Began

Today I'm over at Susan's blog speaking about my debut novel, Wielder's Prize, how it began, and some processes behind it.

I'm also over at Alex's blog, talking about how certain movies influenced my novel.

Please pop on over to them and check it out.

And don't forget about the awesome giveaway on Literary Rambles which runs until Oct 31st. The image above shows the books included in the giveaway.

(It's awesome seeing my book with the greats like Leigh Bardugo, Garth Nix, Beth Revis, Marie Lu, and all the others.)


Blog Tour Continues:

Today (21st Oct)

Guest post on Alex J Cavanaugh's blog

Guest post on Susan Kelley's blog

GIVEAWAY(until 31st Oct) 

A bunch of awesome books, including my own YA fantasy, Wielder's Prize, are up for grabs for a Spooktacular giveaway on  Literary Rambles

Next IWSG Day (6th Nov)

Guest Post on Denise Covey's blog

Thanks to Launch Day supporters (14th Oct)

Guest post at Jacqui Murray's blog 

Guest post at Patricia Josephine's blog 

Review of my book by Tyrean Martinson
Spotlight and review on Juneta Key's blog

Follower News on Literary Rambles

Have you picked up a copy of my book yet? This ad link is where you can grab a copy on Amazon or you can mark my book "to-read" on Goodreads or leave a review. Us authors love reviews. :)

Wielder's Prize Launch Day!

After a long wait, my YA fantasy adventure, Wielder's Prize is NOW AVAILABLE to buy on Amazon as an ebook and a paperback.

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.

Please spread the word far and wide!!

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Don't own a kindle? I decided to go exclusive with Amazon to start with. If you don't own a kindle, you can still read my ebook via Amazon's FREE kindle app.

Why the Pen Name? If you're curious about why I chose to go with the pen name, Elle Cardy, check out my explanation HERE.

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Mini Blog Tour:

Today (14th Oct)

Guest post at Jacqui Murray's blog 

Guest post at Patricia Josephine's blog 

Review of my book by Tyrean Martinson
Spotlight and review on Juneta Key's blog

Follower News on Literary Rambles

Tomorrow (15th Oct) 

GIVEAWAY on Literary Rambles

Next week (21st Oct)

Guest post on Alex J Cavanaugh's blog

Guest post on Susan Kelley's blog

Benefits of Reading Plus Books to Read #IWSG

YA Fantasy Adventure set on the high seas.

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

Jasmine’s whole life is a lie. It isn’t until she’s snatched and forced to work on another ship that she learns how much of a lie it has been. Not only can she wield, but she’s a danger to everyone if she can’t control her magic. And worse: there’s another out-of-control wielder out there who wants her dead.

That's the short version. If you want the longer version, check it out on Amazon.

My release date is coming up fast. So super fast!! Less than two weeks! I'm so crazy busy getting ready for it. Wielder's Prize is my debut. If you haven't guessed already, the ebook is currently available for preorder. Get it now, because once it hits the shelves on October 14th the price will go up.

Please spread the word!!
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The IWSG Question of the month: It's been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don't enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?

There are no benefits for a writer not to read. None whatsoever.  You’d be doing yourself a disservice by not reading. You’ll also find that most of your ideas won’t be original because your ideas will still be coming from other inputs in your life: crappy tv, movies, billboards, anywhere you gain any form of input.

There are heaps of benefits for a writer to read. So many!! Below are just a few:

1. Reading activates the brain in a way watching shows can’t. Apart from being good for your mental health, guarding against diseases like Alzheimers, it improves mental flexibility which makes writing so much easier.

2. You can’t learn the craft of writing without reading. There’s only so much a how-to book or podcast can teach you. The real lessons come from reading widely and often. Seeing your craft in action is the best way to see for yourself what works and what doesn’t.

3. Reading teaches you about your market. Reading widely within the genre you write in teaches you what else is out there. What you think is an original idea, you’ll suddenly realise is an old trope that’s been done to death.

4. Reading gives you new ideas. Yes, NEW ones. Every idea under the sun is based on another idea. The more input you get, the more chance you’ll be able to form something new from the old.

5. Reading inspires writers. I’m talking about when we read something awesome, it affirms in our hearts and souls that yes, we do want to keep writing.

6. Reading supports the book industry—the industry you want to be a part of. It’s already struggling because people are turning to other sources of entertainment.

And there are so many more benefits. I could go on and on and on… So read!! Hey, I have a book you might enjoy… ;) And if you don't like YA fantasies, then you might like Damyanti's debut crime novel:
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Damyanti Biwas

You Beneath Your Skin

I'm halfway through this book and loving it so far! 


This is how it starts:
Anjali Morgan wanted to get hold of Nikhil and smack him. He could have hurt himself jumping out of the moving car.
    I told you he’ll be the death of you one day, Mom’s voice played in her ears. You never listen.
   ‘Get back in the car,’ she yelled at Nikhil, but he’d disappeared, leaving Anjali stranded at the narrow, sloping exit tunnel of the capital’s largest shopping mall. Two drivers honked behind her. She wanted to turn and yell at them but held back. You know better than anyone else he can’t help it.
She needed to clear her head before she spoke to him again. He wouldn’t go far. Deep breaths. She leaned out of the car door and inhaled, only for the petrol fumes to hit her, along with the smog and that dusty smell unique to New Delhi. She forgot it most times, but now she choked on it and coughed.
Anjali stepped out of her car, the yellow overhead lights blinding her for a moment. Five cars now queued up behind hers. The driver in the first car had seen a teenager throw a tantrum in front of his harried mother. He slammed the horn and the rest followed suit. She spotted Nikhil’s gangly form down the slope, cantering away.
   ‘Madamji.’ A short Nepali guard in a beige uniform hurried up the slope towards her, his whistle shrieking. ‘Yahan parking allowed nahin hai.’
   ‘I’m sorry.’ Anjali tried to remember the Hindi words, but they’d fled, along with her composure.      
  ‘My son has run away.’
   She was about to sprint after Nikhil when the guard overtook her and blocked the way.
  ‘No parking here.’ He pointed at the cars queuing up behind her. ‘This is “Exit”.’
   Down the slope behind the guard, Anjali watched in horror as Nikhil turned into the parking area and disappeared. The cool air of a November evening made her shiver.
   ‘I need to go get my son. What part of that can’t you understand?’

To keep reading, buy the book. All the author proceeds will go to Project WHY, dedicated to helping underprivileged children, and Stop Acid Attacks, which campaigns for the cause of acid attack survivors. Both are non-profit organizations.

Damyanti Biswas volunteers for the non-profits, Project WHY and Stop Acid Attacks. She speaks passionately on the subjects of gender, violence, and poverty. The narrative of Damyanti’s new novel, You Beneath Your Skin (Simon and Schuster), has been shaped by her years of interaction with women and children in these two organisations. Using a framework of a crime thriller, she conjures in this book an authentic portrayal of poverty, misogyny, and political corruption.

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