The Guardian

The Power of the Elements in the Hands of a Boy

by L. M. Nelson

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Devastated by the tragic death of their parents, Camryn and Toby Hunter find themselves alone in the Idaho wilderness. When Toby discovers a pair of gold rings, he and Camryn are magically transported into a mystical land they’ve never seen before. Their only known exit is immediately sealed off, and they find themselves surrounded by mythical creatures, a beautiful waterfall oasis, and moss-covered Redwood trees with faces. Named as “the Guardian” by the locals, Toby is faced with a life-changing task. He and his sister can only return home when the elements are reunited and peace is restored to the land of Gelnoff. With only two gold rings, ten days’ worth of supplies, and the guidance of a wise, old Redwood tree, Toby and Camryn begin the journey of a lifetime.

A Word from the Author

Have you ever had a dream so vivid and so detailed that it stuck with you for days or even months? That’s how The Guardian came to be. A dream. A very vivid dream.

I’ve always been a lover of fantasy books and sci-fi movies. As a child, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was one of my favorite books. I loved the world of Winnie the Pooh and floated away to Neverland with Peter Pan. I saw the very first Star Wars movie when I was a child and have been a fan ever since. Imaginary worlds fascinate me. The land of Pandora is one of my favorite imaginary worlds. I wish I could see its many moons, smell its rainforests, and hear the flying dragons screech across the the sky. I’d also love to visit Nabu, Narnia, and Hogwarts, or meet Yoda, Dumbledore, and Frodo.

Creating a fantasy world is a challenging endeavor, and I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off. But as I began to piece together the images I had in my head, my imaginary world began to take shape. The characters came alive, and I began to feel the landscape – the sounds, the scents, the smells. Trees began to talk, rivers flowed, and glowing stones emitted rainbow colored hues. Although creating the land of Gelnoff challenged me as a writer, it was incredibly fun to write. I compiled all the vivid images I saw from my dreams and let my imagination take over.

In this book, you’ll see some familiar creatures like a Minotaur and a rock troll, but you’ll also meet talking Redwoods and a new fantasy creature called a Hawkstrich.

(L. M. Nelson, January 2018)