#fantasy, Action Romance, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal, The Tarlisian Sagas, Uncategorized, Writing News

The Cros​s Of Ta​rlis: The Reckoning

This is the second book in The Cross of Tarlis series.

What is it About?

Caught up in a prophecy…

Only by the hand of Princess Tannith of Ellenroh can the last part of the famed talisman, the Cross of Tarlis be joined to restore peace to the world. With her companions, a bastard prince, a white tiger, her bodyguard, a tiny warrior faerie, and an ancient mage, she continues the quest to uncover the remains of the only relic that can rival the Dark Sorcerer, Sernon’s power.

The journey will change them all in different ways. Will they find what they are looking for and will it be enough to save them?

Review by InD’tale Magazine

Julie A. D’Arcy-Romantic Fantasy

Princess Tannith is given the seemingly impossible task of finding four pieces of an ancient cross that holds the magic to bring back the god, Magus.  If she cannot find a way to accomplish this quest, all her people, and the entire world as she knows it, will fall to the evil sorcerer, Sernon.  Luckily the gods have seen fit to send her Kaden, the warrior prince from a kingdom that is also being decimated by evil’s vast forces. Their journey takes them into the heart of danger on every turn, and the evil quickly grows faster than they can keep ahead of. However, the stakes or too high to allow defeat!

As the third book in the Tarlisian Sagas, it immediately dives into the action and suspense! Readers not familiar with the first books in the series might find it a bit difficult to immediately catch up. But it doesn’t take long until enough clues are given and one is so immersed in the story that time fades and pages fly by! The evil is gruesomely portrayed, which adds urgency to the plot, as the characters race to save their world. It is edge-of-the-seat, chew down those nails fun! The tale is expertly written and succeeds in keeping the reader smack in the middle of the action and emotion. The climactic fight between the brothers does stretch believability with a few twists and turns that don’t quite make logical sense, but one is too engaged in what the outcome will be to truly worry. And the ending is so beautifully satisfying, that one will sigh and smile as they close the book!

Ruth Lynn Ritter

Book 1

Book Updates, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal, The Tarlisian Sagas, Writing News

The Cross of Tarlis: The Awakening

Book One

A TARLISIAN SAGA

Hi , I would like to announce that my new release ‘THE CROSS OF TARLIS: THE AWAKENING’ published by The Wild Rose Press is now Available for pre-order. HERE

This is Book One in my The Cross of Tarlis series. Book two has received a contract and it is currently with my editor and should be released in a couple of months. 2022

EXCERPT:

Chapter One

Five-hundred summers have passed since the Great Mage War. Sernon of Asamos is dead. While his bones rest at the bottom of a glacial lake, his spirit roams forever in the Void. Tarlis is at peace. Or is it?

Somewhere deep within the depths of Lake Dalen-Gae, evil stirs…

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Oblivious to her guard’s presence, Tannith of Ellenroh, Princess of Dragonbane, slammed the heavy shutters and crossed the deep Argeasian carpet. She warmed her hands at the library fire, hoping the flames would instill warmth into her body and mind. Perhaps give her peace…but there was no peace to be had. Like a caged beast—on one hand, anxious to start the quest to free her people from the siege—on the other, afraid to try should she fail.

Although trained as a warrior, she had never tasted real battle until a few days prior. She thought she was prepared. However, the blood, noise—the horror of war—it was nothing like she had imagined—it was worse.

She poured a goblet of wine, took a sip, and glanced up at the gilt-edged portrait of her grandfather hanging above her father’s chair.

Dragonbane, first king of Ellenroh, sitting astride his massive white charger, exuded power—his ash-blond hair, braided at the sides, did little to detract from the sense of strength and purpose that stamped his hawkish features—strength evident in every line of his body. If only she could be more like him.

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Tannith

Her hand clenched the stem of her goblet. Had she taken on more than she could handle? Was she presumptuous to think that she could fill the boots of one so illustrious, and find the ancient icon the Council had said could end this war? All she knew was she had to try. After all, Dragonbane’s blood coursed through her veins.

She fought to conjure thoughts of more tranquil days, times of sunshine and laughter—days when her mother was alive―before the wasting sickness took her. However, those memories were receding further into the past and it was hard to focus with so much recent carnage. She ran a shaky hand across her eyes as the lifeless faces of comrades floated before her. Jakeal, Taybold and Estrial, friends she had grown up with, shared memories with, who would have died for her. Who had died for her, she amended.

She gulped down a mouthful of spiced wine to clear the taste of bile from her throat as the sweet, sickly stench of blood filled her nostrils. She could still see Taybold’s face as he dove in front of her, shielding her body, taking the spear in the side meant for her, and his agonized smile as he whispered goodbye and told her not to blame herself.

Chaffing her elbows, she glanced into the fireplace, feeling like she would never be warm again. The flames leaped and danced in the grate in a hypnotic rhythm allowing her thoughts to wander. Weariness engulfed her, her eyes clouded with unshed tears, but she held them in check. It would not do for the future Queen of Ellenroh to cry. No. She had to stand fast, give her people strength. With her father missing, they now relied on her for guidance.

She strode to the window to push open the shutters. Wisps of blue mist floated through the open portal, filling the library. The mist was magical, a sorcerer’s breath, of that she was certain. For days now, whisps of moist blue air had seeped into every niche and corner of the castle. Even the icy wind blowing outside did nothing to disperse the mist’s insidious presence.

Evil pervaded the very air that she and her people breathed. A dense alien mist blanketed the Urakians, camouflaging them until they were almost atop her men; its icy fingers soaking through the armor and into the bones of the Elisian warriors as they fought. They had defended well, but she could understand why they were demoralized. It was hard to fight an enemy one could not see.

She sought to penetrate the fog with her night vision. She knew there must be at least ten thousand camped across the moat, but she saw nothing. She heard their animalistic chanting as it floated upward on the breeze and crossed herself in the way of her faith—shoulder to shoulder, lips to heart. They must have another prisoner. May Magus have mercy on his soul. She had seen the remains of the other prisoners the enemy had dumped at their gates.

“Father are you out there?” she whispered into the night. “Are you dead or held captive in some dark dungeon?”

Skylah

No answer came. Only silence and a gentle crackle drifting from the fire in the grate.

She sighed and slammed the shutters.

“It cannot be that bad.” A small lyrical voice spoke into her ear.

Tannith gasped and jumped, and the goblet slipped from her fingers, crashing to the floor. Wine pooled like ruby blood at her feet as she stepped aside for the guard to attend the mess, then smiled when he finished, dismissing him for the night.

A Faerie no more than a handspan tall, with red curling hair and the garb of a warrior, fluttered before her face.

“You surprised me.” Tannith stretched out her hand for the Faerie to step onto her palm.

“Forgive me, Highness.” Skylah pushed her red-gold hair from her eyes. “I have been searching for you throughout the castle.”

Settling into a padded chair by the hearth, Tannith lowered the Faerie to her knee. She glowed with eldritch light.

“What is this news that could not wait?” She smiled.

Etan

“The Urakians have reinforcements.”

 “You have numbers?”

“Five thousand infantry and two hundred cavalry. Siege towers, too.” The Faerie hopped into the air and flew toward the window. Tannith hastened after her to ease open the shutters. Miraculously the fog had vanished, but what remained made her heart plummet. Thousands of campfires lined the banks of the moat and lit up the fields. They wanted her people to see them. They wanted her men to feel despair, and then while her warrior’s spirits were low, they would strike again.

“There.” The Faerie pointed to the left. “I managed to get close before I was seen. Eight war machines,” she said dismally. “How can we fight those monsters?”

Tannith grimaced. “Etan will have a plan. And if not, then one of the generals.”

“Of course,” the Faerie brightened, “Etan will know.”

Tannith noted the wistful note in her friend’s voice. “Did you see him there tonight? He led a raid on the Urakian supply wagons.”

Audiobooks, Book Updates, General Musings, The Tarlisian Sagas, Time of the Wolf, Writing News

‘Time of the Wolf’ Audiobook Sample

Please enjoy this FREE SAMPLE of ‘Time of the Wolf’ Audiobook.

Written by Julie A. D’Arcy

Narrated by Matt Haynes

Buy NOW! AT~

Audiobooks, Book Updates, General Musings, The Tarlisian Sagas, Time of the Wolf, Uncategorized, Writing News, Writing Tips

Dipping my toe into the world of Audiobooks

Well this was certainly an experience~ actually quite a good one. I had no idea how to go about arranging to have an Audiobook made of my novel “Time of the Wolf.” I am published in eBook and Print with The Wild Rose Press, quite a large U.S based publisher. However, I own my audio rights, and first checking with my publisher to make sure they were fine with me doing it I decided I may as well join the newest rage. I for one love audiobooks!

First I knew I needed a Narrator. I either wanted a man who could do female voices or a woman who could do male voices. I thought I would look on YouTube. I was lucky. I actually found Catherine Bilson who is also Australian, which is good because so am I. She has a set of 4 videos about the start to finish of getting an Audiobook made from your novel. Audiobook Basics for Authors 1 – 4.

From watching her videos, I learned that I needed a distributor, and also that the big one was ACX. However, ACX only takes on American Canada, Ireland and Uk.

For a moment there I felt quite dishearten, but she went went on to tell me that Findaway Voices is the place I needed to assemble and distribute my audiobook once all the files were completed.

I also found Narrator Matt Haynes on UTube. He actually teaches voice narration and how to do different accents.

So I had a decision to make. They were both very talented. So I counted how many men and how many woman and decided on that factor. My novel had three prominent females, and six male characters. So I chose Matt.

He was very professional and very helpful.

First I had to send a couple of scenes from my novel for him to do a sample.

There is no way to discribe the feeling of excitement and wonder of hearing your written words acted out in narration for the first time. It is amazing!

So we began. Each week Matt sent me 4-5 chapters to listen to and make sure I approved them. All of the chapters are sent in separate files to dropbox and I downloaded them onto my computer.

When all the files were finished he then made a sample piece that goes with the cover that people can listen to and decide if it is something they wish to purchase.

Then all I had to do was go to Findaway Voices, sign in, fill in the Metadata, and upload my files. It was so easy, even I being slightly technologically challenged found it really straight forward.

Now that is my story, but you can log into Findaway and they can help you find a narrator, some work with Findaway. You get to listen to several samples of your book and you pick the voice you like best. The staff are really great and very helpful and they will walk you through all the processes. You will pay a little extra for this but you can also ask if your narrator will do royalty share with you.

Taking Catherine’s advice I opted to pay Matt all upfront. Half just before he starts and the other half when Findaway excepts my audiobook. That way I get to keep 80% royalties.

Catharine Bilson writes beautiful Historical Romance novels as well as narrates them and she has quite a large following for her Audiobook narrations. However, she is also very versatile and could narrate any genre you wish.

https://tinyurl.com/t27cyfrt

Book Updates, General Musings, Uncategorized, Writing News

Today I would like to introduce the very talented author Catherine Greenfeder as my guest~

Writing is a passion for Catherine Greenfeder. Born in Greenwich Village, with its artistic influences,  she enjoyed the library, Central and Washington Square Parks, and the art museums. Her earliest influences were the children’s books she read, her Irish grandfather’s ghost stories, and encouraging teachers.

After receiving a B.A. in English, Catherine worked in advertising and promotion before returning to college while her son was a toddler. She acquired her M.A. in Teaching and taught language arts for twenty-five years.

Catherine enjoys researching and writing about what she discovers. Her interest in angels, ghosts, the American West, and reincarnation led to her writing five romance novels and a novella.

https://www.catherinegreenfeder.com/

Follow her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Catherine.Greenfeder.Author

Blurb~

Some things even a clever artist and psychic can’t know. When Kay Lassiter returned to New Jersey to make peace with her past, she didn’t count on meeting her guardian angel. He leads her in the investigation of her parents’ death. Along the way, Kay learns that she can love again and that despite the problems in the world, there are angels among us.

Amazon

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angels-among-us-catherine-greenfeder/1007837978?ean=2940161510018

Available now in print and e-book.

Excerpt

Excerpt: Angels Among Us by Cathy Greenfeder 

“Come here, Baxter,” Kay called the dog. He obeyed, but stood between her and the stranger.

Blood glistened across the ridge of the man’s nose. “Yeah, that’s right,” the stranger said as he rubbed the blood with the back of his sleeve, “got this for grabbing this.” He held up a handbag. “It ain’t worth it anymore.”

“Good for her,” Kay said, “Teach you to stop robbing women and scaring them to death.” She stepped further away.

“Right. So you ain’t scared of this?” A silver flash cut the air as the man wielded a large knife toward Kay’s face. “Now throw down your jewelry…the gold watch and that thing on your neck.”

Kay felt her turquoise-studded watch, pulled it from her wrist, and threw it down. “Here.”

“And that too.”

“No!” Kay touched the cross, an heirloom from her grandmother.

“I guess I’ll have to take it.”

Kay backed away and tumbled over a tree branch.

Almost instantly the knife glinted dangerously above her. “Is it worth your life, lady?”

As she choked on the rank smell of tobacco and stale wine, a gray mist descended on them, its intensity covering them and the stranger. The flutter of wind chimes tingled her ears. Kay sat up. Bewilderment replaced fear. Out of the mist came a man in a white suit surrounded by an aura of violet and gold. His soft features reddened with an intense fury as he turned from her to the thief. Anger lit the emerald of his eyes. Words bellowed like the force of a cyclone from his lips and the thief crunched down in fear and confusion.

“Leave her be! Leave her and never come back!”

The thief scrambled up and took off running as Kay’s astonishment faded.

Baxter hid behind her knees as this interloper closed the gap between them. A smile crinkled the edges of his thin lips, and his palms flew up. “Peace. Be not afraid, Kay.”

She stood immobile then backed away. “Who…who the devil are you?”

Hurt creased his brow and his glow dimmed a moment then resumed its bright appearance. “Do not be ungrateful, Kay.”

“I’m getting out of here,” she said. “First the thief, now you! This must be a bizarre nightmare, one manifested like a Salvador Dali painting.” She turned to run, but a firm and gentle hand held her in place.

“No, please listen to me, Kay.”

“Who are you?”

“Suffice it to say I have known you a long time. And I know your gift did not protect you tonight.” He stared a moment at her neckline. “But this did.”

Kay fingered the cross as she stared up at her strange rescuer.

“A gift too, I see,” he continued.

“Gift?”

“Why do you mortals forget what’s precious within, the precious gift God gave you? It is there, Kay. Yet you neglect it.”

 “First a thief, now a lunatic! I should have listened to my brother and stayed out of the woods at night. What do you want?”

“I’m not here for material rewards.”

She stared hard at him. “You’re not getting that either, bud.”

He shook with laughter. “Oh, Kay, is that what you think? Here, come away, the danger’s not over. Hold my hand, let the dog go. He will follow.”

For some unknown reason, Kay allowed the being to take her hand. His touch felt like a feather yet carried strength beyond hers. She looked down at Baxter. “Follow me, boy,” she called, and then Kay’s feet lifted from the ground. “Oh, no!”

“Hold on, Kay!”

As they rose above the earth, Kay cringed. “Don’t worry, I won’t let go.”

Over treetops and past the empty playground toward the opening to the park they flew while Baxter, a dot below, chased them through and out of the park. “Please,” Kay begged when they reached its outskirts, “please put me down!” In an instant her feet touched a soft patch of grass. “Whoa!” Her voice echoed the word several times until dizziness and her panting subsided. “Are you an alien?”

“No. Don’t go to the park so late.” He handed her a silver whistle on a black nylon cord. “Here, if you need me again.”

“A whistle? I can whistle for you?” She examined the tiny instrument with its indecipherable scrawl on one side. “Your name?” She looked up and the mist reappeared around the stranger and he vanished before her eyes. Only the dog stood beside her. Baxter nuzzled her hand, and she hooked the leash back on his collar. “Come on, boy, we won’t tell anyone about this!”

Amazon

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angels-among-us-catherine-greenfeder/1007837978?ean=2940161510018

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/932600

Available now in print and e-book.

Adventures & Travels, Book Updates, General Musings, The Tarlisian Sagas, Time of the Wolf, Uncategorized, Writing News

Time of the Wolf–5 stars

InD’tail Magazine FEBUARY 2021

 

A supernatural tale of time travel, past lives, and insurmountable passion, “Time of the Wolf” pulls readers through a vortex of high stakes adventure and enduring romance! The plot is a suspenseful tale steeped in lore, possession, betrayal, obsession, and vengeance.

Characters are flawed, authentic, and believable beings who leap from the page as their stories unfold. Even small bit characters manage to provide imagination, sparking embers readers will relish. Vibrantly evil villains are monstrous, with hints of vulnerability that doesn’t quite offset their diabolical desires. Readers will get a rush from thrilling action-filled battles, and goosebumps from chillingly hungry fiends found within this quest to destroy evil, and put right the wrongs of yesteryear.

Ms. D’Arcy’s first instalment to this series is a howling inauguration to an enthralling saga of vendetta, sorcery, and legend in a wonderfully rich landscape of fairy tales, fantasy, and fate.–

Reviewed By Tonya Mathenia InD’tail Magazine FEBUARY 2021 Buy Book Now


QUOTE— ” Congratulations on the Crowned Heart of Excellence review your book received with InD’tale Magazine. What a fantastic accomplishment! It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to write a story of such calibre and you deserve this distinction. Enjoy it!”

Ryan Summers

InD’tale Magazine Special Projects Editor

Book Updates, General Musings, The Tarlisian Sagas, Time of the Wolf, Uncategorized, Writing News

NEW RELEASE: TIME OF THE WOLF

After the hectic rush of Christmas(Whew! I am glad that is behind us.)

My Mum

It has been a very sad time for me. My beautiful independent Mother of 87 years old has moved into an aged care facility. My sisters and brothers and myself have the job of sorting through my Mum’s belongings. So many memories are attached to just about everything I touch. I found back copies of every novel I had ever written, all signed that I had given to her over the years. I could not let them go so I brought them all home.

On to a brighter note. Time of the Wolf, was released yesterday by The Wild Rose Press. It is now available on any sort of mobile device you can think of, and the Paperback is absolutely beautiful. I received an author copy to check over and it really came up lovely. Hopeful you will all take a look. I will put up a few links at the bottom of this page.

Thank you for visiting today.

Uncategorized

Writing Itself

I am currently working on my new novel. This novel is set in the same inter-dimensional world that I mention in my novel, Silverdawn. Rastehm.

The work is tentatively titled “Mage Princess”. This will not be the published title as I am still working on that. I find titles one of the hardest things about writing 🙂

I wrote 1,275 words today and Mage Princess currently sits at 23,258 out of what I am hoping to be around a 80,000-word novel. However, that is up to my characters as they have a way of taking over and vying for the spotlight.

Scenes are coming out of nowhere that I have not plotted. It is such an incredible journey when this happens while writing. You feel as if you are merely the person typing on the keyboard and the characters are telling the story. Sometimes their voices are so clear in your head you really think they are alive and standing beside you, but that could be the medication I am on. 🙂 (Joke)

Writing News

I am Back

I am proud to say I have almost finished editing my new novel, Guardians of the Underworld. You are the first to know the complete name of this novel as I do not like sharing the title of my books until I finish writing them.

Currently I am working on finishing a vampire novella spin off to Night’s Eternal Vow. This title is available in paperback and eBook.

Already I am thinking on who I might submit them to. There are a lot of good publishers out there. Or there is always self publishing.

I cannot believe how much I love writing again. New stories are beginning to shape in my head at the most inappropriate times when I have no paper and pen or have forgotten my phone. So I have to attempt to commit them to memory.

Now if my two Oriental cats would leave me alone and not try to sit in my lap while I am typing, jump up on the printer or desktop computer box. Or, walk through the jumble of wires at the back of my monitor, I might be able to get more work done.

So if you have not seen me on Facebook for a while you can only surmise that I am lost in the would of one of my novels either on a quest, kissing a hero or battling an evil villain!

General Musings

Bringing It Home

I wrote two books. And, well, I don’t know how I did it. But somehow, I did.

I suffered a marriage breakdown and spent the past several years battling with depression and anxiety.

Add to that, my old doctor had me take valium every day for four years. Do I need to say those years were spent in a daze?

During that nightmare time, I managed to write 2 novellas.

The Shape of Destiny and Encounter in Paradise.

While all the time plugging away bit by bit on my full-length manuscript, the sequel to The Cross of Tarlis which I began writing in February 2007.

The Cross of Tarlis is currently out of print but will be submitted to a publisher when the sequel The Guardians of the Underworld is finished.

After ten years I can finally see an end in sight. I have a medication that allows me to see and act like a normal person and has allowed me to write again.

I only need to write around four more scenes and my book will be finished. I always have trouble writing at the end of the novel. I don’t know why that it is? I know the end, basically, every word is written in my head already but I have trouble putting pen to paper so to speak. That is why I wrote the end scene two years ago.

But now I am procrastinating about the last few scenes leading up to it.

But with my daughter urging me on and giving me a good boot up the backside when I need it I am certain I will finally bring it home.

Wish me luck!

 

goldlineleaf

maroon flower on top of brown book
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