Please help me welcome Darcy Campbell into the moonlight today! Darcy’s newest release is The Warrior, which was released by Lyrical Press. The Warrior is the third book in her Arienta Guardians series. To learn more about Darcy, visit her website: http://www.darcycampbell.net/
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GRACEN: Do you make resolutions for the New Year? Why or why not? If so, please share one or more of them with us.
DARCY: No , not really. I used to but they never worked out and then I spent the remainder of the year feeling guilty and who needs that.
GRACEN: Now that the busy holiday time is over, what do you do to recharge?
DARCY: I really don’t have any downtime. I work one full time day job, have a consulting business that I jam time in for and then write in whats left over. The holidays were slow for me…day job is advertising sales so it was slow and the consulting business was closed till middle of January. Gave me lots of time to write and edit.
GRACEN: Do you prefer your hot tub inside the house or outside the house? Why?
DARCY: Outside….best memory I had was when I was younger….floating in the hot tub till I was all hot and pink then jumping out into the swimming pool just a few feet away….by the way this was done in the winter months…..really kicks your heart into overdrive
GRACEN: Now, let’s get to your writing, Darcy. Why the erotic romance/erotica genre? What was the draw for you?
DARCY: I started out writing short (3,000 words or less) for contests….lots more contests with erotica than regular… lots more commercial draw unless you are a major name author….look at all the grocery store paper backs….its all romance and hotter…..
GRACEN: If you could describe your writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? Please look beyond words like hot, sexy, etc., and delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story.
DARCY: I love telling a story that has a twist in the tale or that has a moral issue to discuss.
GRACEN: Do the holidays disrupt your writing schedule? If so, how tough is it to get yourself back in writing mode and what have you found that seems to help?
DARCY: Yes, they disturbed me to a certain degree..so much of my writing is done by transcription into a digital recorder when I’m driving during my day job…I use the evening and phone time at work to type up the transcriptions than I edit….holidays cut down on my driving time so I’m behind on finishing my latest book.
GRACEN: Who decides what characters/creatures you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over your story, or is the muse always the one pouring the soap in the Jacuzzi?
DARCY: I usually start out with somewhat of a clear idea of where I want my story to go….where it ends up is all decided by the characters themselves. Some just refuse to take my preplanned course of action and instead create their own. The story I dictate into my recorder is usually not the story that ends up being published. When I start transcribing, the characters take over and create their own dialogue and action.
~~~~~
GRACEN: Do you make resolutions for the New Year? Why or why not? If so, please share one or more of them with us.
DARCY: No , not really. I used to but they never worked out and then I spent the remainder of the year feeling guilty and who needs that.
GRACEN: Now that the busy holiday time is over, what do you do to recharge?
DARCY: I really don’t have any downtime. I work one full time day job, have a consulting business that I jam time in for and then write in whats left over. The holidays were slow for me…day job is advertising sales so it was slow and the consulting business was closed till middle of January. Gave me lots of time to write and edit.
GRACEN: Do you prefer your hot tub inside the house or outside the house? Why?
DARCY: Outside….best memory I had was when I was younger….floating in the hot tub till I was all hot and pink then jumping out into the swimming pool just a few feet away….by the way this was done in the winter months…..really kicks your heart into overdrive
GRACEN: Now, let’s get to your writing, Darcy. Why the erotic romance/erotica genre? What was the draw for you?
DARCY: I started out writing short (3,000 words or less) for contests….lots more contests with erotica than regular… lots more commercial draw unless you are a major name author….look at all the grocery store paper backs….its all romance and hotter…..
GRACEN: If you could describe your writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? Please look beyond words like hot, sexy, etc., and delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story.
DARCY: I love telling a story that has a twist in the tale or that has a moral issue to discuss.
GRACEN: Do the holidays disrupt your writing schedule? If so, how tough is it to get yourself back in writing mode and what have you found that seems to help?
DARCY: Yes, they disturbed me to a certain degree..so much of my writing is done by transcription into a digital recorder when I’m driving during my day job…I use the evening and phone time at work to type up the transcriptions than I edit….holidays cut down on my driving time so I’m behind on finishing my latest book.
GRACEN: Who decides what characters/creatures you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over your story, or is the muse always the one pouring the soap in the Jacuzzi?
DARCY: I usually start out with somewhat of a clear idea of where I want my story to go….where it ends up is all decided by the characters themselves. Some just refuse to take my preplanned course of action and instead create their own. The story I dictate into my recorder is usually not the story that ends up being published. When I start transcribing, the characters take over and create their own dialogue and action.
BLURB:
How far will a lonely merman walk for true love?
Merman Cado has discovered just how much fun he can have with human women. In fact, they’re lining up to service him because this is something he’s very, very good at.
All is well until he begins dreaming of a woman he’s never met and his search for true love and his destiny as the Guardian of the Aquamarine stone send him on a quest far from familiar waters to another world.
Pursued by relentless enemies, can Cado save his lover, master his powers, and return to his home?
EXCERPT:
As Cado slept fitfully in the cove, his sleep was racked with dreams, dreams that seemed so real and so intent they burned into his memory. He had moved far beyond the visions of the battles though.
The message told was unbelievable, and yet it kept repeating throughout the night. According to the dream, he wasn’t really a merman, but rather an Arienta Guardian. Born into the Arienta clan, his destiny was not only to protect and defend the clan, but to repopulate its diminishing numbers as well. He had been teleported to the planet Mer as an infant, to be hidden and protected until it was time to assume his rightful place on Suha. What made the story difficult to fathom was the admonishment not to share this revelation with anyone. The purpose supposedly was for both his safety as well as those around him. Who could he share with anyway? He tried to talk with Nereus and the old sea witch before but got nowhere.
The story sounded just like that, a story, with a few exceptions. First was the aquamarine pendant that appeared around his neck when he transformed to a human. The pendant was the same color as the scales on his tail, but there was no explanation for its appearance. The second reason Cado felt the story might be possible was the feeling he had since childhood. Even as he was having fun racing around the ocean with his school friends, he knew there was something different, something that separated him from the rest of the merfolk. Cado’s entire childhood was filled with a longing to belong, of a desire to be understood.
He never fit in, which was never more obvious than during their battle training. The strength of the merfolk was built around the community, the support of others like him. His teacher was constantly correcting him, demanding that he learn to work with the others. Unfortunately, for all the commands Nereus issued, Cado never felt completely connected. He earned a reputation in the Mer community as a loaner. His fellow school mates recognized his abilities as a great warrior, but he was still considered something of an outcast.
Eventually, he learned to cope with this ever-present feeling, and as an adult, tried to find the solution in the arms of others. The only time he ever felt whole and completely understood was with the woman who appeared in his dreams. Since he had only seen her face and long flowing golden hair for a split second, he wasn’t even sure if she was a human, a mermaid or another creature all together. All he knew was she had his heart and somehow he was going to find her.
The dream also gave a note of caution. Evidently, the enemy of the Arienta clan would stop at nothing to prevent themselves from gaining an equal standing on the planet Suha. The Cerace were seeking out all the Arienta Guardians, intent on convincing them to switch allegiances, or if that failed, to kill them. The final message in the dream was that Cado would instinctively know when the time was right to return to Suha and how to transport there.
Big help that was…
Buy link http://www.lyricalpress.com/the_warrior
My website….. www.DarcyCampbell.net
here are reviews for Book one ---The Beginning and Book two –The Dancer in the series
book one – The Beginning
Her character really started to shine and I loved the way Darcy Campbell expanded on the video game aspect of the story. Another thing I loved about the latter two thirds of the story was Micah. Wow. That’s it. Wow. Manipulative, sarcastic, and egotistical, but aware of his faults, the author made a great move in having parts of the story from his prospective. There is a certain irony that is readily apparent from the first with his and Camille’s meeting, but it would probable be considered a spoiler if I mentioned it here *grin*.
……I cannot wait for the second installment in the Arienta Guardians series
Bitten by Books…….by Sarai http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=9854
ok two – The Dancer
I finished this book feeling a strong sense of emotional elevation and hope. The ending had a few “treats” in it, but after so much bitterness, the candy was well-deserved. Watching Wayne’s growth into himself was my favorite part of this book, which thankfully included a realistic psychological rendering of Wayne overcoming so much grief and frustration. Wayne’s pain was difficult to watch, however his blossoming purpose with the people of Arienta was a wonderful respite. Despite the discomfort, The Dancer is a sweet story that I would recommend to readers with one major caveat: some of the depictions of abuse might act as a trigger for some who have experienced the same, so be cautious. The abuse doesn’t detract from the story, but the warning is necessary. I look forward to reading the next installment in the Arienta Guardians series as well as the first installment
Reviewed by Elizabeth B at Bitten by Books.. http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=14769
How far will a lonely merman walk for true love?
Merman Cado has discovered just how much fun he can have with human women. In fact, they’re lining up to service him because this is something he’s very, very good at.
All is well until he begins dreaming of a woman he’s never met and his search for true love and his destiny as the Guardian of the Aquamarine stone send him on a quest far from familiar waters to another world.
Pursued by relentless enemies, can Cado save his lover, master his powers, and return to his home?
EXCERPT:
As Cado slept fitfully in the cove, his sleep was racked with dreams, dreams that seemed so real and so intent they burned into his memory. He had moved far beyond the visions of the battles though.
The message told was unbelievable, and yet it kept repeating throughout the night. According to the dream, he wasn’t really a merman, but rather an Arienta Guardian. Born into the Arienta clan, his destiny was not only to protect and defend the clan, but to repopulate its diminishing numbers as well. He had been teleported to the planet Mer as an infant, to be hidden and protected until it was time to assume his rightful place on Suha. What made the story difficult to fathom was the admonishment not to share this revelation with anyone. The purpose supposedly was for both his safety as well as those around him. Who could he share with anyway? He tried to talk with Nereus and the old sea witch before but got nowhere.
The story sounded just like that, a story, with a few exceptions. First was the aquamarine pendant that appeared around his neck when he transformed to a human. The pendant was the same color as the scales on his tail, but there was no explanation for its appearance. The second reason Cado felt the story might be possible was the feeling he had since childhood. Even as he was having fun racing around the ocean with his school friends, he knew there was something different, something that separated him from the rest of the merfolk. Cado’s entire childhood was filled with a longing to belong, of a desire to be understood.
He never fit in, which was never more obvious than during their battle training. The strength of the merfolk was built around the community, the support of others like him. His teacher was constantly correcting him, demanding that he learn to work with the others. Unfortunately, for all the commands Nereus issued, Cado never felt completely connected. He earned a reputation in the Mer community as a loaner. His fellow school mates recognized his abilities as a great warrior, but he was still considered something of an outcast.
Eventually, he learned to cope with this ever-present feeling, and as an adult, tried to find the solution in the arms of others. The only time he ever felt whole and completely understood was with the woman who appeared in his dreams. Since he had only seen her face and long flowing golden hair for a split second, he wasn’t even sure if she was a human, a mermaid or another creature all together. All he knew was she had his heart and somehow he was going to find her.
The dream also gave a note of caution. Evidently, the enemy of the Arienta clan would stop at nothing to prevent themselves from gaining an equal standing on the planet Suha. The Cerace were seeking out all the Arienta Guardians, intent on convincing them to switch allegiances, or if that failed, to kill them. The final message in the dream was that Cado would instinctively know when the time was right to return to Suha and how to transport there.
Big help that was…
Buy link http://www.lyricalpress.com/the_warrior
My website….. www.DarcyCampbell.net
here are reviews for Book one ---The Beginning and Book two –The Dancer in the series
book one – The Beginning
Her character really started to shine and I loved the way Darcy Campbell expanded on the video game aspect of the story. Another thing I loved about the latter two thirds of the story was Micah. Wow. That’s it. Wow. Manipulative, sarcastic, and egotistical, but aware of his faults, the author made a great move in having parts of the story from his prospective. There is a certain irony that is readily apparent from the first with his and Camille’s meeting, but it would probable be considered a spoiler if I mentioned it here *grin*.
……I cannot wait for the second installment in the Arienta Guardians series
Bitten by Books…….by Sarai http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=9854
ok two – The Dancer
I finished this book feeling a strong sense of emotional elevation and hope. The ending had a few “treats” in it, but after so much bitterness, the candy was well-deserved. Watching Wayne’s growth into himself was my favorite part of this book, which thankfully included a realistic psychological rendering of Wayne overcoming so much grief and frustration. Wayne’s pain was difficult to watch, however his blossoming purpose with the people of Arienta was a wonderful respite. Despite the discomfort, The Dancer is a sweet story that I would recommend to readers with one major caveat: some of the depictions of abuse might act as a trigger for some who have experienced the same, so be cautious. The abuse doesn’t detract from the story, but the warning is necessary. I look forward to reading the next installment in the Arienta Guardians series as well as the first installment
Reviewed by Elizabeth B at Bitten by Books.. http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=14769