The Mark of a Druid
Please welcome Rhonda R. Carpenter to the site, as she begins serializing her audiobook, The Mark of a Druid:
When twenty-six-year-old Eve McCormick awakes, the images from her nightmare are indelible. The dream feels so real she must force herself to get a grip. This experience is just the beginning for Eve, a Los Angeles clinical hypnotherapist and researcher investigating whether reincarnation is fact or fiction.
Unstoppable visions of an ancient lifetime steal days from her. The danger escalates when she wakes up physically injured and marked with a strange symbol. While Eve battles the past to maintain her sanity and safety, her project is jeopardized as another researcher’s attempts to take over. One partner dies and another is accused of inappropriate conduct. Eve and her friend, Dr. Andrea McMurray, don’t believe in coincidence and probe their shared visions for answers.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Welshman Ryerson Sanders is haunted by his dreams and believes Eve’s research project can help him. For both of them, an ancient Celtic prophecy and long-sought revenge entangles the past with the present. A druidess and a shape-shifter must join to save the druid way of life, while a queen conspires to kill Erin’s only high king. Will the oaths and agendas of the past reach across the centuries to strengthen or to destroy?
Grab the first six episodes in the default feed (for now), or get each episodes (and all new) delivered to you on your schedule.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Great work!
September 30th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Great cover and I am intrigued by the story. Re-incarnation is an interest of mine. I will be anxiously awaiting chapters.
October 1st, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Thank you Amie I hope you enjoy this version!
October 1st, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Awesome! & Congrats on #1:) xoxo
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 am
I qam loving it … I listen to it when I can ….
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Great start Rhonda. I love the story. Good luck with this.
October 4th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Rowan, Rennie and Emerian,
Thank so much for the encouragament.
October 5th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I just wanted to let you know that the whole Guild has been listening to it and they are having the classes do the same .. Druids Rock!!!!!
Ren
October 6th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Ren, That is wonderful news. Thanks so much for telling a friend!
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Well I am sitting here with Merlin and he is sitting on pins and needles awaiting the next episode this has been the talk of the Guild for weeks and we have gotten not much work done we love it. People already have the book on reserve so when it comes out they can get it …
Ren&The Druids Guild
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Thank Ren and Merlin. I appreciate the passing the word along. It only gets better! Grin!
October 29th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
As I sit listening to the podio cast it makes me feel that I am not alone on the quest that I am at right now for myself .. I can visualize and feel all that is happening .. (being an empath) not many people can capture what a rebirth is like and I can see myself in the lives that I have lived as the healer the chills that I get from listening to your words I am sure that we will discuss the book once I get it and finish reading it … you are loved ..
Rennie
November 1st, 2008 at 6:04 am
I’m retired and always looking for interesting reading and you are definately NOW on my list of favorites. Go girl, I’m lovin’ it!
Theresa
November 1st, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Theresa,
You have made my year! Thank you.
Rhonda R Carpenter
November 12th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Very interesting fiction. Creative. The delivery is pretty stilted at times. A little unpredictable. Sometimes is flows smoothly for a phrase or two then all words and syllables become equally weighted as if there were many many edits, or something???
November 14th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Hi Barry for listening. I am grateful for your observations and will see if I can’t do better with the flow. Your comment is appreciated and heard. Back to the editing drawing board.
November 15th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Rhonda, I’m hooked! And since broke my ‘rule’ of only downloading completed works, I’m now terribly impatient too. On a constructive note, picking up on an earlier comment…initially the undifferentiated pace of your reading was a little off-putting. I admit to having started and stopped listening to the initial chapter a couple of times before getting into the swing of it. You have a wonderful voice though and this is truly storytelling, rather than simply recitation. For those reading reviews to pick something new to listen to (as I often do) – this is a very well written story with great production quality – highly recommended.
November 16th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
JaneInPA, I am so pleased you are enjoying the story! Your feedback is invaluable as all of this podcasting is so new to me that any input I can receive helps me tremendously. I want to apologize for the error on 15 as well it has been fixed and re-uploaded. Episode 16 has been approved and should go live very soon. Again Thank you for your kind comments and help with what I could do better.
Rhonda R Carpenter
November 16th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Rhonda I am still loving it the more I listen to it the more I can see the whole thing unfold like I have been doing this for myself I have been telling more and more people about it and more have been listening as well we love you ..
Rennie
January 18th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
For those of you who don’t know today is the first giveaway of the 2009 contest series. Go to http://www.themarkofadruid.com for details.
February 6th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Hello all you listeners out there,
I wanted to up date you on what is going on and I thought this might be a good way to get the word out. Next week the final 3 Episodes should go live. As a podcaster, writer, I would really like your feed back before the book is finished. I was considering going back and redoing the first three episodes. What do you think? Are they engaging enough? Do they suck you in enough to make you want to listen to the rest? Or are they just fine and I am being nit picky? Is there one or more episodes you think need to be rerecorded? I have not noticed a big exodus on one particular episode so I need your help here. What as the listener do you think I could do to bring the quality of the beginning up to the quality of the last episodes?
You input is greatly appreciated,
Rhonda Carpenter
http://www.themarkofadruid.com
February 10th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Rhonda, your delivery in the later episodes has been great. In my initial comments, I did admit to having some trouble “getting into” the story due to your initial reading style. I almost felt like the the punctuation and inflection had been edited out. You seem so much more comfortable with the medium now, and although you still use emphasis sparingly, it definitely allows the emotion of the story to show through. If you’re up to it, I would certain recommend re-recording the first few.
And just my 2 cents worth, should you (please, please?) choose to make other work available in this format, in additon to a quality, compelling story – the most important things that keep me listening are good production values and timely updates, both of which you have mastered. No matter how good a story, I find it difficult to ‘stick’ when the delivery (either kind) is lacking.
Thank you so much for soliciting feedback and good luck with the finale!
February 11th, 2009 at 1:47 am
Hi JaneInPa! I am so glad you are still listening. And I think you are right. I and redoing the first 3 episodes which amounts to the first 4 chapters. I will still put the end up this week. I will start uploading that probably tomorrow they are ready to go! I hope I can bring the quality up in the first three. I certainly am not a professional reader but I have had a lot of fun doing this. And if you are not reading the blog at the book site Please feel free to come and join the contest at the book site and win some cool Celtic stuff! There will be a bonus episode next week a glimpse at the beginning of the next book in the series. I hope you will listen to that as well.
You input is more valuable thank you could know. I really appreciate you taking the time to leave it for me. Thank you
Rhonda
February 11th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Dear Rhonda,
What a wonderful story! You bring us an elegant, intriguing tale, intricately plotted, with natural dialogue, brave and truthful characters, craven villainess, confused villain, unfolding mystery, arcane druid knowledge, magic and mainstream regression therapists. What else could one want in a fiction book? I’m reluctant to listen to the end.
I really like how naturally the magical druid sequences are depicted. It simply is what life is like in realms where people are attuned. Makes me feel that such Reality can crop up in sacred groves everywhere. Thank you!
February 11th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
WOW Thank you for such a through and clear view of the story. Keep listening. The ending this week and the bonus of the new book next week! http://www.themarkofadruid.com/mod/?p=402 The contest is located here. Everyone is welcome to enter all year long. The rules are also on the site. on the contest page.
Thank You,
Rhonda
February 16th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Rhonda, I just want to say a Big Thank You. Very well writen and well read. So good will listen to again before the next book comes out. Great Job.
February 17th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Hi Cathie, Thank you so much for listening. Please bare with me on the bonus episode that was due out this week. We have had horrendous weather here and I can’t record with sleet hitting the windows and 60 MPH winds slamming into the house. I do hope to have it up by next week to close this podcast. Thank you very much for your comments!
Warms a writers heart!
Rhonda
February 26th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Dear Listeners,
This book is now complete! I hope that you enjoy the glimpse into the next book and I truly appreciate all of your comments and input, keep it coming.
Remember all this year at http://www.themarkofadruid.com there are contests running every two week building up to the final on 12/31/09 where I will be awarding a lucky winner the original artwork from the cover!
Join me on twitter @rhondacarpenter
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:19 am
A superb story.
The ingenious interweaving of plot and characters pulls you into the story and keeps you listening to the very end.
The druid rituals are mysterious and believable, giving you the feeling that you have been honoured to share in the lives and mystical ways of these ancient Celtic people. The mirroring of the past and present intertwining the characters is cleverly done and keeps you on the edge of your seat yearning for more.
Thank you Rhonda, I can’t wait for the next book
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:23 am
Rhonda, I wanted to let you know that I absolutely enjoyed this book! It was fantastic reading and a great story line. I am looking forward to the next book. I have to say that you have rejuvenated my interest in listening to audio books.
I love this book!
Sharen Michalec
March 13th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Dearest Ruth and Sharen, Your kind words mean the world to me. Thank you, thank you!
March 18th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
I appreciate good fiction, history, and background work and I was gratified big-time by this excellent story. By the time you are only a few chapters into the novel, all the characters have definition and the creative way the past is inter-woven with the present (including the mysterious plot links) the listener is hooked. At least I was. A great read for any fantasy enthusiast-as well as the history/Celtic buff. I give it 5/5 in all catagories. I am also looking forward to the next in what I hope will be a long lived series.
March 19th, 2009 at 1:49 am
LadyMagoo! You have made the author feel great! Thank you so much for your kind words and the review.
Sincerely
Rhonda R Carpenter
http://www.themarkofadruid.com (new site coming soon!)
March 31st, 2009 at 12:05 am
I just had to say thank you for your kind words and appreciation for my interest. I especially have to say thank you for putting this in audio format. I am legally blind and really do appreciate you and many other authors for putting your hard worked for novels on a format that is so easily accessible to me and the many others who can’t read your story any other way than audio. Keep up the good writing, and I promise I will keep listening and totally appeciating what you do, how you do it and looking forward to lots more of the same. It is good to know that the people who write the stories actually listen to what their readers (listeners?) have to say. Thank you again, and I do look forward to a long run for you with the characters from “Mark of a Druid”.
April 7th, 2009 at 7:45 am
Hi Rhonda
Greetings from Wales! I loved the story – though was very sad when the great Cosmo was no more. I have a cat that is very much like him
The Welsh accents could do with a little more work – but I’m not complaining – perhaps one of us should come over and help you out with them. Walking through the woods and forests here, I can tell you that you perfectly captured the glorious spirituality of the place – in a way that many other books of the period haven’t – so thank you.
I am looking forward with great anticipation to the new book. Thank you again.
April 12th, 2009 at 2:15 am
Dear Terri,
I love hearing from listeners. I so wish I could do a grand welsh accent. I was lucky enough to travel there once and my first foot step on Welsh soil was like coming home in a way I had never felt before. Yes the cosmos seen was very hard for me to write and it sprang from my Cosmo traveling the veil. I am very please to tell you he has returned in the form of a rescue and still has his very distinctive personality. You can see a picture on my facebook account.
Please come join in the contest at the new book site I love shipping overseas! http://www.themarkofadruid.com. And thank you for taking the time to write to me it is very much appreciated! If you get to the us it would be great to have a real accent. Come on over!
Cheers and blessings,
Rhonda R Carpenter
April 12th, 2009 at 2:24 am
Dear LadyMagoo,
I am working hard to also incorporate a reader into all my websites. I don’t think we bloggers and writers think enough about the visually impaired. On the new site most pages will have a reader on them if not my voice then one like odiogo in the near future. It just went live this week. My other podcast that I do with H.E. Roulo, another podiobooks.com author, has this feature installed already. You can hear how it works at http://www.podioracket.com while getting the latest scoop on podiobooks.com and what is I coming out, coming up and happening with the authors her on this wonderful site. I would love to hear what you think. you can email me at Rhonda at podioracket.com.
Please register at the new site and play in the contests. I think you deserve some cool stuff!
Many thanks
Rhonda R Carpenter
May 27th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
After having this book sitting around on my i-pod for a few weeks, I finally had time to begin listening to it. Five days later I finished and wished there was more. Rhonda has written an excellent book, and as a amateur student of history, I can tell that she did a lot of research before setting her pen to paper. The details and imagery are excellent. The duel story lines are engaging. The characters and their motivations are believable. It took me a little while to become used to Rhonda’s delivery, but I have that with most books I listen to. Also, she became smoother the deeper I went into the story. Her voice had the ability to project emotion into her characters, something that is not always present in an audiobook. All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history, science fiction, paranormal, or just a good read.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Dear Mark, I am so pleased you liked the book and honored that your took the time to leave a comment and rate the book. I feel privileged that you wanted more. Thank you so much.
Rhonda
July 20th, 2009 at 12:21 am
I listened to this book a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I was searching the site hoping the author had done another book. I liked your reading voice and found your range of voices impressive.
Best wishes for continued success.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Just finished a romantic si-fi “Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband” and didn’t think I’d be lucky enough to find another book as good.
I’m on the last chapter of The Mark of a Druid…. kinda hate to finish – won’t have a good book to look forward to at the end of the day —- most enjoyable.
I’m a grandmother and although I don’t consider myself a prude I still find the f— word VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, but regardless, liked the book.
Will certainly put the next one on my itouch!
Liked the reading and the sound effects. Not too knowledgeable with the Celtic ways of saying certain English words so thought I was listening to baby talk at times.
Thank you for sharing!
August 8th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Dear Becky, Thank you so much for your kind words. I am furiously working on the the next book and if you run over to my website http://www.themarkofadruid.com you will be able to get the updates and when as well as some of the other short story things that are happening. I am running contests through the end of the year feel free to play along. Thank you again, Rhonda
August 8th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Dear Twyla, Thank you for you kind words of support and telling me what you liked and found hard to take. It very much helps me as a writer meet my audience’s needs. Please feel free to pop on over to the website and play the contest series a ne one will be up on Sunday along with the 3 winners from the last contest. register for the site and I will be sending out an up date when the next book is ready to go.
Thank you again I really appreciate you taking the time to comment! Rhonda http://www.themarkofadruid.com
August 18th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Rhonda,
I don’t normally read this type of story, but it kept my interest very well. That tells me that it is good writing. I like the way you crafted your characters and how they interfaced through the ages. I like the way you brought technology into it as well. Your villain queen was also quite interesting.
Some of your dialog surprised me with its mondainness (if that’s a word) where people are having interrupted phone conversations, for example. This sounded quite real, even raw. A very conversational style that always puts the reader at ease.
Also, you have a soothing voice and your accents were not overdone.
As I know you from Podioracket.com I wanted to take the time to listen, and it was by no means a chore for me. I even looked for excuses to go out in the car so I could find out what happened next.
I hope this is the first of many books for you.
Paul J.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
The Mark of a Druid is not your average fantasy tale and will appeal to readers of fantasy, paranormal, historical fiction and other genres. Rhonda’s words paint vivid images and also raise some pretty interesting questions. You might find yourself hoping you didn’t ticked off too many people in your past lives. I found The Mark of a Druid to be a refreshing change, and I look forward to Rhonda’s next book.
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 am
Paul Joseph, I am so pleased that you took the time to step out of your normal genres and try The Mark of a Druid. It mean the world to me that I am not just part of Podioracket.com but that my work is being seen and enjoyed as well. Happy! Dance! Sneaking out to the car. I love it!
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:11 am
Dear Brain, Woot! thank you for your comments and takign the time to listen to The Mark of a Druid and taking the time to comment and review the book. You made my day.
October 7th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Rhonda,
Great work! Your book and The Fox have really been a treat. A wonderful and enjoyable break from my usual fare of SciFi.
I look forward to your next book!
Cheers
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Dear Thomas in Korea,
I am so pleased that you enjoyed. B sure that you jump over to the website http://www.themarkofadruid.com and join in the last two contests. This month singed copies and posters and next month is the big one the original art.
Cheers,
Rhonda
January 20th, 2010 at 11:12 am
This book should be turned in to a movie. I really have enjoyed listening to “The Mark Of a Druid”. I would like to listen to more books written by the Rhonda Carpenter.
January 28th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
I do not usually comment on books until I finish listening, but I couldn’t help myself. This book is wonderful! I’ve heard about 2/3 of it so far and it really impressed me. The characters are very well developed, story is very exciting and imaginative. Great job! This book is definitely something I will have to purchase and reread. Ok, got to go listen some more…
July 13th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Amazingly well done! I was completely absorbed by the story and the telling. Great narration and the music and sound effects blended in, and complemented the narration perfectly. The story content is … well, one of the best books i’ve listened to. and the only one that i’ve actually listened to a second time. It is complex and laden with intrigue. I became quickly addicted, and wait impatiently for the next book.
….oh, and now i want to be a druid! =^-^=
April 14th, 2011 at 2:17 am
Great story! I liked the interaction between the two time frames and found the characters engaging. I’m looking forward to more!
October 11th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
I’m up to episode 30 and have been really enjoying this book. One drawback is that with all of the main characters having a current persona as well as a past-life persona, it can get quite confusing. That probably has something to do with my memory and ability to keep things organised in my head, but I’ve also been wondering if it might be better to work with fewer characters and go into greater depth with them. A thought for future books, Rhonda!
)
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:00 pm
This is the first audio book I downloaded and listen to and WOW, did I enjoy it. I was able to listen to it on my way into work and I have to say, for a change I was looking forward to the drive!
Great work and I can’t wait to listen to the next one!
February 22nd, 2012 at 8:02 pm
While I enjoyed the book, I was expecting more ‘paranormal’ and less ‘romance’. Not a problem with the writing, but the description on podiobooks didn’t make it very clear what the genre was…
March 27th, 2013 at 10:09 pm
WOW! I loved this book it drew me in like few others. The narration was simply spectacular and the plot had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. My only disappointment was getting to the end only to discover that book two was never finished, while it is doubtful I truly hope that it is still in the work and I’ll one day get to return to this enchanting universe. Even though, so far, the series has not been continued the ending doesn’t leave the reader hanging with no sense of resolution. on a scale of 1 to 10 I give The Mark of a Druid an 11; I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good fantasy.
April 28th, 2013 at 3:58 am
I have to admit, I haven’t finished this book yet – only a bit more than halfway through, but it’s totally drawn me in! I’ve been listening everyday on my commute to work and it makes the hour-long drive a treat
Not usually into fantasy, but this is really well done, with a good mix of realism thrown in too. At the beginning I found the author’s narration style a bit weird (mostly how she emphasises Eve’s name so strongly with a pause after it, like “EVE – picked up the cat blah blah blah” but I think I got used to it after a while. Anyway, it’s made me want to learn more about druids and their culture. Very interesting story!