bEYOND
THE
prophesy
Debut novel, Emer of Ulster (Book 1)
COMING SOON
Ancient Ireland, Ulster Cycle
When fated love is cut short, grief has divine and terrible consequences.
A bold reimagining of the Ulster Cycle, Emer of Ulster follows the legendary Mistress of the Six Gifts after Cú Chuláinn falls, when love, loss, and divine betrayal force her into a destiny darker and more powerful than she was ever told.
LOVE THAT DEFIES ONE LIFETIME
Emer has lived in the shadow of her own perfection, hiding childhood scars that grew into celebrated gifts: beauty, wisdom, the sweet speech of the old gods. They won her the heart of Cú Chuláinn, the greatest of Irish warriors. But all mythic gifts come at a cost.
When the demigod she loves fulfills his prophesy and dies too soon, her grief tears the veil apart, and the gods must own the bargain they made behind her back. As time fractures and immortal mistakes threaten the realms of gods and men, Emer travels where monsters guard the memories she must reclaim. She must accept the power within her grief, and confront those who marked her, watched her, and used her while Cú Chuláinn gave all to protect her.
To forge a new future, she must face the darkest part of herself, and decide what she is willing to become. Are her gifts a curse or her birthright?
A timely re-imagining of the Ulster Cycle myth of Cú Chuláinn and Emer, the Maiden of the Six Gifts of Womanhood
Perfect for fans of mythical love stories, Irish folklore & literature; grief-to-power transformations; strong heroines, gods, monsters, and found friends
This dual timeline connects London’s Edwardian literary scholars and spiritualists with the ancient Irish stories they loved
When Pixie, a púca hiding out in 1909 London, starts to paint tarot, visions pull her back to intervene for the now-grown gifted child that got her banished in the first place. With guidance from WB Yeats, Bram Stoker, and a cast of colorful friends who know their way around Irish myth, Emer and Pixie stand against the dangerous visionary that summons the dark forces that made her. They will help Emer face the terror of loss, use her gifts, and find her way home to herself.
“Nine months in the womb, seeds in the soil … never fear the darkness, child, for that is where life begins. “
about the author
Shelagh Braley Starr writes with special interest in mythology, history, and the unique characters of Ireland.
A former Boston newspaper journalist turned media-tech entrepreneur, she is the founder of By Ancestry Media Inc., created in 2024 to connect the global diaspora to their Irish roots while learning more about modern Ireland.
She is founder and editor of RELATED, a monthly Irish culture magazine that goes out to more than 130,000+ members of her @IrishbyAncestry FB group. It covers travel, genealogy, food, music, books, author interviews, and more.
She also runs BrigidsLibrary.com for the same community, a book club that introduces Irish and Irish-adjacent books to a global audience.
With her husband, Billy, she built the award-winning social network and lifestyle brand MyLifeList, helping thousands of members reach their life-list dreams—before deciding to live out her own, which included traveling the world (especially Ireland), and writing her debut novel, Emer of Ulster (working title).
They live in New England, where the sailing is good, with daughter Maura, son Finn, and a pack of wild Labradors that ruin any attempts at gardening.
Contact me
I am always eager to chat with readers, and other writers and editors. Get in touch with questions, comments, requests, and especially if you have advice for me. Shelagh@braleystarr.com
As Emer the warrior comes to life, I’ll be exploring Irish myth, painting Irish tarot cards, and refereeing imaginary fights between WB Yeats and Aleister Crowley.
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