Tarling was nicknamed 'French Boy' by fellow school children in England, because French was his first language. In Australia, with ambitions of being a poet, Tarling published his own Rags poetry magazine and had a stand in Sydney's Domain. He also edited another poetry magazine called Mustard Grass and joined the Newcastle Poetry Association. Starting in 1971, he wrote lyrics which Robert Wolfgramm would turn into songs.
Tarling was a school teacher during the period 1974-1978 and wrote a few short plays for his classes. Since then Tarling has written biography, business-oriented books and church histories, edited magazines, and 'ghost written' for other authors.
