Authors To Watch: Interview with Cheryl Carpinello Author of GUINEVERE TRILOGY #authorstowatch #interview

 

 

Cheryl Carpinello taught high school English for 25 years. During that time, she worked with numerous students who didn’t like to read for a variety of reasons. However, she discovered that even the most reluctant readers became engaged in the classroom and in reading when she introduced units on King Arthur and the works of ancient world writers. Upon retiring, she set out to write fast-paced, action-filled stories in these setting to encourage young readers to read more. When not writing, you can find her reading, spending time with family, and traveling.

Cheryl’s books:

Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend (1)

Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend (2)

Guinevere: The Legend (3)

Guinevere Trilogy ebook only

The King’s Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table)

Sons of the Sphinx

Tutankhamen Speaks

Grandma/Grandpa’s Tales 1

Grandma/Grandpa’s Tales 2

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://www.cherylcarpinello.com

Blog: carpinelloswritingpages.blogspot.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ccarpinello

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.carpinello1

Title: GUINEVERE TRILOGY
Author: Cheryl Carpinello
Publisher: Silver Quill Publishing
Pages: 371
Genre: Middle Grade / Teen / Young YA

BOOK BLURBS:

GUINEVERE: ON THE EVE OF LEGEND

Princess Guinevere dreaded her upcoming thirteenth birthday. It signaled the beginning of her official role as the Lady of her father’s castle.
No more adventures in the forest with Cedwyn. No more explorations outside the castle walls. No more excitement. No more danger. No more fun.
Cedwyn—her companion for as long as she remembered—viewed her circumstances differently.
A Medieval coming-of-age story relevant today.

GUINEVERE: AT THE DAWN OF LEGEND

Ancient Stones. Mystical Stones. Autumnal Equinox.
Down upon a wide plain the yellow orb shines strong.
Racing side by side, the two laughingly ride.
A mist descends. The laughing stops.
A dangerous Medieval tale of two friends. Of a loyalty not often seen.

GUINEVERE: THE LEGEND

Fiercely loyal, Cedwyn always rushes to Guinevere’s defense. Stubborn to a fault. Always there for her. A future Knight? His one and only hope. A hero? Not what Cedwyn strove for, but it sought him.

Guinevere rarely thinks with her head. Just the opposite. Thinking with one’s heart: a recipe for trouble. And trouble finds Guinevere, all too often. Stubborn, she refuses to abandon those depending upon her. Even when ordered by her father, the king.

And so these two—both on the edge of Legend—barrel forth in this deadly dangerous and riveting Arthurian adventure.

PRAISE

Reader’s Favorite 5-Star: A Gripping Tale.

Guinevere: The Legend is the concluding entry in the Guinevere trilogy by Cheryl Carpinello, a compelling Arthurian tale with strong characters and a story that explores the themes of friendship and loyalty against the backdrop of a society rocked by a crisis. The little children have been kidnapped, and Cedwyn is with them. Guinevere has made a vow to rescue Cedwyn and she leaves home without telling her father, an act that fills her with guilt. But she doesn’t know her bravery might put Cedwyn in harm’s way. She is just fifteen. And eleven-year-old Cedwyn trusts her absolutely, considering her as his queen. He is certain that she’s coming for him and the children. Can she save them from the renegades who hold the children captive? Traveling across the dark waters to the land beyond, Gaul, is perilous. In spite of the grim tales she’s heard from the old wizard Merlyn, will she continue?

This is a beautifully written story with fascinating characters, set in medieval England, and featuring characters of legend like the legendary King Arthur and Merlyn. In this novel, the author deftly develops a tale of adventure that revolves around Guinevere as a young girl and her loyalty to those she loves. The reader encounters her at the very start of the story, poised and on the go, determined to save her friend. Cedwyn is a richly developed young character as well and I enjoyed the way the author develops his friendship and devotion to the protagonist. The writing is filled with strong imagery, including elements of the setting like the rugged landscapes. The author’s unique ability to unveil the strong emotions of the characters and to keep the story realistic is a great addition to the strengths of the novel. The medieval era is reflected in the unique style of conversation and in the beliefs of the characters. Guinevere: The Legend is a gripping tale that keeps the reader turning the pages until the very last one…Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon: https://amzn.to/30jhehD

We welcome you to My Bookish Pleasures! Can you tell us how you got started writing fiction?

I started writing when I retired from teaching. After encountering so many high school students who didn’t like to read, I wanted to reach out to younger students in the hopes that I could share my love of reading with them. Since my high school non-readers loved Arthurian Legend (The only books I could get them to read!), I started my own Arthurian tales with Guinevere.

Describe your writing process. Do you plot or write by the seat of your pants? When and where do you write?

All of my stories start off in my head. So, before I start writing, I already have the broad outline of my story. If I’m working with new characters, then I will do descriptions of them. I also review any research I’ve done before writing. Then I sit down and write. When I’ve finished writing for the day, I put the work aside. The next time I write, I read over the previous session and make any corrections needed at that time. Then I continue on and write from where I left off. I repeat this process until the book is finished. I also make notes at the end of each chapter in a separate file about which characters are in that chapter, descriptions of the characters, and one or two sentences about what happens. I use these notes to be sure that I’m not leaving holes in my story and that a character doesn’t have green eyes in one chapter and blue eyes in another!

Can you tell us about your most recent works?

The Guinevere Trilogy in eBook is my most recent release. Finally, readers can access all three Guinevere and Cedwyn adventures in one place.

I’ve just finished the first book in my new series Feathers of the Phoenix. The Atlantean Horse features Rosa from Sons of the Sphinx and her cousin Jerome. Tasked with finding the five feathers of the ancient Phoenix Bird, the two are sent through the ancient worlds on dangerous adventures. If they are successful, the island of Atlantis will rise again. If they fail, one or both may pay the ultimate price.

How do you get the ideas for your books?

My inspiration for my Arthurian books came from my love of the legend and from my students. They thoroughly enjoyed the Arthurian tales, but their knowledge of Guinevere was limited to her betrayal of Arthur. I decided to write a story introducing readers to a young, insecure princess struggling to find her place in the world, just as my students struggled to find theirs.

My Egyptian tales (Sons of the Sphinx and Tutankhamen Speaks) and the Feathers of the Phoenix series come from my fascination with the ancient worlds. There are so many fabulous stories and hints of stories in the ancient literature. I fell in love with Egypt when we visited there. My current Egyptian tales set in that mystical world will definitely not be my last!

I also write Grandma/Grandpa’s Tales. Each box contains two stories. Book 1: Wild Creatures in my Neighborhood and What If I Went to the Circus. Book 2: Singers of Songs and The Not So Stubborn Humpback. All of these ideas came from short stories I wrote years ago.

What projects are you currently working on?

I’m finishing up The Atlantean Horse and researching book 2 in the Feathers series. The working title is The Norse Star and is set in Iceland.

I’m also working on the 3^rd Grandma/Grandpa’s tales. The stories in Book 3 will be A Fish Tale and Vampires in the Backyard.

What advice would you offer to new or aspiring fiction authors?

Turning off the critical part of your brain is crucial. Let the creative side of your brain do its work. Don’t worry about what you’re writing, just write what you love. Sounds simple, but it’s not. It’s too easy to listen to negative comments. Block all that out and write!