Q and A with Author Cheryl Carpinello

Please welcome my friend and fellow author Cheryl Carpinello to my blog today.

I have read and reviewed and loved both Cheryl’s Arthurian books, and so I decided to do a little Q and A to get behind the scenes and the characters in Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend.

Although Guinevere is only 15, still a young girl, how seriously does she take her future duties as queen?

Guinevere, not yet married to Arthur, still enjoys the freedom of being herself. At 15, most of the time she doesn’t think beyond the current day. And since her father and Arthur are up north away from the castle, she really has no one to answer to although Brywyn, Cedwyn’s mom, still exercises some authority over her. Cedwyn lets us know in the beginning of the book that his ma will not approve of their adventure to the magical stones. It is when the consequences of her actions come crashing down around her that she remembers who she is supposed to be. That’s when she remembers the story of the Red Deer and the Unicorns. In return for saving for red deer, those creatures save the unicorns. She understands then that her role is to protect her people.

How does she ‘learn’ to become queen? What would her daily duties be and her ‘future queen duties’ be?

Behind the pages of the story, Brywyn, Cedwyn’s mom, is teaching her. Brywyn has taken care of the castle for many years since the death of Guinevere’s mother when Guin was young. Besides taking care of the Keep where she and her father live, Guinevere is still in ‘school’ and learning math, Latin—and possibly a little Spanish and French—to be able to talk with visiting rulers from Gaul and other countries when she is queen.

How important is Cedwyn to her and why?

Cedwyn has been her constant companion and friend forever. He was raised alongside Guinevere since his ma worked closely with King Leodegrance. They are closer than a sister and brother. Because Cedwyn’s dad is a knight, he understands more than Guinevere about what his role in life will be. He knows how unpredictable adventures with Guinevere can be, but still goes along with her. This is for two reasons: one, he enjoys the adventures, and two, he also knows that he is to be her protector when he becomes a knight.

What role does Merlyn play in her life?

Merlyn acts as a second father and friend, and as her teacher. He has been around since she can remember. The times when her father hasn’t been around, Merlyn was there. Guinevere was able to talk with him and ask questions about her future. As her teacher, Merlyn’s way was subtle. He let her discover the meanng behind Nimue and the unicorn’s passing in On the Eve of Legend. He also guided her in understanding the lesson behind the red deer and the unicorns. We will see further lessons from him in Book 3, Guinevere: The Legend.

Amazingly, Cedwyn repeats word for word what the goddess said. Does he have a photographic/eidetic memory?

No, he does not. What he does have is the huge impression the goddess had on him at the Stones. And it doesn’t hurt to have a little of the goddess’ magic. The goddess obviously thought her message important enough to burn it in Cedwyn’s memory.

What would daily life at the monastery be like?

In the 400-500’s, life as a monk would have been terribly simple compared to today. Their duties would include spreading the word of the new religion as they could. It would have been a life with little in the way of luxuries. Winters would have meant long hours spent at the abbey with few visitors. They grew what food they could mostly vegetables. Hunting would have provided meat. The orchards surrounding my particular abbey provided fruits. They would have worked hard to make friends in the area because of the prevailing belief in the goddess. They did this by trading foodstuffs with the residents of the castle and providing what assistance they could.

Although this is Guinevere’s story, it seems to be more like Cedwyn’s coming of age story?

At the Dawn of Legend is Cedwyn’s story much more than Guinevere’s. While they both grow up, it is Cedwyn who determines his course of action before he and Guinevere try to save the kids. His main concern is that he protects Guinevere.

[Cedwyn] kept watch and formulated his own rescue plan. It was dangerous, and neither Guinevere nor his ma would like it. That’s why he’d say nothing to either of them. Sometimes a knight had to keep his own counsel and just do what had to be done.

While he will continue to grow up in book 3, Guinevere will catch up to him, I hope.

How dangerous was life back then?

Life back then was as dangerous as any time. Compared to today, it might have even been safer.  But aside from that, Britain was in a struggle between local kings and the remnants of the Roman occupation. Renegades roamed the isle, robbing and creating havoc. Local leaders carried the reminder of the Roman occupation and were not eager to offer allegiance to a new leader, Arthur. Thus, the young king would have had a tough time convincing them to join him. Most of these skirmishes would have taken place in the north away from Guinevere’s home in the south.

Will Cedwyn have the courage to follow through with his plan to save the children?

I almost answered this one, Fiona! Everyone is going to have to wait for book 3 to answer this question. I hope to have Guinevere: The Legend out for Christmas 2019.

What is Guinevere’s finest quality? What is Cedwyn’s finest quality?

I believe Guinevere’s finest quality will be what her father has always told her not to do.

…[K]ings must rule with their heads not their hearts.

Even in the toughest times in front of her, Guinevere will rule from her heart first.

For Cedwyn, it is his undying loyal to his friend and his queen.

Sitting there he remembered their adventures. The unicorns, the painted dragon, King Pellinore, the bratchet, and the wild boar…This was real. This was what the goddess meant…Cedwyn wiped a tear from his eye and squared his shoulders…He wondered if he would see her again.

About Cheryl: Cheryl Carpinello is an author, retired high school English teacher, and Colorado native. Since retiring from teaching, she's been able to devote her time to writing and traveling. Although she may be away from teaching, she is still a teacher at heart and especially enjoys meeting with kids and talking with them about reading and writing. Cheryl hopes through her books she can inspire young readers and young-at-heart readers to read more. Visit Cheryl's website for more on this author and her books!

Book Review: The King's Ransom

When the King’s Ransom, a wondrous jewelled medallion, is stolen from Pembroke Castle in Wales, it is up to three young heroes to band together to solve this mystery and save a life. Prince Gavin (12), the youngest son of King Wallace and Queen Katherine, and his two friends, Philip (13), an orphan, and Bryan (15), a blacksmith’s apprentice, are an unlikely trio, uneven in terms of social status, but firm and loyal companions. Their friend, the Wild Man, is accused of murdering the king’s advisor and stealing the marvellous medallion, a symbol of absolute power and justice, but only in the right hands. Kings have enemies, and it soon becomes apparent that someone was after the medallion for the prestige it would bestow. Gavin, Bryan, and Philip race against time to find the medallion, reveal the true killer, and save the Wild Man’s life. They have only a few days before the arrival of King Arthur. If the medallion is not found, the Wild Man will be executed in front of Arthur. Can they overcome their fears and fulfil this momentous quest? Is it possible the Wild Man has tricked them all and simply used their friendship to get closer to the medallion?

 

What a delightful five-star story for young readers in The King’s Ransom. I am familiar with Cheryl Carpinello’s writing from reading and reviewing her first Arthurian book, Guinevere: On the Eve of a Legend. Then I was entranced by the author’s spellbinding descriptions of life in Arthurian times and her meticulous attention to detail. Cheryl’s skills have remained as bright as ever with the unfolding of this fast-paced tale, threaded with mystery, adventure, a bit of magic, danger, darkness, and lovely twists in the end. I so enjoyed the factual information about weapons, clothing, daily life, and places, cleverly interspersed in the text and dialogue to inform without overwhelming young readers. The author has a gift for delving into the depths of each young hero’s psyche. The way each one of the trio faces their fears, learns to believe in themselves, and finds their true meaning and path in life is moving. This is a superb coming-of-age story, set in a time of chivalry and pageantry, and harking back to an age when a hero was truly a hero. Fans will love that there is a FREE Study Guide to help expand their knowledge of King Arthur and his era. You can find out more about Cheryl’s books here.

Book Review: The Shadow of Camelot

Another adventure unfolds as twins Jemima and Joe, Charlie (best friend and neighbour) and Max, their talking (yes, talking!) Tonkinese cat, embark on yet another adventure in The Shadow of Camelot. The twins have still not found their missing parents, trapped somewhere in the past, and have been on five amazing adventures so far with the help of an ancient magical book and the key to open it – kept safely on a chain around Jemima’s neck. They always get hints and clues to their parents’ whereabouts and hope that the next adventure will be the one to restore their mother and father. In the meantime, they live with their studious Uncle Richard, who is a Professor of Archaeology at London University and doesn’t suspect a thing.

The magic begins with the Prologue, and the wizard Merlin hard at work, trying to see if a prophecy will come true, and if he can summon help from the future. His assistant is a gorgeous black cat appropriately named Midnight. In the meantime, fast forward to the future where Joe catches a book as it falls off a shelf in Uncle Richard’s study. Is that a voice he hears calling for help …? It seems to come from between the pages of the book entitled King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Using Jemima’s key, the kids and Max (feeling as reluctant as ever about yet another foray into foreign climes) open their ancient book which had served as a portal before to the past and arrive … in Merlin’s cave. This adventure is definitely going to be different because magic is at work – they are needed for a very special purpose, actually Max (to his horror) seems to be the one who is needed the most, in order to fulfil a prophecy and assist Arthur in defeating his greatest foe.

Wendy Leighton-Porter has another winner in The Shadow of Camelot, Book 6 in her time travel fantasy adventure series Shadows From the Past. Reluctant hero Max deserves a very special mention. Some (cats) are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Max definitely experiences the latter. Although truly faint of heart, he reprises his role as a messenger of the gods, assuming the form of an ancient cat spirit, Cattus Britannicus, a role requiring a disguise as well. He is joined in this enterprise by Midnight, who assumes the suitably dramatic role of Felina Malina, and together they achieve the impossible. This was one of the funniest parts of the book. Max rises to the occasion and surprises everyone, including himself the most.

The author effectively recreates the court of Camelot, along with characters familiar to readers and fans of Arthuriana: various knights, including Sir Lancelot (with a truly hilarious French accent) who discovers that, since the twins share his name, they are related. He also gives some information about the twins’ parents. Other well known characters include Arthur himself, of course, Guinevere, and Arthur’s evil sister Morgana, who has her own villainous part to play. The story encompasses real events, places, and historical characters, adding to the fascinating story around Arthur and Camelot.

Arthurian fans will heave a huge sigh of relief to discover that Arthur’s initial choices of name for Excalibur were voted down. In fact, Wendy Leighton-Porter has put an entirely new spin on the origins of Excalibur that I found truly unique. The end notes also amplify the facts and the fiction about Arthur, the man, the king, and if he did exist. If you have been following the series, this will be another delightful adventure to enjoy with our young heroes and feline. This is an engaging read for the young and young at heart with action, adventure, feats of daring, time travel, magic, fun and lots of very clever ideas! Five stars!

Guinevere: On the Eve of a Legend

About the Book

Title: Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend * Author: Cheryl Carpinello * Publication Date: March 30, 2009 * Publisher: Outskirts Press * Pages: 122 * Recommended Age: 7+

Summary (Amazon):

At the dawn of Camelot, one young girl is about to take her place beside the greatest king in England's history. She is a mere child of twelve. But in these medieval days, this is the age when childish things must be put away and greater responsibilities accepted--all in preparation for a betrothal of marriage. For young Lady Guinevere, on the advent of her thirteenth Birth Day, the whole idea is quite unbearable. After all, what could be better than spending her youth playing with her best friend Cedwyn, roaming the grounds around the castle looking for mythical creatures or hunting rabbits? However, the wizard Merlyn--her teacher and friend--knows that destiny has a way of catching up with a person. His arrival sets in motion a series of events that will lead Guinevere to her destiny whether she is ready for it or not.

** Finalist Pre-Teen Literature: Dan Poynter's 2011 Global Ebook Awards **

Amazon (U.S. Print) * Amazon (UK) * Amazon (CA) * Amazon (FR)

Amazon (IT) * Amazon (DE) * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

 

Book Trailer

The Buzz About the Book

"The story is a nice balance between action, elements of magic and fantasy, and important life lessons, all woven within the historical context of medieval times. This was an enjoyable and educational read and I would recommend Guinevere to tween girls and boys." ~ Mother Daughter Book Reviews

"Cheryl Carpinello's 'Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend', is a unique introduction into Arthurian Legend focusing on the life of the young princess. It is perfect for tweens interested in this genre. While most young people aren't royalty, they will likely relate with the emotions associated with wanting independence while struggling with the responsibility that comes with it. ~ Vine Voice, Amazon Customer

"'Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend' is an interesting and well-written tale told in a way that will appeal to middle school aged readers, especially girls but boys too, who can relate to the idea of wanting independence yet struggling with the obligations that come with it. The euphemistic "darn it" is used a few times, and there are some references to drinking ale. But those who really like to read the Arthurian legends should enjoy this fun peek into Guinevere's early life. In addition, it illustrates the important lesson that situations may arise in life when we must choose doing our duty rather than just doing what we want." ~ Wayne S. Walker for Home School Book Review, Amazon

"An interesting read for the 8- to 14-year-old, this book skillfully integrates vocabulary and information about life in medieval Europe without verging on preachy or textbook-like. While it will most definitely interest the bookish child with an unquenchable thirst for history, it will also amuse those with a penchant for adventure-- or unicorns. ~ Thomas, Amazon

"…an outstanding job detailing the escapades of the Princess and her young friend, Cedwyn. Carpinello keeps you turning those pages with her descriptions of the dangers and adventures that are ribboned throughout the entire story. Wizards, unicorns, and dragons are a few of the mythical creatures you will encounter in this enchanting book. I am excited to give this to several of my grandchildren to read! ~ Penny Estelle, Amazon

"Refreshing and fanciful, a perspective on Guinevere that people don't consider, what with the focus on Arthur's childhood. The rural homespun castle and kitchen are illuminating of the time. Guinevere's adventurousness, as a girl who will someday be surrounded by courageous knights, is well-imagined. The detail is delightful at times. Storyline with bards and Merlyn is clever and in the tradition of the Arthurian legends. ~ Katherine L. Holmes, Amazon

 

About The Author: Cheryl Carpinello

I love the Ancient and Medieval Worlds! As a retired English teacher, I hope to inspire young readers to read more through my Quest Books. Please follow me on this adventure. Hook up with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Google. Also please visit my other sites: Carpinello's Writing Pages where I interview childrens/MG/Tween/YA authors; my home website Beyond Today Educator, and The Quest Books where I've teamed up with Fiona Ingram from South Africa and Wendy Leighton-Porter of England/France/Abu Dhabi to enable readers to find all of our Ancient and Medieval quest books in one place.

Beyond the Educator * Carpinello's Writing Pages

Facebook * Goodreads * Twitter * Google+

 

* Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash prize (winner's choice) Contest ends: December 26, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author Cheryl Carpinello and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

12 Authors of Christmas Giving Away Great Kidlit Books

Welcome to the fantastic 12 Authors of Christmas seasonal giveaway and blog tour!

Our busy Book Elves are giving away a total of 30 prizes of books suitable for Middle Grade readers - age roughly 8 to 14 - although a lot of adults enjoy them too!

Who are the Authors on tour?

All these authors are interviewing each other, reviewing each others' books and more in the Giveaway blog tour starting 1st December. Click the links to go to their websites and find out more about them, and check out their books in the InLinkz list below.

Jemima Pett: the Princelings of the East series (1st, 11th and 18th December)

M G King: Fizz & Peppers at the Bottom of the World (2nd and 10th December)

Fiona Ingram: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab (3rd and 12th December)

Wendy Leighton-Porter: The Shadows from the Past series (4th and 14th December)

Stanley and Katrina (Pet Authors): The Perpetual Papers of a Pack of Pets (5th and 17th December)

Ben Zackheim: Shirley Link, ace detective series (6th and 19th December)

Rebecca Douglass: The Ninja Librarian and Return to Skunk Corners (7th and 16th December)

Cheryl Carpinello: The Young Knights of the Round Table series (8th and 13th December)

S Smith: The Seed Savers series (9th and 18th December)

Julie Grasso: Caramel Cardamom series (11th and 22nd December)

Paul R Hewlett: Lionel's Grand Adventure series (16th and 20th December)

S W Lothian: the Quest series (tba)

 

Check out all these books!

Here's my suggestion for a beautiful book for girls: Guinevere, on the Eve of a Legend by Cheryl Carpinello.

The Arthurian legends have timeless appeal and Cheryl Carpinello’s book Guinevere: On the Eve of a Legend is no exception. As an educator dedicated to encouraging reluctant readers, and having taught the legends of Arthur to high school classes for nearly 20 years, the author knows her stuff and her love of the legend shines from every page. Although much has been written about Arthur both as boy and king, and books have been devoted to the adult Guinevere and her ill-fated marriage to Arthur, this book comes as a surprise by introducing Guinevere as a young girl. In fact, our heroine is truly on the eve of a legend as the book centers around Guinevere’s 13^th Birth Day, the turning point for her, when she crosses over from being a child to a young woman. We find Guinevere in the opening pages having the time of her life. With her friend, seven-year-old Cedwyn, she spends most of her time playing, roaming the castle grounds and occasionally the forest, hunting for rabbits or mythical creatures. But life has plans for her, as Guinevere finds out, and life’s plans, a combination of what her father and the wizard Merlyn have decided for her, do not sit well with this fiery-tempered and independent young girl. Upon hearing she will be betrothed to the young brave King Arthur and then married to him on her fifteenth Birth Day, Guinevere decides to run away from home. She is not interested in being married and is even less interested in becoming a queen. Her attempt at fleeing is short-lived, partly because Cedwyn’s legs are too short to do much running, partly because foraging for food in the wilds loses its appeal very quickly, and partly because Guinevere realizes that she must eventually grow up and grasp her destiny with both hands. In this coming-of-age story, her friend and advisor Merlyn is there to guide and instruct her. With magicality, tenderness, and spinning a sense of enchantment, Merlyn uses the teachings of legends and the forest to illustrate the lessons one must face in life. In this way Guinevere realizes that if she enjoyed being a princess so much, it is just a small step to enjoying being a queen. She also understands how much her father loves her and that her happiness is all he desires. Besides, she still has two whole years to enjoy before having to really grow up.

Cheryl Carpinello’s take on the Arthurian theme is unique and enchanting. Her descriptions of everyday life, food, behavior, weapons, and attitudes of the early Middle Ages display a wealth of research. Information is subtly introduced to enhance the story and does not overpower the reader. Her descriptions are rich, palpable, and appropriate to whatever scene one reads. The moment when the children see the unicorns is one of poignant magicality. The scene with the brachet, the rabbit, King Pellinore, and the hapless Painted Dragon is roaringly funny! Cheryl Carpinello has created a book along the lines of The Once and Future King, with the same kind of appealing humor and dry wit in her Merlyn. She has included an interesting glossary for young readers to fully enjoy their understanding of an historical environment; as well as Q&A for educators, and a recommended reading list.

Now Enter the Giveaway!

You could win a prize from one of these authors. Most are offering one or two books from their series: if you've already got the first, they may offer you a different one if you win. The prizes are as detailed on the rafflecopter form.  
Contest runs: December 1st to 23rd, 11:59 pm EST, 2013  
Open: Worldwide  
How to enter: Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.  
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Winners will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have until 28th Dec. to respond. If the winner does not respond in that time, a new draw will take place for a new winner. No cash alternatives to the ebooks offered. Authors may (at their sole discretion) offer a different ebook from that listed if the winner already owns the prize listed. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the authors named and is hosted and managed by Jemima Pett, the Princelings author. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to jemima (dot) pett (at) gmail (dot) com.
 a Rafflecopter giveaway