As part of the Young Knights of the Round Table Blog Tour, I get to ask author Cheryl Carpinello all the questions one usually likes to ask and author: the how/what/when/where. Cheryl has very kindly agreed to spill the beans. So glad to have you visit my blog today, Cheryl and here come the questions.
1. When
did your fascination with all things Arthurian begin?
My
real interest began in college in my English Lit classes. I fell in love with Beowulf and the early English tales and
ballads. We read Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight, which I liked, but when we read Morte
d’Arthur by Malory, I was thoroughly hooked. I love Malory’s description of
the pageantry and tournaments, the knights and the court. By the time I read
Tennyson’s The Idylls of the King, there was no
stopping me. I started reading whatever I could find, fiction and non-fiction.
This carried over into my high school classroom where I taught the King Arthur
Legend for over 20 years.
2. What
was your favourite Arthurian book as a child?
I’m a
bit embarrassed to say that it wasn’t a book; it was Disney’s animated movie The Sword in the Stone! The movie was my
first introduction to the King Arthur Legend. It presented an innocent look at
a harsh time.
3. What
is your favourite Arthurian book as an adult?
That
would easily be T. H. White’s The Once
and Future King. I’m a romantic, and I love the philosophy of Hope that
White displays throughout the book. It’s heartfelt, humorous,
thought-provoking, and brutally honest in places, and leaves me energized each
time I read it. I’ve read it over ten times in the last 25 years.
4. I love
the research and many wonderful details you put into your books: where do you
find these?
Boy,
that’s hard to say. I’ve always had an incredible memory for details. Over the
hundreds of books I read relating to Arthur, coupled with my years of teaching a
variety of Arthurian literature, some pieces just stick in my brain. The
descriptions of feasts and standards in both of my books probably comes from
Malory’s influence. Somewhere in my reading I remember coming across a passage
that described Camelot as sitting in a high pass, so I used that in Guinevere. I did extensive research on
Pembroke Castle, Cardigan Bay, and that part of Wales for Young Knights. In fact, I used The
Lonely Planet’s Guide to Wales. Guide books contain lots of gems that
textbooks leave out.
5. Young Knights is a
truly wonderful tale. At the end of the book, I wished it had been longer
because I could see where things could have been developed. Was it always your
intention to write a novella?
Yes,
it was. I write my Arthurian Tales for a specific audience: reluctant readers.
That doesn’t mean I don’t want others to read them because I do. But those
readers who can read, but choose to do other things are who I am trying to
reach. Their attention span is shorter. Printed page after printed page turns
them away, hence in my printed books (and in Guinevere’s eBook) each chapter starts with a picture related to
the chapter. I’m a
believer in encouraging kids to develop their imagination in a world where
every detail is vividly laid out especially in the movies and video games that
kids love. I want them to think about what might have happened, or if something
else could have happened.
6. And
will you be taking the adventures of Bryan, Gavin, and Philip further?
Definitely.
Future installments will probably focus on just one of the three characters at
a time. That is kind of set up in the end of Young Knights. It’s also possible that readers may see some new
young knights at some point.
7. How
has the reception been towards Young
Knights? Are many of your readers actually adults reliving the Arthurian
adventures of their youth?
Young Knights has
done well since its debut in May 2012. The Children’s Literary Classics gave it
their Seal of Approval as a Recommended Read and awarded it a 2012 Silver Medal
for YA Fiction. Also in 2012, Young
Knights was a finalist in USA’s Best Book Awards for e-Book Children. In
2013, Young Knights received an EVVY
Merit Award for Juvenile/YA Fiction from the Colorado
Independent Publishers
Association. The cover was also a 2013 Ariana Finalist. From
the reviews I’ve read, many adult readers are enjoying the story of the Young Knights. I’ve found in this genre,
that people who love Arthurian Legend eagerly devour all books that come their
way. It’s nice to see that a Legend so old, still draws people to its stories.
8. What
is the best Arthurian movie ever made, in your opinion?
I
haven’t seen many of the movies out there, and my tastes are a bit eclectic.
I’ve always liked First Knight. Most
people don’t, but I’m a huge fan of Sean Connery. I also like the courage of
Guinevere in that movie. Probably
my favorite is one called The Last Legion.
It tells the story of Ambrosius/Merlin leading the boy Romulus Augustus out of
a defeated Rome and to the isle of Britain. Romulus carries his father’s sword
Excalibur. It’s a different look at the legend.
9. Why do
kids love stories of knights, quests, adventures, etc. so much? It’s amazing
that in Young Knights, the young heroes
are immersed (as are readers) in another world. There are no
dystopian/apocalyptic scenes, and no whizz-bang SFX - just an historical
adventure. What is this enduring appeal?
Do you
have a couple of days?! I can give you my ideas based on what I’ve observed in
my classroom and in my workshops with kids.
Heroes:
The Legend is full of heroes not just King Arthur. Every kid wants to be a hero
if only to them. Heroes live by certain standards and are not always strong,
but they don’t give up or lose hope. Arthurian Legend teaches the boundaries of
right and wrong, the limits placed on people’s actions, and the consequences
for crossing those boundaries or exceeding those limits. Young people hunger
for those examples. Kids also see how the ideals of Arthurian Legend are
present in the world today and that leaves an impression on them.
Adventure:
The Legend is packed with adventure, and every kid loves adventure, even the
most introverted. And what could be more adventurous that riding into battle to
save the castle or the princess and going on quests for fabulous historical
objects?
Magic
and Mystery: The Legend holds infinite magic and tons of mysteries. In fact,
the greatest magician of all time lives in Arthurian Legend: Merlyn!
I’m
not sure if this answers your question, Fiona, but when all of the above are
packed into a book, it is one heck of a story that kids devour.
10. I just
adored Guinevere when I first read
it. Straying off the Young Knights
briefly, will we
see more of Guinevere when she actually marries King Arthur?
No,
but you will see more of Guinevere before her marriage to Arthur. While she
grew up quite a bit in On the Eve of
Legend, Guinevere still has more growing to do. I’m planning on another
book which focuses on her growth and also has young Cedwyn taking a bigger role
in the action.
11. If you
had a time machine and could go back to King Arthur’s time and be someone at
his court for a week -- who would you be?
I’d
choose either to be a squire to one of Arthur’s knights or a Lady-in-Waiting to
Guinevere. Those positions would allow me to get a better view of life in
Arthur’s court. As a squire, I would be able to experience what a knight’s job
consisted of and how the knights actually trained. As a Lady-in-Waiting to
Guinevere, I would be privy to her thoughts and would come away with a better
understanding of her.
12. Is
there anything you’d like readers to know that I haven’t asked?
Yes.
Readers may not know that The Young
Knights of the Round Table comes with a free 18-page Teacher’s Guide with
additional information on items in the story, activities, and a study guide. It
is available at the time of purchase from my publisher MuseItUp Publishing, or
readers may send me a message through FB, Twitter, or my website Beyond Today
Educator.
Also,
the Wise Owl Factory developed a free Teaching Supplement with Student Pages
courtesy of the talented Carolyn Wilhelm for the book. For the time being, that
can be downloaded from the site. As soon as I can take up the battle with my
website, I’ll upload the Supplement there for readers.
13. You
are offered a choice between Merlin’s wand and Arthur’s sword Excalibur: which
one would you use in battle?
Both are
appealing. Excalibur would severely test my physical strength, and if the
stories are true, I’m not sure I would be able to wield it! Merlin’s
wand, on the other hand, is an instrument of the mind. One does not use it
recklessly! I
would choose Merlin’s wand. What a feat it would be to not only learn the
spells, but also to understand when to use each one.
For readers who (understandably) want more, take
a peek at what went into making the award-winning MG novella Young Knights
of the Round Table: The King’s Ransom. Behind the Scenes of The King’s Ransom (Book 1 of The Young Knights of the Round Table) will add to your Arthurian experience. Meet the Young Knights and then take
a virtual tour of Wales with them. Get up close and personal with author Cheryl
Carpinello. Read Dunham’s Story, an exclusive not found anywhere else!
Read excerpts from The King’s Ransom and Guinevere: On the Eve of
Legend.
By Fiona Ingram
