Cheryl Carpinello launches her blog tour of Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend

...and giveaway!

His one desire...To be a knight.

His future queen...At times reckless.

Best friends…Bound by Friendship and Loyalty.

When their adventure turns deadly & dangerous, Guinevere & Cedwyn find themselves embroiled in a life-or-death struggle.

Not only are they in danger, but so are the kids of Cadbury Castle.

Renegades—foiled in their attempt to kidnap the princess—steal the children of Cadbury Castle to sell as slaves. Guinevere and Cedwyn vow to rescue the children, but a miscalculation puts them all in more danger.

As the plan quickly unravels, Cedwyn chooses to turn his dream of becoming a knight into reality.

Will their courage be strong enough to survive, or will one make the ultimate sacrifice?

Series: Tales and Legends for Reluctant Readers
Paperback: 150 pages
Publisher: Bublish, Incorporated (May 12, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781946229441
ISBN-13: 978-1946229441
ASIN: 194622944X
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches

Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend is available as an ebook or in print at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.

Book Giveaway Contest!

To win a copy of the book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend by Cheryl Carpinello, please enter via Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. Giveaway ends on October 22nd at 12 AM EST. We will announce the winner the same day on the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

About the Author, Cheryl Carpinello

Cheryl Carpinello is an author, a retired high school English teacher, and a Colorado native. Since retiring from teaching, she devotes her time to writing, traveling, and family. 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 she can inspire young readers and those young-at-heart to read more with her Tales & Legends.

You can find her online at:

Website: http://www.cherylcarpinello.com

Writing Blog: http://carpinelloswritingpages.blogspot.com/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccarpine1/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Cheryl-Carpinello/e/B002GGGZY6

Twitter Home Page: https://twitter.com/ccarpinello

Linkedin Page: www.linkedin.com/pub/cheryl-carpinello/25/671/a02

Google URL: https://plus.google.com/110918922081424857545/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ccarpine/

Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: First of all, congratulations on book two of your series. Tell me about the process of writing Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend. How does writing this book compare to your experience writing the first?

Cheryl: Thank you, Nicole. Comparing my writing experience between the two stories took me back to 2006 when the idea for Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend first gelled and to 2007 when I actually wrote the story. It’s hard to imagine, but I actually wrote the entire story in my head. In 2006, I took a position as a teacher coach that afforded me the opportunity to collaborate with teachers on teaching strategies for a variety of classrooms and students. Consequently, I didn’t have papers to grade, tests to make, or editing to do. I made a few changes in 2007 when I actually put pen to paper. By the way, I always write out my complete stories before ever putting those on the computer.

Writing At the Dawn of Legend followed a similar pattern, but the story wasn’t as complete in my head as book 1. The first book flowed nicely from my head to paper. Book 2 presented problems throughout with the 3 timelines that ran parallel to each other. Many hours were spent consulting maps and figuring distances traveled for the 3 groups. Then about one-third into the story, one of the timelines dropped out, but toward the end another took its place. Up until the final draft, I was still tracking those timelines on chart paper in order to be sure that they synced. In that sense this was a tougher book to finish. The crowning glory of writing this book was that we had spent 3 weeks in 2014 driving through the UK, so I was familiar with most of the areas used in Book 2. That was an advantage I didn’t have for Book 1.

WOW: I'm so impressed with the time you too to research in book two! Not to mention that you had the chance to actually travel the very areas you were writing about is impressive. Why write about the Arthurian legend? What draws you to this?

Cheryl: I’m a romantic in the medieval sense. I love the adventures of knights and kings filled with mystery and fantasy. The idea of heroes striving to do their best for all is the basic idea behind the Chivalric Code. If you look at the stories, the movies, and the television shows out today, it’s easy to see that Arthurian Legend is hugely popular.

The legend is also very flexible. There are few hard and fast rules when adapting it in a new story line. That’s one reason why I chose it. There are so many stories about Guinevere, but none like mine. I’m able to put this queen in a down-to-earth situation that explains why she did what she did, essentially fall in love with another man. Interesting tidbit about this is that in the medieval romances of France there is no mention of Guinevere and Lancelot together.

Probably one of the biggest reasons I’m drawn to Arthurian Legend is that is contains that element of hope for tomorrow. Arthur is known as The Once and Future King: a king who will return when England (and the world) need him most. I like that. I really like that piece of the legend.

WOW: I love that aspect of the legend as well. So, I was reading an interview you did with Beach Bound Books and you describe how the Cedwyn character kept pestering you. Tell me about that experience and how it led you to write book 2.

Cheryl: My original intent in writing Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend was to introduce younger readers (ages 9-12) to this princess. I couldn’t believe that my high school students knew little about her and blamed Guinevere for the disgrace of Arthur and the fall of Camelot. This happened year after year, each time I would introduce the unit and ask what they knew of King Arthur. So essentially I accomplished that with On the Eve of Legend.

I moved on to write The King’s Ransom, another Arthurian tale and my Ancient Egyptian stories. Over the years, I’d be writing or reading or just sitting around, and I’d hear this voice. “Hey, what about me? You said I could be a knight, a real knight. Why not now?” Or words to that affect. I ignored it for years, nearly eight. Over time a story line started to form despite my resistance, and I finally gave in. I wrote At the Dawn of Legend; Cedwyn got his wish to be a knight. Now I have to write another because I can’t leave those two (Guinevere and Cedwyn) where they are. So what was one book will be a trilogy. Not at all what I had planned way back when.

WOW: Characters have a pretty incredible way of moving our hand at writing don't they? Since you write middle-grade fiction, I can't help but ask, what were some of your favorite books during your own middle-grade years?

Cheryl: I was horse crazy growing up. I read almost every book written about horses, fiction and non-fiction. Walter Farley’s Black Stallion books and Rutherford Montgomery’s Golden Stallion series were my favorites. I read and re-read those many times. Another was King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry about the history of the Godolphin Arabian, and her story Sea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague. I still have all of them in my library. Along the way I picked up the Timber Trail Riders series, Drinkers of the Wind, and many of Thomas Hinkle’s stories.

I don’t buy many horse books anymore, but I did just recently make a purchase from the British Museum. It is a lovely hard cover copy of The Horse, from Arabia to Royal Ascot. It is an in-depth history from the beginnings of the horse in the Ancient Near East and of the Godolphin Arabian, the Darley Arabian, and the Byerley Turk, the 3 ancestors of all Thoroughbred horses. The book is a story and a collection of images which were on display recently in the British Museum and at the International Museum of the Horse in Kentucky in 2010.

WOW: These are pretty amazing sounding books! So, what tips do you have for writers interested in writing for a younger reader?

Cheryl: The best tip: Get to know the age group you want to write for. I’m fortunate in that as a teacher I was able to observe first-hand the quirks and workings of young minds. Even though I taught high school, my interactions with our feeder elementary/middle schools helped me understand what the kids were looking for in literature.

Readers of any age want characters they can relate to and escape with in stories. In other words, your characters must be realistic with faults and in situations that kids can imagine themselves actually being there.

Know the difference between the ages of kids. We talk a lot about this when I do writing workshops with the 4th-8th grade classrooms. For example, if you are writing a story for ages 9-12, do not include kissing. Mention kissing to the age group and what you get back are huge groans. Some may be okay with this but not many. And if they are, they don’t want the other kids to know.

WOW: This is fantastic advice - knowing the age groups you are writing for is so essential! I have to say, I ADORE the animated Disney movie the Sword and the Stone, which I notice you love as well. For those interested in the Arthurian legends, what books do you suggest they read to learn more?

Cheryl: Wow! The list is enormous. Since you mention the Disney movie, let’s start with book it came from: The Once and Future King by T.H. White. Most don’t realize that Disney didn’t write the story. White’s book has four tales in it and The Sword in the Stone is the first one. The entire collection comprise the fabulous story of Arthur from a young boy named Wart through his battles to instill honor and loyalty in his people up through his death at the hands of his son Mordred. This was my textbook for my freshmen.

For younger readers there is T. A. Barron’s Arthurian series, Sir Thomas Malory’s Tales of King Arthur, and the Magic Tree House books. There are wonderful books for young adults and adults including The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Last Legion by Valerio Massimo Manfredi, and the fabulous work by Deepak Chopra The Return of Merlin.

There are some talented Indie authors out there today who have written their own stories in Arthurian Legend. Some of these are Tyler R. Tichelaar’s The Children of Arthur series, Nicole Evelina’s Guinevere’s Tales books, and Kim Headlee’s King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court.

If you really want to delve into Arthurian Legend, try Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur. And, of course, I hope you’ll also read my stories.

WOW: Thank you so much for sharing all these resources! Lastly, what are you working on now? What is next for you?

Cheryl: I’m fleshing out Guinevere: The Legend. It takes place in Gaul, what France was called during and after the time of the Roman Empire. I’m also working on a time travel series (The Feathers of the Phoenix) through the Ancient Worlds with Rosa from Sons of the Sphinx. And my three characters from The King’s Ransom are starting to chatter about another adventure.

WOW: That all sounds so amazing! I can't wait to see what you have coming next. Thank you so much for chatting with us today and best of luck on your book! 

--- Blog Tour Dates

October 15th @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Be sure to stop by the launch day post for Cheryl Carpinello's blog tour for her book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend where we interview the author and you have the chance to win a copy of the book.
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

October 16th @ Write Like Crazy
You'll go nuts today over at Mary Jo Campbell's blog where author Cheryl Carpinello talks about finding stories within stories as you write. You can also win a copy of the book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend.
https://www.writelikecrazy.com/

October 19th @ Lori's Reading Corner
Visit Lori's blog where you can read Cheryl Carpinello's post about where her search for the Legend of King Arthur has taken her.
http://www.lorisreadingcorner.com/

October 19th @ Jill Sheets Blog
Visit Jill's blog today where Cheryl Carpinello talks about the continuing popularity of the King Arthur Legend.
https://jillsheets.blogspot.com/

October 19th @ The Burgeoning Bookshelf
You'll want to stock up your bookshelf once you visit by Veronica's blog, where she reviews Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend by Cheryl Carpinello.
https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/

October 20th @ A New Look on Books
Stop by Rae's blog and take a glance at author Cheryl Carpinello's blog post the importance of reading and understanding myths, legends, and mythology.
https://anewlookonbooks.com/

October 22nd @ A New Look on Books
Come by Rae's blog and get a new look on Cheryl Carpinello's book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend.
https://anewlookonbooks.com/

October 23rd @ A Day in the Life of a Mom
Stop by Ashley's blog where she shares Cheryl's guest post about do boys respond to reading and writing differently than girls? And what should parents do about that?
https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/

October 25th @ A Day in the Life of a Mom
Check out Ashley's blog again where she shares her opinion on Cheryl Carpinello's book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend.
https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/

October 25th @ Fiction Thoughts
Stop by Emilie's blog where she shares her opinion about the book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend.
https://www.fictionthoughts.com/

October 28th @ Leonard Tillerman's Blog
Stop by Leonard's blog where he shares his thoughts on Cheryl Carpinello's book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend.
http://leonardtillerman.com/

October 29th @ A Storybook World
Journey to today's blog post where Deirdra shares Cheryl Carpinello's blog post about how the author's years as an educator led her to writing Tales & Legends, (or why the author writes Tales & Legends for Reluctant Reader).
http://www.astorybookworld.com/

November 1st @ Look to the Western Sky
Make sure you look to Margo's blog today where she interviews the author Cheryl Carpinello, author of the Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend.
http://margoldill.com/

November 2nd @ Author Anthony Avina Blog
Visit Anthony's blog where he shares his thoughts about Cheryl Carpinello's book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend and read an interview with the author.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

November 3rd @ The World of My Imagination
Stop by Nicole's blog where she shares her thoughts on Cheryl Carpinello's book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend.
theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com

November 4th @ Author Anthony Avina Blog
Stop by Anthony's blog today where you can read author Cheryl Carpinello's blog post about whether it is really necessary for kids today to read the classics such as stories and plays from Ancient Greece, Rome and Shakespeare.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

November 5th @ Coffee with Lacey
Grab a cup of your favorite brew, and join us at Lacey's blog where Cheryl Carpinello talks about the definition of reading and what medium qualifies as actual reading.
https://coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/

November 7th @ Choices
Visit Madeline Sharples' blog where she shares Cheryl Carpinello's blog post about building characters that young readers bond with and how the author uses a combination of traits from my students over the years.
http://madelinesharples.com/

November 8th @ Fiona Ingram's Blog
Stop by Fiona's blog where she interviews a character from Cheryl Carpinello's book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend.
http://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/

November 9th @ For the Hook of a Book
Make sure you stop by the book blog For the Hook of a Book and catch their review of Cheryl Carpinello's book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend. 
https://hookofabook.wordpress.com/

November 10th @ Chatty Patty's Place
Stop by Patty's blog where she spotlight's Cheryl Carpinello's book and also does a giveaway of the book for one lucky reader.
http://www.chattypattysplace.com/

November 11th @ Bri's Book Nook
Stop by Briennai's blog where she shares her thoughts about Cheryl Carpinello's book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend. 
https://brisbooknook.wordpress.com/

November 18th @ David Chuka Blog
Stop by David's blog where he interviews author Cheryl Carpinello about her and her book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend.
http://davidchuka.com/blog-2/

Keep up with the latest blog stops by following us on Twitter @WOWBlogTour.

*****BOOK GIVEAWAY*****

To win a copy of the book Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend by Cheryl Carpinello, please enter via Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends on October 22nd at 12 AM EST. We will announce the winner the same day on the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway