Authorpreneur Dashboard – Cheryl Carpinello
Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend
Children's Books
Guinevere and her friend Cedwyn enjoy life as only kids can do. They spend their days hunting rabbits and exploring around the castle. As her 13th birthday approaches, hints are dropped that her life is about to change. First Merlyn shows up, then she finds herself in trouble with her tutor among other happenings. However, it the meeting with her father King Leodegrance and Merlyn that pushes her to rebellion. Guinevere finds herself having to make the decision of a lifetime: Will she choose wisely? Standing by to help her are not only Merlyn and Cedwyn, but also a painted dragon, unicorns, and red deer. 2011 Global eBooks Awards Finalist
Book Bubbles from Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend
Why would you run away?
Most children attempt it once—running away that is—when they feel they've been wronged. Sadly today, that action can often have tragic results. For the Princess Guinevere, her ruanaway allows her the time to process her anger and come to terms with it.
Everyone needs a champion
Forever her friend and champion, young Cedwyn understands the world around them in a way Princess Guinevere doesn't. He helps her make sense of her life. Later in Book II Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend—Cedwyn's Story, he shows the depth of his loyalty.
Her future is decided.
Most people pride themselves on being able to control their own lives and destiny. When those decisions are taken out of our hands, anger and fear fuel our emotions. Guinevere is no different.
Girls just want to have fun!
My vision of Guinevere has always been a romantic one. Couple that with the custom of arranged marriages at early ages and that is the basis of my story. Guinevere at twelve years of age, even though she is a princess, is just a child who is called upon to make a decision that will change her life at a pivotal time in English history. This is just one of her adventures with her good friend Cedwyn.
Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend
Children's Books
“Think before acting,” her father always warned. But Princess Guinevere is ruled by her heart. Her betrothal to King Arthur has not changed this. When Guinevere and Cedwyn’s latest adventure takes a dangerous turn, they find themselves embroiled in a life-or-death struggle as foretold by Merlyn’s Goddess of the Stones. 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. The plan quickly unravels, and Guinevere’s impassioned decisions come crashing down as 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?
Book Bubbles from Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend
The Legend Within the Legend
Long before stories were written down, they were passed on through oral recitations usually in gatherings of family and friends. Stories were told for enjoyment, teaching, and/or installing fear in the listeners. The really good stories contained stories within the stories.
And what wasn't to be, became
This is really Cedwyn's Story, Guinevere's loyal friend. Back in 2007, when I first conceived the idea of this story of Guinevere as a young girl, I never intended on writing a sequel. "Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend" introduced my young readers to this not-so-simple princess and gave them a glimpse into that mystical world of Arthurian Legend which was my intention. Through the intervening years since Guinevere's publication, a small voice kept bouncing around in my head. Nothing could silence it. Finally one day, I gave in and listened. As I suspected, it was Cedwyn, Guinevere's friend. He insisted that I keep my promise--made in "On the Eve of Legend"--and make him a knight. Still I resisted and repeated that I never intended to write a book two. Finally, I gave in. Cedwyn gets to be a knight in this book, but not in any way he ever imagined. Oh, I also agreed to write one more book to complete the trilogy and give Guinevere and Cedwyn their closure. I hope you enjoy their story.
Within Reach
So often when that long-awaited moment comes--one that we have dreamed about, fantasized about, even lusted about--we find ourselves afraid to actually cross over...We carry on, but oh, what strength of character and soul that requires.
The Goddess Speaks
Guidance comes from many directions be we young or old. Often times, we just need to listen.
Tutankhamen Speaks
History
His Words.....His Story Long ago the old texts of ancient Egypt alluded to scrolls in which King Tut spoke to the people from beyond the tomb. Many archaeologists put this down to an incorrect translation of the ancient Egyptian texts. Others swore to the accuracy of the translation. But, Tutankhamen Speaks isn't a story about the lost scrolls. It's about the story written down on those ancient scrolls: Tutankhamen's story. 2016 Gold Medal for Fiction - Historical Literature Ancient (set before 500 AD), from Global eBook Awards 2014 EVVY Merit Award for Historical Fiction from CIPA (Colorado Independent Publishers Assoc.)
Book Bubbles from Tutankhamen Speaks
Treasures in the Museum
What a wonderous place the Cairo Museum is, and having said that, there is no other museum in the world that needs such a thorough house cleaning! In 2008, dust covered the edges of exhibits, and many of the displays had only Egyptian descriptions. Still, it is a fantastic place, and I could imagine such an find hidden in its basement!
The best surprise
Kids are delightful and a handful. However, their excitement is second to none, especially when it comes to elephants up close!
It takes a village
Nothing is ever easy, and that goes for raising children. Throughout time, parents have stressed about the time they have to spend with their children. My generation refers to this as Quality time. But today, as throughout time, it is impossible for parents to be everywhere and do everything with their kids. I doubt it was any different centuries ago.
Speaking from the Afterlife?
I'm not saying it's true, but I'm also not saying it isn't. What about you? Up for a ghost story this Halloween?
Parent approval
Sometimes as parents we forget how important our approval is our children. Even as far back as 1330 B.C Egypt, a father's recognition meant the world to a small boy. Well, almost the world!
Young Knights of the Round Table: The King’s Ransom
Children's Books
Three Friends.....Three Quests.....Three Mysterious Predications In medieval Wales, when their mentor/friend is accused of theft and murder, three friends embark upon a knight’s quest to save his life. To succeed, eleven-year-old Prince Gavin, thirteen-year-old orphan Philip, and fifteen-year-old blacksmith’s apprentice Bryan must confront their fears and insecurities, and one of them will have to disclose the biggest secret of all. 2014 Gold Award eBook Winner for Juvenile Fiction from Global eBook Awards; 2013 EVVY Merit Award for Juvenile/YA from Colorado Independent Publishers Assoc.; 2012 CLC Silver Award Recipient for YA Fiction; 2012 Recommended Read and Recipient of the Children’s Literary Classics Seal of Approval.
Book Bubbles from Young Knights of the Round Table: The King’s Ransom
Testing Loyalty
Do you remember a time when your loyalty was tested? When you knew in your soul your trust was in the right person? That stomach dropping feeling before coming to that decision?
Meet blacksmith apprentice Bryan
Like all young men, 15-year-old Bryan is a young man with a dream. What he doesn't know is that achieving his dream will mean sacrifices and maybe even death.
Philip's Character
So many ways to define a family today, but one that strikes at the heart of a child is the devastating loss of an entire family. The outcome of which is an orphan, without anyone and longing only to belong.
Meet young Prince Gavin
I wanted one of my characters to be a prince. However, I also wanted to show that he was not much different from other 11-year-olds, even back in Medieval England.
Sons of the Sphinx
Teens
2015 Readers' Favorite Finalist YA
2014 Literary Classics Silver Medal for PreTeen/Tween
If they fail...
She could die over 3300 years from home!
Tackle the elements & evil of Ancient Egypt...
A history-changing battle & Time Travel Thriller...
Fifteen-year-old Rosa doesn't see dead people...
She hears them & talks to them.
When she agrees to help King Tut's ghost find his lost queen & clear his family's name,
she doesn't count on falling for him.
She & Tut must also outwit an evil pharaoh determined to stop them...
Even if it means one of them must die.
Get it today and see who triumphs.
2015 IAN Book of the Year Finalist YA
2015 CAL Book Award Finalist YA Fiction
2014 Literary Classics Seal of Approval
Book Bubbles from Sons of the Sphinx
Egyptian Experience 2
It is hard to imagine a more intense heat than that of Egypt. Although just the start of summer when we visited, the temperature quickly became unbearable. We limited our sight-seeing to the morning hours and spent the afternoons by the pool at our small hotel in Luxor. The evening hours were pleasant enough to allow eating outside to be relaxing.
Egyptian Experience 1
Details about Egyptian life came from our three-week visit to this fascinating country. Once out of Cairo, sights such as I describe here are commonplace.
Origin of the Title
For whatever reasons, my brain works backward when it comes to titles. I always have the titles before I begin writing. In Sons of the Sphinx, I wanted to give more background and substance for the drastic move by the Pharaoh Akhenaten, Tut’s father, to abandon the old gods for the one god Amun. I drew on historical references that spoke of a connection between Tut’s great grandfather and the Sphinx. There is a stele—an ancient message board—that sits between the front paws of the Sphinx, which tells of the time when the Sphinx spoke to Tut’s great grandfather in a dream. The Sphinx called the young man ‘son’.
First Love
Time Travel Thriller in Ancient Egypt Everyone remembers their first love, especially if it wasn't reciprocated. But how many can claim that their first love was a ghost! Fifteen-year-old Rosa doesn't see dead people; she hears them and talks to them. When she agrees to help the ghost of King Tut find his lost love and clear his family's name, she doesn't count on falling for him. And since part of Hesena's soul lives inside of hers, Rosa feels guilt at her growing feelings for the Boy King. Once back in Ancient Egypt, they discover that finding Tut's queen is not easy. An evil pharaoh is determined to stop them. She and Tut must outwit him even if it means they both must die.
I don't see dead people.
I rewrote beginning after beginning for this story. In fact, one of the beginnings I tried became my story "Tutankhamen Speaks." It wasn't until I tried the story in first person that I made progress. I wanted my character to be someone readers of all ages would connect with and understand. Someone searching for self and for a place in this complicated world. After almost two years of deciding how to tell this story, I chose 15-year-old Rosa. Her dry sense of humor and her longing to belong made her the perfect reluctant hero of "Sons of the Sphinx."
