Cheryl Carpinello – Katie L. Carroll

Let’s offer a nice greeting to today’s guest post by Cheryl Carpinello, author of the historical novel SONS OF THE SPHINX, as she dishes about how fun it can be to write and read historical fiction. Welcome, Cheryl!

Fun with Historical Fiction

by Cheryl Carpinello

Mention you are an author and write historical fiction, then sit back and wait for the groans!

Writing historical fiction is a lot of work, but authors can and do have fun with history. This genre does not tie a writer to historical facts. It does the opposite. That’s why it’s fiction.

My newest book Sons of the Sphinx is full of historical references as it should be. So many readers are fascinated—including this author—with ancient Egypt and expect what they read to contain actual and accurate facts.

Readers also expect to be entertained, and here is where the fiction comes in. Here are some examples from Sons of the Sphinx without giving away too much of what awaits its readers.

Fact: A stele sits between the paws of the Sphinx.
Fiction: I’ve hidden hieroglyphs important to my story at the bottom of the stele.

Fact: Everyone knows the Sphinx has no nose but no one knows what happened.
Fiction: Readers actually see what happens to his nose.

Fact: Tutankhamen’s life is documented with research.
Fiction: Key times not known in Tut’s life are created, embellished, and expanded, like his early life, his married life with Ankhesenamun, and his death.

Fact: Tut’s tomb stayed hidden for over 3000 years because it was covered by debris from a later tomb.
Fiction: I created my own explanation for his tomb remaining hidden, one that plays out well in the story.

Most writers skillfully weave their historical fiction around and through historical facts. It’s one of the reasons that make these stories so popular. Next time you pick up a historical fiction novel, see if you can spot the fiction and the facts.

Happy reading!

SONS OF THE SPHINX blurb:

Armed with what she considers her grandmother’s curse, 15-year-old Rosa agrees to help the ghost of King Tut find his lost queen Hesena. Though Hesena’s ba inhabits part of Rosa, finding the whole spirit of Hesena so that she and Tut can be together for the first time in over 3300 years proves to be a harder task than Rosa first thinks. Thrust back into Ancient Egypt with Tut, Rosa discovers that finding Hesena is not all she must do. She must keep out of the reach of the living Horemheb—who crosses mortal boundaries using Seth’s evil magic—if she is to stay alive to make it back home.

Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVGC96Y/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/469860

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sons-of-the-sphinx-cheryl-carpinello/1120481788?ean=2940046213232

iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sons-of-the-sphinx/id925912370?mt=11&uo=4

About the Author:

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. On Carpinello’s Writing Pages, I interview other children/MG/Tween/YA authors. At The Quest Books, 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.

For more about Cheryl visit on her Blog; author sites: Beyond Today Educator and The Quest Books; Facebook; GoodReads; or Twitter.

Other Books by Cheryl Carpinello:

Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend – Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0025KUJ36

Young Knights of the Round Table: The King’s Ransom – MuseItUp Publishing book page: http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/museityoung/action-adventure/the-king-s-ransom-detail

Tutankhamen Speaks – Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E18KH46

Please welcome Cheryl Carpinello author of “The King’s Ransom” to the Observation Desk. Thanks for stopping by and answering a few questions.

What inspired you to write The King’s Ransom?

In talking with kids and from my own reading, I discovered that the Hero’s Journey is a huge attraction for everyone. Since I had already experienced first hand the attraction the Arthurian legend held for students, I set out to write a story that would couple that with a hero’s journey. After all, heroes abound in the legend.

However, I’m also a romantic, and it’s that side of the legend that appeals to me. I like the ideas surrounding the legend like might is not right; how when seen from the air, there are no lines or boundaries on Earth—we are all here together, and we need to learn how to get along; and how in Arthur’s time hope still lives. Underneath it all, I believe this is what draws young and old to the legend. What the legend says to kids without them realizing it is that there is a right way and a wrong way to live. This is done with the stories of the knights with their quests, their jousts, their rescuing of the damsels, and their fighting for the underdog. These stories present young readers with vivid accounts of honor, loyalty, and friendship. This is what I tried to focus on in The King’s Ransom.

What made you want to become a writer?

I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. I even used to find the books my parents would get me for Christmas and read a few pages before they wrapped them! Teaching students in high school who didn’t like to read or who found a million other activities to do rather than read motivated me to dig deeper into my curriculum.

It is always challenging to find reading material that excites every student. In fact, it is nearly impossible. Then one spring I decided to do The Once and Future King by T. H. White. My freshmen were ecstatic. We read; we discussed; we drew murals of chapters; we wrote poetry and songs; and we attempted to earn Knighthood in seven days! Boy, what a discovery I’d made.

For next 20 years, I continued to teach the King Arthur Legend, and the enthusiasm never waned. I had students who would give 100% on this unit when I struggled to get them to read other literature. These kids are my inspiration for writing and choosing the legend of King Arthur for my writing. In 2007, I started my first Arthurian legend book Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend. I published that in 2009. The King’s Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table), published in May 2012, is my second book in that genre.

What books had the most influence on you while you were growing up?

I’m not sure any books influenced me as I grew up, but I definitely had my favorite books and authors. I loved The Black Stallion series and devoured all the books written by Walter Farley. The Golden Stallion series by Rutherford Montgomery and his other books of the West were also my favorites. In case you can’t tell, I was and still am a horse nut. This love of horses drew me into reading.

Book that influenced me in my writing include The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. I first read these books in 1973. I was newly married and looking for my place in the world. Looking back, I see it was the journey of Bilbo and Frodo that drew me in. Like them, I was also on a journey and had no idea of the ending. A few years later, I discovered Joseph Campbell and the Hero’s Journey. I realized that this was the attraction for me in the works of Tolkien, T. H. White, George Lucas, and J. K. Rowling.

Share your writing process with us.

Once I get an idea for a story, I write out an outline. It’s not overly detailed, just an overview of the entire story. Then I spend several days doing what I tell my students is brainwork. I just think about what I’ve outlined, the possible characters, the storyline, conflicts, etc. I then go back to the outline and fill in some of the missing pieces. I do more brainwork and then finalize the outline. Once that is done, I start writing. I like to write the entire story without making any editorial changes. Once the story is done, I go back over my outline and see how the two fit or don’t fit together. Then it is editing and revision time. I generally go over a work three or four times, in addition to letting my editing partner have a go of it. Before I submit my work anywhere, I have a professional editor read and edit the manuscript.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part of writing for me is getting that first draft done. I’ve learned to jot down notes to expand a scene, do a bit more of research, add more dialog, etc. as I work on that first draft. This way, I don’t stop my momentum. At this stage of my writing, my only goal is to get the story down from beginning to end. Perfecting the story comes through numerous revisions and lots of hard work.

What is the single best piece of advice you have for aspiring authors?

I know it’s been said many times, but writers need to write what they love. Also, don’t be afraid to explore and expand on that. It was my love of those early works along with the connection to Joseph Campbell and the hero’s journey that inspired me in my writings. And it has taken me beyond Arthurian Legend to ancient Egypt where a young pharaoh embarks upon his own journey to write a wrong and be united with his one true love.

Sometimes a person’s writing can take them places they never imagined. Rejoice in that and embrace it!

If you couldn’t be a writer, what would you do?

I love to travel, and I love to travel to exotic places. As a teacher, I believe in being a life-long learner. I also love exploring and adventure. If I could combine all of those ideas together, I would be an Indiana Jones or a Lara Croft! What an adventurous life that would be.

What can readers look forward to from you in the future?

My current work-in-progress takes my readers out of Medieval England and back to Ancient Egypt. It will be a mystery for tweens/YA and will introduce readers to a famous boy pharaoh. I’m also doing working on a sequel to Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend. I’ve had several readers ask me what becomes of Guinevere’s friend Cedwyn, so I’m working on a storyline there. And, somewhere soon, I’m going to do another Young Knights. Enough to keep me busy for a few years!

Author Bio

Although a retired teacher, I still have a passion for working with kids. I regularly conduct Medieval Writing Workshops for local elementary/middle schools and the Colorado Girl Scouts. It seems I’m not the only one who loves Medieval Times and the King Arthur Legend. The kids thoroughly enjoy writing their own medieval stories complete with dragons, wizards, unicorns, and knights!

I love to travel, and so my other job is with a major airline. My favorite trip was a two week visit to Egypt with my husband that included traveling by local train from one end of Egypt to the other.

For more about Cheryl visit her website or her blog. “The King’s Ransom” can be purchased at the MuseItUp bookstore, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.