Today we are chatting with  Cheryl Carpinello the author of The King's Ransom

 
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

I have been horse crazy all my life, but I don't write horse stories! Instead, readers will find cameos throughout my writings.

What novels affected you the most growing up?

I read nothing but books about horses until I was in high school. I loved the horses and the adventures I found in those pages. It wasn't until college that I found the literature of the Ancient Worlds and delved deeper into Arthurian Legend. The adventures of my youth combined with those classic stories have impacted my writings and my life.

Where did the idea for your current book come from?

I'm currently finishing Book 2, Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend in my Guinevere trilogy. Cedwyn, a character from Book 1, just wouldn't leave me alone. He kept reminding me that I promised he could be a knight. Frankly, I got tired of having him interrupt my thoughts! He gets his wish but not how he imagined. I have my love of Arthurian Legend and my high school students to thank for the idea of Book 1 and what will now be three books.

Do you think there’s any way you could ever run out of ideas for books?

Not a chance! There are more stories lurking in the shadows of the ancient and medieval worlds than I will ever be able to write.

What is your routine for writing and has this method changed over the span of your career?

I spend a lot of time in the beginning thinking about my story. Before actually writing—pen on paper—I do a rough outline/overview and character notes. It is only after I have written out—again pen on paper—the entire story that I turn to my laptop. (As a high school writing teacher, I aways insisted on a hand-written 1st draft.) This way I'm more inclined to make adjustments throughout the entire story. Any time I get stuck, I back away and think about what isn't working. It is doubtful that I will ever change my routine as this works well for me.

How important is marketing and social media for you?

Extremely important. I use social media to market, advertise the interviews I conduct on my blog, and to help promote other authors.

What advice would you have for other writers?

Have a goal for your writing and stick to it. I wanted to write stories for reluctant readers. After 10 years, my Arthurian Legends & Tales from the Ancient Worlds were acquired by a distributor and are now marketed under my new branding “Tales & Legends for Reluctant Readers” along with sporting new covers!

What are you reading now?

I'm always reading several books at a time, a carry-over from my college and teaching years. My stack: The Woman Who Would be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney; Theft of Swords by Michael Sullivan; To Show and to Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction by Phillip Lopate; and Ashen Sky: The Letters of Pliny The Younger on the Eruption of Vesuvius by Pliny.

What’s your next step?

I'm currently editing Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend—Cedwyn's story. In the planning stage is the second book in the Young Knights of the Round Table series. Also in the planning stage is my new series Feathers of the Phoenix which will take place throughout the ancient worlds.

The King's Ransom by Cheryl Carpinello is available on Amazon here 

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