How I Got Started Writing

My writing career started in 1980 with an entry level position with Cardiff Publishing, which published trade journals. I worked my way up to Managing Editor of Satellite Communications magazine. After five years of writing feature articles, editing, and doing some freelance work, I found myself without a job after the magazines folded and the company was sold.

A year later, with our youngest in school, I followed my first love and finished my teaching degree. For the next 26 years, I taught high school English including writing/reading and yearbook. During this time I honed my writing and editing skills as well as guided young writers.

Over those years, I wrote a couple novels which will never see the light of day. The main reason: I wasn’t excited about the genres. After working with readers, reluctant readers, and non-readers at the high school level, I decided I wanted to write stories for elementary/middle school students in hopes of catching the reluctant readers and non-readers early in their schooling.

It wasn’t until I was close to retirement that I discovered my writing niche. Teaching allowed me to explore deeper the writings and authors from times long past. It was where I fell in love with the Ancient and Medieval worlds and discovered the mystic pull these same worlds had on my students and many adults, particularly Arthurian Legend.

And so my first books—Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend and Young Knights of the Round Table: The King’s Ransom—were set in the days of King Arthur. Aimed at upper elementary and middle school—ages 8/9-12—these tales allowed readers to experience that time period through the eyes of peer characters. I pair these books with Medieval Writing Workshops in the schools. It’s so rewarding when teachers point out their students, who typically do as little as possible in class, involved in developing their own stories and writing their own poetry. This is what the Arthurian Legend does for people.

I’ve since branched out into Ancient Egypt with the publication of Tutankhamen Speaks and Sons of the Sphinx. While still focusing on reluctant and non-readers, these books are aimed for ages 14 & up. And, before too long, my trilogy set in the ancient worlds of Atlantis, Pompeii, and  the Norse will join the Ancient Egypt books. However, rest assured, I’m not finished with Arthurian Legend. Currently, I’m working on the second Guinevere book: Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend—Cedwyn’s Story.

My Books

Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend: One young girl is about to become a legend.
http://www.amazon.com/Guinevere-Legend-Finalist-Pre-Teen-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0025KUJ36/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

King Arthur’s Story: A companion short-short from Guinevere
http://www.amazon.com/King-Arthurs-Story-Guinevere-Legend-ebook/dp/B004ZQROFE/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Young Knights of the Round Table: The King’s Ransom: Out of the Legend come three who embrace the Knights’ Oath.
http://www.amazon.com/Young-Knights-Round-Table-Ransom-ebook/dp/B0086MEW76/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Behind the Scenes of Young Knights of the Round Table: C
 http://www.amazon.com/Behind-Scenes-Kings-Ransom-Knights-ebook/dp/B00958MN1W/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Tutankhamen Speaks: It is said he spoke from the Afterlife, but you be the judge.
 http://www.amazon.com/Tutankhamen-Speaks-Cheryl-Carpinello-ebook/dp/B00E18KH46/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Sons of the Sphinx: She risks her life to find Tut’s lost queen
and right a wrong from over 3000 years ago.
 http://www.amazon.com/Sons-Sphinx-Cheryl-Carpinello-ebook/dp/B00MVGC96Y/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

My Recent Articles

How to Use Arthurian Legend to Engage Today’s Young Readers: http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/guest-posts-2/how-to-use-arthurian-legend-to-engage-todays-young-readers/

7 Ways Writing for Reluctant Young Readers Differs from Writing For Readers: http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/guest-posts-2/7-ways-writing-for-reluctant-young-readers-differs-from-writing-for-readers-by-cheryl-carpinello/

Author Bio

I am a retired high school English teacher. A devourer of books growing up, my profession introduced me to writings and authors from times long past. Through my studies and teaching, I fell in love with the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. Now, I hope to inspire young readers and those young-at-heart to read more through my Quest Books set in these worlds.

Also please visit my other sites: Carpinello’s Writing Pages where I interview Children/Tween/MG/YA authors; and The Quest Books where I’ve teamed up with Fiona Ingram from South Africa and Wendy Leighton-Porter of Abu Dhabi to enable readers to find our Ancient and Medieval quest books in one place.

Author Links

WEBSITE –Main – Beyond Today Educator: http://www.beyondtodayeducator.com

WEBSITE –Shared – The Quest Books: http://www.adventurequestbooks.com

BLOG – Carpinello’s Writing Pages: http://carpinelloswritingpages.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.carpinello1

TWITTER – https://twitter.com/ccarpinello

GOOGLE+ – https://plus.google.com/110918922081424857545/

PINTEREST – http://www.pinterest.com/ccarpine/

GOODREADS – http://www.goodreads.com/cherylcarpinello

FREADO – http://www.freado.com/users/26878/cheryl-carpinello

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – http://www.amazon.com/Cheryl-Carpinello/e/B002GGGZY6