David Chuka's Blog
November 14, 2018
Author Interview with Cheryl Carpinello
It’s Author Interview Thursday and I’m so glad you’ve taken out time to join me today. Today’s special guest is no stranger to AIT. 
She’s been previously featured on this blog and it was an absolute delight to have her share writing tips and experiences she’s had as a writer. With the recent release of her latest book – Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend – I’m so glad to have her back. Please join me in welcoming Cheryl Carpinello.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and the first time someone complemented you on something you had written?
Hi David. Thanks for having me. I’m a retired high school (ages 14-18) English teacher. My husband and I love to travel and have been to the UK, Egypt, Iceland, Mexico, and several islands in the Caribbean. We have four grandkids ranging from 2-10 years of age.It wasn’t until after I had written my first book and had the second one out that I heard from my readers. One of the Girl Scouts who read Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend and was buying The King’s Ransom told me how much she enjoyed the story. I was thrilled. Thankfully, since then, I’ve heard from young readers who’ve read my books, and from their parents and grandparents who bought my books to give to young readers.
What was the inspiration behind your latest book?
I’m not sure I had an inspiration as much as the need to quiet the characters, in particular one, who kept hounding me for nearly seven years to finish their story. Young Cedwyn, Guinevere’s friend, repeatedly reminded me that I promised in Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend that he could be a knight. Finally I gave in not only to silence Cedwyn, but also because I figured if Cedwyn felt at loose ends, maybe I had readers out there who also wanted to see what happened to Guinevere and Cedwyn. And so, I wrote Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend in which Cedwyn gets to be a knight, but not how he imagined it would happen.
Were there any books that you drew inspiration from as you wrote Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend?
Not any specific one. I keep in mind the type of books I liked to read as a kid: stories of adventure, danger, friendship, and set in an ancient or medieval background. I also wanted a page-turner, not one bogged down in paragraphs of description.
Can you tell us how your background as a teacher influences your approach to writing children’s books?
The fact that I write Arthurian Legend is because of the students I taught. Kids I couldn’t get to read became readers when I taught the King Arthur unit. They loved those stories of knights, battles, and quests. After several years of teaching this, I decided to introduce younger readers to Arthurian Legend.
Is there a particular book or film that inspires you to be a better writer and why?
I would say Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey and J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. I’ve always been intrigued by books that have stories within the stories. These add more depth to the books and give readers the opportunities to explore more in order to understand the complete story. I’ve tried to do this with my Arthurian books.
What is your favorite medieval film and why?
I have a couple. Braveheart because of the historical significance; Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves because it is a heroic romp that leaves me feeling good; and—you better sit down—First Knight because it is a story that touches my heart. In my medieval films, I don’t like gratuitous violence or sexual
encounters.
What three things should a good medieval book or film possess?
For me, David, I prefer magic and fantastic creatures, adventure, and a plot that transports me into the story.
Have you started working on your next book and can you tell us a little bit about it?
Yes, I have. I’m about half way through the first draft of the final book in my Guinevere trilogy: Guinevere: The Legend. At the end of Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend, Guinevere and Cedwyn are in dire straits. With one in Britain and one in Gaul, they are both in
trouble.
Where can readers and fans connect with you?
My website ( http://www.cherylcarpinello.com ) is a good place to connect and send me messages. Also, take a look at my blog: http://carpinelloswritingpages.blogsp... . My author page on
Facebook is https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.carpi... .
Any advice for authors out there who are either just starting out or getting frustrated with the industry?
Focus on your writing and your target audience. Try to connect with other writers through physical writing groups and online for support and encouragement. Share your success and failures with like souls. Don’t let the frustration of the industry get you down. Be kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to walk away from your writing when it isn’t going right. Just don’t go too far!
Awesome! Thanks for not holding back and sharing so much from your journey. I think as authors we sometimes get frustrated and it’s because we take our eyes off of the ‘main thing’ – our calling to write. Please connect with Cheryl at one of the links she provided. Check out Cheryl’s books on Amazon and grab a copy for yourself or a loved one. Also remember to share this interview using the social buttons below and leave a comment.
August 19, 2016
Selfies In the Wild Blog Tour
About the Book
Title: The Adventures of Lovable Lobo – Selfies in the Wild
Written and illustrated by C.L. Murphy
Published by Peanut Butter Prose
Date published: August 1, 2016
Recommended ages: 3 to 7
Number of pages: 28
Summary: Lobo and his sidekick raven find a trail camera in their neck of the woods, and it attracts the attention of forest friends. Images captured have never been sillier or more candid. Just as their wild dispositions are exposed, the photo shoot comes to an unexpected end and they’re all left wondering why. The reason may be obvious.
Take a peek inside…
About C.L. Murphy
Cathy (C.L.) has been creating with and for kids for many years, and because of it she’s ever armed with crayons and not afraid to use or share them. She’s faster than a speeding turtle, more powerful than a newborn bunny, and nearly able to leap tall tales in a single bound. She’s in a position to use her unassuming powers in a never-ending battle for good and silliness while traveling to the deepest (sometimes dark) part of her imagination. She’s been a member of SCBWI since 2012. She lives in a wonder-filled forest, amongst the wildlife with her husband and other untamed animals. They have two wildly perfect sons and a scrumptious new granddaughter.
Website Blog Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google+ Goodreads Instagram
The Giveaway
Prize: One winner will receive a $200 Amazon gift card or $200 PayPal cash prize, winner’s choice
Giveaway ends: August 31, 11:59 p.m., 2016
Open to: Worldwide
How to enter: Please enter the rafflecopter HERE.
Terms and conditions: There is NO purchase necessary to enter or win. One winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget within 48 hours and notified by email once the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
August 4, 2016
Book Lover’s Day
Hello!
Now you may or may not know but if you’re not in the know then guess what?
Today’s actually Book Lover’s Day and a couple of my author friends are sharing about the different reasons we like reading. Please join me and the amazing authors at the bottom of this blog post who are also sharing their love of books today.
I can trace my love of books back to my childhood growing up in Nigeria. Back then, we had a phenomenon (which sometimes still rears its ugly head) which would lead to a power cut that would last for hours. This used to be very frustrating as it meant I’d miss my favourite programs on TV. However, one good thing that did arise from this situation is that it led me to find another way to entertain myself. And I found such entertainment in BOOKS!
We had so many books stored around the house in boxes. These books ranged from historical to romance to thrillers to fiction to midwifery! We possibly had every fiction and non-fiction genre in that house and I gobbled up my fair share. These books nurtured my imagination and improved my vocabulary. This love of books has continued till today and I can’t go on a train journey or trip without having some reading material. Thank God for the kindle app which is stored on my phone, as it’s a treasure chest of all the books I love that are accessible at any time. I sometimes wish the power cut phenomenon would occur in the Western world as I reckon some reluctant readers would find an alternative source of entertainment, information and fun in books.
A book lover’s day wouldn’t be complete without a few favourites of mine.
In the last few years (and this must have something to do with my children’s changing reading tastes), I’ve found myself reading more and more MGLit books. For the uninitiated, MGLit stands for Middle Grade Literature. One of the most popular series in this genre is ‘The Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ by Jeff Kinney. I think what makes modern day MGLit books different to the books I read when I was growing up is the fact that they are more modern and have a wonderful sense of humour. My favourite book in this genre is ‘I’m not a Loser’ books by English author – Jim Smith – and I absolutely love the way he’s created these quirky characters who have a unique way of speaking that gets me cracking up on every other paragraph or page. I once read an entire book in the series while waiting for a train!
It’s being my pleasure having you on my blog today. For more stories about ‘book love,’ please visit these awesome authors by clicking the links below.
Cat Michaels,
Auden Johnson,
Carmela Dutra
Corrina Holyoake,
Venturing into the Unknown
Jd Holiday,
JD’s Writers Blog
Julie Gorges,
Kristen Lamb,
Rhonda Paglia,
Rhonda Paglia, Children’s Author
Rosie Russell,
KidLit Blog by Rosie
Sandra Bennett,
Billy and Monster Meet the President ebook is LIVE!
The day has finally arrived and my latest book - Billy and Monster Meet the President - is now available for you to download on Amazon.
If you got a preorder copy, then you’d already have had it downloaded to your kindle app. Below is a little teaser about the book to whet your appetite.
It’s July 4th and Billy is super-excited!
Independence Day for Billy is all about fun fairs, theme parks, candy floss and fireworks!
This year’s celebration has an added significance as the President of the United States is coming to Billy’s state to celebrate the big day. But what happens when a grumpy, mean man in a pink bunny costume leaves a briefcase next to Billy and runs away when Billy tries to give it back to him at the fun fair?
In this latest addition to the Billy and Monster series, you will discover how Billy gets to ask the President a very important question after a day packed with highs, lows and everything in between. My sincerest desire in writing this book was that it would be a springboard for parents, teachers and guardians to discuss with their loved ones how to better understand the ever changing and sometimes dangerous world we now live in.
It’s JAM-PACKED with the fun illustrations you’ve come to expect from this best-selling series. Grab a copy today and enjoy this funny book for kids (and also adults) that’s not just big on laughs but also teaches a valuable lesson for social situations.
Simply click one of the links below or search for ‘Billy and Monster Meet the President‘ on your local Amazon portal.
US – http://amzn.to/29Gbibx
UK – http://amzn.to/2ad9Eds
Thanks for all your support and I’m eager to get your feedback, so please reply to this email once you’ve read the
book with your loved ones.
Enjoy the official trailer for the book below.
July 28, 2016
Billy and Monster Meet the President Video Book Trailer
Drumroll please!!!
I’d like to share with you the book trailer for the latest book in the Billy and Monster series – Billy and Monster Meet the President. I had the pleasure of working with a talented 2D-Animator from Ukraine who I believe did a good job. Enjoy.
Click one of the links below to get a preorder copy that will automatically get the book downloaded
to your Kindle device/app on August 4th.
July 25, 2016
Billy and Monster Book Launch – Feedback from a Beta Reader
It’s always an exciting time when I publish one of my books. 
There’s a lot that goes into the launch process like contacting kidlit bloggers, creating a video trailer for the book, uploading the book to different publishing platforms etc.
However, I think the most joy I get from the launch process is getting feedback from beta readers who’ve had the opportunity to read a draft of the book before it’s published. I’ve been so blessed by feedback from beta readers I’ve had on Billy and Monster Meet the President. I received this comment from a beta reader in Australia that made my day as she totally got what I was trying to achieve in writing this book.
Great story! I really like the premise of the book. In this day and age you can never be too careful when taking kids out in a crowd. You deal with the problem very well. It allows brilliantly for an opening into a discussion with children not only on “stranger danger” but the whole new aspect of strange happenings around them that once we never had to worry about but is now unfortunately a reality.
I enjoyed reading the opening sequence where Billy is thinking about the possibilities of what he could be when he grows up. His careful consideration of each is well planned and thoughtful. Rather encouraging and a great way for children to think about their ideas and why they might want to do something. It is also a great lead into the thought about becoming the President and introducing him into the story. The repetition makes for easy reading and encourages another way into discussion which I am always looking for.
It’s only a few days now before the book goes live but you can preorder a copy at one of the links below
July 21, 2016
Preorder Copy of Billy and Monster Meet the President
I’m happy to say that the long awaited 6th book in the Billy and Monster series titled – Billy and Monster Meet the President – will be launched exactly 2 weeks from today and is now available to preorder.
Click one of the links below to get a preorder copy that will automatically get the book downloaded to your Kindle device/app on August 4th.
US – http://amzn.to/29Gbibx
UK – http://amzn.to/2ad9Eds
One of my main hopes in writing this book is that it would serve as a springboard for parents and teachers to talk with their loved ones about being safe in a dangerous world.
July 20, 2016
Billy and Monster Meet the President is Now Available
Billy and Monster Meet the President is out August 4th and available to preorder at the links below.
US – http://amzn.to/29Gbibx
UK – http://amzn.to/2ad9Eds
More details to follow in the coming days.
October 1, 2015
I Can’t Believe I’m Doing This
I have some big news today and I believe that this is something I most likely will never do again. Pull your chair in a little bit closer and listen very carefully because I shall say this only once…on this blog…but many other times on social media.
You can download the entire Billy and Monster series today.
Yes, I really mean that. All 5 books in the series.
Is there a catch? Yes but it’ll definitely not stop you downloading the Billy and Monster collection.
All I ask is that when you’ve finished reading the series and IF and ONLY IF you and your loved ones enjoyed Billy and Monster’s adventures, THEN please consider downloading the audiobook (which actually costs less than the eBook version) and leave a favourable comment on Amazon or your blog.
You can grab a copy at the link below
The Billy & Monster Collection
This offer will end at 11.59p.m. on October 2nd.
Grab yours now and do let your loved ones, friends and colleagues know about this special offer.
Thanks for all your support and you can also share this offer on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms.
September 24, 2015
Moving House
Hi
Its been a while since I blogged and I’m actually excited to be tapping away at the keys on my keyboard and seeing words come alive on my screen.
Its been a busy period in my life and chief amongst the activities that have kept me busy all summer was a house move that seemed to drag on and on and on. Well, I’m happy to say my family and I have finally moved and I’m no longer a London boy. We moved to Kent fondly known as ‘The Garden of England.’ I now live in a beautiful and quiet village and my children are settling down in their new schools while I’m getting used to the longer journey into the centre of London where I work. We have good neighbors who’ve welcomed us with their smiles and cards.
We’re still unpacking but I can’t wait to set up my writing zone in our house. I started a mystery story in Spring which I’m looking to continue working on plus I want to write a Christmas story in time for the holiday season.
My children really got into the ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ books over the summer holidays and it was nice to see them devour the box-set my wife and I got for them. It made me want to write something in that genre just for them. Watch this space on that front.
Cheryl Carpinello who was a special guest on Author Interview Thursday many moons ago, did a special piece on her blog about writing tips from authors and there’s a snippet from yours truly included in that piece. A worthy read to inspire and encourage you so click the link below to read all about it.
Cheryl Carpinello’s Writing Tips
Have a lovely day.
