Impassioned by Arthurian legends, retired high school teacher, Cheryl Carpinello, set out to write stories that would hold the attention of reluctant readers. Based on her experience using the King Arthur tales in her English classes, not to mention her own enthusisam for lore, she soon penned Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend and is currently working on a second book for middle grades.

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...PDB:  Cheryl, in your bio on the back of your book, it mentions that you write for reluctant readers. What's a "reluctant reader" and how do you engage them in reading?

CC:  I define reluctant readers as those students who can read, but for whatever reason choose not to read.  For many students, by the time they reach high school, if they are not reading on their own, they will not read the assigned materials.  As an educator, my professional focus centered around helping students achieve their potential.  As a high school English teacher, that focus frequently meant finding ways to get my students to read the materials.  These are the students I want to reach.  The King Arthur Legend hooked all my high school students even the reluctant readers. They listened intently to discussions and participated in the activities.  King Arthur has been the only unit I’ve found that engages all students. In order to really reach the reluctant reader, I need to hook them in elementary school, so that they choose to continue to explore books.  That’s why I chose to use it as my base for my writing.



PDB:  What is it about the Arthurian Legend that has caused it to transcend the centuries and for "children" of all ages?

CC:  It is a number of things.  First and foremost, the Legend is packed with adventure.  Tales of knights fighting knights, rescuing damsels in distress, and the quest for the Holy Grail are found in vivid detail throughout the unending array of stories.  Second, the Legend is about heroes, the Knights of the Round Table: Lancelot, Tristram, Percival, Galahad and the many others.  Specifically it is about the main hero, King Arthur.  Third, the Legend is about magic and mystery.  Merlyn, the most famous magician ever, lives backwards in time! Fourth, the Legend is about women and love.  The regal Guinevere; the mysterious half sisters of Arthur: Morgan le Fay, Morgause, and Elaine; the witch Nimue who tricks Merlyn into revealing his secrets and then encloses him for life in a cave.  The one thing all these women have in common is that they are misunderstood.  Writers can’t even cast them into the same mold, especially the sisters. Last, the Legend is about Hope.  Arthur and his kingdom are essentially a utopia.  A perfect world, at least in the beginning.  There is a definite line between right and wrong.  Chivalry rules the day.  Arthur is the ruler who works not for himself, but for his people.  And in the time period that The Once and Future King was written (WWII), the Legend offered a safe haven for people’s dreams.

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