Cheryl Carpinello taught high school English for 25 years. During that time, she worked with numerous students who didn’t like to read for a variety of reasons. However, she discovered that even the most reluctant readers became engaged in the classroom and in reading when she introduced units on King Arthur and the works of ancient world writers. Upon retiring, she set out to write fast-paced, action-filled stories in these setting to encourage young readers to read more. When not writing, you can find her reading, spending time with family, and traveling.
“In 2008, my husband and I spent three weeks traveling around Egypt via train and visiting all those magnificent archeological sites. Since we returned home, Egypt has never been far from my thoughts. I truly believe that I left part of my soul in that ancient land. To satisfy my longing to return, I wrote Sons of the Sphinx and Tutankhamen Speaks.” Visit her on Twitter and Facebook.
Title: Tutankhamen Speaks
Author: Cheryl Carpinello
Publisher: Beyond Today Educator
Pages: 81
Genre: Teen / YA / Ancient Egypt Historical Fiction
BOOK BLURB
From over 3000 years ago comes the voice of the Boy King.
Scrolls found buried in the basement of the Egyptian Museum. Transcribed in an ancient hand. Record the words of King Tut for all to read.
Tutankhamen answers all of the lingering questions, including the big one.
Discover the real story behind this famous pharaoh. Transport yourself back to an Ancient Egypt filled with mystery, magic, and danger!
ORDER YOUR COPY
Amazon eBook: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E18KH46
Amazon Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/149615536X
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tutankhamen-speaks-cheryl-carpinello/1118847147
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Tutankhamen-Speaks-Cheryl-Carpinello/9781496155368
Title: Sons of the Sphinx
Author: Cheryl Carpinello
Publisher: Beyond Today Educator
Pages: 189
Genre: Teen / YA / Ancient Egypt Historical Fiction
BOOK BLURB
A grandmother’s gift usually bring happiness. Rosa’s gift: a very different story. Hearing the dead alienated her from classmates. Not good for a 15-year-old.
Many times very insistent, the dead cared little for her surroundings. They even bothered her in class. Dates? Forget that.
Then one day, he shows up in her room. An old dead guy. A really old famous dead guy. In living human form!
Thrilling story of battling good and evil in an ancient world.
ORDER YOUR COPY
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVGC96Y
Amazon Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1912513951
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sons-of-the-sphinx-1
Tolino: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/ID151524898.html
Vivlio: https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9781912513949_9781912513949_10020
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Sons-Sphinx-Cheryl-Carpinello/9781912513956
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1565754127
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sons-of-the-sphinx-cheryl-carpinello/1120481788?ean=2940161911747
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/505876516/Sons-of-the-Sphinx-Ancient-Tales-Legends-1
After your book was released, what was the first thing you did when getting ready for your book launch?
I had already arranged for blog tours upon the release of both books (2014), so a lot of my time was spent writing posts and completing interviews. One post was a virtual tour of the different settings in Sons of the Sphinx conducted by my main character Rosa. It was a lot of fun to put together.
After that, what was your next step?
I did set up Pre-Release on Amazon for Sons but not Tutankhamen Speaks. I advertised this on Facebook and my blog.
Did you do anything different to spice up your website in lieu of your upcoming book release?
Because I find myself website-challenged in spite of my Masters in Computers in Education, I did the basics like listing the links to my blog tours.
Did you ever consider using a PR agency to help you promote your book or did you prefer the DIY route?
I looked into PR agencies, but those were cost prohibitive. I struggle with finding the time to do enough promotion, but I do the best I can. It was much easier with fewer published books!
Was finding reviews a top priority for you and, if yes, how did you approach that?
Definitely. Blog tours are a great vehicle for getting reviews.
What are your views on social media for marketing your book?
Writers need to study the different media and determine which will work best for them. Trying to cover all the different platforms at once can be overwhelming.
What social media has worked best for you?
I switch around and focus on one at a time. Right now, it’s Twitter. I haven’t had a lot of luck with FB. Pinterest is also good but much more time-consuming for me to do. Still figuring out Instagram.
Did you write a press release and do you think it worked for you?
Press releases are pretty much of a wash for me. Unless you know someone in the media industry, those end up in File 13.
Did you revamp your author’s page at Amazon in any way to prepare for the launch (https://authorcentral.amazon.com/)?
Yes. I included reviews from early reads of both books. I also added a short piece under About the Author of my visit to Egypt.
Here’s what I posted for Tutankhamen Speaks on the Amazon Product Page:
Tutankhamen Speaks
is the basis for my current Work-in-Progress Sons of the Sphinx.
Ancient Egypt has always fascinated me, as it has thousands of others. When my
husband and I visited Egypt in 2008, we traveled on our own. After arriving in
Cairo, we explored the Giza Plateau. The Sphinx and the Pyramids took my breath
away. Touching the blocks of Khufu's pyramid connected me to the builders of
that pyramid over 3000 years ago.
We traveled the length of Egypt twice by train. I could talk for hours of the
magnificent monuments we explored: the temple at Abu Simbel, Luxor and Karnak
temples, the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings and of the Queens. I
would return in a heartbeat to that magical land.
I lost part of my soul to that ancient land. Since then, I've read all that I
can, fiction and non-fiction, set in or dealing with ancient Egypt. When the
King Tut exhibit was in Denver in 2010, I went three times! We also went to
hear Dr. Zahi Hawass' lecture.
Some of my favorite reads:
Beneath the Sands of Egypt by Archaeologist Donald P. Ryan; non-fiction
Omm Sety's Egypt By Dorothy Eady; a memoir
Discovering Tut-ankh-Amen's Tomb edited by Shirley Glubok;
non-fiction
The Lost Army of Cambyses by Paul Sussman; fictional series
Did you set up book signings and, if so, how did that work for you?
I had several book signings. I find face-to-face sells work extremely well for me. It recreates a unique opportunity for me, the writer, to connect with my readers. I still do several book appearances every year.
Did you create a book trailer?
I made my first book trailer for Sons of the Sphinx in January 2015. It is with the first cover. Here’s that link: https://youtu.be/Ir1zZiMFk-4
Pump Up Your Books made this one for both my Egyptian books: https://youtu.be/XL-HtUuJpl0
Did you time your book launch around a certain holiday?
Sons of the Sphinx and Tutankhamen Speaks both launched in 2014, but Sons came out in late September of that year, closer to Halloween. On purpose? No, just how it happened. I’ve done a lot of blog advertising for both books around the end of September/first of October.
What was the best money you ever spent on your book launch?
For me, blog tours are the way to go. You and your book get exposure to readers that you may not have reached otherwise. These tours are also a great way to get book reviews!
Any tips for those authors wanting to set up a successful book launch?
Check out blog tours. There are many out there. Pick a couple and click on on-going tours to see what stops are included and what is going to be required of you, i.e. interviews, excerpts, guest posts, giveaways, to name a few.
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