Sons of the Sphinx

It's release day for Sons of the Sphinx, and I couldn't be more excited!

I started writing this in May 2010, although the idea started growing back in May of 2008 when we spent three weeks visiting Egypt and it's ancient culture. Way back then, it seduced me and still calls to my soul. I will return someday to that ancient land.

Here are a couple of my favorite photos from that visit.

 

Recognition:

Sons of the Sphinx is already gathering excellent reviews from Readers' Favorite and Literary Classics, a Seal of Approval from the Literary Classics, and is a finalist in the 2014 Literary Classics Book Awards.

Enjoy this excerpt:

"'How do I even know that you're real and not just someone my crazy brain has made up?'

'Touch me, Roosa. You will see I'm real enough.'

Touch him? Is he as crazy as I am? Okay, so I'm going to touch him, just for my own peace of mind.

I reach out my hand, fingers extended, trying to reach him but not move from the wall. A crooked smile appears on his face. He takes a couple of steps forward, reaches out and touches me.

Lightning heat shoots out from him, races up my arm, switches direction and dives into my stomach. I snatch my hand back and grab my belly with both hands. The burning sensation knocks my knees out from under me. I slump to the floor, still leaning on the wall. The room spins, and my head swims. Tears mixed with stars blur my vision so there is no focusing. Not enough air in here; my chest tightens as if the lungs inside are ready to explode.

The burning sensation turns into a glow. My whole body's glowing! Blinking, I concentrate on the hand in front of me. Glowing, definitely glowing! Crazy. I have finally gone over the edge. I'm going crazy fast, and no one is home to save me.

Tut's eyes are a tangible weight as he stares at me. He stands there, not saying a word, his crooked smile replaced by tenderness, hope, concern? I rub my temples to ease the pounding pain that is suddenly present. Fear leaps through me like wildfire through dry grass. What is happening?

'I won't hurt you, Rosa.'

What? A girl's voice! I look around the room. No one else is here. I look at Tut; his eyes lock with mine. What is going on? I joke a lot about my gift being a curse, but this time I'm really afraid. Like the afraid of dying kind of fear."

I hope you travel with Rosa—my 15-year-old protagonist—back into that magical land as Rosa seeks to understand who she is and finds herself in a battle where failure could be death!

Where to Find Sons of the Sphinx:

Sons of the Sphinx is available as an eBook and in paperback (Barnes&Noble will stock paperback in a few days) from the following booksellers:

eBooks:

Amazon

Smashwords

Nook

iBookstore

Paperback:

Amazon

Reviews and recommendations are always welcome where you purchase the book and/or on Goodreads.

Thanks to The Young Knights

This week I want to share with readers my thanks for the exceptional job my Three Young Knights are doing.


October 2012 


2012 Children’s Literary Classics Book Awards:



The King’s Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table) earns the Silver Award for YA Fiction.



November 2012


2012 USA Best Book Awards:

The King’s Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table) honored as a Finalist in the “E-book: Children’s Fiction.

2012 Readers Favorite Review

of 

The King's Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table)

Reviewed by Lela Buchanan for Readers Favorite

In a literary world rife with paranormal characters and situations, "The King's Ransom" offers a refreshing and realistic approach to pre-teen medieval reading material. The three young protagonists come from different levels of society: a prince, a blacksmith's apprentice, and an orphan. When their friend, "the Wild Man", is accused of murder and theft, they so strongly believe in his innocence that they join forces to clear him. Each one faces his own fears with determination in the quest to solve the mystery, a journey filled with danger and suspense, and, ultimately, a highly satisfying conclusion. The Knights of the Round Table, King Arthur and his famous sword, Excalibur, and even Sir Lancelot make brief but powerful appearances in this tale of coming of age.

Cheryl Carpinello has written a clean, tight read without using any of the props so prevalent in the young reader's genre. Although there is a "witch" and a "ghost" in the story, they are secondary and realistic characters playing supportive roles. The three young heroes: Gavin, the youngest prince who longs to be a knight; Bryan, the blacksmith's apprentice who also longs to become a knight; and the orphan Philip who has secret longings, all set aside the boundaries of class to work together. Carpinello writes, "On his quest to save the wild man, he [Gavin] had learned a man was only as good as his beliefs." I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely book and was genuinely surprised by some unsuspected revelations.

Five Bookworm Review by This Kid Reviews Books

Excerpt:

This was a great book! I liked all of the action and excitement in it. Ms. Carpinello wrote this book really well and it was very appropriate for kids even though it deals with fighting and a wrongfully accused person. Ms. Carpinello described the time period really well, I felt like I was a knight in medieval times! I really love that the story features a bit of King Arthur legends in it! The ending had a couple of great twists that had me totally surprised! The only thing I’d change about the story is I would have liked to know how the boys became friends. It did not tell you that and I think it would have been nice. I like the things that the boys did to try to save the Wild Man. Those were pretty good parts to read about. I like all of the three boys. They were all great characters, each special in his own ways. I think kids ages 9+ will really enjoy this book.

Thank you, Young Knights!