Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 100

Happy Birthday and Writing Plans

First Cafe Risque chat of the new year!

<Sean> Happy New Year!
<BA> Happy New Year!
<BA> we were feeding the dogs and making coffee
<BA> :D
<Sean> cool
<Sean> I just finished supper
<BA> we're going to have our leftover blackeyed peas
<Sean> hot dogs for me
<BA> I love hot dogs
<BA> we're trying *super* hard to use our leftovers *grins*
<julia> LOL
<julia> yep
<Sean> cool
<julia> one of our goals for the year
<julia> which is not the same as resolutions
<julia> so no, BA
<julia> taking over the world does not count
<Sean> LOL
<BA> damn it
<Sean> that doesn't mean you can't, just it's not a resolution ;)
<julia> well, right
<BA> absolutely
<julia> but still, we're going for realistic
<julia> and you're very busy
<Sean> this is true
<BA> although I have to admit, I'm not feeling take-overy today. I feel like I'm catching a cold
<Sean> this is the year of the word domination, not world domination
<julia> yes
<BA> oh, I like it!
<julia> OMG our word count goal
<julia> is, uh,
<Sean> a lot?
<BA> lots
<Sean> many words
<julia> intimidating
<Sean> all the words
<julia> vast
<Sean> here's to hitting vast word goals
<julia> yes!
<julia> clinks wine glasses
<BA> and falling in love over and over
<BA> and over and over
<Sean> any stories you're particularly looking forward to working on this year?
<julia> heh
<julia> well, I have like, three Full Moon Dating stories planned
<julia> but I'm working on a mmf femme domme that I'm really proud of
<BA> I'm writing the sequel to Terms of Release right now, which rocks
<julia> ooooh
<Sean> oh man, is it as angsty as Terms of Release?
<BA> and I'm plotting out the sequel to Just Like Cats and Dogs
<julia> Sean, are you doing another special teams?
<Sean> yeah, it's on my list
<julia> eeeeeeeeee
<julia> hawt
<BA> I don't know, really. It's less angsty and more angry
<Sean> it won't be with the special teams guys though
<Sean> it'll be with a different Underground couple
<Sean> angry, huh?
<Sean> angry sex can be hot
<BA> *nods*
<BA> there's a wounded soldier and a trainer who lost both legs in a motorcycle accident
<julia> yeah
<Sean> oh wow
<BA> nods
<BA> they're interesting as hell to write
<Sean> I bet
<BA> when Sage and Win aren't taking over
<BA> O.o
<julia> LOL
<Sean> LOLOL
<julia> well, I was there when Sage and Win were being written
<julia> they're loud
<BA> nods
<Sean> gotta love the loud boys
<BA> I also have big secret news coming soon about Roughstock
<Sean> oooo secret news
<BA> soon, I promise
<Sean> :P
<Sean> *grins*
<BA> I know, I know
<Sean> I'm going to be dipping a toe into self-publishing this year
<BA> no shit?
<Sean> I'm putting out the Velvet Glove books
<Sean> and some of my older novels
<BA> cool! The VG books make me happy
<Sean> nods
<Sean> me too
<Sean> I'll do a new one this year, too
<julia> wot
<julia> no
<julia> woot
<julia> is that outdated? the woot?
<BA> oh, christ
<julia> I was told recently I need to update my slang
<Sean> probably
<julia> so I'm obsessed
<BA> an editor tells her once that she's dated in slang
<BA> and suddenly she's all "is that too old"
<Sean> the it words seem to change weekly
<BA> "Is that old"
<julia> heee
<Sean> LOL
<julia> well, I am old
<BA> "Am I a hipster?"
<BA> "Does I look like a hipster?"
<julia> hey, you don't live in Austin anymore
<julia> no more hipster
<julia> you must dress like a chola now
<BA> no, I look like an old dyke
<julia> well, yeah
<BA> oh!
<BA> OH!
<julia> with great clogs
<BA> sing happy birthday to me
<BA> my birthday is Friday
<BA> sing, dammit
<Sean> Happy Birthday to you
<Sean> Happy Birthday old dyke
<Sean> Happy Birthday to you
<Sean> ;)
<BA> thank you!
<BA> :D
<BA> no matter what, I'm still younger than both of you
<Sean> yeah, yeah
<julia> Happy Birthday!
<julia> I will order cupcakes tomorrow
<BA> :D
<BA> I have requested gluten free strawberry cupcakes
<Sean> very nice
<BA> nods
<BA> and I want chicken parmesan for supper
<julia> from the cupcake place we took you
<julia> oh
<julia> okay
<BA> and waffles for breakfast
<julia> this is new
<julia> makes lists
<Sean> LOLOL
<BA> well, I didn't know I wanted chicken parm until it came on Food Network today and I went... Oh.
<BA> Oh, yum.
<julia> yeppers
<Sean> heeeee
<julia> I do make a good GF version
<BA> nods
<BA> she doth
<julia> thank goodness for Ian's breadcrumnbs
<Sean> why do you have Ian's breadcrumbs?
<Sean> doesn't he need them?
<BA> *snorts*
<julia> you're such a dork
<julia> that was a product plug
<julia> maybe they'll give me free things
<julia> (this post not endorsed by Ians)
<BA> people in New York pay way more for things at flea markets than I would...
<BA> Yes, I'm watching Flea Market Flip
<Sean> I imagine people in New York pay way more for things, period
<BA> it's like an obsession
<BA> yeah
<BA> I forget that sometimes
<julia> heee
<julia> yes
<julia> I mean, they do the show in CA sometimes, too
<julia> and they pay a lot for stuff there, too
<BA> hell, y'all pay more up in the great white north than we do in the desert
<BA> except for water
<BA> I bet we pay more for that.
<Sean> nods
<Sean> I bet you do too
<julia> we pay less for gas
<julia> grins
<Sean> god yes
<BA> I'm already tired of weight loss company commercials, too
<julia> it's January
<julia> that and the exercise people will be on for a month
<BA> nods
<Sean> yeah
<BA> I never really considered how harmful some of that pressure was though
<BA> I have a friend with a daughter with anorexia
<Sean> some of them are fucking insulting and I wouldn't go with them just on principle
<BA> and that's a terrible stressor
<Sean> nods
<Sean> I can see that
<BA> yeah, there are a couple on tv right now that make me grrr
<Sean> nods
<julia> yeah. man that one about the snacks that played all Christmas?
<julia> screw you
<julia> I want a piece of cheese, you know?
<BA> LOL
<Sean> lol
<Sean> yeah
<BA> GIVE ME A FUCKING PIECE OF CHEESE!
<BA> ;-)
<BA> we washed the car today -- the trip to Colorado made it NASTY
<julia> all that salt and sand
<BA> ew
<BA> It didn't even look red
<BA> it looked... Aggie maroon
<Sean> nods - winter is rough on cars
<Sean> LOL
<BA> totally unacceptable
 * BA leans
<Sean> we finally had winter show up again this weekend
<julia> we had a little warm up
<Sean> it's been cold but no snow
<BA> yeah? It has backed off a little here
<Sean> green damn christmas
<Sean> it just isn't right
<julia> supposed to be 55 Tuesday
<BA> we sure didn't here
<BA> it was bitter
<BA> and snowing
<Sean> that's backwards - you guys stole my white christmas
<Sean> ;)
<julia> we did!
<julia> but only because we had visitors from Texas
<Sean> lol
<BA> oh, you were just here for so long that the weather decided you were here to stay
<Sean> LOL
<BA> ;-)
<BA> okay, y'all. I'm going to take some DayQuil and watch terrible TV and knit
<julia> and I will make you tea
<BA> oh, that sounds nice
<Sean> I have a date with a hot threesome
<BA> *smooches Sean*
<julia> hugs sean
<BA> oh, that sounds fun!
<Sean> at least they're trying to be a threesome -- not as originally advertised ;)
<julia> have fun
<BA> LOL
<julia> bad boys
<BA> go play
<BA> I love you
<Sean> love you guys
<Sean> night
<BA> night, dearest
<julia> night

BA's birthday is on Friday January 9!
If you have a topic you’d like us to chat about, please let us know. We’re totally up for that. You can find us on Twitter at @seanmichael09, @juliatalbot and @batortuga. Sean’s website is http://www.seanmichaelwrites.comJulia’s is http://www.juliatalbot.comBA’s is http://www.batortuga.com Facebook:Sean -- https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelW... -- https://www.facebook.com/juliatalbota... -- https://www.facebook.com/batortuga
Seansmut fixes everything

December, 2014 by Cardeno C.

Happy Monday and Happy New Year! Time keeps slipping away so it’s time for my monthly writing recap.
I released an audio edition of McFarland’s Farm, my contemporary novella, performed by the wonderful Paul Morey. I released an audio edition of Blue Mountain, my wolf shifter novella, performed by the amazing Sean Crisden.  


Barbara Cincelli translated In Another Life & Eight Days, two novellas in one package, into Italian and In Un'Altra Vita & Otto Giorni are now available.I worked on edits for Jumping In, a short novella for an All Romance ebooks Alpha collection that’ll be released in early February. I’ve been working with Jae Ashley on edits and Kelly Shorten on covers for some books I’ll be re-releasing (2nd editions) next month.I’m writing Johnnie, a novel-length paranormal in what’ll be my new Siphon world and working with a talented artist on a unique cover.

Have a great week.
CCwww.cardenoc.com

New Year's Resolutions

Now that Christmas is over, what is your New Year resolution?
I love the start of the year.  The calendars are bright, new and shiny.  The diaries are all crisp and white.  I’m full of hopes and dreams.  Sometimes these last just weeks.  Others make it through several months.
Every year I make resolutions:  Professionally, financially, physically (health) and personally.  So what about this year?

This year is a new routine for me.  My youngest child hits full-time schooling in February.  **tears up**  My baby at school five days a week.  What will Mummy do??
After she stops dancing through the house, she will hopefully sit down and finish a bunch of projects.  I have a number of crafting projects I mustfinish.  Really.  There’s no more excuses, Renae.  First that cubbyhouse tent, then that blanket and then those stuffed toys.  Go, go, go Renae!
Then there are several stories I need to write.  That’s my professional resolution.
Last year my daily schedule was different for each day of the week – we had fortnightly playgroup, full-day school days, half-day school days, no-school-at-all days, and grandparents who promised to babysit every week but cancelled constantly.  This year I hope to implement a more rigid working schedule.  2013 was about a daily word count.  2014 was just surviving to the next day.  2015 is going to be about a number of hours put toward writing.
Because 2014 was extremely unorganised, my publishing schedule is rather light for 2015.  But that’s okay – because that gives me more time to write.  So, don’t forget about me if I don’t have a new release for a while.  I’m a-comin’ back…

Financially 2013 was extremely bad for us.  Hubby was sick and took a lot of leave from work, plus we had specialists and medicines to pay for.  We used up those savings at a scary rate. 
There is nothing worse than watching your husband suffer, all the while trying to cope with the house, children and everyday items, and on top of that dreading that next credit card bill.  Because I knew we couldn’t survive as a family if I had to find a paying job.  I thanked God for that need I had to squirrel away funds for the rainy days.  Because it was pouring in 2013.
On a financial-basis 2014 was once again surviving to the next day.  Hubby’s health improved, but was still dodgy.  We didn’t fall further into debt, but we didn’t do much about paying off the mortgage.
I cried the day my first royalty cheque cleared into my bank account.  Those were tears of relief and also of goddamn pride.  All that hard work, and now I had something to show for it.
So my aim for 2015 is not huge on the financial side of things.  It’s just rebuilding those savings we used up in 2013.

Physically I have two New Year’s resolutions.  One – don’t go crazy.  LOL.  I know this sounds silly, but after a bout with post natal depression when my daughter was born, every year I don’t fall back into that hole is a celebration. 

My second resolution for 2015 is to lose those five kilos I didn’t lose in 2014.  Or 2013.  Or 2012.  **pouts**  You see, I cope with stress be using coffee and chocolate.  I’m hoping the year’s speed bumps are little, not mountainous. 

Personally?  My resolution is to be the best person, mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend I can be.  Because if we’re trying our best, we are surely succeeding somewhere.  Now I’m making a note on my calendar for December 2015.  It says, “Look at the Café Risque post from 3rd of January.  Did you make it?”
What is your resolution?

How to contact Renae:Email:  renaekaye@iinet.net.auWebsite:  www.renaekaye.weebly.comFB:  www.facebook.com/renae.kaye.9Twitter:  @renaekkaye

Ask Andrew - Word Limit

Dear Andrew

I am wondering why a publisher would put a word limit on books.

Theresa

Dear Theresa

Publishers put word limits on books for a number of reasons.  One of the biggest being consistency.  One of the big publishers had had strict length limits on their category lines for years.  This is so that each story bought by the consumer will be within the lines primary guidelines.  It also helped keep costs in line during a time when the primary sales vehicle was print books.  The longer the book the more it cost to print. 

Dreamspinner Press puts a length limit on their stories for the Advent Calendar.  That is so that when the reader receives their story each day, it isn't more than they can read so they don't get behind or frustrated with the story a day concept.  (The length of the story also determines how it will be made available.  For DSP, a story needs to be a certain length before it will be put into print)

However the biggest reason I believe for length limits are costs.  Longer length books cost more to produce.  Often editors, proofers, translators, and in the case of audiobooks, narrators, are paid based on word count so the longer a story is the more it costs and in today's market, publishers can't charge more for longer books, its too competitive.  So they set a word limit or publish guidelines on how long they want their stories to be.    Remember that publishing is a business and one of the tenants of business is to try to control costs.

I really hope this helps!
Happy New Year!

Hugs and Love
Andrew

Ask Andrew is your chance to ask questions of a gay romance author.  The questions can be about the writing process in general, writing sex scenes, gay men, sex, characters in romance, characters having sex... okay you probably get the picture.    I promise to answer your questions as frankly and with as much humor as I possibly can.

So if you have a question, please send it to andrewgreybooks@comcast.net.  This is different from my usual email so your questions don't get lost.  I will answer one question a week.

Please remember this is meant to be all in fun.  (I was going to say good, clean fun, but who wants that.)    So send me your questions and let's see what mischief we can get into.

Visit Andrew on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/andrewgreybooks  and you can join Andrew's fan group All The Way With Andrew Grey.

Follow him on Twitter:  @andrewgreybooks

Visit Andrew's web site:  www,andrewgreybooks.com

New Year's Resolutions

Our New Year’s Resolutions Sean: Be more organized.  Julia: Really focus on the writing.
BA: Is rule the world an acceptable resolution? Sean: Eat healthier. Julia: Start doing yoga again. BA: Is that a no on the total world domination, then? Sean: Explore new kinks. Julia: Take Andrew Grey to Texas. BA: Can I at least be a super villain?  Julia: Sure, baby, but no monologuing. HAPPY NEW YEAR, Y’ALL! If you have a topic you’d like us to chat about, please let us know. We’re totally up for that. You can find us on Twitter at @seanmichael09, @juliatalbot and @batortuga. Sean’s website is http://www.seanmichaelwrites.comJulia’s is http://www.juliatalbot.comBA’s is http://www.batortuga.com Facebook:Sean -- https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelW... -- https://www.facebook.com/juliatalbota... -- https://www.facebook.com/batortuga Much love, y’all,BA

Some Vacation Snapshots by Cardeno C.

Happy Monday! I'm in NYC right now being a tourist (and coughing due to an unfortunately timed cold) so I thought I'd share some snapshots. I'm also sharing these daily(ish) on Facebook and Twitter.







Hope you have a terrific week and a safe and fun New Year's Eve.

CC
www.cardenoc.com

Merry Christmas! The gift disappointment.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
How was your Christmas?  Did you get something good?  Did you get something really bad?  Did you get into an argument with your sister?  Did you flip out with the stress?
My answers:  Good.  Yes.  Yes.  No (wow!). Yes.

On Christmas Eve someone said to me, “I hope you have a merry Christmas.”
I answered, “Thank you.  Each year I simply pray that I don’t stress too much.”
It’s true.  My Christmases are usually so busy I end up stressing because I’m trying desperately to remember sixty million things, juggle seven million tasks and keep my children in line.  (And I’m not quite sure which is the most difficult).
And like any family gathering, you’re going to have someone snipe at someone else and hurt feelings abound.  When I get together with my siblings we often fall into familiar childhood roles – which unfortunately for me, is the youngest one that they laugh at because it’s fun.  And my childhood response is let them.  I was conditioned to do it.  Yes, I need to learn to stand up for myself.  **scribbles on New Year’s resolution list**
But surprisingly things went rather smoothly this year.
Firstly, my mother-in-law had decided not to invite extra guests to our “family” Christmas breakfast.  She remarked to me three times during the morning (and maybe more times to others) how nice it was to just have family.  I had to bite my tongue to stop reminding her that I’ve been telling her that for over ten years now.  So without the extra guests it meant, as a family, we could open presents whenever we wanted. I didn’t have to rush over to their house in the morning.  I didn’t have to make small talk with people I didn’t know (which I can do, but it isn’t always easy for me).  For the first time since I started dating my husband, I could relax at her house on Christmas morning.
Then we dashed off to have lunch at my sister’s house.  It was a small gathering this year, with many of my siblings deciding to have their own at-home lunches.  It took the pressure off the sibling relationships.  My brother#1 didn’t do things “his own way” causing sister#1 to get upset which meant she sniped at sister#3, who in her turn would snipe at me.  So I had a nice time, instead of crying in the bathroom as I have been known to do.
But what about the presents???
LOL – okay.  Did I get what I asked for?  Yes.  I asked people to buy me an Amazon gift card.  My family forgot, but my best friend showed me what being a best friend is all about by remembering.  (Thanks BFF – I’ll need to dedicate another book to you).  Hubby also bought me the new printer I asked for, and my in-laws bought me some new towels. (When stuck trying to think of a present for me, I always ask for towels.  Towels are always needed.)
Did someone get it terribly wrong?  <facepalm>  That crown goes to my poor mother-in-law.  The present for my daughter came with rather strict instructions: “She needs dresses.  They need to be long – she’s so tall that most little girl dresses are indecent on her.  The dress needs to be pink or purple.  She will not wear any other colour.  She won’t wear denim.  She won’t wear shorts.”
The length thingy was a parental instruction.  The bit about the colour, denim and shorts was a stubborn-mule-5yo-girl thing.  I’ve fought with her for at least 3 years about it.  She won’t wear shorts.  And she definitely won’t wear denim.  To make my life a little simpler, when it’s time to get dressed each day, I just go with the flow.  Does it matter in the big scheme of things if my daughter wears only pink cotton dresses?  I’m sure it’s just a phase.
Did MIL get it right?  Only one out of three outfits.  I’m sure those other outfits are very pretty.  And yes, they’re pink.  But they’re shorts.  She won’t wear shorts.  Did I not say that?  SHE WILL NOT WEAR SHORTS.  Now I’m going to need to find a suitable bribe in order for my daughter to wear the outfits at least once before I can retire them in the too-small-box.

I have a theory.  The Renae-theory-about-presents is that you receive two types of presents: 
1.  Presents that people want for themselves, so they are sure you will love it, because they do.
2.  Presents that people think you want, because that’s how they perceive you.
Neither presents are given without thought – because I know that my family love me and want me to enjoy the presents.  But sometimes you wish you didn’t get some things.  Sometimes you love something – but after six years of only receiving ladybird-themed gifts, you wish you never let that little nugget of information drop.
My sisters are mostly in the second category of gift givers.
Sister#3 has me pegged – she always manages to buy me a great present.  This year I received a nice stationery set of post-it notes in different sizes.  Yes – I’m a list maker and this will be great.
Sister#5 doesn’t cook.  She has no interest.  But she thinks I do, and therefore loves to buy me stuff that has to do with cooking.  Often a lot of fun.  But often impractical stuff.  Each year I get something wildly weird to do with cooking.  This year was a cupcake ferris wheel.  A what?  Yep!  A miniature ferris wheel that holds eight cupcakes.  It’s cute.  It’s ultra cute.  Let’s just hope I don’t have crowd at my next party, because there’s only eight cupcakes, people.  **wink**
Sister#1 thinks I like wildly bright clothes.  It’s true, I don’t shy away from the bright reds and blues.  But sometimes…
However my maternal parent is in the first category of buyers.  For the explanation of my gift this year, I must digress. 
As a child my room was painted pink.  When sister#3 moved out of home, I happily installed myself in her room (the first time in my life I didn’t have to share a room!) and I revelled in the fact it was yellow!  **throws confetti**  When I was about 12, my mother decided to put vertical blinds in all the rooms.  She asked me what colour I wanted.  
“Yellow.  Maybe light blue or cream,” I replied.
I got pink.
Yup.
Yellow room + pink curtains = hell for a teenager already in hell.
When I was 19, sister#5 moved out and I could move into the larger bedroom.  Mum gave me permission to paint the room any colour I wanted.
“Blue,” I said.
“Oh.  How about green or pink?” Mum asked.
Nope!  I was finally, at 19 years of age, getting a say in the colour of my room.  I picked blue!  (It still had pink curtains, but nothing is perfect).
Two years later I bought my own house.  Hubby and I lovingly went through the entire house and painted over all the pink, grey and green walls the previous owner preferred, and painted our house yellow.  The bedrooms were blue.  The couch was a bright blue.  The carpet was cream.  We loved our cream/yellow/blue colour scheme, and we still have it today, although a little more on the cream/beige and less on the yellow.
Several years ago my parents build a new home.  Mum picked the colours — the tiles, the curtains, the walls, the cupboard doors, the skirting — from scratch.  I tell people that every time I visit her house I feel like I’m living inside a lolly.  It’s Candyland!  Her entire house is soft pink and light green with rose embellishments.  The lounge is a rose print.  The pictures on the walls are full of pink roses and green leaves.  The tiles in the bathroom are pink with roses.
So, to say that my mother and I have different tastes is putting it mildly.  So when I opened the present and saw painted roses on a white background, I knew mum had found something that would look great on the wall. In her house. 

I really feel so bad about not feeling more grateful about some of the presents I received.  I’m a bad, bad, bad girl. 
So if my family stumble across this blog, know that I really did love the presents.  Thank you for thinking of me and my kids at Christmas.  I hope you all enjoyed your presents too.
Because there is one thing I’m very grateful for.  At least I didn’t get toothpaste.  Again.  Yes.  I received toothpaste for a birthday gift once.  MIL wears that crown too.

Next week:  New Year’s Resolutions

How to contact Renae:Email:  renaekaye@iinet.net.auWebsite:  www.renaekaye.weebly.comFB:  www.facebook.com/renae.kaye.9 Twitter:  @renaekkaye

Ask Andrew - Holiday Message

This spot is normally a post where I answer a reader question, and that format will return next week, but I want to take the opportunity here to wish everyone a magical holiday season.  In the northern hemisphere, we are very near the darkest part of the year.  The sun is almost as far south as it will go.  But with all the holiday celebrations and lights, we bring a special light to this otherwise dark and cold season.  So I hope that no matter what holiday you celebrate this time of year, that its filled with joy, warmth, light, family, and wonder.  If you're travelling, like Dominic and I will be, stay safe. For all the cooks out there, I hope your dishes are sprinkled with holiday magic.  Most of all I wish you a holiday season filled with warmth and love to carry you well into the new year. 

Hugs and love always!
Andrew

Ask Andrew is your chance to ask questions of a gay romance author.  The questions can be about the writing process in general, writing sex scenes, gay men, sex, characters in romance, characters having sex... okay you probably get the picture.    I promise to answer your questions as frankly and with as much humor as I possibly can.

So if you have a question, please send it to andrewgreybooks@comcast.net.  This is different from my usual email so your questions don't get lost.  I will answer one question a week.

Please remember this is meant to be all in fun.  (I was going to say good, clean fun, but who wants that.)    So send me your questions and let's see what mischief we can get into.

Visit Andrew on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/andrewgreybooks  and you can join Andrew's fan group All The Way With Andrew Grey.

Follow him on Twitter:  @andrewgreybooks

Visit Andrew's web site:  www,andrewgreybooks.com

Merry Christmas to all!

I'm a Tourist by Cardeno C.

Happy (holiday week) Monday! I'm off being a tourist so I don't have a blog post, but I'm trying to share fun pictures, etc. on Facebook and Twitter. Have a great week and a happy holiday.

CC
www.cardenoc.com