Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 118

So just a couple of updates: Today will be the last...

So just a couple of updates:  Today will be the last day for the Government shutdown ebook giveaway (or as Tiffany Reisz so cleverly called it, #smutdown). If you’re a furloughed fed in need of some gay romance to read, shoot me an email before midnight EST with your desired ebook reading format and I will send you some angsty manlove in return. Thanks to everybody who joined in, and I hope we all get our government back in working order ASAP.


Stripped Clean is live today on Amazonand ARe(B&N, Kobo, and iBookstake a little longer but should have it shortly). I love every book I’ve written, but this book is extra special and I really adore these two heroes so I hope you check it out. And I hope you fall in love with them like I have.
About Stripped Clean:
Carlos O'Shea is stuck. He knocked up a girl in college after a night of too much drinking, and then married her to be honorable. With little money, fewer options, and no degree, he winds up cleaning the floors in a small town gentlemen's club and thinking desperate thoughts about the handsome owner that'll lead to nothing but trouble.



Greg Moorehouse only invested in a nudie bar to help his best buddy out of a financial crisis. Now his drug-dealing ex-boyfriend, his reverend father, and a parade of surgically enhanced DDs' are driving him insane. But what's really stripped him of all good sense is his growing obsession with his married employee, Carlos.



They circle each other in a push-pull of misunderstandings and growing attraction. Carlos needs to get his boss out of his head, and Greg can't abide cheaters and married men. So what are a strip-club owner and the guy who cleans for him going to do with their undeniable desires?

Please note: This is an adult gay romance, for mature readers only. Contains explicit love-making between two hot-blooded men, angsty dark moments, and cupcake-baking exotic dancers

Happy Sunday. Love, Ellis

So This Time Next Week I Will be at GayRomLit!

 So this time next week I will be at GayRomLit!
And I am counting the minutes. It is going to be amazing.
I am so exited by the authors that are going to be there. Excited by the readers. I'll meet so many new people and hug people I've been getting to know the last three and a half years.
I have been so blessed by this genre.
 Male Male Romance.
I waited a long time to be able to write what I know, what I am, what I feel.
It all started with a mummy of all things. And it went from there, story after story after story.
 And what an amazing wonderful thing it is to have so many people appreciate what I'm doing.

I don't do it for the applause or the emails or the good reviews or the wonderful sweet emails.


But boy is it nice.
Thank you Elizabeth North for helping me make my dreams come true.
 Thank you all for all your support, and belief.
And I hope to meet you or see you again next week!
Peace and Love,Namasté,
BG

Writing - the Hard Parts and the Less Hard Parts by Cardeno C.

Happy Monday! In my quest to blog weekly, I asked for help with ideas and questions. Today I'm answering the question of which types are scenes are easiest to write and which are most difficult. I'm translating that into which are the hard scenes and which are the less hard scenes.



Right off the bat, I'll confess that I like writing sex scenes. I find that describing the physical connection between characters - the way they come together and their reactions to those couplings - is a very powerful way to express their relationship dynamic and bond. I'd love to know if you agree.



Now on to the harder (for me) stuff. I write with the goal of bringing my characters to good, healthy, happy places in their lives and making my readers smile and feel warm fuzzies. Because of that, it's probably no surprise that I enjoy writing scenes where my characters are mushy, sweet, and connected. The opposite of that is true too  - writing about times when my characters are tortured and distraught about life's events is very difficult, particularly when the characters handle those circumstances in a harsh way and are the ones inflicting stress on one another.


This type of behavior has come up in a few books, but never more than with the complex character of Asher in Something in the Way He Needs. Writing Asher was very difficult, particularly in the scenes where he treated his love in a way that was beyond disrespectful. My hope is that through those interactions, we can see who Asher is, temper, insecurities and all, that we can recognize his flaws and short-comings, and most of all that we can see how Daniel reacts to them and realize that though neither man is easy to live with, they see in each other something they need. Because while there is no doubt that Asher Penaz is far from a perfect man, Daniel sees that Asher is perfect for him.

So although writing the scenes where a character trips in his choices, particularly those choices as they relate to his love interest, is difficult for me, I think for some characters and in some books, those scenes are also the most important because they demonstrate the layers of the man, who he is inside. And also because, through witnessing the reactions of the love interest to those behaviors and interactions, we're able to see who he is, what he wants in a relationship and, of course, it sets us on a path to their working together to resolve the rough patches and walk into the happily ever after sunset.



I'd love to hear what you think about my opinions on writing scenes and also about which scenes you most/least enjoy reading. And, of course, I'd love any and all questions/ideas for future blog posts.

I hope you have a terrific week.

CC
www.cardenoc.com

Furlough Ebook Giveaway

I saw Tiffany Reisz giving away free books on twitter the other day to anybody who was out of work due to the government shutdown, and I thought you know? That's really nice of her. I kinda wish I'd thought of that.

Like so many other Americans, our household has been hit by this shutdown, and also like a lot of other Americans we're doing our best to stay positive in what is turning out to be a really uncertain time for our country. It's hard not to feel angry, and it's hard not to feel helpless. And I know *I* feel more positive when I have a book to lose myself in for a little while, so maybe that's the only thing I can do right now to help folks who are in this same boat as I am (except perhaps emailing my senator).

So. If you've been furloughed by this #$*&ing government shutdown and you would like some paranormal m/m romance to keep you entertained, drop me a line (elliscarrington at gmail) and I will hook you up. For those of you still gainfully employed, I haven't forgotten about you! Read-love-blog and Stumbling Over Chaos are both giving away copies of my Mayan manlove novella, Forbdden Love for the next couple of days. Big hugs and lotsa prayers, y'all. Hopefully this gets resolved ASAP.

Happy Sunday,
Love, Ellis

And There Are No Words....

There Are No Words.... 
....to express how happy I am that I am gay.
All those years and years that I lived in pain and upset, sure that I was going to hell for something that I had not control over. 
I used to cry myself to sleep begging God to make me straight.
 
Mark 11:24 (NKJV)
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 
But He didn't. He didn't make me straight. 
And FINALLY it occurred to me that sometimes when God doesn't answer a prayer, He IS answering a prayer.  I finally saw that God mad me just as I am, just the way I was supposed to be. 
Lady Gaga got it right...
There's nothing wrong with loving who you are, Cause He made you perfect, babe"
So hold your head up and you'll go far,
Listen to me when I say you're beautiful in your way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
You're on the right track, baby
You were born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
You're on the right track, baby
You were born this way

If I was Jewish, would I pray that I was Christian?
If I was black, would I pray that I was white?
If I was female, would I pray that I was male?

NO! 
Some of these things might be easier if I was something different.
But who the HELL wants easier?
I work with these people?  Hateful mean vicious awful people. The world was made for people like them. The world is their oyster shell. Do they appreciate what they have?
NO!  They are hateful people.
Me?  I am what you see, baby!      I may say things I shouldn't have?
But what you see is what you get.
You know who I am.
I am just how God made me
 God is love.

And all I have to offer is love.  And I am exactly what God made me to be.
When I try to be different than what I was made to be...I am being foolish. I have a mission in life. To BE what I was made to be!

 
I pray that you do that same.
KNOW this!
You are perfect, hold your head up. You are beautiful in your way. God doesn't make mistakes. God made you just the way you are. You were born the way you are for a reason. Don't hide who you are. Don't regret. Love yourself. You were born to be exactly who you are!
NamastéBG

September by Cardeno C.

Happy Monday, y'all. I'm going to work on my blogging skills, by which I mean I'm going to try to develop some blogging skills. I got wonderful advice from the social media savvy @j9moope and it included the idea of regular features. So, with that fantastic suggestion in mind, I'm going to do a monthly post with a little recap of my writing life for the month. Please let me know if this is something you want to read or if it's too boring for words. I need all the input/advice/help I can get when it comes to blogging.

With that intro out of the way, here's my writing recap of last month.

My latest book, Strong Enough, was released, which is always an anxiety-filled but exciting time.  I finished the editing process for the next book in the Family series. This one is called More Than Everything and it'll be released in November. I worked on edits for my holiday short novella called In Another Life. It'll be released December 1st and it's part of Dreamspinner's Advent Calendar.I finished writing the last *cue tears* book in the Home series. It's called Walk with Me, it's about Seth and Eli, it'll be released in February, and I am struggling like you wouldn't believe to say goodbye.I wrote a short novella I submitted for Mended - Dreamspinner's summer daily dose, which has a hurt-comfort theme. I'll hear back on whether the story will be in the daily dose in February. I'll keep you updated.I'm in the early stages of writing the next Mates book. The working title is In Your Eyes.And, last but most definitely not least, Mary Calmes and I are nearing the end of the writing stage for our novel. 
Okay, that's my recap. I probably missed something, but hopefully I hit the high points. Let me know if this is a monthly blog post you enjoy and I'll keep it up. Thank you and have a terrific week.

(Oh, and another monthly post I'm thinking of doing is answering reader questions so if you have any, please send me an email or send me a DM through twitter or FB.)

CC
www.cardenoc.com

Forbidden Love

My Mayan mythology novella re-releases today! W00hoo! I'm super psyched about this one. This was my first standalone gay romance release, and I still adore this book. Your first is always special. I reclaimed the rights so that I could update the cover art (I love this new cover so much I wanna cry, people), clean up a few typos that always bugged me, and - very important - lower the price!

It's up on Amazon today, and it should be on most of the other major vendors shortly. Please do check it out if you haven't already, and I hope you enjoy. :)

Love, Ellis 

Cover art by Pickyme
About Forbidden Love: Get it at Amazon | Add to your Goodreads List

Jacob Freehan has no job, no man, and no motivation. In pain both from ending a long-term abusive relationship and a severe back injury, he escapes to the sunny seaside town of Puerto Morelos, Mexico for a little yoga, a little R&R, and possibly a place to quietly end his own life.


Pakal is a centuries-old immortal Mayan spirit guide who has been charged with getting Jacob on the path toward healing. Romantic involvement with a spirit charge is strictly forbidden, and it has never been a problem...until now. Pakal sees something special in Jacob, but failure to keep a rapidly growing attraction at bay could result in Jacob losing his life and Pakal being condemned to the Underworld forever...

Excerpt:

They were plodding carefully through a large corridor of stalactites and stalagmites that gave the appearance of a giant shark’s mouth, when Jacob stepped absently and slipped. Pakal grabbed Jacob from behind, just narrowly preventing him from being impaled on the business end of a sharp, vertically jutting piece of rock. Many a tourist had landed at the nearby clinic for such accidents.“Shit.”“I warned you to be careful where you stepped. It’s slippery in here.” Pakal’s breath was heavy, and he was panting right in Jacob’s ear. His heart thudded against the thinner man’s back. Their bodies vibrated together as if they shared the same skin. They were dangling over a great precipice just then, and for the life of him Pakal was too caught up in the thrill to truly care about the consequences. He tightened his grip around Jacob’s naked waist and his light slipped from his fingers into the water. It was stupid. It was dangerous.It was too late.The thought was interesting, but fleeting, as Pakal’s hand dipped inside of Jacob’s loose, surfer-style swim shorts.“Holy Jesus. What are you doing?” The words held a note of obligatory protest, but even as he said them, Jacob’s ass pushed into Pakal’s crotch, and his forearm and head came to rest against the curve of the cave wall. Both men breathed heavily, totally in sync.“Keep it down,” Pakal whispered. Gods, Jacob’s cock was smooth. Deliciously soft and hard at the same time. “You’re so tense. I’m helping you to loosen up.”Jacob’s breath hitched. “Someone could come by here any minute.” Yet even as he said it, his hard length fucked faster into Pakal’s wet fist. His dick was perfect against Pakal’s skin; it was long and thin, with only a small amount of soft hair at the base. Pakal’s fingers strayed for a moment to roll Jacob’s weighty sac in his hand, and he longed to feel it inside of his mouth.“Better be fast, then,” Pakal breathed.Jacob’s skin was warm and salty, with a hint of sunscreen against Pakal’s tongue as it trailed a path from behind Jacob’s ear down the side of his neck. He paused for only the slightest moment when his lips brushed a silver necklace out of the way and found a small, puffy line of scar tissue underneath. He kissed the spot and moved on, sucking and biting over Jacob’s shoulder blade as he stroked harder and faster.“Oh, God.” Jacob’s breathing sped up and got ragged and, thank the gods, the guy was close because distant voices and splashes from deep within the cave were slowly coming nearer, and Pakal couldn’t bring himself to stop. “Jesus, Pakal.”
“Better hurry,” he murmured, nipping at Jacob’s earlobe.
Get it at Amazon | Add to your Goodreads List

Two Exciting Pieces of News

First, my novel, "The Boy Who Came In From the Cold" received an Honorable Mention from the Rainbow Awards!  I am pretty happy what was said about the book...

"Mr. Thomas has written a very wonderful Pay-it-Forward HEA novel. You could watch the characters, Todd and Gabe; grow, towards each other and in their own way, internally, which was a nice change. The plot was typical and not so typical, but was so finely written it cast a new light on a much used story-line I have watched some scenarios like this really happen and Mr. Thomas captured the emotions perfectly. I picked it up and could not put it down until the last page was turned. I want to thank you Mr. Thomas for writing this."



Second, I HAVE my actual plane tickets for Atlanta, GA!  GayRomLit 13!  Here I come!

I hope to see many of you there!
 
Love and NamastéBG

New Hope? More Hope?

The amazing Mr. George Takei posted this link on Facebook and I thought I'd share it here today.


http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57604460-76/foot-cream-kills-hiv-by-tricking-cells-to-commit-suicide/

Some of the comments attached to the linked page are very educational, but as always, some are remarkably ignorant.

My question is... what do YOU think?

My Puppy by Cardeno C.

Almost two months ago I adopted an adorable puppy. As you can see, she's about 75% ears.


A sweeter dog you'll never meet. She is cuddly and funny and nobody has ever been as excited to see me walk in the door. After some work, she has learned to play fetch with a cat-sized tennis ball and she can jump onto the bed (this took serious effort given her itty bitty legs).



And she is very well behaved. Really. She doesn't even bite on furniture. Okay, almost never.



The one issue I've had with my new puppy is potty training. It has taken me close the breaking point a time or two. She means well and is eager to please, but the little thing doesn't seem to understand the concept of inside versus outside. Or, for that matter, bed versus outside. Needless to say, my washing machine has been getting quite the workout.

Enter Mary Calmes to the rescue. Wonderful Mary spent hours scouring the web for the best dog training books available and thanks to her my adorable puppy is two days into no accidents in the house. I'm thinking of getting one of those OSHA signs with the number of days with no accidents. Seriously.

So, a big THANK YOU to the always wonderful Mary from me, the puppy, and the water company.

CC

www.cardenoc.com