Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 127

AND It Appeals to My Voyeur Kink!

So these guys are kinda cute. For whatever reason this handsome young gay couple has decided to document the ins and outs of their lives together. It's an interesting sociological exercise, there are many moments of cuteness and amusement, and it does kind of appeal to my voyeur kink. So I find the videos fun to watch when I need brain candy and The Bachelor is between episodes. ;)

Moreover, I confess I was especially struck when I happened upon the video where they told a nutshell story of how their relationship began. Come to find, one of the two guys in the relationship identified as straight before they first got physical. In the genre of gay romance I've seen some lively debates about the realism of the "gay for you" trope, and I always find it interesting when I meet people or hear about people who learned something new about their sexuality late(r) in life.

Personally, I don't question much of anything. I think if you're lucky enough to find someone who makes you feel cherished, get down with your bad self. These guys clearly have. Hell, it's practically the kind of thing you want to write a book about:


Happy Sunday everyone..
Love, Ellis

Visceral Research and Good Fortune -- By BG Thomas

 So I am attempting to write a novel in record time and so far it is cooperating, thank goodness. A good deal of it takes place around the theater. I used to hang out a lot with actors and directors and stuff, and had experience to draw from. However, it has been a long time...  Then the Universe just lined Itself up with me again! My dear friend Curtis Smith, an actor, out of the blue asks me to come see him in his new play at The Living Room. I was so excited by the idea, however with being out of work for two months with my knee surgery and then a whole month of slowly being eased back into the work force (this will be my first full time week in three months!) I didn't have the cash. So what does he do? He gives me his comp ticket!   So I go see Sam Shepard's "Fool for Love." Powerful and dark play, every intimate theater situation where you feel you are almost on the stage, and just the kind of play I imagine my characters involved in! THEN! Then I get to hang out and party with everyone after. There I am in the basement with all these actors, directors, playwrights, and producers! I am asking questions and everyone is sharing with me about their lives and why they do what they do! I was loving it! THEN a lady turns out to be the producing artistic director of The Unicorn Theater, the theater I was patterning my story theater after. She tells me I can come down a get a tour! And I am doing that today! Sorry about all the !!! but I am excited.   To me, this is the best best best kind of research. I think of it as Visceral Research. It is one thing to read bout a subject, but when you can experience it, touch it, smell it, hear it, feel it, ride it, it becomes so much more with so much material to place into the story. I went horseback riding before writing "Trust Me," my dude ranch novella and spent a short weekend on a friend's small ranch when writing my story "The Real Thing" for the anthology "Riding Double." It was amazing how many people thought I'd rode horses for years when they read those stories. No. Exhilarating. Showing me how all that work was worth it.    And now to immerse myself in the theater! I just have to be careful that I don't do so much research that I have time to write the fripping book! Hugs and Love to you you all!BG

Excusing Infidelity?

Okay, so the title of this post may be a little misleading because I'm not actually here to "excuse" infidelity, but to examine the concept itself.

Earlier this week, I took a trip in the Way Back Machine (tm), though I suppose it was more like the Just-A-Little-Bit-Back Machine, as I only went a year and a half or so into the past. (Via the internet, of course.)

Back in July of 2011, the NYT posted and article (here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/magazine/infidelity-will-keep-us-together.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&ref=magazine ). This article is mostly about Dan Savage and his thoughts on monogamy, and while I'm not one of those people who thinks Dan hung the moon, I also don't think he stole the stars from the sky and dragged them down to Hell with him so he can gloat over the sparkly and shiny in private. I think he's an exceptionally bright and plain-spoken man who some people find scary because of his views on certain subjects. (I also find that I usually agree with him, for the most part, and even when I don't I can see how he arrived at the wrong-for-me-personally conclusion he reached.)

So this article (at 7 pages, it's fairly long) addresses the question of monogamy as a functional, rational template for long-lasting, serious relationships between adults. To me, this is the the operative word -- adults.

To be plain, here, I don't necessarily think that non-monogamous relationships are for everyone, but I also don't quite grasp the idea of being so possessive that your own sense of worth is bound up in having your partner solely to yourself. I've been confused by this for a very long time, and chances are this sense of WTF is partly responsible for my consistently single state. (The rest of the cause of singleness for me possibly has something to do with the fact that I'm a bitch... and that I'm always convinced that I'm the smartest person in any room. Not saying it's true, mind you, just that it's true to ME. P)

So the question becomes, how can I be dubious about monogamy and yet write romances in which my characters find each other, fall in love, and live happily ever after in committed, monogamous relationships? The answer is...

Like most romantics, I WANT to believe in that one person who may not be perfect, but is perfect for me... or more to the point, perfect for my characters. Hell, part of the reason I write in the first place is because the world tends to treat people badly and it makes me happy to put my boys through all sort of angsty drama only to have them grab the golden ring in the end (so to speak... because there are rarely any rings, gold or otherwise, in my stories).

It seems to be well known and accepted within the gay romance genre (and probably the het romance genre, as well, I would assume) that cheating, when it involves either member of the main pairing, ruins the story. In fact, I'll even go so far as to say that it's a common thing in romance books for the villain of the piece to be the nasty, cheating ex of one character or the other.

So here's what I'm presenting as a serious and sincere question, and if any of you have time to type out a quick response in the comments section, I'll enter all commenters in a drawing for an e-copy of any of my books in current release. What I want to know is...

Do you find it acceptable to have a couple with a non-monogamous relationship as the main pairing in a romance?

What about when an established couple in a book decides to bring a third person into their relationship -- meaning, does the process of bringing that third person into things count as cheating, even though both of the original pair agree to it and the third person becomes and integral part of it all? (If it does count as cheating, would it make you stop reading the story? If it's NOT cheating to you, why not, and how does this scenario differ from someone in an open relationship having sex with people he doesn't love, with the knowledge and acceptance of his partner whom he DOES love?) In what situation would "cheating" be acceptable and how do YOU define cheating? Is it having sex with someone? Just kissing them? What about jerking them off? Is physical fidelity more or less important than emotional fidelity, or do they rank equally?

And just so there's no misunderstanding, I'm asking solely because I'm curious and want a bit more insight into how people feel about these things and why. I'm not planning on writing a big bunch of stories with this theme.

Hope to hear from some of you. Until then, this is Bitchy-Bitch, signing off! D

Reader Interview: Rachel Gallagher Interviews Cardeno C.

Happy Monday, y'all. I'm doing something a little different today. A fun and very, very supportive reader, Rachel Gallagher, had some questions for me so she put together an interview and sent it my way. I promised to answer her questions here at Cafe Risque so here goes (hope I don't put you sleep with this one, Rachel):

1. What was the first thing you ever wrote?

CC: The first book I wrote was Where He Ends and I Begin. Now you may know that this was not my first book published in English, though it was the first published in other languages. I always say that I write the books in my series to be read in any order. Sometimes I think people don't believe me and they think they need to read my books in order of publication. But, really, truly, I mean it. I don't write chronologically and publication order varies depending on the language and the publisher's schedule and probably a whole array of other things I'm not knowledgeable enough to understand.

2. Who is your favorite character you have written about? Least favorite?

CC: I cannot answer that question because it would feel too much like picking favorites. There are aspects to each character's personality that I like and while certain characters definitely resonate more with me than others, at the end of the day I wouldn't be able to live with someone inside my head for as long as I do when I write these books if I didn't like that (fictional) person.

3. You once mentioned at the Dreamspinner FB chat that your family and friends don’t know you write. Does that mean at all, or just m/m romance? 

CC: There are a handful of people who know I write fiction. That's it. And, frankly, sometimes I worry that the handful is too many.

4. How did you come up with your pen name?

CC: My pen name is based on a location where I once lived.

5. Why vegetarianism? Are you a moral eater or texture eater. Also vegan or just regular vegetarian?

CC: Just vegetarian. If something with a face died, I won't eat it. Yes, my reasons for being a vegetarian originate in a moral issue based on the way animals are raised, treated, and ultimately killed for our consumption along with the related environmental impact. I also believe that there are health benefits to being a vegetarian. At this point, I haven't eaten meat for more than half my life, so I think the texture and flavor wouldn't work for me either.

6. What is the one thing you wish you had never done? i.e. skydive, snorkel, etc..

CC: I have to tell you that I read this question and skipped it and then went back to it and skipped it and then went back again and ... you get the idea. 


I've made plenty of mistakes in my life, shed my share of tears, had my share of self-doubt, suffered more embarrassing moments than I care to recount, but something I wish I hadn't ever done? Nope. All the mistakes, tears, anger, etc. were learning experiences. And at the end of the day, I'm pretty happy with who I am. If I wasn't, believe me I'd work my ass off to change it. Been there, done that. I've earned my laugh lines. No regrets.

7. What are your non-writing goals for the next year? Writing goals?

CC: Hmmm. I'd like to get my day job secure enough to foot the bills, but slow enough to allow me time to focus on my writing and my personal life.

8. If you could go back in time, where and when? Also who would you love to shake hands with?

CC: If I could go back in time, I'd love to see my grandmother again. She was an important part of my life when I was a kid. She was always on my side, my steadfast supporter. Unfortunately, she passed away years ago and I never had the chance to know her as an adult. 

When I'm faced with a tough decision, even now, I often think of my grandmother and let her memory guide me along my path. I like to think she would be proud of the person I've become. As far as handshakes, nah, I'd skip them and give her a big hug and an even bigger thank you.

9. Who is your favorite author? Comfort read?

CC: Favorites come and go over the years, so I'll answer this by telling you about the author who is my number one autobuy: Mary Calmes. And I have the great honor and privilege to be writing a book with Mary now. 

10. Last question and this is just because your fan girls have debated, we really don’t care, but I have a curious button that insists I push it...  Are you dude or chick?  For the record I think dude. 

CC: Yeah, I was wondering when this one was coming. I get that question a lot. 

It's very important to me to keep a firm line between my writing life and my non-writing life, primarily because of my day job. I don't share information about where I live, my age, my gender, my eye color ... This is true for everyone - my gender is not on my publishing contracts and my legal name happens to be one that is not gender specific.

I also have another reason why I don't share gender information. Before I published my first book, I heard about perceptions involving male authors and other perceptions involving female authors, particularly in the romance genre. I want my writing to be judged on its merits, not on my gender. So all of that is my explanation for why this is one question I'm not going to answer. :) 

Thanks for all of your support, Rachel. I really appreciate everything you've done including the Facebook fan page and the Goodreads fan group. 


CC
www.cardenoc.com

Funny, Adorable Gay Men Being Adorable and Funny

I love humor. I love gay guys. Well hell, anybody who doesn't has clearly landed themselves in the wrong place coming to this blog.

So this week, I bring you two great tastes that taste great together: funny gay dudes. These are all short, and offer a much-needed stress reliever.

What gay men really mean when they say:


What gay men think of vaginas:


Big Gay vs Little Gay! (also contains an interesting discussion of midget porn stars. Thumbs up for porn stars.)

Have a great week everyone!
Love, Ellis

Bisexuality, Biphobia & Life Under Glass (in this case, a microscope)

As we all know, I'm prone to wordy titles. This clearly applies not only to my books but to my blog posts, as well. Hopefully this post will be more interesting and (possibly) entertaining than it sounds. Heh-heh.
So a week or so ago, I was pointed towards an article, located here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-browne/bisexual-not-such-a-dirty-word_b_2662176.html?utm_hp_ref=twin which the author speaks about bisexuality and some of the perceptions associated with that state. I do say "state," in the sense of bisexuality being a condition, much as heterosexuality and homosexuality can be considered states of being. Not inherently good or bad, but simply the way things are.
My position -- and please tell me that none of you thought I wouldn't have one because you should all know by now that I always have an opinion (on everything! LOL) and I'm more than happy to share -- is that bisexuality is not only real, but more pervasive than is generally admitted by society at large. I think that most people are bisexual to some extent, whether they choose to act on it or not. (This is, in my opinion, the only instance in which sexuality is a choice, and even with those who are bisexual, it depends upon where they sit on the spectrum. If you're confused, don't worry. I'm about to explain -- in possibly exhaustive detail.)
We, as a society, are so used to defining things as one thing or another. Black or white. Gay or straight. Rain or sun. Hot or cold. We LIKE defining things. We like to think things are simple and easy and we like being able to classify ourselves and others with short, facile phrases.
"I'm Straight." "I'm Gay." "I'm a woman." "I'm a man." "I'm a Christian." "I'm a Buddhist." "I'm a vegetarian." "I'd kill for a steak."
All these things are labels, and simple ones at that. Even when we combine them, as we usually do, and come up with a near-infinite assortment of labels -- "I'm a straight, female atheist who loves a good steak, horror movies, and karaoke." -- these are simple labels that don't leave much room for interpretation. We like to think that we are what we are, and we identify most strongly with others who share at least a few of the labels we assign to them and to ourselves. This is how we form groups outside of family units. We find and attach ourselves to those with whom we share common traits, aka labels.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with this, as a general rule. I mean, it wouldn't make much sense for us to surround ourselves with people with whom we have nothing in common. We like to have a sense of belonging. It's why we form relationships outside of our families, really. (Well, that and the desire to NOT turn into a big bunch of inbred freaks, but I digress.)
The problem for a lot of people with regards to bisexuality is that there's no easy label, aside from "bisexual," and as it turns out? That's apparently too vague for a lot of folks, isn't it?
What does it mean? How can someone be attracted to both men and women when men and women are so very, very different? And how dare someone think they can have it all instead of having to pick a path and stick with it? That's just… not fair! And besides, there's no such thing as bisexuality, right?
Hell, depending on who you ask, there's no such thing as homosexual, either. Gays are just straight people who've decided to buck the system and have sex with people of the same gender. They've made a CHOICE to do so, apparently just for shits and giggles (and pleasure because it's not possible for two people of the same gender to have romantic feelings for each other)… and because it's so much FUN to leave yourself open to attacks of more than just a verbal nature. And the people who believe that would know, wouldn't they? (Yes, I'm rolling my eyes right now. At that mindset, not at writing about it here. Heh.)
Bisexuality is actually a "thing." Meaning it's real. It exists. It's not just guys and girls being unable to make up their minds. It's not people deciding that they want to be "greedy." And it's definitely not something people DO because it makes their lives EASIER. If anything, it has the opposite effect.
When you're bisexual -- admittedly bisexual and "out," so to speak -- most of your straight friends and family don't get it, and neither do many of your gay friends and family. You're caught in the middle, trying to live your life on your own terms, all the while knowing that whatever you do, SOMEONE is going to have a problem with it, whether that problem is merely disappointment or something that could very easily become hate. And then there's the fear society feels for bisexuals.
Fear is the most pervasive force that drives us as humans. We fear what we don't understand. We HATE what we don't WANT to understand. The things we've grown up hearing about as evil and wrong and just plain unacceptable are the things we don't want to examine too closely, because if we really look and research and open our minds, we might find that we DO understand… and from everything we've been taught, that's JUST AS BAD as being or doing whatever it is. (This is, of course, solely my opinion and you, dear readers, are welcome to disagree. I make no claims to being right all the time. Only MOST of the time. *grins*)
The thing is, there's an entire spectrum of human sexuality. It's ridiculous to say that there's gay and there's straight, with nothing in between. That's like saying there's only black and white, with no shades of gray, and we all know there are infinite variants on gray, right?
There are also myriad variations on sexuality.
Some people truly are a hundred percent straight. They've never had a single sexual thought about a person of the same gender, other than to possibly notice that so-and-so isn't hideous. The same applies to gays. And with those two extremes, that's what? Twenty percent of the population, at most? What about the other eighty percent?
I propose, as I know actual scientists have done in several studies, that the remaining eighty-plus percent of us are various degrees of bisexual. Some more attracted to people of their own gender, some to people of the other gender, and some -- maybe ten percent or so -- falling right in the middle.
Laid out this way, it seems obvious, right? The majority of humanity is technically bi. And no, I'm not saying people should leave their significant others and experiment with their bi-leanings. Let's face it, if we were going to do that, we would have already. What I AM saying is… I think I have some small understanding about why so many people of a certain political party and a certain assortment of religious sects are so sure that homosexuality is "a choice," because the law of averages states that a fairly large percentage of those people are actually bisexual and CHOOSE to live their lives in a way that is acceptable to their chosen segment of society and doesn't make things more difficult than necessary.
I also understand why these same people want to insist that nobody is BORN gay. THEY were able to make a choice and they're just regular folk, so it must follow that their children are able to make a choice as well. They fail to realize -- or refuse to admit -- that for someone whose position on the spectrum is different from their own, "choosing to be straight" is often physically impossible, or at the very least extremely uncomfortable and prone to causing severe psychological disturbance. Or perhaps they do realize these things but live with so much fear of being "evil-wrong-bad" that they don't care.
See, on the face of it, bisexuality seems like a sweet deal -- aside from the stigma attached. I mean, think about it. You're not restricted to one gender, you have a much wider dating pool than you would if you were either straight or gay, and that increases your possibility of finding the right person (according to popular myth).
The second face is… you don't fit in. Anywhere.
The straights won't have you, unless you lie (especially if you're a male, because for some reason bisexual females are more acceptable to straight people). The gays don't want you because you're just greedy and eventually you're going to decide to "play straight" to avoid all the bullshit gay people have to deal with… and there IS no bisexual community, as such. Or maybe there is, but the last time I traveled, I heard all about gay bars and straight bars, but nobody said fuck-all about bi bars, so what does that tell you?
It tells ME that as a society, we're far too oriented towards recognizing the extremes and ignoring the middle. That we're afraid of the truth. And for me, the truth is this…
We don't all need to be the same, but we do all need to accept that whatever any two (or three or more) grown adults do is their own business, not ours. We need to understand that there is no one true way. We need to embrace those who identify as bisexual, just as we need to embrace the other orientations. Human is human, people. No phobia, be it bi or homo, should be allowed! (I'm sure I'll discuss our asexual brothers and sisters at a future date, but for now, this post is long enough! Heh-heh.)

Bisexuality, Bi-phobia & Life Under Glass (in this case, a microscope)

As we all know, I'm prone to wordy titles. This clearly applies not only to my books but to my blog posts, as well. Hopefully this post will be more interesting and (possibly) entertaining than it sounds. Heh-heh.
So a week or so ago, I was pointed towards an article, located here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-browne/bisexual-not-such-a-dirty-word_b_2662176.html?utm_hp_ref=twin which the author speaks about bisexuality and some of the perceptions associated with that state. I do say "state," in the sense of bisexuality being a condition, much as heterosexuality and homosexuality can be considered states of being. Not inherently good or bad, but simply the way things are.
My position -- and please tell me that none of you thought I wouldn't have one because you should all know by now that I always have an opinion (on everything! LOL) and I'm more than happy to share -- is that bisexuality is not only real, but more pervasive than is generally admitted by society at large. I think that most people are bisexual to some extent, whether they choose to act on it or not. (This is, in my opinion, the only instance in which sexuality is a choice, and even with those who are bisexual, it depends upon where they sit on the spectrum. If you're confused, don't worry. I'm about to explain -- in possibly exhaustive detail.)
We, as a society, are so used to defining things as one thing or another. Black or white. Gay or straight. Rain or sun. Hot or cold. We LIKE defining things. We like to think things are simple and easy and we like being able to classify ourselves and others with short, facile phrases.
"I'm Straight." "I'm Gay." "I'm a woman." "I'm a man." "I'm a Christian." "I'm a Buddhist." "I'm a vegetarian." "I'd kill for a steak."
All these things are labels, and simple ones at that. Even when we combine them, as we usually do, and come up with a near-infinite assortment of labels -- "I'm a straight, female atheist who loves a good steak, horror movies, and karaoke." -- these are simple labels that don't leave much room for interpretation. We like to think that we are what we are, and we identify most strongly with others who share at least a few of the labels we assign to them and to ourselves. This is how we form groups outside of family units. We find and attach ourselves to those with whom we share common traits, aka labels.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with this, as a general rule. I mean, it wouldn't make much sense for us to surround ourselves with people with whom we have nothing in common. We like to have a sense of belonging. It's why we form relationships outside of our families, really. (Well, that and the desire to NOT turn into a big bunch of inbred freaks, but I digress.)
The problem for a lot of people with regards to bisexuality is that there's no easy label, aside from "bisexual," and as it turns out? That's apparently too vague for a lot of folks, isn't it?
What does it mean? How can someone be attracted to both men and women when men and women are so very, very different? And how dare someone think they can have it all instead of having to pick a path and stick with it? That's just… not fair! And besides, there's no such thing as bisexuality, right?
Hell, depending on who you ask, there's no such thing as homosexual, either. Gays are just straight people who've decided to buck the system and have sex with people of the same gender. They've made a CHOICE to do so, apparently just for shits and giggles (and pleasure because it's not possible for two people of the same gender to have romantic feelings for each other)… and because it's so much FUN to leave yourself open to attacks of more than just a verbal nature. And the people who believe that would know, wouldn't they? (Yes, I'm rolling my eyes right now. At that mindset, not at writing about it here. Heh.)
Bisexuality is actually a "thing." Meaning it's real. It exists. It's not just guys and girls being unable to make up their minds. It's not people deciding that they want to be "greedy." And it's definitely not something people DO because it makes their lives EASIER. If anything, it has the opposite effect.
When you're bisexual -- admittedly bisexual and "out," so to speak -- most of your straight friends and family don't get it, and neither do many of your gay friends and family. You're caught in the middle, trying to live your life on your own terms, all the while knowing that whatever you do, SOMEONE is going to have a problem with it, whether that problem is merely disappointment or something that could very easily become hate. And then there's the fear society feels for bisexuals.
Fear is the most pervasive force that drives us as humans. We fear what we don't understand. We HATE what we don't WANT to understand. The things we've grown up hearing about as evil and wrong and just plain unacceptable are the things we don't want to examine too closely, because if we really look and research and open our minds, we might find that we DO understand… and from everything we've been taught, that's JUST AS BAD as being or doing whatever it is. (This is, of course, solely my opinion and you, dear readers, are welcome to disagree. I make no claims to being right all the time. Only MOST of the time. *grins*)
The thing is, there's an entire spectrum of human sexuality. It's ridiculous to say that there's gay and there's straight, with nothing in between. That's like saying there's only black and white, with no shades of gray, and we all know there are infinite variants on gray, right?
There are also myriad variations on sexuality.
Some people truly are a hundred percent straight. They've never had a single sexual thought about a person of the same gender, other than to possibly notice that so-and-so isn't hideous. The same applies to gays. And with those two extremes, that's what? Twenty percent of the population, at most? What about the other eighty percent?
I propose, as I know actual scientists have done in several studies, that the remaining eighty-plus percent of us are various degrees of bisexual. Some more attracted to people of their own gender, some to people of the other gender, and some -- maybe ten percent or so -- falling right in the middle.
Laid out this way, it seems obvious, right? The majority of humanity is technically bi. And no, I'm not saying people should leave their significant others and experiment with their bi-leanings. Let's face it, if we were going to do that, we would have already. What I AM saying is… I think I have some small understanding about why so many people of a certain political party and a certain assortment of religious sects are so sure that homosexuality is "a choice," because the law of averages states that a fairly large percentage of those people are actually bisexual and CHOOSE to live their lives in a way that is acceptable to their chosen segment of society and doesn't make things more difficult than necessary.
I also understand why these same people want to insist that nobody is BORN gay. THEY were able to make a choice and they're just regular folk, so it must follow that their children are able to make a choice as well. They fail to realize -- or refuse to admit -- that for someone whose position on the spectrum is different from their own, "choosing to be straight" is often physically impossible, or at the very least extremely uncomfortable and prone to causing severe psychological disturbance. Or perhaps they do realize these things but live with so much fear of being "evil-wrong-bad" that they don't care.
See, on the face of it, bisexuality seems like a sweet deal -- aside from the stigma attached. I mean, think about it. You're not restricted to one gender, you have a much wider dating pool than you would if you were either straight or gay, and that increases your possibility of finding the right person (according to popular myth).
The second face is… you don't fit in. Anywhere.
The straights won't have you, unless you lie (especially if you're a male, because for some reason bisexual females are more acceptable to straight people). The gays don't want you because you're just greedy and eventually you're going to decide to "play straight" to avoid all the bullshit gay people have to deal with… and there IS no bisexual community, as such. Or maybe there is, but the last time I traveled, I heard all about gay bars and straight bars, but nobody said fuck-all about bi bars, so what does that tell you?
It tells ME that as a society, we're far too oriented towards recognizing the extremes and ignoring the middle. That we're afraid of the truth. And for me, the truth is this…
We don't all need to be the same, but we do all need to accept that whatever any two (or three or more) grown adults do is their own business, not ours. We need to understand that there is no one true way. We need to embrace those who identify as bisexual, just as we need to embrace the other orientations. Human is human, people. No phobia, be it bi or homo, should be allowed! (I'm sure I'll discuss our asexual brothers and sisters at a future date, but for now, this post is long enough! Heh-heh.)

Release Day - Something in the Way He Needs by Cardeno C.

My newest book, Something in the Way He Needs, was released today. This book is the first in my new Family series and it's a little different from what I've previously written (or at least that was my goal). I hope you'll enjoy it and that you'll share your thoughts with me.

Blurb: Police captain Asher Penaz’s staunch professionalism bleeds into his home life, down to his neatly pressed attire and spartan apartment. He enjoys being the man in charge, and leather bars satisfy his need for dominance—so his sudden and powerful attraction to the lighthearted, free-spirited Daniel Tover throws him for a loop. In his entire life, Daniel has never gotten what he needs, so he moves to the next place, the next job, the next attempt to find something worth staying for, always landing at the top of his game, but never feeling like he belongs.

The chemistry between Asher and Daniel sizzles, so Asher invites Daniel home. As both men struggle to learn themselves while getting to know each other, the lines of desire and control blur. With all that fire comes the risk of getting burned. But if Daniel and Asher can walk through the flames together, they might find what they desperately need.

ebook link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3599&cPath=776

Paperback link (first 20 are autographed): http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3600&cPath=776

Based on e-mails I've received, I know my last book sold better than I hoped because of reader recommendations. So I want to thank you for letting your friends know about my books and for taking the time to rate and review them on Amazon, Dreamspinner, All Romance ebooks, etc. You're the reason I have the privilege of starting another series. Thank you so much.

CC
www.cardenoc.com

This is the best thing I've seen all week...

Seriously, I laughed until I couldn't breathe. If you don't, go get yourself checked. You might be dead.

A handful of young men singing "Poker Face" A-capella. By the end of the song, even the dudes singing can't keep a straight face.



CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos

Happy Sunday!Love, Ellis

Recommendation and Apology - by BG Thomas

First--apologies. After knee replacement surgery and two months of intense recovery, I am back to work. I work a rough job and I get home and collapse. And I am still on partial duty! So my posts went away for a few weeks. I intend to be more on the ball, but could still slip up a week or two. Hope you will forgive me.

Next: After slamming a movie a few weeks ago, I thought I should offer up a good one!

I had a rough night recently and couldn't sleep and got up way late (early) and watched this movie and loved it! I had wanted to see it, but with the following blurb, I had sorta ignored it...

"A fr...esh face comes to Hollywood to act in movies but only the gay porn studios are eager to provide him with work."

It just sounded like another low-budget gay movie with gratuitous nudity. BOY was I WRONG!

What a charming movie with little nudity--you don't even see the star in the all together and he has done nude spreads--is he a porn star?

It has a fun cast and most perform well. It includes Matthew Ludwinski (the star who is great in this movie--sweet and charming and a good actor!), Allison Lane (as the best friend who turns in an acceptable performance), Michael Medico (love interest and I loved him! I will look for him again!), Casper Andreas (who wrote and directed, did a GREAT job in those roles but sadly was weak in the acting--he is so good in other things--maybe he shouldn't direct and act?), John Schile, Bruce Vilanch (doesn't he direct gay porn--he was very fun), Judy Tenuta (disappointing performance), Jesse Archer and the terrific comedian Alec Mapa in a cameo appearance!

After being so furious over the movie "Dream Boy" several days ago with its Brokeback-philosophy on making movies (you can make a gay movie as long as there is tragedy in said movie), I dearly loved "Going Down in La-La Land." Check it out!  Please!

A real feel good movie and I've now started showing it to friends and they are recommending it as well.  I hope you feel the same way!

And now I must enter Kansas City's SNOWPOCALYPSE!!! Nine to twelve inches.  Hope I make it to work!
 Peace and love,BG