Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 141
July 4, 2012
Welcome to Spicy Wednesday at Café Risque!Happy 4tho...
Welcome to Spicy Wednesday at
Café Risque!
Happy 4thof July! Scotty Cade here welcoming you to my first Spicy Wednesday’s blog posting where week after week you’ll get to see another side of your favorite authors and some of mine too. And maybe even a few of the people in the genre, like reviewers and publishers.I’m honored to have my very own BFF, Sjd Peterson, aka Jo Peterson as my first guests. Please help me welcome Jo to Café Risque.
Scotty: Good Morning Sunshine! Sorry to get you up so early this morning, I know how you need your beauty rest.
Jo: Scotty, do not make me beat you!! You know poking fun at me before I’ve had my morning coffee is like poking a growly bear. I will bite and not in a nice way. Oh and Good Morning!
Scotty: Poor poor Jo, always cranky in the morning. Well at least you're consistent.So, let’s get right to it. I know everyone is as excited as I am to finally be getting Conner’s Courage, the next story in the Whispering Pines series. Of course I know the answer to this, but I really want our readers to know how the entire series came about. Tell us how it started out as one really really really long book, which became two and then an entire series.
Jo: I never planned on the Whispering Pines ever being a series. I started out writing Lorcan’s book with plans that it would be one stand-alone book about Lorcan and Quinn’s path to happiness. When I got to 180k and still hadn’t finished their story, I knew I’d have to split it up and then the secondary characters became such a huge part of the story I had to keep going. Ty was never meant to be more than a quickie romp in an alley for Quinn in Lorcan’s book and an outlet for Quinn’s anger. The first three books in this series really should be read in order and viewed as a continuous journey for Lorcan and Quinn. Scotty: Is it true that Conner’s Courage takes us back to 1974 when Conner first came out?
Jo: Actually, Conner came out in 1961 to his mother when he was 17 and kicked out of his home. Conner is a spitfire and not much scares him. But, yes the book takes us back to 1974 when he and John first met.
Scotty: Was it hard to take yourself back thirty-eight years and write about a time when you were just an infant? No really, do you even remember 1974?
Jo: And no I do not remember 1974. I was a wee babe but it was awesome going back in time. I had to research the clothing, songs, and attitudes. I love research! You know it’s funny, I honestly thought that the attitudes in 1974 would have been more relaxed and in some areas it was. I always thought of the late 60’s and early 70’s as a time of love, peace, flower for your picnic era. However, free love and peace didn’t apply to gay men in small southern towns. Conner definitely had to have courage to be out and proud in Pegasus Oklahoma in 1974.
Scotty: Tell us about some of the challenges Conner faced trying to live his life and be true to himself in a small town named Pegasus in Oklahoma.
Jo: Conner has had to overcome so much. He is the oldest of seven children, in a home where alcohol and abuse was rampant. He was kicked out at 17 when he came out, since child abuse was apparently acceptable, but being gay wasn’t. Before settling down on the Whispering Pines Ranch, he was a wanderer. Moving from one town to the next, doing odd jobs, usually a cook in greasy diners. He’s faced hate, bigotry, prejudice, injustice, stupidity and never once did he allow it to make him bitter. Conner had never been ashamed of who and what he was, well that is until he met John Price.Scotty: Those of us who’ve read the series, twice for me, I’m just sayin, know that Conner and John have been a great couple for so long, was there ever a time when you thought they might not make it?
Jo: You know what? This love story should never have been, which makes it all the more sweet to be told and that it has lasted for 37 years. How about I just share with your readers the scene where John and Conner met and it says it all….
Conner’s skin prickled with anger at the hint of accusation in the man’s voice. Before giving it any real thought, the disgust at the perfect man ruining his fantasy by opening his fool mouth fueled his movements, Conner stepped up close to the big man. Looking up into the dark eyes, briefly registering that they were actually midnight blue rather than black or dark brown, Conner scowled. “Pardon me….” He paused, waiting for the big oaf to get a hint.“John,” he rumbled.Well at least you ain’t a complete dumb ass hick. “Okay, John,” Conner repeated, an unfriendly smile on his face. “Let me set you straight on one thing. My name is Conner, and this is mykitchen until further notice. And, in my kitchen, I will dance whenever and however I want. I’ll do a goddamn twinkle toes ballet if the mood strikes me. Got it?” He stabbed a finger into John’s chest. “Now get the fuck out of my kitchen and don’t come back until I call the hands and your dumb ass in for dinner.”With that, Conner spun on his heels and moved back to the stove. “One other thing,” he added, looking back over his shoulder to stare at a stunned John. “Next time you come into my kitchen you better do so with respect, or you’ll be eating out with the dogs. Now shoo! I’ve got better things to do than teach your dumb ass some manners.”Conner turned, snatched the spoon from the counter, and stirred angrily at his chili. Dumb fucking country bumpkin telling me how I should dance. As if. Hot chili splashed out of the pot from his rigorous movements, landing on the back of his hand. “Dammit,” Conner yelped, dropping the spoon and licking the sauce from his burning flesh. “Just… augh…. Dammit!”
Scotty: All right, I’ve been very nice so far, but now I want some dirt on Conner and maybe even a little on John. 1974 was a very free time so I’m sure you must have something juicy to tell us. If you can’t find dirt on Conner or John, tell us a little of your own dirt. Between you and me, I know you have a story there. JJo: I kind of answered the free time question about John and Conner above. Now as far as stories about me and dirt???? Well…. I plead the 5th on the grounds that I may incriminate myself.
Scotty: Come on Jo, this is spicy Wednesday, (whine)
Fine, next question, okay, so we have Lorcan’s Desires, Quinn’s Need, Ty’s Obsession and now Conner’s Courage. What’s next in the series?
Jo: The next book is Jess’s Journey, which will be released October 8th. This book, while as you know, I grumbled and groaned. Sent you constant emails about how much I hated it, but in the end, Jess’s Journey ended up being an amazing story but also a bittersweet one. Jess’s book will bring to an end the Journey of Lorcan, Quinn, Ty, Blake as well as John and Conner. It is the last in the series. ~sigh~
Scotty: I’m peeing down both legs, I’m so excited for people to find out how Jess comes out of his accident and whether he walks again, but most importantly does he find Mr. right? Can you give my readers a hint?
Jo: Mr. Right is standing right in front of him, only Jess is to angry, bitter and self-absorbed to see it. I think the most difficult part about this story, was taking a character I and so many people love and turning him into, well…. kind of a bastard. Yet, in his defense, constant pain, mangled legs and being scared shitless, can sure change a man. As far as hints beyond that? Sorry Scotty, my lips are sealed as to how it will end. And you zip your lips to Mister, since you know how it ends!
Well folks, we’re just about out of time, there’s a beach chair with my name on it and I don’t care how much I love my BFF, I need some sun to get ready for GayRomLit. Please help me thank Jo Peterson for spicing up our 4th of July Wednesday morning.
First thanks for allowing me to be the first Spicy Wednesday guest. Secondly, Oh hell no you don’t!!! I’m coming with you, so you better have an extra beach chair with my name on it and I want one of those cute little umbrella’s in my fruity drink too!! Hmmm you think we can get Kell to be our pool boy? He’d look pretty hot in nothing but shorts and fanning us with one of those big leaf fans!!
Scotty: Hell yeah, now I don’t have to carry that damn cyclonic fan all the way to the beach.
Okay guys, that’s it; my first Spicy Wednesday blog posting. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Jo Peterson and will tune in next week as I chat with CC Cardeno.
Until next week, Scotty Cade signing Out and Proud!
July 3, 2012
PENIS!
Now that I have your attention...
LOL. What else would an m/m author write about in her first entry for this shiny, sparkly, new blog but her thoughts on the organ that makes it all possible?
Ah, the penis.
It’s the stuff of legend, celebrated in literature, film, and advertisements for size-enhancement supplements (whose claims should not be believed, mostly because they never mention exactly which body part will be “enhanced” by their little miracle pill. For all you know, you may end up with a gigantic ear or big, floppy feet).
Alas, fame comes at a cost. For every civilization that ever reverently sculpted the penis out of rock, mud, wood, or latex to gain the fickle favor of the fertility gods (or at least get off a good one), there is a less-than-flattering depiction of the dick. This is true now more than ever. Personally, I blame Photoshop. Everybody knows how tempting it is to put googly eyes on a penis, and Photoshop just makes it too damn easy.
I can’t fully put the blame on computers and technology, though. People have been poking (ha! I said “poke”) fun at cocks for as long as humans have had funny bones. I don’t know what it is about the penis that makes it such an easy target. Maybe it’s the shape. You’d think the Powers That Be would’ve made such an important body part look a bit more intimidating and respectable -- like a sword, maybe, or the hood ornament of a Rolls Royce. But no, the venerable penis bears an uncanny resemblance to the fungus I have to rake off the lawn after a hard rain.
Or maybe it’s the fact that it spits up when it’s happy. I mean, really...who thought that was a good idea? “Okay, let’s make it get hard when the guy gets excited and then...bam! Let it upchuck a snot-like substance.”
Ooh, sexy.
I don’t know the answer. I just know that cocks rarely get the respect they deserve anymore. I remember seeing a movie at the drive-in years and years ago (yes, I believe it was in Bedrock) called Flesh Gordon. Not Flash...Flesh. It starred a gigantic Claymation cock called the “Penisaurus Monster.” I kid you not. Rent it. Watch it. Be amazed by the one-eyed awesomeness of the towering stop-motion dick.
Computer and motion picture industries aren’t the only ones to blame. The written word is no exception. Writers make fun of cocks all the time. You’d think authors, especially those who write erotic romance, would be more respectful in their depictions of the cock considering the dick’s import to the author’s royalty checks. And yet weeping cocks abound in romantic fiction, right alongside greased love poles and one-eyed trouser trout.
Here are a few more of my favorite euphemisms that never fail to make me chuckle:
“His member.” I like this one. I admit I’ve used it myself even though it always makes me wonder exactly what organization the cock is a member of, and what the membership requirements are. Can anyone join? Is it like a social network? Do they have mixers? I always picture a country club in my mind, where cocks wear plaid pants and ride around in golf carts, playing with their little balls.
“Manhood” makes me think of some sort of Lord of the Flies ritual; grungy boys in loincloths jabbing each other with sharp sticks. Or a mechanic saying, “Let’s take a look under the hood. Ah, see...here’s your problem. You just need a little lube job.”
“Arousal.” Yes, I’ve used this one, too, and always wondered whether his dick is the only part of him aroused. It sounds so...detached. Is the rest of his body not in the same room as his cock? Is he knitting doilies and watching Dancing with the Starswhile his cock gets all aroused and fucks somebody into the mattress?
“Organ.” I’m guilty of using this one, too, but never do without wondering whether it can play In a Gadda Da Vida.
Ah., the penis. Misunderstood, misused, abused, and yet worshiped the world over. What would we ever do without you?
LOL. What else would an m/m author write about in her first entry for this shiny, sparkly, new blog but her thoughts on the organ that makes it all possible?
Ah, the penis.
It’s the stuff of legend, celebrated in literature, film, and advertisements for size-enhancement supplements (whose claims should not be believed, mostly because they never mention exactly which body part will be “enhanced” by their little miracle pill. For all you know, you may end up with a gigantic ear or big, floppy feet).
Alas, fame comes at a cost. For every civilization that ever reverently sculpted the penis out of rock, mud, wood, or latex to gain the fickle favor of the fertility gods (or at least get off a good one), there is a less-than-flattering depiction of the dick. This is true now more than ever. Personally, I blame Photoshop. Everybody knows how tempting it is to put googly eyes on a penis, and Photoshop just makes it too damn easy.
I can’t fully put the blame on computers and technology, though. People have been poking (ha! I said “poke”) fun at cocks for as long as humans have had funny bones. I don’t know what it is about the penis that makes it such an easy target. Maybe it’s the shape. You’d think the Powers That Be would’ve made such an important body part look a bit more intimidating and respectable -- like a sword, maybe, or the hood ornament of a Rolls Royce. But no, the venerable penis bears an uncanny resemblance to the fungus I have to rake off the lawn after a hard rain.
Or maybe it’s the fact that it spits up when it’s happy. I mean, really...who thought that was a good idea? “Okay, let’s make it get hard when the guy gets excited and then...bam! Let it upchuck a snot-like substance.”
Ooh, sexy.
I don’t know the answer. I just know that cocks rarely get the respect they deserve anymore. I remember seeing a movie at the drive-in years and years ago (yes, I believe it was in Bedrock) called Flesh Gordon. Not Flash...Flesh. It starred a gigantic Claymation cock called the “Penisaurus Monster.” I kid you not. Rent it. Watch it. Be amazed by the one-eyed awesomeness of the towering stop-motion dick.
Computer and motion picture industries aren’t the only ones to blame. The written word is no exception. Writers make fun of cocks all the time. You’d think authors, especially those who write erotic romance, would be more respectful in their depictions of the cock considering the dick’s import to the author’s royalty checks. And yet weeping cocks abound in romantic fiction, right alongside greased love poles and one-eyed trouser trout.
Here are a few more of my favorite euphemisms that never fail to make me chuckle:
“His member.” I like this one. I admit I’ve used it myself even though it always makes me wonder exactly what organization the cock is a member of, and what the membership requirements are. Can anyone join? Is it like a social network? Do they have mixers? I always picture a country club in my mind, where cocks wear plaid pants and ride around in golf carts, playing with their little balls.
“Manhood” makes me think of some sort of Lord of the Flies ritual; grungy boys in loincloths jabbing each other with sharp sticks. Or a mechanic saying, “Let’s take a look under the hood. Ah, see...here’s your problem. You just need a little lube job.”
“Arousal.” Yes, I’ve used this one, too, and always wondered whether his dick is the only part of him aroused. It sounds so...detached. Is the rest of his body not in the same room as his cock? Is he knitting doilies and watching Dancing with the Starswhile his cock gets all aroused and fucks somebody into the mattress?
“Organ.” I’m guilty of using this one, too, but never do without wondering whether it can play In a Gadda Da Vida.
Ah., the penis. Misunderstood, misused, abused, and yet worshiped the world over. What would we ever do without you?
July 2, 2012
Brookie Recipe
My writing often has been described as sweet (sometimes as a compliment and sometimes, not so much). As a nod to that “sweet” writing style, I’m going to share a sweet recipe for my inaugural blog post.
BROOKIE RECIPE
Ingredients : Choose one option from the brownie ingredients, one option from the cookie ingredients, and one option from the candy ingredients.· Brownie: o Option 1: Box brownie mix o Option 2: § 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted and cooled§ 2 cups sugar§ 6 eggs§ 1 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)§ 2 tsp baking powder§ 2 tsp vanilla· Cookie:o Option 1: Store bought cookie dougho Option 2: § ½ cup granulated sugar§ ½ cup packed brown sugar§ 2/3 cup butter, softened§ 1 egg§ 1 ½ cup flour§ ½ tsp baking soda§ ½ tsp salt§ 6 ounces (1 bag) semisweet chocolate chips· Candy:Choose your favorite candy bar and buy enough to have a piece fill each cup in your muffin tin. I like to use peanut butter cups (one fits perfectly in each muffin cup). Snickers and Twix (broken in half) are also good.
1. Preheat oven to 350.2. Line muffin cups with liners or spray the heck out of them with nonstick cooking spray.3. Make brownie batter.o Option 1: Follow box recipe.o Option 2: In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift together cocoa, flour, and baking powder. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients.4. Make cookie batter.o Option 1: It’s already done!o Option 2: In a large bowl, mix both sugars, butter, and egg. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. 5. Layer. Press a thin layer of cookie dough into the bottom of the muffin cups. Place your chosen candy on top of the batter. Pour brownie mix into the muffin cups (leave room at the top for expansion).6. Bake for 20 – 24 minutes (check at lower end of time and see whether brownies are still wet).7. Let cool and then mmmmm! Sweet, delicious, brookie goodness.
p.s. Recently, I did an interview with Mrs. Condit Reads Books (http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.php/?p=5519). In that interview, I mentioned a recipe for a chocolate chip cookie and brownie combo-job and promised to share it on this blog. Well, let nobody say I don’t keep my promises!
July 1, 2012
Spicy Wednesday's
Hey Everyone,
Before I get started I wanted to thank my fellow authors for allowing me to be a part of this exciting new blog and I would be totally remised in my social duties if I didn't thank CC Cardeno and Kelly Shorten for their incredible efforts on putting this all together.
With that said, I hope you'll enjoy our daily posts. I'll be your hosts on Wednesdays and I'm planning an entire line-up of your favorite authors for some down and dirty, truth or dare interviews, so I hope you'll join me starting this Wednesday, the 4th of July as I chat with my dear friend and Sjd Peterson, author of the very popular Whispering Pines Series and many many more incredible books. Sjd and I are currently collaborating on a new series to be released later in the year, but she'll be talking about her latest novel of the Whispering Pines series, Conner's Courage.
Hey Everyone,Scotty Cade here! Before I get started I wan...
Hey Everyone,
Scotty Cade here! Before I get started I wanted to thank my fellow authors for allowing me to be a part of this exciting new blog and I would be totally remised in my social duties if I didn't thank CC Cardeno and Kelly Shorten for their incredible efforts on putting this all together.
With that said, I hope you'll enjoy our daily posts. I'll be your hosts on Wednesdays and I'm planning an entire line-up of your favorite authors for some down and dirty, truth or dare interviews, so I hope you'll join me starting this Wednesday, the 4th of July as I chat with my dear friend Sjd Peterson, author of the very popular Whispering Pines Series and many more incredible books. Sjd and I are currently collaborating on a new series to be released later in the year, but on Wednesday she'll be talking about her latest and last novel of the series, Conner's Courage.
Hopefully you’ll join us and throw some questions her way!
See you on Wednesday!Scotty
Hey Everyone,Before I get started I wanted to thank my fe...
Hey Everyone,
Before I get started I wanted to thank my fellow authors for allowing me to be a part of this exciting new blog and I would be totally remised in my social duties if I didn't thank CC Cardeno and Kelly Shorten for their incredible efforts on putting this all together.
With that said, I hope you'll enjoy our daily posts. I'll be your hosts on Wednesdays and I'm planning an entire line-up of your favorite authors for some down and dirty, truth or dare interviews, so I hope you'll join me starting this Wednesday, the 4th of July as I chat with my dear friend and Sjd Peterson, author of the very popular Whispering Pines Series and many many more incredible books. Sjd and I are currently collaborating on a new series to be released later in the year, but she'll be talking about her latest and last novel of the Whispering Pines series, Conner's Courage.
*bustles in, looks around, is enchanted by all the new sh...
*bustles in, looks around, is enchanted by all the new shininess*
Wow, this place looks great! Hi everyone, and welcome to our shared blog. I can't wait to get started! Thanks especially to C.C. and Kelly for putting it all together for us!
Wow, this place looks great! Hi everyone, and welcome to our shared blog. I can't wait to get started! Thanks especially to C.C. and Kelly for putting it all together for us!
Introduction to Blog
Welcome to Café Risqué!
This blog is a joint effort among T.C. Blue, Cardeno C., Scotty Cade, Kiernan Kelly, and D.W. Marchwell - five gay romance writers who don’t have enough time to blog on their own. Or maybe we just don’t have enough to say (but not having enough time sounds better).
Our goal is to have a little something posted by each one of us every week. It may be information on a new release, brilliantly insightful words about something political (yeah, that one’s a stretch goal), a funny picture, a recipe, or we may wax poetic about something we’ve recently read.
As we learn our way around this blogging thing, we’re open to your suggestions and opinions. We hope to create a place you’ll enjoy stopping by every day. So, with no further ado, let’s blog!
