Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 38
August 8, 2017
eye candy for vacation!
We'll be back next week!
Julia, BA, Sean and Kiernan
August 7, 2017
Gay Romance Giveaway August 7-12, 2017
Happy Monday! We all love reading and free books are even better! To help readers discover new authors, ten gay romance authors have come together to host a giveaway. Ten authors, ten books. You can pick which books you want (all ten, just one, or somewhere in between), by clicking on the link below that book and signing up for that author's newsletter. That's it! Easy peasy.
Quiet but lonely Jared has to decide how much of himself he's willing to risk to keep party-boy Lucas.
Can this alpha and this omega overcome their differences to find their way to true love?
Drew can't say no, but he started his dog walking business to get away from corporate types like Kyle Bradley.
The tragic story of what happens when love can't conquer all
The trajectory of a budding relationship between two men on a flight crew is blown off-course over the Bermuda Triangle
The past has a way of coming back to bite you
An swimmer struggles to balance his relationship and the media circus of the Olympics.
Two tales set on the idyllic Isle of Wight, where the path to love isn’t always smooth….
Can a grumpy chef find love with a dirty-talking rabbi he's had a crush on for years?
Adam and Tanner Murray have a great relationship, one built on love and trust, but their quiet farm life gets turned upside down when Isaac comes to town.
Have a great week and happy reading!
CC
www.cardenoc.com
August 5, 2017
Does Quantity Matter More Than Quality These Days? By S.C. Wynne
Good morning!
If you're one of the hundreds or thousands of people who've taken any of the writing seminars out there, they all pretty much stress the same thing: WRITE FAST!
It seems as if authors are taking the advice to heart, because many of us publish books at a rate we would have found insane simply a few years ago. Writing so quickly brings up many issues that can ultimately hurt the authors. It's easier to burn out when you have to pump books out every month. And how can quality not suffer? Everyone talks about writing faster, but no one ever talks about writing quality!
I see some authors, who shall remain nameless, who have three or more pen names and each pen name produces TWO BOOKS A MONTH! I suspect these author must use ghost writers, because frankly, even if you could write that fast, there simply aren't enough hours in the day. Even if you write crap, it would be impossible to pump out a minimum of six 100,000 word books in one month.
I still believe that quality is more important than quantity if you want to actually build a life long career as an author. Yes, some people are scamming the system and getting to the top of the gay lists by pumping out mediocre books. But there is always this sense of desperation and dissatisfaction in all of their posts. This tells me they aren't happy or really making the money they hoped they would.
And I think the readers begin to catch on that these books are simply thrown out with no real care taken, because when some of these authors brag about their numbers by posting screen shots of their Book Report sales, the data shows a sharp decline in their sales for all the following books. Our sales should always be growing, not dwindling with each new book. You can't build a long term career on declining sales.
So, while I may need to write faster than when I first started, I will always focus on quality. Even if I dabble in very different sub-genres, I strive for quality. When I look back over my back list, it's important to me that I know I put out the best work for my readers that I could manage at the time.
S.C.
www.sc-wynne.com
If you're one of the hundreds or thousands of people who've taken any of the writing seminars out there, they all pretty much stress the same thing: WRITE FAST!
It seems as if authors are taking the advice to heart, because many of us publish books at a rate we would have found insane simply a few years ago. Writing so quickly brings up many issues that can ultimately hurt the authors. It's easier to burn out when you have to pump books out every month. And how can quality not suffer? Everyone talks about writing faster, but no one ever talks about writing quality!
I see some authors, who shall remain nameless, who have three or more pen names and each pen name produces TWO BOOKS A MONTH! I suspect these author must use ghost writers, because frankly, even if you could write that fast, there simply aren't enough hours in the day. Even if you write crap, it would be impossible to pump out a minimum of six 100,000 word books in one month.
I still believe that quality is more important than quantity if you want to actually build a life long career as an author. Yes, some people are scamming the system and getting to the top of the gay lists by pumping out mediocre books. But there is always this sense of desperation and dissatisfaction in all of their posts. This tells me they aren't happy or really making the money they hoped they would.
And I think the readers begin to catch on that these books are simply thrown out with no real care taken, because when some of these authors brag about their numbers by posting screen shots of their Book Report sales, the data shows a sharp decline in their sales for all the following books. Our sales should always be growing, not dwindling with each new book. You can't build a long term career on declining sales.
So, while I may need to write faster than when I first started, I will always focus on quality. Even if I dabble in very different sub-genres, I strive for quality. When I look back over my back list, it's important to me that I know I put out the best work for my readers that I could manage at the time.
S.C.
www.sc-wynne.com
August 3, 2017
Anniversary Month by Felice Stevens
August is my publishing anniversary month. On August 14th, 2014 my first book, Rescued was published. I had NO idea what to expect. I was hoping some people would read it, like it and of course, give me good reviews.
August 2, 2017
Ask Andrew - My Story
Dear Andrew
Do you ever use Dominic's personality or your love story in any of your books? By the way, I'm sure your fans would like to know your love story. I know I would. You two are so sweet. I can feel the love coming through the computer.
I love your books; I have a lot.Frances
Dear Frances
I have used bits and pieces of how Dominic and I met in some of my stories. He and I were fixed up at a dinner party by some friends. The entire purpose was to try to get us together because they thought we'd make a good couple. The funny thing is that it worked. We were their only success and they tried setting up everyone for years. (They were like our old biddy uncles)
After the infamous party, we started seeing each other and talking on the phone. I think we knew things were on the right track when we talked for two hours about next to northing. The relationship between Dominic and I grew over time. There was no grand dramatic story that pulled us together, We are just two people who met each other. But he was there for me during a downsizing job scare and I was there when his mother passed away.
Dominic and I built a life together, we love and fight sometimes. We look after each other and he'd the first person I want to see in the morning and the last person I see at night. That makes me happy and keeps my heart alive and kicking.
Hugs and loads of loveAndrew
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
Do you ever use Dominic's personality or your love story in any of your books? By the way, I'm sure your fans would like to know your love story. I know I would. You two are so sweet. I can feel the love coming through the computer.
I love your books; I have a lot.Frances
Dear Frances
I have used bits and pieces of how Dominic and I met in some of my stories. He and I were fixed up at a dinner party by some friends. The entire purpose was to try to get us together because they thought we'd make a good couple. The funny thing is that it worked. We were their only success and they tried setting up everyone for years. (They were like our old biddy uncles)
After the infamous party, we started seeing each other and talking on the phone. I think we knew things were on the right track when we talked for two hours about next to northing. The relationship between Dominic and I grew over time. There was no grand dramatic story that pulled us together, We are just two people who met each other. But he was there for me during a downsizing job scare and I was there when his mother passed away.
Dominic and I built a life together, we love and fight sometimes. We look after each other and he'd the first person I want to see in the morning and the last person I see at night. That makes me happy and keeps my heart alive and kicking.
Hugs and loads of loveAndrew
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
August 1, 2017
August is National Romance Awareness Month - top 10 from BA, Julia, Sean and Kiernan
Hey y'all! It's National Romance Awareness month! Eeee. So this week I asked for top 10 romances.
some of us took that to mean books, and some to mean romances through history, LOL
Sean Michael
As always, I'm bad at top ten lists because there's always stuff that gets left out. Still, here's my top ten in no particular order:
A Town Named Alice by Nevil Shute - I fell in love with Australia because of this book
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare
Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien (it is too a love story, just as Samwise Gamgee)
The Thorn Birds Colleen McCullough
The Persian Boy by Mary Renault
Wolfmanny by Julia Talbot
Rain and Whiskey by BA Tortuga
The Bigger They Come by Ari McKay
Seti's Heart by Kiernan Kelly
BA Tortuga
The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss
Captive Bride by Johanna Lindsey
The entire Santinis Series by Melissa Schroeder
Desperate Tigress by Jade Lee
The Promises series by AE Via
Challenge the Darkness by Dirk Greyson
The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks
Love's Changes by LaQuette
Wolf Signs by Vivian Arend
Keepers of the Cave by Gerri Hill
Julia Talbot
Mr Perfect by Linda Howard
Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell
Rough Canvas by Joey W Hill
The whole Brothers in Arms series by Samantha Kane
Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey
Night Magic by Karen Robards
Till Dawn Tames the Night by Megan McKinney
Ravished by Amanda Quick
Tempting Fortune by Jo Beverly
Anything by my fellow Cafe Risque bloggers!
Kiernan Kelly- who thought outside the box
I’m combining my favorite non-fiction and fictional characters here.
July 31, 2017
One-n-Ten Fundraiser by Cardeno C.
Happy Monday!
During the holiday season, our wonderful reading community came together to "adopt" youth from One-n-Ten, an LGBT youth organization. We managed to fill their entire wish list and gave the youth an amazing holiday.
One-n-Ten recently suffered an arson that destroyed their youth center. They're in a new location and still serving the youth but they need help. One thing they need is appliances for the youth center and I'm hoping our reading community can come together again to help meet this need.
This is a link specifically set up to raise money for their appliances. If you can give or share the link, we'd be grateful.
Have a terrific week.
CCwww.cardenoc.com
During the holiday season, our wonderful reading community came together to "adopt" youth from One-n-Ten, an LGBT youth organization. We managed to fill their entire wish list and gave the youth an amazing holiday.
One-n-Ten recently suffered an arson that destroyed their youth center. They're in a new location and still serving the youth but they need help. One thing they need is appliances for the youth center and I'm hoping our reading community can come together again to help meet this need.
This is a link specifically set up to raise money for their appliances. If you can give or share the link, we'd be grateful.
Have a terrific week.
CCwww.cardenoc.com
July 28, 2017
Weird Times by SC Wynne
I'm sure I'm not the only person who watched in terror as the votes were counted on the healthcare bill. What a long night and a stressful evening. I planned on going to bed early but I was way too hooked on what would happen. Would millions of Americans lose our healthcare? It was truly a gut wrenching night.
Thankfully we squeaked a victory. Not that I don't live in fear it might come back around again.
I was struck by how some people seemed almost in tears that they hadn't ripped healthcare from people. As one of those people I was relieved.
All we can do is keep fighting. And fight we will.
SC
www.sc-wynne.com
Thankfully we squeaked a victory. Not that I don't live in fear it might come back around again.
I was struck by how some people seemed almost in tears that they hadn't ripped healthcare from people. As one of those people I was relieved.
All we can do is keep fighting. And fight we will.
SC
www.sc-wynne.com
July 25, 2017
July 24, 2017
Contemporary Romance Week at the TBR Pile by Cardeno C.
Happy Monday! I'm taking part in Contemporary Romance Week at the TBR Pile and today they're sharing an excerpt from Smitty's Sheriff. Hop over there if you want to read it and take the chance to enter their giveaways - a book bundle or a gift card!
Have a terrific week!
CC
www.cardenoc.com
Have a terrific week!
CC
www.cardenoc.com
