Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 5
January 8, 2021
An author’s belly-crawl through the treacherous obstacle course that is social media. (SOMETHING NEW FROM MIA KERICK)
Featuring Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb”
I can almost see it That dream I'm dreaming But, there's a voice inside my head saying You'll never reach it
How do they do it? You know, those genius authors who seem to intrinsically grasp how to do it all—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Book Bub, Goodreads, MeWe, Wattpad… and more. To me, they seem glib, as if they have all the winning cards tucked up their shirtsleeves, and my sweaty palms are clinging to the world’s worst poker hand. This could be my envy talking...
Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking
But I, I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high
"Mia, you're never gonna be able to grasp the intricacies involved in applying the perfect hashtag." Yeah, the little voice inside my head instructs me sternly to give it up. “You’ll NEVER ‘get’ social media—all you’ll ‘get’ is frustrated.”
There's always gonna be another mountain I'm always gonna wanna make it move Always gonna be an uphill battle Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose Ain't about how fast I get there Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb
Take my old-but-still-new-to-me Instagram account--it’s an impossible dream that I’ll ever conquer it. After all, Instagram is on my phone… and all of my files are on my computer. How on earth do I get my promos and reviews and links from one to the other? My daughters (thank you, Demi, I owe you one, and Sisi, I appreciate your psychic password-guessing abilities) took pity on me and taught me how to post on Instagram. And now, Instagram is more than merely a tool to virtually stalk Sam Heughan (you know, hot Jamie from Outlander). I can use Instagram to promote and make friends… and I have…for several days now.
The struggles I'm facing The chances I'm taking Sometimes might knock me down, but No, I'm not breaking I may not know it But these are the moments, that I'm gonna remember most, yeah Just gotta keep going
My new publisher uses MeWe for their author chat. Talk about another mountain…two hours in and all I managed to do was send my brand spanking new publisher four private messages. “Hi everybody! I’m Mia Kerick, and I’m so happy to join you here!” Yeah—four times. (Wiping the perspiration of embarrassment from my forehead.)
And I, I gotta be strong Just keep pushing on, 'cause There's always gonna be another mountain I'm always gonna wanna make it move Always gonna be an uphill battle Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose Ain't about how fast I get there Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb
Yeah
And just when I’m ready to quit (who needs to write romance novels, anyway?) a friendly voice, or more accurately a private message from a concerned author on Facebook, reaches out to ask if I’m doing okay with my new challenges in social media. “No, I’m not!!! I need help…Aaaahhh!!” And she offers the help I need, which I gladly accept. In fact, I grab her worse of encouragement and run. (Thank you, Susan Mac Nicol, You’re my social media hero.)
There's always gonna be another mountain I'm always gonna wanna make it move Always gonna be an uphill battle Sometimes you're gonna have to lose Ain't about how fast I get there Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb
Yeah, yeah
It’s not pretty, but I’m down on my belly in the mud, army-crawling through the obstacles. In other words, I’m “doing” Instagram. I have a recommendation to the perfect master-Goodreads-in-one-hour class. BookBub is next. Pray for me.
Keep on moving, keep climbing Keep the faith, baby It's all about, it's all about the climb Keep your faith, keep your faith Whoa
Miley Cyrus is right—I just have to keep the faith. I’m not gonna lie: I’ve shifted into passive-aggressive "they can’t make me do this!” mode…Twice since Tuesday, to be specific, and it’s only Wednesday, as I write this.
I’ll keep on trying. I’ll give it my best shot.
Back to the belly-crawl.
<3 Mia Kerick
December 8, 2020
#TuesdayTeaserMy teaser this week is from Scintilla, an u...
#TuesdayTeaser
My teaser this week is from Scintilla, an urban fantasy/paranormal romance thriller.
Brandon is a magical human with the ability to control electricity. Raul is a werewolf. Bissett is the leader of the human trafficking ring they're trying to infiltrate and bring down.
Bisset sighed and Brandon heard him move away, returning a few minutes later. A file folder was dropped onto the desk in front of Brandon. Bisset leaned over Brandon’s shoulder, close enough Brandon felt the heat from his body. Brandon’s shiver was almost impossible to suppress. Bisset flipped the folder open and spread three photos out across the desk beside the keyboard.
“What can you find on these kids?”
Bisset’s breath smelled of garlic and cheese.
Raul stretched his arms in front of him, clasped his fingers together and cracked his knuckles.
“Move,” he growled.
Brandon glanced far enough to the side to see Raul push Bisset away. Raul situated himself behind Brandon and said roughly, “Okay, Sparky, get to work.”
Brandon shoved the keyboard away, dragged the computer tower closer and scooted the chair as close to the desk as possible before he put one finger over a USB port and another against the modem port. Raul put his fingers in position around Brandon’s neck and waited while Brandon extended his electrical field outward. The gasp and nervous snicker from their audience told Brandon they’d seen the blue haze begin to pulsate between Brandon and Raul.
He let his shoulders slump and body relax into Raul’s connection with his electric field. As long as he concentrated on his task and not how his body reacted to Raul’s phantom touch, they’d be safe… he hoped. He gave himself a mental shake and studied the photographs in front of him.
November 26, 2020
Black Friday sale!
Get all four books for only $3.99 each. Sale ends Sunday.
Boggslake, Ohio, might look like a normal city on the surface, but an unseen war is being fought away from the eyes of most of the population. From their stronghold, Boggs's Castle, an eclectic team of vampires, werewolves, and other supernaturals fight to keep humanity safe from the things that go bump in the night. More than a team, these men grow into a family, and they’ll need to rely on each other’s strength, because their true enemy is deadlier than they could’ve ever imagined.
Purchase on Amazon
November 3, 2020
A Barlow Lens is only $1.99!
Get A Barlow Lens for only $1.99 until November 10! Only on Amazon.
Digging into history can turn deadly.
Wyatt Harig and his partner Vladimir ‘Val’ Mihalic are busy planning their wedding when Wyatt’s old friend asks him to investigate the mysterious death of her uncle, Tom Manning, in a fire back in 1927. Back then men were silent, tough, and expected to marry nice girls.
Working with Val, Wyatt digs up clues uncovering the truth behind the tragedy. When Tom met Philip in a speakeasy outside Cleveland, Ohio the spark between them was instantaneous. They fell hard and fast for each other. However, with Philip working as a beat cop and Tom as a schoolteacher, their relationship being discovered meant the end of everything.
As the story of Tom and Philip slowly reveals itself, and Wyatt and Val realize nothing is as simple as they originally believed. While their trail heats up, an old enemy of Wyatt’s decides he’s waited long enough for revenge. Wyatt’s life before meeting Val catches up with him and the results could prove fatal.
September 21, 2020
Shifting Chaos now available for pre-order
Shifting Chaos is available for pre-order and for a limited time is only $3.99 (that's 20% off)!
Pre-Order on Amazon
September 4, 2020
Get Electric Candle for only $3.49
To celebrate the release of book 3 of The Sleepless City, Family and Reflection on September 11 Electric Candle is priced at $3.49 until September 8!
August 14, 2020
Electric Candle Available for Pre-Order
Hello! It's hot and humid here in Ohio. I can't wait until autumn. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy and having nice weather.
When a vampire finds his soulmate, the bond is forever. It’s love at first sight.
Or is it?
Homicide Detective Jonas Forge has been a vampire for centuries. He’s fought wars, seen life go from the simple colonial days to the modern high-tech world. He’s evolved with the times, adapted to each new era, blended into each new life. The one constant is his best friend, mentor, and lover, Declan. Even though not fated to bond as soulmates, Forge and Declan are happy and settled in their life together.
Until Forge’s real soulmate falls, literally, into his life.
Forge isn’t thrilled with the guy, despite the pheromones attracting them to each other, and the feeling seems mutual. While trying to adjust to his clumsy soulmate and equally awkward feelings, Forge is also on the hunt for a serial-killer witnesses can’t identify who’s leaving a trail of bodies in its wake.
Will the bond Forge is finally forming with his soulmate be destroyed when the hunter becomes the victim?
If you like fated mates who aren’t perfect for each other, a paranormal killer who might not be caught and found families then you’ll love Elizabeth Noble’s Electric Candle.
August 9, 2020
Pre-order and new paperbacks
Hello!
I hope everyone is doing well today.
My next release, Electric Candle is available for pre-order at the special price of $3.99.Amazon
When a vampire finds his soulmate, the bond is forever. It’s love at first sight.
Or is it?
Homicide Detective Jonas Forge has been a vampire for centuries. He’s fought wars, seen life go from the simple colonial days to the modern high-tech world. He’s evolved with the times, adapted to each new era, blended into each new life. The one constant is his best friend, mentor, and lover, Declan. Even though not fated to bond as soulmates, Forge and Declan are happy and settled in their life together.
Until Forge’s real soulmate falls, literally, into his life.
Forge isn’t thrilled with the guy, despite the pheromones attracting them to each other, and the feeling seems mutual. While trying to adjust to his clumsy soulmate and equally awkward feelings, Forge is also on the hunt for a serial-killer witnesses can’t identify who’s leaving a trail of bodies in its wake.
Will the bond Forge is finally forming with his soulmate be destroyed when the hunter becomes the victim?
If you like fated mates who aren’t perfect for each other, a paranormal killer who might not be caught and found families then you’ll love Elizabeth Noble’s Electric Candle.
Both Gone Away and Bait are now available in paperback and this week are specially priced at $6.99.
Rekindled love and a desperate fight for survival in the Black Hills. Get Gone Away in Paperback
Linden is sworn to protect. Tyler is being stalked by a killer. Will they survive a killer and a blizzard? Get Bait in Paperback
July 24, 2020
So much good stuff by Elizabeth Noble
Today only all of my eBooks are 40% off at the publisher website. And be sure to check out the 10 year anthology, A Decade of Gay Romance for nine other amazing short stories.
My other BIG announcement is The Sleepless City, an urban fantasy/paranormal romance series written with Anne Barewell is being re-release. Book 1, Shades of Sepia by Anne Barwell was released earlier this month and now Electric Candle, book 2 written by me can be purchased from Payhip or pre-ordered on Amazon. Electric Candle will be released on August 18, 2020.
June 19, 2020
Get the Circles series for $2.99 each.
eBooks $2.99 each!
Every life is a circle, and sometimes those circles connect and overlap in unexpected ways, even if the patterns they form aren’t obvious at first glance.
Past and present, from the wilderness to small towns and cities, the greedy and evil seek to exploit the vulnerable. The brave men of law enforcement fight to protect the innocent and punish the guilty—but they’re not alone. Men from all walks of life are called to stand beside them and solve these mysteries. Along the way, lives intertwine as couples are reminded that one thing makes the struggle worthwhile: love.
Until June 24 I'm offering all the eBooks in my mystery/thriller/suspense series for $2.99 each.
Purchase on Amazon
