Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 85

Upcoming Release Blurb by Cardeno C.

Happy Monday and happy new year to those who celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Quick post today to share the blurb (in progress) for my upcoming release Jesse's Diner. This novella is part of my Hope collection and it's scheduled for release September 29th. Jay Aheer once again made me the perfect cover for this book and I'll be sharing it in a week at The Novel Approach (I can't stop staring at it!).

Jesse's Diner
Two men with a shared history and a mutual attraction must be honest with themselves and each other so both their dreams come true.

Quiet, unassuming Tanner Sellers spends his time running a diner in Hope, Arizona. Not particularly social, twenty-two-year-old Tanner keeps to himself and enjoys his simple life, but he longs for someone to call his own. In his most secret fantasy, that someone is sexy Steve Faus. But Steve is his friend’s father and mentor’s widower and therefore off-limits to Tanner.

Despite some challenges, thirty-nine-year-old Steve Faus has had a good life. He’s extremely successful at work, has a great relationship with his college-age son, and lives in a wonderful town. Eighteen months after losing his partner, the one thing Steve lacks is someone to share his life. If Steve is honest with himself, that someone is the young man he has known and cared about for years. Steve and Tanner want one another, all they need is a little push in the right direction to make both their dreams come true.

Have a great week.
CCwww.cardenoc.com

Take Care of Yourself by Felice Stevens

     This isn't going to be the regular post about books or anything to do with writing. This week a very close friend of mine had surgery. In mid August she discovered she had breast cancer and we have to wait 8 days to see if its spread and what kind of treatment she'll need.
     We've been friends for years, our kids have known each other since they were in the carriage and went to Hebrew school together; we spent hours planning our sons' and daughters' bar and bat mitzvah celebrations together.
     When we'd meet for coffee we'd often talk about how we needed to make mammogram appointments and how it had been too long. Every once in a while we'd text each other and send a reminder. I didn't go and it turns out neither did she.
     She found her lump in a self exam in the shower. After that it's been a roller coaster ride to what we hope will be the end result of the reconstructive surgery she's already had.
     But we don't know that yet. So I'm making this a public service announcement for anyone who wants to listen, to please get yourself checked and don't put it off. It isn't only women who have to worry about breast cancer either. My husband has two male patients who are breast cancer survivors.
     Its been more years than I will admit to since my last mammogram because there's always something else to do, isn't there? But our health is the most important thing, for ourselves, for our families.
     I'm making my appointment tomorrow.
     Please take care of yourself. You're the only you we have!!

My books are plotting against me by Riley Hart

I think my WIP is trying to kill me.

Both of them, actually. I have one book with beta readers and another I've been trying to plot for months. Every time I think I have it...I realize I'm imagining things and I'm not even close.

It's amazing how sometimes everything can fall into place so easily with a book, while the next one makes you feel like you're the worst writer in the history of the world. LOL. Which of course probably makes things worse because it's not real easy to plot a book when you're feeling like a hack ;)

So, that's where I'm at right now, trying to figure out these two books that don't want me to figure them out.

Wish me luck!

What's Your Favorite Edible Aphrodisiac and Other Questions by Ba Tortuga, Julia Talbot and Sean Michael

What's your favorite edible aphrodisiac?
Julia: Strawberries
BA: Chocolate
Sean: Strawberries


What was your favorite Saturday morning show?
Julia: The Bugs Bunny and Roadrunner Hour
BA: Speed Buggy!
Sean: Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future


What was a special meal when you were growing up?
Julia: Lasagna
BA: Pork chops and mushroom gravy with mashed potatoes
Sean: Kentucky Fried Chicken


What is a special meal now that you're older?
Julia: Hamburger and fries
BA: Hamburger and fries
Sean: Scallops and/or lobster


What did you want to be when you grew up?
Julia: a cowboy
BA: a writer
Sean: Marine biologist and astronaut


Beach or desert?
Julia: Desert
BA: Desert
Sean: Beach


If money were no object, where would your next vacation be?
Julia: Portugal
BA: Rome
Sean: Alaskan cruise to see the glaciers


What language do you think sounds the sexiest?
Julia: Russian
BA: English
Sean: French


What's your least favorite house-hold chore?
Julia: Washing windows
BA: Mopping
Sean: Laundry


What's your favorite hour of the day?
Julia: Naptime
BA: 9amish
Sean: eight pm is often when I perk right up


If you were a fairytale monster, which one would you be?
Julia: the evil queen
BA: a fairy godmother
Sean: the troll under the bridge


If you have a topic you’d like us to chat about (or any other favorite things you'd like us to share), please let us know. We’re totally up for that.

You can find us on Twitter at @seanmichael09, @juliatalbot and @batortuga.

Sean’s website is http://www.seanmichaelwrites.com
Julia’s is http://www.juliatalbot.com
BA’s is http://www.batortuga.com

Facebook:
Sean -- https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites
Julia -- https://www.facebook.com/juliatalbotauthor
BA -- https://www.facebook.com/batortuga


Sean
smut fixes everything

Coconut Toddy by Cardeno C.

Happy Monday! Today I have an interesting recipe to share. I fell in love with the toddy (cold brew coffee) when I first tried it and since then, I've wanted to experiment with it. The toddy has two ingredients - (1) a ground solid (coffee) and (2) a liquid (water). That means there are a few different ways to change it up: 

Step A1. Switch out the liquid (replace water with something else), 
2. Switch out the solid (replace the coffee with something else), and 
3. Add another ingredient. 

I'm going to try all three! Today, I'll share the results of the first option: instead of cold-brewing my coffee in plain water, I did it in coconut water. Here's what I did:
Step C Step BA. I poured a little bit of coconut water into my container just to have wetness on the bottom. (Note that I make my toddy in a container made for the purpose, but I think it can be done in any container if you have a filter to pour it through.)

B. Next, I added the coffee (16 oz total).

Step DC. I poured in the rest of the coconut water (2 one liter bottles total).

D. I gently pushed down the top of the dry coffee at the top to make sure it was wet all the way around.

E. That's it for the preparation part. Now it's brewing time. I left the coconut water/coffee mix on the counter for about 15 hours.

Step FF. The next step is straining the grounds from the water. With the toddy container, that's done by removing a plug at the bottom and placing it on a bottle. If you're using a regular container, this is the part where you'd pour your concoction through a filter. 
Step G
G. Once all the liquid is strained out, I had my toddy - a cold brewed, concentrated coffee. 
Step H
H. I took a chilled glass, added ice, and poured in my coffee. That's it - coconut toddy done!

Optional Alternatives: I tried a couple of alternatives in serving this one. 


Step II. I'm a fan of lime and I think it usually works really well with coconut, so I added some fresh squeezed lime juice to the glass when serving it. 

Step JJ. Half and half is a great addition to coffee and the creamy aspect of it works well with coconut, so I added half and half to the glass when serving it.



Result: The twist I used - coconut water instead of regular water - came through very strongly. For me, the coconut flavor overpowered the drink and I didn't like it. If you're a fan of coconut though, I highly recommend this because you can't miss the flavor and you'll be thrilled. The lime was a nice twist, for me especially because I like lime. Same with the half and half.

Have a great week!

CC
www.cardenoc.com

Burnout by Felice Stevens

     It may sounds like a strange topic for someone who has only been published for one year, but in that years I've published seven books. I see the printed words and even I can't believe it. In every book I've poured my heart into making the characters come alive and have meaning. 
     I never claim to write stories that everyone is going to like; some call them too sweet or sappy, but I try and make sure they are well written, well-edited and I'm thrilled many people seem to have enjoyed them. I get wonderful emails from readers who tell me that either a story-line or a particular character has touched them in a certain way.
     But lately I'm pushing myself to keep up with some personal goal I have in my own mind of what I need to do to be successful. Write faster; stay in the minds of the readers and don't get lost in the glut of books that seem to increase every day. When you don't have a publisher to put your books in the readers' faces, all the marketing and promotion is on you and it gets overwhelming.


     Something has to give.
     For me now, it has to be the the writing, so I'm slowing down. I have to make sure my books don't suffer in quality and that I still enjoy writing them. I don't ever want it to feel like a chore or an obligation. Some people might not care, and that's fine, but this is for the readers who ask me when is Zach's book is coming and what about giving Barton a book? What about the bartender Max from One Step Further? Will I ever get to write John's story from Rescued?
     I want to. I plan to. But right now I'm on vacation with my husband and daughter and I haven't written anything in a few days and it's fine. I'm spending time with them and loving it. I'm not worrying if the book is going to get written. It will, just maybe not a quickly as I once thought.
     I am lucky in that I am a fast writer. I'm not going to get into a discussion over fast vs. slow writers; everyone is different. But I know fast or slow I"ve only been doing this for a year and I want to keep doing it for many more, so I'll still be around as much as ever, just maybe not with a new book as often as you've come to expect.

New Release - Challenge the Darkness - Dirk Greyson

Monday saw the release of Dirk Greyson's second novel, Challenge the Darkness, a paranormal story set in the area around Yellowstone.  This story was inspired by Kate Douglas's Dark Wolf series and is in fact dedicated to her.  It was her work that sparked the idea, so I have to give a special shout ot and thank you to her.  She is a great friend and I can't wait to see her again. 


(I have to say that I would have added the book cover here, but Blogger is the worst program ever devised and decided that it wasn't going to allow me to do it this morning.)


Blurb
When alpha shifter Mikael Volokov is called to witness a challenge, he learns the evil and power-hungry Anton Gregor will stop at nothing to attain victory. Knowing he will need alliances to keep his pack together, Mikael requests a congress with the Evergreen pack and meets Denton Arguson, Evergreen alpha, to ask for his help. Fate has a strange twist for both of them though, and Mikael and Denton soon realize they’re destined mates. 
Denton resists the pull between them—he has his own pack and his own responsibilities. But Mikael isn't willing to give up. The Mother has promised Mikael his mate, told him he must fight for him, and that only together can they defeat the coming darkness. When Anton casts his sights on Denton's pack, attacks and sabotage follow, pulling Denton and Mikael together to defeat a common enemy. But Anton’s threats sow seeds of destruction enough to break any bond, and the mates’ determination to challenge the darkness may be their only saving grace.
Purchase a copy:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...

Excerpt 1 
But he’s gone,” Anna mumbled. “The other half of my soul has been ripped away from me. We’ve lost our home and our family. All of it was taken from me in the instant Gregor died.” Her voice remained steady, though, and Mikael knew she’d keep it together. She was the mate of an alpha, and that alone would sustain her.
“I know. But the boys will need you, and your new pack will need you.”
She turned to him. “You lied to Anton.”
“In a way. When Gregor asked me to come to ensure the fight would be fair, he told me if anything were to happen to him, he wanted me to take care of his family. You and those two boys were important to him. So when Anton tried to claim you, I had to step in.” He glanced in the backseat and saw that both boys were asleep, lying down on the seat, curled together just the way he’d slept with his siblings, Karl and Catherine, when they were pups. “What he was doing violated everything I believe in, and if I could have, I’d have helped everyone in the pack, but I can’t. They are beyond me, but not you and the boys.” He had to save a piece of his old friend. If Anton had taken the boys, odds were good that at some point they would end up dead too. Gregor’s blood in Anton’s pack would have been a threat to him, especially if they grew to be as strong as their father.
“What if they grow up to challenge you or your sons?” Anna asked with a touch of pride.
“They won’t. I won’t have children.”
“You’ll find a mate,” Anna said.
“I might, but I know my mate will be another man. The Mother told me so in a dream when I was eight years old. She showed him to me—another eight-year-old boy. I remember his blond hair, fierce eyes, and the way he looked back at me. It was like we could see each other for a brief time through the ether. Then he was gone, but I always knew he was my mate. I just haven’t met him yet.”
“What about your brother and sister’s children?” Anna asked.
“You’ll see. Karl is my beta and he’s fantastic at it. He always has my back, and Catherine is an enforcer. No one messes with her, including her husband, Stan. My younger brother, Christopher, is away at college.” Christopher’s role in the pack was up in the air at the moment, by his choice. He’d always seemed to go his own way and follow his own drummer. “They are my support, always, and I couldn’t be the alpha I am without them. We’re not a large pack, only about twenty in all. The core of the pack is my family—my siblings and their spouses, their children, and my uncle and mother. And now you and the boys. So if they grow up and follow in their father’s footsteps, as long as they care for their pack the way Gregor always did, they’ll have my blessing and support.”
Anna didn’t say anything right away. “Thank you, Alpha,” she finally said softly.

Question and Answer Time by BA Tortuga, Julia Talbot and Sean Michael

If you were an animal, what would you be?Julia: A golden retrieverBA: My mother says I'm like a badger. Sean: A polar bear.
What was your favorite toy when you were a child?Julia: I had a stuffed donkey. He was orange.BA: Brown cow. He was, well, brown.Sean: I had a homemade Pluto stuffie that I loved to pieces.
What do you want your tombstone to say?Julia: She wrote all the thingsBA: Spontaneous human combustion is a bitch.Sean: I love snow.
Have you ever been in a bar fight? Explain.BA: does beating a woman up in the beer section of the WalMart count?Julia: Yes. In college. It was very if West Side Story only with rednecks and David Allan Coe music.Sean: No. I'm not the bar type.
What is your biggest phobia?Julia: Spiders and heights BA: CLOWNS. EVIL SCARY MOTHERFUCKING CLOWNS. *ahem* I don't love clowns.Sean: Heights!
Who is your favorite DIsney princess?Julia: MulanBA: UrsulaJulia: Ursuala is not a princessBA: She has a crownSean: how about Tinkerbell? What is your favorite breakfast food?Julia: PancakesBA: Cheerios! I love my Os!Sean: Bacon!
Garden gnomes. Good or evil? Discuss.Julia: Clearly evil. What are they doing all night when you sleep?BA: Thus far all my garden gnomes (I have eight) have not proved to be particularly evil and, so far, I've never had snakes in the house. I prefer to believe they are chaotic neutral guardians.Sean: I love garden gnomes, but I think they're probably more evil than good.
Do you know all the words to your national anthem?Julia: yes Julia: But I can only remember 2 words of Sean'sBA: *nods* I know all of mine, I know 4 syllables of Sean's, however I can sing all of "Blame Canada"Sean: I know all the words to Oh Canada (half in French, half in English) and I think I know all the words of the US one, too.
Would you rather go bungee jumping or skydiving?Julia: I would pass out doing eitherBA: I'll do both! I'd rather ride in a hot air balloon.Sean: I have bungee jumped and I'd do it again. Skydiving is on my bucket list. I'd love to ride in a hot air balloon, but I'm worried about my height phobia...
What was your best Halloween costume?Julia: I went as a watermelon one year in a trash bagBA: I went as a bag of gum balls -- colored balloons in a clear plastic bag.Sean: is it bad that I only remember the candy from Halloween?
BA's New release! Articles of Release http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6815 Available Thursday at Dreamspinner.
Julia's coming soon! The Mistress and her Men https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5612/the-mistress-and-her-men Available for pre-order Sept 27!
Sean's newest self-pub title will be available on Thursday - look for the link to Fairtytale Shifters: Beauty and the Beast on the blog - http://seanmichaelwrites.blogspot.ca/ - on Thursday!

If you have a topic you’d like us to chat about (or any other favorite things you'd like us to share), please let us know. We’re totally up for that.
You can find us on Twitter at @seanmichael09, @juliatalbot and @batortuga.
Sean’s website is http://www.seanmichaelwrites.comJulia’s is http://www.juliatalbot.comBA’s is http://www.batortuga.com
Facebook:Sean -- https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWritesJulia -- https://www.facebook.com/juliatalbotauthorBA -- https://www.facebook.com/batortuga

Seansmut fixes everything

New Audio Books & 50% off by Cardeno C.

Happy Monday! I have two - yes two - new audio books out. (And more coming really soon.)

Perfect Imperfections

Audible
Amazon

Accountant slash bartender Reg will show rock star Jeremy how to have fun...and possibly fall in love.

Hollywood royalty Jeremy Jameson has lived a sheltered life with music as his sole focus and only friend. Before embarking on yet another international concert tour, he wanders into a bar in what he considers the middle-of-nowhere and meets a man who wins him over with his friendly smile and easy-going nature. Accountant slash bartender slash adventure-seeker Reg Moore has fun talking and drinking with The Jeremy Jameson and can't say no when the supposedly straight rock star makes him a once in a lifetime offer: keep him company on his tour by playing the part of his boyfriend.

Listening to music, traveling the world, and jumping off cliffs is fun. Falling in love is even better. But to stay with Jeremy after the stage lights dim, Reg will need to help him realize there's nothing pretend about their relationship.

*Please note: There is a 10 second blip on Chapter 3 of the Perfect Imperfections audio book. We have notified Audible/ACX about this and they assure us they'll fix it and make the corrected version available to all purchasers. The blip is extremely short and won't impact the substance of the book, but we want you to be aware of it.*


Walk With Me

Audible
Amazon

Serious, responsible Seth longs for sexy, outspoken Eli but must decide if he's willing to veer from his safe life-plan.

When Eli Block steps into his parents’ living room and sees his childhood crush sitting on the couch, he starts a shameless campaign to seduce the young rabbi. Unfortunately, Seth Cohen barely remembers Eli and he resolutely shuts down all his advances. As a tenuous and then binding friendship forms between the two men, Eli must find a way to move past his unrequited love while still keeping his best friend in his life. Not an easy feat when the same person occupies both roles.

Professional, proper Seth is shocked by Eli’s brashness, overt sexuality, and easy defiance of societal norms. But he’s also drawn to the happy, funny, light-filled man. As their friendship deepens over the years, Seth watches Eli mature into a man he admires and respects. When Seth finds himself longing for what Eli had so easily offered, he has to decide whether he’s willing to veer from his safe life-plan to build a future with Eli.


BIG SALE AT KOBO!

Also, today is the last day to use a 50% Off Coupon at Kobo for as many books as you want. Use the code SALE50. My books are here.

Happy reading/listening and have a great week.

CC
www.cardenoc.com

Thank you for reviewers – by Renae Kaye

My good friend BG Thomas has been giving us daily update of the things he is thankful for in life.  It’s been an interesting journey, and I like the idea.  Each day we should stop for a moment and name one thing we are thankful for.  Whether we thank whatever God we follow for the blessing, or just be thankful in general is irrelevant.  It is the acknowledgement that this thing/person/event is special to us.
Today I caught up on printing off reviews for my work.  I print them off and file them as I’ve seen websites taken down before, and I don’t want to lose those words written about my work. 
I am astounded and overwhelmed with pride at the number of reviews there are.  A mere 18 months ago, I was hoping for at least four for Loving Jay.  Today I’ve had to buy another file to fit them all in.  I’m ever-so-grateful for the people who take the time to read my work, then publish a summary of the story and their feelings on the book.
I know some authors who say they never read their reviews.  Some are lying, some are not.  I never understand this.  I read my reviews.  I like to find out the bits that work and the bits that don’t.  I like to be reassured that the book is hitting the right notes.  I try to keep away from negativity, but enjoy seeing my work assessed by people who know what they’re talking about.  It’s not about the rating, it’s about the emotions the reading of the book produced. 
It astounds me that some reviewers can view a piece of work and drill down to the very core of it in just a few paragraphs.  It’s a skill I don’t have, and I’m in awe of.  So tonight, after reading some thoughtful and well constructed reviews, I have to say:
Thank you for Reviewers
Some of the comments about You Are the Reasonthat I have loved:
In lesser hands I think Dave could easily have come across like a total jerk, but Kaye does a great job rooting his insecurities in real reasons we can understand and sympathize with. --- Joyfully Jay
Lee and Davo have layers to their personalities, as well as depth that makes them surprising in places in the story where we might expect otherwise. --- Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
This is a much needed book.  We talk about diversity, and diversity comes in so many ways. [...]  Everyone needs a voice, their story to be told and I feel like this novel was it.--- The Written Voice of Is
Read this book, it’s cleverly written, it’s adorable, it’s hilarious and fun, the sex scenes put the sun to shame and it’s all packed in within 220 pages. --- Three Books Over the Rainbow
I’m really glad the author wrote Davo’s story. [...] This is one girl who, as always, [I] can’t wait to see what she writes next. ---On Top Down Under Book Reviews
I loved the way this story was a mix of established gay man, yet had a vulnerable almost “coming out” quality at times as Dave finally opened his eyes and surveyed the world around him through unfiltered glasses. --- Prism Book Alliance
Am I a Renae Kaye fan? I’m not going to lie to you, I’m a few steps away from tattooing her name on my butt. [...] Lee was written as a perfect example that femme doesn’t equal weak. I think Lee is one of the strongest characters that this author has written us so far. --- Love Bytes Reviews
I only have one question – do I get to see the tattoo when it’s finished?
How to contact Renae:Email:  renaekaye@iinet.net.auWebsite:  www.renaekaye.weebly.comFB:  www.facebook.com/renae.kaye.9Twitter:  @renaekkaye