Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 86

A Day I'm Not Prepared For by Felice Stevens

     So please bear with me, this post might ramble a bit but by the end, I think you'll know why. Its a day I've been thinking about and dreading for eighteen years.     This weekend we are taking my son up to Canada where he will be attending college. It's a ritual thousands of people perform this time of year, and it isn't my first round at the rodeo; my daughter graduated college this year.
      But now, when we say goodbye, we'll return home to the empty nest. You've seen the jokes on TV; the mom and dad dancing for joy in the empty house, changing the child's room to an office, game room or whatever.           I've had eighteen years to prepare but I am not ready. Nope, nuh uh, no way. I'm not prepared to come home to no one lying on the sofa watching the food network, no empty cereal plate on the floor and no dirty dishes in the sink.
     I'm not ready for no texts telling me where he's going to be after school and on the weekends.
     I'm not ready to not wait up on Friday and Saturday nights to make sure he got home safe from a party or a friend's house.
     I'm not ready.     But he is. He's excited, nervous, scared, happy and about to step on a rollercoaster that will take him on the most unknown and thrilling ride of his life. And I'm nervous, scared, excited and happy for him.  
     So when we drive away on Monday and leave him, I'm not going to cry. Maybe. Hopefully. But Monday night I'll be a mess. Bring on the wine, the chocolate cause all bets are off.

Genre jumping by Riley Hart

Just this week I announced that I also write YA and NA under a different name. People ask me all the time how I go from writing a YA, to writing an erotic romance, because they're obviously so different. And my writing style under each name is different too. Sometimes it's easier to do than others and there's definitely been a few instances where I've slipped into the wrong point of view or something like that.

The thing is, writing in different genres keeps things fresh for me. It keeps things exciting and keeps the ideas coming. I find it necessary to flip back and forth between people of different sexes and age groups. It helps that I read in all the the genres I write in as well. I'll go through different phases where I only want to read YA, or only want to read adult.

Do you read multiple genres or do you find yourself sticking to pretty much one kind of book? Or do you have a certain author you'll read in a different genre, but other then them, do you stay firmly planted in a certain kind of book?

Why Pen Names by Andrew Grey and Dirk Greyson

Pen names have a number of uses and the reasons for mine have changed over time.  I must state that Andrew is a pen name.  When I first started writing I intended to write under my own name.  However for privacy reasons which included the fact that I still worked for a large corporation, I determined that I needed to keep my writing separate from other parts of my life.  It also made it easier when I had to disclose my outside business interest at work.    The other privacy concern revolved around some sort of trouble or harassment around my family.  Which I am happy to say has never materialized  :)  Sometimes I'm happy when I'm wrong. 

Since I have quit the evil day job, my pen name has very much taken on a life of his own.  I spend much of my day now in Andrew's world, writing and being Andrew online.  And that's wonderful!  So last year when I decided I wanted to write something different and try some suspense and paranormal stories, I created Dirk Greyson.  He's my alternate pen name who will write those kinds of stories.    I have not kept Dirk a secret in fact I announced the alternate pen name as Andrew on Facebook.  The reason for Dirk is simply branding.  The Dirk stories are a little hotter, definitely snarkier, and tend to be darker and I wanted readers to know what they were getting when they picked up a book.

Dirk's first story Day and Knight came out in May and his second, a paranormal shifter story set near Yellowstone, Challenge the Darkness, will release August 31.  I hope you all come to love Dirk as much as Andrew.

BTW - When I created Dirk, I also needed an avatar and Amy Lane's daughter made this one for me.   I love that she sort of made him look like me.  (Though I don't usually carry a gun)


I love the drawing!!!!!


Releasing August 31 from Dreamspinner Press   http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6793

 Available form Dreamspinner Press:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6310    Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing)  He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Email him at:  andrewgrey@comcast.net

His web site is:  www.andrewgreybooks.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/andrewgreybooks

Twitter:  @andrewgreybooks
 

Why Pen Names

Pen names have a number of uses and the reasons for mine have changed over time.  I must state that Andrew is a pen name.  When I first started writing I intended to write under my own name.  However for privacy reasons which included the fact that I still worked for a large corporation, I determined that I needed to keep my writing separate from other parts of my life.  It also made it easier when I had to disclose my outside business interest at work.    The other privacy concern revolved around some sort of trouble or harassment around my family.  Which I am happy to say has never materialized  :)  Sometimes I'm happy when I'm wrong. 

Since I have quit the evil day job, my pen name has very much taken on a life of his own.  I spend much of my day now in Andrew's world, writing and being Andrew online.  And that's wonderful!  So last year when I decided I wanted to write something different and try some suspense and paranormal stories, I created Dirk Greyson.  He's my alternate pen name who will write those kinds of stories.    I have not kept Dirk a secret in fact I announced the alternate pen name as Andrew on Facebook.  The reason for Dirk is simply branding.  The Dirk stories are a little hotter, definitely snarkier, and tend to be darker and I wanted readers to know what they were getting when they picked up a book.

Dirk's first story Day and Knight came out in May and his second, a paranormal shifter story set near Yellowstone, Challenge the Darkness, will release August 31.  I hope you all come to love Dirk as much as Andrew.

BTW - When I created Dirk, I also needed an avatar and Amy Lane's daughter made this one for me.   I love that she sort of made him look like me.  (Though I don't usually carry a gun)


I love the drawing!!!!!


Releasing August 31 from Dreamspinner Press   http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6793

 Available form Dreamspinner Press:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6310    Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing)  He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Email him at:  andrewgrey@comcast.net

His web site is:  www.andrewgreybooks.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/andrewgreybooks

Twitter:  @andrewgreybooks
 

Favorite Movies

Today it's all about our favorite movies.
favorite animated movie BA: Beauty and the BeastJulia: The Little MermaidSean: Minions
favorite action movieBA: Die HardJulia: The MummySean: Transformers
favorite romantic comedy BA: The Goodbye GirlJulia: Alex and EmmaSean: Chef (does that count as a romantic comedy?)
favorite sci-fi movieBA: Star WarsJulia: Star WarsSean: Star Wars
favorite fantasy movie BA: LabyrinthJulia: LegendSean: Labyrinth
favorite mystery movieBA: Dead AgainJulia: ClueSean:The Name of the Rose
favorite western movieBA: TombstoneJulia: She Wore a Yellow RibbonSean: Young Guns
Favorite horror movieBA: Deep Blue SeaJulia: Ghost ShipSean: Sixth Sense
Favorite historicalBA: The Lion in WinterJulia: ElizabethSean: Gladiator
Favorite musicalBA: Jesus Christ SuperstarJulia: White ChristmasSean: The Sound of Music
Favorite guilty pleasure movieBA: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band (with the Bee Gees)Julia: High SpiritsSean: A Knight’s Tale
favorite war movieBA: does Hair count as a war movie?Julia: Kelly’s HeroesSean: Gallipoli
favorite dramaBA: GladiatorJulia: Dangerous LiasonsSean: Dead Poets Society
Favorite all time movieBA: Wizard of OzJulia: Jurassic ParkSean: Star Wars (I know I'm doubling but it's honestly my favorite sci-fi and my favorite ever)

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

I’ve gained 24kgs

I’d like to share something with you that is a little off the beaten path from anything that is related to authoring, M/M romance, or even LGBTQ issues.
I’ve gained 24kgs in just under 2 weeks.

Now, before you start thinking, “OMG, how is that even possible?” let me paint the picture a little bit more: my 24kgs comes with two arms, two legs, a ponytail and is currently missing four front teeth.  She stands a little (ie a lot) over the average height for her age, loves My Little Pony, and doesn’t like tuna.  Her sixth birthday is in a couple of weeks and she wants a Lalaloopsy doll.
Yes.  This 24kgs is my daughter.
She was born on a rainy Monday morning after a terrible protracted and dangerous labour.  4.2kgs and beautiful.  Her father is 6’5” and it was immediately obviously that my daughter carried his genes.  They give you a height and weight chart for your child’s first three years, and track the 97th, 75th, 50th, 25th and 3rd percentiles.  My daughter’s height has never been ON the chart.  She’s always tracked a little above that top line, and I’m thinking of brushing up on my basketball scoring skills in anticipation.
She is my second child, and I was confident in parenting her.  After all, I’d been there, done that and I knew everything, didn’t I?
But she is the exact opposite of her older brother.  Where he was fussy and always on the move, wanting to explore and get into EVERYTHING, she was more than happy to sit back and watch.  She crawled early, and was happy with that, not making the transition to walking for another 9 months.  We jokingly called her “Collapsey Legs,” because every time we told her to stand up and walk, she’d just collapse to the ground with a look saying, “I don’t want to do that!”
She talked early, and continually amazed me with her observations of life.  She’s always shown huge amounts of empathy, and thinks through situations beyond just the next step.  Whereas I would say to my son, “If you do that again, you can go to time out,” and he’d understand the consequences (ie he’d have to stop playing for 2 minutes), she’d be, “So if I do that again, I will go to time out, and then I will miss out on this TV show and Mum is making a cake so I’ll miss out on licking the beaters, and my brother will get to play with the toys I just set out, and it’s cold down my bedroom, and I’ll be alone with no one there, and...”  She makes connections where most children see none.  She scares me sometimes.
She’s also fearful where her brother is fearless.  She struggles to overcome her fears to do normal childhood things – like climbing ladders, going on swings, getting her feet wet at the beach and riding a bike.  Perhaps part of her “overthinking” things?
But she’s always been a “Mummy’s girl.”  I’m a stay-at-home mother, and therefore my kids have never been to day care.  We’ve attended play groups and she’s been to church Sunday School every week, so she’s had plenty of interactions with other people, but I’ve always been near.
At her 6-month check up with the Community Health Nurse, I noted she was very clingy, but that was to be expected with a fully breastfed baby.  At her 18-month check up, I noted she had trouble separating, but also mentioned that she’d recently weaned, and that her brother had recently started Kindy.  At her 3-year-old check up, I noted she suffered from separation anxiety.  The warning signs had been there, but it was now fully blown.
In 2012 we had a rough patch.  REALLY rough.  Four months of her not being more than ten metres from me.  She happily went with me wherever I had to go, and was well behaved.  If required, she’d sit in the nearest corner and quietly play while I attended meetings and went to singing practice.  But I couldn’t leave the house without her.  It reached its peak in April, where I couldn’t even leave her playing on the beach while I went for a swim.  She’d wander the house at odd times, just to check I was still there.  Bedtime was the worst.  We started off having to sleep with Mummy the whole night, to needing to fall asleep with Mummy but could be transferred to her own bed later, to Mummy needing to sit on the end of the bed while I go to sleep, to Mummy needing to sit in the doorway, to Mummy needing to sit in the hallway.  The progression of sleeping-with-Mummy to Mummy-in-the-hallway took two-and-a-half years.
I dreaded the start of Kindy in 2014.  But to my surprise, she went willingly.  I promised to be there at the end of the day to pick her up, and never broke my promise.  For 2.5 days a week she went.This year she’s progressed to five full days as she’s entered Pre-Primary, and I thought she was doing well – until Wednesday this week.  Piecing together the story retrospectively, I can now see it clearly.  My daughter has a best friend and they are inseparable.  The friend has been sick and has been off school for two weeks.  The two back-up friends have also been sick.  One for 8 days, one for 4 days.  Her teacher (whom she adores) has had three days off sick too.  And then, to put a final nail in the coffin, her brother has been sick and wasn’t at school either.
Her world has been rocked.  She was complaining of random stomach pains, which I though was her coming down with the illness that is going around.  But then the nightmares started, and then this week the stomach pain hits just as we’re getting our bags to go to school.
ZIP!
Suddenly I’ve gained a shadow.  A 24kg shadow who is velcro’ed to my side.As a mother and author it’s made me remember some things that I had perhaps lost sight of.
1.  I’m a mother before I’m an author.  If my children need me, then I need to dump the authoring bit for their needs.
2.  I need to remember that some people are born that way.  It’s increasingly clear to me that the personalities of my children were born with them, not created by something I did or didn’t do.  This goes for my imaginary characters too.  Sometimes people are just a certain way.  It is unexplainable.  I’m not talking about being gay – but those personalityaspects like sociability, shyness, phobias and such.
3.  Some people never grow out of their childhood fears.  This is a very important thing to remember when creating realistic characters. 
4.  Sometimes something can be set off by elements outsidemy character’s control.  Just like my daughter.  She was flying perfectly, until just a few little bumps that don’t ever faze others – the unavoidable illness of some people in her life.  Her stability stones.  Her base.  And now she’s reverted to the behaviour we’ve worked three years to overcome.

Just a joke - but how I feel about Separation AnxietySo why do I tell you this on my blog – because this is what’s filling my life today.  And I wish to remind everyone out there, that authors are just people too.  I often see comments made about authors in social media.  There are eager readers asking when the next book is out, there’s disappointed reviewers questioning the morals and experiences of authors, there’s disparaging comments about a statement an author has been made.  Sometimes I just want to yell out that authors are people before they are authors.  Yes, by writing a book and putting themselves “out there” they are inviting comments, and yes people have the right to make any comment they wish, but is it a fair comment?
Some authors guard their private lives and only show their social media faces, and in a way that is a good way to safeguard against privacy invasion, but don’t ever think that authors don’t struggle with non-author things.  I know authors with mental health problems and physical problems.  There are ones struggling with the death and depression of loved ones.  There are those struggling to pay bills, those going through divorce and breakups, and those with children who have special needs.  Some are sociable, some non-sociable, and most are pretending their extrovertness.

I share the story of my journey so far with a child who has separation issues, not to bore you, but to remind you that authors are people.  And sometimes we struggle.  And sometimes we struggle with the exact some things as you do.  So if you have a kid with separation issues, I welcome you to the club.  Come on in and join us.  (Oh, and we understand when you need to bring your 24kg shadow with you.)

Free, plus a little something extra by Felice Stevens

It's been a bit of a week. I had the release of Beyond the Surface and all the craziness that ensues with release week, like blog tours, promo and general nausea over whether people will like what you've written or stomp it into the ground.Today, I have my first Bookbub promotion for Memories of the Heart. For the next five days, until August 25th, Memories of the Heart will be free. It's only on Amazon and if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you already can read it for free, but now the book is free for everyone. Memories was my first self-published book and it will always have a special place in my heart.

The audio version of Memories of the Heart also is available with the wonderful narrator, Sean Crisden. He does Micah in all his arrogant glory to perfection.
And to top it all off, my son is packing to go to college. In another country. It's kind of freaking me out that my baby, who cried his first day of pre-school, will now be away at school.
But to every thing there is a season, and I know he'll have a blast at school. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I'll see you next week!!

Back to the Grind

This summer has been more about family time then anything else. I haven't been able to write much with my kids home. I tried, but nothing was really working and I was editing part of the time too. Eventually I decided just to take a break. It's okay to take a break once in a while. More than okay, actually. I think it's important.

My kids are back in school now, which means I'm ready to spend some time lost in words. I've been trying to do some plotting and just really sit down and think things through before I decide what's next. I've considered a Blackcreek anthology. It would be a novella for each of the current Blackcreek couples. I miss those men, and that town. I really need to jump into the Rock Solid series as well. I think I realized what I was doing wrong on the second book, but now I just have to put some thought into what I'm going to do now. Or my last choice is Rod from Crossroads. He got a lot of attention in his short scene in the adult store, and I've had quite a few people ask for his story.

So as summer winds down, that's what I'm doing.

What about you? How are you spending your August?

favorites

 * sean waves
 <sean> hey
 <BA> hey
 <julia> waves
 <julia> how goes y'all?
 <sean> I'm tired
 <julia> :(
 <sean> you?
 <julia> better than last week
 <julia> although I am going to kill Sadie the basset
 <julia> bang
 <sean> what's she doing?
 <julia> whining
 <julia> whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine
 <julia> moooommmma
 <julia> I want my chewwwwwwwwww
 <sean> heee
 <BA> she has 16 more minutes
 <sean> I bet she can whine that long, too
 <julia> she can
 <BA> she can whine for hours
 <julia> she is... vocal
 <sean> heeee
 * BA grins
 <BA> I dyed fabrice
 <BA> fabric
 <BA> and I used my loom
 <julia> she did!
 <sean> that's cool
 <BA> and now I want to just be in the studio all the time
 <julia> I helped with the loom
 <julia> ;)
 <BA> thank god
 <BA> otherwise I might have had fury
 <sean> heee
 <julia> LOL
 <julia> there was some crying
 <BA> yeah, but more frustration than sadness
 <julia> yes
 <BA> so, we're just a bundle of chatter tonight
 <BA> O.O
 <julia> and it's amazing what she's done
 <julia> okay
 <julia> name your favorite Sean book, BA
 <BA> hrm
 <BA> probably Bent or Forged, although I'm reading Center right now
 <julia> mine is Tempering
 <BA> yours has been Tempering since the beginning of time
 <julia> yep
 <julia> it's Rig's book
 <julia> and he and Rock are my OTP
 <BA> heeeeee
 <BA> My favorite Julia book is the Thatchers -- can I do that
 <BA> I love Ross
 <julia> yes
 <BA> ROSS ROSS ROSS ROSS ROSS ROSS
 <BA> ROSS ROSS ROSS ROSS ROSS ROSS
 <BA> ROSS ROSS ROSS ROSS ROSS ROSS
 <julia> LOL
 <julia> hugs
 <sean> I love Eli
 <julia> you are the fan club pres BA
 <BA> I grew to love Eli, but I never liked Kevin ;-)
 <julia> LOL
 <julia> no
 <julia> you would tell me when I was writing them
 <BA> nods
 <BA> I have opinions
 <julia> my favorite BA is MJ and Sonny
 <BA> *grins*
 <julia> the Road Trip series
 <sean> my favorite BA are Shane and Galen
 <BA> hell, I named my soul basset Sonny
 <julia> mmmm
 <julia> grins
 <julia> man you can tell we're all fond of the older stuff
 <sean> heee
 <julia> my favorite recent BA is Terms of Release
 <sean> nods
 <julia> and Sean the Drawing straws boys
 <BA> well, you learn to hang out with them, huh?
 <julia> you so do
 <julia> I re-read and remember
 <BA> I'm sort of in love with the Grizzly List guys
 <sean> nods
 <julia> hee
 <BA> WERE BEARS OMG
 <sean> my favorite recent BA is Ever the Same
 <sean> I haven't read Grizzly Lis tyet
 <sean> but I love the Full Moon Dating crew
 <julia> they were a hoot
 <julia> both sets
 <BA> hooooot!
 <BA> *grins*
 <BA> I've been reading weird esoteric horror novels
 <julia> I've been reading romances
 <julia> but mmf femmedomme
 <BA> mmmm
 <BA> MMmmmmMMMmmm
 <BA> man, that was a lot of ms
 <julia> indeed
 <julia> okay one more question
 <julia> name your most underrated book
 <BA> Redemption's Ride
 <BA> I love that one
 <BA> LOVE IT
 <julia> why?
 <BA> why what?
 <BA> why do I love it?
 <julia> yeah
 <julia> what's good about it?
 <BA> hell hounds, cursed preachers, mute Native Americans, farting Englishman and a three legged dog
 <BA> what's not to love?
 <julia> cackles madly
 <sean> lol
 <julia> Mine is Drive Your Truck
 <julia> I think the title makes people confused because it's a country song
 <julia> and if you don't know it you have no idea what the title has to do with thr book
 <sean> I enjoyed both of those
 <julia> which is my bad
 <julia> I should have titled it something else
 <julia> sean?
 <sean> hmmmm
 <sean> Windbrothers
 <sean> it's an awesome book
 <julia> Oh i love that one so much
 <sean> it's getting a new home with DSP Publishing next spring
 <julia> woo
 <BA> it's getting a whole new life, huh?
 <sean> nods
 <julia> nifty
 <sean> it's being split into two and I'm adding to the second part and writing the two after that to complete the story
 <sean> I'm very excited about it
 <julia> very cool
 <julia> it's great to have new interest in fav
 <sean> nods
 <BA> okay, y'all. I'm going to go do dishes and water the yard.
 * BA hugs
 <julia> hugs
 <BA> much love :D
 <julia> coolios
 <julia> see you next time sean
 <BA> night!
 <sean> hugs
 <sean> night
 <julia> night

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

Writing Recap (Summer, 2015) by Cardeno C.

Happy Monday! I haven't done a writing recap since April so today I’ll recap summer. Maybe if I’m lucky, that means summer is over (do you hear that really high temperatures?)

I released a sexy standalone contemporary novel called Strange Bedfellows.I’ve been in audiobook land lately:
Johnnie, the first book in my new Siphon collection, was narrated by the always amazing Greg Tremblay.Strange Bedfellows, my standalone contemporary with extra heat, was narrated by Ron Herzig.Charlie David narrated the 2nd edition of Perfect Imperfections and we’re (not so) patiently waiting for Audible to make it live.Alexander Collins narrated Walk With Me from my Home collection and Jason Mitchell (my audio guru) and I had so much fun listening and laughing. Any minute now, Audible will be done with their review and the book will be live.Alexander is now working on He Completes Me (2d edition) audio and I'm beyond exited to hear his Zach.Charlie David is working on Until Forever Comes (2d edition) and In Your Eyes (2d edition) audio now.I released the 2nd editions of my Mates books (with amazing covers by Jay Aheer): Wake Me Up InsideUntil Forever ComesIn Your EyesI released the 2nd editions of a few novellas:All of MeA Shot at ForgivenessPlaces in TimeI'm dipping my toes in the Kindle Unlimited waters to make some of my books available for readers in that program. Those KU readers can now read three of my books for free: He Completes MeJust What the Truth IsIn Another Life & Eight DaysI’m working with Jae Ashley on edits for 2nd editions of my Family books and with Jay Aheer  on new covers for those books.I’m writing the next Hope novella (Jesse’s Diner) and aiming for a Fall release.The next Pack novella (Red River) keeps poking my brain.And in the midst of all this, I’ve been working with Kelly Shorten on a new website. I’m so pleased with how it turned out!Have a great week.

CC
www.cardenoc.com