M.E. Carter's Blog, page 4

December 29, 2020

We may have gone a little overboard this Christmas. Oops.

I would be lying if I said we didn't always do Christmas up big. As a family, it's our absolute favorite time of year. But somehow, this year has exploded.

For years, my dad has challenged Clark Griswold to have the most decorative house in the neighborhood. Yes, I know Clark Griswold is a fictional character. He knows it too, but does that stop him?

No.

A couple years ago, they downsized to a house that has a yard only a quarter of the size of their last plot of land. And yet, the man brought all of his blow ups and twinkly lights in the move. (There are pics all over my IG page. @authormecarter.)

I will admit, it's an impressive display, but where the yard used to have room for pathways and different vantage points, now there's not as much space. Again, does that stop him?

Again, no.

Nothing will stop this man from putting up well over a hundred blow ups and thousands of twinkly lights. Now he just adds them to the roof of the house, much to my mother's dismay, and has expanded to his driveway and the alley behind the house!! Y'all, I am not kidding. People are driving down the alley to see his Christmas lights. So. Weird.

But of course, my mother can't be outdone. When they bought the house, she made the builders create a closet specifically for her Christmas cookie jar collection. At last count, I believe she had 125. They are everywhere.

Now, it's not all vanity and showing off. They have at least three "open backyard" nights for people to come enjoy the fun. They provide hot cocoa and cookies, and ask people to bring canned goods for the local food bank. So they're doing their part to make it about the community.

So if you happen to fly over Lubbock, Texas at night during the month of December, make sure you have a window seat. You can see it from the sky. As a retired pilot, my dad made sure of it.

~

Speaking of the holidays, New Year's Steve is now available for your reading pleasure!

People are so excited about Sara and I writing together again. Here's what they had to say:

"Sara & M.E. are two of my favorites and I squealed with excitement when I heard this book was being released." -Kindle Customer, Amazon Reviewer

"These two authors just have the magic touch together ❤" - Noiya, Amazon Reviewer

"Sara Ney & M.E. Carter are one of my all-time favorite writing duos and they have delivered an awesome new holiday story!" - Crystal Andrews, Amazon Reviewer

Grab this super fun holiday romcom. It'll put you right in the spirit!. Order it today!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3lrVZ5Y
Amazon Universal: https://books2read.com/NewYearsSteve

~

Matters to You is coming 1.21.21!

We're less than a month away from the release of Matters to You, the fifth book in The Hart Series.

I can't wait for y'all to meet Paul and Kiersten. Even better, there are quite a few cameos from some of your old faves and also...

A WEDDING!!!

My lips are seals on who's getting hitched, but trust me, you don't want to miss this!

Preorder is available on all major retailers!
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3ehNS7S
Nook: https://bit.ly/2ZQSfBy
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3ecFtCi
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2W0k3lQ
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2VWFPHe
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3eexcxM
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2ZaDKth

~

Read Little Miss Perfect FOR FREE!!!
We are finally at the end of this sweet, hilarious, swoon worthy short story. Now you can read it in its entirety!

You can read it here... https://www.authormecarter.com/little...

This month's password: aputi8

~

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy some calm and bright. Happy Reading!
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Published on December 29, 2020 10:26

December 2, 2020

Have you gone through a divorce? It sucks. But I think I found a formula to help.

I would like to tell you there is an easy way to get through a divorce. There's not. Even with mine, which was the best decision I had made in years, it still sucked.

I have a good friend who is currently right smack in the middle of what is proving to be a very messy and ugly separation. It's painful. It's intense. And good lord the details of information she has to sort through is never ending. Sound familiar?

What I've realized while watching her process, though, is that she's done one very important thing that has given her the support she needs to make it through this hard time as in tact as possible—she's surrounded herself with several different types of women who play very different roles.

Why is this important? Because her emotions are everywhere and on different days she needs different responses. She has gathered five different types of friend that I highly recommend everyone have:

1-The "mothering" friend: This friend immediately opened her home for an impromptu trip, where she wrapped her in a blanket, gave her tea, and did things like make her shower and talk a walk. It was gentle. It was nurturing. And it gave my friend a place to rest.
2-The empathetic friend: This friend responds to group messages with things like, "Oh honey, I'm so sorry. You are so loved!" She always gives good hugs and will watch cheesy movies and eat ice cream with you with hours.
3-The feeding friend: This friend shows up at your house with food because she knows you aren't eating. Sometimes she's a coworker who forces you to eat tater tots that she picked up on her lunch break. Sometimes she drops off a meal at your house. Sometimes she takes you to dinner. Whatever her method, she's watching you like a hawk and making sure you have calories to energy your body.
4-The impulsive friend: This friend is more than willing to make poor choices with you. She has no beef sharing in your victory when you end up with child support and alimony, and sends you gifs reminding you to "channel your inner Angela Bassett a la Waiting to Exhale! Light his shit on fire!!" (This is totally me. I love that gif)
5-The logical friend: She says things like, "No. Do not light his things on fire. Your goal is to look like the better person in court. Screw him in front of the judge. The damage is more lasting." She talks you through the logical steps and details you need to consider at every stage. And for the record, she's right about the fire. Don't do that.

Listen, no matter how you slice it, divorce sucks all the way around. It's painful and time consuming. However, from one woman who survived hers almost 5 years ago, I can promise you, you will heal. You will also learn a lot about yourself and what you are and are not willing to settle for next time. But you will come through it on the other side. And to be perfectly honest, being single kind of rocks sometimes.

Stay strong my friends. And find yourself those five kinds of women. It'll be worth it.

~

Did you see the news?? Sara Ney and I are BACK with a brand new holiday romantic comedy! New Year's Steve is coming to a Kindle near you December 15! Check it out:

In the game of Online Dating, names can be deceiving…

CEO Harrison Steven McGinnis is incognito. Better to use a fake name while online dating when money, connections, and his famous company are on the line.

To save himself from the gold diggers of the world, he hides his face and changes his name to Steve, and still manages to make an amazing connection with a woman named Felicity.

New Year? New boyfriend?

Accountant Felicity Thompson is working late. Committed to meeting her year-end goal, she isn’t leaving her desk until the job is done. Her reward? A date with Steve.

If only the light above her desk would stop flashing, and the run-in with the mega-hot maintenance man would stop making her squirm in her desk chair.

Suddenly, work is taking longer to finish and her date with Steve? Doesn’t feel so exciting. Not when she can’t get her mind off of Harry.

Can her New Year’s Eve be saved?

And who will be waiting for her when the ball drops at mid night?


You guys don't want to miss this. Preorder it today!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3lrVZ5Y
Amazon Universal: https://books2read.com/NewYearsSteve

~

As if that isn't enough, Kissmas Eve has a new cover!
We love how it turned out.

If you haven't read Kissmas Eve yet, it's available now on Amazon and through Kindle Unlimited! Check it out and get in the holiday mood!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3lylen4
Amazon Universal: mybook.to/KissmasEve
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Published on December 02, 2020 10:01

October 21, 2020

I secretly signed up for a Hinge online dating account. It did not go well.

Yes friend. I went for it. I found some pictures, put my best foot forward and attempted the world of online dating.

Backtracking, I've never really been comfortable with online dating. The matches have never been all that great and the few dates I went on didn't go well. It's as if all the "quality" people got married back when I did and I'm the only one who ended up divorced.

However, multiple friends encouraged me to try again and when I heard about the success with Hinge, I decided to go for it. I set up an account, answered some really fun questions to start conversations, and went through my pictures to find some good ones that are also true to my life. Then I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And I commented on other people's conversation starters and liked some pictures. I really put in the effort. Finally, after a couple of weeks someone struck up a conversation. But...

The name on his account was not the same name he introduced himself as. Like his account said his name was Mike and he said, "Hi I'm Steve."

Jokingly, I asked about it because, hello, pen name here. I'm no stranger to introducing myself in different ways.

Y'all... he DISAPPEARED!

I have no idea if he blocked me or if he got caught cat fishing, but either way, he's gone. And sadly, he was the only person who ever started a conversation with me in the 6 weeks I was on.

I guess online dating doesn't work for everyone. I'll stick with meeting the old fashioned way... bars. Just kidding. I don't even know where there is a bar for people my age. lol

But y'all, don't worry about me. I'm not sad or disappointed. The lesson I learned is that not all types of dating is going to work for everyone. Online doesn't work for me. But someday, someone will randomly show up and sweep me off my feet. Or maybe he'll just keep up with my crazy life. Until then, I have some amazing book boyfriends to keep me company.

Speaking of book boyfriends...

~

Have you tried Love Tropes yet?
This is a super easy search engine that will help you find the kind of book you're looking for.

For instance, in the mood for a single dad romance? Search "single dad." How about "one night stand?" There's a category for that too! In fact, there are thousands of books in the catalog.

Best of all, it's free. Check it out at www.lovetropes.com

~

"The resort is bustling by the time I make it to the lobby to meet Celeste. She’s standing near a large fountain talking to the Roberts family as I approach. Matthew spots me first, a knowing smile appearing on his lips. He can’t see my eyes with my polarized sunglasses which is probably a good thing because if I could shoot lasers at him, I would.

“There he is. How’re you feeling, whiskey man?”

Gripping his palm, I squeeze a little harder than necessary. “Is that my new superhero name? I don’t think the studio would approve.”

Carrie giggles as her new step-daughter tugs on my arm. Looking down at her, I wait for her to speak.

“Carrie and Miss Celeste said you’re way hotter than on television. I don’t know what the TV has to do with it, but our room had air conditioning that made it so cold I needed a blanket. Maybe you should use our room.”

The adults around us bark out laughs, causing the pint size cutie to look at them like they’ve lost their minds before turning her attention back to me. I school my own laugh and say, “Thanks for the offer. I’ll see what I can do.”

Satisfied with my response, she skips away, and I look to Carrie and Celeste. Neither will look me in the eye as they suddenly find the water in the fountain much more exciting."


That's just a snippet of Better than the Book, a fun and lighthearted romantic comedy that is available now!

Only 10 days left to help us raise money for the New York City Children's Theater by downloading Better than the Book. 50% of all downloads and page flips will go directly to this fantastic charity!

~

Read Little Miss Perfect FOR FREE!!!
This sweet, hilarious, swoon worthy short story is being released one chapter at at a time on my website for your reading pleasure!

Head here to read chapters 1-6 for free. Chapter 7 will be available next month! https://www.authormecarter.com/little...

This month's password: Trevor6

~

Do you decorate for fall?

I have one door hanging thing that doesn't even hang on the door. It's pathetic, I know.

I am not a crafty person no matter how hard I try. That includes fall or Halloween decorations.

Do you decorate? Send me pictures! I need ideas!
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Published on October 21, 2020 07:05

September 21, 2020

Do You Know Someone with Covid? Now you do.

You should have seen my face when I saw the email with my test results - Positive for Covid-19.

My jaw literally dropped open. I thought for sure I had the flu. I almost didn't get tested because the fever only lasted about twenty-four hours and I always wear a mask. The only reason I caved was because I figured I'd rather be safe than sorry. It was "just in case" and so I wouldn't have to worry about infecting the schools or something.

Oh boy, did it not go as planned.

In less than two hours, my results were in and the race was on to get kids set up for virtual learning and have all the supplies on hand we need to last two weeks of quarantine. All while trying to stay upright at my desk to make phone calls and reschedule all appointments.

What a nightmare.

Fortunately, my parents are just about ten minutes away so they did a quick run to the pharmacy for zinc, elderberry, Bayer aspirin and Emergen-C. And some amazing book friends Door Dashed a massive amount of frozen foods to me so I don't have to cook. The generosity and how quickly people mobilized made me cry. Well, that and being quarantined. lol

All in all, we're hanging in there. Two of us have positive tests so the rest are assumed to have it as well. Interestingly enough, the younger three kids have no symptoms whatsoever. Not even my co-sleeping-steals-all-my-drinks five year old. I'll count all that as a win.

So for now, exercise is on hold. The book I would have been done writing this week will have to wait. And taking care of my health is the #1 priority.

Thankful for a mild case and wishing health on all of you! Please be safe out there!
**
Speaking of the book I'm writing, I'm excited to finally tell you all about it!

Matters to You is the fifth book in the Hart series. This one is about Kiersten (you may remember her getting pregnant in Matters to Me ) and Paul (Jaxon's former boss at Ambrosia). Theirs is a real-life love story as he tries to get a new business off the ground while she deals with the difficulties of single parenting. And y'all... I'm loving their story.

Matters to You is so much better than I anticipated. It's full of cameo appearances by some of your favorite Hart characters, and some new faces that will be sticking around for a while. Don't you just love when that happens?

The preorder links are already up, so don't miss out on one-clicking this baby. Matters to You
**
Better than the Book is less than ONE MONTH AWAY!
Have you one-clicked yet?

Andrea Johnston and I are so excited to donate 50% of October's proceeds of Better than the Book to the New York City Children's Theater. What a great way to honor the industry that gave us the idea for this fun book! Better Than the Book
**
I love hearing from my readers so feel free to drop me a message any time. Until then, Happy Reading!
💜M.E. Carter
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Published on September 21, 2020 09:08