Author Saturday Spotlight: Cardeno. C *Interview and Giveaway*

Anyone who's read anything by Cardeno. C knows she is a talented and amazing writer. After interviewing her I've discovered on top of those wonderful qualities, she's beautiful too. You'll see what I'm saying when you read her interview later on.

I'm a fan of Cardeno. C and of course because I truly love her work I've asked her to be my spotlight author this week... And she agreed! I get very excited when they say yes! LOL!

For those who aren't familiar with her books (and even for those who are) take a look at some of them:

Perfect Imperfections

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.

Her Home series consists of 7 AMAZING books that you can check out here: Home Series 
In that series there is a special mini-anthology called Marriage- A Home Series Celebration:

Join the characters from the Home series in celebrating marriage equality. Each chapter in this minianthology updates readers on the lives of a couple and shares their reaction to the United States Supreme Court decision regarding DOMA.

She also has her Mates series ( MATES ) which consists of 3 books and her Family Series ( FAMILY ) which is 4 books long. SHe just released the newest book in that series: The Half of Us...

Short-tempered, arrogant heart surgeon Jason Garcia grew up wanting a close-knit family, but believes he ruined those dreams when he broke up his marriage. The benefit of divorce is having as much random sex as he wants, and it’s a benefit Jason is exploiting when he meets a sweet, shy man at a bar and convinces him to go home for a no-strings-attached night of fun.

Eight years living in Las Vegas hasn’t dimmed Abe Green’s optimism, earnestness, or desire to find the one. When a sexy man with lonely eyes propositions him, Abe decides to give himself a birthday present—one night of spontaneous fun with no thoughts of the future. But one night turns into two and then three, and Abe realizes his heart is involved.

For the first time, Abe feels safe enough with someone he respects and adores to let go of his inhibitions in the bedroom. If Jason can get past his own inhibitions and open his heart and his life to Abe, he might finally find the family he craves.

She has MANY books and all are outstanding. Since she is doing a reader's choice giveaway today be sure to check them all out here : Cardeno. C on Goodreads 

 
 ****INTERVIEW****

Hi, Mere. Thank you so much for inviting me to participate in your group and for taking the time to do this interview. I appreciate it.

The pleasure is all mine! I am very excited about this. Let's get started.

 I always become so emotionally invested in your characters as I read your books. What kind of toll does it do to you, the writer, to pull out so many emotions?

CC: My goal is to write uplifting, happy books so my focus throughout the writing process is on that. Even during early parts of a book when characters might be struggling, I know where they’ll end up so I can feel good along their journey. I love writing so the impact on me is generally very positive.

 Clearly, you're a hopeless romantic so I'd love to know what are your favorite romance books?

CC: One of my favorite books in this genre is Timing by the amazing Mary Calmes. It’s a novel length romance with heat, humor, and a heart-tugging relationship. I’ve reread that book more times than I can count. Another book I very much enjoyed is The Blinding Light by Renae Kaye. Renae is a fairly new writer. Her work is very well done and I enjoy her characters and the smile her books put on my face.

 Did you always want to be a writer, if not what did you want to be when you grew up?

CC: I’d never considered being a fiction writer until about the time I sat down and wrote my first story, which was Where He Ends and I Begin. I hadn’t read romance novels at that point and I had no idea there were gay romance novels out there. What drove me to write was a sense that so many movies and shows I saw had gay characters who were killed or hurt or deeply miserable and after seeing this over and over again, I started feeling like it was a punishment, like these people weren’t allowed to be happy and healthy and strong AND gay. And I’m talking about movies where the gay characters are the main characters, movies targeted toward a gay/welcoming audience. That vision of life doesn’t match what I see in the world around me.

Yes, there are tragedies and sadness and family trouble. I know. Those things are real and true. But my life experience is that people as a whole are resilient and strong. I see people move past the hard times and make their own happy futures. I see people learn and grow and build lives and communities and families around them. I see people who use their experience and wisdom to make choices that allow them to live the kinds of lives they want on their terms and to be satisfied and happy with those lives. That’s my reality and I wanted to share it.

 Is there a topic you would never consider writing about?

CC: I write in order to share happy, uplifting stories so I won’t write books that deviate from that goal.

 Where do you go for inspiration?

CC: It’s so hard to pinpoint inspiration. When I’m ready to write a book, I think about the characters until they’re real in my head. Although my characters are fictional, there are often anecdotes or characteristics or incidents that are based on my life, friends’ lives, or news articles.

 You've published many books at this point, can you describe that feeling of finding out your book is being published, for the very first time?

CC: I’m always a combination of happy and petrified when I have a new release. I’m happy to have gotten to know new characters during the writing process and happy to share those characters with the world. But I’m also petrified that readers who spend their hard earned money and limited time reading my book won’t enjoy it.

 I don't think there is a book cover of yours I don't like. You have a peaceful, beautiful feel to each one. How do you master getting it right each time, and do you have the same cover artist for all of them?

CC: I’ve had the good fortune to work with amazing cover artists. Reese Dante has done many of my books (Family collection, Mates collection, Perfect Imperfections, and Control) and Paul Richmond drew the covers for the books in my Home collection.

 Can you tell us about any fan encounters you've had that have made you say, "Wow, this is real, I'm a published author."

CC: Because of social media, I get the chance to interact with readers on a regular basis. I really enjoy hearing from people who’ve read my books. Plus, I get to learn fun things about them and get recommendations from them for books I can read.

 Can you tell us about your future projects?

CC: My newest books is The Half of Us. It’s a freestanding novel in my Family collection about two fairly different men who fit incredibly well together. After that, I have Blue Mountain being released on November 21^st. Blue Mountain is a shifter novella about a wounded omega wolf and his alpha wolf mate.

10. How can your fans follow you through social media? Website, FB, twitter etc...?

Readers can find me here:

Website: www.cardenoc.com

Blog: (Shared Blog) http://caferisque.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @CardenoC

FB Profile: http://www.facebook.com/CardenoC

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CardenoC/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/cardenoC/

Thanks so much for taking the time to do this. I appreciate it. - CC

 
And thank you!


I can't thank Cardeno. C enough for agreeing to do this spotlight. As you can see she's beautiful  inside and out.

***GIVEAWAY***

Here is your chance to win a Cardeno. C ebook of your choice. If she's new to you than you have your pick of the litter! Anywhere you start is a good one! If you are a fan this might be your chance to get your hands on her new book :D Enter below. Contest ends October 17th and the winner will be notified via email.

Also... PLEASE. Review books! It is so important to the author!

Good Luck!



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