Today we have with us a well-known author whose books have managed to win a million hearts. With lively characters and some romantic sizzlers in each of this author’s novels, the author has gained an immense popularity among M/M readers.

I take this opportunity to welcome the award winning author – Cardeno C. to The Blog of Sid Love! CC is here talking about and promoting his newly released novel – Strong Enough – which is the second installment in CC’s “Family” series.

SL: An author never ceases to challenge himself. With your upcoming book, what challenges did you set for yourself during its creation and do you think you have achieved them?

CC: Some challenges are constants in my writing. I always set out to write books that make people feel good and warm and uplifted. I set out to write books with positive portrayals of relationships. And I set out to write characters readers can relate to, characters readers will feel they know. All of those things were true for this book.

One goal that was unique to this book was my desire to portray different needs in these characters than those in the first book of the Family series (Something in the Way He Needs) and to show those need being met. We’re all different people and we need different things to fulfill ourselves. Finding a person who loves us for who we are, flaws and all, is wonderful. The characters in the Family books are not the perfect men for everyone. But, I hope, they’re the right men for each other.

SL: The main characters in the story seem different from each other. Was it difficult to come up with their identities and their overall background?

CC: I was lucky with this book. The characters and their story came easily. Yes, they’re different men. Different backgrounds. Different families. Different appearances. Different ages. Different education levels. Different job types. I could go on, but I’m boring myself here. Spencer and Emilio are different. But these aren’t men looking for a carbon copy of themselves to stand at their side. They admire in each other the qualities that they themselves don’t possess.

SL: Which of the two main characters deeply spoke to you – the one that maybe made an empathetic link with you?

CC: I can’t write about people unless I can get into their heads. That’s a critical part of my writing process. So to write Spencer and Emilio, I needed to empathize with both of them. The same is true for all my characters. To write a book, I need to get into those characters’ head space. Sometimes that easier than others and this was one of those times.

SL: To what extent did you research for this novel?

CC: This is contemporary, character-driven novel, so it didn’t require a lot in the way of research. The internet is my friend and I used it, but most of the book came from within.

SL: Is perfection in your writing important to you? What do you do to achieve the kind of perfection that is needed?

CC: I don’t think I know what perfection in writing would look like. I want to write books that are clean, well-edited, easy to read and understand, and meet my writing goals (which I listed in response to the first question). If I can do that, I’m happy. If I can’t, then I need to keep working on the book until I get there.

SL: Do you think Strong Enough will help you grab another of those shiny lot of awards you have deservingly won for your past works?

CC: I hope readers who have been loyal and supportive to me book after book enjoy this one. I think of them when I’m writing and hearing that I’ve made them smile and feel good makes me feel like I won the award for goal-accomplished.

SL: What’s next, after Strong Enough, then?

CC: My next book is More Than Everything, scheduled for release in mid-November. It’s also in the Family series. One of the characters was introduced in Something in the Way He Needs. The other two characters were introduced in Strong Enough. Yup. That math adds up to three. We already talked about stretching wings, right?

After that, I have a short holiday novella being released December 1st. It’s called Miracle and it’s a different kind of story for me, told in a different kind of way. Fingers crossed that different is good.

And then, though it pains me to say this, I’ll have the last book in the Home series being released in mid-February. It’s called Walk with Me and it’s about Seth and Eli, characters who have made appearances in some other Home books. Right now, I’m struggling with my goodbye to the series that led me on my writing journey.

SL: What kind of books do you like to read?

CC: I love to read the same types of books I love to write – happy, uplifting romances.

SL: And what are you currently reading?

CC: I’m not reading anything new right now. Do you have any suggestions?

SL: Oh I have many on this blog!

What would you say to all your fans out there?

CC: Thank you. Two simple words, but I mean them wholeheartedly. Thank you.

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STRONG ENOUGH

BLURB: When twenty-two-year-old Emilio Sanchez sees handsome Spencer Derdinger walking by his construction site, Emilio makes it his goal to seduce the shy professor. Getting Spencer into bed isn’t difficult, but Emilio soon learns that earning the trust of a man deeply hurt will take time and patience. With a prize like brilliant, sweet Spencer on the line, Emilio decides he is strong enough to face the challenge.

Spencer is surprised when he’s approached by the gorgeous construction worker he’s admired from the safety of his office window. Acting spontaneously for the first time in his thirty-eight years, Spencer takes Emilio home. When the casual hookup turns into the potential for love, Spencer realizes that if he wants to build a life with Emilio, he’ll need to be strong enough to slay his personal demons and learn to trust again.

THE BLOG OF SID LOVE rates it:

[…]“Strong Enough” made me feel like I was on a fluffy cloud…and I’m still smiling…

Read Susan Lee’s full review: STRONG ENOUGH

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few “awwws” into a reader’s day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno’s stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset. Cardeno feels that characters write their own stories and just hopes to find enough time to get those stories on the page.

Cardeno’s Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, “You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day.”

Website: cardenoc.com
Facebook: Cardeno C. Author
Facebook Author Page: Cardeno C.
Twitter: @cardenoc

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GIVEAWAY

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