Sunday, May 8, 2016

Dreamspinner Sale


Dreamspinner Press has a sale all this week! 




If you've ever wanted to try my books or buy another of my books or grab a paperback to get signed at a conference, NOW IS THE TIME!!!! CLICK HERE!
35% off the following authors: 
Year 4 authors- Diane AdamsVictor J. Banis,  JP BarnabyAnne BarwellJessie Blackwood, Louise Blaydon, Selina Brody, Sue BrownScotty CadeTalia CarmichaelAllison CassattaAlan Chin, Elizabeth Coldwell, Shae Connor , R. Cooper, Charlie David, Jessica Skye Davies, Dawn Douglas, CJane ElliottPhoenix EmrysJeff Erno, Pepper Espinoza, Etienne , Feliz Faber, Jamie Fessenden, Rebecca Lynne Fullan, S.A. Garcia,  Ab Gayle, Michael Gouda, JM Gryffyn, Michael Halfhill, Lou Harper, Lori C. Hawkins, Valentina Heart, Morgan James, Hayley B. James, Kiernan Kelly, M. King, Christopher KoehlerTrina Lane, Maggie Lee, Rebecca Leigh, J.J. Levesque, (August) Gus Li, Pearl Love, J.R. Loveless, Ryan Loveless, Sui Lynn, Jake Mactire, Sarah Madison, Anna Marie May, Moria McCain, Rowan McallisterKate McMurray , T.C. Mill, Elizabeth Noble, Star Noble, J.L. O'Faolain, Stephen Osborne, Sjd Peterson , Amber Redd, Rick R. Reed , Tracy Rowan, Jaime Samms , Stefan Seabourne, Kate Sherwood, Ruth Sims, Joel Skelton, Amberly Smith, Shelter Somerset, JoAnne Soper-Cook, Andrea Speed , Caroline Stephens, Ethan Stone, Jan Suzukawa, B.g. ThomasTinnean , C.M. Torrens, Wynn Wagner, Felicia Watson, Cooper WestEden WintersLisa Worrall, Connor Wright, Sulayman X , Xara X. XanakasCari, C. Carol Zampa
Year 5 authors- Alex Alder, Perry Ambrose, Shira Anthony, Anna Birmingham, T.c. Blue, Ana Bosch, Lara Brukz,  Kc Burn, Rena Butler, Ellis Carrington, G N Chevalier, Nick Chivers Rebecca Cohen, David Connor, Michael G. Cornelius, Robert Cummings, Carole CummingsEon de BeaumontPoppy Dennison, Johnny Diaz, A. Soo Donim, E.S. Douglas, Jana Downs, Ryssa Edwards, Bell Ellis, Thursday EuclidTheo FenravenTia Fielding, Kim Fielding, Rhys Ford, Brandon Fox, Gene Gant, Elizabella Gold, John Goode, Elinor Gray, R.G. Green, Jeanette Grey, Liam Grey, M.d. Grimm, Ellee Hill, Ellen Holiday,  Jc HollyJohn Inman, Lee James, K.J. Johnson, Lissa Kasey, Chris T. Kat, Annie Kaye, G.P. Keith, Wade Kelly, Juan Kenobi, Zee Kensington, KevaD, Alex Kidwell, Evie Kiels, Tj KluneSusan LaineTara Larson, M. Lee, J.R. Lenk, Jamie Lowe, Malthea, Edmond Manning, Wayne Mansfield, Z.B. Marshall, Anna MartinSean Michael , C.L. Miles, E E Montgomery, April Moone, Clancy Nacht, Mj O'shea, Eve Ocotillo, Jeremy Pack,  Hb Pattskyn, Mal Peters, Charlotte Rahn-Lee, Eric Renner, Spencer Rook, Rodney Ross, Brian Rowe, Claire Russett, Ann T. Ryan, Cecilia Ryan, Jerry Sacher, Carly Safko, Robin Saxon, Riley Shane, Meredith Shayne, Pd Singerr, Sam Singer, Bee SnowAda Maria Soto, Christianna Spencer, Michael St. Anthony, Leora Stark, B.A. Stretke, Damon Suede, Cindy Sutherland, Lou SylvreAnne Tenino, Toki, Melanie Tushmore, Lorraine UlrichPiper Vaughn, Stuart Wakefield, DeShaun Walker, Alex Whitehall




Saturday, May 7, 2016

Thárros by C. Kennedy is out!

Thárros by C. Kennedy is out!

Θάρρος
Thárros. Greek. Meaning courage
Courage. n. /ˈkərij/
1. The ability to do something that frightens one.
2. Strength in the face of fear, pain, or grief.
~*~
Courage is resistance to fear,
mastery of fear,
not the absence of fear. ~Mark Twain




High school senior Michael Sattler leads a charmed life. Almost. He has great friends, parents who love him just the way he is, and he was a champion hurdler until someone took out his knee when they kidnapped his boyfriend. Yet, Michael is determined to make the USATF tryouts in spite of his injuries.

Christy Castle is Michael’s entire world. Healing from years of abuse, his abduction by a predator has left him hiding a new secret as he tries to start his life again. Together, Michael and Christy work to recover from their wounds in time to make prom and graduate high school. To complicate matters, Christy is astonished to learn a fellow victim from his native Greece has survived. Christy will stop at nothing to bring him to the US to keep him safe.

But the prosecution of Christy’s kidnapper looms large in their futures and the struggle to return to normal only worsens. Christy's past continues to haunt them and, when the prosecution turns ugly and Christy’s new life is torn apart, only their unrelenting courage and determination can save them from the nightmare that threatens to destroy their future together.


Add Thárros to your Goodreads and BookLikes Lists!
Read Chapter One or Read en français



Thárros Book Tour and an Exclusive Excerpt Featuring Wade Kelly as Our Talk Show Host!

A very special thank you to Wade for hosting me today for the Thárros Blog Tour! It’s great to be here!

My newest book, Thárros, Book Two in the Elpída Series, is a continuation of Christy and Michael’s story. It picks up where Ómorphi left off. The boys work to heal after Christy’s abduction and Michael’s daring rescue of him, and this story centers on the trial to prosecute Christy’s abuser and kidnapper, Yosef Sanna. Writing works about the tough subject sexual abuse is hard. It must be done in such a manner as to reveal the cruelty of abuse without hitting you over the head with it. As such, I look to balance the story with laughter, joy, and hope.

For the release of Ómorphi, I created a character interview of Christy with Wade as our talk show host. That post was so popular with fans that it became part of Thárros, the novel. Lo and behold, Wade is now memorialized in print! Check out the exclusive excerpt, Wade’s interview of Christy, below.

Thank you for being our talk show host, Wade. You are the coolest dude I know!


They watched the show recording from the sidelines of the studio. Christy trembled with fear, and Michael did his best to comfort him by holding him close with an arm around his shoulders. “You’re going to do great,” he assured.
“I do not like this,” Christy whispered.
“We’re here. You’re not alone.”
“Are you ready?” Nero asked.
They nodded, and the show host announced them. They walked to the stage and took their seats as they’d been instructed ahead of time.
Wade Kelly seemed to be a nice woman and welcomed Christy warmly.
“Christy, you have actively worked to avoid the media since you came to the United States. Thank you for allowing me to be the first to interview you.”
“You are welcome, Mrs. Kelly.”
“Please call me Wade. Tell us how it feels to be popular for the first time in your life in a good way.”
Christy seemed uncomfortable and looked to Michael for help. Michael squeezed his hand. “Say whatever you want, babe.”
“I will not be in trouble for this?”
“Nope.”
“Okay. This is uncomfortable for me. I do not wish for people to know who I am. I wish to have a life free of people who stare and say bad things about me.”
Wade smiled pleasantly. “That’s understandable. But what if people say nice things about you and stare because they admire you?
Christy thought for a moment. “I do not like the staring. I would prefer people speak to me as if I am like them and did not have a terrible history.”
“Each of us has a history, and we don’t always like what’s in it. You’re here with us today because we admire you.”
Soft applause emanated from the audience, and Christy blushed. “This is perhaps a little untrue. You admire the story of me.”
Wade laughed lightly, and Michael chuckled softly. “He’s kind of stubborn.”
She smiled. “I see that.”
“Only a little stubborn,” Christy defended.
Wade pressed another question “How do you like living at Wellington Ranch?”
“This is very nice for me. I have my own cabin. I am clean, I have food, and I am safe to sleep. It is a home for me. Not only a house. And I have Rob now. This is important for me.”
She smiled kindly. “Dr. Villarreal is a very nice man.”
“I wish to say one more thing,” Christy said.
“Go ahead.”
“Michael does not like the security cameras in the cabin. He does not feel we have the privacy. But they are necessary to see that I am not ill or hurt, and I am safe.”
Wade smiled again, and Michael wondered if her face ever got tired.
“What are your plans for the future?”
“I will be with Michael and graduate from the high school.”
“That sounds wonderful. How do you feel about the upcoming prosecution of Mr. Sanna?”
“I am happy for this. I have learned that what he did to me is wrong. It is very nice of the president of Greece to remove the diplomatic immunity from Yosef, and I like the United States for doing this for me.”
Soft applause emanated from the audience again.
“We understand that you’re giving your testimony in the form of pictures you have painted. Tell us a little about that.”
Dangerous ground. Michael looked across the stage at Nero, who nodded his okay.
“The paintings are the statement for the police. They are not the testimony. I will have to say what happened to me as the testimony. It will be hard for me.”
Wade offered the camera a sympathetic smile. “I bet it will be hard.”
“Michael and Rob will help me with this. I will do it.”
“Can you tell us a little about what you have painted?”
Christy shifted uncomfortably in his seat and glanced at Michael. Michael whispered into his ear, “Say you don’t want to talk about it.”
“I do not wish to say this.”
“Fair enough. What plans do you have for fun in your new life?”
Christy glanced at Michael again and Michael leaned in. “Tell her about prom.”
Christy smiled for the first time in the interview. “We have a dance to attend. It is called the senior prom. Michael says I can wear the clothes I like. We did the shop for these. There are also flowers involved. I am to have the corsage, and Michael is to have the boutonnière. This is exciting for me.”
Applause cascaded down the audience.
“Rumor has it that you’re not going to wear a scarf to prom. Is that true?”
Christy’s brow dipped in a frown. “As you say, this is a rumor. The people who make the rumor are to blame for this. However, it is the true rumor. I will not wear the scarf for the prom.”
Wade laughed softly for the camera. “All right, Christy. Thank you for being so courageous and for spending time with us. We hope you’ll come back soon.”
“Thank you, Wade.”
Wade turned to face the camera squarely. “There you have it. You heard Christy talk for the first time live and candidly, and I hope not for the last time. He’s shy but seems to be growing more confident as time goes on, and I think Michael has played a great part in that. It goes to show us what true love can do for us.”
Thunderous applause filled the audience.
Michael kissed Christy’s cheek and whispered, “You did great, babe.”
Christy blushed. “I did this.”
“Yep, you did.”
“She said I am courageous.”
“Yep, you are.”
“This is new for me. Okay. I wish to go now.”
“Okay. We’ll go now.”
Nero’s large hand descended on Christy’s shoulder and gave it a pat, nearly sending Christy to his knees. Only holding onto Michael’s arm kept him standing.
“You did wonderfully!”
Christy smiled up at Nero. “I did, Kýrios Santini. She said I am courageous.”
Laughter rumbled low in Nero’s throat. “You’re the bravest soul I know, Christy.”



Add Thárros to your Goodreads and BookLikes Lists!
Read Chapter One or Read en français


About Cody

Cody is an award-winning author who lives, most of the time, on the West Coast of the United States. Raised on the mean streets and back lots of Hollywood by a Yoda-look-alike grandfather, Cody doesn’t conform, doesn’t fit in, is epic awkward, and lives to perfect a deep-seated oppositional defiance disorder. In a constant state of fascination with the trivial, Cody contemplates such weighty questions as If time and space are curved, then where do all the straight people come from? When not writing, Cody can be found taming waves on western shores, pondering the nutritional value of sunsets, appreciating the much-maligned dandelion, unhooking guide ropes from stanchions, and marveling at all things ordinary. Among many other awards, Omorphi was a runner-up in the 2014 Rainbow Awards, and Slaying Isidore's Dragons was a finalist in the 2015 Rainbow Awards. Cody does respond to blog comments and emails because, after all, it is all about you, the reader.

Find Cody on FacebookTwitter @CodyKAuthor, Pinterest,
Booklikes, and read a free serial story, Fairy

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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Things I've Learned

Howdy. I'm here today to pass along a little advice on things I've learned from my therapist, and from my editor. (Or in the editing process.) So if you are a writer, or a human, (or both,) maybe something I say can help you.

1. Be kind. Going through life being an ass is probably easier, but it doesn't pay off. I think we need to love more and hate less.


2. Focus on yourself. -worry less about what others think. I have learned the hard way that I can't control other people's emotions or reactions. *Not that I was trying to "control" anything. But sometimes, no matter what you do, someone is always going to treat you poorly or hurt you or hate you. I've tried to be a good person, a good mom, a good writer, and a good Christian, but someone will always think I've fallen short of being anything good. So, what do you do with that? You work on yourself.

I'm trying to just LOVE ME. I'm trying to realize MY strengths, MY talents, MY positive influences no matter what other people say about me. This is not easy, especially for an author. We are surrounded by criticism all the time! Bad reviews hurt because they cause doubt. I doubt. I doubt myself all the time. What I need to is SIMPLY WRITE because writing is what I love and what I am passionate about. I have to trust that my stories WILL make a difference in the world, no matter what people say to the contrary. I have to take a stand on what I believe in, even if people hate me for it.

3. Put forth your BEST effort! (Editorially speaking, but it translates into most things.) The very hardest edits I ever received, even worse than a rejection letter, was on a book I did NOT give my best to edit. I wrote it and hastily submitted it. Yes, it was accepted, but it was not an easy thing to get edits that tore me up emotionally. With the next book, I TOOK GREAT CARE in editing the manuscript before submission and my life is SOOO MUCH smoother because of it. This type of care should be given to everything in life. Do your best no matter what you are doing.

Personally, I'm trying to balance a LOT of things. I am trying to be the best mother I could be, the best author I can be, and the best wife I can be. Sometimes, one aspect gets more attention than another, but I really AM trying to do it all.

My advice to people is to put forth the best effort you can in all things.

4. Let go of bitterness and anger. THIS is something I haven't been able to do yet, but I'm trying. Bitterness and anger has a habit of swirling around the subconscious and festering. Take my word for it. Bitterness can take over your life and steal your joy.


I'm on a quest to spread love and encourage people. I challenge you all to do the same! Pick a few people off your Facebook friends list and post an encouraging pic like this:

(*sent to my sweet Kayla)

It may surprise you how often those posts are sent at JUST THE RIGHT TIME when the person needed a smile.

5. Writers write! Novels don't really write themselves. Sometimes the story flow so easily it feels like it writes itself, but it doesn't. It takes typing, and editing, and proofreading to make a story come to life where others can read it. There are MANY authors who write a book, publish it, and then they are sort of done. Maybe they ran out of stories, maybe they thought the one was all they had to say, but I think the authors who have stories in their veins, write more than one novel. Prove to the naysayers around you YOU ARE an author. Go Write! You can't just say you are writing a novel. You need to back up the claim. I've been on a hiatus as my doubts have grown so big I don't know how to get rid of them. But the cure for doubt is succeeding. I WILL WRITE THE NEXT BOOK! I AM AN AUTHOR! Writing is what I do. Writing is what I love.


That's all for now! I need to go edit!

hugs and kisses

Wade