A professor once told me that all first-time authors write their autobiography, even if tagged fiction. While I don’t believe that’s completely true, after all, some first-time authors write about vampires and shape shifters, I do think there’s a modicum of truth to that statement. In other words, even if an author writes a work of fiction, there are usually many elements of the story that are factual, and I’d venture to guess that, at minimum, authors probably pattern characters after people whom they know.

When my college professor suggested: “Write what you know.” — a quote often attributed to Mark Twain, but some say it is much older — I wasn’t certain if I really wanted to do that. After all, who would believe me?

Here are a few scary subjects I know about:
Child abuse, Sexual abuse, Drug abuse, Alcohol abuse, Abandonment, Rape, Suicide, Depression, Stalkers, Crime, Tragedies, Death...

But, thankfully, I also know about a lot of good subjects, too:
A new family, Hiking, Kayaking, Love at first sight, Happily ever after, Police & Detective Procedures, Belief in God, The power to overcome adversity…, 

Hey, I moved out on my own at the age of seventeen, and I'm married to a retired police detective, so I've seen a lot. The problem is ... will anyone believe or want to read about "what you know?" Well, I guess that depends. If you put it into a story, add a little, as Hollywood refers to it: Based on a true story, but dramatic elements have been added for the sake of artistic expression, then, yeah, some people will believe and/or want to read because more than likely they can identify with a character and/or a situation. And while they can enjoy an escape into a fictional story, they may take something from it.

The funny thing is most of the stories throughout history are based on a couple of those "unbelievable" elements I listed above. Although they may not all be in the same story, "love at first sight," "family tragedy," and/or "an unbelievable or vicious crime" are often the basis of a work of literary fiction. Fairy tales did it. Suspense-thrillers do it. It’s a great start!

So if you don’t believe one or more of the elements of a story, does that make it "unbelievable" or a "bad" story? One of the most popular themes is "love at first sight," which often gets a bad rap by reviewers. You may not believe in "love at first sight," but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, and many readers love it. In fact, even movies that aren’t tagged as "love at first site," usually have a hero and heroine thrust into an incredibly unbelievable situation, and are all of a sudden willing to die for each other. Of course, there are many classics like that, too: Romeo and Juliet, all the fairy tales, even The Godfather ... ooh, I bet you forgot about that one. Remember when Michael Corleone is walking through the picturesque countryside in Sicily and he spots the beautiful Apollonia… See, even graphic thrillers do it!

Well, as I mentioned in the above list, these are all the things I write about. Why? Because it’s what I know. So, let me share a tidbit of information with the unbelievers of the world who don't think "love at first sight" exists...

I’ve experienced a lot of tragedy in my life, but I got lucky in love! After my first date with my husband, I called my grandmother and told her I'd just met the man I was going to marry. Thirteen days later, he asked me to marry him. Thirty days later, we got married, and we’ve been married for thirty-one years.

Yes, I believe in "love at first sight," yes, I write tales filled with tragedy, mystery, suspense, hope and, above all, romance, because I’m living one. I’ll leave the rest of "what I know" situations that I write about in my books up to your imagination, and let you try to figure out what's real or made up. :)

Until next time, happy reading and imagining!

Carmen

If you would like to read a little more about what I write, follow the links below to learn more about my bestsellers. My stories are available in print, eBook, and audio formats at your favorite retailer. I even have a few freebies, so you can dive in risk-free!

Justine owns two kids, an ex-mother-in-law, and a bankrupt mother. Money scarce, she moves her family into a run-down, two-hundred-year-old farmhouse. Resident ghost Lottie offers to help. She’s bossy, but she cooks. So what if she’s betwixt and between? Before Lottie can intervene, though, the hero next door, Tucker, steals her thunder with his sexy grin, lazy Alabama drawl, and Mr. Fix-it talent.
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For more info or to download, visit AMAZON.com.

Dear Friend,

My wish for you is that 2021 is everything you hope for! Your best year ever!!!

My New Year's Goal... I'm going to try to write more and worry less! After all, and I'll quote since no one says it better: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his/her life?"

And since I know you are an avid reader like me, I'm offering FREE Audiobooks so you get more reading in your life, which IMHO, leads to less stress. 

If you're new to my books, check out the FREE eBooks listed after the audiobooks and my new releases and pre-order!

Happy New Year!
​
​Carmen

Choose your FREE audiobook from this selection!
Not sure which title to pick, choose from the genre!
Or visit my Amazon.com Audiobook Page for more info on all my audiobooks.

New to my books, grab these FREE Bestsellers!

Newly Released and Coming Soon!

​Sam Belgarde never wanted to be the head of his family’s search & rescue team, but when life dumps responsibilities in your lap, you either run away or step up. Sam stepped up. He also never wanted to be a hero, but he and his search dogs can sense danger a mile away… And Nora Molina is Danger with a Capital D, and Sam doesn't run from danger.

What readers are saying about the Midnight Sons series:
​

Thank you, my friends, for all your support! It means the world to me when I read your reviews asking for more books! It keeps me going in this crazy world!

The next newsletter, which will hopefully be in the next few weeks, will announce the release date of the next Midnight Sons book.

And the final two Creatus books will be out Fall 2021!

After that, I have two new series on the horizon, so I should have dates for those in the next few months.

Thank you again for hanging out with me all these years! 2021 will be ten years of publishing for me, so I'm hoping to share lots of new and great things all year...and to get over 2020!!!!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Carmen

​XoXo

Nearly all my books are available in ALL formats, so you have a choice!

Me... I still like to read!!! But... I find that I like to flip back and forth between the eBook and the audiobook. Not always, but nearly always, when an audiobook is offered at a discounted price with the purchase of an eBook, I'll snatch it up.

​Why? Because, like most of you, I'm always running, and I hate to stop reading. I can literally start reading with my Kindle in bed, then ask Alexa to "Play my Audiobook" in the kitchen while I'm making coffee, then I hop into my car, and it flips to the speakers, then while I'm shopping or waiting in line, I can either plug in my earbuds or flip to my Kindle App on my phone. And I never lose my place!

All the books are stand-alone stories. However, I do believe they're better read in order, so if you haven't started, catch up now, as the release dates will be up in a few weeks! Learn more on Amazon.com. Or CLICK the icon of your favorite retailer for more info!

I love Christmas! I love the traditions, family, gifts…the food.
 
But I also grew up poor and, oftentimes, wondered why other kids got presents that I didn’t. As I got older, I saw the realities of the world and realized how lucky I was. While I didn’t get the Barbie Dreamhouse I wanted, I did have a Barbie doll, and we always had a roof over our head and food on the table.
 
Some children aren’t so lucky…
 
When our boys were young, my husband, who was a police officer at the time, worked with the local community and knew the families who had rough breaks. The police department spent months collecting food and toys, and then took them to the hard-working families who needed help on Christmas. The faces of the beautiful children…and the tears of the appreciative parents were unforgettable. Our sons learned something, too. When they saw how wide-eyed a little boy was to receive a Tonka truck, they were more appreciative Christmas morning when they got their Nintendo or Sega…or whatever was popular that year.
 
Someone once said that if a group of people wrote their problems on a sheet of paper and tossed them in a basket and passed that basket around and traded problems, most people would choose to keep their problems. Obviously, no one can prepare for the tragedy that happens in the blink of an eye, but is it possible that we learn to deal with what we have—or don’t have?
 
I think so. I've been through a lot in life, and yet, writing has helped me. So, when a good friend suggested I write a Dear Santa story, I wanted to bring to life a story of a woman who, like me, didn’t realize how lucky she had it…and forgot about her dreams…or assumed she wasn’t powerful enough to make her dreams come true—personally and professionally.
 
I hope you enjoy my story of hope. Hope for a single mother…her son…and the children who live on the poor side of Chicago.