THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR CHERYL KAYE TARDIF

Mystery, suspense, thrillers, paranormal, horror & YA by "Cheryl Kaye Tardif" & romance by "Cherish D'Angelo". Cheryl is represented by Trident Media Group in NY.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Mar 4-7 - Killer Thriller Book Launch - Seven Bestselling Authors - 7 Killer Thrillers

Meet one of the Killer Thriller Authors...

Submerge Yourself in the World of Cheryl Kaye Tardif

When people ask me what I do, I like to tell them: "I kill people off for a living." You can imagine the looks I get. Sometimes I'll follow with: "Fictitiously, of course. I'm a suspense writer." Sometimes I won't say anything else. Yeah, I'm bad that way.

Writing thriller, suspense, mystery and/or crime novels has always been my passion—especially if I throw a pinch of supernatural or paranormal into the mix. I've always been drawn to dark stories, ones that raise the hairs on the back of my neck or make me glance over my shoulder. The two greatest influences in my writing life have been Dean Koontz and Stephen King. Need I say more?

So what can I offer you if you choose to read my books? I hope and strive to give you a satisfying read, once that will impact you emotionally. If I can make you shudder or tremble or wince or even cry, then I've done my job.

In SUBMERGED, I share with you a very personal fear of mine—the fear of being in a car that's underwater and not being able to get out. I have traveled long distances by car hundreds of times during my life, twice from one coast of Canada to the other. Whenever we're along a stretch of highway with a body of water beside me, my fear kicks in. And I hold my breath…waiting…praying…

I want you to relate to this fear. But even more, I want my characters to come to life. I want you to feel for Marcus Taylor, a struggling recovering addict who has had his fair share of grief and guilt. I want you to admire his strength, even in the midst of his weaknesses. I want you, dear reader, to feel compassion for this man who has lost his wife and son in a terrible accident, who blames himself for their deaths, and who is searching for redemption, though he doesn't really know he is.

I want you to cheer on Rebecca Kingston, a mother on the verge of divorce who has left an abusive husband. I want you to feel empathy for her because this decision, no matter what others think, is not an easy one to make. I want you to cry with her when she realizes she is physically unable to help her children who are trapped with her in a sinking vehicle. And I want you to be holding your breath every time Rebecca does.

Marcus and Rebecca (and the others in SUBMERGED) may only be characters on paper, but they feel real to me. I gave "birth" to them and watched them grow. With every step they took, I wiped away their tears, hugged them and loved them. And, dear reader, I sincerely hope you'll love them just as much.

Happy reading…with the lights on…

Cheryl Kaye Tardif, international bestselling author

PS: The Kindle edition of SUBMERGED is available on Amazon from March 4th – 7th for a special price of only $0.99 US and during the Killer Thriller Book Launch.

But if you don't want to wait, you can pick up SUBMERGED here. :-)

The trade paperback of SUBMERGED is also available.

Learn more about me and connect at:


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Win a copy of SUBMERGED via Goodreads giveaway

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Submerged by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Submerged

by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Giveaway ends March 31, 2013.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Monday, February 25, 2013

New Release: SUBMERGED, a breathtaking new thriller with a hint of supernatural


But DON'T buy it today! :-)
March 4-6th Special Offer: $0.99 US*
Regular list price: $3.99 US

Available today in Kindle edition from Amazon.
Trade paperback also available.

*Regular List Price: $4.99 US


Sunday, February 24, 2013

Only 1 day til the release of SUBMERGED


The most suspenseful, hold-your-breath, supernatural thriller of 2013 is almost here!

Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Just 2 days to SUBMERGED


The most suspenseful, hold-your-breath, supernatural thriller of 2013 is almost here!

Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Saturday, February 23, 2013

What Are You Afraid Of?


According to Wikipedia, "The English suffixes -phobia, -phobic, -phobe (of Greek origin: φόβος/φοβία ) occur in technical usage in psychiatry to construct words that describe irrational, disabling fear as a mental disorder …"

Most of us are familiar with the common phobias, like acrophobia (fear of heights), agoraphobia (fear of open places or being in public) or claustrophobia (fear of small spaces), but many are unaware of somniphobia (fear of sleep), gephyrophobia (fear of bridges), phobophobia (the fear of fear itself), or the countless other phobias a human being may have to endure.

Fear is self-sabotage. It can be one of the most debilitating conditions a person ever experiences, both physically and emotionally. It can impede you from seeking medical help when you need it. It can stop you from being financially stable. It can prevent you from leaving a bad situation, whether it's a relationship or a job. Fear can obstruct you from moving forward, becoming successful or simply living a healthy life.

Some fears are healthy. It's natural to fear the unknown, to want to protect ourselves and others, and to take risk assessments of any situations that could be perceived as "dangerous" or "risky." Having healthy fears makes us more conscious of our actions and their consequences. Most of us will find ways around or through these fears.

But some of us may be gripped by fear to the point that it's no longer healthy. When fear gets out of control and dominates our lives, it is no longer of benefit to us, and we must intentionally make an effort to overcome, control or manage these fears—before they control us. Decisions should not be made out of fear but from rational analysis and thought.

How do you overcome or manage fear?

  1. First, you must recognize it. When that little voice inside your head says, "I'm afraid of flying in a plane," you must first acknowledge the fear. Admit it's there. Confess that it is holding you back in some way.
  1. You must understand where that particular fear comes from. What experiences have you had, witnessed or even heard of secondhand that could have led to your feelings about this fear?
  1. Ask yourself why you're experiencing this fear and what is it trying to tell you. Most fears stem from a feeling that you'll be physically harmed in some way.
  1. Accept that you have an irrational fear. Then search for ways to deal with it. This could mean intentionally putting yourself in front of your fear, or finding alternatives around it. If you fear flying, you may choose to drive. If the distance is too long, then you need to find a way to rewire your brain into choosing the destination over the method of travel.
  1. Talk about your fears. Find someone you trust who will listen to you. Sometimes just having someone hear you out can make your fears diminish. They may not disappear completely, but there are healthy ways, like meditation, that can help you manage the damaging thoughts that come with fear.
There is no absolute guaranteed method to abolish whatever fears you may be experiencing, but as long as you are making conscious decisions to not let fear govern your life, you are in control. Fear can control you—if you allow it to. Or you can take back control, seek counseling and move forward with your life.

Living in fear is a choice. So choose NOT to let fear control you. Go ahead. What are you afraid of?

* * *

Cheryl Kaye Tardif is an international bestselling author from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her new release, SUBMERGED, is a terrifying, hold-your-breath thriller that deals with a fear that the author can relate to—the fear of being trapped in a submerged vehicle. 


Friday, February 22, 2013

3 days to SUBMERGED


Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Special Guest: Catherine Astolfo, bestselling author of The Bridgeman

Today's special guest is a long-time friend of mine, and she's Canadian, like me. :-)
Oh The Voices in My Head
If you heard an echo of “Gloria” in yours at that title, you are probably close to my advanced age!
I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea, but I have to admit that I go around hearing voices. They are pretty real to me, since I gave birth to their owners.
The characters in my novels have birthdates, full names, height, weight, colour of eyes, hair and skin, personalities, quirks, strengths and weaknesses – all from me. Most of them live in a little village that I created too. Although Burchill (my town) is based on Merrickville (near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), my characters have no such origin. They are totally fabricated.
Well, okay, maybe they’ve got some basis in fact. I do know a lot of people, have met many more, and worked with lots of different personalities. But my characters would be insulted if they were told they were based on someone else. They’re full-fledged people in their own right.  (That does sound a bit crazy, I know.)
The characters of Burchill—Emily, Langford, May, Alain, Edgar, Frances, Chief Dan and so on—are all people I can picture instantly. Like old friends whose faces you can never, ever forget. The moment you are back in one another’s company, it’s as though you’ve never been apart.
The stories and the plots are always there in my head, too. (It gets very crowded sometimes and circuits do tend to overload.) Formulating scenes causes me to stare at everything and everyone, and (nowadays) make notes. Life is endlessly fascinating this way, even the low points. I have written my way through my sister’s early death, breast cancer, and my mother’s dementia.
The Bridgeman was a reaction to my niece’s job in a vet clinic that dealt with animals from “farms” as well as a study of how someone very ordinary can be quite—far from ordinary. Victim gave me a chance to explore my fascination with the Ojibwa culture and philosophy. For Legacy, I drew on some experiences from the schools in which I taught or administered. As well, I was able to throw in a vision I had long ago about an evil preacher. In Seventh Fire, I gave the back story for Langford and Emily, the dark past that had been lurking since the first book.
Now I’ve got 3 books on the go: one about a psychopath who betrays her best friend, a “cozy” about a retirement home, and a children’s story about a ghost I once knew. Oh the voices in my head!
Come on over to Catherine’s website and sit a spell: www.catherineastolfo.com

Thursday, February 21, 2013

4 days to SUBMERGED


Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Reviewers wanted for Cheryl Kaye Tardif's upcoming new thriller, SUBMERGED

30 reviewers will get the chance to read my new thriller, SUBMERGED, before everyone else.

Here's how YOU can qualify to receive a free PDF:

  1. You must have written at least 1 book review on Amazon.com and have an existing account there.
  2. You must have written at least 1 book review on Goodreads.com and have an existing account there.
  3. You must be willing to commit to write an honest review of SUBMERGED and post it to Amazon.com & Goodreads between February 26-March 4, 2013.

30 people will receive SUBMERGED though this special reviewer offer, so it's important that you keep your commitment.

If interested here's what you need to do:

Send me an email with "Reviewer for SUBMERGED" in the subject line. In the email confirm that you have accounts with Amazon.com and Goodreads.com, and confirm that you will commit to reviewing SUBMERGED on both sites between February 26-March 4th, 2013.

The FIRST 30 to send me their request will receive an advanced copy of SUBMERGED.


"Submerged reads like an approaching storm, full of darkness, dread and electricity. Prepare for your skin to crawl."
—Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of 15 Seconds

Two strangers submerged in guilt, brought together by fate…

After a tragic car accident claims the lives of his wife, Jane, and son, Ryan, Marcus Taylor is immersed in grief. But his family isn't the only thing he has lost. An addiction to painkillers has taken away his career as a paramedic. Working as a 911 operator is now the closest he gets to redemption—until he gets a call from a woman trapped in a car.


SUBMERGED BOOK LAUNCH - March 4-6th, 2013.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

5 days to SUBMERGED


Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

6 days to SUBMERGED


Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Monday, February 18, 2013

7 days to SUBMERGED


Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Special Guest: Heather Graham, author of Let the Dead Sleep

Today, I'd like to welcome New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham to my blog.

A CHAT WITH HEATHER GRAHAM
AUTHOR OF “LET THE DEAD SLEEP”

  1. Your new book, LET THE DEAD SLEEP, the theft of a centuries-old sculpture, the carved bust of a wicked man, sparks a struggle between good and evil.  You introduce two compelling characters, Danni Cafferty, a young woman who inherits an unusual antiques and curio shop in New Orleans, and Michael Quinn, a private investigator with a mysterious past.  Is this the first of a new series of Cafferty and Quinn books with the pair battling evil with the aid of an ancient text?
Yes, thank you! The team of Cafferty and Quinn will struggle through more ordeals—and how to manage their relationship, as well.

  1. Like many of your books, LET THE DEAD SLEEP involves elements of the paranormal and the ability of human beings to deal with the unknown.  What intrigues you so much about the paranormal?
I love the possibilities out there.  I can be the world’s worst skeptic, but I’m also curious and ever hopeful.  Most of us have lost loved ones—I want to believe that I will see mine again. If such things are possible, then the world of what we don’t see all the time just might be possible, too.  I love hearing stories and I’ve heard some really good ones that make you wonder about the power of the human mind—and soul.

  1. You’ve been on a number of ghost hunts, ghost tours and walks.  Which ones are your favorites and where is your favorite haunted place?
I think I’ve loved them all. Last year (available on On Demand, I believe!) my daughter and I appeared on “Haunted Encounters” for the Biography Channel. It was for their half hour segment on the Lizzie Borden house. She played Lizzie and killed me as Abby and our friend, writer Dennis Cummins, as Andrew Borden. She was great! But they had me lying right where Abby had been found and Chynna had a real hatchet. It was pretty creepy!

I also love the cemeteries (and any place, really) in New Orleans, the Spanish Military Hospital, St. Augustine, a number of places in Key West, Salem, Massachusetts, and the Myrtles Plantation, in Louisiana.  There’s a YouTube video up (Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters Ghost Series, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtC2fCOwV9A) from our Myrtles Plantations trip.  We had the whole plantation to ourselves for a weekend to film and explore.  My friends, the Peace River Ghost Trackers, were with us. 

We had a séance once at the House of Seven Gables. That was amazing! Other places in the world would include the Tower of London, the Capuchin Monastery church in Rome, the underground in Edinburgh . . . my list could go on and on.

  1. What was your most recent ghost hunt?
As I write this, the Queen Mary.  The Peace River Ghost Trackers arranged for us to have one alone with just a single guard to explore the ship.  We spent a lot of time in the pool area and beneath the stairs, said to be among the most haunted places on the ship.   It was the most convinced my daughter ever was that something or someone else might be there.

  1. A recent survey reports that six in ten U.S. voters believe in demonic possession, more than a third believe in ghosts, and 52% believe houses can be haunted but just 47% would be willing to stay in a haunted house overnight (Public Policy Polling).   You’ve stayed in several haunted houses.  What was the most interesting and do you believe the house was truly haunted? 
Most probably the Lizzie Borden house.  The owner, Lee-ann Wilbur, has done an amazing job refurbishing and refurnishing—areas of the house look exactly as they looked in pictures taken at the time of the crimes.  She also has a number of headless mannequins dressed in period clothing throughout the house.  Every year after a great conference in Rhode Island called NECON, I go up to Fall River with a group of writers.  We take the entire house for a night.  The only time I was the last one to go to bed, I was moving through the house walking normally, when I suddenly began running to get to my room.  Lee-Ann is a wonderful hostess and the B and B is beautiful. Whether you’re a believer or not, it’s a great place to stay.

  1.  You’ve written a number of books set in New Orleans.  Why is it such a perfect location for paranormal stories?
There’s something extremely special about New Orleans.  It’s where the documents for the Louisiana Purchase were signed and it’s been home to about every nationality in the world. The food is great and just walking down the streets in the French Quarter you can hear some of the best music in the world.  Jackson Square is as filled with life as the cemeteries are with the essence of death.  I think I especially love the city because you do see every one of every belief from everywhere in any flesh tone known to man. I love the history because it’s so rich, and I especially love it because it’s a living history. Lafitte’s old shop is a bar. Hotels where soldiers were cared for once still stand—and welcome guests. I love the art, the music, the architecture—you name it!

  1. The location always seems to come to life in your books, whether it be The Alamo, Salem, Massachusetts, South Florida and the Keys or New Orleans.  The locale almost becomes a character in the story, just as it does in LET THE DEAD SLEEP.  How does location help inspire your novels as you are developing the story line? 
If I love a place, I try really hard to let a reader see it—and hopefully, love it as I do, or want to visit!  Also, I know in life that where I grew up influenced me. What we see, feel, live, and touch every day definitely has a bearing on our view of the world.  Some of us love snow and can’t see a Christmas without it. Some of us are accustomed to having water near by—warm water in my case!—and can’t imagine life without escaping to the sea. Growing up, I was lucky. My parents were readers. I read my dad’s war books and a lot of the histories and novels my mother brought from Ireland—they made we want to see the places I read about. I hope to do the same—bring a place to life.

  1. A blogger recently reported that there are over 70 first-run or syndicated television programs devoted to topics of ghosts, aliens, mediums and psychics airing in the U.S., England and Canada.   Paranormal romances have become one of the dominant romance novel sub-genres.  What do you believe is behind their popularity?
We’re mortal—and we don’t want to be! I think, as well, that most people feel the same way I do—that we must see our loved ones again. Also, curious but true, the concept of vampires remains sexy, superpowers, well, we all want them, and as for zombies . . . well, we’re always afraid that the apocalypse is coming, so you should be ready to fight off zombies, right?
  1. What are your favorite ghost/paranormal program on television?  Favorite movie with a paranormal theme?
On television, “Supernatural” is my favorite.  When it comes to movies, I have a few! “Ghost”—a beautiful story!  “The Frighteners”—funny and creepy.  And popping vampires in there, I’d say “The Lost Boys.”

  1. What is coming up in 2013 after LET THE DEAD SLEEP?
More of the Krewe of Hunters. They’ll travel to an old theater out west, in Arizona, to a haunted restaurant in Savannah, and then to Nashville, where a Civil War soldier still tries to warn others of impending danger!   THE NIGHT IS WATCHING is out in June 2013.

11.   You write both historical and contemporary romances.  Which do you prefer?

I love them both!  When you are writing an historical novel, you’re dealing with a different set of values, a different political situation, even a different moral code dictated by another time.  To make the story work, you have to take all those things into consideration, as well as everyday things like appropriate dress, the running of a household or the raising of children, to make the story come alive for the reader.

12.   You have five children.  What’s the most important thing you have learned from them?

That your kids really raise you. Children open so many doors. As parents, you meet people you wouldn’t have met, learn about things you would have missed out on, have experiences you’d never have had without them. I’ve gotten the inspiration for books from my kids’ Little League days, a friend of one who is a U.S. Marshall, one son’s passion for dance—and the love of the mysterious and travel that we all share. But the most important thing I’ve learned from them is that there is nothing more important than the ones you love.

13.   If you weren’t a writer, what do you think you’d be doing right now?
My major was theater, so if I hadn’t become a writer, I would probably be playing one of the witches from Macbeth somewhere in regional theater.  Who knows, maybe I’d be on a top soap like Kelly!

14.   What else would you like your readers to know about you?

That I feel so blessed to be able to do something I really love to make my living, and it’s the best career in the world with five kids.

LET THE DEAD SLEEP
by
Heather Graham

An object of desire? Or fear?

It was stolen from a New Orleans grave—the centuries old bust of an evil man, a demonic man. It's an object desired by collectors and by those with wickedness in their hearts.  The spine-tingling new novel from HarlequinMIRA, LET THE DEAD SLEEP (April 2013) by New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham is the story of one man’s desire to possess the statue and control its evil powers.

One day, the current owner of the bust shows up at Danni Cafferty's antiques shop on Royal Street, the shop she inherited from her father.  The woman is desperate to rid herself of the object, but before Danni can buy the statue, it disappears, the owner is found dead...and Danni discovers that she's inherited much more than she realized. In the store is a book filled with secret writing:  instructions for defeating evil entities. She'd dismissed it as a curiosity... until the arrival of this statue, with its long history of evil and even longer trail of death.

Michael Quinn, former cop and now private investigator, is a man with an unusual past and a former colleague of Danni’s father.  He believes that doing the right thing isn't a job-it's a way of life.  And the right thing to do is to find and destroy this object weighted with malevolent powers.  He and Danni are drawn together in their search for the missing statue, following it through sultry New Orleans nights to hidden places in the French Quarter and secret ceremonies on abandoned plantations.

Cafferty and Quinn already know that trust in others can be misplaced, that love can be temporary. And yet their connection is primal. Mesmerizing. They also know that their story won't end when this case is closed and the dead rest in peace once again.

April 2013
ISBN: 9780778315056
$24.95 US / $27.95 CAN.

About HEATHER GRAHAM:

Heather Graham has written more than a hundred novels, many of which have been featured by the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild.  An avid scuba diver, ballroom dancer and mother of five, she still enjoys her south Florida home, but loves to travel as well, from Venice, Italy, Cairo, Egypt, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Boston to her own backyard, the Florida Keys.  

Reading, however, is the pastime she still loves best, and she is a member of many writing groups. She's a winner of the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Thriller Writers' Silver Bullet. She is an active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, and also the founder of The Slush Pile Players, an author band and theatrical group.

Heather hosts the annual Writers for New Orleans conference to benefit both the city, which is near and dear to her heart, and various other causes, and she hosts a ball each year at the RT Booklovers Convention to benefit pediatric AIDS foundations. For more information, check out her website: www.eHeatherGraham.com. You can also find Heather on Facebook.

April 2013
ISBN: 9780778315056
$24.95 US / $27.95 CAN.


Sunday, February 17, 2013

8 days to SUBMERGED


Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Saturday, February 16, 2013

9 days to SUBMERGED


Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Friday, February 15, 2013

10 days to SUBMERGED


Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Thursday, February 14, 2013

11 days to SUBMERGED


Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

12 days to SUBMERGED

Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

13 days til you're submerged in SUBMERGED!


Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

The countdown is on! 14 days to SUBMERGED

Release date: February 26th, 2013
In Kindle Edition, with Paperback to follow

SUBMERGED - a thriller with a hint of supernatural,
from international bestselling author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

The countdown to SUBMERGED is on! 14 days to go!

Starting today, I'll be posting 14 ad posters, counting down the days to the release of my new thriller, SUBMERGED. You can follow along on Facebook and check out the posters at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Kaye-Tardif-novels/29769736630

You can also see the stunning book cover on my Facebook page, which was revealed last night.

And be sure to follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif

SUBMERGED...

Two strangers submerged in guilt, brought together by fate…

After a tragic car accident claims the lives of his wife, Jane, and son, Ryan, Marcus Taylor is immersed in grief. But his family isn't the only thing he has lost. An addiction to painkillers has taken away his career as a paramedic. Working as a 911 operator is now the closest he gets to redemption—until he gets a call from a woman trapped in a car...

Available in Kindle edition on Amazon on February 26th, 2013. Paperback to follow.

Join us for the countdown at: 

Saturday, February 09, 2013

The publishing journey of SUBMERGED

First, I'd like to thank you all for your supportive emails, letters and social network messages when I announced that SUBMERGED was finished and a publishing announcement was upcoming. I am very excited about this thriller! But I'm even more excited that you are too. :-)

SUBMERGED is a story that was inspired by the battle a friend of mine had with addiction. At first, I just wanted to write a book with a main character who was an addict, but my friend shared so much of his own experiences that my character, Marcus, grew before my eyes. Conflicted by the past and submerged in grief and guilt, he believes he's where he should be--a sort of punishment of sorts, for past transgressions. But a phone call from a woman trapped in a vehicle changes his life forever.

My agent, Erica Spellman-Silverman, from Trident Media Group, and I discussed the options for SUBMERGED. We could approach publishers with it, but after careful consideration, many phone calls and weeks of contemplation, we both felt that wasn't the best plan for the book. And here's why...

If we pitched SUBMERGED to the big publishers, we would have to wait anywhere from 1-2 years before the book was published. And I'm not interested in pursuing smaller publishers because they just wouldn't have much to offer me. After my huge success last year with CHILDREN OF THE FOG, I know what I want career-wise. And after hearing what one publisher thought she could get me as an advance, I realized that I needed to aim high and continue doing what I've been doing until someone thinks I'm worth what I want out of a deal. After all, an author can't take lightly the aspect of giving away her rights to one of her books. It has to be worth it.

Erica's concern was also for my readers. She knows how hard I've worked to get my books out there, to connect with readers worldwide, and she understands that my fans want another book. Today, not in 2 years. So we came up with a plan.

I won't go into all the details, but suffice it to say, I was excited once I got the ball rolling. SUBMERGED will be published very soon. My readers won't have long to wait now. And providing I do well with sales, Erica is going to take both CHILDREN OF THE FOG and SUBMERGED to a major publisher, armed with sales data, and we'll go after a 2-book deal, foreign rights and audio. And...we may pitch a third book that would also have a tie-in to these books.

SUBMERGED is a standalone thriller with a hint of paranormal. It is not part of a series.

But it does have a cool tie-in to CHILDREN OF THE FOG, and vice versa.

SUBMERGED will be published by Imajin Books like my other titles. Imajin Books is my publishing company; I'm an indie author and proud of it. But yes, I have my sights set on a BIG book deal in the future.

And now...for the news you have all been waiting for...the release date for SUBMERGED.

I am very pleased to announce that SUBMERGED will hit Amazon's virtual bookshelf on...

FEBRUARY 26th, 2013

A paperback will follow shortly after. To start, only Amazon will carry SUBMERGED, but that could change later.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter and Like my Facebook page so you can follow the big countdown and the cover reveal. My official launch party will be March 4-6, online. More on that later.

See you online! :-)

~Cheryl

Enter Cheryl's deadly 'Create a Corpse Contest'


This contest is now open!

Has anyone really ticked you off lately? Here's a cool way to "get even."

From now until February 28th, 2013, you can submit 2 names (first & last) of someone you know (boss, husband, school bully, ex-friend, yourself etc.), or a fictitious name, and I will "kill them off" in my next Divine novel--DIVINE SANCTUARY.


  • I am looking for a MALE name, suitable for a teen or young man.



  • I am also looking for a FEMALE name, suitable for a teen.


  • I will select two winners from all the entries and use those name, fictitiously of course, in DIVINE SANCTUARY, book 3 in my Divine series.

    The winners will receive a Kindle edition of DIVINE SANCTUARY once it's published. And the winners' initials or first names will be credited on my acknowledgement page in the book, if they choose.

    Keep in mind that the ‘corpse’ character will not intentionally look like or act like the person he or she is named after, nor will the character survive. After all, "I kill people off for a living."

    Rules:
    1. You must leave your name suggestions below in the comments area, along with your email address so I can contact you if you win.
    2. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate.
    3. Contest ends at midnight (MT) on February 28th, 2013. Void where prohibited by law. No exchanges or cash value of prizes.
    Please share this contest on your Goodreads, Facebook or Twitter pages.

    Thursday, February 07, 2013

    Chinese translation of WHALE SONG now available

    Thank you to the fabulous illustrator, Frostwolf, for creating wonderful illustrations for the chapters in WHALE SONG. The Chinese edition is geared toward the Young Adult audience, though the English novel is a YA/adult crossover. I've had readers from 7-107.

    And my thanks to everyone at Fiberead, and esoecially to the translators: Li Li, Wu eleven, Zhou Xiao.

    Available at http://tangcha.tc/books/614 for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

    译者:李莉、吴一一、周潇。

    内容简介

    古老的印第安民族流传着一个美丽的传说:若你在部落附近的海面,看见月光下徘徊游弋的虎鲸,请不要惊慌。因为那是部落里逝世的族人,他们变成了虎鲸,回来看望岸上的亲人。他们慢慢靠近曾经的家园,轻轻地哀号,向家人尽诉思念之情。他们在月色里凝望、叹息,久久不愿离去……

    是圣灵的指引,抑或鲸鱼的召唤?是命运的无常,还是宿命的安排?为了研究鲸鱼,莎拉一家来到温哥华。但冥冥中一切仿佛早有定数,自踏上这片神奇的土地,莎拉的生活便发生了翻天覆地的变化。究竟发生了什么可怕的事情,让原本幸福的家庭变得支离破碎?神秘的印第安老奶奶说了什么摄人心魄的古老神话?为何会有神奇、庄重的命名仪式?诡异、奇特的图腾和面具又会产生怎样的魔力?而这一切,是否和鲸鱼有着某种联系?母亲神秘的画作又预示了什么?母亲是否真如传说所述,会化作海中的虎鲸,在皎洁的月光下低吟浅唱?印第安老奶奶讲述的一个又一个神奇故事,是否能为莎拉解开重重谜团?

    时间缓缓前进,曾经的美好早已远去,幸福的家庭不复存在,空荡荡的房子里不再有父母的欢声笑语。无数个夜里,莎拉独自舔舐伤口、品味苦涩的悲伤。尘封的记忆如同枷锁,将她紧紧套牢。沉重的灵魂在夜里发出无声的嘶吼。她每日与孤独的灵魂相伴,深陷在回忆的泥潭里无法自拔,任其如何抗争,心中的疑团始终未能解开,那段空白的记忆是一道无法逾越的鸿沟,将她与未来阻隔。祭典上的狼神像在脑中挥之不去。身边不时出现狼的身影,它仰天长啸,目光凌厉,仿佛在召唤着莎拉。而狼的出现,是否如印第安老奶奶所说,是开启记忆之门的关键?

    往事不堪回首,幸福与悲痛交织于眼前,在幻象与现实重叠之处,莎拉能否解开埋藏多年的心结?远古的传说究竟是美丽的神话,还是对世人的启示?被禁锢的灵魂该如何解脱?生与死之间的鸿沟该如何跨越?

    本书如同一部回忆录,娓娓讲述着一个关于爱、生命、死亡、宽恕的感人故事。作者语言亲切、平实、易读,行文流畅、自然,情节曲折跌宕,扣人心弦,让读者在笑与泪之间感受人生的真谛。作者将主人公随着生活的变迁而不断变化的心境刻画得真切细腻,丝丝入扣的描写直抵人心,亦真亦幻的印第安神话为全书渲染了一层神秘色彩。书中蕴含的智慧与哲理发人深思,让读者在温暖的文字中,沉淀一颗浮躁的心,细细品味宽恕与理解、生与死的涵义,静静聆听鲸鱼那来自大海深处的歌声......

    我明白,生与死都只是开始,环环相接。不灭的轮回——无尽的故事。

    作者简介

    雪莉儿·凯·塔迪夫,加拿大畅销书作家,擅长心理描写和恐怖场景塑造。从 2003 年至今,已经出版畅销书八种。《鲸之歌》是其代表作,从 2003 年发表以来,已经再版四次。还曾专门出版「校园版」(School Edition),可见其受欢迎程度。她的个人网站:cherylktardif.com

    This Chinese ebook features some beautiful artwork from Frostwolf, and I've been allowed to show you some.

    If you've read WHALE SONG, I invite you to describe the scenes below.



    Pic #1




    Pic #2






    Pic #3





    Pic #4






    The Chinese ebook edition of WHALE SONG is available at http://tangcha.tc/books/614 for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

    Saturday, February 02, 2013

    Contest: Guess SUBMERGED release date

    My new supernatural thriller, SUBMERGED, will be released between Feb 8 - Mar 31, 2013. 

    Guess the date and leave your answer in the comments below, along with your email address to qualify.

    If I have already told you the date (and only few people know), you are not permitted to guess (sorry), and please don't share the date with anyone. Let's leave this up to fate.

    Winner(s) will receive a free Kindle edition of SUBMERGED. Up to 5 prizes will be awarded. If there are more than 5 correct answers, I'll do a draw for 5. If there are no correct answers, I'll pick the 5 entries that were the closest to the correct date.

    One guess per person. Void where prohibited by law. Open to anyone who has a Kindle account at Amazon, including international Amazons. You must be 18+ years or older to enter.

    Contest ends midnight EST, February 7th, 2013.

    Now when do you think SUBMERGED will be released? (between Feb 8 - Mar 31, 2013)

    Friday, February 01, 2013

    Enter to win a Kindle or $50 Amazon gift card

    During the month of February, a small band of horror & suspense authors are hosting a KINDLE giveaway.

    So check out their books, and register for a FREE Kindle, a $50 Amazon gift card and FREE print books!

    Enter at The Kindle Book Review!

    PS: When entering, click on the box titled: 'Easy entry for all Cheryl Kaye Tardif fans on Facebook' for 5 points. :-) Good luck!

    Children of the Fog Chinese edition ebook now available

    I am so excited to announce my second translated work--this time for my international bestseller, CHILDREN OF THE FOG. It is now available as an ILLUSTRATED ebook in Chinese. Translation by Cai Biye. Published by Fiberead.

    We've been working on this book for a while, and I can't tell you how pleased I am to have been part of it. Many thanks to everyone who was involved.

    I had a lot of input into the graphics, but mostly they were the inspiration of a talented graphic artist, Gao Yang, also known as Yolanda. Gao Yang created stunning images for CHILDREN OF THE FOG, including the cover.

    I'll post some of her images that she has graciously allowed me to share within this blog post; the first, to the left, is the book cover for CHILDREN OF THE FOG. Each chapter contains a special illustration by Gao Yang, reflecting the mood and elements from the story.

    This illustrated Chinese edition is available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices at http://tangcha.tc/books/880 

    Here's the description and my bio:


    译者:蔡碧野、支雷、鲍杰。责任编辑:崔文乙。
    作品简介


    加拿大的寒冬,幽冷僻静的森林木屋里,昏黄摇曳的油灯下,萨蒂·康奈尔凝视着照片中儿子纯真的笑脸,缓缓举起手中的枪……

    旁人眼中的畅销书作家,知名律师的妻子,可爱小男孩的妈妈,萨蒂拥有令人艳羡的完美人生。谁知光环与笑脸背后隐藏的,竟是难言的阴影和泪水、背叛和怨恨。是什么让酒精成为逃避痛苦的慰藉?是什么让儿子成为拯救人生的希望?是什么让爱成为命运唯一的信仰?

    雾锁小镇,梦魇缠身。他是令人毛骨 悚然的魔鬼,他是路灯下一闪而过的黑影。他以暗夜为外衣,武器,却只盗取无邪的童真,抢夺母亲的梦想。他是魔,是盜,还是人?他可恨,可憎,还是可叹,可悲?

    雷雨中脚步匆匆,雾林里童声回荡, 地堡之下可怕的真相即将揭露。儿子被绑、生死未卜,那只如影随形的乌鸦,难道是死神的信使?母亲笔下可 爱的疯狂蝙蝠,小镇旁边幽深的蝙蝠洞穴,一切难道只是巧合,还是早已冥冥注定?本书融合悬疑、犯罪、伦理和玄幻等多种因素,扣人心弦地讲述了一个关于亲情与友情,背叛与救赎的故事。 作者在书中延续自己一贯的风格,用亲切平实的语言制造重重悬念,真实细腻地展现女主人公的心理历程,故事情节跌宕起伏,环环相扣,让人如坠云雾,却始终感觉前方有一丝光亮在指引方向,有一股摄人心魄的力量让人坚持到底。谜底揭晓时,你是否会感叹:

    终散去,死生一念间。
    作者简介


    雪莉儿·凯·塔迪夫,加拿大畅销书作家,擅长心理描写和恐怖场景塑造,以出人意表,情节曲折著称。从 2003 年至今,已经出版畅销书八种。其知名作品包括《鲸之歌》(Whale Song),《神之干预》(Divine Intervention)和《河流》(The River)。出生于加拿大温哥华市雪莉儿热心公益,关心社会敏感问题。她的作品经常涉及各种发人深省的社会问题,比如:虐待儿童、校园暴力、协助自杀等等,被称为是直达人心,令人战栗的作品。

    这一次推荐的《雾之子》是雪莉儿的新作,其紧张惊险的情节让人不及喘息。她的个人网站:cherylktardif.com。

    This illustrated Chinese edition is available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices at http://tangcha.tc/books/880 

    If you read this translation and enjoy it, please email me and let me know. 

    Happy reading!
    Cheryl