The suspense is killing me!

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 6 - The Untouchables

2012-01-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

If you've missed parts 1-5, just scroll down; if not, keep reading. :-)

My KDP Select free promo for THE RIVER ended January 24th. We're into day 3 of the "after-Select" and I've noticed something: THE RIVER is selling above normal. Not huge amounts, but enough to be noticeable. DIVINE INTERVENTION finished its free Select promo on the 25th and I'm seeing the same thing: an increase in sales.

Full disclosure: I paid for a 1-day promo for THE RIVER for the 25th so that would account for some of the sales increase on that day. But it's the 27th and usually sales from that promo would be over. I had no extra promo for DIVINE INTERVENTION and the sales have increased.

Not only can I see the increase in numbers sold, the other way I can tell that these 2 titles are doing above normal sales is that their sales ranks are lower than my top 2 bestsellers--WHALE SONG and CHILDREN OF THE FOG, which consistently outsell my other titles. Until now.

If the sales ranks for THE RIVER and DIVINE INTERVENTION remain lower than my top 2 over the next few days then I'll know that the free promo DID bring me sales.

I'm not done with this experiment. I'll let you know if the sales continue.

!!!EXCERPT UPDATE!!!

I promised I'd update you also if I ever got clarification from Amazon regarding the excerpt issue. As I reported in my first post, I was told by one rep that I couldn't have an excerpt on my blog, site etc. so I removed them. Others were told the same thing and this became a big buzz on the forums.

Today I received an email from Amazon:

Hello Cheryl:

You may offer a sample, excerpt or teaser of your KDP Select-enrolled book on your website, as long as it doesn’t include a substantial portion of your book’s content. Up to about 10% of the book’s content is a reasonable amount.

Keep in mind that a sample of your book is also available on your Amazon.com detail page, and we recommend linking to your detail page from your other sites.

I hope this helps. Thanks for using Amazon KDP.

I replied and let them know I'll use this email as my guide and I'll keep it on file. So...excerpt away, people!

By the way, DIVINE INTERVENTION is available on Amazon for only $1.99. THE RIVER is available for $2.99. Happy reading!

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 5 - The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

If you haven't read my earlier posts on KDP Select, check out: The KDP Select Experiment: Part 1 - Mission Impossible?, The KDP Select Experiment: Part 2 - Waiting to Exhale, The KDP Select Experiment: Part 3 - Good Will Hunting and The KDP Select Experiment: Part 4 - The Fast & the Furious.

To capsulize, THE RIVER was available FREE on Amazon for January 23/24, while DIVINE INTERVENTION was FREE from January 21-25.

The Good:

THE RIVER - in 2 days on Amazon.com, 20658 people downloaded my thriller for free and have now been exposed to my work. The lowest rank I saw was #10 in overall top "bestsellers" for FREE Kindles, which meant anyone looking on Amazon for free ebooks would have seen my title. It made #1 "bestseller" in 3 categories during the promo time: #1 Technothrillers, #1 Adventure and #1 Action & Adventure. It beat out one of Amanda Hocking's titles. Two new 5-star reviews during this promo.

Foreign Amazons: 1186 (UK), 63 (DE), 2 (FR), 1 (ES), 0 (IT) = 1252 free copies

DIVINE INTERVENTION - in 5 days on Amazon.com, 19787 people downloaded my thriller for free and have now been exposed to my work. The lowest rank: #23 in overall top "bestsellers" for FREE Kindles, which meant anyone looking on Amazon for free ebooks would have seen my title. It made #1 "bestseller" in Police Procedurals and #6 in Women Sleuths.

Foreign Amazons: 1047 (UK), 77 (DE), 5 (FR), 0 (ES), 0 (IT) = 1129 free copies

Total free downloads and new readers reached: 42886.

My two titles now show up on other Kindle ebook pages in the 'Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought' section. More exposure.

I did notice a small surge in sales of Imajin Books (my publishing company) titles by other authors during these promos. It appears that some readers may have purchased one of our other titles after reading one of my books.

The Bad:

THE RIVER - one full day after the promos ended only 20 people borrowed THE RIVER with the new Kindle Owner's Lending Library. As per Amazon's terms, I'll receive a percentage of the $700,000 pool based on how many times my book was borrowed during the month. I expect the payment to be very small as it will be shared between thousands of authors with thousands of ebooks. As I predicted early on, Amazon's example was much higher than I'll receive (and I'm probably not the only author who won't see much.)

DIVINE INTERVENTION - since THE RIVER was more popular, I'm expecting the borrows on DI to be less. Again I doubt I'll see anywhere near what Amazon gave as an example of income. My guess is I'll get less than $5 for the borrowed books. I'll let you know.

The Ugly:

Some writers have reported a huge surge in sales immediately following their free promo. I recall reading one author's stats where they reported averaging 500 sales per hour for the first few hours. Yeah, not me. Though I went into this experiment with positive thoughts and some expectations, I was not surprised to see my sales of THE RIVER are about what I normally would get. No surge. No obvious sales afterward. I realize this could occur over some time. Not everyone will read their free downloads in a week; some may not open my book for a year or more. But seeing no surge in sales afterward is disappointing. I was hoping to see a noticeable difference.

So was my experiment a success?

I guess that depends on what you consider a success. I consider it a success when over 40,000 new readers discover one of my novels; there's a good chance that many of them will buy one of my other titles. There's also a good chance that many won't buy another of my books because they either a) didn't like my book or b) they only want free ebooks and aren't willing to pay for them. Both reasons are human nature.

I went into this experiment with one main goal: to get exposure to readers. I got that. Of course I'd love to see a huge surge in after-sales, something concrete to point to so I can say with all certainty that KDP Select is the best program for authors and is worth sacrificing other sales channels for. I can't quite say that.

To be fair, I need more time to evaluate this program. A week from now could make a difference and I could see many new reviews and more sales of my other titles. Time will tell if this program is really worth ticking off readers who don't have Kindles or who don't want to shop via Amazon. If I notice a surge in sales, I'll let you know.

If you found my experiment helpful, please consider purchasing THE RIVER, "a gripping combination of suspense, sci-fi and adventure...a cross between Michael Crichton's Timeline and Dan Brown's Angels & Demons," on Amazon for only $2.99.

Or DIVINE INTERVENTION, "a fan of J.D. Robb will thoroughly enjoy this one...a genuinely Canadian crime novel...leave(s) you smoldering," on Amazon for only $2.99.

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 4 - The Fast & the Furious

2012-01-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

If you haven't read my earlier posts on KDP Select, you may want to do so first to catch up. You can find them at: The KDP Select Experiment: Part 1 - Mission Impossible?, The KDP Select Experiment: Part 2 - Waiting to Exhale, and The KDP Select Experiment: Part 3 - Good Will Hunting.

Today also marks day 1 of THE RIVER being offered FREE for 2 days. I'll report numbers below.

Before I started this experiment on January 21st, my stats for my thriller DIVINE INTERVENTION were as follows on Amazon.com:

DIVINE INTERVENTION (22 reviews): Rank 16,770 - #26 Paid Bestseller in Books--Canadian Detectives - 10 UK copies sold, no other foreign sold or free.

Then I enrolled in KDP Select and made this title available for FREE for 5 days.

This is day 3 of the 5 day FREE promo and here are my stats:

8:30 AM: rank 26 (Top 100 FREE Kindles), #1 Police Procedurals, 13552 free copies

9:00 PM: rank 42 (top Free Kindles), #2 Police Procedurals, 15564 free copies.

That's nearly 16000 people who will now be reading DIVINE INTERVENTION.

Foreign stats to date:

.co.uk - 10 sales + 519 free (was 172 free on 21st)
.de - 59 free (was 28 free on 21st)
.fr - 2 free (was 1 free on 21st)
.es - 0
.it - 0

DIVINE INTERVENTION is FREE until January 25. Get your FREE copy today.

THE RIVER is FREE today and tomorrow. Pick up your FREE copy ASAP.

Starting stats on Amazon.com:

22nd January - 22 Reviews, rank 18942 Paid, #72 Kindle - Technothrillers, #84 Books - Technothrillers, Foreign sales - 0 in all

Day 1 of FREE promo:

23rd January - Rank 980 Free, #2 Kindle - Technothrillers, #9 Kindle - Adventure, 970 free copies

Foreign:
.co.uk - 63
.de - 7
.fr - 2
.es - 0
.it - 0

So over 1000 readers will now be reading THE RIVER.

*Sudden spike in UK sales for my other titles AND those published by Imajin Books, my publishing company. Wow! Bonus!

More stats on THE RIVER on Amazon.com:

23rd January:

2 PM: rank 102 Free, #1 Kindle - Technothrillers, #1 Kindle - Adventure
(Compare to Divine Intervention's stats after same duration: rank 181 Free, #1 Kindle - Police Procedural.

4PM: rank 88 Free, #1 Kindle - Technothrillers, #1 Kindle - Adventure
(Compare to Divine Intervention's stats after same duration: rank 165 Free, #1 Kindle - Police Procedural.

9PM: rank 21 Free; #1 Kindle - Technothrillers, #1 Kindle - Adventure, 10120 free copies
(Compare to Divine Intervention's stats after same duration: rank 28, #1 Kindle - Police Procedural, 7429 free copies.)

10PM: rank 12 Free, #1 Kindle - Technothrillers, #1 Kindle - Adventure, 10753 free copies

So it appears that on day 1, THE RIVER was even more popular than DIVINE INTERVENTION and more people downloaded it on the first day. Let's see what the next couple of days bring.

Stay tuned for more stats.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 3 - Good Will Hunting

2012-01-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if you've noticed a subtle theme here in my recent posts: The KDP Select Experiment: Part 1 - Mission Impossible?, The KDP Select Experiment: Part 2 - Waiting to Exhale, and now The KDP Select Experiment: Part 3 - Good Will Hunting. Each post has a movie title in the heading. I love movies. They help me unwind after a long day and they quieten the character voices that are always yelling, "Write my story!" And since my mind works good in movie mode, I thought I'd use them.

Good Will Hunting is a movie about numbers. About a numbers genius. Well, I suck at math and I'm no genius, but I can copy/paste.

So here are the opening numbers on Amazon.com in this experiment:

These are my sales ranks and bestseller standings for the afternoon of January 20th--before I enrolled DIVINE INTERVENTION in KDP Select:

DIVINE INTERVENTION (22 reviews): Rank 16,770 - #26 Paid Bestseller in Books--Canadian Detectives

Here are my numbers on Amazon.com for noon January 21st, 12 hours in:

DIVINE INTERVENTION (22 reviews): Rank 268 - #1 Free Bestseller in Kindle--Police Procedurals (beating out Michael Connelly's free offering) Of course the rank could have been lower any time during the 12 hours.

*DI went out to 2201 readers free, but this is 2201 people who may never have read any of my works before.

**No noticeable influence on actual sales of my other titles.

Here are my foreign stats (Amazon.co.uk, .de, .fr, .it, .es):

DIVINE INTERVENTION before enrolling in KDP Select:
.co.uk - 10 sales
.de - 0
.fr - 0
.es - 0
.it - 0

12 hours after Select went live with free promo:
co.uk - 10 sales + 172 free
.de - 28 free
.fr - 1 free
.es - 0 free
.it - 0 free

This means that just over 2400 people will read DIVINE INTERVENTION. If they enjoy it, many will buy DIVINE JUSTICE. Some will buy my other titles. The question is: will these sales really make it worth giving up distribution via Smashwords, Apple, BN, Sony, Diesel, for these 2 ebooks?

During the day I monitored my stats for DIVINE INTERVENTION on Amazon.com a few times. Here are my stats for DAY 1 of the free promo:

Noon: rank 268, #1 Police Procedural, 2201 free copies
2 PM: rank 181, #1 Police Procedural, (I forgot to write down total of free copies)
4 PM: rank 165, #1 Police Procedural, (ditto)
7 PM: rank 48 (made Top 100 FREE Kindles), #1 Police Procedural, 6249 free copies
9 PM: rank 28 (ditto), #1 Police Procedural, 7429 free copies

DIVINE INTERVENTION is FREE from January 21-25. Get your FREE copy today.

Stay tuned for more stats tomorrow..

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 2 - Waiting to Exhale

2012-01-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I wrote about Part 1 of my Mission Impossible/KDP Select experiment. Keep reading for info on a FREE ebook offer.

For non-writers who aren't familiar with this, it's a special program that Amazon just launched. Unfortunately it has caused some controversy in the book industry and not all authors, publishers, distributors are happy. Since I'm both an author and a publisher, I feel compelled to explore this program to make a more educated evaluation of what it can (or can't) do for me or other authors.

KDP Select gives writers a few enticing perks: a share in a now $700,000 (was raised from $500,000 recently) pool if authors' books are borrowed in the new Kindle Owners Lending Library; an opportunity to list an ebook for free for a short promotion (1-5 days total within a 90-day period); and the chance at making more bestsellers lists and sales.

The downside is that authors have to give up all other distribution for these books and only sell via Amazon. Readers get perks too: they can borrow books indefinitely and there are some other perks. Overall, most readers probably won't really notice or care about this program, other than the lending/borrowing aspect.

After making my decision to enroll a book or two, I decided to use two existing titles--DIVINE INTERVENTION and THE RIVER. The only problem was they were both distributed via Smashwords, which then distributed them to Apple, Kobo Books, Diesel, Sony, and B&N.

So here are the steps and timeline I had to go through:

1. I made my decision to try KDP Select on January 6, 2012.
2. On Jan. 7, I held my breath and unpublished DIVINE INTERVENTION and THE RIVER from Smashwords.
3. I noticed that on January 14, both titles were gone from Kobo Books. The other retailers still listed the ebooks. So I held my breath and waited some more.
4. On Jan. 18, I noticed Barnes and Noble had removed the Nook editions.
5. The others were removed Jan 19 and 20.
6. I enrolled both books in KDP Select program mid-afternoon, Jan. 20.

So based on my experiences, it took 2 weeks to get my books deleted from these retailers. I was worried it would take much longer. I'm not sure I could have held my breath any longer.

The next thing I had to do was remove excerpts, so I followed these steps:

1. I removed both excerpts from my website.
2. I removed excerpts from my blogs (3).
3. I searched writing sites I frequented like Authors Den for excerpts and removed any there.
4. I googled my book titles and "excerpt" and went through many pages to see where else I may have placed an excerpt. And I deleted any I found.

Once all these steps were completed, I exhaled. Whew! The excerpt steps were a bit of a pain and I'm worried I may have missed one, but hopefully if I did Amazon will be decent enough to let me know so I can remove it. I'd hate to think they'd delete DIVINE INTERVENTION and THE RIVER from KDP Select just because an excerpt is floating around in cyberspace. But that's one of their rules. No excerpts. Personally, I think that's a stupid rule. Excerpts help sell books...doh!

Okay, so now I guess you'd like to know about the FREE ebook I promised. Well, from today, January 21 to 25, you can get DIVINE INTERVENTION in Kindle edition FREE. Just go to: http://www.amazon.com/Divine-Intervention-series-ebook/dp/B003AYEJSC

Tomorrow I'll report some numbers. I doubt I'll see much change this early on, but at least you'll know where I started from so you can compare it with wherever I end up. Check back tomorrow or follow my blog. Also, please follow me on Twitter. @cherylktardif or http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif and you should see tweets reminding you to check my blog.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 1 - Mission Impossible?

2012-01-20T22:43:00.000-07:00

On December 21 I blogged about the huge carrot Amazon was dangling in front of authors--the opportunity to share in a $500,000 pool via the new KDP Select program. I mentioned that I wasn't happy with some of the conditions of this program or with Amazon's obvious ploy to monopolize the industry. Regardless of the smile on my face in the pic to the left, I don't like being backed into a corner. However, I recognize from a business perspective they're doing what most successful businesses attempt to do--destroy the competition.

The exclusivity clause still bothers me, even now that I have enrolled two of my titles into the program. It bothers me that those with other ereaders outside of the Kindle won't have access to these two titles--DIVINE INTERVENTION and THE RIVER. But from a business perspective I'd be remiss in my duties to completely ignore or overlook what Amazon is offering. I still think Amazon could have taken away the exclusivity clause and still have a ton of interest. It would have been "fair" to everyone else. But big business rarely ever plays fair.

On January 6 I clarified my thoughts about KDP Select after more consideration. Yes, I was drawn to the program. It IS enticing. Yes, I still don't like all the terms. But I decided to test KDP Select. I've always been a risk-taker. I'm not one to sit back and wait forever. I'm also not one to drink the Kool-Aid and blindly follow like a lemming diving off a cliff. I took a few days to investigate, to read other people's opinions and experiences, and to understand all the pros and cons.

As an author, I owe it to myself to see if Select really has anything to offer me--or if the program is just too good to be true. As a publisher I owe it to my authors to experiment with my own books before making changes with theirs.

I had to plan what exactly I would do to experiment with Select, and which books I'd use. My choices were: a.) submit a new manuscript that hadn't yet been published, or b.) remove a book or two from my other distribution chains and enroll them in KDP Select. Since I don't have a new completed work ready, I opted for option b.

I selected 2 of my titles that have been doing well in sales but weren't my top bestsellers. DIVINE INTERVENTION is book 1 in a paranormal suspense series, and THE RIVER is a techno-thriller that is very similar in plot to the new TV series that's airing in February, also called THE RIVER. I also chose DI because if my experiment goes well and I see a huge increase in sales, then book 2--DIVINE JUSTICE--should see a sales spike afterward.

Over the next few weeks, I'll report on my experiment here so you can follow my journey. We'll find out if this is a Mission Impossible experiment or a Mission Possible. This way you'll have a good idea of what to expect if you decide to do what I've done and pull books out of other distribution.

My next post will deal with this process, letting you know how long it took before Smashwords, Kobo Books, Diesel and others stopped selling my ebooks. I hope you'll check back here tomorrow. You may want to follow my blog or subscribe to the feed.

eBook Sale: Jan. 15-18 - All eBooks 99 Cents

2012-01-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

All of my ebooks will be on sale for only 99 cents each as part of Imajin Books' 99 Cent eBook Anniversary Sale. This sale runs for 4 DAYS ONLY, Jan. 15-18.

So if you're looking for books to download on your Kindle, Kobo, Nook, iPad or other ereader, please check out my titles.

Sale on Amazon (for Kindle ereader)

Get the coupon codes for my books via Smashwords download (all other ereaders) at http://www.imajinbooks.com/sale.

I never said Amazon's KDP Select wasn't enticing :-)

2012-01-06T10:34:00.004-07:00

This is an update to my earlier post about Amazon's new KDP Select program.

I'm not one to blindly drink the Kool-Aid, but I'm also not one to pass on a possible opportunity. Now that I've had time to investigate this program and read what others have to say (pros and cons), I thought I'd clarify a few things.

I still don't agree with the exclusivity clause; I think Amazon should remember that not everyone owns or wants a Kindle ereader. But I AM glad that this exclusivity is short-termed. This allows authors to test the waters. Those who see great results may stay in the program; those who don't will leave.

Anyone who knows me knows that I've always been a risk-taker. I don't shy away from taking the plunge into uncharted waters, but I do my homework and investigate everything carefully. I like to be informed.

I know there are pluses to this program. That's always been a given. If authors are paid more, that's great. If a book makes a top 100 list, and sells thousands as a result of this program, even better.

I never said Amazon was stupid. :-) Though I don't like or agree with their tactics, this program is something to be tested. Since it's a short-term (3 months), there's less risk. My biggest concern is alienating readers who don't own a Kindle. But as an author trying to get my name out there among an overcrowded pool, I've decided I WILL test these waters, but only with one or two of my titles.

Always do your homework and read the fine print. Then if you think it'll work for you, take the risk.

Ebook Sale at Imajin Books - 3 Days Left!

2012-01-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

Imajin Books' eBook Sale is on until January 7th, 2012.

They offer affordable ebooks by various authors in a number of genres, including mystery, suspense, horror, romance, fantasy, thriller and YA. And their ebooks aren't just for Kindle owners; if you have a Kobo, Nook, Sony or other ereader, you can buy affordable ebooks via Smashwords.

Check out this eBook Sale - all ebooks are inexpensive, priced from FREE to $2.99 until January 7th.

Prices have been adjusted on Amazon (Kindle) already; please use the coupon codes below to get the sale price on Smashwords.

ASENATH
by Anna Patricio
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: DH39W)

BLONDE DEMOLITION
by Chris Redding
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: NS35V)

CHASING CLOVERS
by Kat Flannery
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: EX44Z)

CHEAT THE HANGMAN
by Gloria Ferris
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: SE84B)

CHILDREN OF THE FOG
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: LA62M)

DIVINE INTERVENTION
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
$0.99 SALE (reg. $1.99)
Amazon

DIVINE JUSTICE
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: QH92R)

LANCELOT'S LADY
by Cherish D'Angelo
$1.99 SALE (reg. $2.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: XL55P)

REMOTE CONTROL
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
$0.99 SALE (reg. $1.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (no code)

ROWENA THROUGH THE WALL
by Melodie Campbell
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: JG33L)

SHADOW OF INNOCENCE
by Ric Wasley
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: VT62Z)

SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET & OTHER CREEPY STORIES
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
$1.99 SALE (reg. $2.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: PL97U)

SOUL AND SHADOW
by Susan J. McLeod
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: SH43P)

THE BRIDGEMAN
by Catherine Astolfo
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: GJ55B)

THE OTHER FACE OF GOD
by C. Robert Lee
$2.99 SALE (reg. $4.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: NQ69Q)

THE RIVER
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
$0.99 SALE (reg. $2.99)
Amazon

UNDER A TEXAS STAR
by Alison Bruce
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: GX44K)

VICTIM
by Catherine Astolfo
$1.99 SALE (reg. $3.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: WA86D)

WHALE SONG
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
$1.99 SALE (reg. $2.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: WX86L)

WHALE SONG: School Edition
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
$1.99 SALE (reg. $2.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: DS24C)

WHAT FEARS BECOME: An Anthology from The Horror Zine
edited by Jeani Rector and featuring Bentley Little, Graham Masterton, Elizabeth Massey, Conrad Williams, Scott Nicholson & more
$2.99 SALE (reg. $4.99)
Amazon
Smashwords (coupon code: AA37U)

FREE eBook: IMAJIN THIS!

2011-12-23T18:30:00.004-07:00

IMAJIN THIS!

This special chapter preview book showcases all fiction titles published by Imajin Books in 2010/2011. Sample the first three chapters of each book.

Our international authors strive to entertain you with a wide range of genres - mystery, suspense, romance, horror, fantasy, paranormal, YA and more.

Featuring the following authors: Alison Bruce, Anna Patricio, Catherine Astolfo, Cherish D'Angelo, Cheryl Kaye Tardif, Chris Redding, Christian A. Larsen, C. Robert Lee, Gloria Ferris, Jeani Rector (editor), Kat Flannery, Melodie Campbell, Ric Wasley, Simon Clark, and Susan J. McLeod.

"Quality fiction beyond your wildest dreams." All ebooks under $5.

Available FREE at Smashwords.com (various file formats for all major ereaders, including Kindle, Nook and Kobo.)

Or you can download the PDF for Imajin This! HERE.

Amazon's new carrot: KDP Select

2011-12-21T21:19:00.002-07:00

Today someone asked me what I thought about Amazon's new KDP Select program, a program that has an exclusivity clause that prohibits participating authors from selling their ebooks anywhere else. After sending him my thoughts on the matter, I realized something: I had enough for a blog post. So here is my answer to his question of whether I was tempted to enroll and what I thought about the program...

I’m happy to share my thoughts on KDP Select, though I’ll warn you, they’re very “strong”.

First, I think this is a ballsy move on Amazon’s part to try to monopolize the industry. From a business perspective, it’s not necessarily wrong, but they won’t make a lot of people happy.

I am definitely against aspects of this new “program” of Amazon’s, but it's compelling all the same. I think they’re using much higher numbers and authors won’t be too pleased when they realize how little they’ll actually make from it. That’s my prediction anyhow. It sounds good at first glance, sharing a pool of money, but at what cost?

The exclusivity clause is a big red flag for me. Amazon is asking authors to put all their “eggs into one basket.” It’s obvious they’re hoping to weed out other ebook retailers like Smashwords. They want the monopoly. But this is a huge risk for authors who blindly follow Amazon. Once they’re “in” and bound by exclusivity contracts, Amazon can basically do what they want and those authors won’t have any choices. They could raise ebook prices, put ebooks on sale etc.

The automatic renewal poses a serious problem as well. If it isn’t timed properly, authors who do want out will find themselves locked into another term.

I think new authors, especially the very young or very old, may be drawn into this “program” without realizing the full effects and risks. That bothers me. I’ve already seen on forums where authors have blindly signed up, not realizing until it’s too late that they won’t be able to sell anywhere else. It’s amazing how many writers don’t read the fine print—or understand it—or question it.

I don’t think the increased numbers came necessarily from Smashwords. Many writers who dealt with Smashwords and KDP probably thought it was a good idea. Some probably thought it worth checking out or experimenting with. Then again, who’s to say the increase came from authors in this program? Amazon often makes “deals” with publishers and it wouldn’t surprise me if they held back a large number of titles so it would appear that authors are “jumping ship.” Nothing Amazon may do would surprise me.

Amazon is a huge company. There’s no way around that. I have a Kindle and love it. I also have a Kobo. I have friends who have Sony ereaders. With KDP Select in place, readers with Kobo, Nook or Sony ereaders won’t be able to get the same content, unless these ereaders can download a Kindle app, which some don’t.

As for the free ebook option, it’s a short one-time promotion opportunity that probably won’t do much good for the average KDP author. If Amazon allowed unlimited free ebooks, that may draw in more authors. Many would like to offer a free ebook, just to get people interested. But even if they had that as an incentive, it wouldn’t be enough to entice me to cross over to the “dark side”.

What would entice me? If Amazon stopped their greed campaign long enough to remember that authors deserve respect. And KDP Select shows zero respect for authors and their rights by making us sign any kind of exclusivity contract. Amazon needs to learn to play fair. They don’t have to have it all. There’s room for Smashwords, Kobo, iBooks, B&N and more. And readers deserve the choice.

Ok, I’m climbing off my soapbox now...well, you did ask. hehe

For more information on KDP Select, please check out the following:
http://blog.smashwords.com/2011/12/amazon-shows-predatory-spots-with-kdp.html
https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/KDPSelect
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/violetblue/amazon-kdp-select-controversy-golden-opportunity-or-trap/861
http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2011/12/fine-print-of-amazons-new-kdp-select.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-coker/amazon-ebooks-kdp-select_b_1139260.html
http://kaitnolan.com/2011/12/21/feeling-grinchy-about-kdp-select/

P.S. Authors: Do NOT enroll your books until you understand all of the risks and conditions.

KDP - Kill Da comPetition...

UPDATE: January 6, 2012

I thought I'd clarify a few things: I still don't agree with the exclusivity clause; I think Amazon should remember that not everyone owns or wants a Kindle ereader. But I AM glad that this exclusivity is short-termed. This allows authors to test the waters. Those who see great results may stay in the program; those who don't will leave.

Anyone who knows me knows that I've always been a risk-taker. I don't shy away from taking the plunge into uncharted waters, but I do my homework and investigate everything carefully. I like to be informed.

I know there are pluses to this program. That's always been a given. If authors are paid more, that's great. If a book makes a top 100 list, and sells thousands as a result of this program, even better.

I never said Amazon was stupid. :-) Though I don't like or agree with their tactics, this program is something to be tested. Since it's a short-term (3 months), there's less risk. My biggest concern is alienating readers who don't own a Kindle. But as an author trying to get my name out there among an overcrowded pool, I've decided I WILL test these waters, but only with one or two of my titles.

Always do your homework and read the fine print. Then if you think it'll work for you, take the risk.

Cheryl takes on the role of judge (but not executioner)

2011-11-01T14:47:00.001-06:00

As bestselling suspense author Cheryl Kaye Tardif, I wear one hat--that of a writer. But as Cheryl Tardif, I wear so many hats I need a bigger closet. As well as wife and mother, I am the publisher and acquisitions editor at Imajin Books, a new innovative publishing company that publishes quality fiction. This month, I'll be adding a new hat--as one of the judges for Scribes Digest's 'Best Pitch Contest.' If you're a writer, here's a great way to pitch one of your finished works.

Here's some info on the contest...

Hello writers of all genres! The November Scribes Digest contest is FREE to enter and will give you a chance to publish your entry in our December issued EZINE!

In order to enter, you must have a completed work in any of these genres: feature film, short film, short story or novel.

We are looking for the TOP 3 best elevator pitches! An elevator pitch (or elevator speech or statement) is a short summary used to quickly and simply define your script, short story or novel. It should take no more than 5 lines to give your pitch and the writers with the best 3 pitches will have excerpts from their completed script, story or novel published in our December EZINE.

Our team of editors will be joined by two fantastic industry judges to choose the winners: Michael Baker, Producer and Founder of Bunk 11 Pictures Inc. and Cheryl Tardif, Publisher & Acquisitions Editor of Imajin Books.

Read more.

Count your blessings this Thanksgiving weekend

2011-10-09T13:14:00.002-06:00

This Thanksgiving I am really counting my blessings, but most of all I'm thankful I'm here to celebrate another Thanksgiving with my family. A week ago, something could have changed this forever.

On September 30th, I was involved in a 3-car accident. A car slammed into my car and pushed me into the vehicle in front. It happened so fast that I didn't even realize at first that I'd been hit from behind. My heart raced and my hands shook as I tried to find my emergency lights.

I was the first one out of my vehicle. I went to the car behind me and discovered two girls a bit younger than my own daughter. The driver was visibly shaken by the accident. It was her first--and her first car. I felt very bad for her and was relieved that neither she nor her passenger were seriously injured--or worse.

Next I checked on the car in front of me. An elderly couple. No one hurt there either. They told me all they felt was a "bump" when my car was pushed into theirs. We checked their bumper and were stunned to find no visible damage. Yet the front end of my car had large scrapes and the hood was dented.

I went back to the girls and called 911. While waiting for the police to show, I noted the damage to our vehicles. The front end of the car behind me was sitting somewhat underneath the back end of mine, which was ripped off in places. My muffler was on the ground. Other parts dangled from underneath. The cars would have to be peeled apart.

I have no idea how long we were standing on the road waiting for the police to do what they needed to do. It's kind of a blur now. But after about 2 hours, the soreness began to creep into my body. Soft tissue damage and whiplash level 2. Not fun.

It's hard not to feel frustrated that this accident happened. The driver behind me wasn't paying close enough attention to the traffic in front. As a result, I'm suffering with pain and with the realization that my new Mustang convertible that my husband drove all the way down to BC to pick up has been damaged. We'll get it repaired, but it'll never be the same or have the same value. It was our first real luxury car and my birthday present. We'd worked so hard to get it.

And now Thanksgiving is upon us. I'm too sore to spend the day cooking and the thought of lifting a turkey or ham out of the oven makes me nauseous. So we're going out for dinner. Our anniversary is on the 11th. We'd thought about going somewhere for a few days to celebrate 25 years--our silver anniversary. Mexico maybe. But I'm too sore to travel or rush through airports. I'll admit, it really does suck that our plans have been cancelled.

But things could have been worse. Someone could have died in that accident.

It has left me very sore, but very grateful. No one was seriously hurt that day, though I'm sure that everyone involved has been somewhat scarred emotionally. It's not every day that you're faced with your own mortality. It's a huge wake-up call.

So count your blessings this weekend. Drive alert and drive safe! Don't do something that could cost a life. And be thankful for every day you wake up. Happy Thanksgiving!

Whale Song Reaches Out to Kids Who Are Bullied

2011-10-01T07:00:00.010-06:00

I always love sharing my writing experiences and my books. Especially when the topic is timely, universal and sadly, never-ending.

And that topic is...bullying. I am sure you know someone who has been bullied. Maybe you were, as a child. Maybe your son or daughter was or is being bullied.

Just days ago, a new edition of my international bestseller, WHALE SONG, was released in a special School Edition. This edition contains a detailed discussion guide at the back. It’s something that any school teacher can use or readers can use on their own.

WHALE SONG explores issues of racism and bullying, among others, and it has been used in schools and book clubs around the world. It is one of my biggest dreams to see my “heart book” in even more schools. One teacher from ESC Trillium in Ontario, Canada, has used this book for novel study for a few years now. You can read what some of her students had to say about WHALE SONG on my blog HERE.

So what’s WHALE SONG about?

Thirteen years ago, Sarah Richardson’s life was shattered after the tragic death of her mother. The shocking event left a grief-stricken teen-aged Sarah with partial amnesia.

Some things are easier to forget.

But now a familiar voice from her childhood sends Sarah, a talented mid-twenties ad exec, back to her past. A past that she had thought was long buried.

Some things are meant to be buried.

Torn by nightmares and visions of a yellow-eyed wolf and aided by creatures of the Earth and killer whales that call to her in the night, Sarah must face her fears and recover her memories―even if it destroys her.

Some things are meant to be remembered―at all cost.

Reviews:

New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice has this to say: "Whale Song is deep and true, a compelling story of love and family and the mysteries of the human heart...a beautiful, haunting novel."

"Moving...sweet and sad." ―Booklist

"I read Whale Song and loved it." ―actress Jodelle Ferland (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse)

"Tardif again leaves a lasting mark on her readers...Moving and irresistible." ―Midwest Book Review

The Discussion Guide:

When we were young, many of us were inspired by different books and authors. We learned about the invisible walls built by societies, and it’s my goal to tear apart the walls that separate bullies from victims by challenging readers to dig deep.

Here are some samples from the guide:

· Sarah is bullied by Annie in school. Why do you think Annie picked on Sarah so much? What clues are there in the story that might lead you to conclusions about Annie’s life and her “reasons” for being a bully?

· Sarah’s mom told her to find a way to forgive Annie. Do you think this was good advice?

· Have you ever been bullied? How did that make you feel? Have you ever bullied someone else? Why? What kinds of bullying are there nowadays? How can we as a society (or school) prevent bullying?

I also have strong messages for those who have been bullied:

I was a bullied child. I was the chubby redhead in the back row, who was too shy to speak out and lacked self-confidence. I’ve experienced bullying just like Sarah did. Exactly like Sarah did. I did not fight back physically, though I tried to fight verbally. That rarely works out well. I’ve experienced racism too. I was a white child living in a small town, and the native Indians weren’t too happy about the whites. Like all kids, I had my friendship issues, my first love...and my second, and family problems.

But I survived. It gets better.

If you take nothing away from this guide than those two sentences above, I’ve fulfilled another goal.

If you are bullied or if you know someone who was or is, WHALE SONG is the perfect gift. But this novel is about so much more than that. It’s about family, relationships and boundless love. From my heart to yours, I wish you the very best and I hope you read my “heart book” and experience what others of all ages have told me changed their lives forever.

If you’re a teacher, I recommend you bring WHALE SONG into your classroom. It is perfect for any ages, 11-111.

Tell your friends and family about WHALE SONG. If you know a teacher, tell them. Whale Song could be swimming to a school near you in the future. And one of its greatest messages is this: Life gets better. Now that’s something every bully and victim needs to hear.

WHALE SONG is available in ebook edition for only $2.99 at Amazon and Smashwords (more retailers coming soon), and it will be available in trade paperback any day now on Amazon and more.

I invite you to check out my books at http://www.whalesongbook.com and http://www.cherylktardif.com.

Connect with me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Kaye-Tardif-novels/29769736630

Amazon lowers Kindle ereader prices and introduces new Kindle ereaders

2011-09-28T15:13:00.000-06:00

Amazon has announced 4 new Kindle products, and you'll be happy to see that part of the "new" is a LOWER price. Finally, we have Kindle ereaders for under $100, just as many (including me) have been predicting. And what perfect timing--just in time for early Christmas shoppers.

Read more.

A publisher speaks out about the new Amazon Kindle library program

2011-09-27T16:02:00.002-06:00

With the news release about the new library program that supplies Amazon Kindle ebooks to public and school library patrons comes the obvious question the many authors are asking: How the heck do I get paid if they're giving away my ebooks?

This is what I was told:

Only ebooks distributed through OverDrive will be available as library books for this program. As there are other benefits to being distributed by OverDrive, I've tried applying to them twice in the past year or so and was turned down both times—most likely because all the books published at the time were my own, which is no longer the case as my company Imajin Books now publishes other authors and operates much like a regular traditional publisher.

If your books are carried by OverDrive, your books are then available for this new library program. Currently this only applies to US public and school libraries.

It’s my understanding that once you've been accepted by OverDrive, they would pay either the publisher or independent author. But I'm still unclear as to how they operate. Do they only loan out an ebook one at a time and wait for it to be returned before it's loaned out again? Or are they sending out an ebook multiple times?

As an author and publisher, this program raises some red flags for me. And I'm not sure it's a bad thing that we aren't using OverDrive. I want my authors to be paid for their works. I want to be paid for mine too. And our publishing company relies on sales--not giving away our products.

I'm not alone.

Macmillan and Simon & Schuster are not supplying ebooks to this library program, as the New York Times reported. Adam Rothberg, a spokesperson for Simon & Schuster states, "We haven’t yet found a business model with which we are comfortable and that we feel properly addresses the long-term interests of our authors."

I feel the way Rothberg does. Some of our ebooks ARE currently available via Booklending.com, but not through this latest library program, and I'm not sure there is any advantage to Imajin Books or our authors to get involved. We work far too hard on these ebooks; we just can't be expected to provide unlimited content for free.

Whale Song wins KBR Bestseller Award

2011-09-19T19:03:00.027-06:00

A couple of days ago I was notified that my bestselling novel Whale Song was a finalist in the Kindle Book Review Awards. This is what the awards are all about:

"The Indie Awards is all about honoring indie authors who have written exceptional fiction, have worked hard to get their work out there, and who are getting great reviews. There are 10 finalists chosen from our previous "Picks of the Day" and there will be 5 winners. Best of all, the KBR will have some great prizes for these talented authors, like a complete editing package for their next book, a publicity package, proofreading, and announcements at The Pub Write Group and Digital Book Today."

Out of the 10 finalist, 5 prizes were awarded:
First Place: The KBR Literary Excellence Award
Second Place: The KBR Mover & Shaker Award
Third Place: The KBR Bestseller Award
and a Fourth Place and Fifth Place Award

I was honored to be in the finals, and even more honored to have Whale Song pick up Third Place. This is what was said about Whale Song winning the KBR Bestseller Award: "Cheryl gets this award because Whale Song is the veteran of the bunch. First published in 2003, this book was collecting rave reviews long before the ebook revolution and still continues to do so today!"

Thank you to Kindle Book Review.

Whale Song is available in English in ebook and paperback at your favorite online retailer, includingAmazon, Kobo Books, B&N, Smashwords and more. Ask your bookstore to bring it in.

Whale Song in translation for Chinese and German markets

2011-09-19T12:52:00.001-06:00

I just realized that I hadn't actually announced that I have two translation rights deals for Whale Song.

First, I've signed a deal with a Chinese company and an ebook edition will be in translation in a few months. There's also a possibility that there may be a Chinese print edition later. Over the next few months, I'll be assisting in the translation by explaining parts of the novel to the translators.

I also have another deal in place for a German translation of Whale Song. It will be published in ebook and trade paperback edition. This is especially exciting as Amazon has recently opened their Germany site to ebooks.

Of course, with both editions this will mean new book covers, which I'll post here as soon as I have them.

Whale Song is available in English in ebook and paperback at your favorite online retailer, including Amazon, Kobo Books, B&N, Smashwords and more. Ask your bookstore to bring it in.

Today on The Russell Show: Children of the Fog

2011-09-17T20:30:00.002-06:00

What would you do if a kidnapper told you you had 10 seconds to make a decision: let him take your child, or watch your son die?

A special thank you to my friend Russell Brooks for always being so enthusiastic about my books. Check out his narration from my bestselling supernatural thriller, CHILDREN OF THE FOG.

CHILDREN OF THE FOG is available at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble and more.

Do you know Mary Higginson?

2011-09-03T17:12:00.000-06:00

There's not a lot about school that I liked when I was a kid, but over those years, there were a couple of teachers that made a definite impact on my life. One of them was Mary Higginson. Do you know her?

Mary Higginson was my English teacher at Bermuda High School for Girls when I lived in Bermuda for three glorious years. She was from the UK somewhere. She was kind, pleasant and always encouraging. She recognized my love for writing and encouraged me to "grow" it.

When she found out I was going through some teen/parent conflicts, she said, "Why don't you start writing in a diary, Cheryl? It might help you."

I hadn't thought about that before.

I mentioned this to my best friend.

"You should do what Mrs. Higginson suggested," she said.

"But what if my mom or dad find my diary?"

"Hide it between your mattresses. That's what I do."

It's probably what every teen does. But I did it anyway.

I hid the tiny key in my jewelry box. Does every girl do that too?

I wrote about the arguments with my mom, and how much my dad annoyed me. You know, all the normal teenage angst stuff. Every now and then when I was bored, I'd write a poem in my diary. Sometimes I'd write short stories.

When Mrs. Higginson assigned us story writing, I was in my glory. I wrote my heart out and created characters that made me laugh. Sometimes they made me cry. When I handed in my assignments, I would wait with bated breath for my teacher's reaction.

One day, she said to the class, "Let me read you a story."

I don't recall the story title or even the plot. All I know is that it was mine.

She praised my writing in front of the class and told me that one day I'd be a great writer.

I'm not sure I have the "great" part down yet--I'll leave that up to my idol, Stephen King--but I AM a writer. And Mrs. Higginson was responsible for part of my creation. Without her encouragement, I'd never have known my words could have impact and meaning to others.

So now my search is on. Mary Higginson, where are you???

Do you know a Mary Higginson? If so, please have her contact me through my site or blog.

I have contacted the school, but they have no current info. I dream of the day when I can give her one of my novels and tell her how grateful I will always be. Teachers never get enough credit. She took a depressed teenager and helped turn her into a dreamer, who then went on to achieve her dreams.

Mary Higginson, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif
I invite you to check out my novels

Cheryl Kaye Tardif Novels Go International & I Need Your Help

2011-08-25T22:27:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I'm trying to be calm, cool and collected while typing this, but it ain't easy! Already I've made a bunch of typos as I try to find the words to tell you my news. I've received two queries regarding foreign rights for my novels--one from a company in China, and the other in Turkey.

One was an outright offer and included a contract.

Now stay with me here, I know I may be rambling, and if you stick this out you may just win a free ebook...

Both companies contacted me regarding my supernatural suspense, Children of the Fog. But at least one is interested in ALL my titles.

My books include:

Whale Song
Children of the Fog
Divine Intervention
Divine Justice,
The River
Lancelot's Lady
Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories
Whale Song: School Edition, which comes with a teacher's discussion guide on bullying, racism and more.

So here's my question for you...

If these companies decided to take only 3 of my titles, which 3 should they choose--and WHY?

Five people who leave their answers to my question will receive one of my ebooks--their choice. I'll do this draw on September 7th, 2011. I'd truly appreciate your input, and I'll direct both companies to this post and your comments. Thank you!

My short story OUIJA is featured in WHAT FEARS BECOME: An Anthology from The Horror Zine

2011-08-15T15:23:00.000-06:00

I'm very excited to announce that one of my short stories, OUIJA, is in a new anthology filled with some of the biggest names in horror. Check it out...

From classic horror and pure suspense to Twilight-Zone-style dark fantasy, WHAT FEARS BECOME relentlessly explores our basic fears and leaves you with twisted endings that will make your skin crawl…

This spine-tingling, international anthology contains contributions from the critically acclaimed online horror magazine, The Horror Zine, and features bestselling authors such as Bentley Little, Graham Masterton, Ramsey Campbell, Joe R. Lansdale, Elizabeth Massie, Ronald Malfi, Cheryl Kaye Tardif, Melanie Tem, Scott Nicholson, Piers Anthony, Conrad Williams, and many more.

Edited by Jeani Rector of The Horror Zine and featuring a foreword by award-winning, bestselling author Simon Clark, it also contains deliciously dark delights from morbidly creative writers, poets and artists who have not yet made it big―but will very soon.

Come and discover…

WHAT FEARS BECOME

Buy the Kindle edition today! (You can even read it on your PC/laptop)

Reviews:

"Each spine-tingling chiller takes the reader into the depths of eerie imaginations!" ―Fangoria

"A bold, brilliant collection of some of the most innovative and eloquent voices in modern horror." ―Gabrielle Faust, author of Eternal Vigilance

"An inspired mix of energetic and captivating horror...like a fearful breath from an ancient crypt; enter if you dare!" ―Midnight Street Magazine

"Dip in and you're hooked...a high-bar mix of new and established talent." ―Stephen Gallagher, author of Kingdom of Bones

"Read one and be scared…or read the whole book and lock all the doors and stay up all night listening to the house creak." ―William Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Back Bay

"Unusual and deeply disturbing horror fiction by numerous distinguished authors." ― Margaret L. Carter, author of Different Blood: The Vampire as Alien

"Frightful fiction pulls in an impressive cast..." ―The Future Fire

"The well crafted stories, and list of writers new and well known make WHAT FEARS BECOME a must read for horror lovers." ―Selina Rosen, author of The Host trilogy

Buy the Kindle edition today!

(Other editions are forthcoming, including a trade paperback edition later this year.)

Sharon Osbourne, Grace & Heroes

2011-08-03T15:03:00.001-06:00

I've never met Sharon Osbourne, MrsSOsbourne on Twitter, and I probably never will. She's known worldwide and I am only a small Canadian writer. I doubt she's ever read any of my novels, though I really wish she'd read WHALE SONG because it has impacted so many people's lives and I believe she would love it.

I'd love to meet Sharon, but that's not why I'm writing this post. The chance of Sharon Osbourne "dropping by" my little piece of the blogosphere is slim to none. And I can pretty much assure you she's never heard of Cheryl Kaye Tardif, or read my blog or my books before.

The reason I'm blogging about a woman I've never met is that she inspires me. Truly. Deeply.

Sharon inspires me because of all she has accomplished and overcome in her life. She has managed countless performers, including her husband and famous rocker Ozzy. Yeah, I bet that hasn't been easy. I can barely manage to get my husband to take out the trash some days.

I do share one thing in common with Sharon. We both have red hair. Okay, two things maybe. I love music. Almost any genre, young or old performers, professional and those just starting their dreams.

Sharon has raised her children, and any parent will tell you that's not easy. Sure, they've had their ups and downs, but don't we all? Through everything, through the grime of celebrity, Sharon rises above with grace and genuine caring. Just watch her on America's Got Talent! She wants people to find their dreams.

So do I. I've always been a dreamer. My motto has been "Dare to Dream...and Dream BIG!" I have that on the wall of my office. Being a part of someone's dream might mean giving them advice or a little direction or a caring word or encouragement to keep on keeping on.

I'm sure Sharon has had her awful days. I'm sure she's lost her cool at times. She's probably done things she regrets. Haven't we all? I know I have.

I suspect Sharon has had some ungraceful moments. But again, haven't we all?

I love Sharon Osbourne. Not the crazy kind of fan worship love, but just one human being to another. She epitomizes grace, selflessness, determination, persistence and more, and I strive to be just like her "when I grow up".

Sharon has faced cancer. Again, with grace. In this, she reminds me of my mother, who also faced cancer and won. Two very strong ladies, in my books. Two strong, heroic, admirable ladies. My mom and Sharon Osbourne should get together...and then invite me over for margaritas.

Sharon is my hero, and I don't say that about just anyone.

My novels are filled with fictional heroes, strong courageous men and women who have to battle against darker forces of evil. Jasi McLellan from Divine Intervention. Sadie O'Connell from Children of the Fog. Del Hawthorne from The River...

You probably know a hero, maybe even have one in your family. Maybe it's your neighbor, or a teacher.

My hero is Sharon Osbourne--and all the Sharons out there like her. I salute you for your grace.

Who's your hero?

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif
I invite you to check out my novels

Imajin Books Summer Sizzler Scavenger Hunt

2011-08-01T14:30:00.009-06:00

This August, the fun continues with an exciting Summer Sizzler Scavenger Hunt over at Imajin Books.

This event runs Aug 1 - August 31.

Participants have a chance to win some fabulous prizes, including a Kindle ereader with wi-fi.

For more info and contest details, please visit http://www.imajinbooks.com

Summer Reviewer Giveaway - July 1-August 31

2011-07-30T13:37:00.000-06:00

A special notice from Imajin Books:

This July & August, we hope you'll join us for our Summer Reviewer Giveaway. No, we aren't giving away reviewers (though I'm sure some authors would LOVE to have their very own). We're rewarding reviewers!
We think reviewers are special. They take the time to read our books and then post their thoughts about our titles on blogs, websites, Facebook pages, Goodreads, LibraryThing, Shelfari etc. And it's time they get some real appreciation. So we're giving away ebooks to reviewers.
And our reviewers will be entered in a draw for a Mystery Prize worth at least $120.
Here's how it works:

Borrow an Imajin Books title (ebook or paperback) from a friend or lending site, or buy from your favourite retailer.
Then post a review on Amazon, B&N or Goodreads. Only reviews posted between July 1, 2011 and August 31, 2011 qualify.
Email us with the links to your reviews.
You'll receive 1 free ebook of your choice (from our titles). No obligation to review your ebook prize.
1 Mystery Prize valued at $120 (minimum) will be given away to one lucky winner.
Anyone, anywhere, 18+, can enter this giveaway. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. No cash value.
Imajin Books authors, their families and any subcontracted associates of Imajin Books are excluded from this contest.
All prizes will be awarded after September 1st and before September 3rd. The Mystery Prize may take up to 4 weeks to be received.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif
I invite you to check out my ebooks and paperbacks.

I Know What You're Thinking...

2011-07-29T16:33:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago I printed off a new batch of free ebook coupon cards. The only problem is I'd forgotten to put them in my purse. And isn't that just like fate that, while I was traveling, someone wanted to know about my books and I had no card to give her.

I know what you're thinking. What kind of author am I if I don't even have a card to give someone?

"I'm so sorry I don't have a free ebook coupon card to give you," I said, mentally kicking myself. "I forgot to pack them in my purse. But I might have something..."

I dug around in my purse and gave her a slightly worn bookmark (with out of date book covers). She took it as though I'd offered her gold. I didn't realize that for her it was gold. She was a book club member and needed some new book suggestions. Now she had some.

"This Divine Intervention looks really good," she told me. "What's it about?"

"It's about a covert team of psychic agents searching for a deadly serial arsonist in BC."

You had me at 'covert'," she said with a laugh.

We chatted for a while and I learned a lot about this woman in a very short time. She was an older lady living on her own, with only the residents of a very small town to chat with. To her, I was a bit of excitement on what would normally be an average day.

"My book club would love to meet you. Do you think you'll be back here again any time soon?" she asked.

"To be honest, I'm not planning on another trip here for a while," I said.

The light in her eyes dimmed for a second.

"But," I told her with a smile, "I'd be happy to do a Skype visit with you and your book club."

"Really? You'd do that?" She couldn't sit still, she was so excited.

"I'd be happy to," I said. "Just give me enough warning so I can make sure my hair and makeup are done." I grinned at her.

"You look pretty as you are," she said.

I think I blushed. "Thank you. That's sweet of you to say."

Suddenly, I had an idea. I didn't have a coupon card to give her a free ebook, but I had something even better.

"Hold on a minute," I said. "I'll be right back."

I had a box in the back of my car. I plucked something out of it and ran back inside the restaurant. I handed her a copy of Divine Intervention. "I call this my Random Act of Divineness."

She was overwhelmed. "Will you autograph it for me?"

"Of course," I said. Then my smile faltered.

"I know what you're thinking," she said.

Surprised, I said, "And what is that?"

"You forgot to pack a pen too, didn't you?"

I know what you're thinking? How can an author not have a pen?

I nodded, redfaced.

"Do you have a pen we can borrow," the woman said to the couple at the next table. "This here lady is an author."

"Do you have a business card or something?" the second woman asked me.

~ Cheryl Kaye Tardif
I invite you to check out my novels.

Summer eBook Sale - July 1-31

2011-07-01T10:35:00.002-06:00

To start our 'Summer Sizzles with Imajin Books' event off with a bang, we've priced all of our ebooks between $0.99 and $2.99 USD.

If you order Kindle ebooks via Amazon, you can visit any of our books' Amazon pages (links in Books section) and you'll see the new price listed. These prices will be in effect until August 1st, 2011.

WHALE SONG - http://www.amazon.com/Whale-Song-ebook/dp/B003NX7LSA

UNDER A TEXAS STAR - http://www.amazon.com/Under-a-Texas-Star-ebook/dp/B00501H6YM

THE RIVER - http://www.amazon.com/The-River-ebook/dp/B003BLPH6C

SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET & OTHER CREEPY STORIES - http://www.amazon.com/Skeletons-Closet-Creepy-Stories-ebook/dp/B003XKNG3W

ROWENA THROUGH THE WALL - http://www.amazon.com/Rowena-Through-the-Wall-ebook/dp/B00557Z2QU

REMOTE CONTROL - http://www.amazon.com/Remote-Control-ebook/dp/B003U6Z7JK (This novelette is FREE via Smashwords and $0.99 on Amazon; Amazon users: get the mobi file FREE from Smashwords)

LANCELOT'S LADY - http://www.amazon.com/Lancelots-Lady-ebook/dp/B0043GX8C4

DIVINE JUSTICE (BOOK 2) - http://www.amazon.com/Divine-Justice-series-ebook/dp/B004Z1UX70

DIVINE INTERVENTION (BOOK 1) - http://www.amazon.com/Divine-Intervention-series-ebook/dp/B003AYEJSC

CHILDREN OF THE FOG - http://www.amazon.com/Children-of-the-Fog-ebook/dp/B004PVSTLW

If you usually buy ebooks for a Nook, Kobo, Sony, iPad or other ereader or for your PC, you can purchase our discounted ebooks via Smashwords.com. To receive our sale price, simply use the codes below when purchasing. You can click on the links below to go right to Smashwords. Go through the buy process like normal and enter the code in the coupon code box to receive the discount.

WHALE SONG - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/15512 - Code: SP97D

UNDER A TEXAS STAR - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/58583 - Code: UT34B

THE RIVER - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/13708 - Code: CS52Q

SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET & OTHER CREEPY STORIES - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/19902 - Code: ZT62S

ROWENA THROUGH THE WALL - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/65519 - Code: QX53C

REMOTE CONTROL - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/17800 - Code: HP96H (This novelette is FREE via Smashwords and $0.99 on Amazon; Amazon users: get the mobi file FREE from Smashwords)

LANCELOT'S LADY - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/24617 - Code: NY68Q

DIVINE JUSTICE (BOOK 2) - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/57388 - Code: XB64K

DIVINE INTERVENTION (BOOK 1) - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/13677 - Code: KL89F

CHILDREN OF THE FOG - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/46137 - Code: WE65U
Happy reading!

The Saturday Giveaway: Five Kindle Copies of Divine Intervention!

2011-06-25T16:34:00.000-06:00

The Frugal eReader is featuring a special contest. Five Kindle copies of my bestselling psychic suspense, Divine Intervention, will be given away to 5 lucky people.

To enter, leave a comment at the link below. If you tweet this contest using the buttons above the post and comment that you tweeted, you'll get an extra entry. You'll get more entries if you share the post link via Facebook or other sites.

Good luck!

Now here's the contest link. Check it out!

The Saturday Giveaway: Five Kindle Copies of Divine Intervention!

Whale Song review: "I would recommend this book to anyone."

2011-06-21T21:19:00.000-06:00

5 STARS! "Whale Song is full of colorful images and descriptive passages. Cheryl Tardiff brings her characters alive with words. The reader is thrown into the lives of the characters and shares their emotions. I would recommend this book to anyone. Read it. You will enjoy it. I promise." -- Susan Schmelzer

Edmonton author Alison Neuman inspires a day camp for children with and without disabilities

2011-06-06T14:12:00.000-06:00

Every now and then I come across a person who truly inspires me, and Alison Neuman is one such person. ~Cheryl

Alison Neuman, author of Ice Rose, a young adult spy novel, is proud to be organizing Camp Mission Access. Inspired by her love of the world of secret agents and the concept of having a day camp for children with and without a disability, Alison will host a camp that has received interest for additional locations in Canada and the United States even before it debuts this August.

On August 4 & 5 and 8 & 9, 2011, at The Glenrose Hospital School in Edmonton, Alberta, Camp Mission Access will use a secret agent theme to inspire children. Each secret agent-in-training will complete four missions through writing, inclusive activities, games, and dance.

Despite her own disability, Alison has achieved regular life milestones, but when she was a child she dreamed of being able to go to a day camp with children of any and every ability. Her dream of writing and publishing a book was achieved when her novel Ice Rose was released in September 2010. Elissa, the main character, also has a disability but rather than dwell on it, uses it to be stronger and grow. Elissa mirrors Alison in that they both love dance and wanted to be professional dancers but were unable to due to the limitations of their health realities.

In March 2010, Alison was able to reconnect with her dance dreams when she began iDANCE Edmonton Community Dance Classes. She is thrilled to have iDANCE Edmonton presenting the ‘Stealth Moves’ dance workshops each day of the camp. Along with dance, each secret-agent-in-training will also explore their imagination as they create their own secret agent profile, polish their skills as they navigate an obstacle course created for every ability, learn and try memory techniques, and then test their skills trying to crack a code and open a myserious attaché. The secret-agent-in-training who opens the attaché gets to take home the revealed goodies.

Ice Rose - A teenager's world is turned upside down when an explosion steals her dad and her identity. Entering an exclusive academy that immerses her in the world of secret agents, she must overcome her fears and disabilities to discover the truth about her dad's mission, his software, and the mystery man stalking her before she ends up like her father―lost.

For more information, or to register for Camp Mission Access, check out:
http://www.alisonneuman.ca/blog/camp-mission-access/

Paperback sale: THE RIVER and DIVINE INTERVENTION

2011-06-01T11:21:00.001-06:00

SALE: While supplies last, I am selling the original (before covers) first editions of Divine Intervention and The River for only $15 each, including shipping and no GST for Canadians. This offer is for Canadian and US residents only, due to shipping costs.

Payments via PayPal only. Email me first to ensure I have stock left.

I'll be happy to autograph the books you order and personalize them too. These make great gifts!

As you may know, my bestselling novels The River and Divine Intervention have gone through a bit of a change in the past few months.

Divine Intervention was originally published in 2004, and while I liked the cover, I didn't LOVE it. It was the first book cover I had ever designed. Yes, me. lol And believe me, back then my design skills were limited. What I always wanted was a way to brand this series, something that carried over to the next book, and the next. I want readers to take one look at the cover and be intrigued. I also want them to recognize the cover as part of a series. So I came up with this cool concept in the new cover--but I did not design it. This time I left it to a professional. Jennifer Johnson is a fabulous graphic designer!

before after

With The River, originally published in 2005, my decision to revamp the cover was a bit tougher. I was emotionally connected to the cover. Not because I designed it--I didn't. My daughter did. When she was only 14. I've always been so proud of that cover because of Jessica's involvement. As she grew older, she began telling me she wasn't that pleased with her cover. And that led me to rethink the idea of replacing it. When I mentioned this to Jessica, she was very happy--not what I expected. This time Jessica designed the background picture--of an underground river. And Jennifer put the cover together with the text. I think they made a great team on this one.

before after

First editions of Divine Intervention and The River - only $15 each, including shipping and no GST for Canadians. This offer is for Canadian and US residents only, due to shipping costs.

Payments via PayPal only. Email me first to ensure I have stock left.

The River is re-released in trade paperback with stunning new cover

2011-05-30T19:38:00.000-06:00

My 2005 techno-thriller THE RIVER was recently released in ebook edition with a stunning new cover. Today the new trade paperback edition became available for only $9.99 US at Createspace. Soon it will be available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retailers.

The new second edition contains the same critically acclaimed story about a woman who takes a group of near strangers up north to the Nahanni River area of Canada's Northwest Territories, in search of her father who went missing years earlier and was presumed dead.

This new edition comes out prior to a highly anticipated ABC television series, also titled THE RIVER, which airs this fall. The storyline is very similar to my novel; in fact, I've already been asked by one fan if this series was based on my novel.

THE RIVER television series - A father goes missing in the Amazon and is presumed dead. His family and friends go looking for him. What they find is paranormal and beyond belief.

My bestselling thriller THE RIVER - Del and her followers hunt for her father along the Nahanni River and also encounter the paranormal...and a deadly plot that threatens all of mankind.

Check out my novel THE RIVER.

Read an Excerpt of Divine Justice by Kindle Author: Cheryl Kaye Tardif

2011-05-25T13:02:00.002-06:00

Read an excerpt of DIVINE JUSTICE by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Kindle Author: Kindle Author Sponsor: Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Kindle Price: $3.99

Available from Amazon and more

Imajin Books gives away 150 ebooks of Divine Intervention to LibraryThing members

2011-05-23T09:45:00.000-06:00

Over the next 3 weeks, Imajin Books will be giving away 150 ebook copies of the bestselling psychic suspense, Divine Intervention, by Cheryl Kaye Tardif to LibraryThing members.

This special promotion is on until June 13, 2011, so reserve your free ebook now.

Go to LibraryThing's Giveaway list and scroll down until you see DIVINE INTERVENTION. Click on Request it!

Review: Divine Intervention

2011-05-19T12:52:00.000-06:00

Thank you to Betty Gelean for allowing me to quote some of her recent review.

"When Cheryl Kaye Tardif writes a book you know it will grip you right from the beginning and take you on an intense and fascinating ride...this is fun, intense, serious, futuristic fiction done up with great characterizations, full of futuristic tools...This book is exceptionally well-written, interesting in its handling of unusual circumstances, and equally unusual characters. It is taut, cohesive, yet personal...The author has a way of creating reality from paranormal or psychic abilities and puts the words in her characters' mouths. I was completely glued to the book. I heartily recommend Cheryl Kaye's books, no matter the subject. I have the feeling she could write about any subject and makes us want more."

You can read Betty's full review (which I stumbled across by accident) at:

http://nightreader-blog.blogspot.com/2011/05/divine-intervention-by-cheryl-kaye.html

Review: Divine Intervention

2011-05-19T01:31:00.003-06:00

Last night, I came across a review of my psychic suspense thriller, Divine Intervention.

I am so honored by this reviewer's words and I'm so glad she enjoyed this novel. Jasi and her covert team of psychic agents hold a special place in my heart.

Please note: There is a new second edition with a stunning new cover (shown) now available, published by Imajin Books. :-)

Enjoy this review:

R&B: Read and Blog: Divine Intervention by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

I see dead people...

2011-05-18T10:02:00.000-06:00

I am often asked where I get my inspiration for my stories, and I must confess that many of my ideas come from dreams. You see, my mind must be quite twisted. At least you'd think so if you could see what I dream about some nights.

I see dead people. I've always been haunted--by horrifying images, mind-numbing sounds and things that go creak in the night. These dreams are creations, no matter how scary or horrible they may be. My creations.

Perhaps my dreams stem from all those horror movies I watched as a teen. Or perhaps it's all Stephen King's fault. Yeah, let's blame the King. After all, he got me in trouble plenty of times when my parents would yell at me to put down my book and turn off my light. Thank God for flashlights and Duracell!

Some people ask me if my books are written from true experiences. Yes, I once was a young girl living on an island and being bullied while dreaming of killer whales and wolves. Yes, I once traveled down the Nahanni River in search of my father who had been presumed dead but was actually alive and in danger. Yes, I'm actually "Jasi McLellan", a psychic government agent who hunts down serial killers and is haunted by a dead girl in my closet. Yes, I once saw ghost children outside a cabin near Cadomin Cave, Alberta. Yes, I once fell madly in love with a handsome recluse who lives on a private island in the Bahamas.

I see dead people. It's not my fault. They're in my dreams. They're in my head.

And they want out.

That's why I write. Well, one of the reasons. After all, every fictional character is "dead" until a writer brings them to life. That's my goal with every book. To bring you characters that you'll love, hate, feel something for.

I see dead people. I hear them too. Right now they're saying, "Go to bed. You've got some dreaming to do."

Divine Justice - book trailer video

2011-05-17T11:09:00.000-06:00

DIVINE JUSTICE is available in ebook edition from Amazon (Kindle), Smashwords and soon to be available at more ebook retailers.

Limited time offer: get REMOTE CONTROL Kindle ebook FREE!

2011-05-15T16:31:00.001-06:00

FREE KINDLE eBOOK- For a limited time, you can pick up the Kindle edition of my award-winning suspenseful novelette REMOTE CONTROL. This story warns: "Be careful what you wish for."

You can read the Kindle edition on your Kindle ereader, smartphone app or your computer via Kindle for PC, which you can download free.

What's REMOTE CONTROL about?

In this dark, suspenseful and somewhat comical look at one man's desires, Remote Control, a novelette by bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif delivers a strong message: Be careful what you wish for!

Meet Harold Fielding--plumber by part of the day, slacker/tv addict the rest of the day and night. Harry believes that fame and fortune will come to him if he wishes hard enough. God forbid if he should actually work for it.

Beatrice Fielding is Harry's hardworking wife. She holds down multiple jobs so her husband can laze about on his recliner, eating popcorn and drinking cola while watching his favorite shows. She has many wishes--some aren't so nice.

Get your free Kindle edition of REMOTE CONTROL right now and start reading it in 30 seconds.

THE RIVER gets a new look

2011-05-14T23:01:00.000-06:00

My bestselling techno-thriller, THE RIVER, will be released next month in a second edition trade paperback, priced to be more affordable than the older version. Nothing inside has changed much; it's the same action-packed story, same mystery, same chills and thrills. But as you'll see, the front cover now has a more ominous feel to it and there's a new publisher.

In 2005, the original cover was designed. The book retailed for $25.99 and was then reduced to $22.50. But to be honest, that price has bothered me and I've been trying to find a way to bring THE RIVER to everyone--with a lower price. And now I have!

In June 2011, the second edition trade paperback of THE RIVER will retail for only $9.99 on Amazon. Over the following month or two, the new edition will be distributed to other retailers.

Seven years ago, Del Hawthorne’s father and three of his friends disappeared near the Nahanni River and were presumed dead. When one of the missing men stumbles onto the University grounds, alive but barely recognizable and aging before her eyes, Del is shocked. Especially when the man tells her something inconceivable. Her father is still alive!

Check out the following covers:

2005 cover

2011 cover

What do you think? Do you like the new cover?

THE RIVER is available in ebook edition at Amazon, KoboBooks, Smashwords, B&N and more.

Read an excerpt from DIVINE JUSTICE, a paranormal suspense by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

2011-05-05T19:03:00.021-06:00

Prologue

Jasi McLellan drifted in and out of consciousness, her thoughts like waves lapping restlessly against the shore. When she opened her eyes, distorted faces flashed past her and indistinct words assaulted her ears. She reached for the names that belonged to those faces, but they eluded her. She tried to swallow, but her mouth and tongue were sandpaper-dry. She inhaled slowly, trying to place the smell, a mix of antiseptic and sweat.

Where the hell am I? And why is it so dark, so cold?

She blinked once and everything changed.

Before her lay a long, murky corridor. At her feet, the bare hardwood floor was polished to a reflective shine. Her sandals clicked as she headed toward the door at the end of the hall. A crack of backlighting outlined the door's shape. As she moved toward it, the door appeared to drift further away.

She paused and leaned down to look at her reflection in the gleaming floor. A face she didn't recognize stared back at her. Amidst charred skin, blue eyes blinked at her.

I have green eyes.

She cried out in terror when the face became two.

The dead girl from her closet was coming for her.

Jasi faced the girl. "Why can't you leave me alone?"

"I can't leave. You need me, and I need you."

The girl's accent was soft―from South Carolina maybe―and the pink skipping rope noose cut deeply into her lolling neck with every word she spoke.

"He keeps callin' me," the dead girl whispered.

"Who?"

The girl began to sob and Jasi reached out to touch the child's blistered shoulder. She snatched her hand back when it encountered skin that was morgue cold.

"Who are you?"

"Emily," came the soft reply.

"What do you want, Emily?"

The girl's next words turned Jasi's blood to ice.

"I want you to find me."

Confused, Jasi shook her head and took a few steps backward. "What do you mean? You're right here."

The girl said nothing.

"I've seen you ever since I was a child," Jasi said. "You've never spoken to me before. Why now?"

Emily lowered her head. "You jes never heard me before. Now you're open-minded. Now you're hearin' me fine."

A light flickered at the end of the hall and Jasi glanced over her shoulder.

"It's okay, Jasmine." Emily smiled weakly. "Go."

The girl drifted backward toward the shadows.

"Emily, wait!" Jasi cried. "How do I find you?"

"When you're ready, I'll find you."

As Jasi drifted off into a peaceful, healing sleep, she made a solemn vow to the dead girl in her closet.

I'll find you, Emily. I promise.

The dead girl finally had a name―Emily.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

~ Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC

Natassia Prushenko was scared―really scared.

She looked down at the woman lying motionless in the bed. She's so pale, so still. Like death.

The door opened behind her. Someone stepped into the room.

"Is Jasi awake yet?"

Natassia glanced over her shoulder. "No, she hasn't moved an inch. I'm worried about her, Ben."

Benjamin Roberts crossed the room, bringing with him an air of calm authority. When he reached Natassia, they stood side-by-side, keeping vigil over the woman in the hospital bed.

It had been nearly two weeks since their partner and team leader Jasmine McLellan had taken a bullet high on her left arm. She'd been doing well, was even out of Vancouver General Hospital for nearly a week, but then she'd taken an unexpected turn for the worse. Her arm had swelled painfully, the bullet wound festering. Without warning, a blood infection invaded Jasi's body, causing serious complications and a sudden trip back to the hospital. That's where they discovered she had a concussion and mild swelling of the brain, probably from when she hit the ground after an explosion during the last case.

Natassia stared down at Jasi. "I don't think she's getting any better, Ben. She looks like she's barely breathing." She reached out to touch Jasi's arm, but snatched back her hand as if she'd touched a hot flame.

Ben raised a brow. "Natassia…"

"You know what can happen if I touch her. After all she's been through, the last thing she needs is me poking around in her mind. Anyway, we already know what happened during the Gemini Murders. It's not as if we need to know any more."

She studied the woman in the bed, taking in the tangled mane of shoulder-length auburn hair and the sprinkle of cinnamon freckles that appeared much darker against the creamy whiteness of her face.

"It's up to Jasi now," Ben said quietly. "We both know how stubborn she is."

He turned away, but not before Natassia saw tears in his eyes. "Where are you going?" she asked.

"I want to check on her status. I'll get her doctor."

Natassia felt a void in the room as soon as he was gone. She couldn't help but feel a little better when he was around. If there was one thing she'd learned, Ben knew how to take care of things―especially the people he cared for.

She watched Jasi. "And he sure cares a lot for you, my new friend."

Although she'd only known Jasi for about three months, she'd grown fond of her. The slender redhead had a lot of spunk. That was something she could appreciate.

Natassia had spent a few years consulting with a Russian agency similar to the Canadian Federal Bureau of Investigation, which had been formed in 2003. As a Victim Empath capable of receiving cryptic flashes from the minds of victims, she was responsible for bringing down some notorious criminals. After a brief scandalous affair with a married field agent, Natassia was 'traded' to Canada's CFBI. Recently, she'd been assigned to the PSI Division and relocated to Vancouver, B.C.

"Remember when we first met, Jasi? You thought I was an escort hitting on Ben." She laughed. "The poor guy practically fell over in his chair when I sat down with you two."

It had been an awkward first meeting.

Natassia let out a sigh.

She still felt like the new kid on the block, having only been a Psychic Skills Investigator with the CFBI for the past three months. As a PSI, her gift of reading victims, live or dead ones, had helped crack the last case. But not before Jasi had been shot. Natassia hadn't been able to prevent that. Or Jasi's subsequent heartbreak.

She pulled the chair up to the side of the bed. "Get well, my friend. We've got cases to solve, murderers to catch and good-looking men to tease."

There was no answer.

She leaned closer. "Jasi? Can you hear me?"

No reply.

"Jasmine McLellan, it's time to wake up now."

The woman in the bed remained still.

Out in the hall, footsteps approached. Ben entered the room, followed by Jasi's father and Brady, her brother. Dr. Mohinder Habib entered the room after them and immediately picked up the chart at the end of Jasi's bed.

"So?" Natassia said impatiently.

When the doctor looked up from the file, his expression was guarded. That made her nervous.

"When is she going to wake up?" she blurted.

"We've been monitoring her stats closely," Dr. Habib said, his black eyes drifting to the bed. "Ms. McLellan has been only slightly responsive to antibiotics."

Natassia frowned. "But she's getting better, right?"

"Your friend is too exhausted to fight off the infection, and the swelling in her brain is impeding her recovery." Dr. Habib tried to smile. "She's in a very deep sleep."

"You mean she's in a coma," Ben stated.

The doctor nodded. "Yes, but she's still breathing on her own."

Jasi's father looked stunned. "When will she wake up?"

"I'm afraid we don't know when," Dr. Habib said gently. "The body often reacts this way when it's under attack. Some people wake up within days, once an infection is under control. Some remain in a coma for longer periods of time." He made a note on Jasi's chart and adjusted the IV drip.

"What's the worst case scenario?" Ben asked.

Natassia knew it was the one question everyone had on their minds.

"Well, worst case―and I mean very worst―would be that we can't control the swelling in her brain or the infection in her arm." He turned away from his patient. "And if the infection travels up her arm toward her heart, we might have to take more aggressive action."

"What kind of action?" Jasi's brother demanded.

"Brady," his father warned. "Let him finish."

Dr. Habib's expression darkened. "If the infection spreads upward, it could reach her heart or brain and that would complicate matters. There is a slim possibility that we might have to amputate her arm."

Natassia let out a soft cry. "No!"

"We might not have a choice," the doctor said quietly.

Natassia moved closer to the bed. As she gazed at Jasi, her mouth tightened. I won't let them take your arm.

"For now, her vitals are good," Dr. Habib said, moving toward the door. "We have every reason to believe she'll fight the infection and regain consciousness. When she's ready. I'll check in on her in a couple of hours, but I can assure you we're doing everything we can for her."

Brady and his father followed the doctor out into the hall, while Natassia sank into the chair by Jasi's bed.

"They might take her arm, Ben. Oh, God…"

Ben placed a gloved hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you heard the doctor. She's stable and she's a fighter. She'll wake up soon enough, and when she does, she'll be bossier than hell."

Natassia studied the woman in the bed, yearning for Jasi to open her green eyes. "Come on, Jasi. You've gotta fight this thing."

Behind her, Ben said, "She's probably dreaming about lying on a tropical beach somewhere, sipping mojitos and getting that tan she always wanted."

While her partners discussed tropical beaches and tanning, Jasi drifted on a turbulent river of unconsciousness, reliving flashes of conversations and glimpses of past murder scenes that all led her back to the one case that had hit close to home.

Too close.

She'd let her guard down, opened herself to a personal connection instead of her ordinary measure of distance, something she always strived for.

In her drug-induced world, faces flashed before her.

Brandon…Ben…Natassia.

A burnt corpse floated past her on a cresting wave.

Monty Winkler.

The dream took her closer to the water. She saw her reflection. And something else just below the surface.

She scrunched her eyes. What is that?

Suddenly, a hand broke the surface. Fingers clawed at empty air, yet as quickly as it had appeared, the hand sank below, returning to its watery grave.

No!

A rush of emotions assaulted her. Death…loss…pain.

Jasi was suddenly transported to the day she had returned to Divine Operations, the covert location of the PSI Division. Divine Ops was cloaked within an isolated, heavily guarded complex in the Rocky Mountains. Not even the one hundred or so residents of Divine, BC, knew what went on inside the complex―or underground. They believed the signage that stated it was a company called Enviro-Safe Research Facility.

In her dream world, Jasi found herself standing in front of Matthew Divine, the mysterious creator of the PSI Division. With shoulder-length gray hair tied in a ponytail and old-fashioned tortoise-shell glasses, the man could be easily mistaken for an aging hippie or a computer geek.

The latter was true.

"Hi, Matthew," Jasi said.

She knew he wasn't pleased. Why should he be? She had another dead body on her hands, someone who could've been saved if she'd bothered to call for back up. Plus, she had a wounded friend who wouldn't have been shot if it wasn't for her stubborn refusal to follow protocol.

"I-I'm sorry," she told him.

A bright flash sent her muddled mind back to the case that still haunted her. The Parliament Murders. Memories flooded her mind. She couldn't fight them, or stop them. All she could do was remember.

As usual, everything had started with a dead body...

DIVINE JUSTICE is now available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Over the next week or so, it will become available at Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, iBooks, Sony eReader Store, Diesel and more.

DIVINE JUSTICE now available in ebook edition

2011-05-04T19:46:00.000-06:00

NEW RELEASE: Check out DIVINE JUSTICE, book 2 in the Divine paranormal suspense series starring CFBI agent and Pyro-Psychic Jasi McLellan, a woman who enters killers' minds at the scent of smoke.

CFBI agent and Pyro-Psychic Jasi McLellan battles a serious infection that threatens to claim her life. Slipping in and out of consciousness, she remembers the Parliament Murders...

One by one, members of Ontario's Parliament are disappearing, only to be found days later, disoriented and drugged. Or worse―dead. Police are stumped and the CFBI brings in a covert PSI team, agents with special psychic abilities.

Accompanied by Psychometric Empath Ben Roberts and new team member Victim Empath Natassia Prushenko, Jasi heads for Ottawa and uncovers a plot so devious that Canada's national security is at risk. If that isn't enough to deal with, Jasi bumps into old flame, Zane Underhill, who wants to rekindle their relationship that ended three years earlier.

But the investigation takes precedent and Jasi is forced to place her feelings for Zane on hold in order to find a killer who has more than justice in mind for his victims, and in the end she makes a gut-wrenching decision―one that will cost the life of someone close to her.

DIVINE JUSTICE is now available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Over the next week or so, it will become available at Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, iBooks, Sony eReader Store, Diesel and more.

Young fan promotes my books at Chapters & inspires a new contest

2011-05-02T11:14:00.002-06:00

Want to win an entire collection of Cheryl Kaye Tardif paperbacks? Keep reading.

A friend of mine from high school has been a huge supporter and fan of my work. He told me on numerous occasions how he and his wife would go into their local Chapters/Indigo bookstores and pull up my books on the kiosk computers--then leave them there for other customers to see. I thought this was so kind, and a bit funny.

Well, I guess this has now become a family affair.

Check out one of my youngest fans, Duncan, at a Chapters store in Ontario.

THANK YOU, DUNCAN!!

Duncan's pic has inspired me, so here's a fun contest:

Go to any bookstore that has a computer for customers and pull up my books by searching for 'Cheryl Kaye Tardif'. Take a picture of you pointing to the screen. Then leave the screen up for the next customer. :-)

Send me your pics and I'll post them here during the month of May.

In June, I'll draw a name and one lucky winner will win an entire collection of my paperbacks.

Rules:
Open to Canadian and US residents only, 18 years and older or a child with parent's permission. By entering the contest, you're giving me permission to post your pics on my blog and mention your first name.

Email photos with your name, where the photo was taken (bookstore and city) and your email address.

Only the winner will be notified when the contest is over. Good luck all!

Prize consists of 8 trade paperbacks.

Recipe for a Bestselling Novel

2011-04-27T11:10:00.005-06:00

Wouldn't it be great if there was a recipe for making a bestselling novel and if all a writer had to do was gather the ingredients and mix them in, and voila!―a bestselling novel is created? The reality is there are combinations of ingredients that can either get your name on a bestseller's list or fall flatter than an airless cheese soufflé. However, there are some common ingredients that have helped authors achieve bestseller status.

Common Ingredients for a Bestseller:

· 1 cup of well written novel

· 1 cup of professional editing

· 1 cup of professional layout and interior design

· 2 cups of professional book cover, including gripping back cover text

· 1 cup of decent distribution via major online retailers

· 2 cups of book launch, tours and other events, plus advertising

· 3 cups of contests and giveaways by author, publisher or both

· Countless hours of organization and time

· Dash of excitement

Method:

Take the well written novel and beat in professional editing until light and readable. Add professional layout and interior design, then stir in professional cover art and back cover text until well combined. Sprinkle in decent distribution until coated and roll mixture out with book launch, tours and events. Top with contests and giveaways, and fold in countless hours of organization and time before adding the finishing touch―a huge dash of excitement. Share with everyone and enjoy!

Reality Check:

While the recipe above may seem kind of silly, these ingredients can lead to a bestselling novel. I know because I've used them all successfully. My novels have made bestsellers lists multiple times on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. Some made multiple lists on each in a single day.

I've also sold over 5000 copies of Whale Song, which in Canada makes it a national bestseller.

So how did I do it? I created an exciting day-long event―a "Bestseller Day"―that had enough goodies to draw people in. It was held on my 44th birthday and I gave away 44 prizes.

There are three main ways to get prizes to offer:

1.) Pay for them (I don't recommend this.)

2.) Get others to donate them.

3.) Find someone to sponsor the event or the prizes. They pay for something you want to give away and get something in return, whether it's free advertising, a mention in your next book, or some other benefit.

The Benefits:

The first benefit of reaching this "status" is obvious. You can use "bestselling author" when describing yourself.

The next obvious benefit is that you're selling more books, which means you're earning more.

Another benefit you may not have thought about is exposure. When people look for a book on Amazon, they'll often search using keywords. If your thriller is in the top 10-20 of books listed under "techno-thriller", for instance, you have a much better chance of being noticed. While on those bestsellers lists, more people will come across your name and your book. The more times people see you and your book online, the better the chance is that they'll buy your book.

Becoming a bestselling author takes persistence, creativity and good organization. Follow this recipe for success and you'll rise like a soufflé. Just don't forget that last ingredient―excitement!

Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian author whose critically acclaimed, award-winning novels have inspired much film interest. She's appeared on television and radio, and in newspapers and magazines. Cheryl has also presented at writers' conferences in Canada and the US, mainly on topics of marketing and promotion. She's helped many authors achieve success and does so as a book marketing coach, with Bestseller Days, Virtual Book/Blog Tours and Sponsorships her top 3 most requested topics.

http://www.shamelessbookpromoter.com

http://www.cherylktardif.com

Kindle versus Kobo - From a Reader and Writer's Perspective

2011-04-26T10:40:00.000-06:00

I have a Kindle and a Kobo ereader. I bought them because I love to read but also because I'm an author and I think it's important that I know how my readers are experiencing my works. So I decided to test both the Kobo and the Kindle.

I bought the Kobo ereader first. Since I'm Canadian, I really wanted to be loyal to Canada's #1 ereader. I've also been selling my works via Kobo since they first began as an offshoot of Chapters/Indigo, called Shortcovers. And I liked Kobo's simpler, more friendly design.

My first experience with a Kindle ereader seemed fine. My ebooks loaded and I had minor issues. I tested it for a few weeks, then gave it to my mother when Kobo announced they had a new ereader with wi-fi. So I bought that one.

It pains me to say that my experience with the second Kobo was not a good one. I had numerous problems with loading my ebooks. I ended up having to delete one just so the others would load properly. Kobo was good about giving me a refund. I read everything I could find to help with other glitches I was experiencing, like bookmarks not holding and synching not working between devices (I have a Kobo app on my iPhone too.)

I had to do a factory reset on my new Kobo 3 times, and it still did not fix the problems. Though tech support was great and they did try to help, I ended up having to send the Kobo back and get it replaced. This third Kobo loaded all my books correctly, but the bookmarks still don't hold.

Other than the technical issues I've had, I love the experience of reading on an ereader. It's small, lightweight, easy to hold (especially if you have arthritis in your hands), easy to turn pages (though Kobo isn't as fast as Kindle at this) and very easy on the eyes. Since there are less buttons on a Kobo, you don't have to worry about accidentally hitting one and ending up somewhere else. My Kobo also has an esthetically pleasing appearance; mine has the lilac colored back and white front.

The Kindle ereader I bought next. I bought it hoping that it wouldn't be quote as good as the Kobo. Darn...it's better. Basically a similar size and weight, I find pages load much faster and the battery lasts far longer than its Canadian counterpart. My Kindle doesn't look as "pretty" as my Kobo, but overall its performance is superior. It loads books faster. I haven't had one glitch yet since buying it. My bookmarks are exactly where I left off, and there are added features I can use, like Search, which came in handy when I was sprucing up my grammar skills. The only real downside is that there are perhaps too many buttons on the front and sides, which makes it a bit tricky for holding. I'm thinking a slide-out would maybe work.

And then there's the issue of PDFs. I'm a writer. I sometimes get PDF ARCs to read. I want to be able to do so on my ereader. First you have to transfer your PDF to Adobe Digital Edition. Then you have to synch this to your Kobo, which can be a hassle. Then there's the appearance. I transferred some of my PDFs to my Kobo and was horrified to see how it was formatted. Readers have to read one line at a time, scrolling left and right as the sentences won't fit on a single page. If you diminish the size of the text so it fits on one page, it's unreadable. Can we say AWKWARD? I'll never read a PDF like that. Unfortunately, that means neither will most readers.

Reading PDFs on a Kindle is a breeze. First, I just send an attached PDF to my Kindle address. Within 10 minutes or so, Amazon converts it and once I turn on wi-fi and synch, the PDF is loaded onto my Kindle. Upon opening, the PDF looks just like any other well-formatted ebook.

In a nutshell, I prefer my Kindle. But I'm kind of sad that I couldn't say this about my Kobo. I think if you're looking for a basic ereader, the Kobo is fine, as long as it works properly. I'm hoping Kobo will get all these issues--especially PDFs--ironed out soon. Now that Amazon has lowered the price of the Kobo with wi-fi, I would recommend you buy it over the Kobo. You'll get more bang for your buck.

Now which should I try next, a Nook or a Sony ereader?

Children of the Fog review: "Intense...Creepy...Suspenseful...And great!"

2011-04-25T12:52:00.001-06:00

"Intense...Creepy...Suspenseful...And great! It's a fast paced story, a mystery with paranormal elements. The characters are interesting and so well described that you can actually picture them. The entire book is full of eerie twists and turns that makes the inner sleuth in you want to keep the pages turning. The way the sub-plots intertwine keeps you guessing and makes you anxious to see what happens next... just when you think you have it figured out Tardif takes you in another direction."

--Heather Shockley

Children of the Fog review

2011-04-22T18:14:00.008-06:00

"Cheryl Kaye Tardif knows the mind of a parent and makes us all want to believe the impossible..."

--Eileen Schuh, author of The Traz and Schrodinger's Cat

Coming this May: Divine Justice

2011-04-18T00:09:00.002-06:00

This May, watch for DIVINE JUSTICE, book 2 in the Divine paranormal suspense series starring CFBI agent and Pyro-Psychic Jasi McLellan, a woman who enters killers' minds at the scent of smoke.

CFBI agent and Pyro-Psychic Jasi McLellan battles a serious infection that threatens to claim her life. Slipping in and out of consciousness, she remembers the Parliament Murders...

Ebook edition available May 2011; trade paperback TBA

DIVINE JUSTICE will be available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books, Smashwords, iBooks, Sony eReader Store, Diesel and more.

If you haven't read book 1, DIVINE INTERVENTION, you can pick up a copy (ebook or trade paperback) from your favorite online retailer and select bookstores. The ebook edition is currently ON SALE.

Please note: you do not have to read book 1 to enjoy book 2. DIVINE JUSTICE does well as a stand-alone thriller.

Law & Order: SVU mentions one of my ebooks

2011-04-13T22:42:00.001-06:00

Law & Order: SVU mentioned 1 of my ebook titles on this week's episode ("Rescue"). Name the ebook & you'll win a free copy.

Either tweet me your answer at http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif or leave a comment below.

All correct answers will receive a special coupon code they can use to receive a free ebook edition of the novel mentioned on Law & O)rder: SVU from Smashwords.com. This ebook can be uploaded to many ereaders or read on a smartphone, PC or laptop.

Make sure you also leave your email address so I can contact you if you're a winner.

One answer per person.

This mini-contest ends: 15 April, 2011.

30 Days of Kay(e)s Blogfest and Children of the Fog

2011-04-12T11:46:00.000-06:00

Today I'm over at author Laura Kaye's blog, celebrating her 30 Days of Kay(e)s Blogfest.

You'll find out where "Kaye" came from in my name, what writing Children of the Fog was like, and you'll be able to read an excerpt from my latest supernatural suspense thriller.

Laura, thank you so much for inviting me to participate in the fun.

Everyone else, stop on by the 30 Days of Kay(e)s Blogfest.

Review: "Lancelot’s Lady is a sexy romantic suspense with engaging characters and a mystery that will keep you guessing."

2011-04-07T10:03:00.009-06:00

The Hot Author Report says, "D’Angelo (aka Tardif) is talented at creating good characters who are easy to love and evil characters who are oh, so easy to hate...However, D’Angelo’s greatest strength still came in the form of writing suspense. The mystery of JT and Rhianna’s connection kept me guessing right up until the big reveal – and I usually pride myself on figuring out mysteries before they are revealed. All in all, I highly enjoyed Lancelot’s Lady and wish it didn’t have to end...Lancelot’s Lady is a sexy romantic suspense with engaging characters and a mystery that will keep you guessing."

Read the full review at The Hot Author Report

Cool Canadian Crime from Crime Writers of Canada

2011-04-06T11:17:00.001-06:00

Plan your book purchases with this annual issue of Cool Canadian Crime!

This issue contains new mystery and suspense releases by Crime Writers of Canada authors between January and December 2011.

Click here to view the catalog.

Review: Children of the Fog - "A thrilling, chilling and emotional treat!"

2011-04-05T17:03:00.000-06:00

"A total page turner!! I am an avid reader and was looking for some new, fresh suspense to load onto my Kindle. I was given a tip on Children of the Fog and boy was I glad. Cheryl Kaye Tardif has done an amazing job entertaining me. Not only did I identify with the main character, (Sadie), on various levels, but with all the twists and turns and little subplots, my inner slueth was constantly in commotion. I couldnt figure out a thing in advance. What I kept anticipating to happen, never did and it turned into something totally unexpected. Wow! It was so hard to put down that I hardly did. What a thrilling, chilling and emotional treat! Love, love, love!"

Children of the Fog is available on Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, Kobo Books, iBooks and more and you can purchase either the ebook edition or a trade paperback edition.

Review: Divine Intervention - "A divine futuristic, parapsychic crime thriller"

2011-04-05T11:01:00.000-06:00

J. Loftus, an Amazon reviewer, gives Divine Intervention 5 STARS:

"Divine Intervention is a divine futurisitic, parapsychic crime thriller...Just when you think you have things figured out, there is the Aha moment when everything you figured out is wrong and surprise is your new best friend. Divine Intervention would make a great script for a movie. I cannot wait for the sequel. Keep them coming Cheryl!!!"

To read the full review and see what J. thinks of the technology in Divine Intervention, please visit Amazon.com.

Review: Children of the Fog - "A creepy good novel."

2011-04-04T19:50:00.000-06:00

Here's a 5 STAR review from John Ottini, an Amazon reviewer:

"A creepy good novel...I just love Children of the Fog! This is one of those creepy mysteries with a paranormal element, that beacons back to the style found in early Twilight Zone episodes. Ms Tardif knows how to tell a good, fast moving story, with interesting characters, witty dialog and that eerie twist that leaves you wanting to keep the pages turning, long after bedtime. Great book, great writer.....great things to come!"

To read John's full review and discover how he "found" my novels, please check out his review on Amazon.com.

The 30 Days of Kay(e)s Blogfest

2011-04-01T19:27:00.000-06:00

What's in a name? Well, this month, a bunch of writers named Kay(e) will be getting together to celebrate with Laura Kaye, the author who organized this blogfest event.

From Laura:

Welcome to the first day of the 30-day celebration of all things Kay/Kaye! This month, eight lovely author ladies will come visit for 2-3 days at a time, share excerpts, give interviews, maybe even give away a few books and prizes. It's gonna be a fun, crazy time, and I hope you'll stop back often!

For more information on The 30 Days of Kay(e)s Blogfest, please check out Laura's blog.

Writer interviews and lots of prizes at Jessica Subject's Blogoversary

2011-04-01T06:11:00.022-06:00

One of my good friends, writer Jessica Subject, is celebrating her one year anniversary for her blog--or her Blogoversary. So Jessica is throwing a big party and giving away tons of prizes. If you enjoy reading, then this is the place to be, and she'll have new content and contests during the month of March. I hope you'll help her celebrate and stop by.

Now here's a word from Jessica:

When I started networking on twitter and facebook in early 2010, I thought I should have a website to keep people interested in my own writing. Since I don’t have anything published yet, I felt uncomfortable giving people writing advice. Instead, I thought I’d review books that I’ve enjoyed and interview authors who have written books that interest me. Since then, many authors have contacted me and asked if I would review their books. I've read so many fabulous books - many independently published - that I would not have read otherwise.

For me, my blog is a way to share my love of reading and writing. It keeps me from getting bored.

Now that I have had my blog up and running - with only a couple minor problems - for a year, I thought I'd invite several authors, book bloggers and songwriters I've met over the past year to help me celebrate. I received an overwhelming response with many participants offering fabulous prizes, including the lovely Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

Here is the blogoversary schedule: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=3472
Here are a list of some of the prizes to be won: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=4735 There are many others being offered on the participants' posts, so be sure to stop by everyday for your chance to win and to learn about some wonderful people.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Jessica. I wish you many, many blogoversaries to come. :-)

What are you afraid of?

2011-03-31T15:29:00.002-06:00

Over at The Gift, bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif talks about the fine line between fear and inspiration.

One of the most common questions I hear as an author is: "What inspired you to write this novel?" If I were to answer 100% truthfully, my answer is...

Cheryl is featured on Gig City, Edmonton's Daily Entertainment Source

2011-03-26T10:45:00.001-06:00

A short while ago, I was interviewed by Rob Drinkwater at Gig City. We chatted about my journey with writing my romantic suspense, Lancelot's Lady. I had to laugh while reading his article; not many men would be patient enough to read a romance novel, much less write an article about one.

I'll forgive Rob for calling my pen name Cherish D'Angelo "cheesy" and for referring to Lancelot's Lady as a "soap opera". After all, he says it's "a good one." And I think he's right. Lancelot's Lady is hot! :-)

I had a great time discussing romance and writing with Rob. I hope you'll check out his article.

http://www.gigcity.ca/2011/03/01/literature-a-bodice-ripping-good-time-from-tardifs-alter-ego

Check out my Trivia showcased at Magic of the Muses and enter to win...

2011-03-24T13:33:00.000-06:00

Magic of the Muses blog host Eileen Schuh is holding a Trivia event on her blog. She's asked authors to provide her with interesting Triva, and some of us are offering great prizes.

My Trivia has to do with the Bermuda Triangle...

For a chance to win THE RIVER, my explosive techno-thriller, check out:

http://www.eileenschuh.com/did-you-know/2011/3/24/contest-trivia.html

I'll be giving away 3 ebooks of The River, so be sure to leave a comment at the link above.

Children of the Fog book trailer video

2011-03-23T23:47:00.003-06:00

"Children of the Fog by Cheryl Kaye Tardif is an intense thriller..."

2011-03-19T10:32:00.020-06:00

"Children of the Fog by Cheryl Kaye Tardif is an intense thriller that left no room for me to breathe. I would read it every moment I had a chance, on the subway, when my in laws were focused on their
polish shows I could not understand and in the movie theater 20 minutes before the previews...

"You have 10 seconds to make a decision: Let a kidnapper take your child, or watch your son die. Choose!"

As a parent a choice like this would break my heart. Cheryl certainly did not make the choice easy for Sadie, the protagonist of this book. Her choice creates conflict and an inner struggle that makes us feel for Sadie and deepens the story to the point that you can’t let go of the book...Children of the Fog is well worth reading, but be warned you will not be able to catch your breath until the very end."

--Sellery

You can read Sellery's full review HERE.

Divine Intervention review: "This is some of the best suspense writing around."

2011-03-17T22:57:00.000-06:00

Overall rating:

"Cheryl Kaye Tardif has become my favorite Canadian writer with this series and other books. Character and scenario building is always excellent. The villains are never easy to catch or figure out. A bit of humor sprinkled throughout is always a respite from the tension of the chase to find the killer before another victim falls...Ms. Tardif helps her characters take it all in stride while weaving us through a maze of false trails leading up to an always exciting finale...Tardif draws us into the tale both emotionally and mentally as we try to figure out who does the nasty deeds before she tells us. This is some of the best suspense writing around."

--Dee Dailey, The Romance Studio

To read Dee's full review, visit The Romance Studio

Children of the Fog review: "So scary!"

2011-03-15T20:50:00.001-06:00

"Creepy...so scary! Beautifully written, it will have you checking on your children in the middle of the night!"

--M. Addams

Press release: You Have 10 Seconds to Make a Decision: Let A Kidnapper Take Your Child, Or Watch Your Son Die. Choose!

2011-03-15T11:10:00.003-06:00

NEW YORK, NY, March 15, 2011 -- Every parent's worst nightmare is that something horrible will happen to their child, that they'll be lost, abducted or worse, and it is this intrinsic fear that makes mothers and fathers hold their breath when their child screams, check in on their sleeping child and ensure that doors and windows are locked at night.

Bestselling suspense author Cheryl Kaye Tardif poses a terrifying dilemma to readers of her latest suspense thriller, Children of the Fog: "You have 10 seconds to make a decision: Let a kidnapper take your child, or watch your son die. Choose!"

What a choice that would be! On one hand, it's easy to react with: "That's an easy choice; I'd fight for my child." All parents believe they'd fight to the death for their sons or daughters, and so they may. But given this specific choice, a parent may pause. Perhaps if they allowed the abductor to take their child, it would ensure the child stays alive―at least long enough to be rescued. There's no easy choice. It's not cut and dry. Either way a parent would be left feeling guilty, remorseful and full of grief.

This is the dilemma that "Sadie" faces in Tardif's highly anticipated supernatural suspense thriller, Children of the Fog. Sadie chooses to let the kidnapper take her son and her actions lead to immeasurable grief. Readers may not agree with her decision, but they'll certainly commiserate with her during this terrifying journey.

Set in the towns of Edmonton, Hinton and Cadomin in Alberta, Canada, this thriller draws upon unique landscapes to portray a chilling story of grief, madness and love, ending with a couple of poignant scenes that may have you reaching for a tissue. Children of the Fog is what blockbuster movies are made of―thrills, chills and a gripping story that you'll never forget!

From the back cover:

YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO MAKE A DECISION:

Let A Kidnapper Take Your Child, Or Watch Your Son Die.

Choose!

When Sadie's unfaithful husband stumbles across her drawing of the kidnapper, he sets into play a series of horrific events that sends her hurtling over the edge. Sadie's descent into alcoholism leads to strange apparitions and a face-to-face encounter with the monster who abducted her son--a man known only as...The Fog.

Reviews:

"A chilling and tense journey into every parent's deepest fear." ―Scott Nicholson, The Red Church

"A nightmarish thriller with a ghostly twist, CHILDREN OF THE FOG will keep you awake...and turning pages!" ―Amanda Stevens, author of The Restorer

"Reminiscent of The Lovely Bones, Cheryl Kaye Tardif weaves a tale of terror that will have you rushing to check on your children as they sleep. With exquisite prose, Children of the Fog captures you the moment you begin and doesn't let go until the very end." ―bestselling author Danielle Q. Lee, author of Inhuman

"Ripe with engaging twists and turns reminiscent of the work of James Patterson, Tardif once again tugs at the most inflexible of heartstrings…Children of the Fog possesses you from the touching beginning through to the riveting climax." ―Kelly Komm, author of Sacrifice, an award-winning fantasy

Children of the Fog is published by Imajin Books and is available in ebook edition at Amazon Kindle Store and Smashwords. Order your copy today.

It will also be available in trade paperback edition in late March 2011 at Amazon and Createspace, as well as ebook editions at other e-tailers. Watch for it!

* * *

Cheryl Kaye Tardif is the bestselling author of Children of the Fog, Whale Song, Divine Intervention, The River, Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories, Remote Control and Lancelot's Lady (written under the pen name of Cherish D'Angelo). Her next thriller, Divine Justice, book 2 in the Divine series, will be released in May 2011.

For more information on Cheryl and Children of the Fog, please visit:

http://www.cherylktardif.com and http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com

Follow Cheryl on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif

"Like" Cheryl on Facebook at:http://www.facebook.com/cherylktardif and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Kaye-Tardif-novels/29769736630

Imajin Books: http://www.imajinbooks.com

# # #

View this same press release at 24-7PressRelease.com

The Earthquake in Japan Hits Close to Home, So I'm Donating 100% of my eBook Sales for March

2011-03-12T15:28:00.001-07:00

My family has a very strong connection to the people and culture of Japan. For many years we took in students as part of a Homestay program in Edmonton via Global Partners. We've had something like 11 Japanese daughters and 1 Japanese son. And that is exactly how I think of them. They are a part of my family. So you can imagine my devastation as the terrible news and horrifying footage hit my television and my heart.

Through this Homestay program, our daughter became so intrigued by the Japanese culture that her dream was to go to Japan. And she achieved that dream in high school when her Japanese language class went to Japan for almost 2 weeks. That was a couple of years ago, and she still longs to visit Japan. I am so glad she did not go this month!

With a tragedy as large as this, it is hard to determine what we can each do to help. There is no worse feeling than helplessness as we stand on one continent so far away, safe and protected from the horror. I fear what will happen to "my children" over in Japan. I fear what may have already happened to them and their families. Though I've been able to reach some via Facebook (THANK YOU, FACEBOOK!!!), others are out of touch.

What can I do to make a difference? The only thing I can do: donate money for relief efforts. Cash is a cold commodity in some ways, but it is what Japan and its residents will need in the coming months and years to recover from such widespread devastation. I'll be making a donation to the Red Cross from me and my family, but there's more I can do.

1.) I will be donating 100% of my income from all my ebook sales during March to the Japan earthquake relief fund at the Red Cross. Ebook sales are easier for me to track, and truthfully, I sell far more ebooks than print books. I hope that this brings my readers a measure of satisfaction. By purchasing one of my ebooks, you have helped Japan's recovery.

2.) For those currently living in Japan who have Internet and need some light distraction from the terrible tragedy around you, email me at cherylktardif@shaw.ca from a Japanese email address/server and I'll send you my bestselling novel Whale Song (in English ebook edition) FREE. It's the least I can do. This offer will be good until April 30th, 2011.

To my dear Kumiko, Akari and Yuki, I am so relieved that you and your families are safe and I pray that you remain safe. My thoughts and prayers are with you all, and with all of Japan.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
bestselling Canadian author
http://www.cherylktardif.com
http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif
http://www.facebook.com/cherylktardif

Whale Song review: "This is, hands down, one of my top five favorite books."

2011-03-12T13:12:00.000-07:00

"I would describe this book as a beautiful piece of fiction that reads like a memoir. I've never read a book quite like this...it's very unique...This is, hands down, one of my top five favorite books. It's beautifully written, gorgeous detail, a unique story line and is fast-paced enough that we keep turning the pages but not so much so that it loses the reader. It touches on important issues, like bullying, abuse and losing a parent, in a way that's informative but not overwhelming. What I really loved is how it shone the light on the Native culture and spirituality in such a beautiful way. Plus, Tardif had me with the title: I love whales and dophins!

Tardif went through alot to get this story out there, and later on went through alot to help keep the story out there. I have always had such a tremendous respect for her as a writer and author. Now after reading this work, and knowing her reasons for wanting to keep it out there (do be sure to read her dedication to her brother, Jason) I respect her even more as a humanitarian. This is a must-read...a good and important read for everyone."

--award-winning author Chynna T. Laird

Read Chynna's full review at The Gift blog.

Children of the Fog is now available in ebook edition

2011-03-11T16:20:00.010-07:00

My highly anticipated supernatural suspense thriller, Children of the Fog, is now available in ebook edition. Currently, it's available at Amazon Kindle Store and Smashwords for only $3.99.

YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO MAKE A DECISION:

Let A Kidnapper Take Your Child, Or Watch Your Son Die.

Choose!

Sadie O'Connell is a bestselling author and a proud mother. But her life is about to spiral out of control. After her six-year-old son Sam is kidnapped by a serial abductor, she nearly goes insane. But it isn't just the fear and grief that is ripping her apart. It's the guilt. Sadie is the only person who knows what the kidnapper looks like. And she can't tell a soul. For if she does, her son will be sent back to her in "little bloody pieces".

When Sadie's unfaithful husband stumbles across her drawing of the kidnapper, he sets into play a series of horrific events that sends her hurtling over the edge. Sadie's descent into alcoholism leads to strange apparitions and a face-to-face encounter with the monster who abducted her son--a man known only as...The Fog.

Read an excerpt from Children of the Fog.

Now available on Amazon.com as a Kindle ebook!

Trade paperback and other ebook retailers coming soon.

Read an E-Book Week is nearly over

2011-03-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

It's been 40 years since the first official ebook was created and released, and this week, we celebrate Read an E-Book Week (March 6th to 12th).

If you haven't read an ebook before, I can tell you it's a very enjoyable experience. You can read ebooks on your PC, which makes it very convenient. Or you can read ebooks on smartphones (ie. iPhone, Blackberry, etc.) You can also read ebooks on a variety of ereaders (Kindle, Kobo, Nook etc.)

As an avid reader, I balked at switching from the tangible feel of print books to the cool technical ebooks, but once I tried it, I fell in love. I enjoy the lightweight feel of my ereader and smartphone. I love the fact that that I can read it anywhere with ease and that it takes up less space in my purse than a print book.

One of the best benefits is that you can enlarge the text. So for those of you who enjoy reading large text books, you'll love this benefit. And the new e-ink technology makes reading on an ereader very easy on the eyes.

I invite you all to check out my ebooks at Amazon, Createspace, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo Books and other e-tailers. My ebooks range from $0.99 to $4.99, making them more affordable than ever.

Lancelot's Lady is now available in trade paperback

2011-03-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

My award-winning, contemporary romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady (written under the pen name of Cherish D'Angelo) is now available in trade paperback from Amazon.com and Createspace.

A Bahamas holiday from dying billionaire JT Lance, a man with a dark secret, leads palliative nurse Rhianna McLeod to Jonathan, a man with his own troubled past, and Rhianna finds herself drawn to the handsome recluse, while unbeknownst to her, someone with a horrific plan is hunting her down.

“From the cold rocky shores of Maine to the extravagant mansions of Miami to a lush tropical island in the Bahamas, Cherish D'Angelo takes her heroine through a series of breathtaking romantic adventures that mirror the settings, often in surprisingly ironic ways. A page turner in the best possible sense.” ―Gail Bowen, author of the award-winning Joanne Kilbourn series

When palliative care nurse Rhianna McLeod is given a gift of a dream holiday to the Bahamas from her dying patient, billionaire JT Lance, Rhianna has no idea that her 'holiday' will include being stranded on a private island with Jonathan, an irritating but irresistibly handsome recluse. Or that she'll fall head over heels for the man.

Jonathan isn't happy to discover a drop-dead gorgeous redhead has invaded his island. But his anger soon turns to attraction. After one failed marriage, he has guarded his heart, but Rhianna's sudden appearance makes him yearn to throw caution to the wind.

To live fully in the present, Rhianna must resolve her own murky past, unravel the secret that haunts JT, foil the plans of a sleazy, blackmailing private investigator and help Jonathan find his muse. Only then can Rhianna find the love she's been searching for, and finally become...Lancelot's Lady.

“Romance, mystery, danger, black-mail, and twists and surprises, this tale contains them all… Despicable intentions threaten every character in this finely crafted tale of sweet tension…Lancelot’s Lady is a non-stop adventure combined with the agonizing struggle to not give in to the magnetism between them. Enticing. Fun.” ―Midwest Book Review

"Another brilliantly crafted novel by Cheryl Tardif [aka Cherish D'Angelo]...a beautiful love story rippling with suspense and just the right amount of sensuality." ―Pauline Holyoak, author of Merryweather Lodge

"Cherish D'Angelo has got that mythical “voice” down to a fine art." ―Jennifer L. Hart, author of River Rats

“Lancelot's Lady is riveting. It holds on and won't let you go! Cherish D’Angelo’s descriptive powers are amazing. She summons up scenes like genies from bottles!” ―Susan J. McLeod, author of Soul and Shadow

Order your copy today from Amazon or Createspace.

Divine Intervention, a psychic suspense, now on sale for only $0.99

2011-03-10T13:17:00.017-07:00

For a limited time, you can download the Kindle edition of Divine Intervention, my bestselling psychic suspense, featuring CFBI agent, Jasi McLellan, for only $0.99.

In book 1 in the series, Jasi and her team of psychic government agents search for a deadly serial killer.

Read a free sample at Amazon.

Download the Kindle ebook and read on your computer, Kindle app (on smartphones) or Kindle ereader.

Only $0.99.

"Sci-fi and mystery fans will love this book." ―Writer's Digest

Jasi and her team members―Psychometric Empath and profiler Ben Roberts and Victim Empath Natassia Prushenko―are joined by Brandon Walsh, the handsome but skeptical Chief of Arson Investigations. In a manhunt that takes them from Vancouver to Kelowna, Penticton and Victoria, they are led down a twisting path of sinister secrets.

Sifting through ashes and clues, Jasi realizes that there is more to the third victim than meets the eye. Perhaps not all of the victims were that innocent. The hunt intensifies when she learns that someone they know is next on the arsonist's list.

Unleashing her gift as a Pyro-Psychic, Jasi is compelled toward smoldering ashes and enters the killer's mind―a mind bent on destruction and revenge. And in the heat of early summer, Jasi discovers that a murderer lies in wait…much closer than she ever imagined.

"Para-psychic, Para-psychotic, Para-captivating!" ―Yale R. Jaffe, author of Advantage Disadvantage

"I just finished reading "Divine Intervention" and I must say that Tardif had the gift right from the first. The Muses certainly are smiling down on her. She's a natural writer with a gift for words, great imagination, fabulous imagery, dialogue and characterization. But what "makes" a book for me is pacing, and I'm pleased to report that her pacing is impeccable! This chilling page-turner is a genuine Canadian crime novel...Tardif gives her readers plenty of twists and turns before reaching a satisfying ending." ―Midwest Book Review

Book 2, Divine Justice, will be published in May 2011.

Whale Song review: "What an amazing story..."

2011-03-09T18:21:00.005-07:00

"What an amazing story...After going Whale watching for the very first time in January, the title of this book caught my attention! This was such a heart warming story about family and having a close relationship, making new friends, losing loved ones and forgiving. The characters were very real and I could really envision seeing this played out while I read...I absolutely loved this book..."

--Kimberly A. Berry

Whale Song review: "Cheryl has a great gift in keeping you up at night..."

2011-03-08T20:09:00.012-07:00

"What a wonderful story. I always like to discover new authors, I was so captivated by this story, I downloaded The River, Divine Intervention and Remote Control. Cheryl has a great gift in keeping you up at night and wanting to get to the end of the page, then the end of the chapter. I am hooked on her books."

--Donna Holloway, aka Rawhideranch

The River review: "Cheryl Kaye Tardif knows how to tell a great story."

2011-03-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

"Cheryl Kaye Tardif puts her readers on the edge of their seat from the first page when her main character, Del Hawthorne, learns that her father, presumed dead for seven years, is alive...This story really has everything: mystery/suspense, cryptic messages, science fiction, great adventure, and wonderful character development. I had trouble putting this book down and had to cover the parts of the page I hadn't read yet to prevent myself from skipping ahead and spoiling the suspense...Cheryl Kaye Tardif knows how to tell a great story. She writes beautifully and her characters are real and believable...You will not be disappointed by the measure of suspense, mystery, adventure, and good storytelling that Cheryl dishes out."

--Lisa A. Blyth

Whale Song review: "A moving story."

2011-02-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

"Whale Song is a moving tale, written in the style of traditional oral story-telling--steeped in the lore and wisdom of Canada's aboriginals." -- Eileen Schuh, author of Schrodinger's Cat

More Whale Song reviews

2011-02-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

"I really enjoyed this book. It was a really moving story about love and family and coming of age. If you love whales and a heartwarming story, this book is for you." --Pam Lowe, Amazon reviewer

"This was such a good book. It touched on so many things: friendship, families, loss, life, death, love, bullying, forgiveness, and growth...The story is sweet, sad, somewhat melodramatic at times, but beautiful...I thought the writing was terrific. I recommend this book heartily and look forward to reading more from this author." -- Kindle Addict, Amazon reviewer

What is the perfect price for ebooks?

2011-02-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

The perfect price for ebooks is what the public is willing to pay, and many publishers and authors are ignoring this fact. Too many ebooks are priced the same or more than their print counterparts. Too many ebooks are priced at over $9.99, and most people don't want to pay that much, unless it's for one of the "big name authors".

There has been a lot of discussion of what the perfect price point is for an ebook. The answer? Publishers and authors may have to play with the prices to determine where the best price lies.

A strong proponent of $0.99 and $1.99 ebooks, author JA Konrath, held those views up until last year, when Amazon raised the royalty level to 70% for ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99. Konrath took the plunge and raised his prices and has reported that this hasn't hurt his sales in the least. In fact, he reports he made over $100K last year on his ebooks, across multiple retailers. Not bad income for an author who is self-publishing his own books now, after being published by the big guys for years.

In Konrath's latest blog post, he talks about an author who reached the NYT bestsellers list multiple times, who was just offered a $200K two-book deal. After Konrath crunched the numbers and pointed out that her ebooks would be priced higher, it appears this author would be better off publishing these on her own--especially since she obviously already has a platform and a built-in fan base from her existing titles--and setting lower prices.

Kindle Nation Daily conducted a recent survey and discovered that a high percentage of Kindle readers preferred ebooks priced at $3.99 and less.

As an author, I want readers to be able to afford my books. I don't write so they can sit on a shelf (physical or virtual) and collect dust, or be used as decorations. I write because I want someone to read my stories and hopefully enjoy them. I write for more personal reasons too, but essentially my intention is to make by books and ebooks available to everyone and anyone.

So I've priced my ebooks low--from $0.99 to $3.99. Why? Because I want my books to be read.

I don't know if there really is one "perfect" price point for an ebook. I think it varies, depending on the economical situation and your target audience per title. But I am very pleased to know that all my ebooks are retailing at an affordable price, and that I'm able to put them on sale every now and then.

In the end, the pricing issue really boils down to one thing. Publishers and authors should give readers what they want, and they want less expensive ebooks.

For authors: How important is ebook pricing?

Whale Song review: "What a wonderful story."

2011-02-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

"I was so captivated by this story, I downloaded The River, Divine Intervention and Remote Control. Cheryl has a great gift in keeping you up at night and wanting to get to the end of the page, then the end of the chapter. I am hooked on her books." --Rawhideranch, Amazon reviewer

Edmonton's Salute to Excellence Hall of Fame Nominations

2011-02-16T16:25:00.004-07:00

The City of Edmonton: Salute to Excellence Committee is currently gathering nominations for the 2011 Hall of Fame Induction ceremony being held in June to honour outstanding Edmontonians who, through their participation in arts and culture, community service, or sports, have made exemplary contributions to the quality of life in Edmonton. The induction ceremony will take place at the Winspear Centre for Music on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011.

Deadline: February 22

If you know someone who has contributed to Edmonton's arts, culture, community or sports life, nominate them today.

Nomination packages can be downloaded at:
http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/14-NominationFormforHallofFame.pdf

The suspense is killing me!

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 6 - The Untouchables

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 5 - The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 4 - The Fast & the Furious

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 3 - Good Will Hunting

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 2 - Waiting to Exhale

The KDP Select Experiment: Part 1 - Mission Impossible?

eBook Sale: Jan. 15-18 - All eBooks 99 Cents

I never said Amazon's KDP Select wasn't enticing :-)

Ebook Sale at Imajin Books - 3 Days Left!

FREE eBook: IMAJIN THIS!

IMAJIN THIS!

Available FREE at Smashwords.com (various file formats for all major ereaders, including Kindle, Nook and Kobo.)Or you can download the PDF for Imajin This! HERE.

Amazon's new carrot: KDP Select

Cheryl takes on the role of judge (but not executioner)

Count your blessings this Thanksgiving weekend

Whale Song Reaches Out to Kids Who Are Bullied

Amazon lowers Kindle ereader prices and introduces new Kindle ereaders

A publisher speaks out about the new Amazon Kindle library program

Whale Song wins KBR Bestseller Award

Whale Song in translation for Chinese and German markets

Today on The Russell Show: Children of the Fog

Do you know Mary Higginson?

Cheryl Kaye Tardif Novels Go International & I Need Your Help

My short story OUIJA is featured in WHAT FEARS BECOME: An Anthology from The Horror Zine

Sharon Osbourne, Grace & Heroes

Imajin Books Summer Sizzler Scavenger Hunt

Summer Reviewer Giveaway - July 1-August 31

I Know What You're Thinking...

Summer eBook Sale - July 1-31

The Saturday Giveaway: Five Kindle Copies of Divine Intervention!

Whale Song review: "I would recommend this book to anyone."

Edmonton author Alison Neuman inspires a day camp for children with and without disabilities

Paperback sale: THE RIVER and DIVINE INTERVENTION

The River is re-released in trade paperback with stunning new cover

Read an Excerpt of Divine Justice by Kindle Author: Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Imajin Books gives away 150 ebooks of Divine Intervention to LibraryThing members

Review: Divine Intervention

Review: Divine Intervention

I see dead people...

Divine Justice - book trailer video

Limited time offer: get REMOTE CONTROL Kindle ebook FREE!

THE RIVER gets a new look

Read an excerpt from DIVINE JUSTICE, a paranormal suspense by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

DIVINE JUSTICE now available in ebook edition

Young fan promotes my books at Chapters & inspires a new contest

Recipe for a Bestselling Novel

Kindle versus Kobo - From a Reader and Writer's Perspective

Children of the Fog review: "Intense...Creepy...Suspenseful...And great!"

Children of the Fog review

Coming this May: Divine Justice

Law & Order: SVU mentions one of my ebooks

30 Days of Kay(e)s Blogfest and Children of the Fog

Review: "Lancelot’s Lady is a sexy romantic suspense with engaging characters and a mystery that will keep you guessing."

Cool Canadian Crime from Crime Writers of Canada

Review: Children of the Fog - "A thrilling, chilling and emotional treat!"

Review: Divine Intervention - "A divine futuristic, parapsychic crime thriller"

Review: Children of the Fog - "A creepy good novel."

The 30 Days of Kay(e)s Blogfest

Writer interviews and lots of prizes at Jessica Subject's Blogoversary

What are you afraid of?

Cheryl is featured on Gig City, Edmonton's Daily Entertainment Source

Check out my Trivia showcased at Magic of the Muses and enter to win...

Children of the Fog book trailer video

"Children of the Fog by Cheryl Kaye Tardif is an intense thriller..."

Divine Intervention review: "This is some of the best suspense writing around."

Children of the Fog review: "So scary!"

Press release: You Have 10 Seconds to Make a Decision: Let A Kidnapper Take Your Child, Or Watch Your Son Die. Choose!

The Earthquake in Japan Hits Close to Home, So I'm Donating 100% of my eBook Sales for March

Whale Song review: "This is, hands down, one of my top five favorite books."

Children of the Fog is now available in ebook edition

Read an E-Book Week is nearly over

Lancelot's Lady is now available in trade paperback

Divine Intervention, a psychic suspense, now on sale for only $0.99

Whale Song review: "What an amazing story..."

Whale Song review: "Cheryl has a great gift in keeping you up at night..."

The River review: "Cheryl Kaye Tardif knows how to tell a great story."

Whale Song review: "A moving story."

More Whale Song reviews

What is the perfect price for ebooks?

Available FREE at Smashwords.com (various file formats for all major ereaders, including Kindle, Nook and Kobo.)

Or you can download the PDF for Imajin This! HERE.