The Story Behind the Book

There are actually two stories behind my new thriller, SUBMERGED. It was inspired by my fear of being trapped in a submerged vehicle and also by a long-time friend who dealt with drug addiction while on the job as a paramedic.

I've traveled a lot by car, even coast to coast across Canada, more than once. I've also lived near water, whether an ocean, river or lake. Ever since I was young, I would grow tense if our vehicle drifted too close to an embankment that separated us from a body of water. Even to this day, I tense up when the car I'm in gets too close to water. Having a wild imagination isn't always a good thing; I often envision the car jettisoning into the water and then slowly sinking. Drowning has been a deep fear of mine and I have often wondered how I'd get out if I found myself in that situation.

Marcus's character grew from a high school friend, who shared very personal details about his life, his former paramedic career and his addiction challenges. I am inspired by him because he managed to turn his life around. He now has a wonderful wife and family, and a new career. His story reminds me that we CAN change. We CAN make our lives better. And it starts with a choice. He chose not to let addiction rule or define him. I admire that.

From Cheryl Kaye Tardif, the international bestselling author that brought you CHILDREN OF THE FOG, comes a terrifying thriller that will leave you breathless…

SUBMERGED

"Submerged reads like an approaching storm, full of darkness, dread and electricity. Prepare for your skin to crawl."

—Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of 15 Seconds

Get SUBMERGED today.

Learn more about Cheryl Kaye Tardif at http://www.cherylktardif.com and follow her on Twitter.

Enter Cheryl’s Kindle Fire HDX Giveaway: https://www.facebook.com/cherylkayetardif

Sneak Peek of "Marcus Taylor" from SUBMERGED

Let me tell you a bit about Marcus Taylor. He's a former paramedic who became addicted to painkillers while on the job. He was released from that position when his drug use became obvious and jeopardized everyone around him. He now works at a 911 center in Edson, Alberta, Canada.

He is a widow; his wife and son died in a car accident a few years ago. He is a good man and was a good husband and father, regardless of his addiction. But now he is plagued by guilt to the point that he sees their ghosts in his dreams—and sometimes when he's awake.

Marcus is broken, submerged in guilt and remorse, and doing his best to make up for past sins.

Here is a sneak peek at Marcus. I hope you'll find him redeeming.

It was the night of the BioWare awards banquet, nineteen years ago. Jane, dressed in a pink housecoat, sat at the bathroom vanity curling her hair, while Marcus struggled with his tie.

He'd let out a curse. "I can never get this right."

"Here, let me." Pushing the chair behind him, Jane climbed up before he could protest. She caught his gaze in the mirror over the sink and reached around his shoulders, her gaze wandering to the twisted lump he'd made of the full Windsor. "You shouldn't be so impatient."

"You shouldn't be climbing up on chairs."

"I'm fine, Marcus."

"You're pregnant, that's what you are."

"You calling me fat, buster?"

Five months pregnant with Ryan, Jane had never looked so beautiful.

"I'd never do that," he replied.

She cocked her head and arched one brow. "Never? How about in four months when I can't walk up the stairs to the bedroom?"

"I'll carry you."

"What about when I can't see my toes and can't paint my toenails?"

"I'll paint them for you."

"What about when―"

He turned his head and kissed her. That shut her up.

~ * ~

From Cheryl Kaye Tardif, the international bestselling author that brought you CHILDREN OF THE FOG, comes a terrifying thriller that will leave you breathless…

SUBMERGED

"Submerged reads like an approaching storm, full of darkness, dread and electricity. Prepare for your skin to crawl."

—Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of 15 Seconds

Two strangers submerged in guilt, brought together by fate…

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

Rebecca Kingston yearns for a quiet weekend getaway, so she can think about her impending divorce from her abusive husband. When a mysterious truck runs her off the road, she is pinned behind the steering wheel, unable to help her two children in the back seat. Her only lifeline is a cell phone with a quickly depleting battery and a stranger's calm voice on the other end telling her everything will be all right.

*SUBMERGED has a unique tie-in to Tardif`s international bestseller, CHILDREN OF THE FOG.

Get SUBMERGED today.

Learn more about Cheryl Kaye Tardif at http://www.cherylktardif.com and follow her on Twitter.

Enter Cheryl’s Kindle Fire HDX Giveaway: https://www.facebook.com/cherylkayetardif

Recipe for a Bestselling Novel

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.

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

·         Generous 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. Some of my novels are international bestsellers, some are national bestsellers, all have made multiple Top 100 genre lists on Amazon, and a couple have made the coveted prize of Top 100 bestsellers overall on Amazon. That's out of nearly 2 million ebooks.

Check out my hold-your-breath thriller, SUBMERGED. It is a tale of guilt, fear, greed, addiction and redemption, and I know you're going to love it.

"Tardif once again delivers a suspenseful supernatural masterpiece."

—Scott Nicholson, international bestselling author of The Home

Get SUBMERGED today. On sale for only $0.99 US.

Learn more about Cheryl Kaye Tardif at http://www.cherylktardif.com and follow her on Twitter.

Enter Cheryl’s Kindle Fire HDX Giveaway: https://www.facebook.com/cherylkayetardif