Whale Song heads to CBS

By now everyone who regularly reads my blog (all 5 of you...lol) knows about my Craig Ferguson addiction--I, uh, mean campaign. If not, read this post first.

Letters have been pouring into CBS via email, from my friends, family and fans--all requesting that they have me on the show. The Shameless Author forum on Amazon that I belong to has been extremely enthusiastic about this. :)

The next logical step in my goal to become a guest on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is to send him some bribes--I mean, gifts.

So I sent him a copy of The River, Divine Intervention and Whale Song. I sure hope he actually gets them. Even more, I hope he reads them. At least Whale Song.

Since Whale Song is going out of print any day now, it means that everyone who has it has a collector's copy.

So order Whale Song now while you still can.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif
http://www.cherylktardif.com

Cheryl's "Craig Ferguson Campaign" grows

My endeavor to be a guest on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson has attracted some attention. Emails are flooding into CBS (okay, I have no idea how many really) from my fellow author friends who have caught the craze.

I belong to a "Shameless" group on the thriller forum over at Amazon.com, a forum where authors from all over the world have united to help get the word out about each other's books, and now my friends there have pitched in to help me get Craig Ferguson's attention, so that I can see one of my dreams come true.

Here is one of the emails that has been sent so far:

Dear Mr. Ferguson,

Okay, I must apologize for the torrent of emails that you may be receiving this week from the regular and may I be so bold to say talented participants of Amazon's absolutely crazymadnuts discussion "Shameless Self Promotion by Author (2)"..... but our dear friend Cheryl is dying to be on your show. Well, not her dying personally, since it's her business to kill off other people through her books.

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet - I'd watch if she were on! And it's all about the viewers, right? ;) Plus, Cheryl's a very determined woman. Her presence is everywhere she can get her hands on, on the internet and elsewhere - again.....more viewers for you! So it's a win-win situation for you, the network and for Cheryl. And Cheryl can finally knock this off her list of things to do in life before the big guy in the sky writes her off.

Seriously, she's a fantastic, talented and funny author, and she would be a great asset to your show.

My best to you and yours for a Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Jeannine R. Reardon, Esq.
a/k/a J.R. Reardon
author, "Confidential Communications"

Some of the other emails sent are just priceless and I will post them here later. :)

So what do I need from you??

Please email Craig Ferguson and tell him you'd like to see me on his show. Maybe let him know why you think I'd make a good guest. :)

craigferguson@cbs.com

Past Update: Calling all Cheryl Kaye Tardif fans! I need your help!

Update: Whale Song heads to CBS

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
author of Whale Song, The River and Divine Intervention
http://www.cherylktardif.com/

Calling all Cheryl Kaye Tardif fans! I need your help!

I am on a campaign to get on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (remember my previous post?) A good friend of mine suggested I ask my fans and author friends for help. So I am.

I've emailed Craig Ferguson via the show's website plus the email addy they give during the show. I'd like to be a guest and maybe arrange for free books for the audience. I recently blogged about this dream of mine and listed the Top 10 Reasons why he should invite me to be a guest. :)

This is my request from you all:
Please read my blog post and send Craig Ferguson an email suggesting he gets me on the show. Some of my author friends have already done this. (Thanks!!!)

I'll actually be in San Francisco in mid-Feb and if I needed to I could extend my trip and head out to LA. If you haven't seen The Late Late Show, I can tell you that Craig is a wacky Scot. So am I (partially). I also have a naughty sense of humor. That makes me the perfect guest. :)

Anyways, please email Craig, suggest they get me on, and I'll be a very happy author.

"Dare to Dream...and Dream BIG!" That's always been my motto.

Click on the post below to read why I should be a guest on The Late Late Show, then email Craig and tell him why you think I'd make a good guest. When in doubt, mention any of my top 10 reasons. :)

http://cherylktardif.blogspot.com/2008/12/craig-ferguson-i-want-to-be-guest-on.html

Update 1: Cheryl's "Craig Ferguson Campaign" grows
Update 2: Whale Song heads to CBS

Thank you all!

Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Craig Ferguson, I want to be a guest on The Late, Late Show

My motto for years has been "Dare to Dream...and Dream BIG!"

One of my dreams is to be a guest on Craig Ferguson's show. Maybe I should let him know this.

I love Craig. Ok, not the romantic kind of love, but more the 'I love his wacky sense of humor and he never fails to entertain me' kind of love. I watch his show almost every night. I've even sent in emails. And when I went to Las Vegas 2 months ago, I was stunned to find out he was performing live, so of course I had to get tickets. I've written about that. That was the time I was mistaken for a "movie star". God Bless that lovely young woman for making that mistake!

So Craig...here's the plan. You see, I've got it all figured out. You have had authors on your show before. And I know you often have people who are "on their way up" the success ladder. So, here I am a few rungs up and I could use a boost. Plus I like to talk. And I love meeting new people.

Craig, these are the TOP 10 REASONS why I'd be the perfect guest for you...

10. I am Scottish too. Ok, well my grandfather was Scottish. I never met him though; he died when my Mom was a child. I still have distant family in Scotland--in Glasgow--but I forget their names. Last name: McLellan. Do you know them? Are we related somehow?

9. I am apparently part Welsh, British and German too. Veener Schnitzel! I have no idea how this relates to you.

8. I am Canadian! You've said you like Canada and Canadians, so you should like me. In fact, I believe you said you came to Edmonton recently (how the heck did I miss you?) and enjoyed it. Call me next time you're in town and I'll personally escort you around West Edmonton Mall--as long as you don't mind getting lost.

7. I would bring your audience free books. Preferably copies of my bestselling suspense novels set in various Canadian locations. I can tell you and your guests about the mysterious Nahanni River--"the Bermuda Triangle of Canada"--which is the main setting in my thriller The River (close to your own book title--see how much we have in common?)

6. I seem to have no problems chatting about just about anything. You name the topic; I'll wing it. Antidisestablishmentarianism, you say? Sure thing. Of course, we can definitely talk about my favorite topic--killing people off. I do that regularly in my line of work. Uh, I write suspense fiction, in case you've forgotten already. You can even do your Angela Lansbury impression: "Has there been a murder?" To which I'll answer, "I'm plotting one right now."

5. My good friend Alexia Melnychuk is a sensational singer-songwriter. I'll bring her with me for one of your entertainment segments. You'll like her music. She'll give you a free CD that'll get you singing in your car or your chair. It could be an all-Canadian show. Except for you. And most of the audience. And the camera men...

4. I'll even shred the notes they leave you myself and throw them on the floor. This would be a case of Divine Intervention. I'll even bring my paper shredder if you'd like. We can do it right. Don't forget to recycle.

3. And if you invite me to come down soon, I may be able to get you and your guests a copy of my critically acclaimed novel Whale Song, which I've just been told will be going out of print soon. Maybe a publisher will watch your show, see me on it, contact my New York agent (yes, I have one) and offer me a major 5-book deal, then sell a movie about a Canadian author who really hits it big after being a guest on the Craig Ferguson show.

2. I can also show you my iPhone and tell you about the novel I'm writing on it. Finding Bliss has attracted a lot of media attention and 2 companies are already vying to be the first to release it. When I'm done showing you the iPhone and how it works, you'll want one too. Maybe Apple will give you one after they sponsor me and my novel.

1. And the #1 reason why you should have me on as a guest is because I'll bring you chocolate. I'll bring Bliss chocolates! They inspired my iPhone novel Finding Bliss. No, it's not a story about killer chocolates; the main character's name is Bliss. And yeah, she'll eat a few chocloates in the story. Probably while she's watching Craig Ferguson on The Late Late Show.

So Craig, Mr. Ferguson, Sir Ferguson...please have your people call my people ASAP.

Actually, please just email me. I don't really have "people" yet. Unless you count my husband. Or my daughter. Or my mother and father. Or my puppy. I'd be very happy to chat with Lisa Ammerman; she'd did a great job as your impromptu guest a few months back.

I will now wait with the phone in one hand and the other clicking the "receive/send email" button every 5 minutes--until I hear back from you...

Hello?

Darn, no email from Craig Ferguson yet.

Calling all of my fans!!!

Please email Craig Ferguson and tell him you'd like to see me on his show. Maybe let him know why I'd make a good guest. :)

craigferguson@cbs.com

Update 1: Calling all Cheryl Kaye Tardif fans! I need your help!

Update 2: Cheryl's "Craig Ferguson Campaign" grows

Update 3: Whale Song heads to CBS

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
author of Whale Song, The River and Divine Intervention
http://www.cherylktardif.com/

Craig Ferguson at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas

Tonight my husband and I went to see Craig Ferguson live at the MGM Grand. In fact, we're watching his TV show--The Late, Late Show--right now. He is even funnier in person! I don't think I've laughed that hard in a very long time.

Our evening started with a quick caffeine fix at Starbucks in our hotel--Mandalay Bay. When I spotted The Reading Room, I was very surprised. Prior to arriving in Las Vegas I had checked online to find out where the nearest bookstores were located. I had read that The Reading Room was closing, which I thought was so sad. But the gal in the store told me the sale deal had fallen through, so it's still open. (I wish I had known earlier; I would have loved to have done a book signing there!)

Afterward, Marc and I headed for the MGM Grand. Shortly after we were seated, a gal named Doris came up to us and apologized for staring. I wasn't sure what she was talking about. Had I spilled my drink down my shirt or was my hair sticking up? lol Doris then said I looked like a star from a TV show. I think Doris became my new best friend in that moment. :-) She totally made my night--maybe even my month.

Marc and I got such a kick out of this. Of course I just had to tell her that while I'm not a movie star (although, hey, I was in a few TV shows as an extra...does that count? lol), I am an author from Canada. We chatted with Doris off and on throughout the night. She made us feel so welcome that I had to give her one of my bookmarks. (MGM, you'd better keep that gal around--she's wonderful!)

So thank you, Doris. I enjoyed talking with you, and yes you DO remind me of Whoopie (and I love her!) I hope to see you next time we're in town, and thank you so much for giving my extra bookmark to the security guard so he could give it to Craig. One of my goals is to one day be one of Craig Ferguson's guests. I told my husband this months ago. So Craig, if you happen to find my blog, call me! Or email me! :-)

Thanks also to Jenn, the first person we met who is actually FROM Las Vegas. In fact she was born and raised here--and she takes great photos. You're awesome, Jenn! (She so reminds me of my good friend and fellow author Kelly Komm.)

One thing I've noticed about Vegas, most of the people living and working here are super friendly, wonderful people. With the exception of one cab driver, everyone took an interest in us, in where we're from, and as Canadians in Vegas we felt very welcome. Thank you, Las Vegas!

Tomorrow is our last day. We leave in the evening. We plan to spend the day by the pool. We're pretty tired; there is just so much to do here. I do have a few tips for any of you who may be planning a trip to Las Vegas...

• bring good walking shoes or runners
• don't fully pack your suitcase; you'll want to do some shopping at the outlet stores
• pace yourself and don't try to see and do everything in 5 days
• try eating out in different hotels and restaurants
• rent a luxury car and drive to Hoover Dam
• bring Febreze air freshener for hotel room
• when gambling in casinos, you can drink for free
• set a daily limit for gambling and don't overspend
• see any Cirque du Soleil style show

And remember, in Vegas you can be a "naughty monkey" (Craig Ferguson's favorite term) all you want, but eventually you'll have to go home. So don't forget this town's motto: What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas! ;-)

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
bestselling author of Whale Song, The River and Divine Intervention
Visit my website: http://www.cherylktardif.com/ and be sure to leave me a note.

Corvette C6 convertible, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas strip

Yesterday's adventures started off with the breakfast special at La Salsa Cantina. If you're looking for a great deal on breakie in Vegas, this is it! Afterward we picked up a shiny yellow Corvette C6 convertible and headed for the Hoover Dam. While many people would enjoy a bus tour with all the interesting history lessons, I have to admit, I liked that we drove ourselves and could do what we wanted. The drive was relaxing. We stopped for lunch in Boulder City and drove across the top of Hoover Dam twice. Then we headed back to Vegas.

We went to the House of Blues for dinner. The Wednesday special was a creole linguine--yum! Later, after the sun set, we drove down the strip and into old Vegas. Lights, lights and more lights. :) We ended up back at the Mandalay Bay Casino and I had a bit of a lucky streak on the Reel Money slots. Won a couple hundred bucks, which for some people might not be much but for me, I was happy. I usually go broke within a few minutes...hehe We were up til 2 a.m.

Today we're relaxing by the pool, soaking up some rays. Later this evening we're going to see Craig Ferguson. Marc and I watch his show--The Late, Late Show--most nights back home in Edmonton. I was so surprised to see he's here in Vegas, since I've been saying to Marc for months that when we go to California we WILL be seeing Craig. Hey, any show hosted by a very funny Scotsman from Glascow works for me. I have relatives in Glascow. And that Craig Ferguson never fails to make me laugh. He's such a "naughty monkey"!!! (I'll have to find a brown dress--apparently Craig likes gals in brown dresses.)

Yeah, we're livin' la vida loco in Las Vegas. ;-)

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Canadian suspense author
http://www.cherylktardif.com