MG/YA Author Kenna McKinnon Chats About The Bigfoot Apocalypse

Do Bigfoot eyes really glow?

Do their eyes simply reflect light like all nocturnal animals?

Or are they like fireflies and emit their own light?

Have YOU seen Bigfoot?

BIGFOOT BOY: Lost on Earth – THIS WEEK ONLY 99 cents on Amazon Friday May 23 – Friday May 30. https://tinyurl.com/mb8klzw

Read about 11-year-old Joey and his friend Errl, the alien Bigfoot from Planet X whose airpod crash-landed on Earth, separated from his classmates, and running for his life.

SUBMERGED in the dark forests of southeastern British Columbia, Canada, and in need of DIVINE JUSTICE, Errl finds true love but we will never know if his eyes really glow when he gazes at HUNNY, the golden haired earth Sasquatch girl, for whom he literally falls head over heels!

BIGFOOT BOY, LOST ON EARTH: Kenna McKinnon's imaginary tale of a "fun, rough and tumble escapade through the wilderness of Canada’s Kootenays, with good guys, bad guys and youngsters in hot pursuit as Errl desperately tries to make his rendezvous with the mother ship."

"In McKinnon's novel, youngsters of all species learn to rely on themselves, friends, community and the trusted adults in their lives as they face life’s dangers and dilemmas and deal with their fears."

Kenna McKinnon, author of SpaceHive, does it again with another rollicking tale for middle graders and young adults of all ages…BIGFOOT BOY: Lost on Earth.

Author's Biography:

Kenna McKinnon is the author of SpaceHive, a middle grade sci-fi/fantasy novel traditionally published by Imajin Books; BIGFOOT BOY: Lost on Earth, was released in November 2013 by Mockingbird Lane Press, a traditional small press. A children's chapter book, Benjamin & Rumblechum, will be published by Mockingbird Lane Press in late 2014. Her books are available in eBook and paperback worldwide on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, etc., and in selected bookstores and public libraries.

Her interests / hobbies include running, volunteer, reading, writing, fitness and health, and walking. Her most memorable years were spent at the University of Alberta, where she graduated with Distinction with a degree in Anthropology (1975).

Her author's blog: http://KennaMcKinnonAuthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennaMcKinnonAuthor

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/KennaMcKinnon

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6480104.Kenna_McKinnon

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kennamckinnon

Google+: https://plus.google.com/118297240319245529549/posts

Guest post: Life-altering Decisions with Author Eileen Schuh, plus a Kindle Giveaway

Today I welcome author Eileen Schuh to my blog to discuss her YA novel THE TRAZ, which deals with societal issues like gangs and drugs. Eileen also has a School Edition available, plus a readers' guide available on her website. Read her post to find out how you can win a Kindle! Welcome, Eileen! :-)

I thought I was being original when I included a Teaching/Discussion guide with THE TRAZ. I quickly discovered that many authors and/or their publishers do that. In fact, many of the novels that the book club at my local library chooses have readers’ guides appended.

What sets THE TRAZ guide apart, however, is the fact that not only does it ask the questions, it also provides points of discussion and possible answers. Perhaps because I several of my cousins and close friends are teachers, I realized the importance of this. If teachers need to come up with their own answers, they might as well ask their own questions, in my humble opinion.

There are specific ideas and concepts addressed in THE TRAZ that I think are important, and the only way to ensure my readers pick up them, is for me to note them.

For example, one of the questions in the Teaching Guide is “What life-changing decisions do you anticipate making in the near future?” I want my at-risk young readers to think about making empowering decisions such as reporting abuse at home—something that may not be on the tip of the tongue of either teachers or students. So I included it—along with more obvious answers such as life-style choices and academic decisions.

I hope that my suggested answers might spark additional ideas in teachers and students—serve as a thought-stimulant, so to speak. If my readers begin thinking outside the box—beyond basic decisions such as whether or not to stay in school, drink, or do drugs, THE TRAZ will become much more relevant a story to them…and, more helpful.

So…what life-altering decisions do you see in your future?
______________________________________________

THE TRAZ eBook is FREE on Amazon Kindle for THREE DAYS ONLY-- April 14, 15 and 16. Don’t have a Kindle? No problem—you can easily download Amazon’s free KINDLE FOR PCs software to read eBooks on your computer.

THE TRAZ is available in paperback and ebook formats and in a special School Edition that includes a Teaching Guide. Click on the following links to purchase or sample THE TRAZ

Amazon eBook

Amazon Paperback

School Edition Paperback

School Edition eBook

Also available from other fine online bookstores.

If THE TRAZ is not on your local bookstore or library shelves, ask for it to be ordered in for you.

“LEAVE A COMMENT, WIN A KINDLE” Virtual Book Tour. Follow me through cyberspace as I promote THE TRAZ on blogs around the world. Each time you leave a comment beneath my guest blogs, I’ll enter your name in my draw for a Kindle. For more details visit my Facebook Fan Appreciation Page or follow me on Twitter.

Eileen Schuh is also the author of the adult Sci-Fi novella SCHRÖDINGER’S CAT

For more information on Schuh and her books visit her at:

http://www.eileenschuh.com

http://eileenschuh.blogspot.com

Follow Katrina on Twitter: KatrinaBuckhold

Writers: Learn about 'The Four Firsts and Chapter Hooks'

In fiction, suspense and foreshadowing create mood, tension and the desire for a reader to read more. You can do this, by using the Four Firsts rule and by using Chapter Hooks...

Read the article on The Four Firsts and Chapter Hooks.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Whale Song, The River and Divine Intervention

Sunday Salon: Whale Song reviews

I haven't finished either of the two thrillers I've started reading and I am heading into my busy season. I have a few events lined up for December and had some in November too; so if you're in the Edmonton, Alberta, please be sure to check them out on my website and come visit me at one of my book signings. All 3 of my novels will be available. :)

In lieu of writing a review myself, I thought I'd share some of the wonderful reviews I have received for the novel I call "my heart book". I wrote the original first edition of Whale Song back in 2003. It took me 3.5 months to write it and have 2 people edit it--all in 3.5 months. The story was in my head for 2 years before I wrote the first word. I unleashed a tidal wave of words...and emotion.

Here are some review blurbs for WHALE SONG, a moving and uplifting story of love, loss and hope--for all ages. Although this is not a thriller like my novels Divine Intervention and The River, Whale Song does have an element of mystery.

This novel is perfect for mothers, daughters, grandmothers, wives, girlfriends, sisters and best friends--and even my male readers have enjoyed it. Whale Song will make you remember what it was like to be young. :)

REVIEWS:

"Whale Song is deep and true, a compelling story of love and family and the mysteries of the human heart. Cheryl Kaye Tardif has written a beautiful, haunting novel." -- NY Times Bestselling novelist Luanne Rice, author of Beach Girls

"Mystical and poignant...Reminiscent of youth's sweetness, Whale Song confronts the truth of that treasure's fragility, upon varying paths, with uncomplicated and graceful ease...'Bravo' to Cheryl Kaye Tardif for Whale Song." --J.M. Lavallee

"The book me and others read in the field and knew it was a sure fire, can't miss gift for those we loved for Christmas...is called "The Note Book" by Nicholas Sparks. "Whale Song" is not only that good... It just might be considered by some, better." -- Chase Von of The Student Operated Press

"It's completely heart wrenching...I seriously never wanted to put it down. Cheryl's use of words is amazing, like when she's talking about the killer whales or describing scenery. They just flow so easily across every page. My heart strings were being pulled the entire time and I absolutely loved it...I seriously recommend getting yourself a copy. You seriously won't be disappointed." --Breanna, a reviewer for teensreadtoo. com

"The story of Sarah Richardson is a journey of wonder, friendships, happiness, sadness, loss and love. It will keep you reading from cover to cover. Cheryl Tardif's writing is captivating and I look forward to reading more of her novels." --Karen Scott

"I had to wash my tear-streaked face after reading "Whale Song" by Canadian author, Cheryl Kaye Tardif...Her characters are so well described I feel I've met and know them all personally." --Claudette Binette

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

"Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novel, Whale Song, would be a tough act to follow for any written genre." --Fresh Fiction

"Tardif, already a big hit in Canada...a name to reckon with south of the border." --BOOKLIST

*WHALE SONG is being read by many film producers, including some from HOLLYWOOD!

**Great Christmas gift! Order now, then email me through my website by December 10th, 2008, to request a FREE personalized, autographed bookplate, making your gift that much more special. :) I'll even throw in some free bookmarks!

Quick Amazon.com link:
http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1601640072

Or buy from your favorite bookstore. :)

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

Textnovel.com serializes REMOTE CONTROL by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

After news spread across North America about the novel I am writing on my iPhone 3G, I have had the pleasure of being interviewed for TV, radio, newspapers and websites, plus I was contacted by Stan Soper, the founder of Textnovel.com, a website devoted to cell phone novels or serialized fiction by phone.

Stan states: "I started Textnovel™ after I stumbled across an article in the New York Times on Japanese teenagers who were writing and reading fiction on their cellphones and publishing them on websites."

This fad has quickly spread across Japan over the past few years and resulted in a number of bestselling novels written mainly by teenagers with no previous writing or publishing experience. Many of the novels were written using cell phone lingo (LOL) and most are Young Adult (YA) novels.

Textnovel is the first English site to offer cell phone novels, which can be read on your computer or cell phone.

With my novel Finding Bliss I take cell phone novels to a whole new level. Not only am I the first person to attempt to write an entire novel using the Notes application on my iPhone 3G, it'll be written with my normal style (no cell phone lingo) and will feature a character who uses and iPhone 3G. This novel may one day find itself on Textnovel.com.

When Stan read about me in a recent press release, he extended a special invitation for me to check out Textnovel.com. That's when I decided to do a test run with my serialized novelette REMOTE CONTROL. I've been posting it on my website, but that will be on hold while I post it to Textnovel.com instead. Feel free to read it on Textnovel.com or you can subscribe and have new chapters delivered right to your cell phone. And don't worry, my chapters are short.

Read REMOTE CONTROL on Textnovel.com.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif
bestselling author of Whale Song

Sunday Salon: Honour Among Men

I apologize for being a day late in writing my post for the Sunday Salon. I'm fighting a bout of tendonitis in my right arm, and was ordered to take it easy. (Sure...) My doctor said, "Don't do anything for a few days. (Yeah, right.)

I might not have blogged, but there are some things that just have to be done--like steam cleaning the carpet after our new puppy decided to do her bizness there.

So what else have I been doing? Reading, for the most part. Yay!

I recently finished Barbara Fradkin's Honour Among Men. Like me, Barbara is a member of Crime Writers of Canada. I've seen her name and read her email posts to our group, but we've never met.

Here's my review:

Honour Among Men is a smorgasbord of mystery, appealing characters and twists and turns!

4 stars

ISBN 13: 978-1894917360

Publish date: Spetember 2006

Trade paperback; 347 pages; $13.95 US

Fiction; Mystery; Crime

Recommended for: Those who like a traditional 'whodunnit mystery' set in contemporary times.

Honour Among Men brings back Fradkin's interesting protagonist, Inspector Green. This time he's called to a case involving the death of a mysterious woman whose body was dumped on the shore of the Ottawa River. The first order of business? To uncover the woman's identity. The second? To find out why she had a military medal for bravery in her hand.

This fascinating novel takes you from Ontario, Canada, to Croatia via a soldier's missing diary, and it gives you a look into the hearts and souls of soldiers and the atrocities they face every day when they're at war. It also exposes the raw inhumanity of war and how people are forced to make choices 'over there', ones they have to live with afterwards...if they can.

Honour Among Men shows us that politics are often cloaked by past misdeads. Everyone has a past. Some don't want theirs in the limelight, and they'll do anything to keep their secrets. If you enjoy a great mystery novel with vivid scenes, realistic dialogue and a well researched plot, check out Honor Among Men.

~ Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of three novels set in Canada, including the “compelling “ and “beautiful” Whale Song, the high-octane thriller The River and the sizzling psychic suspense Divine Intervention.

Book Review: The Girls by Lori Lansens

I've always been an avid reader and for the past few months I've been reading novels by Canadian authors as part of The Canadian Book Challenge. Yesterday, I finished reading The Girls by Lori Lansens and I decided to share my review of her book with you here.

The Girls by Lori Lansens

4 solid stars!
ISBN 13: 978-0316066341
Publish date: April 2007
Trade paperback; 368 pages; $13.99
Fiction; Family Drama
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys an emotional tale of love, loss and life.

Unbelievably believable!

Lyrical, poetic prose opens this heartwarming and unique story of conjoined twins Rose and Ruby and the lives they led, both separately as two individuals with different likes and dislikes and together as sisters who must rely on each other solely for their very existence. Joined at the head, ‘The Girls’―as they are known as in their small Ontario town―are raised by loving adoptive parents Aunt Lovey and Uncle Stash, after their birth mother disappears shortly after giving birth. The conjoined twins are considered the pride of the town, not an oddity, and they rise above what most of us would think of as a handicap or disability and love each other unconditionally.

The Girls is a diary told in two voices―Rose’s and Ruby’s. Rose encourages her sister to contribute to what will become their life story and although she does most of the writing, both characters come to life as they observe the lives of everyone they meet, sharing their innermost thoughts, hopes, fears and dreams with the reader. I found myself so connected to Rose and Ruby that I didn’t want their story to end, and when it did, I was left with a bittersweet ache for more.

The first paragraph reads like pure, sweet poetry that is sure to haunt any reader; it is what first grabbed me and pulled at my heart. The Girls opens like this:

“I have never looked into my sister’s eyes. I have never bathed alone. I have never stood in the grass at night and raised my arms to a beguiling moon. I’ve never used an airplane bathroom. Or worn a hat. Or been kissed like that…So many things I’ve never done, but oh, how I’ve been loved. And, if such things were to be, I’d live a thousand lives as me, to be loved so exponentially.”

Lori Lansens is an extraordinary Canadian author who paints a picture of rural Ontario farm life and two distinct lives with a magic wand of effortlessness, vividly colorful description and heartfelt compassion. At times you’ll forget you’re reading a novel because it reads with such clarity and believability. In fact, this novel is so full of realism, you may find yourself flipping to the author’s photograph at the back of the book to see if she is a conjoined twin. Instead, you’ll find her sitting alone at one end of a sofa, as if waiting for someone to join her.

The Girls: A Novel is a MUST READ for anyone who enjoys an emotional tale of love, loss and the challenges of life. Other books of comparable emotional impact: The Lovely Bones: A Novel and Mothering Mother: A Daughter's Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir and of course my novel Whale Song: A Novel , "a compelling story of love and family and the mysteries of the human heart."

Fiction masquerading as memoir

Lying about factual book content is a crime. So why do some authors insist on trying to skirt the law with fictitious claims? Over the past 60 years, thousands of authors have claimed to have led fascinating lives and have bared all in gritty, nonfiction memoirs. Yet, some have outright lied.

Who can forget the James Frey scandal that resulted in a public admonishment from Oprah Winfrey?

Or more recently, Misha Defonseca, who claims in her "memoire" that she travelled with a pack of wolves during the Holocaust.

Or Margaret B. Jones...aka Margaret Seltzer...who professed to be part Native American when her parents are white/caucasian and further claimed she was raised in foster care.

Los Angeles Times has a series of related stories based on authors who misrepresent fiction as fact. Just check out some of the posts:

• Memorable Literary Hoaxes


• Why We Fall for Fakes


• Literary Wannabes


• Why You Should Be Enraged by Literary Liars


• Bogus Memoir Sparks Criticism of Publishing Industry

The New York Times has their own list of fraudulent memoir stories:

• Tracking the Fallout of (Another) Literary Fraud


• Gang Memoir, Turning Page, Is Pure Fiction


• Stranger Than Truthiness

As an author, I have to shake my head. Fact is fact, people. If you lived it and people around you know you lived it, that's fact. Facts are usually fact-checked by someone. Eventually. FACT...also known as nonfiction in the book world. What part of this don't you understand?

These lies hurt the entire industry--from publishers to distributors to agents to reviewers to other authors and to readers. Especially to readers! By lying, you are shortchanging readers who have invested time, money and emotion in your work. And readers deserve more.

So why do these authors masquerade fiction as memoir? For more "WOW factor", because otherwise their lives would seem just like ours--fraught with bad childhoods, bad parents, bad memories, bad husbands, wifes, children...etc. Let's face it, we all have had challenges in life, but for most of us our lives just aren't interesting enough to warrant writing a book, much less finding a publisher to publish it.

Let's keep fiction where it's meant to be and memoirs filled with good ole honest truth.

On that note: I hope you will all read my memoir The River, which you can order from Amazon...the link to follow.

This is the true story of how I went searching for my father in the Nahanni River area and stumbled into a deadly conspiracy to do with nanotechnology; I barely escaped with my life. My father went missing about 7 years ago and my mother and I thought he was dead. We even had a funeral--even though there was no body. But investigators did find his blood, lots of it and after a while, they presumed him dead.

I would never have doubted it if it wasn't for my father's friend showing up in my university classroom, where I was teaching. I just about passed out when I saw him. He looked really old and was pale like a ghost! He should have been one too because he went missing along with my father. But what this man told me...I could barely believe his words. He said that my father was alive...up north...but that people were trying to kill him.

It didn't take me long to decide that there was only one thing to do--go to the Nahanni and find my father. I managed to convince some really great people to come with me. I could never have done that journey alone. It was exciting at first, but it didn't take long to become the most terrifying time in my life. It makes me shake just thinking about everything that happened...and the people who died as a result of my decision to go to an area of Canada that is nicknamed The Bermuda Triangle. Really! Not kidding!

I can't tell you everything here. My doctor says I am suffering from PTSD and I have to be careful. It was hard enough to get everything written down in my memoir. But if you want to know everything that happened...well, you'll have read it yourself by picking up a copy of my bestselling book The River (by Cheryl Kaye Tardif, in case you've forgotten).

My mother and I are doing better now. As for my father...well...I did find him. But I didn't expect to nearly drown, find a hidden river, or become a prisoner of a lunatic.

Read my memoir.

The River by Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

P.S. I hope you all realize that I was being completely sarcastic about The River being my memoir. It isn't. It's a suspense thriller--pure fiction. But I bet I had some of you going, didn't I? It certainly sounds far more exciting than telling you I was a military brat, moved around a lot and threw orange pop at the first boy who kissed me, doesn't it? :) The point is, this is fine as a joke, but not fine if I made this claim because I wanted to benefit from a lie financially and never told the truth until someone found me out.

P.P.S. I hope you'll still read The River. Everything I told you was from the perspective of Del, the main character, and the plot is as it is above.

I hope you'll read my novel, The River by Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

New review of Whale Song: "A book to touch your soul."

"A book to touch your soul. I had never heard of Cheryl Kaye Tardif until the power of the internet and myspace.com brought us together. When I read about her book, "Whale Song" I knew I had to read it.

I am a librarian in a small public library so I thought there would be no problem finding her book. No one in our system had a copy so I purchased one for our location, of course reading it first before putting it into circulation. I am so glad I did.

This is a wonderful story of a young girl who faces a life-altering tragedy in her life and with the love and caring of a sacrificing father, the support of a good friend and her Native American family, comes to terms with an act of compassion and love for a parent.

May we all find comfort in the songs of the whales and in the spirits of our loved ones."

--Linda K. Riffe, librarian

Day 25 of virtual book tour: Picture Perfect by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

With one week left of my 'Touring the World' virtual book tour, I want to give you more samples of my work. Today's shocking short is one of my personal favorites, and the first short story of mine that Amazon picked up for their Amazon Shorts program.

So here's a sneak peek...

Picture Perfect

© 2006 Cheryl Kaye Tardif

When my sister, Belle, vanished back in 1956, I lost more than you could possibly imagine. And in the last fifty years, I've never told anyone what I saw. That summer day, I lost a part of my family, a piece of my heart…and I think I lost my soul as well.

In 1956, on the morning of the Calgary Summer Carnival, my baby sister and I were so giddy with excitement that our mother threatened to ground us for bad behavior. There's no worse punishment on the face of this earth than being left behind on Summer Carnival day.

Well, maybe there's one worse thing...

Check out the excerpt at Criminal Minds at Work.

Whale Song wins book cover of the month

Sometimes people underestimate the power of the reader or fan. I am always humbled as an author when someone comments on my novels, and over the past three years I have had fans nominate me for awards. Being nominated in 2004 for the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award was a huge honor. And even a nomination for a book cover award (which I had nothing to do with) makes me very grateful.

Whale Song was nominated by a fan to compete in Erin Aislinn's Book Cover of the Month contest. After nomination, it had to be accepted...and it was. For the month of June, 5 covers in total competed for the honor of May Book Cover of the Month.

http://www.erinaislinn.com/BookCoveroftheMonth.htm

Whale Song won!

I wish I could take credit, but I can't. All the credit for the beautiful, haunting cover go to Kam Wai Yu, from Persona Corp. Kam is an award-winning graphic artist who has designed all the Kunati book covers.

On behalf of Kam and Whale Song, I would like to thank everyone who voted. There are a lot of awards out there for book covers and books, voted on by people in the book industry. But to me, the contests voted on by fans and readers are the most special. Thank you!

To order Whale Song, please visit your favorite bookstore or online retailer.
Some quick links:

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Chapters.ca

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