THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR CHERYL KAYE TARDIF

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

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

My Brother Jason ~ A Lost Soul

In Memory of my Brother
Jason Anthony Kaye...
(Jason and his niece Jessica - early 2000's)

...who was murdered January 23, 2006.
Jason, beautiful but lost soul,
I pray you have finally found the peace you've been searching for.
Love forever,
your sister
Cheryl

For years, I have written poetry for friends and family during times of tragedy. This time I'm writing for me. This isn't a poem. It's a story.

Jason's story.

Yesterday, two detectives came to my door to give the news that my entire family has been waiting for. In fact we've waited years, knowing that this day would come...and praying that it wouldn't...but knowing.

My brother Jason, a beautiful caring soul, was murdered in an alley in Edmonton on January 23rd, 2006...a week after his 28th birthday.

Jason was the golden child, born in Bermuda and kissed by a tropical sun when I was 14. I dreamt of him before my mother even told me she was pregnant. He was in many ways my first "baby". At least, he was the first baby I remember loving. I even lied to people and said he was mine. The sweet cherub baby with hair like spun copper, ringlets like a girl's and a smile that lit up a room. As a toddler, Jason became the family entertainment, always making us laugh with his goofy faces and dancing.

He had a mother and father, and an older sister and brother. And we loved him.

Yet, in many ways, Jason was an only child, growing up in a house of adults.

And somewhere along the way...

we lost him.

I know deep in my heart that Jason has never held that against us. I know that he has forgiven us all for losing him, and that he simply struggled with his demons in the only way he knew how. On his own.

We tried to help him. All of us. We tried to find him, reach him...love him. Even when he didn't think he deserved to be loved. And we will always love him.

Jason Anthony Kaye was 28 years old. He showed a talent for computers at a young age. He made my daughter (his niece) laugh. He loved to cook. He had stinky feet that ate through running shoes at the speed of light. And when he lived with us his room was worse than my teenage daughter's. But we loved him anyway.

He is not the body they found in that alley...he is still the golden child, a beautiful soul who just lost his way. And I will remember him as my first baby. He was such an integral part of the best three years of my life (Bermuda). I was honored to be his sister.

He fought many demons, including alcohol. He never won...not the fight. But perhaps he has won his freedom...a sense of peace that he hadn't had since he was a child. He was a restless, wandering soul...and I pray he has found peace at last.


Jason..."forgiveness sets you free".
I told you that once.
I told you to forgive yourself.
If you have not done that, don't worry.
I forgive you.
We all forgive you.
And that's enough forgiveness to set you free.
Be FREE!

Love forever,
Cheryl

********************************
From our father:

Jason and I watched Eagles when we could and Dianne and I just got home and two Eagles flew over the condo where we stay about a minute ago for the first time in the 3 years that we have been renting this condo.
I could also see two more Eagles in the distance...those I have seen many times over the past three years. The Haida believed that they came back as a Raven or an Eagle so maybe I have just been visited by Jason...I believe this to be true. Think of Jason soaring free of the problems that have plagued his life. When you see an Eagle call him and he may come to you as this one did today.

********************************

KAYE, Jason Anthony ~ On January 23, 2006, Jason Anthony Kaye of Edmonton passed away at the age of 28 years. Jason is survived by his mother, Mary Kaye of Vancouver, father, Larry Kaye (and wife Dianne) of Victoria, sister, Cheryl (Marc) Tardif of Edmonton, brother, Derek (Deborah) Kaye of Trenton, Ont. two nieces, Jessica Tardif and Zoe Kaye, nephew, Edwin Kaye; paternal grandmother, Myrtle Desjarlais of Calgary, Uncle Dennis (Lois) Kaye and family of Parksville, BC, Aunt Donna (Dave) Arthur and family of Calgary, maternal aunts, Paula Rossetti and family of Vancouver and Ada McLellan of Buffalo, Wyoming. The family would also like to acknowledge Jason's many friends in the inner city of Edmonton and other areas across Canada. For friends and those interested please visit, in memory of Jason, the website, www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com. A Family Service was held. Friends who so wish may make memorial donations directly to the Bissell Centre, 10527-96 Street, Edmonton.

God looked around His garden and found an empty space;

He then looked down upon this earth and saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest;

God's garden must be beautiful, He only takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering, He knew you were in pain

He knew you might never, get well upon this earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb,

So He closed your weary eyelids and whispered, "Peace be thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you, but you never went alone,

For part of us went with you the day God called you home.

"We Love you Jason"

Connelly-McKinley Ltd., Sherwood Park - Millwoods Chapel, (780) 468-2222 to send condolences: www.connelly-mckinley.com

(Published in the Edmonton Journal on 1/27/2006.)

***********************************
To Detective Dennis McGeady and the Edmonton Police:

On behalf of the Kaye family, I would like to express my sincerest appreciation for everything that you and the Edmonton Police have done in regards to my brother Jason Anthony Kaye.

The moment Detective Michael Campeau and his partner showed up on my doorstep to break the news to me was one of the worst moments in my life--even though we had all thought the day might come. But they handled me with compassion and they answered my questions exactly the way I needed to hear them.

My husband Marc and I greatly appreciated the police escort into my brother's rooming house to collect his personal belongings. That too was handled with such respect that it made the task much easier to bear.

My parents, my brother Derek and I also appreciate the updates and information, even though there hasn't been much in the way of leads--so far. But it is the genuine concern that you have shown us all, and the warm thoughts you have shared regarding Jason, that have helped us to restore his dignity, and for that we will be eternally grateful.

I wish that CFRN had not edited the segment where my brother Derek thanked you all, and I hope that you pass this on to your Chief or use it in any way (publicly or privately) so that the people of Edmonton can see the 'softer side' of the Edmonton Police.

On a separate note: As a BC transplant, I am proud to live in this city and call it my home. But I believe it's imperative that we find people like Jason more resources, support, counseling, medical care and safer neighborhoods or housing so that they can learn to take pride in their city, their neighborhood, their streets. Before more 'Jasons' wind up dead in an alley. Believe me, I'm not done writing about all of this. I guess God made me a writer for a reason...and maybe fiction isn't all I'm meant to write.

Thank you again for all of your efforts, for everyone involved! My family has been blessed by your caring.

Sincerely,
Cheryl Kaye Tardif
and the entire Kaye family

Friday, January 20, 2006

Get an Autographed Copy of 'The River' NOW!

THE RIVER

ISBN 1-4120-6229-2

Del Hawthorne's father and three of his friends vanished seven years ago along the Nahanni River--a river of mysterious deaths and disappearances. When one of the missing men surfaces, 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! Now Del's going back for him, unaware of the terror that lies, waiting...



Inside Cover Excerpt:

Del marched forward, determined to find a sign.

Jake's arm snaked out. "Wait!"

She raised a hand, warding him off, then strode toward the far wall. She made it halfway across the room when the air shifted around her. She stopped.

There has to be something! Schroeder wouldn't lead us here for nothing.

She stepped forward, between the two strips of crystal.

And something weird happened.

The blue light of the crystals flared...alive.

Jake pulled her back. "Don't go any closer, Del. It's not safe."

His blue eyes pleaded with her, but she shook her head, ignoring him. Her father needed her. She was his only hope. And there was no way on earth that she had come this far only to give up.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Peter heave a frustrated groan. He muttered something beneath his breath, then stumbled between the crystals.

"Peter!"

Frozen with fear, she gulped in a huge breath as two slender trails of metallic sapphire light crawled down the cave walls toward him. The tentacles of light slithered across the floor, colliding at his feet. Inch by inch, they wrapped around his legs, throbbing to the beat of the alarm. Within seconds, he was enveloped in a strange liquid mercury radiance.

"Oh my God," she whispered.

Peter's jaw dropped and his eyes widened, terrified. Bit by bit, his entire body disintegrated--each molecule separating, stretching grotesquely. He slowly became...dust.

In a flash, Peter Cavanaugh was gone.

Del knew that there were times when a decision must be made, and made fast--regardless of the possible outcome. A decision of fate. Or destiny.

Catching Jake's eye, she threw him a beaming smile. Before he could stop her, she stepped between the crystals, welcoming the sapphire light that skimmed icily up her body.

Jake's mouth opened in horror. "No, Del!"

She dissolved into an infinite number of particles...

Read the First Chapter!

Read Reviews of The River!

Order Your Autographed Copy Now!

Monday, January 16, 2006

More Reviews on THE RIVER!


Praise for Tardif's riveting
techno-thriller...
THE RIVER

"The River is a gripping combination of suspense, sci-fi and adventure...a cross between Michael Crichton's Timeline and Dan Brown's Angels & Demons." --Matt Scofield, a fan

"Combining the current fascination with eternal youth and many scientists' passionate search for an end to aging and disease, Cheryl Kaye Tardif has penned a killer of a thriller titled "The River". Tardif's novel offers us a glimpse into a future that is all too believable--a future where no cost is too high to attain eternal youth. Set aside your chores for the day, grab a container of your favorite brew and settle in for a wild and captivating ride on "The River".

Del Hawthorne had grieved seven years for her dead father, when Schroeder, a friend who disappeared with him, burst into Del's classroom. "Your father is alive." He gives her a journal and collapses. The adventure that follows, as Del gathers volunteers to accompany her in the search for her father, will rivet you to this action-packed narrative.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of "Whale Song" and "Divine Intervention", has presented us with a gritty, perfect-for-our-times, bestseller-quality novel. "The River" presents insight into the potential problems that could arise with unscrupulous gleaning of living cells. THE RIVER...I plan to pass forward to my reading friends. Congratulations, Cheryl, on a marvelous tale."
--Beverly J. Scott ~ Author of Jena's Choice, Ruth Fever and Righteous Revenge http://www.beverlyjscott.com

"I finished The River the other night and I finished it in record time because it kept me wanting more, and the twist! WOW! Wasn't expecting all that, that's for sure! Keep those books coming, Cheryl!" --Dori Gibbon

"Cheryl Kaye Tardif has once again captivated readers in her third novel and latest suspense thriller, The River. Set in the wilds of Canada's north, The River combines intrigue, science, love and adventure and is sure to keep readers clamoring for more." --Heather Andrews Miller,
Edmonton Sun

"Exciting and vivid. Tardif's latest novel sweeps readers along into uncharted, wild Canadian territory. A thrilling adventure where science sniffs harder, desperate to find the fountain-of-youth." --Christina Francine, Midwest Book Review; READ entire review from MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW!

"A wild river ride of tension, intrigue and romance as a motley crew of adventurers take you on a search for a man of the past who holds the key to the future, and the secret to eternal youth and power. Hang on--it's going to be a bumpy ride! Excellent read!" --S.L. Bartlett,
Silver Moon Magazine
To order, go to Trafford.com

A Killer of a Thriller!

"Combining the current fascination with eternal youth and many scientists' passionate search for an end to aging and disease, Cheryl Kaye Tardif has penned a killer of a thriller titled "The River". Tardif's novel offers us a glimpse into a future that is all too believable--a future where no cost is too high to attain eternal youth. Set aside your chores for the day, grab a container of your favorite brew and settle in for a wild and captivating ride on "The River"

Del Hawthorne had grieved seven years for her dead father, when Schroeder, a friend who disappeared with him, burst into Del's classroom. "Your father is alive." He gives her a journal and collapses. The adventure that follows, as Del gathers volunteers to accompany her in the search for her father, will rivet you to this action-packed narrative.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of "Whale Song" and "Divine Intervention", has presented us with a gritty, perfect-for-our-times, bestseller-quality novel. "The River" presents insight into the potential problems that could arise with unscrupulous gleaning of living cells. THE RIVER...I plan to pass forward to my reading friends. Congratulations, Cheryl, on a marvelous tale."

--Beverly J. Scott ~ Author of Jena's Choice, Ruth Fever and Righteous Revenge http://www.beverlyjscott.com

You can order 'The River' via Trafford.com or through Cheryl's site.

Friday, January 06, 2006

An Interview on BookPleasures.com

Cheryl is interviewed on BookPleasures.com

Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures.com, recently interviewed me, although I've been a bit slow in getting this on my blog :(

Regardless, please check out the interview. I had a blast!

Read the entire interview!

An Island Oasis

Dear faithful readers:
I recently had the pleasure of meeting the owner of the beautiful Qualicum Bay Bed & Breakfast, a getaway oasis that inspires creativity, inspiration and peaceful recuperation of mind, body and spirit. I encourage you to check it out online, and the next time you are planning a family vacation, a business getaway or a writers' retreat, please think of my recommendation.

Come to Qualicum Bay Bed & Breakfast!

~the ideal location for professional speakers, writers, poets, painters and all of us who love to dream!

Qualicum Bay Bed & Breakfast, located on the shores of Qualicum Bay, British Columbia, provides the perfect setting to escape and let the imagination take over. It is the land of endless beaches, postcard scenery and peaceful tranquility.

Come enjoy rooms with a view and ambiance … perfect for 'downtime'. There are 5 bedrooms, 4 of which have oceanfront balconies. Wake up each morning to the sounds of the ocean. We also have an enclosed solarium on the waterfront and many refreshing indoor and outdoor settings. Wireless high-speed internet access allows you to keep in touch, assuming you want to.

Coming as a group? We can customize your stay. We can make it a formal event, complete with executive table or casual with a cozy meeting area. We also have a comfortable cottage on-site. Please let us know and we will do our best to make it happen. We typically function as a traditional Bed & Breakfast operation in the summer months and can either function as a B&B or as a weekly rental facility during the rest of the year. That being said, we are flexible and can set it up just the way you want it.

** See Our Virtual Tours **

For more photos and information see www.qualicumbaybb.com.

~ Bernard Vincent, Proprietor

780 - 417 - 5290

Thank you, dear readers!
Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Canadian Mystery Author
http://www.cherylktardif.com/

The River, Divine Intervention and Whale Song