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.

Friday, October 31, 2014

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 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.


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

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Ever Play Chicken?

You're probably all familiar with the deadly game of "Playing Chicken." Usually this is a teen thing; drive towards oncoming traffic and the most cowardly veers off at the last minute—hence, he's the "chicken." Why would someone do this? For the adrenaline rush, some say. Or for the honor of being thought of as the bravest. Or because they think they have something to prove to others.

Most of us would consider this game just plain stupid. And highly dangerous. But many of us aren't aware that we're involved in our own versions of "Playing Chicken." Ever put yourself in a situation of risk, only to bail out at the first sign of challenge? Ever decide not to do something because you're afraid of it? It's a natural reaction. Self-preservation. Sometimes, though, it becomes a form of self-sabotage.

In SUBMERGED, Marcus Taylor has lived for years "Playing Chicken." As a recovering addict he knows what it's like to be in a head-on collision course of disaster. He doesn't need a vehicle; drugs are his weapon of choice and his adrenaline rush. He told himself he needed them in order to be an effective paramedic working long hours and witnessing horrific tragedies weekly, sometimes daily. But he lost control, nearly crashing, coming close to death. Until instinct kicked in and he veered off the path.

Marcus lives with his guilt, like many of us live with a family member. He feeds it, strokes it, gives it life. He thinks he's done "Playing Chicken," but he's not. He has slipped into a life of monotony, taking no risks, making no new connections, seeing a bleak future. He has veered off the road of Life, chickened out.

Until he takes a call while working as a 911 dispatcher, and he has no time for "Playing Chicken." He is spurred into action, driven by the need for redemption, and his life changes forever.

"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.

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

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

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 soufflĂ©. 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

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Author Cheryl Kaye Tardif talks about fear & SUBMERGED

What inspires me most to write the novels I've written? Fear!

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: "Fear." As a suspense author, my goal is to tap into the deepest of fears and make them one hundred times more terrifying. I am always asking, "What are you afraid of?"

In DIVINE INTERVENTION, I deal with the fear of not being accepted for who you are. I also explore the fear of being hunted by a serial arsonist. I'm sure most of us can identify with the first fear, but hopefully none of you can identify with the latter. This thriller also deals with the fear of the unknown, of past events and secrets. Or of moving on with one's life.

In THE RIVER, I deal with the fear of discovering that a father you thought was dead was actually alive...and in danger. It also touches on the fear that the world as we know it may end much sooner than we think. There are many who fear conspiracies, and that is a key factor in this thriller. How are we changing this world for the worst, and at what point have we become God?

In my thriller, CHILDREN OF THE FOG, I explore every mother's worst nightmare―the fear of losing a child. What's more, I take this to a more terrifying level by delving into the fear of having a child abducted and of having the main character make a terrible choice:  to let a kidnapper take her child, or watch her son die. What would YOU choose?

And in my psychological thriller, SUBMERGED, I explore one of my own fears—the fear of being trapped in a car that is submerged underwater. Just the thought of this happening makes my breath freeze in my lungs and makes my fingers curl. I can imagine the fear, the burning water in my nose and lungs, the moment when I know I can't hold my breath any longer…and the realization that I'm about to drown.

When my husband and I are traveling, I am always leery of driving too close to the edge of the road if water sits at the bottom of an embankment. When writing this novel, I often found myself holding my breath and then gulping in air when I finally remembered to breathe.

And now I have an important question to ask you: What are YOU afraid of?

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


Monday, October 27, 2014

UK readers: SUBMERGED is on sale for only 0.99

From the international bestselling author that brought you CHILDREN OF THE FOG comes a terrifying psychological thriller that will leave you breathless...

"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...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Submerged-Cheryl-Kaye-Tardif-ebook/dp/B00BJ64OHY

Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Authors: Do You Believe in Yourself & Your Book?

Over the years I've talked to several authors about book promotion, and many expressed that shyness, or a lack of self-confidence or belief hindered their success. Some authors expressed that they find marketing to be difficult, embarrassing, nerve-wracking experiences. They don't like or don't want to do events or interviews. Others felt it was a necessary part of a writer's life. I agree with the latter.

You cannot expect to put a book out into the world and then abandon it. Yet, many authors do just this. Often it's fear that gets in their way. Fear of failing…or fear of success. They don't believe they can succeed. They don't believe they know how to promote. Or that they can learn how to promote. So they don't.

I understand where these authors are coming from. It's true that some people are more natural at selling, some can learn how easily, and some are just overly pushy. We all know the arrogant salesman or telemarketer who won't let us hang up. And no author wants to be that person.

As an adult, I've always been good at sales. I can sell something—if I believe in it. Of course when it comes to my books, I've believed in them from day one; otherwise I wouldn't have put them out into the world. I believe my books are worth reading, that they are entertaining, that many (not all) will enjoy them. That's what gets me the sales—not shoving a book in someone's face saying 'Buy this! It's the best book you'll ever read!"

People pick up on your attitude. That's why it's key to LOVE those doing events, especially online ones. Remember, you never know who you will meet, whether in person or online. Building relationships with people can lead to exciting possibilities. I've been interviewed on TV, radio, in newspapers and magazines; invited to participate in major events; asked to speak at conferences; and invited to be a beta tester for many new advertising companies because I was visible online.

Now consider that all I've said above is coming from the shyest kid there ever was, the kid who sat in the back row at school, who had zero self-esteem. Sure I became very good at sales, but that took time—and a lot of practice. I learned how to be good at promoting my books and myself through trial and error, and through taking risks.

I want be the best at everything I do, and since writing has always been my intense passion and I want to be very successful at it, I overcame my nervousness of book signings and meeting people online because there was no other choice. I had to—and I wanted to.

We choose our success; it doesn't choose us. And we all have different definitions of what success is. So for those who are happy with the odd book signing, a bit of advertising, and a few sales a month, that's great. For those who want more, choose more. Then find ways to get it. Are you happy with your success? Satisfied with your sales? Want more?

It all boils down, I think, to one key question: How badly do you want success? If writing is your passion and you want New York Times bestseller's status or you want to catch the attention of a highly motivated traditional publisher, you have to put yourself out there, step out of your comfort zone and grab onto the belief that you CAN do it. If you want it badly enough, you'll make it happen.

BELIEVE in yourself! BELIEVE that your book is good enough to be read, that it will find its audience as long as you are actively seeking it. Once you truly believe, great things will happen. BELIEVE it!

~ * ~

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