Suspense author Cheryl Kaye Tardif's new office...and the office boss

 Now that we're settled into our new home, a custom build by Coventry Homes in Edmonton, I've been able to unpack everything and get to the fun stuff--decorating--and my office is finished, for the most part. Now I finally have some pics to show you. If you want to enlarge any photo, just click on it. I apologize that the quality is a bit poor--these were taken without a flash, with my iPhone. :-)

My new office has a huge picture window that faces a quiet street.This gives me a lot of light during the day.

The room is huge, like an oversized bedroom with 2 large closets that have shelves across the entire wall. I have managed to hide all my packing material, book-keeping books, paper and supplies etc in these closets, something my husband didn't think would be possible. It's amazing how much stuff an author needs! I have one bookcase in the room. It holds the paperbacks of my books--the ones I have available for sale. The walls are painted a periwinkle blue, though my photos don't really do the color justice.

One day I'll replace my office furniture with a custom wall of cabinets and built-in desk, but for now, here's what that wall looks like. I will be switching my laptop with the PC as I prefer sitting at the bigger desk while using my laptop. The PC is my backup.

Above the furniture are 3 gorgeous prints by one of my favorite artists, world-renowned artist David Miller. You'll recognize the painting on the left as the one used in the background of the cover for Whale Song. All three prints are personalized with my name and signed by David. One day soon I hope to purchase two of his paintings--My Polynesian Dream and Key to Paradise. I'm also hoping to visit David and his lovely wife Nancy in Florida one day.

On the other side of the window is my "Zen Corner". This is the place where I can de-stress, unwind, think, let my characters "speak" to me and basically meditate. The small waterfall gurgles quietly over pebbles and shells, adding to the ambiance. The "Dare to Dream" saying above the plush armchair is something I've been saying for years. It's my motto, and a very good friend and fellow author had this specially made for my new office. Thank you, Kelly!

I bought the print above the chair from one of my other favorite artists--Aynsley Nisbet. The painting is called "Whale Song". Yes, it's the same name as my novel; that's because she was inspired by my novel to paint it. If you read the new trade paperback edition of Whale Song, you can read her full story. I promise you, it's very inspiring.

I have two other prints by Aynsley, plus a painting that I commissioned her to paint specially for our new home. In this painting, Aynsley painted our family--represented by zodiac signs, with the exceptions of the two dogs in the upper corners. I'm the woman in the upper center and if you look carefully, you'll see a regal lioness within--I'm a Leo. The salmon represents my husband Marc who is Pisces. The boy and girl represent my son and daughter, who were both born in June--Geminis, sign of the twins. The white dog represents our longtime family dog, Royale, a miniature American Eskimo who died a couple of years ago. The other dog is Chai, our Pomeranian princess.

Chai has many nicknames. Chai-Chan is her official name, though I like to tell people her name is really "Venti Chai tea latte with two shots of cinnamon dolce". Yes, she WAS named after my favorite Starbucks drink. lol Chai is never far from me. She follows me everywhere and has to be where I am.

Though she has a bed on the floor, she prefers the armchair.

Chai likes to think of herself as my "Overseer" or "Boss".

She may be right...

Win a matted framed print of Ansley Nisbet's "Whale Song"

If you haven't read the amazing story about Edmonton artist Aynsley Nisbet and how my novel Whale Song inspired her to paint again, please check out her story.

Now, for the contest...

One lucky winner will win a matted, signed and framed print of Aynsley's beautiful painting, titled "Whale Song".

To enter:

Leave a comment after reading Aynsley's story. Be sure to leave your name and email.

On July 30th, Aynsley will pick the lucky winner, and I'll make arrangements to send the print.

So be sure to leave a comment after reading Aynsley's story so you qualify. Good luck!

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,

author of Whale Song, The River and Divine Intervention

How Whale Song inspired artist Aynsley Nisbet and changed her life

I first heard of Aynsley Nisbet when an acquaintance of hers came up to me during the 2008 CAA CanWrite! Conference in Edmonton, Alberta. This friend told me that Aynsley had created a painting after reading Whale Song and being inspired. I hadn't seen the painting until today. I tracked Aynsley down online and the story she told gave me goosebumps, and I'm not too embarrassed to say that I had to wipe away the tears. She has given me permission to share this story with you, in her words.

This is Aynlsey's story...how Whale Song "changed my life...forever"

"It was I think last summer, or maybe spring ( I really hate keeping track of time) and I was on my way home the morning after a really long night. It was windy and I felt miserable... I got off the bus downtown and walked past Audrey's bookstore. Something in the window made me stop... it was the cover of your book. Orcas are a symbol of my childhood.

I was born in Vancouver, and every weekend my father ( who had always wanted to be a marine biologist, but settled for a banker...why do some people, not do what they dream!?!!) would take me to the Aquarium. These were my favorite animals for the longest time, and still are now. They are so intimidating, fearsome but elegant... and I admit to even having a fear for them, even though I love them... I took note of the title of the book, and said to myself, "I think I need to read this book..." and then continued walking down Jasper Ave, to continue onward, down my so-called destructive life path.

The summer went by, and I was still miserable. Bitter with anger and resentment of my past, and the people in it. Me even. I hated myself... who I was every second...and was so unsure of my future. One night, after my birthday in October, I thought of the cover of Whale Song, and decided to google it. Read what it was about... I fell more in love with what it's meaning could be to me.

I decided to take my biggest canvas, which stands 5 feet tall, and 4 feet wide, and put it aside... I wrote on the side... "Whale Song". I started drawing ideas, but nothing was complete...obviously, because I needed to read the book. I then got a job at Chapters, and the first thing I did with my first paycheck was buy it. I also worked at a photolab in St. Albert, and it was the type of job, where it was so slow, and all we really did was read... and I always worked alone. I worked there that day after I got the book, and I started reading...

When I was little, and we moved from Vancouver up to Fort Nelson, BC, and the long roadtrip up the Alaska Highway, and all the tall trees... were exactly how you described the initial part of Sarah's journey. My father always wanted to name me Sarah, but my mom liked Aynsley better...haha, which is alright because I feel more special to have the unique name! :) Anyways, I spent a lot of time indulging in native culture when I lived in the north and became very connected to the Wolf and Raven... I found some sort of peace, and place in my world, at which I always had a hard time finding because I was always the weird kid...

Well the further I read into this book that night in the lab, I couldn't stop. I actually told the electronics department that the machines were broken and I was fixing them, just so I could finish it. I cried the whole time I read it... Don't worry, these were tears of self- realization and happiness... a sort of passion and emotion I needed. A sense of forgiveness, ultimately leading to my freedom... My life over just a year ago, was not so great. I was not myself... I didn't paint. It was awful.

You're book changed my life, in ways I can't even explain... If it wasn't your gift, the idea that forgiveness sets you free... I would still be angry, hateful, resentful... all that is negative. I have learned to forgive everything that has happened in life, and now, I have become what I have always dreamed... Happy, a successful artist... at peace with myself... determined...the list could go on. I then finished drawing and painting "Whale Song"... which sits, well hangs on my wall in my Mother's basement...

Well, I think I lied when I said it was going to be a relatively short message... but I needed you to know that your wisdom and your talent as an author is greatly appreciated, and I just want to thank you for all you have done for me... helping setting me free, like a whale... in a deep and endless sea ♥ ...

Thank you so much, for writing the book that changed my life... forever.

Sincerely,
Aynsley :)"

I will be giving away a framed print of her painting..."Whale Song" (see below).

To enter, leave a comment below and your email addy. CONTEST CLOSED.

Please go to Aynsley's "Whale Song" painting and leave her a comment beneath the pic:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1580061&id=589230626

To view all of Aynsley's paintings, please visit her photo album on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=45869&id=589230626

You can also learn more about Aynsley Nisbet at:
http://aynz.livejournal.com/
http://www.myspace.com/aynsleynisbet

Thank you, Aynsley, for allowing me to share this. I am sure the Universe will repay you threefold.

And now...Aynsley's painting inspired by my novel Whale Song...

"Whale Song"
by Aynsley Nisbet

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