Cheryl takes on the role of judge (but not executioner)

As bestselling suspense author Cheryl Kaye Tardif, I wear one hat--that of a writer. But as Cheryl Tardif, I wear so many hats I need a bigger closet. As well as wife and mother, I am the publisher and acquisitions editor at Imajin Books, a new innovative publishing company that publishes quality fiction. This month, I'll be adding a new hat--as one of the judges for Scribes Digest's 'Best Pitch Contest.' If you're a writer, here's a great way to pitch one of your finished works.

Here's some info on the contest...

Hello writers of all genres! The November Scribes Digest contest is FREE to enter and will give you a chance to publish your entry in our December issued EZINE!

In order to enter, you must have a completed work in any of these genres: feature film, short film, short story or novel.

We are looking for the TOP 3 best elevator pitches! An elevator pitch (or elevator speech or statement) is a short summary used to quickly and simply define your script, short story or novel. It should take no more than 5 lines to give your pitch and the writers with the best 3 pitches will have excerpts from their completed script, story or novel published in our December EZINE.

Our team of editors will be joined by two fantastic industry judges to choose the winners: Michael Baker, Producer and Founder of Bunk 11 Pictures Inc. and Cheryl Tardif, Publisher & Acquisitions Editor of Imajin Books.

Read more.

A Gift of Chocolate, Coffee & Crime

For anyone living in Canada, you can now order a special gift at BuyBuyGiftBaskets.ca that contains your choice of my bestselling techno-thriller THE RIVER or my bestselling paranormal suspense thriller DIVINE INTERVENTION.

Also included is a mug and your choice of hot chocolate or coffee and your choice of biscotti or a chocolate spoon.

Chocolate, Coffee & Crime. What goes better together than these?

Sunday Salon: Criminal Minds at Work

Step into the minds of this group of talented, twisted, slightly psychotic crime novelists with a penchant for mystery, mayhem and murder. They write crime fiction or true crime that gets the heart pumping and the blood boiling.

These criminally inspired authors include:

• Juanita Rose Violini
• Austin S. Camacho
• Linda Merlino
• Terry Carroll
• Karen Harrington
• Arnold Wolf
• Cheryl Kaye Tardif

And they don't just talk about their own books; they often interview or write about other crime authors.

If you ever wonder how authors come up with their crimes--or their criminals--check out the multi-author blog Criminal Minds at Work.

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What's in a name?

Okay, I'll answer this question: lots of letters. Check it out: Cheryl Kaye Tardif. Lots of letters. Looks simple enough though, doesn't it? But, boy, it's caused me some grief over the years.

First, I always have to spell my name for sound checks for radio and television interviews. My name is grueling to spell, especially my last name. When I say "f", people think I'm saying 's', so I always say: "'f' like Frank". They still put 's' (like Srank?)

I started off signing my books Cheryl Kaye Tardif, until my hand started to ache. No one seemed to notice when I started leaving off the Kaye.

Sometimes I get people who call me "Cheryl Kaye", like my name is similar to "Billie-Jo" or "Mary-Anne". Is the "Kaye" part of my first name or an invisible middle name?

Neither.

Here's the story: Kaye is my maiden name. No, I didn't hypenate my two last names. I've used it only for writing--because I always said that it was the original Cheryl Kaye who is the writer, as opposed to the wife and mother Cheryl Tardif. Well, it made sense to me back then.

So now I'm considering pulling a Koontz. You know, a Dean Koontz. He's one of my favorite suspense authors, but when I first started reading him decades ago, his author name was "Dean R. Koontz". I guess he got tired of that "R" in the middle.

Out of curiosity, I'd like to take a poll. I'll post it next. Then you can answer my poll and tell me what my author name should be.

~Cheryl...or maybe CT Rowling...or Stephanie King?

Give books - novel ideas for Christmas

Looking for inspiring, entertaining gift ideas?

I have something for nearly anyone, from 8-108 years old.

DIVINE INTERVENTION:

Mystery/Suspense/Crime - for teens 14+ and for adults--men and women.

This novel is for anyone who is a fan of TV shows like CSI, Medium or Ghost Whisperer. If you know someone who enjoys these shows, give them a copy of Divine Intervention, a paranormal suspense about a group of psychic government agents searching for a serial arsonist in BC.

A mix of crime novel, paranormal suspense and thriller, Divine Intervention is also enjoyed by fans of authors such as J.D. Robb, Kay Hooper and Iris Johansen.

Order Divine Intervention from Amazon, Chapters or your favorite bookstore.

THE RIVER:

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller - for older teens 14+ and for adults--men and women.

The River appeals especially to male readers who enjoy conspiracy thrillers with a lot of action. Think high octane 'Mission Impossible' style thriller, exploring stem cell research, the fountain of youth and a deadly conspiracy that threatens mankind. Women enjoy The River too.

Del Hawthorne heads up north to the Nahanni River in search of her father who was presumed dead seven years earlier. Over the last decade, in an area know as the "Bermuda Triangle of Canada", many people have gone missing , bodies have washed up on the shore and headless corpses have been discovered. But what Del uncovers is something unbelievable...and very frightening. How far do we go until we've become God?

Recently compared to works by James Patterson, Michael Crichton and Dean Koontz, The River is a terrifying ride that you won't soon forget.

Order The River from Amazon, Chapters or your favorite bookstore.

WHALE SONG:

General Fiction - for children, young adults and adults, 8-108 years old.

Give them the gift of a novel with heart and soul. Whale Song is a beautiful novel that explores what it's like to be a pre-teen and teen whose life is uprooted and then tragically altered by a single decision. Whale Song explores issues of racism, bullying, death, mystical native legends, hope and forgiveness.

Originally marketed for adult women, this novel has found a strong following among YA readers, boys and girls. It's also a perfect gift to give a reluctant reader since I welcome emails from young readers and have found this particularly helpful in encouraging readers. Give them Whale Song this Christmas, plus an invitation to email me. I'll answer them personally.

Also for adults, and especially popular with book clubs and reading groups.

Whale Song will take you back and make you remember what it was like to be young again. It will grip at your heartstrings as you follow Sarah's troubled journey from child to adult. Great for fans of Jodi Picoult, Sue Monk Kidd and Alice Sebold.

*A portion of my royalties from Whale Song goes to 3 nonprofit organizations to help combat homelessness, poverty and addictions.

Order Whale Song from Amazon, Chapters or your favorite bookstore.

Order any of my novels before December 10th and email me and I will send you an autographed bookplate, personalized to whomever you're giving the book to.

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

Remote Control, a serialized novelette, has another installment

If you've already read my novels--Whale Song (Kunati), The River and Divine Intervention--and are looking for something new, please know that my latest novel Children of the Fog is being read by publishers now. I hope to make an announcement in a few months (or less).

For now, while you wait, I invite you to check out Remote Control. This is a novelette (about 10,000 words) based on a short story I wrote back in 1987. It has always been one of my favorites.

First, meet Harold Fielding--plumber by part of the day, slacker/tv addict the rest of the day and night. Harry believes that fame and fortune will come to him if he wishes hard enough. God forbid if he should actually work for it.

Beatrice Fielding is Harry's hardworking wife. She holds down multiple jobs so her husband can laze about on his recliner, eating popcorn and drinking cola while watching his favorite shows. She has many wishes--some aren't so nice.

In this dark, suspenseful and somewhat comical look at one man's desires, Remote Control delivers a strong message:

Be careful what you wish for!

I am serializing this novelette, adding one scene each week. I hope you enjoy. If so, please leave me a comment.

Read Remote Control.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif

http://www.cherylktardif.com/

"Celebrity Chefs" features author Cheryl Kaye Tardif

CityTV will be filming an episode of "Celebrity Chefs" (at Cheryl's house, in her kitchen). Filming is tomorrow at 1:00 pm. The segment is scheduled to air on the show "Your City" on CityTV Edmonton on Tuesday, December 11th at 6:30 p.m.

A past episode featured actor/comedian Tom Green. Celebrity Chefs with Tom Green (Video)

More information about this later, plus the recipe and the story behind the recipe that Cheryl will be making with her lovely 'sidekick', daughter Jessica. A link to the show will be posted too when available, so check back.

ACE Update #3 - Cheryl Kaye Tardif in the Times-Herald (GA)

W. Winston Skinner wrote about me and the Alliance for Children's Enrichment (ACE) in the Times-Herald, a Georgia newspaper.

But first, I have to share the lovely poem, written by Jan Taylor at ACE. She actually sold it to Hallmark years ago and it was on a greeting card. This is reprinted with permission.

Life's Perfect Balance

If all the days were sunny,
and the skies were always blue
except for maybe now and then
a rainbow's tinted hue.
Then life would be quite boring,
not too interesting at all.
Because for every Spring that comes,
there has to be a fall.
For each success...
a failure,
for every day...
a night,
for every moment of sadness,
there's another of pure delight.
And if we're able to accept
whatever comes our way,
we'll find a perfect balance
in our lives from day to day.
~*~

What great sentiments!

It was my publisher at Kunati Books who first pointed out to me that there was another article about me, Whale Song, Jan Taylor and the Alliance for Children's Enrichment in the Times-Herald. Reporter W. Winston Skinner follows this amazing story in his December 2, 2007, article titled 'Canadian author responds to wish on ACE Christmas list'.

I am so glad to know that my small efforts are actually helping. It was time worth spending. :)

Go to http://content.times-herald.com/searches.bsp and type TARDIF into the top search (Search the News). You'll see both articles that mention this story.

Also, please consider sponsoring a child this Christmas. It is immensely rewarding and truly puts the meaning of Christmas into the holidays. To sponsor a child through ACE, contact Jan Taylor at cjantaylor@aol.com or call her at 770-254-3339.

Happy holidays!
Cheryl Kaye Tardif

A Christmas miracle

There are times in my life when I have to stop and take a moment to just listen to that "still, small voice". Some of you may know what I'm talking about. That voice that says, "Hey! Listen up! You're meant to do something here. But you won't know what unless you stop and...breathe."

There are times when I am so glad I stopped. This is one of those times.

I've told you about the girl in Newnan, Georgia, who asked for a few things on the Alliance for Children's Enrichment Christmas wish list that was posted in the Times-Herald. I've told you how inspired and touched I was to see that she asked for "Cheryl Tardif books", in particular, Whale Song. I've told you that I decided to sponsor this teen and send her a Christmas I hope she'll always remember. And I believe I've told you that I contacted some other authors on the teen wish list, plus some author friends who aren't.

What I haven't told you is how honored I am to know Jan Taylor, my contact at ACE. Here is a woman who serves her community and "her kids" selflessly and tirelessly. And yet, Jan's own health is seriously declining. I was shocked when she told me she thought she might not make it to Christmas this year, or that it might be her last if she does make it. I was humbled, and continue to be, in the presence (albeit by phone) of this woman.

In an email that she sent out to board members and cc'd to me, she says, "I was quite apprehensive about the Christmas drive this year for several reasons." Jan talked about how low donations were this year, and how many more families they have that need to be helped. I know that this woman has personally cared for and paid for necessities for families. Sometimes for food, heat and electricity, clothing, shelter and prescription drugs. She was so apprehensive this year, worried for her 4000+ families, sad for the kids who will go without food or a Christmas gift.

I am so glad I stopped to listen...to breathe.

After contacting Jan and sponsoring my teen, I decided to see if there was anything else I can do. So I contacted all my author friends, some I knew, some I didn't. Some were on the wish list, some weren't. I contacted my family and friends, book reviewers and as many others as I could think of. I emailed them to let them know that someone (many someones) need help. And they are answering. These authors and friends are also stopping and listening...and helping. And I thank each and every one of them. You are true angels!

ACE still has many more teens and families that need help to get through Christmas and the winter, and I invite you to consider doing a Random Act of Kindness before 2007 is over. Send in a donation, sponsor a child or family...and be part of this Christmas miracle. I guarantee you won't regret it!

In Jan's words, "Christmas is the season of miracles, some small, some large and sometimes, one just needs to be able to recognize them. "

You can contact Jan Taylor at Alliance for Children's Enrichment

8 Carmichael Street

Newnan, Georgia 30263

770-254-3339

770-254-3330 (Fax)

cjantaylor@aol.com

If you wish to sponsor a child, please contact Jan first to see which children are left on the list and to get their real names, especially if you are an author who wishes to send an autographed book.

To read how this miracle began, please read A Christmas Connection.

For the latest wish list, go HERE.

Merry Christmas to you all!

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Connecting at Christmas

Some connections may seem tenuous at best. But others appear from nowhere, like the fellow who emailed me out of the blue to ask if we were related. I believe we are all connected. We're connected by past, present and future, by nature, spirit and energy, by hopes and dreams, by fate and faith, by love and light...and caring.

And yesterday, I was reminded again that this world we live in may seem unbelievably large--infinite even--and yet, the smallest of actions can set into motion something that spreads across land and sea, from one country to another, from one heart to another.

It all started with a wish list I saw online. No, wait! Let's go back further.

It started with an organization in Newnan, Georgia. The Alliance for Children's Enrichment (ACE) is responsible for helping the less fortunate families and children of the Newnan-Coweta area. Every year, ACE makes a wish list, with names, ages and gift wishes of children who live at poverty level. The hardest category to fill is the teens. Their needs are sometimes more expensive and they are often overlooked as many people want to help the younger children first.

This saddens me. I have a 17 year old daughter. Christmas is just as important to her now as it was when she was a child. And every child deserves to have something beautiful and colorful to unwrap on Christmas morning. That is the excitement, the thrill of Christmas.

So how did I find out about this organization and their kids?

Read the entire story here.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif, bestselling author of Whale Song (Kunati Books)

Last day of Cheryl Kaye Tardif's virtual book tour: read chapter 2 of Children of the Fog

Today marks the end of my month long virtual book tour, and I will confess, I am exhausted! It's been a long time since I've written these many articles and answered these many interviews. :) But I had so much fun visiting all of my hosts' wonderful sites, getting to know them and answering questions from visitors via email or comments.

Thank you! You have all made my 'Touring the World' virtual book tour a success! And I look forward to doing it again.

For today's stop, and because I had so many email requests, I have given you chapter 2 of my new unpublished novel, Children of the Fog.

You will notice a "book cover". This is something I designed to inspire me and it is not intended to be the actual cover. In fact, I'm hoping my publisher will come up with something even more eerie and creepy and foggy. :) On the back of my mock up cover is the following text:

Would you let a monster take your child?

A mother's descent into alcoholism and madness leads to strange apparitions and a face-to-face encounter with the monster who abducted her son--a man known only as...

The Fog.

Sadie O'Connell is a bestselling author and a proud mother. But her life is about to spiral out of control.

After her six-year-old son Sam is kidnapped by a serial abductor known as The Fog, she nearly goes insane. But it isn't just the fear and grief that is ripping her apart. It's the guilt.

She is the only person who knows what The Fog looks like. And she can't tell a soul. For if she does, her son will be sent back to her in "little bloody pieces".

When her unfaithful husband stumbles across a drawing of The Fog, he sets into play a series of horrific events that sends Sadie hurtling over the edge. Unable to deal with her pain, she drowns her sorrow the only way she knows.

"Tardif specializes in mile-a-minute pot-boiler mysteries." --Edmonton Sun

Read chapter 2 of Children of the Fog by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Read the prologue and chapter 1 first!

Day 29 of virtual book tour: a peek at Children of the Fog by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif is nearing the end of her 'Touring the World' virtual book tour, so she decided to do something she doesn't usually do. She is giving you a sneak peek at an UNpublished novel, one that she is very excited about and one that Kunati Books is currently considering. If you enjoy it, please sign Cheryl's guestbook and tell her (and her publisher). Keep in mind this has not gone through final edits. You can read the prologue and chapter one at NamelessGrace.com.

Children of the Fog is a chilling story, one that is sure to make you get up and check your doors and windows.

CHILDREN of the FOG

©2007 Cheryl Kaye Tardif

prologue

May 14^th, 2006

She was ready to die.

She sat at the kitchen table―a nearly empty bottle of Philip’s precious red wine in one hand, a loaded gun in the other. Staring at the foreign chunk of metal, she willed it to vanish. But it didn’t.

Sadie checked the gun and noted the single bullet.

“One’s all you need.”

If she did it right.

She placed the gun on the table and glanced at a pewter-framed photograph that hung off-kilter above the mantle of the fireplace. It was illuminated by a vanilla scented candle, one of many that threw flickering shadows over the rough wood walls of the log cabin.

Sam’s sweet face stared back at her, smiling.

Alive.

From where she sat, she could see the small chip in his right front tooth, the result of an impatient father raising the training wheels too early. But there was no point in blaming Philip―not when they’d both lost so much.

Not when it’s all my fault.

Her gaze swept over the mantle. There were three objects on it besides the candle. Two envelopes, one addressed to Leah and one to Philip, and the portfolio case containing the illustrations and manuscript on disc for Sam’s book.

She had finished it, just like she had promised.

“And promises can’t be broken. Right, Sam?”

A single tear burned a path down her cheek.

Sam was gone.

What reason do I have for living now?

She gulped back the last pungent mouthful of Cabernet and dropped the empty bottle. It rolled under the chair, unbroken, rocking on the hardwood floor. Then all was silent, except the antique grandfather clock in the far corner. Its ticking reminded her of the clown’s shoe. The one with the tack in it.

Tick, tick, tick…

The clock belched out an ominous gong.

It was almost midnight.

Almost time...

Read the prologue and chapter 1 of Children of the Fog.

Please note: some spacing issues may occur as a result of copying and pasting from MS Word to blogs or sites. These will not appear in the final product.

Day 28 of virtual book tour: chapter 3 of Whale Song

For the first time, my publisher has allowed me to give you a sneak peek of chapter 3 of my bestselling novel Whale Song, a novel that author New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice called "a compelling story of love and family and the mysteries of the human heart".

Chapter three

I WHIRLED AROUND and saw a girl about my age treading water near the raft. She had black hair braided into two long plaits and dark eyes that stared at me curiously.

“What do you mean ‘your brother’?” I asked when my voice had returned from the pit of my stomach.

The girl grinned. “He comes back once in a while. To visit.”

She swam toward the raft, climbed up and plopped down cross-legged in front of me.

“I’m Goldie,” she said. “Goldie Dixon. What’s your name?”

She was smaller than I was, and her skin was darker.

“Sarah Richardson,” I replied shyly.

I glanced beyond the edge of the raft, wondering if I’d catch a glimpse of her brother.

“Did you see his fluke?” Goldie asked, her face beaming.

Fluke? Of course…

I knew what the black thing was. It was a whale’s tail, its fluke. My father had shown me photos of whales from his marine biology class. Some pictures showed the whales’ flukes or tails, some showed whales spouting water and one even caught a whale as it breached and rose almost completely out of the ocean.

“So where’s your brother?” I asked, looking around the raft.

“He’s dead.”

Read the entire chapter.

Read chapters 1 and 2 first.

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.

BE the Magnet!

For any of you who have read The Secret or attended a T. Harv Eker seminar, or one of the many other motivational, inspirational gurus out there, you'll find a common thread. They generally believe that if you think positively, visualize what you want, go after it and open yourself to becoming successful, that all things are possible.

I have to agree. The more conscious I am of being a "magnet", the more success and opportunities are drawn to me. Some even 'fall in my lap', seemingly from out of nowhere. Synchronicity and Serendipity are my 'sisters'.

Last night, for instance, I received an email from out of the blue from someone who wants to review Whale Song and talk about my emotional novel on a Toronto Italian radio station with over 500,000 listeners. How exciting! Now all I need is a translator! :)

Then this morning, I received an email from a gal who had bought a copy of Whale Song at a recent signing. Now she wants another copy of Whale Song and 2 each of my other novels (The River and Divine Intervention). I am very honored to have made a new fan. My fans are blessings!

Later today, I received an invitation to be a guest blogger on another site, to talk about Whale Song and how the inspiration came to me. I'll send out the link to that once it's up.

But the highlight of my day was chatting with various film producers, people in the film industry and learning a bit about the contract side of how a film is made. Then I started negotiating the film contract for The River, a fast-paced thriller set in the Nahanni River area. I feel very positive that we will come to an agreement. And I received an email from a lovely native singer-songwriter who is interested in getting involved with the film. I love her music and I just heard her in a movie sound track. What an awesome contact to have!

I invite anyone who has read The River to comment here. Please give me your thoughts on a movie version of my novel. Would you go see it? Why would The River make a great movie? What Canadian actors do you see playing the 2 lead roles--Del and Jake? What American actors do you see? Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

If you want to see success in your life, I suggest you do what I do:
BE the magnet!

Envision yourself as one magnetizing power source that all great things are drawn to. Keep focused on your goals. Visualize them, their fulfillment. What will it be like when you reach your goal? What can you see, hear, feel, taste, smell? When you can see this in your mind as clear as a memory, you can bring it into reality--magnetize it.

For me, I see a huge theatre, the screen framed by plush red velvet curtains. The River is playing and we're at the chase scene. I can hear suspenseful music--tribal drums--beating faster as Del runs. I hear her screams, feel her terror. I can feel the sweaty, slippery cup of ice tea in my hand and I smell the popcorn in the bag on my lap. Crunch! Yum, extra butter!

Now the movie is over and people are talking.

"That was awesome!" someone says.

I smile.

It will be.

~Cheryl

Order The River on Amazon.com or on Chapters.ca.

Welcome to Cheryl Kaye Tardif's Mystery Blog!

This is my new, improved blog....and it'll probably prove to be as much a mystery to me as it will be to you.

I am hoping to add new blog posts every Monday to fill you in on what I'm writing, what I'm doing other than writing, where I'll be signing books, my newest release, and anything else that escapes the 'mystery' that I call my brain.

Please be sure to check out my new improved website at http://www.cherylktardif.com sometime after June 27th, as it is completely being overhauled.

Someone mentioned to me awhile ago that for a mystery writer, my website looked a little too friendly.

So, I figured it's best to correct that now, right before the launch of my newest thriller.

The River is now set to be released sometime in September. The date had to be pushed back a bit because I am doing everything to make this my BEST novel to date! And I hope you'll agree!

The River is an action-packed techno-thriller that takes place on the Nahanni River in Canada's Northwest Territories. Based on actual stories of headless corpses and bodies washed up on the Nahanni's shores (along with some mysterious disappearances), The River gives a gruesome, nail-biting explanation to an area some refer to as Canada's Bermuda Triangle.

Check out The River at http://www.cherylktardif.com/the_river.htm

Also, please check out Whale Song, my debut novel which has captured the hearts of people of all ages in many countries. Whale Song is currently being considered by a film producer and a screenplay is in construction.



Whale Song is an emotional mystery about a young girl who loses her memory after a terrible tragedy changes her life forever.

And you can check out the first in my Divine series that has been compared to J.D. Robb's 'In Death' series. J.D. Robb, as some of you will know, is Nora Roberts' pen name, so to be at all compared to her is a huge honor!

Divine Intervention introduces a new kind of government agency, the PSI division. These psychic agents work secretly to solve serial cases across Canada and in other countries. Jasmine McLellan is one the key agents, a pyro-pschic who can read the remnants of a fire and see through the arsonist's eyes.



Check out Divine Intervention, a scorching psi-fi mystery with a burning twist!

If you love a good mystery, I invite you to check out my novels and my website!

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif, Canadian Mystery Author
Edmonton, Alberta