The Story Behind the Book

There are actually two stories behind my new thriller, SUBMERGED. It was inspired by my fear of being trapped in a submerged vehicle and also by a long-time friend who dealt with drug addiction while on the job as a paramedic.

I've traveled a lot by car, even coast to coast across Canada, more than once. I've also lived near water, whether an ocean, river or lake. Ever since I was young, I would grow tense if our vehicle drifted too close to an embankment that separated us from a body of water. Even to this day, I tense up when the car I'm in gets too close to water. Having a wild imagination isn't always a good thing; I often envision the car jettisoning into the water and then slowly sinking. Drowning has been a deep fear of mine and I have often wondered how I'd get out if I found myself in that situation.

Marcus's character grew from a high school friend, who shared very personal details about his life, his former paramedic career and his addiction challenges. I am inspired by him because he managed to turn his life around. He now has a wonderful wife and family, and a new career. His story reminds me that we CAN change. We CAN make our lives better. And it starts with a choice. He chose not to let addiction rule or define him. I admire that.

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

"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

Get SUBMERGED today.

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

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 soufflé. 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

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

Get SUBMERGED today for FREE!

From March 11-14, my new hold-your-breath thriller, SUBMERGED, is free on Amazon.

From Cheryl Kaye Tardif, the international bestselling author that brought you CHILDREN OF THE FOG, comes a terrifying new thriller that will leave you breathless…

SUBMERGED

"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.

More Reviews:

"From the first page, you know you are in the hands of a seasoned and expert storyteller who is going to keep you up at night turning the pages. Tardif knows her stuff. There's a reason she sells like wildfire—her words burn up the pages. A wonderful, scary, heart-pumping writer." —M.J. Rose, international bestselling author of Seduction

"Tardif once again delivers a suspenseful supernatural masterpiece." —Scott Nicholson, international bestselling author of The Home

"From the first page, Cheryl Kaye Tardif takes you hostage with Submerged—a compelling tale of anguish and redemption." —Rick Mofina, bestselling author of Into the Dark

"Cheryl Kaye Tardif's latest novel SUBMERGED will leave you as haunted as its characters." —Joshua Corin, bestselling author of Before Cain Strikes

"Submerged will leave you breathless—an edge of your seat, supernatural thrill ride." —Jeff Bennington, bestselling author of Twisted Vengeance

Get SUBMERGED today.

Enter Cheryl’s March Giveaway – 59 Prizes! http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com

What Are You Afraid Of?

According to Wikipedia, "The English suffixes -phobia, -phobic, -phobe (of Greek origin: φόβος/φοβία ) occur in technical usage in psychiatry to construct words that describe irrational, disabling fear as a mental disorder …"

Most of us are familiar with the common phobias, like acrophobia (fear of heights), agoraphobia (fear of open places or being in public) or claustrophobia (fear of small spaces), but many are unaware of somniphobia (fear of sleep), gephyrophobia (fear of bridges), phobophobia (the fear of fear itself), or the countless other phobias a human being may have to endure.

Fear is self-sabotage. It can be one of the most debilitating conditions a person ever experiences, both physically and emotionally. It can impede you from seeking medical help when you need it. It can stop you from being financially stable. It can prevent you from leaving a bad situation, whether it's a relationship or a job. Fear can obstruct you from moving forward, becoming successful or simply living a healthy life.

Some fears are healthy. It's natural to fear the unknown, to want to protect ourselves and others, and to take risk assessments of any situations that could be perceived as "dangerous" or "risky." Having healthy fears makes us more conscious of our actions and their consequences. Most of us will find ways around or through these fears.

But some of us may be gripped by fear to the point that it's no longer healthy. When fear gets out of control and dominates our lives, it is no longer of benefit to us, and we must intentionally make an effort to overcome, control or manage these fears—before they control us. Decisions should not be made out of fear but from rational analysis and thought.

How do you overcome or manage fear?

1. First, you must recognize it. When that little voice inside your head says, "I'm afraid of flying in a plane," you must first acknowledge the fear. Admit it's there. Confess that it is holding you back in some way.

2. You must understand where that particular fear comes from. What experiences have you had, witnessed or even heard of secondhand that could have led to your feelings about this fear?

3. Ask yourself why you're experiencing this fear and what is it trying to tell you. Most fears stem from a feeling that you'll be physically harmed in some way.

4. Accept that you have an irrational fear. Then search for ways to deal with it. This could mean intentionally putting yourself in front of your fear, or finding alternatives around it. If you fear flying, you may choose to drive. If the distance is too long, then you need to find a way to rewire your brain into choosing the destination over the method of travel.

5. Talk about your fears. Find someone you trust who will listen to you. Sometimes just having someone hear you out can make your fears diminish. They may not disappear completely, but there are healthy ways, like meditation, that can help you manage the damaging thoughts that come with fear.

There is no absolute guaranteed method to abolish whatever fears you may be experiencing, but as long as you are making conscious decisions to not let fear govern your life, you are in control. Fear can control you—if you allow it to. Or you can take back control, seek counseling and move forward with your life.

Living in fear is a choice. So choose NOT to let fear control you. Go ahead. What are you afraid of?

* * *

Cheryl Kaye Tardif is an international bestselling author from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her new release, SUBMERGED, is a terrifying, hold-your-breath thriller that deals with a fear that the author can relate to—the fear of being trapped in a submerged vehicle. 

Get SUBMERGED today.