Just who IS Sarah Richardson?

In a recent Q&A session over at I Love Canadian Authors on Goodreads, I was asked if I drew upon personal experience for my critically acclaimed, bestselling novel Whale Song. Here's my answer...

I definitely drew on parts of my life for this story. I often say there is "more of me in Whale Song than in any other of my books". And it's true.

The main character in Whale Song is Sarah, a young girl who moves to an isolated town on an island in BC. When I was young, we moved to Masset, a small town on the Queen Charlotte Islands, north of Vancouver Island. It was very isolated, very different.

Sarah is thrown into a different culture--the native indian or First Nations cutlure. I had the same experience, but the culture was that of the Haida indians.

Sarah is introduced to racism and is bullied in school. I experienced the same thing.

Later, she becomes attached to the native customs, rituals etc and is fascinated by them. She begins to see their value instead of the differences. It took me much longer to find the value, but eventually I did and I'm glad for all the wonderful stories, the dance, the art from the Haida nation I grew up with.

Sarah learns an important lesson. At the time I wrote the novel, I was working through some personal tragedies and changes and I also learned the same lesson that Sarah does. That, I believe, is the key to why this novel is so popular.

To discover this life-changing lesson, read Whale Song by Cheryl Kaye Tardif. It'll change the way you view life...and death.

Available in ebook format at KoboBooks.com, Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.

Sunday Salon: Happy Mother's Day to the Mothers of my Characters

There are many memorable mothers in fiction, like the crazy mother in Stephen King's Carrie, but three mothers that stand out to me are characters I created in each of my novels. Let me introduce you to the mothers of Sarah Richardson (Whale Song), Del Hawthorne (The River), and Jasi McLellan (Divine Intervention).

Whale Song - Daniella is a kind, sweet, loving mother who finds beauty in nature and everyone she meets. Born in the US, she meets Jack Richardson, a Canadian marine biology student who is infatuated with her paintings, which are sold at Visions, an art gallery in San Francisco. When they move with their daughter Sarah to the remote town of Bamfield on Vancouver Island, the wise Daniella helps her daughter deal with a school bully.

"If you choose to hate her, then you become just like her, no better," Daniella tells her daughter. "Life's too short to not forgive those who hurt us...Forgiveness sets you free." It is this last sentence that most reminds Sarah about her mother, even after her mother is taken away from her.

The River - Maureen Walton is the opposite of Daniella. Maureen takes great pride in her appearance and manners, and she expects the same from her daughter Del, an anthropology professor. Although Maureen thinks she's the next Martha Stewart, she's remarried a man far beneath her. And she's not the brightest bulb in the box, especially when Del reveals that Maureen's first husband, Del's father, is still alive.

"You can't be serious, Delila. He's dead!" Yes, some mothers can be quite heartless.

Divine Intervention - Jasi McLellan's mother was murdered during a home invasion when Jasi was a young child. Married to a cop, Calista McLellan loved her children dearly and would do anything to protect them. Jasi doesn't remember much about that tragic day, even though she was a witness to her mother's murder. A few years after her mother's death, Jasi began having disturbing visions. Now, as a trained Pyro-Psychic, she sees through the eyes of killers. But there is always one murderer that has alluded her--the person responsible for her mother's death.

The second book in the series, Divine Justice (unpublished) reveals more about Jasi's mother's death...and her murderer.

Today as we celebrate Mother's Day, let's remember that every mother is different. Each has a story--a childhood, a past life, sometimes a secret. Some are loved, some are feared, but in the end they gave us life and we wouldn't be here without them.

For me, there is no greater joy than being a mother. My daughter is my heart and soul.

Happy Mother's Day!

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

Whale Song - "A compelling and moral story, beautifully written..."

"Whale Song is a curl-up-under-the-covers kind of book. A compelling and moral story, beautifully written by a popular Canadian author.

Sarah Richardson, a likeable and adventurous young girl, is forced to leave her home and friends in Wyoming to live in a remote little town on Vancouver Island. There she is pulled though a gamut of emotions and experiences; the humiliation of racism and bullying, learning about Indian myths and culture, the haunting eye to eye contact with a killer whale, saving her abuser and almost drowning, losing two people she loved and finding her soul mate.

Cheryl's characters are so real, you would swear that she must have known them all of her life. Her readers will feel like they are experiencing the traumatic events firsthand. You won't want to put this one down."

--Emily Ross, aka Pauline Holyoak

*Whale Song is going out of print soon, so order while you can. Most stores won't order in an "out of stock" item, so your best bet is to buy online.

US readers can order from Amazon.com

Canadian readers can order from Chapters.ca

Whale Song is going out of print in 2 days!

My publisher Kunati Books told me that Whale Song will be going out of print as of February 1st, 2009, so if you’d like a copy, you’d better order today. This 2007 edition will become a collector’s item. :-)

Whale Song...

Thirteen years ago, Sarah Richardson’s life was shattered after the tragic assisted suicide of her mother. The shocking tragedy left a grief-stricken teen-aged Sarah with partial amnesia.

Some things are easier to forget.

But now a familiar voice from her past sends Sarah, a talented mid-twenties ad exec, back to her past. A past that she had thought was long buried.

Some things are meant to be buried.

Torn by nightmares and visions of a yellow-eyed wolf, yet aided by the creatures of the Earth and by the killer whales that call to her in the night, Sarah must face her fears and uncover the truth―even if it destroys her.

Some things are meant to be remembered―at all cost.

"Whale Song is deep and true, a compelling story of love and family and the mysteries of the human heart. Cheryl Kaye Tardif has written a beautiful, haunting novel." ―New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice, author of Beach Girls

"Tardif again leaves a lasting mark on her readers...Moving and irresistible." ―Midwest Book Review

"Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novel, Whale Song, would be a tough act to follow for any written genre." ―Fresh Fiction

"Cheryl Tardif is a new addition to the ranks of Margaret Atwood." ―R. Kyle, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer

Order your copy of Whale Song now, while you can. I recommend ordering via Amazon or Chapters at this time.

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

Who should play Sarah in the Whale Song movie?

First, thank you all so much for your votes in the poll at the top of the page! I appreciate this. Today I'm thinking a lot about the possibility of seeing Whale Song on the big screen.

For those of you who've read Whale Song, did you ever think of a particular actress who'd be perfect for the role of Sarah Richardson?

When I wrote it back in 2003, I thought MacKenzie Rosman would be perfect for pre-teen/teen Sarah. I loved MacKenzie in 7th Heaven. More clearly, I saw the adult Sarah played by Canadian actress Kristin Kreuk from TV's Smallville fame. She was also in a movie called Partition.

Who do you think would be great for the pre-teen/teen role of Sarah, and who do you see as the twenty-six-ish Sarah?

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Whale Song on street sign

Here's a street sign advertising Whale Song...

Doesn't it look like a poster advertising Whale Song - the movie? I wonder where it's playing and when? And did Kristin Kreuk get the lead role as the adult Sarah Richardson? Who's playing young Sarah?

Please note, this photo is fake too. I'm just having a bit of fun dreaming, and for anyone who knows me you'll know I love to dream BIG! It's my motto.

Photo courtesy of www.Photofunia.com.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif

"I'm Sorry."

WARNING: The following post may reduce you to jello. This is a 2 tissue post.

Coming up on the 1 year anniversary of Whale Song's release, I find I'm feeling retrospective. Sometimes it's good to look back over the year, analyze what went well...what didn't. We all have regrets and sometimes they hang over us, a dark cloud in an otherwise endlessly blue sky. I have a few. But for the most part, everything I've experienced--even the traumatic events in my life like the death of my son and the murder of my brother--has made me who I am as a person...and as a writer.

They say: write what you know. I've always agreed, to some extent, and I've done exactly that. There are also times to write what you don't know, in which case, having good research instincts comes in handy. In Whale Song, I wrote about broken relationships and death--two things I know maybe far too much about.

Although I am writing mainly fiction now, I wrote a lot of poetry and song lyrics as a teen. Last year, while getting ready for the release of Whale Song, I was so inspired by the story that I wrote a song. My daughter Jessica also plays guitar and sings and she performed the following song at the book launch for Whale Song last April.

Sarah Richardson, the main character, has always been a reflection of me--the bullied child I once was, the awkward teen I grew into, and the once bitter adult who harbored resentment towards her father. But Sarah's journey and experiences are her own, and in her darkest moment, when she realizes a truth that changes her life forever, she is devastated. This is Sarah's song to her father--her words, her thoughts...her regrets.

I'm Sorry

I can't believe so much time has passed,

That you'll be with me once again, at last,

Through all the pain my life has been,

I'm sorry for not trusting you,

For pushing you so far away,

For all you did,

I hated you.

I didn’t understand what you were doing,

I thought your actions selfish and confusing,

If only I had really known,

The truth of all that happened,

I’d realize far sooner

That you loved me,

Really loved me.

I’m sorry,

So very sorry,

If I could take those hurtful words away, I would,

If I only knew,

What you'd put me through,

That it was for my own good.

I’m sorry,

So very sorry,

If I could turn back the hands of time, I would,

If you only knew,

I’d make the suffering mine,

But nothing can change time.

I realize you loved me more than ever,

A father’s love could never be more pure,

But, Daddy, I wish you’d stayed,

And never have gone away,

I needed my father,

I missed you,

I love you.

I’m sorry,

So very sorry,

If I could take those hurtful words away, I would,

If I only knew,

What you'd put me through,

That it was for my own good.

I’m sorry,

So very sorry,

If I could turn back the hands of time, I would,

If you only knew,

What I’d do for you,

I’d tell you this,

I’m…sorry.

©2007 Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Read an excerpt from Whale Song.

Pick up a copy of Whale Song from Amazon or your favorite bookstore or library.

I hope you enjoyed this post. And thank you all for making Whale Song the success that it is.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif

'Sarah Richardson' from Whale Song has a story to tell

To read Whale Song for yourself, please order from Amazon.com, Chapters.ca or your favorite bookstore!

Music used with permission from Julie Blue.