Luanne Rice Reads Whale Song

Every now and then, the universe drops you a treasure. One of mine has been getting to know author Luanne Rice and having her read Whale Song. Since I always treasure my relationships with people, I hope that she knows how grateful and honored I am, but also how interested I am in her continued success. One day, we shall meet...

"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."
-- NY Times Bestselling novelist Luanne Rice, author of Beach Girls and What Matters Most

Review: The Edge of Winter by Luanne Rice

A Sweet, Lyrical, ‘War-Ravaged’ Story

Luanne Rice’s latest novel, The Edge of Winter, was a delight to read. It is not a fast-paced novel filled with mega-action or explosions. There is no big chase scene or hold your breath pivotal moment. What it does have is a slow, steady buildup of plot and an intense look at the lives of numerous scarred characters and how they are intertwined, brought together by old wars, new wars, love, family ties, death, secrets and forgiveness. If you’re patient with this book, you’ll come to know these characters and care for them…and miss them when you’re done.

The Edge of Winter is a journey, rich with details of the land and nature―of snowy owls, windswept beaches and watery graves. It is the story of Mickey and her mom, Neve. A story of sweet, innocent first love and cautious, suspicious second love. Mickey is a teenager with a soft spot for all things wounded, including an injured owl and Shane, a lonely teenaged boy with a passion for surfing. Neve, frustrated with her ‘deadbeat’ ex-husband, is drawn to Tim O’Casey, the ranger from Refuge Beach, where a German submarine had sank off the coast after being bombed in World War II.

When a rich and powerful man decides to raise the submarine and turn it into a museum, Mickey and Shane are spurred on to save the submarine’s resting place and a piece of their history. But there are secrets that haunt the waters. Perhaps, the lost souls don’t want to be raised. In this story, there are many lost souls who need saving, and that may be its only down side. It may be unrealistic to wrap up every character in a ‘happily ever after’ theme, but I know (as an author myself) it is so very tempting.

The Edge of Winter is a tribute to Luanne’s father, a navigator-bombardier who flew in World War II, and to all the men and women fighting wars, then and now, on both sides. The author writes about the far-reaching and ravaging effects of war that carry on for generations. We are shown how forgiveness and understanding can set free even the most crippling guilt. The last few chapters are very emotional and really bring forth the author’s message: “It was war.”

A simple but heartfelt summer read with unforgettable characters, perfect for reading while at the cottage or relaxing on a beach. I gave this novel 4.5 stars mainly because my favorite Luanne Rice novel is still Beach Girls.

~ Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a freelance journalist, book reviewer and editor. She is also the author of three mystery novels set in Canada, including the bestselling ‘assisted suicide novel’ Whale Song, the high-octane thriller The River and the sizzling psychic suspense Divine Intervention.

Review: The Secret Ever Keeps

5/5 New – Fiction
MUST READ

The Secret Ever Keeps

Great story! Loved the flashbacks sequences!

Art Tirrell’s The Secret Ever Keeps is a modern Cinderella story, with a rum-running, sunken treasure twist. On the shores of Lake Ontario, Laurel Kingsford discovers that there is more to her family’s past. There is a secret that has laid buried, one that is yearning to be revealed.

While searching for a treasure buried far beneath the sea, she uncovers a conspiracy, a passionate new love, a jealous and formidable rival, more family than she wants, and riches beyond her dreams. But of course, something—or someone—wants to spoil her plans at happiness and they will go to any length to take her breath away—permanently.

The Secret Ever Keeps is a tantalizing read. Fast-paced, sexy and sensationally plotted, it will keep you guessing and cheering on the heroine until the explosive and satisfying ending.

I have given this novel 5 stars because it deserves it! The story is awesome and it is believable and well-researched. Great work! I look forward to Art’s next novel.

~ Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a freelance journalist, book reviewer and editor. She is also the author of three mystery novels set in Canada, including the bestselling ‘assisted suicide novel’ Whale Song, which was released April1st, 2007, by provocative publisher Kunati Books.

Finding Your Spiritual Muse

One of my personal missions as a published author, is to help other writers and authors in any way I can, when I can. So when a friend asked me to help her promote a course that she is teaching, I was very happy to. Catherine Kuehne is a member of the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC). I have seen her at a number of events lately, always supporting authors, including my own book launch for Whale Song. Now it's my turn to support her. :)

Finding Your Spiritual Muse
May 26th and June 2nd
10 am - 4pm
MacEwan Writing Works
Grant MacEwan College, City Centre Campus,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Looking for inspiration from a source greater than you? Learn how different writing styles and formats have been used by people for thousands of years to connect to their spiritual source. Learn how sound, meditation, poetry, personal stories and inspirational writings can stir your creativity. You will discover ways to find inspiration within yourself through a powerful creative source – your spiritual muse.

Instructor Catherine Kuehne has lived in a Shinto shrine in Japan, followed pilgrimage paths to churches and shrines in Europe and met many people of different faiths through her travels. She has taught courses, workshops and made presentations at local and national events and conferences. Catherine's writing has appeared in numerous periodicals including Synchronicity, The Mennonite, Lifestyle 55+, Edmonton Journal, BC Parent and Complete Canadian Gardener and in the antholology Edmonton on Location: River City Chronicles.

Visit Finding Your Spiritual Muse for more information

Submitted with Catherine's permission.
~Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Whale Song, The River and Divine Intervention

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.

Whale Song book trailer (new)

Whale Song - "moving, crowd-pleasing...sweet and sad", the story of a woman haunted by a past that won't let go and by her mother's tragic assisted suicide.

This is the newest trailer for the bestselling novel Whale Song, a novel about love, lies, tragedy and forgiveness.

*Copyright © 2007, Kunati Books, used with permission. Kunati allows distribution of its proprietary novel trailers. Feel free to redistribute them for non-commercial purposes, provided no alterations are made and full credit is given. ™ - Novel Trailers and Kunati Trailers are trademarks owned by Kunati. Creative: Kam Wai Yu.

Oprah and Whale Song

Today I sent off another email to my dear friend Oprah. Okay, I'll admit, she's not really my friend (yet!), since I've never met her and she doesn't know I exist. But I admire her and want to be her friend. I have renewed admiration for her after watching the show on the girls' school in Africa that she built. What an amazing, awe-inspiring gift she has given. She shared a powerful message with me through that show. I want to donate my books, visit the school and share my dream of becoming a writer...maybe of just "becoming".

But what I want most is for her to read Whale Song, so I can share my message with her.

So this is what I said to dear Oprah:

'I always wanted to be a published author. I was a journalist at 14, wrote my first novel at 16. Fiction was my PASSION! I submitted query letters, sent outlines, followed the rules and hit every brick wall possible.

I was told early on that Canadians couldn’t get published, that it was ‘impossible’, that I should do something else. I was a hairstylist, a childcare provider, a motivational speaker, a telemarketing manager, a Pampered Chef consultant. In every profession, I wrote!

In 2003 I told a friend about a novel idea. It haunted me for 2 years. It was based on a legend about killer whales close to shore―reincarnated souls saying goodbye. My friend said, “Don’t worry if it gets published. Write it for yourself! Write it because you HAVE to!”

I self-published Whale Song in 2003. In 2004, I self-published Divine Intervention. But I was shot down. One person told me, “You never should’ve self-published. That was a big mistake. No one will take you seriously.” One bookstore manager actually told me, “We’ll consign your books but we won’t let you have a signing.” When I asked why, she said “You’re a nobody.” She lectured me on why my books would “never sell”.

Determined, I self-published The River in 2005. I was interviewed on TV, radio, newspapers, magazines across Canada and the US. I created websites for authors to promote their books, organized multi-author events, spoke about self-publishing and I kept hold of my big dream.

In spring 2006, Whale Song was picked up by Kunati Books. It released in April 2007, dedicated to my brother who was murdered in 2006. I found a beat up copy of the original Whale Song in his room―the only book of mine he’d read. Whale Song has already made Amazon.ca’s bestsellers list, has almost sold out and has a dozen film companies reading it―half from Hollywood. And I’m negotiating a movie contract for The River.

I’m now the Canadian Author Liaison for Infinity Publishing, paying it forward.

I’ve never read The Secret; I LIVE The Secret.'

(Well, I must confess, my original email probably had close to 4000 words, with spaces. And there is a restriction of 2000, with spaces, in order to send it to Oprah. Talk about self-editing! There is so much more to my story, so much I want to share with other writers, with people who have a dream. One of my mottos: "BE the magnet!")

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif, bestselling author

http://www.whalesongbook.com

http://www.cherylktardif.com