Saturday, February 19, 2011
Whale Song review: "What a wonderful story."
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Edmonton's Salute to Excellence Hall of Fame Nominations
The City of Edmonton: Salute to Excellence Committee is currently gathering nominations for the 2011 Hall of Fame Induction ceremony being held in June to honour outstanding Edmontonians who, through their participation in arts and culture, community service, or sports, have made exemplary contributions to the quality of life in Edmonton. The induction ceremony will take place at the Winspear Centre for Music on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011.
Deadline: February 22
If you know someone who has contributed to Edmonton's arts, culture, community or sports life, nominate them today.
Nomination packages can be downloaded at:
http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/14-NominationFormforHallofFame.pdf
Deadline: February 22
If you know someone who has contributed to Edmonton's arts, culture, community or sports life, nominate them today.
Nomination packages can be downloaded at:
http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/14-NominationFormforHallofFame.pdf
Friday, February 11, 2011
Upcoming ebook and paperback releases by bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Someone called me today and asked me where I've been lately. I haven't been out in public doing signings or appearances. I haven't spoken at a writers conference lately. And I haven't been blogging quite as much as usual. My answer: I've been crazy busy getting ebooks and trade paperbacks ready for publication. Whoo-ooo!
So here's what's in store over the next couple of months:
My bestselling psychic suspense, Divine Intervention, has undergone some exciting transformations. First, you'll notice a sizzling new cover, created by graphic designer extraordinaire, Jennifer Johnson from Sapphire Designs. Along with this new cover, which will brand the series, the description or back cover text has been adapted slightly...
So here's what's in store over the next couple of months:
Jasi and her team members―Psychometric Empath and profiler Ben Roberts and Victim Empath Natassia Prushenko―are joined by Brandon Walsh, the handsome but skeptical Chief of Arson Investigations. In a manhunt that takes them from Vancouver to Kelowna, Penticton and Victoria, they are led down a twisting path of sinister secrets.
Sifting through ashes and clues, Jasi realizes that there is more to the third victim than meets the eye. Perhaps not all of the victims were that innocent. The hunt intensifies when she learns that someone they know is next on the arsonist's list.
Unleashing her gift as a Pyro-Psychic, Jasi is compelled toward smoldering ashes and enters the killer's mind―a mind bent on destruction and revenge. And in the heat of early summer, Jasi discovers that a murderer lies in wait…much closer than she ever imagined.
The ebook edition of Divine Intervention, with bonus content, is already available at your favorite e-tailer (Kindle, Kobo, Smashwords etc.) A new (and less expensive!) trade paperback edition, also with bonus content, will be available at Amazon very soon (late Feb or early March).
In March, my collection of short stories, Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories, will be released in trade paperback edition; it will feature bonus content. Also, my highly anticipated, brand new supernatural thriller, Children of the Fog, will be released in ebook edition, with bonus content. This will be followed by the trade paperback edition in April.
My contemporary romantic suspense, Lancelot's Lady, written under the pen name Cherish D'Angelo, will be released in trade paperback very soon as well. We're putting the finishing touches on it now. It could be available as early as late February, though it was originally slated to be released in April. I'll let you know as soon as it's out.
In May, readers will be able to read book 2 in the Divine series. Divine Justice will be released in ebook edition, followed by the trade paperback.
My bestselling techno-thriller, The River, is getting an overhaul. A stunning new cover is being designed and it will feature bonus content. The story itself remains the same. The new ebook and trade paperback are slated for May/June.
ALL my ebooks are under $4, and my trade paperbacks will soon ALL be under $12.
Here are some quick links to booksellers, for your convenience:
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
BarnesandNoble.com
Chapters.ca
KoboBooks.com
Smashwords.com
And now you know why I've been hibernating. All this plus all the nasty snow we've gotten this winter has made it easy for me to stay indoors and work on what I love. I am so excited to be bringing you new works, better covers and lots of bonus material. I hope you'll enjoy them all.
In March, my collection of short stories, Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories, will be released in trade paperback edition; it will feature bonus content. Also, my highly anticipated, brand new supernatural thriller, Children of the Fog, will be released in ebook edition, with bonus content. This will be followed by the trade paperback edition in April.
My contemporary romantic suspense, Lancelot's Lady, written under the pen name Cherish D'Angelo, will be released in trade paperback very soon as well. We're putting the finishing touches on it now. It could be available as early as late February, though it was originally slated to be released in April. I'll let you know as soon as it's out.
In May, readers will be able to read book 2 in the Divine series. Divine Justice will be released in ebook edition, followed by the trade paperback.
My bestselling techno-thriller, The River, is getting an overhaul. A stunning new cover is being designed and it will feature bonus content. The story itself remains the same. The new ebook and trade paperback are slated for May/June.
ALL my ebooks are under $4, and my trade paperbacks will soon ALL be under $12.
Here are some quick links to booksellers, for your convenience:
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
BarnesandNoble.com
Chapters.ca
KoboBooks.com
Smashwords.com
And now you know why I've been hibernating. All this plus all the nasty snow we've gotten this winter has made it easy for me to stay indoors and work on what I love. I am so excited to be bringing you new works, better covers and lots of bonus material. I hope you'll enjoy them all.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Time spent promoting ebooks versus promoting print books
Author Joe Konrath writes about time spent promoting print books versus ebooks, and he shares his sales stats as well as information on physical book signings, something I am all too familiar with.
Joe is so right about the average sales authors make at book signings. In Canada the numbers are even lower. I've done well over 200 book signings and am considered one of the high sellers. In fact, I was told by Chapters & Indigo managers in Edmonton that I had the highest, most consistent sales at signings for two years straight out of all visiting authors.
It was damned hard work, though I never did the cross-country touring Joe did. And I'm glad. The cost of touring across provinces or states just doesn't make it worthwhile in the end, especially when most authors are responsible for those costs--or at least a large portion of them. If you have to do book signings, start at home and gradually spiral out, without going overboard--unless your publisher is paying for your tour.
I've watched so many authors at signings. I've even organized multi-author events at major trade shows and elsewhere. Most authors were lucky to sell 5 books. Many went home without a sale. My average was a bit higher than the number Joe quoted represented a decent signing. The difference was that I greeted everyone who walked into the bookstore. And I handed them a bookmark. I engaged their attention and enjoyed their company.
I used to do 40 signings a month for 3 months before Christmas, every year. That's a LOT of hours spent with little return. When you calculate hours, gas, travel etc, it didn't pay well. But I have to admit, I do miss the social aspect. I love meeting readers face to face. I loved doing signings. That's what separated me from most, I think.
Now I meet readers online. And I use creative ways to connect. Though I'll always be grateful to all the bookstores that hosted me and I miss the "action" (but not getting asked where the bathroom is), I can use my time far more wisely by promoting my ebooks.
Authors who want to succeed must learn to change with the winds, adapt to new technologies and step out of their comfort zone. Take a risk, try something new.
Joe is so right about the average sales authors make at book signings. In Canada the numbers are even lower. I've done well over 200 book signings and am considered one of the high sellers. In fact, I was told by Chapters & Indigo managers in Edmonton that I had the highest, most consistent sales at signings for two years straight out of all visiting authors.
It was damned hard work, though I never did the cross-country touring Joe did. And I'm glad. The cost of touring across provinces or states just doesn't make it worthwhile in the end, especially when most authors are responsible for those costs--or at least a large portion of them. If you have to do book signings, start at home and gradually spiral out, without going overboard--unless your publisher is paying for your tour.
I've watched so many authors at signings. I've even organized multi-author events at major trade shows and elsewhere. Most authors were lucky to sell 5 books. Many went home without a sale. My average was a bit higher than the number Joe quoted represented a decent signing. The difference was that I greeted everyone who walked into the bookstore. And I handed them a bookmark. I engaged their attention and enjoyed their company.
I used to do 40 signings a month for 3 months before Christmas, every year. That's a LOT of hours spent with little return. When you calculate hours, gas, travel etc, it didn't pay well. But I have to admit, I do miss the social aspect. I love meeting readers face to face. I loved doing signings. That's what separated me from most, I think.
Now I meet readers online. And I use creative ways to connect. Though I'll always be grateful to all the bookstores that hosted me and I miss the "action" (but not getting asked where the bathroom is), I can use my time far more wisely by promoting my ebooks.
By the way, my last online virtual book tour (for my debut romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady) was 118 stops in 14 days. It took me 3 months to organize and write all the posts. I guess I beat Joe's record. ;-) I know what he's saying about exhausting--even an online tour can leave you feeling like you've just crossed the country...on foot. lol However, I could never have visited 118 stores in 14 days--if I had I wouldn't have been coherent.
I've done mailouts--catalogues, bookmarks, announcements, invitations, etc to sell print books. Again, another time suck. I saw no real return on that investment or on the money spent on it. This is where the ebook revolution makes it so much easier for today's authors. Why spend 8 hours in a bookstore only to sell a dozen books or time and money preparing mailouts, when you can promote online and use social networks to get your name out there and sell books?
Authors who want to succeed must learn to change with the winds, adapt to new technologies and step out of their comfort zone. Take a risk, try something new.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Enter to win Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories eBook
For your chance to win one of three Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories, my collection of short stories that has been compared to Stephen King and The Twilight Zone, please check out the contest rules at Author Island.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Amazon Reviewer Giveaway: Review one of my ebooks and receive Children of the Fog (ebook) FREE
SPECIAL OFFER FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR CHERYL KAYE TARDIF
From now until March 15th, 2011, I'm holding a special
AMAZON REVIEWER GIVEAWAY.
Reviewers who qualify will receive a free ebook of my March 2011 supernatural thriller, Children of the Fog.
To qualify, please follow these 3 easy steps:
1. Write a review for any of my 6 titles (ebook or paperback) listed on Amazon.com (Whale Song, Lancelot's Lady, Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories, Remote Control, Divine Intervention and The River). I am only interested in HONEST reviews, so if you believe one of my novels warrants one star, please write the review accordingly--and do tell me why. I always strive to make each work better than the last.
2. Post your review on Amazon.com between today and March 15th.
3. Send an email via my website to let me know you've reviewed one of my books and posted it to Amazon.com.
As long as your review shows up on Amazon.com and you've sent me the email by March 15th, I will send you Children of the Fog (ebook). Free ebooks will be awarded to ALL reviewers who qualify, and will be awarded by the end of March. Reviews posted before January 27th do not qualify.
Why am I holding this giveaway?
As an author, the more reviews my books have posted to Amazon or any other retailer that allows reviews, the more readers will check out my books. I know that most readers read for enjoyment, not to write reviews. So if I'm going to ask for a favor, I am willing to reward you because I appreciate the time it takes to write even a short review. So in advance, my sincere gratitude for those who are inspired to post a review. Thank you.
*If you'd like to post this on your blog or website, please do. All I ask is that you keep it as is. TY! ~Cheryl
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Vote for your favorite CHILDREN of the FOG book cover?
Well, here it is, the moment I've been waiting for--the unveiling of the covers for CHILDREN of the FOG, my upcoming supernatural thriller, which will be released in March. I must tell you that this little poll of mine today wouldn't be possible without the incredible design skills of my book cover artist, graphic designer Jennifer Johnson from Sapphire Designs. Thank you, Jenn, for your patience and attention to detail.
So below are the two covers we're down to. They're 95% complete and the only thing missing is a review blurb at the top and bottom. You'll notice that the only difference between these two covers is the text font. Click on the covers to enlarge.
I would appreciate any input on these, so please leave me a comment and tell me what you think. And do vote for your favorite below:
Children of the Fog will be published in March 2011 by Imajin Books.
Thank you. Voting is now closed.
So below are the two covers we're down to. They're 95% complete and the only thing missing is a review blurb at the top and bottom. You'll notice that the only difference between these two covers is the text font. Click on the covers to enlarge.
Cover #1:
Cover #2:
I would appreciate any input on these, so please leave me a comment and tell me what you think. And do vote for your favorite below:
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