Cheryl Kaye Tardif's Blog, page 19

Children of the Fog, the Breakaway Must-Read Hit of 2012 & an Amazon Top 100 Bestseller

Today is the 9th day that my supernatural suspense thriller CHILDREN OF THE FOG is on Amazon's Top 100 Bestseller's list. That's the Top 100 out of 1.1 MILLION Kindle ebooks sold on Amazon.

Over 8500 copies of my thriller have sold in just over a week.

Nearly 39,000 people downloaded it for free when I had a promotion on for 2 days.

Almost 1600 people have borrowed it in the past 2.5 weeks.

I am still in shock. I have to pinch myself every time I look at the numbers.

I've been outselling works by Stephen King, JD Robb, George R.R. Martin, Danielle Steel, Amanda Hocking, JA Konrath and so many more of the authors I've considered my favorites or mentors. It is mind-blowing.

Thank you to every reader who has taken a chance on my books. I truly value your support, emails and reviews. Thank you to everyone who has helped me promote CHILDREN OF THE FOG. You've helped make my thriller an International Bestseller and an Amazon Top 100 Bestseller and I wouldn't be here without you.

Oh, and I almost forgot...a major literary agent in New York is now interested in representing me. We're discussing the possibilities now. The chairman was watching my success online.

If you haven't read the must-read thriller of 2012, I invite you to pick up a copy of CHILDREN OF THE FOG from Amazon. It's only $3.99. You can read it on your PC, laptop, tablet, Kindle ereader or smartphone.

If you've read CHILDREN OF THE FOG and enjoyed it, please post a review on Amazon as that is helpful to me but mostly to other readers. Thank you.Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

Interviews and Advice from The Mystery Writers

Not too long ago I was asked to share some of my thoughts on indie-publishing and marketing for a book edited by Jean Henry Mead. So today I welcome Jean to my blog to tell you more about THE MYSTERY WRITERS.

Not everyone agrees that independent publishing is the key to writing success, but there are a growing number of authors who are proving the skeptics wrong. A growing number of writers are among an elite group with bestselling track records, such as my host, Cheryl Kaye Tardif, whose secret to success is ingenuity and hard work promoting her books, as well as Imajin's authors. Among her publicity tools are two main websites and a blog as well as membership in various social networks.

She says in The Mystery Writers: "In 2010 Amazon opened KDP to Canadian authors and I went back to my roots—to indie publishing. For me it's probably the best fit. I am by nature very independent and a strong marketer. Plus I'm 'an idea person.' Even my old publisher saw this in me and often called me a "guru" or "marketing genius." While I don't consider myself a 'genius' I do know that I'm a risk-taker."

Independent publishing isn't for everyone. It requires not only writing talent but good marketing skills and industry know-how to succeed. A number of other self- publishers are included in The Mystery Writers as well as bestselling traditionally published novelists such as Sue Grafton, Lawrence Block, J.A. Jance, Vicki Hinze and James Scott Bell (former Writer's Digest fiction columnist).

Tim Hallinan, award-winning author of the traditionally published Poke Rafferty mystery/thriller series, decided to self-publish his Junior Bender series—humorous stories of a burglar with a "moral code who works as a private eye for crooks." Tim's earlier novels earned him critical acclaim but not enough money to retire from his day job. He now earns thousands of dollars a month with his self-published ebooks.

He said the reason he decided to leave his agent and publisher was because "the money we were offered by the publishers wasn't very good. I looked at the offers and thought, 'I'd rather own my books."

Rebecca Dahlke once managed her father's crop dusting business in California, and decided that her protagonist—a beautiful former model—should also be a crop duster. She then decided to independently publish her novels, with startling results. Rebecca, like Cheryl, is a promoter and a humorous one at that. She says, "Self-publishing is no longer a dirty word. . . Eons ago, back in the dark ages (of publishing)—was it really only five years ago?—all we authors could hope for was a good agent, a decent publisher, a slowly growing fan base, and a list of book stores that might, or might not, keep our books on their shelves for three to six months before returning the unsold copies to the publisher. We could send in Advanced Reader Copies to prestigious reviewers or magazines and hope they would say nice things about our books, or pay a publicist to tout it, take our dog and pony show on the road, eat bad food, stay in crappy hotels, be at that next book store, book fair, conference, and smile till our cheeks ached. . .

"The changes have been exciting, and for this author, validation that I too can write books that readers enjoy. So, for all the august veterans who see the Internet as an encroachment onto their hard-won personal turf, let me paraphrase one of my favorite movie lines: Saddle up boys and girls, it's going to be a bumpy ride!" You can read how she accomplished her success in The Mystery Writers.

And, after ten publishers of my own over the years, I decided to independently publish The Mystery Writers with my own small press. The 406-page book is currently available on Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/3792541 and will be available on Amazon.com, Kindle and Nook after March 26.

The 406-page book is a veritable bible for fledgling writers because the advice offered by 58 bestselling, award-winning and midlist writers is invaluable for any genre. Twelve subgenres are represented and the writers write from as far away as South Africa, Brazil, Thailand, the U.S. and England.

Bio: Jean Henry Mead is a national award-winning photojournalist in the U.S. as well as a mystery/suspense and western historical novelist. She's published 17 books, half of them novels and served as a news reporter; news, magazine and small press editor in California and Wyoming.Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

March 14th - International Time Travel Day - Free eBooks

International Time Travel Day is March 14th and a bunch of my author friends and I are celebrating it with free ebook giveaways. Keep reading! :-)
By no coincidence, it is also the birthday of AlbertEinstein, author of the "space and time bend" theory.
Join 12 Time Travel Authors across North America as theycelebrate International Time Travel Day with great giveaways!
Visit the following blogs/websites on March 14, and leave acomment on each for your chance to win free books that celebrate time travel inall its guises:
Funny or scary….sexy or sweet…rollicking adventurestories…ESCAPE WITH TIME TRAVEL!
Participating Authors:
Madeline Baker         www.madelinebaker.netMelodie Campbell     www.funnygirlmelodie.blogspot.comPauline B. Jones        www.paulinebjones.comChris Karlsen            www.chriskarlsen.comLaura Martello          www.la-mitchell.blogspot.comTroy McCombs        http://www.tmhorror.blogspot.com/TheresaRagan           http://www.theresaragan.comCate Rowan              www.funnygirlmelodie.blogspot.comTerry Spear               http://terry-spear.blogspot.com/
Lizzie Starr                http://starrwords.blogspot.comCheryl Kaye Tardif    www.cherylktardif.comNicholas Wisseman    www.funnygirlmelodie.blogspot.com
WIN A COPY OF CHERYL KAYE TARDIF's PARANORMAL SCI-FI THRILLER...REMOTE CONTROL...
In this dark, suspenseful and somewhat comical look at one man's desires, Remote Control by bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif delivers a strong message:
Be careful what you wish for!

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.

Enter below; you'll get one entry for each of the 5 steps you do. :-)

a Rafflecopter giveaway<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&am... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

International Time Travel Day - March 14th

One of my author friends, Melodie Campbell, has created an exciting multi-author event to celebrate her time travel romance ROWENA THROUGH THE WALL and other authors' books with time travel as a main theme.

Join us on March 14th for International Time Travel Day and experience a day of surprises and giveaways.

I'll be giving away one of my ebooks right here on my blog, so please bookmark http://www cherylktardif.blogspot.com and come back here on March 14th.

More information:
http://funnygirlmelodie.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-14-is-international-time-travel.htmlCheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

Children of the Fog makes Amazon's Top 100 Bestsellers list - at #18

It has been an exciting few days, starting on March 7/8 with my free giveaway of my paranormal suspense thriller CHILDREN OF THE FOG. On the second day after the freebies, my thriller made Amazon's Top 100 Bestsellers list, something I've only accomplished once before with WHALE SONG.

CHILDREN OF THE FOG made it as low as #7, according to my father who was watching my stats. It currently sits at #18, on the first page of the bestseller list--a place authors would give anything to be.

From the beginning of this year I've said 2012 would be my year. And it's off to an amazing start. With major exposure on Amazon I've sold more books than ever before, have tens of thousands of new readers, have received wonderful fan mail and numerous 5-star reviews, and I've achieved one of my major goals--to get on Amazon's Top 100 list.

And by the way, I'm not talking about the Top 100 genres lists, which I've been on with every book I've written, but the overall Top 100 bestsellers. That's out of over 1 million ebooks sold on Amazon. And right now I'm #18. Wow...

Some days I have to pinch myself. It seems surreal.

I am very grateful to every reader who has taken a chance on one of my books. I do hope you'll enjoy reading my stories. I'm also thankful for all the wonderful people who have helped me spread the word about my books, especially those who have RTd my tweets, and especially my fellow authors at Imajin Books and World Literary Cafe. I owe some of my success to all of you.

And don't think I won't pass on what I've learned. I am just as excited that many of my authors at Imajin Books (my publishing company) will be seeing similar results very shortly as I share my tips and observations with them.

Happy reading everyone.

And if you haven't picked up a copy of the must-read thriller of 2012--CHILDREN OF THE FOG--check it out on Amazon.Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

Pick up a FREE copy of the must-read, breath-stopping thrillerof 2012--CHILDREN OF THE FOG

For two days only, March 7th and 8th, book lovers can pick up a FREE Kindle edition of CHILDREN OF THE FOG, a must-read, breath-stopping, bestselling thriller by Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

"A chilling and tense journey into every parent's deepest fear."  ―Scott Nicholson, The Red Church

YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO MAKE A DECISION:


Let A Kidnapper Take Your Child, Or Watch Your Son Die.


Choose!
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, she nearly goes insane. But it isn't just the fear and grief that is ripping her apart. It's the guilt. Sadie is the only person who knows what the kidnapper 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 Sadie's unfaithful husband stumbles across her drawing of the kidnapper, he sets into play a series of horrific events that sends her hurtling over the edge. Sadie's descent into alcoholism leads to strange apparitions and a face-to-face encounter with the monster who abducted her son--a man known only as...The Fog.

"A nightmarish thriller with a ghostly twist, CHILDREN OF THE FOG will keep you awake...and turning pages!" ―Amanda Stevens, author of The Restorer

"Reminiscent of The Lovely Bones, Cheryl Kaye Tardif weaves a tale of terror that will have you rushing to check on your children as they sleep. With exquisite prose, Children of the Fog captures you the moment you begin and doesn't let go until the very end." ―bestselling author Danielle Q. Lee, author of Inhuman

"Ripe with engaging twists and turns reminiscent of the work of James Patterson, Tardif once again tugs at the most inflexible of heartstrings…Children of the Fog possesses you from the touching beginning through to the riveting climax." ―Kelly Komm, author of Sacrifice, an award-winning fantasy

Pick up your FREE copy today ay Amazon.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

WHALE SONG is featured on Cents-ible eReads

Today my bestselling novel WHALE SONG is featured on Cents-ible eReads, a new website that caters to readers looking for great ebooks at an affordable price.

Check out the post at Cents-ible eReads and pick up a copy of WHALE SONG for only $2.99 on Amazon.Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

Literary agent Jack Scovil passes away

I was very saddened today to discover that my former literary agent, Jack Scovil of Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency, passed away on February 23, 2012.

Jack was my first and only literary agent, and he believed in me when very few people did. Even though we parted (on friendly terms) as agent and client a couple of years ago, I have always considered him to be a friend and supporter, a genuinely caring man who represented me with professionalism and enthusiasm.

We came so close to a movie and major book deal, and I never got the chance to tell him that WHALE SONG is now an international bestseller. He would have been happy to know that because he knew it was my dream.

When I told him a couple of months ago that I had ventured into publishing other authors, he wished me well and said he'd consider submitting manuscripts to me.

There is nothing better for a writer than to have someone like Jack on your "team," always telling you you're gonna make it, that your writing is worth reading. I can still hear his voice...

Jack Scovil will always be a highlight of my career and I'll never forget him.

Thank you, Jack. Rest in peace.Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

Get LANCELOT'S LADY free today til midnight!

Today until midnight PST, you can pick up your free Kindle edition of LANCELOT'S LADY, a romantic suspense by Cherish D'Angelo.

A Bahamas holiday from dying billionaire JT Lance, a man with a dark secret, leads palliative nurse Rhianna McLeod to Jonathan, a man with his own troubled past, and Rhianna finds herself drawn to the handsome recluse, while unbeknownst to her, someone with a horrific plan is hunting her down.
When palliative care nurse Rhianna McLeod is given a gift of a dream holiday to the Bahamas from her dying patient, billionaire JT Lance, Rhianna has no idea that her 'holiday' will include being stranded on a private island with Jonathan, an irritating but irresistibly handsome recluse. Or that she'll fall head over heels for the man.

Jonathan isn't happy to discover a drop-dead gorgeous redhead has invaded his island. But his anger soon turns to attraction. After one failed marriage, he has guarded his heart, but Rhianna's sudden appearance makes him yearn to throw caution to the wind.

To live fully in the present, Rhianna must resolve her own murky past, unravel the secret that haunts JT, foil the plans of a sleazy, blackmailing private investigator and help Jonathan find his muse. Only then can Rhianna find the love she's been searching for, and finally become...Lancelot's Lady.

Get your FREE copy today.Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

WHALE SONG makes Amazon's prestigious Top 100 Bestselling Kindles list

On February 17th, 2012, my critically acclaimed novel WHALE SONG made Amazon's prestigious Top 100 Bestselling (Paid) Kindles list. As of midnight Feb 19th it moved from #98 to #101. Three days in the Top 100 Kindle ebooks--out of hundreds of thousands of ebooks sold on Amazon.

WHALE SONG isn't a stranger to bestsellers lists. It has made multiple Top 100 genre lists on Amazon over the years. It has appeared on bestsellers lists in Canada and the US, making it an international bestseller. It has sold over 5000 copies in Canada, making it a national bestseller here.

Along with a huge surge of sales over the last few days, WHALE SONG has also received some wonderful new reviews. Check out some of these snippets:

"Beautifully and heartfelt - must read - fascinating, read it in one weekend, could hardly put it down. What a story of love, family ties,forgiveness. Written so beautifully that you feel you are part of the story; heartfelt, brought tears to my eyes on my occasions." --Sophia S. Paul


"Great story, I loved the suspense!...It was such a great story!...I finished this in less than 24 hours! Very suspenseful and it kept you reading and wanting more...Also a great book for teenage girls." --MC


"An incredibly beautiful story - I didn't want the story to end...I wanted more. I wanted more about Nana and the Warriors, and Adam and all of the wonderful characters that made this a story...I will want to read it again and again. This is a book for all ages, for anyone who is part of a family, or who has friends, or who doesn't. Read it. Really. Don't wait." --Kathleen Wagner


"A Good Read - I downloaded it yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it! Believable characters, well-paced story, interesting cultural exchanges, human tragedy and triumph. A good read." --Grace L. Tiedman


Pick up your copy of WHALE SONG today. Available in Kindle ebook edition or paperback from Amazon and other retailers.







Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!