Cheryl Kaye Tardif's Blog, page 32

Whale Song review: "Your words made me weep."

"I was captured by Cheryl Kaye Tardif's emotional tale, "Whale Song"...it is brimming with the wisdom...an ageless story, though, and appeals to readers across generations. Whale Song teaches us not only about the traditions and lore of Canada's west coast Indians, but also about ourselves—about the children we once were and the wise elders we are destined to become...Cheryl Kaye Tardif, your words made me weep."

--Eileen Schuh, author

Read the full review.

Ebook available at Kobo Books, Amazon & Smashwords, Barnes and Noble and more.

New trade paperback (2010 edition) now available at https://www.createspace.com/3486110. Coming soon to Amazon!Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian suspense author.
http://www.cherylktardif.com

Lancelot's Lady review: "The ending came as a complete surprise to me"

"In this romantic suspense, the romance is not present in the beginning, but Cherish D'Angelo leads with suspense – Tardif's specialty – to carry the reader through. The first chapters of Lancelot's Lady are important background scenes full of suspense...Lancelot's Lady follows the story structure of a good romance, making the story seem predictable, but the ending came as a complete surprise to me and left me crying but satisfied. On top of the romantic and suspenseful plot, this story also contains a dreamy private island setting and a well-rounded secondary cast of characters, including one bent on destroying J.T. and abducting Rhianna to use as he pleases, making Lancelot's Lady a great romantic suspense."
--Jessica Subject, writer
Read the full review.
Lancelot's Lady is available at Amazon, Kobo Books, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble and more.
Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian suspense author.
http://www.cherylktardif.com

WHALE SONG paperback now available!

You can now purchase my critically acclaimed bestselling novel Whale Song, now in its third paperback edition. This new edition includes bonus content, including the touching story of how a talented artist was inspired by Whale Song to start painting again.

Order Whale Song now. Only $9.99 US plus shipping.

If you'd like a signed bookplate, please email me at cherylktardif (at) shaw.ca. I charge $5 shipping/handling via PayPal for up to 4 bookplates. I'll personalize and sign the bookplates for you and your loved ones.

Whale Song is for anyone, any age! It makes a perfect gift for tweens and teens, especially those dealing with bullying or racism. And it's an inspiring gift for all the women in your life, especially mothers and daughters.

Happy reading!Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian suspense author.
http://www.cherylktardif.com

Contest: Show me your Whale Song!

New paperback coverIn celebration of the upcoming release of the special 3rd edition of Whale Song, which will be back in print due to popular demand, I'm holding a special contest--my "Show me your Whale Song! contest.


To enter, send me a photo (jpg) of you holding your ereader with the ebook cover of Whale Song on it. This can be ANY ereader--Kobo, Kindle, Sony, iPad--you name it. 
Give me permission to post your photo on my blog and website, along with your name (full name or first name and last initial--you pick). I must receive these photos by November 29th, midnight MT. All photos received between October 1st and November 29th, 2010, will count. You can send multiple photos, but will receive 1 entry per person.
On November 30th, 2010, I'll draw randomly from all entrants and 3 lucky winners will win a signed copy of the upcoming special 3rd edition (paperback with bonus content) of Whale Song. Winners will be announced in early December. 
This contest is open internationally. No cash value on prize, no exchanges.

A special thank you to Jessica Subject, who inspired this contest when she sent me a photo of herself, holding her Kobo ereader with Whale Song on the front. :-)Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian suspense author.
http://www.cherylktardif.com

New WHALE SONG paperback - back by popular demand

Back by popular demand, WHALE SONG my bestselling novel about family, love, life, tragedy and forgiveness, will be available shortly in print. The new paperback has a cover that closely resembles the 2010 ebook edition, but there's one main addition--"Sarah" is now on the cover.

Whale Song will be available via Amazon and Createspace to start, and then more retailers.

If you're in the Edmonton, Alberta, area you can order Whale Song directly from me. I'll be adding a PayPal button to my websites. Or you can email me and we'll proceed from there. Local area orders only, at this time.

I'll let you know as soon as Whale Song is available to order.

Now, make sure you check my blog tomorrow when I announce an exciting new contest--my "Show me your Whale Song!" contest.Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian suspense author.
http://www.cherylktardif.com

Amazon's DTP, Smashwords, Withholding Tax, International Authors and ITINs

As a Canadian author using Amazon's Digital Text Platform (DTP), my journey has been less than hassle free, so I'm posting today to help other non-US authors get through the headache of withholding taxes and IRS forms.

If you're a non-US author and you've noticed your royalty checks don't match your numbers online, it's most likely because a withholding tax has been implemented--30% on average. But there's a solution.

First, a non-US resident and DTP publisher/author does NOT need a US address or a US bank account. Amazon will mail you a check. I've been getting them for months and I'm in Canada.

However, Amazon will withhold approx. 30% of all earnings of non-US residents UNLESS authors have an ITIN, which you must get from the IRS.

For Canadian authors, this is how I did it:

1. I contacted an "Acceptance Agent" in my city. There's a list of Canadian Acceptance Agents on the IRS website.
2. I had Smashwords send me a letter stating I was selling my books through them. You need one letter only from one distributor, and when I asked Amazon they were completely uncooperative and refused to send me the letter.
3. I filled out the W-7 form at the Agent's office, he photocopied my passport and he sent these out along with the letter from Smashwords (who are aweseome about giving letters).
4. It took about 7 weeks before I got my letter from the IRS with my ITIN.
5. Now I must fill out the W-8BEN form and send one to each US distributor (Amazon, Smashwords etc). Once they process it (in about 3-4 weeks), I'll then start receiving 100% of my earnings and will pay tax on it in my country.

Smashwords has great instructions on all this on their site. I don't know why Amazon hasn't done the same. Smashwords also has links to all the forms and the address for sending the W-8BEN. Again, Amazon could take some pointers on customer service.

As per Smashwords, here are the important links you need:


Request a letter for your W-7Download form W-8BENDownload W-8BEN InstructionsDownload form W-7Download W-7 InstructionsSend us your completed W-8BEN
Is this a hassle? Most definitely. Especially since Amazon does nothing to assist its international publishers/authors.

Is it worth it? Yes. Why should 1/3 of my earnings be held back? I'm Canadian, I pay my taxes here.

Smashwords is fighting to have this hassle removed, and I support that. There's no reason for it. Amazon and Smashwords are acting as my distributor.

If you're Canadian and need assistance with this process, please email me via my website.

Amazon, I would be happy to work with you on a page for your Canadian & other non-US authors that would clearly and easily walk people through this process.

Does anyone know the correct mailing address for sending in the W-8BEN form to Amazon?

UPDATE:
After emailing Amazon's support, I finally received an answer.

"We need to receive a physical copy (paper form) of the W8 that contains a US tax id and that is signed in blue ink . Please put the supplier code/vendor code, vendor code: DUVNS in the upper right hand corner and then mail it to the below address. As soon as we receive it, we will update the account and reimburse withholding that has been deducted this year. Note: withholding can only be paid back in the current year it was deducted.

Amazon Digital Services
Attn: Vendor Maintenance
PO Box 80683
Seattle, WA 98108-0683

If you have further questions, please write back to us at dtp-support@amazon.com."
Please note that you may want to check to ensure that the "supplier code" is the same for everyone. I have no idea if it is or if it's linked to my account only. If you know the answer, please email me at cherylktardif (at) shaw.ca.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif
http://www.cherylktardif.comCheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian suspense author.
http://www.cherylktardif.com

My Lancelot's Lady tour comes to an end

Today is day 14 of my mega tour promoting the release of my new romantic suspense, Lancelot's Lady. Tomorrow is the day I start awarding prizes and free ebooks. At the end of the month I'll be doing a draw for the Kobo ereader.

If you've left a comment at any of my blog tour stops--with your email address--you'll be receiving that day's free ebook. If you visited multiple days, you'll receive multiple free ebooks.

My Cherish the Romance Virtual Book Tour has been a success and a lot of fun. I've really enjoyed reading all the comments and getting to know my hosts more and the visitors to the blogs. Thank you all!

Since the goal of my tour is to promote Lancelot's Lady, I hope you've had a chance to check it out at your favorite retailer. If you've read Lancelot's Lady and enjoyed it, please let me know. And if you leave a review anywhere, I'd love to know. I always ask reviewers if I can have permission to quote some of the review on my website.

If you haven't picked up a copy of Lancelot's Lady, please do. It won't be given away as one of the free ebooks. Sorry... But I can promise you it's a worthwhile read.

Check out the trailer again...created by Kelly Komm:



You can pick up my contemporary romantic suspense, Lancelot's Lady (ebook only) at Amazon, KoboBooks, Smashwords, B&N and more.

Happy reading, everyone! :-)

Cherish D'Angelo
aka Cheryl Kaye Tardif
http://www.cherylktardif.comCheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian suspense author.
http://www.cherylktardif.com

Day 14 of Cherish the romance Virtual Book Tour - Last day to win prizes

On Day 14 of my 15 day, 115+ blogs tour, you can learn more about Lancelot's Lady, Cherish D'Angelo and you can enter to win more great prizes.









Here's today's blog stop schedule:
Dames of Dialogue (interview)Fatal Foodies (guest post)Lia has the Last Word (interview)   * adults onlyMy Book Addiction and More (guest post)Moonlight, Lace & Mayhem (review)Facebook Wrap-Up PartyCherish on Twitter (Q & A at #cherishdangelo from 6 PM to 7 PM Mountain Time)The suspense is killing me (final words)













Grand prize: a Kobo eReader. 
View the prize list & rules.

Follow me during my tour and enter to win great prizes. If you comment on ANY blog stop post with your email address, you're guaranteed to receive a free ebook.








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.
Get your copy of Lancelot's Lady At KoboBooks, Amazon Or Smashwords.Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian suspense author.
http://www.cherylktardif.com

Save the Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantasic

The Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic is a juried award based on excellence of writing in two categories: adult and young adult. The awards are presented annually to Canadian writers with a speculative fiction novel or book-length collection of speculative fiction published any time during the previous calendar year.

Unfortunately, the Sunburst Awards have run into a hiccup. They do not have enough operating capital to keep going as they currently stand. This sad news comes at a particularly critical juncture in the award's life--the operating committee is in the process of getting the Sunburst organization registered as a non-profit, and getting it "national arts organization" status.

As part of a fundraising drive to shepherd the Sunburst through this change of status and structure, we'd like to ask fans, writers, editors, and publishers from the speculative fiction community to help raise awareness of this vital institution...

How to Participate

We're looking for short (30 second to 2 minutes) videos that say what you think about Canadian speculative fiction. These should be interview-style videos in the vein of Speaker's Corner and can be recorded as simply as with a web camera. Prior interviews or footage can be submitted provided that you have permission to do so. We will host these individually on a YouTube channel(sunburstaward), but will also edit them in order to create a series of short videos to promote awareness of the fundraising campaign. A longer video will be shown at the opening remarks to the Toronto SpecFic Colloquium. Check out the people who have already spoken out for us at:
http://www.specfic-colloquium.com/apps/videos/ .

Not savvy with a camera? Send us a high res image of yourself and either a short paragraph in text or a recorded audio track.

Not Canadian? Never fear. If you have something you want to say about Canadian speculative fiction then we want to hear it.

To participate, send your name, contact information, submission and a short release statement giving us permission to use the video/image to sunburstvideo@gmail.com by October 15, 2010.

Possible Topics:
-favourite Canadian authors and/or stories-the relationship between Canadian writing and the rest of the world-publishing speculative fiction in Canada-the state of Canadian fantasy, science fiction, horror, etc-how does Canada inspire your work?-favourite Canadian settings to use in your writingOf course, these topics are intended to be a jumping off point. Feel free to think outside of the box. And, above all, show your enthusiasm!

To donate directly, visit:
http://www.sunburstaward.org/content/please-lend-your-support-sunburst-awards.Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian suspense author.
http://www.cherylktardif.com

Day 13 of Cherish the Romance Virtual Book Tour - More prizes!

On Day 13 of my 15 day, 115+ blogs tour, you can enter to win more great prizes. Plus if you comment on ANY blog stop post with your email address, you're guaranteed to receive a free ebook.

Here's today's blog stop schedule:
Anna's Book Blog (review)Suspense Your Disbelief (guest post)Space Snark (guest post)Francesca's Mindstream (guest post)Duchess of Depravity (guest post)   *adults onlyNaughty Little Vamp (guest post)Online Book Review (guest post)Grand prize: a  Kobo eReader . 

View the prize list & rules.


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.
Get Your Copy Of Lancelot's Lady At KoboBooks, Amazon Or Smashwords.Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a Canadian suspense author.
http://www.cherylktardif.com