Cheryl Kaye Tardif's Blog, page 6

Special Guest: New York Times Bestselling Author Heather Graham Talks About WAKING THE DEAD

Waking the Dead follows Let the Dead Sleep. (I guess they’ve slept long enough!) But the book is the second in the Cafferty and Quinn series. The seed for this story came from a fantastic show on one of the educational channels about the “year without a summer.” 
To explain that quickly, there was once what they called a “mini” ice age and the show I saw related many historical events to the weather. In fact, we might have the United States of America because of the cold that descended for several hundred years (some say between 1350 and 1850 while others say it didn’t really begin until about 1550!) At any rate, no one expected Washington to cross a river when it was so flipping cold, but he did, and saved his army—and we went on to be the USA!
But, in the midst of all this, there was a massive volcanic eruption at Mount Tambora. The ash covered the globe. And, combined with the cold, created the “year without a summer.”
Lord Byron, Shelley, and Mary Godwin (later Mary Shelley!) were on the continent; Lord Byron was at Villa Diodati with his doctor/writer friend Polidori. They couldn’t engage in the outdoor activities they might have enjoyed because it was always dark and it was so cold that no one wanted to go out.
Thus, a great work was born—Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus.
I absolutely loved the concept that weather could bring about horrible events that also created things that were, in a way, wonders in the world. (The Irish have peopled most of the world because the weather brought about the great potato famine that sent them seeking better lives in 1849.)
Danni Cafferty and Michael Quinn collect objects that create havoc. Can objects actually be evil?
In my story, Mary and her group of friends visit an artist and engage him in their bet regarding creation during the terrible cold summer. But, Hubert is an artist; they will write, and he will paint.
And years and years later, in modern day New Orleans, that painting will make an appearance . . . .
The death toll will mount up, and they’ll have to discover the painting.

I hope you enjoy Waking the Dead!Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

Conmen, liars, cowards, bullies and blood-sucking vampires - the trolls of the internet

Why can't we learn to get along, to be friends, to forgive and let go? We have become a very judgmental world filled with online cyber bullies. We're too quick to assume, too quick to judge others based on what someone else says, even without proof. We pounce on each other rather than take the time to learn the facts.

Don't you think that's sad? I know I do.

I'm saying this based on my observations of certain situations involving some of my author friends. Frankly, I'm really tired of it. Fed up!

A group of author friends have been harassed by a bully who slandered them online, and others jumped on the bandwagon to lend their voice to his false claims--even though they had zero facts. They trashed and bashed the authors, believing this malignant person, who shows not one shred of evidence to support his claims. He can't. Because he lied. But some people would rather believe an anonymous coward than a group of prominent, hard-working writers. Why?

One of my author friends was pounced on when something she said was misinterpreted, leading to a lot of bad feelings. Even when she apologized for it and tried to explain, people judged rather than accept the apology, forgive and move on. Where has compassion gone?

One of my author friends was duped into believing something wonderful, and she was so excited about it that she shared that info publicly, and she's being pounced on by others who are calling her a liar and other rotten names. They'd prefer to ASSume the worst. The people spreading rumors that the author lied are nothing more than bullies. Why not wait until you have ALL the facts?

Another group of author friends were conned by a very intelligent sociopath who has been scamming authors for a while. He provided publicist services, a common service in our industry. Others have judged these authors as being stupid, naive amateurs rather than understand how this conman was able to provide all the answers to questions plus endorsements that these authors then checked. These authors did their homework. Some have been in the industry for many years. They did their due diligence. But they were still conned. Believe me, this could happen to anyone, no matter how prepared you think you are. Ever buy ANYTHING online or by phone or in a store that came with a money-back return or guarantee? What if they refused to give you your money back?

Others were convinced to use an author "service" that guaranteed success and is now being considered unethical. It's not something I'd use because it involves a huge amount of money upfront and I personally don't find it ethical, but at one point many considered it okay. Many BIG name authors and even publishers used this service. What was acceptable a while ago might not be today. Do we judge those authors/publishers too and call them unethical?

On this Sunday evening, I urge you all to consider how you judge others. Because one day, YOU may be on the other side trying to defend yourself to people who'd rather judge you than believe you or even listen to the facts. To my friends who have been dealing with these issues, please remind yourself that as long as you stand in your truth, that's all that matters. Conmen, liars, cowards, bullies and blood-sucking vampires will come to light eventually. Until then, may Karma bring you lots of sparkly great opportunities. :-)Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

Cheryl is Interviewed by Conrad Hall and talks about SUBMERGED, her Army and her New York Times dream

Interviewed by Conrad Hall, much is revealed in three audio interviews with Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of the gripping psychological suspense, SUBMERGED.

Learn about the book, her SUBMERGED Army and her big dream to make the New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists.

Check out Cheryl's audio interviews...


SUBMERGED Army:



SUBMERGED Themes:



Cheryl's BIG Dream & Goals:

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

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

Join Cheryl Kaye Tardif's SUBMERGED Army today!

Do you read suspense, mystery, thriller, paranormal/supernatural? Have you checked out the works of Cheryl Kaye Tardif? Want to be part of something HUGE?

Cheryl is recruiting members for her SUBMERGED Army (or what others call a "street team.") Her goal: to make USA Today and New York Times bestsellers lists between March 2-8, 2014.

What’s in it for YOU?

Not only will you get the satisfaction in knowing you helped Cheryl achieve her goals, you'll be entered in exclusive random draws for all sorts of awesome prizes, including the chance to have YOUR name featured as a character in Cheryl's upcoming summer release, DIVINE SANCTUARY.

What do you have to do?

First, join her SUBMERGED Army event. Next, share Cheryl's posts on your Facebook page, Facebook groups (that allow promotion), Twitter, your website and blog--basically anywhere you can. Then invite all your friends--there's an easy Invite button on the page--and ask them to do the same.

You can also buy Cheryl's thriller SUBMERGED on special dates from specific retailers, and ask your friends to do the same. This is the perfect time to reward friends and family with gifted copies of SUBMERGED (it's only $0.99!)

Cheryl will appreciate everything you do to help her reach her goals, and you'll be helping to grow her audience, which ultimately means more books for you to read!

So come on! Enlist in the SUBMERGED Army today! Cheryl needs YOU!

https://www.facebook.com/events/462777760511016Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

3 Days 'til SUBMERGED hits Nooks, Kobos, iPads & iPhones everywhere!

Nook, Kobo, iBooks owners: Pre-order today for only $0.99 US and receive it on March 2nd via:

Barnes and Noble (Nook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/submerged-cheryl-kaye-tardif/1114677237

Kobo Books (Kobo): http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/submerged-6

iTunes (iBooks): https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/submerged/id701307628

And don't forget, from March 2-8th, pick up the Kindle edition on Amazon and your purchase will help Cheryl reach her BIG goal--New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists.

Plus, join Cheryl's SUBMERGED Army on Facebook and support her BIG dream while winning great prizes!


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

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

Guest Author: Eileen Schuh, author of FIREWALLS, talks suspense

"Sergeant Kindle wants us in his office," Syd said. The tension inside her coiled tighter. She glued her eyes to her computer monitor and slipped the black Jack onto the red Queen. Syd’s announcement ended her doubt; she was just moments away from losing her job. “Katrina?”

So begins my newest release, FIREWALLS – Book 3 in the BackTracker Series. It’s an opening that reflects what I’ve learned over the years from my mentor, publisher and best-selling author, Cheryl Kaye Tardif.

Thank you, Cheryl, for inviting me to guest on “The Suspense is Killing Me”, an appropriate title for your blog since you’re the master of the Suspense novel.

Although my books aren’t in the Suspense genre, every good book must have suspense—that ‘what-will-happen-next?’ feeling that drives readers to turn the page, read one more chapter, put dinner on hold, stay up until the sun rises in order to finish the novel.

For FIREWALLS, it’s my hope that Katrina’s coiling tension immediately becomes my readers’, that they will want to walk down the hall with her to Sergeant Kindle’s office—eager to find out what the heck she did that got her fired...if she gets fired.

I hope that by the end of the first page, my readers’ pulses and breathing have quickened, their jaws have tightened and their blood pressures have risen (only to safe levels, though, please).

In this opening chapter of FIREWALLS “What happens next?” is closely related to “What happened before?”—a very useful type of suspense when beginning a tale that requires background information. In writing a series like BackTracker, there’s a lot of back story from THE TRAZ and FATAL ERROR that has to get relayed in an entertaining manner.

Although what Katrina did to put her in danger of losing her job isn’t part of the preceding novels, Sergeant Kindle’s interrogation in the opening chapters of FIREWALLS reveals important details about her past that were. These details will hopefully help those who read previous novels remember the important stuff and make those who haven’t read them, want to.

It’s not just the suspense, though, that is important to a story; the resolution is, too. When the novel ends, the readers must feel satisfied. There has to be a wonderful, glorious, “Ah ha!” feeling when one finds out the past—“Now I know why that happened! Understand why she did that, why he said that, why he didn’t do what she wanted him to...”

And when all the ‘what happens next’s?’ are answered, readers should be left with a sense of fulfillment, of accomplishment and satisfaction—a feeling that reading this book was not a waste of time. That everything makes sense, even the surprises.

It’s not just at the beginning of FIREWALLS that I use the “What happened before?” suspense-building technique, I use it throughout the book, throughout the series. Several of my main characters, most notably Katrina and Shrug, have dark secrets, concealed motives, painful hidden pasts that readers want them to share. Some of those secrets remained veiled for many books to come.

In the BackTracker series, although each novel is a complete story, there are always lingering questions, that arise not from the plot (those questions are all answered) but from the characters themselves. We love them so much we just have to know what happened to them before we met them in THE TRAZ and what happens to them next?

What kind of kid were they? What kind of mother, husband, wife, boss will each of them become? Will the romance last forever? Will lost loves be reignited? Will Katrina ever be safe from the bikers? Will Shrug ever (please!) reveal his past?

Tell me more. Keep telling me more...

FIREWALLS http://mybook.to/firewalls

"Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions..."

"Packed with humanity, crafted with insight."

"Schuh has created a character worthy of being called a hero."

"A tale of comfort and hope that we, too, can slay our own dragons."

"A gritty, fast-paced thriller"

* * * * * 
Eileen Schuh, author

http://www.eileenschuh.com

http://eileenschuh.blogspot.com

THE TRAZ viewBook.at/B007JW8RMA

THE TRAZ School Edition viewBook.at/B007JWGHZE

FATAL ERROR viewBook.at/B009P593YU

SCHRODINGER’S CAT http://bookShow.me/B005GLJET6











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

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

The Call (movie) vs. Submerged (novel)

I was very intrigued when I first saw the teaser trailers for Halle Berry's new movie, The Call. For one thing, she plays a 911 dispatcher, the same occupation as Marcus Taylor, the main character in my new thriller, SUBMERGED. And like Marcus, she decides to jump into the action rather than just be the voice on the other end of the phone.

The Call is described as being an "intense," "high concept" thriller. You could use a similar description for SUBMERGED.

Here's a brief description of the movie, The Call:

Halle Berry plays a veteran 911 operator who takes a life-altering call -- but when she makes a fatal mistake that costs a young girl her life, she has one chance to redeem herself when the serial killer strikes again.

This is how I'd describe SUBMERGED:
Marcus Taylor is a 911 operator who takes a life-altering call -- after making choices that resulted in the tragic deaths of his wife and son. And now he has one chance to redeem himself when a killer runs a woman and her children off the road.

In The Call, Halle Berry's character must confront a killer from her past, while in SUBMERGED, Marcus must confront his past--period.
Check out the trailer for The Call:


Now check out the trailer for SUBMERGED:


So here's my final analysis:

I love the thrill of being in suspense, of the ticking clock, the race to salvation, the redemption of a flawed character. If you do too, and if you have seen The Call and enjoyed it, pick up a copy of SUBMERGED, a thriller that will leave you breathless.

Pre-order today for only $0.99 US and receive it on March 2nd via:

Barnes and Noble (Nook):http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/submerged-cheryl-kaye-tardif/1114677237

Kobo Books (Kobo): http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/submerged-6

iTunes (iBooks):https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/submerged/id701307628

And don't forget to enter join my SUBMERGED Army at https://www.facebook.com/events/462777760511016

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

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

Author Cheryl Kaye Tardif bares her soul in "A Letter to Myself at Thirteen"

Dear thirteen-year-old Cheryl,
This is one of the toughest letters I have ever had to write, because I know that right now you won't believe most of what I'm about to tell you. You're thirteen, and in your mind life kind of sucks. You're not happy; you're miserable. You hate the town you're living in. You hate being different, and in this town that means white and a military brat. You hate school because that's where the bad things happen—the bullying, teasing and embarrassment. You have nightmares of school, and I hate to tell you this, but you'll have recurring nightmares about school for most of your life. One day you'll laugh about that fact.
I know you're dealing with self-esteem issues. You're not one of the popular crowd. You're not considered one of the pretty girls. You're too shy, too introverted. The boys aren't hovering around you, even when you have a secret crush on one. Trust me, the one you think of most isn't for you—and his future self is not to be admired. He turns into what you'll call a "real dick." There is someone so much better waiting for you. And your life with him will be beyond wonderful. He will do anything for you. He'll encourage you to follow your dreams, and he'll support you so you can make that happen. One day, you'll see yourself as being very lucky.
I know you harbor resentment towards your parents for what you view as their failings. You have felt ignored, uncared for, bullied sometimes. You have felt unloved, especially by your father. Trust me, this is your perception; there's so much you don't know or understand. Yes, there have been times your parents have failed you. But what parent hasn't done that at some point? You'll understand when you're a parent. We sometimes fail our children. You will, at times, fail your own daughter. However, there are amazing rewards in store for you—including close relationships with both parents. One day you'll understand why your parents are the way they are. You'll learn to understand, forgive and let go. And once you do, you'll learn to value every moment with each of your parents. They helped make you who you are and they helped prepare you for your adult life.
Cheryl, there is no one else on earth like you. When you look in the mirror, you see a redheaded girl with freckles who is not very pretty and who is chubby. Believe me when I tell you, you are beautiful inside and out, and you are not as "fat" as you think you are. You may hold a few extra pounds—and you'll always battle with this—but you won't let it hold you back from following your dreams. Others will see you as beautiful, even if you don't. And when you graduate and you're wearing a stunning emerald dress, you will be gorgeous. There is more to Cheryl than the shell of your body.
You have always had the power to inspire others. This has been one of your greatest gifts. At thirteen, you are "Dear Abby" to many friends, helping them with personal problems, even though you have your own. You are always generous this way. You don't like to see anyone in pain, and you can always sense when someone is hurting, even if they don't tell you. Your empathy will grow stronger as you mature. Sometimes it will cause you pain, but most times it will enable you to find the right words to help someone else. Trust that instinct. Always. Words are your greatest gift.
At thirteen, you live a life of fear. You're afraid of some of your classmates. You've been taunted and bullied and physically hurt by other girls. You're terrified of some of the boys. You're afraid to tell anyone, afraid of what these bullies might do. You don't understand this racial hatred around you, and you don't like how it makes you hate others. I know you think this will never end, that you can't handle it another day, that maybe you'd be better off dead. A part of me wishes you had told an adult, but you didn't. You endured.
You've contemplated suicide already—how sad for a young girl to have such thoughts. But I understand. Life can be so very tough at times. Yet believe me when I tell you, this shall pass. This will become a very brief part of your childhood, even though now it seems like an eternity of misery. You just have to hold on for one more day, then one more. When you're 50 years old and looking back at those days, you'll understand how miserable those bullies were. You'll see that some of them never went on to enjoy the happiness that you have. You'll pity them. You'll forgive them because they did the only thing they knew how to do at that time—they hated. You WILL survive this. And you'll help others survive this.
Believe me, I understand what you're going through, and I promise you this: you willsurvive, and you'll come out ahead of all adversities. And in doing so, you will one day be able to achieve your greatest dream, to become a writer. And not just any writer, but one that has the power to affect people emotionally. Your thirteen years of life will be compiled in your first novel and you'll draw upon all of your negative experiences, turning them into a radiant positive one. And this novel, WHALE SONG, will be so powerful it will literally change people's lives. Your words will mend relationships, bring people closer together and will even save the life of one woman. How powerful is that?
One day in the future, you'll realize you have changed so much that you've outgrown your shyness. People who know you will laugh when you tell them you were once a shy wallflower whom no one ever noticed. You'll find confidence and boldness, and it'll feel like you've always had them. You'll never be able to pinpoint exactly when things changed for you. Was it when you became the youngest salon owner in BC? Was it when you got married? Was it when your first book was published? Who knows. I don't.
Your future holds many surprises. You will face challenges. You will make some bad choices. You will witness death. And you will learn from it all. Your goal now is to make it through the tough years. You can do it! You will do it! You will learn from all your experiences, both negative and positive, and each one will help mold you into the adult you become. When you're an adult, you will know that your parents love you and are proud of you. In your future, you are confident, always ready to help another and you educate yourself continuously in your field. Your love of learning and courage in experimenting makes you a very successful author. Yes, Cheryl. In your future, your greatest wish comes true. You become a successful published author.
Your journey won't be an easy one, and you will be tested. You will come up against brick walls that seem impenetrable. You'll be told you can't do it. You'll be told so many negative things that you'll half-believe them. You'll feel like your dream will never come true. You may think you can'tdo it, and you may want to give up. But keep pushing on. You'll prove to yourself and others that you canachieve your dreams. You won't let anyone bully you. You'll prove them wrong. The rewards are there, and they are countless and beautiful. You'll connect with people who will stay in your life forever. And your writing will take you on amazing journeys. You'll even become a publisher, helping other authors achieve their dreams. How rewarding is that!
Thirteen…so young, so lost, but with a future filled with happiness. Yes, there will be sadness too, but that is life. Right now, your goal is to keep your integrity, stay hopeful and persevere. Soon you'll be fourteen. Then fifteen, sixteen… One day you'll be fifty, and you'll decide to write this letter to your thirteen-year-old self. And you'll write all the above, remembering the negative with none of the pain you once felt and knowing just how far you've come.
Shortly afterward, you're going shoot for a major dream—to make the USA Today and New York Timesbestsellers lists with your thriller, SUBMERGED—and you'll gather a "SUBMERGED Army" to do it.
PS: You know that box of Peanut Butter Captain Crunch that you and Cathy bought with your allowances because neither of your parents would let you eat "junky cereal"? Don't eat the whole box! You'll regret it!Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

eBookSmarts warning to my author friends!

There is a company called eBookSmarts (.com) run by a fellow named Hassan Shah, and I am appalled at his expectations--and you should be too.

They claim to be able to give you free stats on your books. Sounds okay. I was interested, even though I have other ways of viewing stats. But I have always been open to new ideas, so I thought I'd give them a try.

After finally getting into the site, I went to set up my book info and what did I discover? They actually wanted me to give them my Amazon login info, INCLUDING PASSWORD. WTF???

And you only discover this AFTER you have signed up for their free beta.

When I asked him what "idiot in their right mind" would give him such access, he said "Apparently a couple hundred idiots think our service is worth trying..."

Wow...

Then he mentioned KDP. So he's asking for either my KDP login info which gives him access to all my personal info like bank account info, including the ability to mess with our publications, pricing and more; or he was asking for my personal Amazon account login info, which gives him access to my personal info and credit card. Really??

ANY COMPANY WHO ASKS YOU TO GIVE YOUR AMAZON ACCOUNT INFO IS UNPROFESSIONAL AND BORDERS ON "SCAM"!

Ok, today's rant--over! Maybe...Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a bestselling Canadian suspense author.
www.cherylktardif.com

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!

Guest Post: Essential Proofreading Tips by Nikolas Baron from Grammarly.com

Today's special guest is Nikolas Baron, from Grammarly.com, and he's sharing some great tips for writers on the importance of proofreading...

Proofreading, or line editing, is an essential skill set that every writer must acquire. Whether it be writing for a blog, a college essay or even a work related email, proofing your work is essential. Day in and day out, I spend my time studying people’s writing for my work at Grammarly.com, and it has become apparent to me that most people only afford the minimum amount of time to proofread their work. Granted, it’s been a few years since your last grammar class back in high school, but it is high time the writing world at large become expert proofreaders. Fear not ye intrepid scribes, for I am here to help you! As with most things, becoming an excellent proofreader just takes time and practice.

The first step is to set aside a proper allotment of time to work on proofreading your text. Proofreading takes concentration, which means turning off your cell phones, shutting off the television, and minimizing Reddit. I know it is painful, but you have to do it. All done? Great! Let’s get started.

Below are some easy-to-follow steps to help you on your way:
Read slowly — perhaps the most important step to proofing is to read slowly and read out loud. Saying every word allows you to hear mistakes you might otherwise miss. Correct one thing at a time — trying to correct every error in a paper can at times be a bit overwhelming. Instead, try to focus on one type of error. For example, it is easier to find and correct grammatical errors when you are only looking for grammatical errors. In summation, just take your time and be as thorough as possible. Highlight punctuation — pro-tip here: highlight every punctuation mark. This forces you to study every mark and determine whether or not it is appropriate. Read backwards — start from the very last word of the text. Reading backwards, word by word, is an effective technique to spot and fix spelling errors. It is also an excellent way to isolate sentences. Isolating sentences is an excellent way to give each sentence the attention it needs and expose errors you otherwise might have missed. Ask for help — don’t be afraid! Proofreading is a difficult and often tedious process, so it is important to ask for help when you need it! It is never a bad idea either to have a second set of eyes check over your work. Look it up — when in doubt, always look it up. You think this sentence needs an extra comma? Look it up. Is that word being used incorrectly? Look it up. Is this en-dash supposed to…yea, you got it. Look it up —a simple but effective practice. Use online resources — fortunately enough, you live in the digital age, and that comes with some pretty lofty benefits. For one, there are a multitude of websites that specialize in proofreading. Sites like Purdue’s Online Writing Lab, for example, have a multitude of valuable resources wherein you could learn about grammar and different writing styles. Further, there are now a wide array of online proofreaders that can correct spelling and grammatical errors. One such site is Grammarly—an excellent proofing site that offers more than your average proofing site. Grammarly can even improve the quality of writing by offering input on style, detect plagiarized materials, improve diction and more. Undoubtedly, it is an excellent resource for any writer. By following these simple steps, you are already on the road to becoming an excellent proofreader. Just remember, becoming even an adequate proofreader takes time. But surely if you work hard, use every resource available, and learn from your mistakes, you will be a pro in no time.

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

Check out Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novels!