The suspense is killing me!

A Gift of Chocolate, Coffee & Crime

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:17:00 +0000

For anyone living in Canada, you can now order a special gift at BuyBuyGiftBaskets.ca that contains your choice of my bestselling techno-thriller THE RIVER or my bestselling paranormal suspense thriller DIVINE INTERVENTION.

Also included is a mug and your choice of hot chocolate or coffee and your choice of biscotti or a chocolate spoon.

Chocolate, Coffee & Crime. What goes better together than these?

Remember our Canadian heroes: 2 minutes is "a pittance of time"

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:52:00 +0000

Today, Remembrance Day, is the day we need to remember our Canadian troops, those Armed Forces men and women who have fought for us, died for us and survived for us. While you walk through the day, please remember that there are children without father or mothers because of their commitment and dedication to our country. Mothers and fathers have lost sons and daughters. Many have lost spouses and countless have lost dear friends.

If you haven't yet taken 2 minutes out of your busy life to remember that these men and women have fought for their country so that you can enjoy the freedoms we are so richly blessed with here in Canada, please take your 2 minutes after watching the video below. ~Cheryl

The story of A Pittance of Time:

On November 11, 1999, Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's two minutes of silence initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the two minutes of silence to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, A Pittance of Time. Terry later recorded A Pittance of Time and included it on his full-length music CD, The Power of the Dream.

Thank You to the Royal Canadian Legion Todmorden Branch #10 and Woodbine Height Branch #2 for their participation in the Video.

You can read the lyrics of this inspiring song at:

http://www.terry-kelly.com/pittance/pittance_en_lyrics.htm

Please visit www.terry-kelly.com

Press release regarding Lancelot's Lady making the semi-finals in the Dorchester Next Best Celler romance contest hits the US

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:24:00 +0000

NEW YORK, NY, November 04, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When Canadian author Cheryl Kaye Tardif decided to dust off an old romance manuscript and enter it in the "Next Best Celler" contest sponsored by Dorchester Publishing and hosted by Textnovel.com, Cheryl had no idea how popular her debut romantic suspense would become.

Read the full press release at 24-7PressRelease.com:

Lancelot's Lady by Cherish D'Angelo (aka Cheryl Kaye Tardif) is a Semi-finalist in the Dorchester "Next Best Celler" Contest Hosted by Textnovel.com

Textnovel.com Announces Semi-Finalists in Dorchester "Next Best Celler" Romance Writing Contest

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:03:00 +0000

PARK CITY, Utah, November 3, 2009—Textnovel.com announced the Semi-Finalists for the current Dorchester “Next Best Celler” Romance Writing Contest, which combines a live, serial publication model with a unique voting and ranking system to help identify top new novelists and fiction writers.

See who made the Top 20 Semi-Finalists.

I'll let you know that Lancelot's Lady, my debut romantic suspense, is #3 on the list. In fact, I'm the ONLY Canadian author to make the Top 20.

If you haven't read Lancelot's Lady yet, please do. If you enjoy it, click on the blue thumb and phone circles. This contest isn't over yet, and points still matter.

Thank you all for your support!

Fan mail from a teenaged boy in BC who loved The River

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:46:00 +0000

Every now and then I get a piece of fan mail that really tugs on my heart and fills me with gratitude. This morning I received one such email, and I've received permission to post it here.

Dear Ms. Tardif,

Hello! My name is Cliff. I am 15 year old and live in Nanaimo, BC Canada. I just finished your novel "The River" and wanted to tell you that i really loved it. I think you are an awesome writer and can't wait to read more of your work. I'm honestly not much of a reader and it normally it takes me a long time to actually finish a novel, but I read "The River" in only five days. That is a record for me! Your writing really grabbed my attention and made me want to continue reading. I'm actually kind of shocked that I could get so much enjoyment out of reading. I want to thank you for that!

Anyways I was wondering if it would be possible to get an autographed bookplate? Or would it be possible to send you my copy of "The River" and have you sign it? I'm not sure how it works, but I could send you a money order or a self addressed stamped envelope if you'd like. Just let me know. I'd truly consider it a great honor to have your autograph!

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Cliff

Anyone who has ever received fan mail before will be able to identify with how this email made me feel. It's one thing to write a novel that adults have embraced, but it's particularly meaningful to me to have written one that inspires teenagers to read--probably because it makes me think of myself as a teen writer dreaming about getting published.

Cliff is one of many teens who have discovered my work in the past few years. A while ago, I blogged about ESC Trillium high school students who used The River and Whale Song as a novel study project this year and last. The first batch of readers wrote me awesome reviews for The River that I also posted here.

And in case anyone's wondering, I feel honored by such fan mail. That anyone would take the time to email me about my novels is hugely rewarding and touching.

Cliff, I am very happy to send you a signed bookplate. I've also added a couple of bookmarks. :-) I am so honored to have written a novel that opened your eyes to the pleasures of reading! And thank you from the bottom of my heart for your email.

Reviews of Lancelot's Lady on Textnovel.com

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:43:00 +0000

In the comments link and comments for each chapter you'll find some wonderful reviews of Lancelot's Lady, my debut romantic suspense.

Some of my most favorite reviews are:

"Desperate to leave her sordid past behind her Rhianna has found a new job and a new life. At long last she feels like she belongs.When her employer and companion T.J. Lance, gives her a ticket for a six week vacation on a secluded island, in the Bahamas, her life takes on a new and exciting dimension. There she meets the dark haired, dashingly handsome Jonathan. But why is he so reclusive and what secret is he hiding? Will Rhianna ever be able to heal the scares of her tortured past and give herself fully?.......Another brilliantly crafted novel by Cheryl Tardif. This is a beautiful love story rippling with suspense and just the right amount of sensuality. Its great dialogue will sweep you along and its well stocked cast of colorful characters will draw you in and make you feel what they feel." --Emily Ross, aka Pauline Holyoak

"Cheryl Kaye Tardif is the Next NORA ROBERTS/ J.D. Robb. She writes her stories with passion. I can not put her books down. Anyone who loves suspense, drama, and romance will love her books. I can only hope that Ms. Tardif continues to write, she has a wonderful gift with words." --grapie

"You've got that mythical "voice" down to a fine art, both in setting the stage and character dialogue. Well done!" --Jennifer L. Hart

"I can't believe I'm so hooked on this story! I NEVER read this genre, but it's so wonderfully written-I can't help but LOVE this story!" Firen Hendrix

"Another winner, Cheryl!Your work is riveting.It holds on and won't let you go!Your descriptive powers are amazing.You summon up scenes like genies from bottles!" --Susan McLeod

"Lancelot's Lady is bestseller quality and you've created characters we really care about." --Marc T

"This is a fabulous story! I knew I would be hooked. I have been a fan since "Whale Song". You truly have a gift!" --Tamara

"This new novel of yours is awesome, Cher. I love your characters, especially Rhianna and Jonathan. And I guess I love Winston too, although he's such a jerk!! This is a winner in my books." --BunnyS

"Love the characters and the premise of the story --Love the potential heat and intensity of tension of the characters." --Karen Vaughan

"Read the excerpt you have on your site Cheryl, and I couldn't stop reading. Now I want to wait until I can buy Lancelot's Lady." --bmorrison

"I have to tell you that the minute I started reading I couldn't stop.:) I love the whole idea of this story and the characters.Everyone of them. I can't wait to read the rest. Good luck with the story Cheryl. It's excellent." --Carol Luciano/Lucky4750

"Like everything you write your new novel is exciting and suspenseful. You always make me want to read more and your characters seem real." --AliKat

"Still to this day everytime I walk into a bookstore I look to see if they have your books. I loved (and cried) Whale Song and also loved Divine Intervention. Im still on the hunt for The River but I will find it! I really like that you still have some suspense in Lancelots Lady but still have the mushy stuff! I dont think I could handle just the mushy stuff in a whole entire book (BORING) anyways I'm excited to read the nxt book and I'm cheering for you all the way!!!" --Princess Cairo

"On a recommendation from a friend, I looked up your story. I intended just to read a chapter or 2. I am on chapter 38 now and had to force myself to quit so I can get some work done. I look forward to finishing the story!" --AER

"Riveting!!!" --GOT BOOST

"Its nice to find finally find a writer who has a vast dimentions to her writing. From paranormal, to thriller to mystery and more to come, I can't wait to read whats next. Great job Cheryl." --skydiva

"You have a fantastic and unique way of using your words to set the mood and tone of the scene. The reader is immediately pulled into the scene with the character. I enjoyed how you were able to describe almost her whole life story in one small paragraph! It did not take a lot of dialogue between characters. Stated simply we knew alot about her background. I do enjoy your writing style. I enjoy your subjects too! I will have to explore more of your books. I know they will make it to my 'must have' list!" --chloeev

"What a wonderful writer. This is a great story. You can not stop reading it." --nella

"Wonderful novel, easy to read and colorful characters!!!" --graciem

"I do not usually read this type of novel, but once again Cheryl Kaye Tardiff has my attention and the desire to stay up past my bed time." --abigail

"Exceptional characters and intriguing plot. Your writing is magical - I end up in the characters' heads, thinking what they're thinking, seeing what they're seeing. And your descriptions are absolute poetry. I'm hooked!" --Alexis Sinclair

"This is fantastic!! Where do you get these ideas from. I think you'll do fine branching out into romance. You seem like a natural. My favorite of all your novels so far though is Whale Song." --Ashgreen

...and so many more.

You can read these reviews by signing up for a free account at www.Textnovel.com. Then click on my title Lancelot's Lady in bottom right box.

And if you'd like to leave me your own review or comment, please do. I love reading them. :-)

Also, if you enjoy reading Lancelot's Lady, feel free to click on the 2 blue circles by my title. This gives me 2 points in the contest.

Reflections on the past 5 months in the Dorchester - Textnovel Next Best Celler contest

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:01:00 +0000

Tomorrow, the top 20 semi-finalists will be selected from all the entrants in the Dorchester/Textnovel Next Best Celler contest, and I'll admit I'm a bit nervous. My entry, my debut romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady, is currently in #3 Most Popular place, but I've seen people whiz by the forerunners in a day. Like they say, it ain't over til the fat lady sings!

So today will be spent hoping for more votes to secure my place and most of all thanking everyone who has supported me in this 5 month "marathon". :-) THANK YOU! I couldn't have come this far without your support.

I've been getting emails and DMs asking what this contest has been like. First of all, I have to tell you, I've entered some contests, but not many during my career as a novelist. I'm just not big on them. It's not that I'm afraid of competition; I'm not. In fact, I seem to do some of my best work when I'm forced to compete in some way, whether it's versus someone else or the ticking of a clock. I thrive on the latter kind of competition, the one where I'm really competing with myself.

This has been the longest contest I've participated in. Or at least it's felt that way. Kind of like a writing triathlon--write, edit and get votes. The first two I revel in. Writing fulfills me in a way that no other career ever has. And I've had a few. The getting votes part has been the most difficult part. Not because I can't promote my novels. I CAN. In fact, I'm known as "Shameless Promoter" and I speak at writers conferences on book marketing. However, in this contest, I found 5 months a bit long to be begging for votes. 3 months isn't so bad. And this contest isn't over yet. I really need to keep my votes going until the winner is chosen--which will be in early February.

With my background in sales, advertising, promotion and motivational speaking, I find my skills learned years ago really complement my life as a writer and a promoter of my work. I love that I'm not only creative in constructing my characters and stories, I'm also creative in the ways that I market my work.

I was one of the first contest entrants on Textnovel to offer a contest to reward my fans for their loyalty. From August to November, I've offered Giveaways, with prizes of signed novels and $75 Starbucks cards. While some may think this is a bribe of sorts, I look at it as a fun way to engage my fans and thank them. I also held an interactive contest, one I've done in the past. For my "Create a Corpse" contest, I asked fans to supply me with a name of a character that would be killed off in Lancelot's Lady. The winner, Waheed Rabanni, gave me the perfect name--Winston Chambers. Winston has proven to be one of my most interesting and well-hated characters ever, and I love that!

I've talked about the Next Best Celler contest and Lancelot's Lady on a radio station and I've been a guest at various blogs where I've talked about how Lancelot's Lady was "born", and how I chose my new romance pen name Cherish D'Angelo.

Someone asked me "why" I chose to enter this contest. My answer is simple. One writer is going to win a publishing contract with Dorchester Publishing, a publisher that I've been very interested in. In fact, I believe they are still considering my suspense thriller Children of the Fog. Something I've heard about Dorchester from a few of their authors is that being one of their authors is like being with family. That really appeals to me. I view every publisher who takes on my work as a partner in my success and I want to share that success with them.

Links about my debut romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady and Cherish D'Angelo:

Please check out LANCELOT'S LADY. If you enjoy my new novel, please consider clicking on the blue thumb circle and blue phone circle beside the title. This gives me 2 points in the contest. Thank you so much.

Lancelot's Lady gets official sponsor--24-7PressRelease.com

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:41:00 +0000

I was elated today when I got the word from Senior Business Development Advisor Michael Iwasaki, that my debut romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady now has an official corporate sponsor -- 24-7PressRelease.com, a major press release distribution service.

Over the years, 24-7PressRelease.com has come to be my favorite onlne newswire service and the one I recommend to my coaching clients and to other writers. They have worked with me in the past on other projects, including Project Drumheller, a special project that granted the wish of a young BC boy to visit Drumheller, Alberta, and see the dinosaur bones.

I have had great success at obtaining interviews because of my press releases, and I find 24-7 offers competitive pricing, quick service, and I love that I can attach a video (or book video trailers) to my releases, where appropriate.

I've used "the other guys" but none of the other press release services have given me the personal attention and huge support that I've found with Michael, Philip and their company, and none of the others have sponsored me as 24-7PressRelease is now doing.

For those of you who are unaware, my debut romantic suspense novel is in the Dorchester Next Best Celler contest held at www.textnovel.com. As of right now, it's #3 Most Popular. I've been begging for votes since June 3rd. For the first 3 months of this competition, Lancelot's Lady was in #1 Most Popular place. Please drop on by and read it. It's free, and you can even let me know what you think about my new novel.

You can expect to see press releases regarding Lancelot's Lady, complete with a stunning book video trailer, to hit news editors' desks very shortly.

THANK YOU, Michael and Philip. I can't tell you how grateful I am for your support.

To learn more about 24-7PressRelease.com, please visit their website:
http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/

The business side of being a writer

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:48:00 +0000

Some people might not view an author as a business person, but I have to tell you, there's far more to being a writer than cloistering oneself in a small room for months and typing out 80,000 words. In today's world, a successful writer must also take on the hats of publicist, marketer, event planner, advertising rep, accountant, stocker (not stalker) and more.

As a successful Edmonton author, I am right at home with the writing and marketing part. I even make a decent publicist and have done this for other writers. It's the accounting part I suck at. And the stocking of shelves.

I'd love to discuss this here with other writers. How do you manage the number side of writing? Do you hire someone else or just suck it up and do it? Are there other options you've discovered (other than having books published by a traditional publisher, which I've also had)?

For me writing is both an immense pleasure and a business. I can't really have one without the other--unless I want to be my only reader. With the economy being as it is and so many changes in the book industry, authors must take on more of the marketing role, no matter who publishes you.

Finally, a small bit of promo from the marketing side: I am one of only a handful of Canadians who are competing in a writing competition sponsored by Dorchester Publishing, a very respectable US publisher. I think I'm the only Edmonton contestant as well. I'd sincerely appreciate your support.

Please check out my debut romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady on Textnovel.com and click on the blue thumb and blue phone circles. This gives me 2 points in the contest. There are 3 days to go until the semi-finalists are selected. I really want to win this! The prize is a publishing contract with Dorchester.

http://textnovel.com/stories_list_detail.php?story_id=928

Sign up is fast and free and you'll have access to many novels and short stories you can read for free. Thank you, in advance, for your support of an Edmonton author.

Now I must go and procrastinate about doing my accounting. :-)

Cheryl Kaye Tardif
http://www.cherylktardif.com

Romantic suspense: a scintillating combination of titillation and trepidation

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:05:00 +0000

When I first decided to write a romance novel, I polished off the first half of a contemporary romance, then got bored with it and filed it away in the bowels of my computer. You know, stuffed so far into a file that I easily forgot about it. The problem was that I had already established myself as an author of mystery and suspense. Sure there was some romance in my novels, but it didn’t “drive” the story, and there often wasn’t a “happily ever after”, which is the unshakable law of romance novels.

What bored me about my original romance novel—beside the title (Reflections)—was the journey of my characters (I forget the main character’s name). They met, there was chemistry, she had a disturbing past that stood in her way, they explored each other timidly, she fell in love, he didn’t at first, they eventually hooked up…blah, blah, blah…and they all lived happily ever after. Boring!

Read my full post about romantic suspense over at Magic of the Muses, where I talk about what it was like to write my first romance novel and my entry in the Dorchester "Next Best Celler" contest.

http://eileenschuh.blogspot.com/2009/10/guest-blog-by-author-cheryl-kaye-tardif.html

~Cherish D'Angelo, aka Cheryl Kaye Tardif

My thriller THE RIVER shows up with Richard Castle's HEAT WAVE on home page of Shortcovers.com

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:48:00 +0000

I received an email today from my friends at Shortcovers.com, a branch off of Canadian bookseller Chapters.Indigo.ca. They let me know that my thriller THE RIVER is now featured on the home page. What an honour!

Of course, I had to go look, and there it was, tucked in between PURSUIT OF HONOR by Vince Flynn and HEAT WAVE by Richard Castle.

If you recognize the latter book title and author, you'll know that Richard Castle is the name of the character starring in the hit TV series "Castle", a cop show about a female cop who is paired with a famous author who helps her solve crimes. I'm a huge fan of the show! And now there's a book out--brilliant idea!

And Nathan Fillion is perfect in the role of Castle. He never fails to make me laugh, and his portrayal of a writer, with all the quirks, is dead on. You can follow Nathan on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nathan fillion.

Now, if you'd like to read an exciting thriller for free, please check out THE RIVER.

STEM CELL RESEARCH, CLONING, AND WORLD DOMINATION--WITH A TWIST...

The South Nahanni River area of Canada's Northwest Territories has a history of mysterious deaths, disappearances and headless corpses, but it may also hold the key to humanity’s survival―or its destruction.

Del thought her father was long dead. But someone from her past says otherwise. Now she and a group of near strangers embark on a perilous mission...

Download a free copy of THE RIVER at http://www.shortcovers.com. This offer is good until the end of November only. So get it now while you can.

You can read these ebooks on select cell phones and on your PC or Mac. If you have an iPhone, Blackberry, Palm Pre or Google Android, download the Shortcovers app so you can read ebooks on your phone.

The birth of my pseudonym Cherish D'Angelo and Lancelot's Lady

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:49:00 +0000

The Birth of Cherish D’Angelo, aka Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Call me Cheryl; I prefer first names. You could also call me Cherish, since that’s the name I’ve adopted as my pseudonym so that I can detour from writing mainly suspense and venture into the romance genre. Cherish D’Angelo is my flowery, romantic pen name. I selected it a few years ago when I started writing my first romance novel. Since my real first name is Cheryl, which means “dear one” or “beloved”, I wanted something similar, and “Cherish” came to mind. Finding a last name to go with it proved to be trickier. After all, when I make it big in romance, I’ll have to sign that name on thousands of books. Hundreds of thousands, hopefully.

I started an angel collection years ago as a memorial for my son, who died at birth. Prior to his birth and death, I’d ordered two angels from a friend who made ceramics. She wasn’t sure if I’d want them after he died, but I did, and this started a collection that grew every year around his birthday and at Christmas. Angels…hmmm…Cherish Angel? No. Cherish D’Angelo. YES! I’d found my new name. It means: “Beloved angel.” Yeah, that’s me.

After Cherish D’Angelo was “born”, she went to work on her first contemporary romance―Reflections. It was a story of a woman stranded on a tropical island with a reclusive rich guy, who had a deaf daughter. Cherish wrote about half of it, then hid it away on my computer. I’d realized that I had other stories that were demanding my attention―darker, more suspenseful stories. It wasn’t the right time for Cherish. So she slipped into a kind of coma, though every now and then she opened her eyes and said, “What about me?” before slipping back to sleep.

In June, I heard about a contest over at Textnovel.com. Now I’m really not much of a contest person. I love giving them and awarding prizes, but I don’t usually like entering them. I’d been a member on Textnovel ever since the CEO Stan Soper emailed me and invited me to check out the relatively new website.

What drew me to Textnovel’s newest contest was the fact that Dorchester Publishing, the oldest independent mass-market publisher in the US, had paired with Textnovel and was offering a small advance and a book contract. I’m very familiar with Dorchester. I’ve been hooked on their books since I was a teen, and my agent recently submitted my new thriller Children of the Fog to Dorchester. Plus, one of my author friends, thriller author Jeff Buick, is published with them, and I recently connected with one of their romance authors, Colleen Thompson, who is absolutely wonderful and writes awesome romantic suspense. Both told me that being at Dorchester was like being a part of a family. I want that! I want a publishing partner.

The Dorchester/Textnovel “Next Best Celler” contest is looking for the “New Voice in Romance”, and I want to be that voice. Cherish D’Angelo wants to be that voice. She’s ready now! She woke up from that virtual coma and dug out the file for Reflections. The old chapters were used as guidelines, but to date, about 80% of it is new material. Cherish has been on a roll with this novel and it’ll be finished by the end of October.

The Birth of Lancelot’s Lady

Reflections has grown into something far bigger and better than the original. A few days in, I changed the name to Lancelot’s Lady. It’s still the story of Rhianna, a young woman stranded on a tropical island with a rich recluse, but she has far more back story and Jonathan is far angrier, making for a complicated relationship and some humorous scenes. Then there’s Misty, Jonathan’s young, deaf daughter who can’t seem to keep a tutor; not to mention the development of JT Lance, Rhianna’s dying patient, and his butler Higginson, plus the inclusion of the Atkinsons, Jonathan’s caretakers.

As with my other novels, I have come to love these characters. I can picture them, right down to their flaws. And believe, me, they’re all flawed. Rhianna has survived a terrible past filled with horror and death, and Jonathan has cut himself off from family, friends and the world.

Since Lancelot’s Lady is a romantic suspense, both Cherish and Cheryl get to work on this story. I know that sounds weird, and truly, I haven’t lost it. Well, not completely. I think Lancelot’s Lady is a potpourri of sexual chemistry, sizzling tension, spicy passion, illusive danger and triumphant love. But in the end, it doesn’t matter so much what I think. I want to know what YOU think.

This leads me back to the “Next Best Celler” contest and how YOU can be involved. I really need your help to have a chance at winning this contest and to win that publishing contract. Even more, I want to know what YOU think about my newest venture and I’m willing to reward you for your time. For the months of October and November, I’ll be holding Giveaways. Right now you can visit my contest page to see how to enter this month’s Giveaway contest. You’ll have a chance to win signed novels and a $75 Starbucks gift card.

To have a chance at winning Dorchester’s contest, I really need votes and subscribers. I can’t do this without your support. Lancelot’s Lady must stay in the top 10 Most Popular, preferably the top 3. It’ll take about 5 minutes of your time to vote, but I truly hope you’ll check out Lancelot’s Lady and read it for free. And please leave me a comment there. Judges are also reading them. I truly hope you enjoy the debut of Cherish D’Angelo and Lancelot’s Lady.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif, aka Cherish D’Angelo

Read & vote for Lancelot’s Lady, a Dorchester “Next Best Celler” entry, at Textnovel.com

Enter my October & November Giveaways

Visit my website at http://www.cherylktardif.com and follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif

Goal Setting Tips for Writers

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:47:00 +0000

I know hundreds of writers who fall victim to the deadly P-syndrome. If you’re unfamiliar with it, you’re one of the lucky ones. This syndrome is not only a killer of words and inspiration, but it can also be contagious, claiming other areas of the victim’s life or spreading to others. Washing your hands won’t keep P-syndrome away―unless washing your hands is part of a new mindset, one where you set daily goals.

If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m talking about PROCRASTINATION. It can be extremely debilitating to an author.

Read more about setting goals and check out the easy tips at Market My Novel

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Writers and editors: different roles, same goals

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:53:00 +0000

by Denise C. Baron published in Ragan.com

The marriage between a writer and editor can be a glorious one, or it can be a relationship full of strife. As in any marriage, the glue that will hold it together combines mutual respect, appreciation and admiration of each partner's skills and the role each person plays.

Marriages tend to be most successful when the partners are also each other's best friend. They might not always agree, but they manage to work things out compatibly.

A writer's best friend should be his editor. I say should be, because that's not always the case. In a perfect world, a writer writes and an editor improves. Ultimately, the beneficary of their alliance is the reader.

Although you'll find many a talented writer/editor out there, not all writers are cut out to be editors and vice versa. So being a writer doesn't automatically entitle you to consider yourself an editor, nor can all editors write particularly well. What good editors can do well is recognize good writing when they see it and, in wielding their blue pencils, ensure they preserve the writer's voice.

Good editors will take the text the writer has labored over and artfully make it even better – and the writer gets the glory. They correct mistakes, rearrange text where warranted or necessary, amend for house style, confer with the writer, and occasionally suggest overall improvements.

What good editors don't do is equally important. They do not feed their egos by making changes willy-nilly. They do not need to put their stamp on the writer's piece to prove anything. They're already where they are because they've earned the privilege. Truth is, they'd much prefer getting clean copy that is publication-ready; the reality is that's rarely the case. And that's OK, because if all writers submitted perfect prose, these people would be out of a job.

Then there's the incompetent editor. The damage this person can inflict is unlimited in scope and may include whitewashing the writer's text, making it conform to a faceless style, or otherwise stifling what distinguishes one writer from another: the personality, the voice. This person should not be editing anyone's copy but should be praying for the writer's forgiveness – and a lenient penance – and then seeking a new line of work.

Similarly, career writers who fail to understand that theirs is a vocation of lifetime learning may be unsuited for the task. Good writers are on a never-ending quest to improve; what they know for certain is that they don't know it all. And so they strive for perfection. Every day. It's the only way they eventually can become great.

Still the so-called writers and editors lurk. It's no wonder that the writer's lament is that anyone can do his job. That's because everyone writes, right? Who in business today has not composed a memo or an e-mail or even an instant message? Isn't that writing, after all? Doesn't that make everyone a writer?

Uh, no.

A writer doesn't merely put pen to paper or finger to keyboard. What a writer does is create. A writer captures ideas and transforms them into verbal pictures for the reader. Pictures that do indeed tell a story. Pictures that captivate the reader. These pictures are powerful tools. They can make you laugh or cry, enrage or delight you. Mainly, though, they will make you think.

Next time you find yourself reading good writing, listen carefully to hear the writer's voice. Some writers sound witty; others sound academic. Some sound like people you can envision yourself hanging out with; others sound too intimidating for that. What you're listening to is the result of the writer and editor working in harmony.

Just like a happy marriage.

Denise C. Baron is a director of global communications with Merck & Co., Inc.

This article was submitted courtesy of Michael Kleiner.
Michael Kleiner Public Relations and Web Design
215.704.2397 - 215.247.6523 (FAX)
kleinerpr@kleinerprweb.com - http://www.kleinerprweb.com

Author, Beyond the Cold: An American's Warm Portrait of Norway
pr@beyondthecold.com - http://www.beyondthecold.com - http://podcast.beyondthecold.com

(This article, printed here with permission, recently appeared in Jerry D. Simmons's newsletter TIPS for WRITERS from the PUBLISHING INSIDER. http://www.writersreader.com)

The birth of Cherish D'Angelo, pseudonym of author Cheryl Kaye Tardif

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:35:00 +0000

Throughout literary history, pseudonyms or pen names have been used by authors for various reasons. For authors like Nora Roberts, having a pseudonym allows them to explore new territory, maybe a new genre or a series. My idol Stephen King wrote books under the pen name of Richard Bachman because he didn’t want the market saturated with “Stephen King” books. It was also part experiment; he wanted to test whether luck or talent played a part in publishing.

For me, the choice of writing as “Cherish D’Angelo” made sense since one novel I’m writing doesn’t fall into my usual suspense genre. Lancelot’s Lady is a romantic suspense, heavy on the romance. “Cherish D'Angelo” is the pen name I’ve planned on using should I ever branch out into romance. This is a genre I've been drawn to since I was a teen and it was only inevitable that’s I’d write a romance novel.

As “Cheryl Kaye Tardif”, I write suspense set in various locations of Canada, something my fans love. As “Cherish D’Angelo”, I’m free to set my steamy romance novels anywhere and I can boldly go where I haven’t gone before—into my characters’ bedrooms, with the lights on. There’s something titillating about having a “secret identity”, even if it’s not so secret. But I don’t take naming myself lightly.

Most people assume that “Cheryl Kaye Tardif” is my legal name, with Kaye being my middle name. It isn’t. Kaye is my maiden name and the name that I saw first published in print when I was a teenage journalist with a paid reporting job. After I married, I struggled with my writing identity. Cheryl Kaye had always been the writer. I didn’t want to lose her. In a glimpse of absolute brilliance (lol), I combined my last names. My husband’s family always tells me I’m the famous “Tardif” now, and that I made their name famous. I don’t quite think I’m there…yet!

The name "Cherish D'Angelo" comes from two sources. "Cherish", the meaning of which is the same as my own first name "Cheryl", meaning 'beloved' or 'dear one', and "D'Angelo", meaning 'of the angel'. After the death of my first baby, I started collecting angels. In 2006, my baby brother Jason (28) was murdered in Edmonton and sent to the angels. Thus, "D'Angelo" seems to be a perfect choice for a surname that honors them both.

Combined, my pseudonym means: "Cherished one of the angel" but I like to say it means: "Cherish the angels". There is something flirty, romantic, magical―and so 'me'―about this name.

©2009 Cheryl Kaye Tardif

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif, aka Cherish D’Angelo
*Check out Lancelot’s Lady on Textnovel.com and please vote ‘thumbs up’ for it!

You can now read PICTURE PERFECT, my supernatural short, FREE at Textnovel.com

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:10:00 +0000

When my sister, Belle, vanished back in 1956, I lost more than you could possibly imagine. And in the last fifty years, I've never told anyone what I saw. That summer day, I lost a part of my family, a piece of my heart…and I think I lost my soul as well...

Read my Amazon Short PICTURE PERFECT for free at: http://www.textnovel.com/stories_list_detail.php?story_id=2043

Cheryl Kaye Tardif talks about her new pen name Cherish D'Angelo and her debut romance Lancelot's Lady at the Author Island Tiki Hut

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:10:00 +0000

I'm a guest at the Author Island Tiki Hut today...

Call me Cheryl; I prefer first names. You could also call me Cherish, since that’s the name I’ve adopted as my pseudonym so that I can detour from writing mainly suspense and venture into the romance genre. Cherish D’Angelo is my flowery, romantic pen name. I selected it a few years ago when I started writing my first romance novel...

To read the full post, visit: http://tinyurl.com/ygkcovg

Pop on by & leave a comment & you could be a winner!

Read my FREE stories on Textnovel.com

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:45:00 +0000

You can read my short stories for free by visiting Textnovel.com.

If you enjoy my stories there, please click on the blue thumb circle and give me a "thumbs up" vote.

If you click on the blue phone circle, you'll get an email only if I add a new chapter to that story.

You can also follow me so you get a notice if I add new stories.

Once you've signed up as a free member at http://www.textnovel.com, you can click on any of the story links below and read for free.

I hope you enjoy! Please leave me feedback and tell me what you think. I'd love to know. :-)

Canadian author Cheryl Kaye Tardif gives away her thriller The River for free at Shortcovers.com

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:41:00 +0000

For many months now, I've been working on a special promotion to give away electronic copies of my bestselling conspiracy thriller The River* for free on Shortcovers.com, an offshoot of Canadian bookseller Indigo Books & Music (and Chapters & Coles bookstores).

Over the next week or so, you'll see my critically acclaimed thriller advertised on Shortcovers in various ways. This free offer includes the complete novel, front and back matter too.

"Cheryl Kaye Tardif specializes in mile-a-minute pot-boiler mysteries, usually set in Western Canadian locales. Her latest, The River, is a whodunit centred around mysterious happenings on the Nahanni River up north." --Edmonton Sun

So what's The River about?

STEM CELL RESEARCH, CLONING, AND WORLD DOMINATION--WITH A TWIST...

The South Nahanni River area of Canada's Northwest Territories has a history of mysterious deaths, disappearances and headless corpses, but it may also hold the key to humanity’s survival―or its destruction.

Del thought her father was long dead. But someone from her past says otherwise. Now she and a group of near strangers embark on a perilous mission...

Seven years ago, Del Hawthorne’s father and three of his friends disappeared near the Nahanni River and were presumed dead. When one of the missing men stumbles onto the University grounds, alive but barely recognizable and aging before her eyes, Del is shocked. Especially when the man tells her something inconceivable. Her father is still alive!

Gathering a group of volunteers, Del travels to the Nahanni River to rescue her father. There, she finds a secret river that plunges her into a technologically advanced world of nanobots and painful serums. Del uncovers a conspiracy of unimaginable horror, a plot that threatens to destroy us all. Will humanity be sacrificed for the taste of eternal life?

At what point have we become...God?

"Mix some Michael Crichton with a touch of Dean Koontz..." says Amanda Richards, Top 100 Amazon Reviewer

"The River is a gripping combination of suspense, sci-fi and adventure...a cross between Michael Crichton's Timeline and Dan Brown's Angels & Demons."―Matt Scofield, a fan

You can read The River on your computer and on various reading devices, including the iPhone. There's even an app for Shortcovers that you can download for free.

Special thanks to Michael Serbinis, Michael Bowles and Ben Dugas, who have helped me get The River in front of more readers with this special, time-limited offer.

*The River is currently being considered by a film director for a major motion picture.

GET THE RIVER NOW!

Read THE RIVER on Shortcovers.com now.

Or download the ePub version of THE RIVER, which requires the free Adobe Digital Editions download first.

I hope you enjoy!

To find out what inspired me to write THE RIVER, please visit: http://www.cherylktardif.com/the-river-excerpt

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Interview with the Grim Reaper

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:18:00 +0000

How fitting that I should have an interview with the Grim Reaper after meeting him online--it was a killer introduction!

How ironic that we met shortly after a respected film director who has worked on the hit TV series Reaper inquired about film rights for The River and Divine Intervention. He's considering the latter for a new TV series!

So, if you're feeling brave come on over to Criminal Minds at Work and hear from the Grim Reaper himself. He'll even tell you where to go for the best scythes. ;-)

http://criminalmindsatwork.blogspot.com/2009/09/interview-with-death-aka-grim-reaper.html

Contest: Finish author Kelly Moran's sentence for a chance to win a signed copy of Divine Intervention

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:21:00 +0000

There's an exciting new contest over at author Kelly Moran's site. And it's very easy to enter. Simply finish the sentence she started there.

One winner will be selected and will win a signed copy of my paranormal thriller, Divine Intervention.

Prize: a signed copy of Divine Intervention by finishing her sentence.

Enter now at: http://authorkellymoran.blogspot.com/2009/10/contest-and-giveaway.html

Enter to win free books or a $75 Starbucks gift card in my October Giveaway

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:16:00 +0000

More prizes than last month and a bigger Grand Prize!

Make sure you follow ALL the rules or you'll be disqualified.

My debut romantic suspense Lancelot's Lady has been entered in the Dorchester/Textnovel "Next Best Celler" contest, and I need more votes and subscribers to have a chance at winning.

I'm willing to give you 2 things in return for your support--a great free read and the chance to win one of my other novels or the grand prize, a $75 Starbucks gift card.

FIVE lucky winners will win a signed copy of one of my novels (The River, Divine Intervention and Whale Song), plus some extra goodies (any country).

One Grand Prize winner will win a $75 Starbucks gift card (Canadian or US winner only).

Rules:

You must sign up as a member of Textnovel.com (free, easy & no spam).
You must vote for Lancelot's Lady by clicking on the thumbs up icon at the top of my novel's page:http://www.textnovel.com/stories_list_detail.php?story_id=928
You must subscribe to receive a notice about future chapters by clicking on the cell phone icon.
And leave me a review comment on any chapter page at: http://www.textnovel.com/stories_list_detail.php?story_id=928
Contest ends at midnight (MT) on October 30th, 2009.
Prizes will be awarded in early November. No cash value, no exchanges.

Please note: you MUST vote, subscribe and comment to be entered in this contest.

If you have already voted for Lancelot's Lady, please take a second to make sure you've also subscribed (blue circles will be gray if you have) and leave at least one comment. If you did so, you were entered in the preceding monthly giveaways. If you did not win, your name will be entered again automatically.

One giveaway prize per person. No purchase necessary.

Thank you so much for your support. I truly appreciate it. :-)

~Cheryl

Whale Song - "You will remember this award-winning book for a long, long time"

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:43:00 +0000

"Canadian author Cheryl Kaye Tardif has a winning combination in her young adult book Whale Song: A Novel. Against a vivid Vancouver Island backdrop she weaves together many effective elements: the native American spirit world, symbolism of the orca (killer whale), racism and bullying, and the tragedy and redemption that run through young Sarah's family.

Eleven-year-old Sarah Richardson moves from Wyoming to Vancouver Island in Canada where her marine biologist father has a new job. Sarah feels alienated, but she makes a new friend in her neighbor Goldie, a Nootka Indian whose grandmother introduces Sarah to the traditional stories of their tribe. Goldie's family tragically lost a son to drowning and the young Goldie believes that the orcas are a link to the spirit of her brother.

When Sarah's artist mother becomes gravely ill, things spin out of control; at the height of her pain Sarah develops a hysterical amnesia and loses both her parents. Years later, emotionally closed-off to everything that had been meaningful to her, she finally finds peace in the love that she had known on Vancouver Island.

The author tells the story in Sarah's voice, and the prose is plaintive and rich. At times you may be reminded of gothic romance:

"...I felt restless and uneasy. I somehow knew that my life would change the second we drove into those trees.

"Destiny...or fate?"

The foreshadowing of tragedy, the intense emotion, a mystery, the suggestion of supernatural elements, loved ones kept apart by a misunderstanding... all gothic elements. But WHALE SONG is decidedly contemporary in the issues faced by adolescents finding their way to adulthood. The values and outcomes are just what you'd want for family reading, and this book will be enjoyed by all ages.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif handles the good and bad of family life with a sure hand, and tells a story that sings; you will remember this award-winning book for a long, long time."

--Linda Bulger, 2009, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer

Divine Intervention is being considered for a TV series

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:15:00 +0000

I have 3 film deals in the works. Nothing guaranteed yet--but then again there aren't any guarantees in the film industry.

My novel Divine Intervention is being considered by a well respected director who has many current hit TV series to his name. I believe he could have a hit as there's nothing quite like it on TV now. It would be like combining Medium, CSI and Ghost Whisperer.

If you haven't read Divine Intervention, it's about 3 psychic government agents (PSIs) and a fireman (Chief of Arson Investigation) and their search for a deadly serial arsonist. The team's covert base is a tiny mountain town called Divine, named after the head of the PSI division.

So my husband got to thinking the other day...He wondered what the title of the television series would be.

He came up with PSI Canada.

I came up with PSI Divine.

Of course it'll probably be something very different. But it was fun wondering.

If you've read Divine Intervention, what do you think a series should be called?

My thoughts on the closing of Kunati Books

cherylktardif@shaw.ca (Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author & marketing coach) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:25:00 +0000

No one likes seeing a dream come to an end, but that's what happened for the partners at Kunati Books, a small Canadian publishing house in Ontario that began signing authors back in 2006, then went out of business in 2009. I was one of their first authors and I can tell you that being a Kunati author has been a real eye-opening experience.

In January 2009, I got my rights back for my novel Whale Song and it was taken out of print. Call it irreconcilable differences. I didn't agree with some of the practices; they crossed ethical boundaries for me. Call it the terrible economy and recession. My books were selling consistently, but not moving in 5 figure increments. Regardless of the reasons, I was happy with the decision to leave Kunati.

When Kunati Books first announced it was closing, the authors who got the calls were shocked, but not surprised. After chatting with some of the current Kunati authors, it appears that after the news reached them, it hit hard and created a lot of havoc in the first week or so. Many of these authors were understandably disappointed by the news. They could see their dreams going down the drain. Most authors are now coming out of the aftershock phase with a more positive outlook on their futures, and I am glad for them.

The possibilities for success for my author friends are endless. While some are considering self-publishing now, others are still hoping to get that decent book deal with a professional publisher. I sincerely hope they achieve their dreams. Some are awaiting a final royalty and making decisions on whether they want to buy their books back.

Some positives came out of my experience with Kunati; in particular, the wonderful friendships I made with many of the other authors. Many of us suffered at various levels through a frustrating time and we bonded because of it. We also celebrated each others' successes, and we continue to do so.

So what have I learned? Well, I'll be blunt. I've learned that it may not be the wisest decision to go with the "new guy" on the block. For all the big splash that Kunati made in its early days, it didn't matter in the end. Sometimes it's best to go with the old, tried and true. But the splashy, bold and controversial are appealing and draw you in.

That being said, I don't think I'll ever take a chance again on a small, new publishing company, especially one run by aspiring authors. Not that they're all doomed, but my experiences had enough red flags, thank you. My aspirations are for a lifelong career as a novelist, and I need a publisher who can work with me as a partner to achieve that goal.

My advice to authors looking for a publisher: do your homework!!! Check them out online and email their authors (current and past). Don't believe everything you read about them--good or bad. And remember the old adage: "if something looks too good to be true, it probably is." And "be careful what you wish for; you might just get it."

Wishing you all much success and happiness.

Read my original post about the closing of Kunati Books

The suspense is killing me!

A Gift of Chocolate, Coffee & Crime

Remember our Canadian heroes: 2 minutes is "a pittance of time"

Press release regarding Lancelot's Lady making the semi-finals in the Dorchester Next Best Celler romance contest hits the US

Textnovel.com Announces Semi-Finalists in Dorchester "Next Best Celler" Romance Writing Contest

Fan mail from a teenaged boy in BC who loved The River

Reviews of Lancelot's Lady on Textnovel.com

Reflections on the past 5 months in the Dorchester - Textnovel Next Best Celler contest

Lancelot's Lady gets official sponsor--24-7PressRelease.com

The business side of being a writer

Romantic suspense: a scintillating combination of titillation and trepidation

My thriller THE RIVER shows up with Richard Castle's HEAT WAVE on home page of Shortcovers.com

STEM CELL RESEARCH, CLONING, AND WORLD DOMINATION--WITH A TWIST...

The birth of my pseudonym Cherish D'Angelo and Lancelot's Lady

Goal Setting Tips for Writers

Writers and editors: different roles, same goals

The birth of Cherish D'Angelo, pseudonym of author Cheryl Kaye Tardif

You can now read PICTURE PERFECT, my supernatural short, FREE at Textnovel.com

Cheryl Kaye Tardif talks about her new pen name Cherish D'Angelo and her debut romance Lancelot's Lady at the Author Island Tiki Hut

Read my FREE stories on Textnovel.com

A GRAVE ERROR (MYRTLE MURPHY MYSTERY #1)

THE DEATH OF AN OLD COW (MYRTLE MURPHY MYSTERY #2)

MAID OF DISHONOR (MYRTLE MURPHY MYSTERY #3)

ATROPHY

THE CAR

THE FINAL BOMB

FINDING BLISS (NOVEL EXCERPT)

LANCELOT'S LADY (NOVEL)

OUIJA

REMOTE CONTROL (NOVELETTE)

SEPARATION ANXIETY

SWEET DREAMS

Canadian author Cheryl Kaye Tardif gives away her thriller The River for free at Shortcovers.com

Interview with the Grim Reaper

Contest: Finish author Kelly Moran's sentence for a chance to win a signed copy of Divine Intervention

Enter to win free books or a $75 Starbucks gift card in my October Giveaway

Whale Song - "You will remember this award-winning book for a long, long time"

Divine Intervention is being considered for a TV series

My thoughts on the closing of Kunati Books