For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers

Cheryl Kaye Tardif's Blog (115)

Enter to win a Kobo ereader at my Cherish the Romance Virtual Book Tour

On Day 4 of my 15 day, 115+ blogs tour, you'll learn about Cherish D'Angelo, writer, marketer and dreamer.

Enter to win more great prizes. If you comment on ANY blog stop post with your email address, you're guaranteed… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on September 30, 2010 at 10:09pm — No Comments

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

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… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on October 1, 2009 at 4:20pm — No Comments

Enter Cheryl's deadly 'Create a Corpse Contest'

Ever want to kill someone off--fictitiously, of course? Maybe your school bully, ex-boyfriend, co-worker, boss, teacher etc? Now you can! :-)

From now until July 30th, 2009, you can submit a name (first & last) of someone you know (boss, husband, school bully, ex-friend or yourself), or a fictitious name.

I am looking for a male name, suitable for a 50-ish cigar-smoking man.

On August 1st, 2009, I will select one winner from all the entries… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on June 19, 2009 at 7:30pm — No Comments

Vote for Lancelot's Lady

I've entered a contest on Textnovel.com and I really need your votes. The grand prize is a guaranteed publishing contract with Dorchester. I'm submitting a novel I started years ago that I've always wanted to finish. The genre for the contest is ROMANCE. You'll be able to read as I write.

I can't do this without you. To become a top finalist I NEED YOUR VOTES.

Go to my novel… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on June 7, 2009 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Authors, are you looking for bookplates you can autograph and mail to readers?

I am often asked about the handy and well-designed bookplates that I mail to people who have bought my books. I've used 2 designs over the years, both from a company called...

Please go to my post on The Write Type to learn more about:

Bookplates: what are they and where can I find them?

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
bestselling author

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on June 4, 2009 at 12:04pm — No Comments

I'm giving away some fabulous prizes on Twitter!

Starting today, I'm giving away some fabulous prizes on Twitter, including dozens of autographed books, awesome artwork, Watkins products, a free consult with a book marketing coach and the grand prize--a free consult with a publishing expert who worked for Warner Books for over 25 years ($250 value).

To enter, simply sign up on Twitter, then follow me.

www.twitter.com/cherylktardif

For more information and to see the… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on April 10, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

UPDATE: AMAZON REINSTATES AUTHOR'S REVIEWS--WITH AUTHOR'S BOOK TITLE!

So much has happened in the past 24 hours. I have been contacted by authors, author organization reps, reporters, book marketers, bloggers and finally, someone from Amazon. Amazon has been bombarded by emails from authors, orgs, marketers etc, and last night I noticed that Amazon in Seattle had checked out my blog posts. ;-)

Today I received an email from a senior member of the Amazon Communities team. He apologized and stated that my reviews had been reinstated.

I began… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on April 6, 2009 at 6:03pm — No Comments

Amazon is deleting reviews written by authors who include their book title

Since breaking the news yesterday about my battle with Amazon over reviews (ones I wrote on books I'd read) that they deleted (85 reviews) because I included author of Whale Song in my signature line, I've received emails and phone calls from concerned authors, many who tracked me down via the Internet after reading about me on Twitter, The Write Type or John Kremer's Marketing Tips email. Some authors have already discovered missing reviews; some have gone through the same hassle I… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on April 5, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Are you struggling to market your books? Want to know how to promote them successfully online?

For years authors have been asking me how they can market their books more effectively. I am asked to speak at conferences in Canada and the US on book marketing strategies and internet marketing. Now you can benefit from all that I have learned, and I have learned from the BEST book marketing experts out there.

I have over 25 years of marketing, advertising, promotion and ad-copy writing experience, plus I have 3 bestselling novels. Want to know how I did it? I organized a hugely… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on March 14, 2009 at 3:27pm — No Comments

Whale Song - the movie?

When I imagine Whale Song as a major motion picture, I smell hot buttered popcorn. Really. If I close my eyes and picture a scene from my novel being played out on a big screen, I can almost TASTE the popcorn.

I've even gone so far in my little fantasy to imagine the conversations that people have as they leave the theatre...

"Oh my God, that was so good."

"I know! I can't believe what happened at the end."

"That movie made me cry so hard."… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on January 19, 2009 at 11:04pm — No Comments

Remote Control, a serialized novelette, has another installment

If you've already read my novels--Whale Song (Kunati), The River and Divine Intervention--and are looking for something new, please know that my latest novel… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on October 6, 2008 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Whale Song to be gifted to 125 celebrities at 'Dallas Rocks 2008'

I am very honored to be gifting Whale Song to 125 celebrities who will be enjoying a 'Diamond Dinner' at an event called Dallas Rocks 2008, which benefits Russell Simmons' Diamond Empowerment Fund.

In 2007, USA Today named Russell Simmons one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 25 Years.”…

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Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on October 4, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Warning signs and prevention of author burn-out

Writing can indeed become an obsession, as can promoting one's book. I always suggest to authors (and often remind myself) that we must find a balance between writing, promoting, other jobs/chores, family, friends and fun. Each needs to be a slice of the pie for authors to feel completely successful and not burnt out. Over the years I've witnessed author burn-out many…

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Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on October 4, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Does it make a difference if a writer researches for a novel?

I pride myself on my research. If a writer wants a story to ring true and be believable, it’s vital to check facts and sources. For my novel Whale Song, I researched killer whales and myths for close to 2 months. There is so much material out there that I could have read about both subjects for years!

I found the information on killer whales to be very…

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Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on October 3, 2008 at 2:30pm — 1 Comment

SPECIAL OFFER to authors: video press releases

Hello fellow authors and friends:

If you expect to be sending out press releases online between now and December 30th, then please read on for a SPECIAL OFFER from a friend of mine.

I am good friends with one of the partners of 24-7PressRelease.com. Michael and I have worked together in the past and he has been very good to me over the years. In return, I like to send him new clients, particularly because I love their always expanding… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on October 3, 2008 at 1:15pm — No Comments

Is the end of the world coming for the book industry?

New York Magazine published an article that looks at the downward spiral of the book business. As writer Boris Kachka says, "The book business as we know it will not be living happily ever after." He goes on to describe the "horror" that is now the book world--slow sales, staff cuts, empty offices and more. Indeed, he paints a sad… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on October 2, 2008 at 2:30pm — No Comments

5 things you didn't know about author Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Recently I tried to challenge myself to come up with 5 things that most of my readers wouldn't know about me. And here they are:

1. I was a teacher (informally) - When I was an older teen, I substituted for Kindergarten and Grade 1 teachers in a small BC school. Years later, I taught my daughter to read and by 3 and a half, she was…

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Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on October 1, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Tips for Plotting Your Novel - Part 1: Percolate Your Ideas

Fiction authors are often asked, “How do you come up with your novel plots? Where do you find those ideas?” As a Canadian suspense author, I am often asked these questions, and my answers will usually include something about letting ideas percolate and ferment.

I know―it sounds like I’m brewing coffee and making homemade wine, but in reality I’m creating what I hope will be a fast-paced suspense novel that will be enjoyed by readers worldwide. I think that percolating a novel plot is… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on September 30, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Self-publishing success stories

Big Houses Benefit from Savvy Self-Publishers by Rachel Deahl -- Publishers Weekly

Every so often a self-publishing Cinderella story makes headlines. In 2003 it was a home-schooled 20-year-old, Christopher Paolini, who sold his first novel about a dragon to Knopf, and in 2006 Kathleen McGowan got a seven-figure deal from S&S for her Da Vinci Code–esque Mary Magdalene series. And in the coming months, look for more self-publishing success stories, as the big… Continue

Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on September 29, 2008 at 3:00pm — 2 Comments

Sunday Salon: a place for avid readers

An author friend of mine, Karen Harrington, invited me to join Sunday Salon, a place where people read books and chronicle their journeys. It's not necessarily just for writing book reviews, but for commenting on what you like about the book, the author, the writing itself--basically anything book related.

As the site says,…

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Added by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on September 29, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments