WHALE SONG (2010 trade paperback edition with bonus content)

Thirteen years ago, Sarah Richardson’s life was shattered after the tragic assisted suicide of her mother. The shocking tragedy left a grief-stricken teen-aged Sarah with partial amnesia.

Some things are easier to forget.

But now a familiar voice from her past sends Sarah, a talented mid-twenties ad exec, back to her past. A past that she had thought was long buried.

Some things are meant to be buried.

Torn by nightmares and visions of a yellow-eyed wolf, yet aided by the creatures of the Earth and by the killer whales that call to her in the night, Sarah must face her fears and uncover the truth―even if it destroys her.

Some things are meant to be remembered―at all cost.

Set in the wilds of Canada -- Vancouver Island, Victoria, Bamfield and Vancouver.

Book Trailer

The Story Behind This Book

The story behind WHALE SONG is simple: I've always been drawn to the ocean...and to killer whales. I've yearned to swim with them. I dream of swimming with them. I think I was an orca in another life... More importantly than how I came to write WHALE SONG is its astounding effect on readers. Artist Aynsley Nisbet's life was dramatically changed after reading this novel. Her story is at the back of the book. And then there's my brother... Whale Song is dedicated to my brother Jason. Whale Song is dedicated to my brother Jason Anthony Kaye, who was brutally murdered on January 23rd, 2006. He was killed a week after his 28th birthday. When the police discovered his body lying in a cold dark alley, they immediately identified him and set out to track down his next of kin. First, they called a number of Kayes listed in the phone book. That led them nowhere. In the end, the police tracked me down through this novel―Whale Song. When they asked Jay’s friends about relatives in the area, his friends said Jason had a sister named Cheryl who lived on the south side of Edmonton. They didn’t know my full name, but they knew I had written ‘a book about whales’. They gave the police this information. The marvels of the internet eventually brought the police to find Whale Song online. And Whale Song ultimately, but sadly, brought two homicide investigators to my door. I'll never forget that day! Jason was my baby brother―a kind soul who did not deserve to die, especially in such a way. He had his whole life ahead of him and although he struggled with his demons, he had found peace and acceptance amongst his friends―the Porch Monkeys. The homeless and downtrodden are people we pass on the streets of almost any city. People we see, but do not see. Those without faces or names. The forgotten and misunderstood. The lost. The forgiven… “Forgiveness sets you free…” To read more about Jason and the Porch Monkeys, please visit: www.jaysporchmonkeys.com Read about Jason's miraculous gifts: http://members.shaw.ca/porchmonkeys/jgifts.htm

Media Mentions

• Whale Song, a Bestselling Novel by Canadian Author Cheryl Kaye Tardif, to be Gifted to Celebrities at Dallas Rocks 2008 Gala Benefit Dinner and Afterparty
• New discussion guide available for WHALE SONG, a novel that is mandatory reading for victims of violence
• Bestselling Edmonton Author Refuses to Ignore Child Poverty at Christmas
• Edmonton Author Cheryl Kaye Tardif Announces Donations to Hope Mission, the Bissell Centre and the Mustard Seed Church
• Canadian Author Cheryl Kaye Tardif Writes a Novel Titled 'Finding Bliss' on the New iPhone 3G
• Author will write novel on iPhone

Praise and Reviews

"Tardif, already a big hit in Canada...a name to reckon with south of the border." --BOOKLIST

"Whale Song is deep and true, a compelling story of love and family and the mysteries of the human heart.  Cheryl Kaye Tardif has written a beautiful, haunting novel." -- NY Times Bestselling novelist Luanne Rice, author of Beach Girls and What Matters Most

"Whale Song is reminiscent of Ring of Endless Light by M. L'Engle, and Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd." --Carol D. O'Dell, author of Mothering Mother

"Tardif again leaves a lasting mark on her readers...Moving and irresistible." --Midwest Book Review

"Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novel, Whale Song, would be a tough act to follow for any written genre." --Fresh Fiction

"Cheryl Tardif is a new addition to the ranks of Margaret Atwood." --R. Kyle, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer

"There is fascinating Indian lore and legend, and a deep vein of spirituality running throughout the book. It's a tale of heartbreak and happiness, of shutting yourself in and letting yourself go free. After you dry your tears, the message you take away will be one of hope and strength. Cheryl Tardif definitely understands the human soul. And we are lucky that she has the words to tell us about it." --Susan J. McLeod, author of Soul and Shadow

"A powerful tale of mystery, drama, coming-of-age, and Native mysticism, Whale Song: A Novel was like a magical journey...I couldn't put it down! --Laurel-Rain Snow, author of Web of Tyranny

Author Interviews

• Author Jeff Rivera interviews Cheryl Kaye Tardif on GumboWriters.com
• 'Finding Bliss' finding its birth on author's iPhone
• Established local author writing novel on cellphone
• Author will write novel on iPhone

Related Links

• Official Whale Song site