Story Behind The 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
Reviews
<h4 style="text-align:center;" align="center"><span style="background-color:#bfbfff;font-size:12px;">"Tardif, already a big hit in Canada...a name to reckon with south of the border." --<em>BOOKLIST<br /><br /></em></span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align:center;font-size:12px;" align="center"><span style="background-color:#ffffff;font-size:12px;">"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<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:12px;">"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<br /><br />"Tardif again leaves a lasting mark on her readers...Moving and irresistible." --Midwest Book Review<br /></span><span style="font-size:12px;"><br />"Cheryl Kaye Tardif's novel, Whale Song, would be a tough act to follow for any written genre." --Fresh Fiction<br /><br />"Cheryl Tardif is a new addition to the ranks of Margaret Atwood." --R. Kyle, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer<br /></span><br />"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 <em>Soul and Shadow</em><br /><br />"A powerful tale of mystery, drama, coming-of-age, and Native mysticism, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601640072/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk"><em><span style="color:#006699;">Whale Song: A Novel</span></em></a> was like a magical journey...I couldn't put it down! --Laurel-Rain Snow, author of Web of Tyranny<br /><br /></h4>