SUBMERGED author, Cheryl Kaye Tardif, talks about writing

My guest today is international bestselling author, Cheryl Kaye Tardif, who is on her big blog tour for her new thriller, SUBMERGED.

Cheryl, when did you first know that you wanted to write?

I knew I wanted to write much earlier than most writers I know. When I was a toddler, my mom found me scribbling underneath the words in a Dr. Seuss book. She was horrified that I was defacing a book. When she asked me what I was doing, I looked up at her and said, “I’m writing the story.” I mean, couldn’t she figure that out for herself? I guess I knew back then that I was destined to tell stories.

What writers first inspired you to write?

Dr. Seuss, of course (see above.) When I was a pre-teen, I wanted to write like Carolyn Keene, who was actually Edward Stratemeyer, the author of the Nancy Drew series. I loved solving mysteries with Nancy. When I was a teen, I wanted to write like Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Saul, Danielle Steel, V.C. Andrews and a bunch of others. And I learned that I like scaring people. As an adult I discovered I had my own stories to tell, so now I want to write like Cheryl Kaye Tardif. J

What was the first novel you ever wrote?

I wrote my first novel in high school. It was called Beckoning Wrath and was a supernatural suspense. I brought it to school to show my teacher, but it was stolen from my locker. That was way before computers and flash drives, and all I had was a typed manuscript and no copy. Needless to say, I was devastated. I wrote my next novel about five years later. It remains unpublished, but I may resurrect it one day.

What types of books do you tend to write?

I write books of suspense. This includes: mystery, thrillers, horror, supernatural, paranormal and romantic suspense—or combinations of these. I like a mix of genres and I never follow a set formula. My stories tell themselves—or my characters do.

Please share the back cover text of your new thriller, SUBMERGED, with us.

Two strangers submerged in guilt, brought together by fate…

After a tragic car accident claims the lives of his wife, Jane, and son, Ryan, Marcus Taylor is immersed in grief. But his family isn’t the only thing he has lost. An addiction to painkillers has taken away his career as a paramedic. Working as a 911 operator is now the closest he comes to redemption—until he gets a call from a woman trapped in a car.

Rebecca Kingston yearns for a quiet weekend getaway to think about her impending divorce from her abusive husband. When a mysterious truck runs her off the road, she is pinned behind the steering wheel, unable to help her two children in the back seat. Her only lifeline is a cell phone with a quickly depleting battery and a stranger’s calm voice on the other end telling her everything will be all right.

Get SUBMERGED today.

Learn more about Cheryl Kaye Tardif at http://www.cherylktardif.com and follow her on Twitter.

Enter Cheryl’s March Giveaway – 59 Prizes! http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com