The Freedom Formula has repeatedly been an Amazon best seller and this is your chance to get your own copy - or a copy for a friend who needs to find the freedom formula to improve their life. She offers her book to help you learn how to create and grow a conscious business. In addition, she is now offer the Freedom Formula Experience in January -- more information about that below.

Download your own copy of the Freedom Formula Sampler which contains endorsements, the full table of contents and the first chapter. This is a great way to sample the book and its contents. Download here http://www.loveyourlife.com/documentFiles/182.pdf



How to Shift into Abundance

In times like these, when the external world is absorbed in "lack, lack, lack", it's more important than ever for you to shift into abundance... and stay there. Yet, when I analyzed the responses to my recent survey (on the challenges you face in your business), the majority said they were having trouble getting out of fear and living in abundance.

So, in this article I'll be sharing one of the most powerful tools I use to shift into abundance... no matter what's happening around me. This is a process I use practically every single day to keep myself in the energy of abundance. Not only is this process simple, energizing and fun; it works!
Energize Your Vision

Step 1: Find a vision partner. In order for your vision to have the biggest impact on your life, it's best to energetically speak your vision out loud to a vision partner. Your partner needs to be someone who "gets" you and who believes in an abundant world. Create a partnership with someone who support you in your dreams, doesn't call you "crazy" for thinking BIG, and understands the power of a held intention.

Step 2: Set up a time to talk with your partner. Once you've found a visioning partner, make an appointment to talk on the phone for at least fifteen minutes every week. The first time you have your call, you may want to schedule a bit longer so you can talk about the process after you're done and check-in with each other to see if you have any suggestions or feedback for future sessions.

Step 3: Create a sacred space. When it's time for your vision call, you'll want to do a brief centering exercise that aligns you with each other and establishes the sacred space in which you'll share together. Just taking a few deep breaths together can easily get you centered. (That's the yoga instructor in me speaking.)

Step 4: Speak your vision. After you've taken a few deep breaths and created a scared space together, the first person to go simply begins to speak their vision to their partner... as if you were experiencing it right now! Allows yourself to transcend any current situation in your life right now and truly shift into the energy of your vision ALREADY being realized. When you do this, you connect at the highest level of the Infinite Abundant Supply, to God, the Universe (or whatever you call that Source of all that is). And, your resonance with this "field" is what causes things to shift in your life.

Step 5: Listen to your partner. As important as it is for the person speaking their vision to step into the energy of having ALREADY realized their dreams, the partner (listener) also has an important responsibility. The listener must hear his/her partner's vision as if it IS already done. They must hold the vision, and see it as vividly as their partner does. Then, once the partner is complete, the listener says, "I see that vision for you." The listener can also contribute any additional words of support or any insights they received that would benefit their partner in realizing their vision.

The experience of having another person listen to you with the intention of your vision being realized is deeply powerful. It's been one of the best tools I've ever used in manifesting all that has come to me in recent years from the birth of my daughter and the purchase of a brand-new custom home, to the release of one business and the rapid expansion of another. I urge you to find a partner and get started with this today because remember.... it's not only fun, it works!

NOTE: If you cannot find a vision partner for this process, then you can simply do it on your own. Be sure to SPEAK your vision out loud, even if only to yourself. The spoken word, (and the energy) it carries is a key piece for this to work.

Copyright (c) 2008 Christine Kloser

Christine Kloser, author of The Freedom Formula, helps small businesses put soul in their business and money in the bank. If you want to enjoy a purpose-driven business and a soulful life, send for my free Conscious Business Success Kit, which includes my report, How to Avoid the 3 Massive Mistakes Made by Conscious Entrepreneurs and audio, 7 Strategies Entrepreneurial Authors Need to Know Before Writing a Word, at www.loveyourlife.com. Be sure to check out Christine's upcoming event The Freedom Formula Experience at www.freedomformulaexperience.com

The Freedom Formula Experience - Learn More and Get A Free Report

Discover How to Consciously Capitalize on the Biggest Trend in Business Ever

There’s a massive trend occurring in business today. Entrepreneurs who are aware of this trend (and know how to consciously capitalize on it) are making more money, experiencing more freedom and having a bigger impact on the world... no matter what’s going on around them.

My friend and colleague, Christine Kloser, award-winning author of The Freedom Formula and producer of The Freedom Formula Experience (this January), wants to help YOU make the most of this exciting trend by offering you a F-R-E-E audio of her eye-opening talk, “How to Consciously Capitalize on the Biggest Trend in Business Ever.” I’ve listened to this talk and it’s truly life-changing. Trust me, you’ll want to listen to this audio right away! It’s absolutely f-r-e-e at http://www.freedomformulaexperience.com?af=9927. And, while you’re there, you’ll also learn more about exactly how to put Christine’s Freedom Formula to work in your business so you can fully embrace this trend and experience your full potential as an entrepreneur.

Christine Kloser Bio:
Christine Kloser is the Author of The Freedom Formula®: How to Put Soul in Your Business and Money in Your Bank; and Conscious Entrepreneurs: A Radical New Approach to Purpose Passion and Profit. She is also the president of Love Your Life Publishing a division of her company, Love Your Life LLC. Christine is committed to helping entrepreneurs make money in their business... and make a difference in the world, while enjoying a lifestyle of freedom, fun and fulfillment.

Christine has been an entrepreneur since 1991, when she knew the moment she received her first check directly from a client, that an entrepreneurial lifestyle was the only option for her. Having faced the ups and downs of 17 years of business ownership (including near bankruptcy) she has come out ahead. And, now dedicates her work to helping other entrepreneurs avoid the pitfalls she made by teaching them how to blend passion and purpose with bottom-line profit.

Her products and services include seminars/events, books, classes, home-study programs, coaching, consulting, speaking, and writing. Her book publishing division will be releasing at least 15 new titles in 2008... all written by her entrepreneurial clients. Her OWN writings are featured in her books, as well as her FREE bi-monthly email newsletter, the Conscious Business Connection which reaches more than 5,000 subscribers worldwide. Her insights have also been shared in nation-wide media including the Los Angeles Times, Woman’s Day, Making It! TV and several dozen other media and books.

Explode Your Sales Success By Mark Tewart

Mark Tewart is touring cyber space with Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours in November and December. We know that success is important in any business venture and to achieve success - productivity is a key. Below, I'll share an article from Mark on how to...

Explode Your Sales Success

By Mark Tewart

In the last several years, I have had a revelation about the art and science of sales. The answer to sales success is within all of us. The answer is simple but the key to unlock the answer is elusive.

If you were to go back to the late 1800s, the first formal sales training provided by the likes of J. Edward Douglas and others, you will find teaching geared toward techniques — tie-downs, inverted tie-downs, etc. For more than a century now, sales people have been trained with various forms of techniques, word tracks, closes and other sales processes. Do these things work? Is this what creates success for the best performing sales people? My own unscientific research says no.

For more than 25 years I have been involved in sales and sales training reaching the highest levels of success. I have read more than 250 books and listened to hundreds of CDs on sales. I am considered a world-class expert on sales, but I am just now tapping into a higher level of consciousness in the arena. My conclusion is that most of what you have been taught about sales and use on a daily basis is not what creates the highest levels of success.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Tipping Point,” Gladwell describes theory and various supporting research about human behavior and how people make decisions. The author uses the term “small slicing” to describe the idea that substantial and correct information can be obtained about a person and his or her future behavior based on small slices of their communication and current behavior. The information in this book supports theories and research that I have had for the last several years. However, the theories are hard to articulate and get others to model. The key to success is simple but hard to define.

The old phrases, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” and “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it” are examples of simple truths. The magic answers to how do you make a great first impression and how do you say things correctly are what are much harder to define.

Sales techniques, sales processes and word tracks can all be helpful but are not the key to peak performance. If those things were the answer then everyone who ever had sales training or had modeled a successful sales person would become peak performers. That’s not the case.

Even the words “sales” and “selling” create a false direction for sales people. The proper mindset for a sales person is to think of very personal interaction with buyers. The mission of a sales person is to create an environment conducive to buying for the customer. TLC – think like a customer. Not just any customer — the particular customer you are with now. One-size-fits-all selling does not work.

The so-called road to a sale or sales process is only as good as the personal interaction of the sales person with the customer during the process. This is why training on just sales process without education in understanding interpersonal communication, behavior or the art and science of persuasion creates a sales environment of failure for sales people and frustration for customers.

Think more about the customer’s thoughts and emotions and how they are being expressed to you. To create a buying environment for the customer, you must take all your senses and intuition to a higher level. You must begin to see like a deaf person, hear like a blind person and understand the customer as if you were his or her deepest and most caring friend.

If you would like seven quick tips to start you on the road to higher sales success, email me with the phrase “7 quick tips” in the subject line. Email - info@tewart.com

For more information about Mark Tewart -

Mark Tewart’s websites include: www.marktewartlive.com, www.marktewart.com and www.howtobeasalessuperstar.info

To read the first chapter of How to be a Sales Superstar and to receive several FREE bonuses from Mark Tewart, visit www.marktewartlive.com.

Full tour details are posted at http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-be-sales-superstar-by-mark.html

Virtual Blog Tour for Winton Churchill's Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycles

Virtual Blog Tour for Winton Churchill's Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycles

– Explained In An Easy to Understand Manner to Benefit Your Business

Beginning Monday September 15, 2008, WINTON CHURCHILL will begin to tour cyber space to promote his business marketing book, EMAIL MARKETING FOR COMPLEX SALES CYCLES. This book is a must have for small business owners, professional consultants, marketing executives, sales executives and anybody in a technology company. Most of these businesses have complex sales cycles. That simply means they form a relationship with their prospects before the prospects make a purchase.

Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycles shows how to put together email marketing programs that help build relationships and sales with prospects. This includes key priniciples, strategies, plans and tactics for executives in SMB with complex sales cycles plus the pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Some of the topics in Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycles include:

· Building rapport with prospects

· Presenting information in a way that they don’t drown

· Reducing tedious and demeaning sales tactics

· Closing more sales

· Shortening sales cycle

· Reducing stress in sales organization

· Reducing uncertainty about meeting forecasts

Winton Churchill is Founder and CEO of Churchill Method, Inc., an international sales and marketing consulting firm that helps clients improve their sales and marketing processes. He is the author of “Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycles.” He has held senior positions in both F500 technology firms including Apple, Oracle, Spinnaker and Sun. He headed sales & marketing as VP at Contact Software, the developers of ACT!. He is Past President of the South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce. The SBACC serves 18 Chambers and more than 53,000 businesses in coastal Southern California.

For full details about Winton Churchill’s virtual blog tour, visit his tour home page at http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/winton-churchill-email-marketing-for.html. For the most up to date tour information, visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com.

For more information – www.churchillmethod.com

For details on Barnes and Noble - Paperback Edition
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/EMail-Marketing-for-Complex-Sales-Cycles/Winton-Churchill/e/9781600374210/?itm=1

Author as Entrepreneur - Hugh Ballou

Thursday August 14

Several weeks ago Les Brown of the Frazzled Entrepreneur began a series on his radio show to feature a number of authors and business people that I’ve worked with. This week he interviews Hugh Ballou. The show is at www.blogtalkradio.com/frazzledentrepreneur - 8 pm EST - Call-in Number: (646) 200-0886 Hugh will talk with Les Brown (the frazzled entrepreneur) about being an author and an entrepreneur.

For more information about Hugh Ballou – visit www.hughballou.com. Book information is available at http://www.amazon.com/Transforming-Power-Transformational-Encouragement-Inspiration/dp/0881775312 For full tour details, visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/transforming-power-virtual-tour-with.html

A SPECIAL BONUS TO EACH PERSON WHO PURCHASES TRANSFORMING POWER TODAY – Hugh Ballou has compiled a list of great FREE bonus gifts for anyone who purchases Transforming Power today. To see a sample of the items that are being given away, visit http://www.transforming-power.com. Just buy a copy of Transforming Power, return to this page and click to submit your invoice number to receive the web page link to download all of these gifts for FREE.

Nikki Leigh – Author, Publicist and Tour Coordinator

www.nikkileigh.com – Book Promo 101: Learn the Basics of Book Promotion

Follow Me on Twitter - www.twitter.com/litekepr

Something Special is Happening Today

I’ve got some very exciting news. A good friend and colleague is having a huge book launch today on Amazon.com. The best part of this campaign is the subject matter of the book. It is on how to become a conscious entrepreneur.

There's something really unique to this campaign. You could win two tickets to go to a conference that costs a few thousand per person, just for buying the book. Everyone who buys the book in today's campaign is eligible to win two tickets to Christine's Freedom Formula Event where you can learn from and meet Marianne Williamson, Neale Donald Walsch, and James Twyman.

Who knows, for the price of the book you could be sitting in a room with some of the world’s most amazing luminaries.

The book, The Freedom Formula by Christine Kloser, is 22% off right now at Amazon and of course, you get a bunch of great bonus gifts from people like Neale Donald Walsch, Marianne Williamson, Ali Brown, James Twyman, Wayne Dyer and many more. The value of the bonuses is worth thousands.

You know, this could be one of those meant to be things. I believe the Universe supports us in our growth. The book’s content will definitely contribute to this for anyone who reads it.

How do I know? Because I have read the book and can endorse it 100%. Actually, you should see the endorsements on Amazon for the book.

Please go to http://www.freedomformulabook.com right now and get a copy of The Freedom Formula. You will be grateful you did.

I really appreciate it and if you could let others know about the campaign by forwarding this message to people you know enjoy this genre of books and would love to win the tickets.

Thanks for your support.

Nikki Leigh

www.nikkileigh.com

Interview With Jill Lublin

Wednesday July 16


http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/ – The Book Connection with Cheryl Maladrinos (Interview with Jill)


Jill Lublin’s article "10 Ways to Get Noticed" is on page 22 of the latest issue of Performance Magazine. You can read it here

http://www.theperformancemagazine.com/pdf/performance_16_2.pdf

(You may notice Hugh Ballou on page 10 - he is touring with me next month.)


For more information about Jill – visit www.jilllublin.com. For full tour details, visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/jill-lublin-author-of-get-noticed-get.html


Nikki Leigh – Author, Publicist and Tour Coordinator

www.nikkileigh.com – Book Promo 101: Learn the Basics of Book Promotion

www.virtualblogtour.blogspot.com – Get more information about virtual blog tours

The New Promotional Environment

Monday July 14

Visit with Jennifer Mattern as she shares a guest post from Jill Lublin about the New Promotional Environment. Visit Jennifer’s blog at www.NakedPR.com

Tuesday July 15

Michelle Price shares information on how to “Become a Celebrity” from Jill Lublin on her blog – www.athirdmind.com

For more information about Jill – visit www.jilllublin.com. For full tour details, visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/jill-lublin-author-of-get-noticed-get.html

Nikki Leigh – Author, Publicist and Tour Coordinator

www.nikkileigh.com – Book Promo 101: Learn the Basics of Book Promotion

http://www.virtualblogtour.blogspot.com
Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours

Part One - "Where to Get Noticed"

Friday July 11

Kim Freeman is posting Part One of “Where to Get Noticed” by Jill Lublin. You can read this article on her blog at http://catalystleadershipcoaching.com/blog/ . Part Two will be posted on Kim’s blog next Friday.

Dyan Garris is being interviewed on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LiveyourPurpose - 8 AM PST - Call in number: 646 – 378 – 1381

Did you miss my interview with Jill Lublin? If so, visit www.blogtalkradio.com/nikkileigh to listen or to download your own copy of the interview. On my radio show (www.blogtalkradio.com/nikkileigh), Jill made a special offer - Crash Course on Publicity: The Step by Step Process Anyone Can Use to Attract Free Publicity for their Business or Non-Profit. The Nikki Blog Tour Special - $495 and bring a friend for half price. For More Information: http://promisingpromotion.com/special.html

For more information about Jill – visit www.jilllublin.com. For full tour details, visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/jill-lublin-author-of-get-noticed-get.html

Nikki Leigh – Author, Publicist and Tour Coordinator

www.nikkileigh.com – Book Promo 101: Learn the Basics of Book Promotion

www.virtualblogtour.blogspot.com – Get more information about virtual blog tours

Read an Excerpt from Get Noticed Get Referrals

Read an excerpt from Get Noticed… Get Referrals - the Secrets to Successful Connecting. This is shared with you by Andy Lopato on his Connecting People blog - http://networkingandreferrals.blogspot.com

I invite you to join me as we launch an interview series - The Frazzled Entrepreneur Program: The Author as Entrepreneur with Nikki Leigh. The show is at 8 pm EST and the call in number is Call-in Number: (646) 200-0886. Over the next month or so, authors who have worked with me will be interviewed throughout this series. You’re welcome to join us. Visit the show http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FrazzledEntrepreneur.

On my radio show (www.blogtalkradio.com/nikkileigh), Jill made a special offer - Crash Course on Publicity: The Step by Step Process Anyone Can Use to Attract Free Publicity for their Business or Non-Profit. The Nikki Blog Tour Special - $495 and bring a friend for half price

For More Information: http://promisingpromotion.com/special.html

For more information about Jill – visit www.jilllublin.com. For full tour details, visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/jill-lublin-author-of-get-noticed-get.html

Nikki Leigh – Author, Publicist and Tour Coordinator

www.nikkileigh.com – Book Promo 101: Learn the Basics of Book Promotion

www.virtualblogtour.blogspot.com – Get more information about virtual blog tours

The "Get Noticed" Virtual Tour for Jill Lublin Begins July 7th

Monday July 7

Today we kick off the virtual blog tour for Jill Lublin to promote her latest book, Get Noticed… Get Referrals. You are invited to listen to my latest show on Book Promo 101 – Write, Publish and Promote. This is the link to listen to the show, or to download the show www.blogtalkradio.com/nikkileigh 3:00 – 4:00 pm EST - Call-in Number: (347) 215-8201 Feel free to call in with questions for Jill or post questions in the chatroom. For more information about Jill Lublin and Get Noticed… Get Referrals - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nikkileigh/2008/07/07/Nikki-Leigh-Talks-With-Jill-Lublin-About-Getting-Noticed-Getting-Referrals

For more information about Jill – visit www.jilllublin.com and www.getnoticedblog.com. For full tour details, visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/jill-lublin-author-of-get-noticed-get.html

Nikki Leigh – Author, Publicist and Tour Coordinator

www.nikkileigh.com – Book Promo 101: Learn the Basics of Book Promotion

www.virtualblogtour.blogspot.com – Get more information about virtual blog tours

Personality Not Included by Rohit Bhargava

I want to take this opportunityto tell you about a wonderful new business book - its called Personality Not Included by Rohit Bhargava.

I've always worked to make any business I owned or managed, customer friendly and unique. I have never liked the "faceless" companies that are so big and that seem to ignore the customer and the human element. The idea of a business having a personality is a great idea and Rohit definitely has the background and the resources to create a great book about this topic.

I highly recommend it and my review of it was just posted - the link is posted below. Feel free to let me know what you think and if you have questions. If you want to set your business apart from your competitors -- this is a must read. Even if you think business is fine, it would be good to read this and see how you can make it even better :)

Nikki Leigh

http://www.evancarmichael.com/Book-Reviews/2820/Personality-Not-Included-by-Rohit-Bhargava.html

Robin Jay - Art of the Business Lunch

Visit with Robin Jay, author of the Art of the Business Lunch, and learn about the story behind her book cover.

Visit her at http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/

Nikki Leigh

Learn About the Art of the Business Lunch with Robin Jay

Join me as I talk with motivational speaker and author Robin Jay, author of The Art of the Business Lunch. We'll talk about her background, the experience she brings to the table and she gives us some tips on how to make a business lunch more successful.

Nikki - Tell us a bit about your business background.

Robin Jay – I’m originally from Cleveland , Ohio , but I have lived in Las Vegas , Nevada for more than 33 years. I guess I really don’t like the cold. We’re in the middle of summer right now and even though it’s 110*, it’s still better to me than scraping ice off a windshield in January! I sold advertising for more than 18 years. During that time, I hosted more than 3,000 client lunches and I saw my sales increase by more than 2000%! I knew I was on to something and I wanted to share that information with other business professionals so they could also enjoy more success.

Nikki – You have a definite point that those kind of sales numbers show you were doing things the right way. Congratulations on that sort of increase. I’ve worked with business owners who want to get all they can from a customer while they have the chance, but I prefer to build long lasting relationships with customers and clients. What do you feel are a couple of keys to building long lasting business relationships?

Robin Jay – Ask yourself, “When was the last time I was made to feel special…REALLY special?” I’m afraid that most people would be hard-pressed to remember exactly when someone made them feel special. And it’s quite likely that no one has made your client feel special, either. I would take my clients out to lunch and make it all about them. By asking them about what’s going on in their lives, listening to their answers and sharing quality time with them, I manage to make them feel special. If they enjoy their time with me, then they are going to want to do business with me. There is an art to it. Relationships are important because people prefer to do business with people they LIKE. No one ever spent their money with someone they hated just because that person had the best price. Almost everyone has traveled farther or spent more because they preferred the way one business operated over another. It’s what Brian Tracy calls “The Friendship Factor.” In other words, people will not do business with you unless they are convinced that you have THEIR best interest at heart. You really have to believe it, too. You have to put your client’s or customer’s needs first…and in doing so, your needs will ultimately be met as well. It’s a skill that anyone can learn IF they have the right attitude and the willingness to learn it. In my book, I reveal specific ways in which the reader can differentiate themselves from their competition. So few people work to elevate themselves to a higher level - that it can actually be quite easy to sail past your competition by applying the principles that I share in my book.

Nikki – I'm reading your comment and I was just saying many of the same things to someone last night. Your advise coincides with business and customer service advise my grandfather gave me when I first entered the business world. Its so critical to show your customers and clients that you want what's best for them. Awesome point that just having the cheapest price isn't enough - I firmly believe that excellent customer service is also very important.

Some people cannot balance work and social events. Can you share a couple of tips on how to use a lunch or other social event to build a positive business relationship?

Robin Jay – Sure. A networking or social event with clients should never be confused with a party amongst friends. It’s very easy to say or do something to offend your clients and you may never recover. A mistake could cost you a lot of money and business in the long run.
~ Remember that even though a social outing is better than a day at the office, that it’s still work.
~ Be on your best behavior. If you wouldn’t say or do something if your boss was standing right there, then don’t say or do it when it’s just you and your client.
~Take advantage of your client’s relaxed state to find out what’s going on in his or her life and if there is any way you can help them.
~ Put your client’s needs first. In doing so, your needs will ultimately be met.

Nikki – I’ve been in business situations where an event got to be too social and the business relationship was hurt. What are a couple of suggestions of talk or behavior that people should avoid in a social situation where they are trying to cultivate a stronger business relationship?

Robin Jay –

Avoid anything controversial.
Don’t discuss politics (hard to escape during an election year!)
While one or maybe even two drinks probably won’t hurt you, never every get drunk in front of a client.
Don’t get too personal. Instead, try to find out how you can help your client.


Nikki – I see in your bio that you’ve served on a number of committees and with several organizations. Is there one that you would recommend to others? If so, which one and why would you recommend that?

Robin Jay – Probably one of the best organizations for business is the Chamber of Commerce. Ours in Las Vegas has the third largest membership in the country! Another great organization that we have here is the Nevada Development Authority; I’m sure everyone has a similar organization where they live. It is an organization that works to bring new business to a city. Most large metropolitan areas have such an organization. This is ideal because new businesses are recruited and likely attend these events. What better way to do business than to get first crack at someone?!

And any other charity that is close to your heart will appreciate your efforts. Habitat for Humanity does a lot and provides a great sense of community. If you don’t have a favorite, ask your client what is their favorite charity and why; then ask them about volunteering. They will be honored you chose to lend your support to “their” charity.

And always volunteer to serve on the board or at least on a committee. It’s the best way to get to know everyone AND make a difference in your community.

Nikki – On a light note – can you share some information with us about your dog Georgie?

Robin Jay – Ahhh – my favorite subject! Georgie is one spoiled dog. She is very delicate Shih Tzu; between her food allergies and chronic pancreatitis, I get to cater to her a LOT! I push her in a stroller which she really enjoys, even though the walks are really for me. It’s a great break from the computer and sitting at my desk. Every writer should stop writing for a few minutes for playtime with their dog, kids or maybe even their spouse! It’s good to get the blood flowing.

Thank you for visiting with us today and for sharing wonderful tips for us. So many things in business are affected by the way we behave and the way we treat clients and your suggestions are wonderful. It was great to have you with us and we'll look forward to hearing more from you tomorrow at http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/. On WEdnesday, join me at the Judge a Book by its Cover blog to learn about the cover for Robin's book.

Nikki Leigh

and Muze - my cat and my diversion on a busy work day :)

New Posts for Your Review

There are a number of new posts on my book theme blogs. Feel free to take a look -- these are the links. Are any of these, your books??

http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/ - First Chapter Blog

http://mybestfriendsstory.blogspot.com/ - Best Friend From a Story

http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/ - Book Cover Blog

http://itsallinthesetting.blogspot.com/ - Story Setting

http://shareyourheroine.blogspot.com/ - Heroine

http://shareyourhero.blogspot.com/ - Hero

http://badguysandvillains.blogspot.com/ - Bad Guys or Gals

http://startwithfacts.blogspot.com/ - Non Fiction Book Background


Do you have a story about a best friend in one of your books that you would like to share? If so, click on http://mybestfriendsstory.blogspot.com/ and click on HOW TO SUBMIT for more information. Come on folks - tell us about that all important best friend :)

Nikki Leigh
http://www.nikkileigh.com/

Whale Song by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Today we'll talk to Cheryl Kaye Tardif. She is a Canadian author and she is going to share some details with us about her novel Whale Sone. She has some surprises within the interview for you. Read on for more details.

Nikki - Tell us a bit about how Whale Song came to be.

Cheryl - Whale Song arrived as a simple idea: ‘What if your mother died when you were young, a pre-teen?’ It then evolved to: ‘What if there was a mystery surrounding your mother’s death?’ And of course, these ideas took shape, joining with a native legend I had heard years ago about killer whales being the reincarnated souls of loved ones who have passed on.

The plot for Whale Song literally ‘haunted’ me for two years, but I was jaded by the writing business, and wasn’t sure if I wanted to go through writing something, sending it out and getting back another stack of rejection letters. And then one day, I was visiting with a friend and for some reason started telling her the story of Whale Song. The tears in her eyes made me realize I was really onto something. And then she gave me some very wise advice. She said, “Cheryl, don’t worry if it gets published. Just write it for yourself. Write it because you have to.”

Within a week or two I started writing. My friend was right. I had to write it. That’s why it is so different from anything else I’ve written before or after. It’s a heartwarming, gut-wrenching, life-changing story that will change the way you view life…and death.

Nikki – Whale Song takes place mainly in Bamfield on Vancouver Island. Tell us why you chose that particular location.

Cheryl - Well, I did have a few people ask me why I didn’t set the story in Edmonton where I am living now, and other than the obvious answers (we have no ocean, therefore we have no killer whales), I needed a setting that was isolated, small, and near the water. When I was doing research online, I discovered there was a marine station in Bamfield, a small town on Vancouver Island’s northwest side. Bamfield proved to be perfect for what I needed. The weird thing is, I have never been there and wasn’t familiar with the town. Now I am surprised at the number of people I have met who know Bamfield quite well.

I also needed access to Victoria and Vancouver, but I didn’t want it to be easy access. Again, Bamfield works because it is very difficult to get to and takes many hours from Victoria. Of course I did need an area that killer whales were often seen, and so the island works very well for that.

Selecting this setting in Whale Song adds an almost exotic flavor. The wilds of nature, wolves and whales, plus the prevalent native culture of that area enriches the story. It took me back to a time when I was young, growing up on the Queen Charlotte Islands, which are north of Vancouver Island and just as isolated and wild.

Nikki – Your website mentions native myths – can you share an example of a native myth that is woven into the book?

Cheryl - Nana, the wise native grandmother, tells many fascinating stories to Sarah, the main character. In the beginning, Nana does this to share the native culture, but later she tells her stories to help Sarah deal with a terrible tragedy in her young life.
Here is an excerpt of one of the legends—The Bridge of the Gods:
Long ago, the Great Spirit gave the people of the land everything they needed. No one was cold or hungry. But soon two brothers began to argue over the land. The Great Spirit told the brothers to shoot an arrow in opposite directions.
“Wherever your arrow falls, that will be your land.”
One brother aimed his arrow high and shot it southwards into the valley. The other brother shot his arrow north into the Klickitat country.
Then the Great Spirit built a bridge over the river that divided the brothers’ lands.
“This will connect you,” the Great Spirit said. “It will be a sign of peace, so that you and your people may visit those on the other side. As long as you remain friends, the Bridge of the Gods will remain.”
For years, the two brothers remained peaceful. But gradually, they became selfish, greedy and wicked. The Great Spirit punished them by withholding the sun’s warmth. Soon, the rains came and the people were very cold.
They begged the Great Spirit, “Give us fire or we will die!”
There was an old woman on one side of the bridge who still had some fire left in her lodge. The Great Spirit, softened by the people’s pleas for warmth, asked the woman, “What do you want most, in exchange for sharing your fire?”

Of course, when you buy a copy of Whale Song, you’ll find out how this legend ends, and how Sarah’s life is forever changed by one horrifying but loving act.

Nikki – What prompted you to write a book about assisted suicide?

Cheryl - Again, it was the ‘what if” factor. What if your mother was dying a horrible, painful death and she asked your father to help end her life? Would he do it? Would she do it on her own? Would they find someone else to do it? And how would that affect a child left behind?

Assisted dying is such a controversial issue, especially with the June release of Jack Kevorkian, the retired pathologist who made headlines for helping an alleged 130+ people end their lives. There is a clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, called Dignitas that helps provide lodging, care and counseling for those who wish to end their lives but cannot do so in their own countries because of laws. Dignitas is the last stop for some people and I’ve read descriptions of their patients’ deaths that can only be described as peaceful and perhaps even beautiful.

We are taught from an early age to fear death, to forestall it, sometimes at a terrible cost. I am not saying I condone assisted suicide or assisted dying as a commonplace service, but I believe there are some people in certain situations (those who are dying from disease and suffering while they wait) who should be given the choice. It is such a tough issue. No one wants to even think of it. But in the end, I believe it comes down to the right to choose. People who smoke are choosing something that jeopardizes their lives and it’s not illegal. Why can we not choose how we want to leave this world? Why do we have to rely on medicines and machines to extend our lives unnaturally because science says it can? Choice. Isn’t that our God-given right?

Nikki – I like books that have an element of mystery woven around a family. I do that in one of my series and readers have said great things about it. I feel this draws the reader into the mystery even more because it affects the family I want them to care about. How do you think this combination works with readers?

Cheryl - I have always been drawn to writing stories of horror, suspense and mystery. Whale Song is very different from a lot of my other work. It has a softer, sweeter side, one that is realistic and heartbreaking, yet makes you feel good when you’re done reading it. But the key for me is the people who inhabit each story.

I want my characters to “drive” the story. I want readers to care for them, love them, hurt for them, cry with them, even hate them. The interesting thing that I think appeals to most of us is that families have a history, and that means they have secrets. Dig deep enough and you’ll find lies, tragedies, deception and more in your own family tree. And that’s what makes any story about family exciting.

In Whale Song, I have a more typical family-- the father Jack, the mother Daniella, and the daughter Sarah. This leads to a very emotional story that anyone can identify with, and I believe that’s its charm.

In Divine Intervention, I have Jasi and her team of psychic agents who are very much like a family since they work closely together and must rely heavily on each other for their very lives.
In The River, the main character Del assembles a team to go with her to the Nahanni River in search of her father. They slowly become like family, making some of their deaths hard to bear.

Nikki – Did you research whales for the story?

Cheryl - They seem like fascinating animals and since whale songs are beautiful, it gives an interesting mental image when your book title is mentioned.
I spent a lot of time researching, reading and even listening to material on killer whales. Since Sarah’s dad is a marine biologist, I needed to know about echolocation, killer whales in general and their habits. I found it most interesting to read about whale adoption, and I’m not talking about people who adopt a whale but how occasionally an abandoned whale is adopted into a pod. It’s rare, but it does happen.

While researching, I learned many interesting things that were very useful in broadening the story. I also contacted various experts, something which I enjoy doing for all of my novels. Even in fiction, I believe research is vital if you want readers to believe what you’re telling them. I see every reader as an intellectual being, so I never want to talk down to them or fluff something over. For me, research is a definite must.

The interesting thing about the title is that it came to me crystal clear, without any hesitation or forethought. I knew what the story was about, and I saw the words--WHALE SONG—flash before me. When you read the novel, you will see why it fits perfectly.

Thank you so much for inviting me here. This month I am giving away free books at some of my virtual book tour stops. And this is one of them!

*I am happy to announce that one of your site visitors will win an autographed copy of Divine Intervention. All they have to do is email me with the correct title of the legend or myth that I discussed here on this site. I will do a draw today and notify the winner. Email Cheryl at
cherylktardif@shaw.ca. Be sure to check my schedule: http://www.whalesongbook.com/virtual-tour-2007.

Please note: A portion of my royalties for Whale Song is going to 3 nonprofit organizations to help combat social issues like poverty, homelessness and addictions, in honor of my brother Jason who was murdered last year.

To order Whale Song, please order from Amazon.com this month. If you order on my birthday, August 12th, you may qualify to win one of 44 prize packages. For more info on this special contest, please see 44 Prizes. Also, if you order Whale Song plus two other Kunati titles, you can qualify to enter Kunati’s Great Summer Reads Contest.

~ Cheryl Kaye Tardif, bestselling author of Whale Song
http://www.whalesongbook.com/

SPECIAL NOTE--- JUST IN:

TONIGHT, August 8th, at 6:00 PM Eastern, Cheryl will be interviewed on ArtistFirst Radion Network. You can listen online at http://www.artistfirst.com/ ("Click 2 Listen Live").

Judi Moreo Author of You Are More Than Enough

"You Are More Than Enough: Every Woman's Guide to Purpose, Passion, and Power" by Judi Moreo

Judi Moreo shares some information about the cover of her book.
Visit - http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/ skip to main skip to sidebar for more information about Judi’s cover art.