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KUNATI BOOK PUBLISHERS
Infinity Publishing
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Interview with Cheryl Kaye Tardif |
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Freelance book reviewer and film critic Jack Anthony interviews author Cheryl Kaye Tardif about Whale Song, her upcoming Kunati Books release. This is Part 1 of the interview. Part 2 will follow in May 2007. Jack Anthony (JA): Whale Song seems at first an innocent, sweet and poignant tale with a hint of mystery. But there is a darker side to this novel―the shocking assisted suicide of a key character. What compelled you to tackle such a controversial and emotional topic? Cheryl Kaye Tardif (CKT): Assisted suicide is one of the most horrifying scenarios a person could imagine. That’s why I tackled it. The morality surrounding assisted suicide has been questioned by human rights activists, the legal system, religious organizations and the general public for decades, and it is an issue that has fascinated and saddened me. In countries such as Switzerland and Belgium, assisted suicide is legal, while in Canada and the US, it is illegal. Headlines have blasted us with stories of people like Sue Rodriguez, a Canadian who fought for right-to-die laws to be changed but then lost, and the infamous Dr. Jack Kevorkian, an American doctor who invented a self-inflicted lethal injection dubbed ‘the suicide machine’. The disturbing subject of assisted suicide prompts readers to question their own beliefs. If a person you loved was dying, with no hope for survival, with only a life of pain and agony ahead of them or a lifetime of vegetative coma, could you pull the proverbial plug? Should you help them die with dignity, or shouldn’t you? And if you do, how do you live with yourself afterwards? These are the questions I wanted to explore in Whale Song. I am drawn to writing stories that make us question our beliefs, our laws and our very existence. Whale Song started from one thought: What would happen if someone felt compelled to ‘pull the plug’…?” JA: There is a mystical element to the story and strong native influences with legends from many West Coast tribes. Why are they essential to the story? CKT: I have always been fascinated by orca or killer whales, and grew up yearning to visit Skana at the Vancouver Aquarium each summer. Whales exude power, grace and mystery and are both worshipped and feared. Part of the plot for Whale Song originated from old native legends that I had heard while growing up on the Queen Charlotte Islands. It was those legends that started the seed growing, culminating in the setting and mood of the story. But it was a particular native legend, one that said that if a killer whale was seen close to shore, it was a reincarnated soul coming to visit or say goodbye to its family. Whale Song includes legends of other animals, such as wolf and seagull, and each legend parallels the life of the main character, a woman haunted by her past. JA: Are you native? CKT: I actually get asked that a lot, especially at book signings and events. But no, I am not native. I lived for many years in Masset, on the Queen Charlotte Islands in BC. I was exposed to native traditions, the culture and folklore. It is from my experiences―both negative and positive―that I was able to draw upon to create a realistic backdrop for Whale Song. You could say I got in touch with my 'native side', the side that loves nature, art and creativity. There is hope in all of that...even in death. JA: Could you do it, assist someone in his or her own death? CKT: I have never known anyone personally who has wanted assisted suicide. I am not sure if I could do it. Can any of us be sure? Given the right circumstances and knowing the suffering that a loved one is enduring, I might consider it, if there was no other alternative and no hope. I am not saying I agree or disagree, but I can understand how someone may feel it is the only option. If it was your mother and she was begging you to end her misery and pain, would you do it? JA: Have you experienced the death of a loved one? CKT: I have experienced death up close before. My first baby died of a brain stem stroke after a perfect pregnancy and four hours of life. It was completely unexpected and the first painful tragedy I had ever endured. More recently, my youngest brother Jason was beaten and left in an alley to die alone. It is difficult to come to terms with such a violent and senseless act, and I miss my brother terribly. JA: Whale Song is linked very closely to your brother Jason. Can you tell us why? CKT: Whale Song is dedicated to my brother Jason Kaye, who was murdered in Edmonton on January 23, 2006. He was Edmonton’s third homicide in 2006. The police had no way to notify his next of kin, except the knowledge that Jason’s sister ‘lived in Edmonton and was a writer who had written a book about whales’. They were able to track me down when a search online led them to Whale Song. Incidentally, it was the only one of my books that my brother had ever read, and it was one of the first things I saw when I went to clean out his room. Whale Song has become Jason’s book, in my mind. JA: Thank you, Ms. Tardif. I look forward to interviewing you in May. To learn more about mystery author Cheryl Kaye Tardif and her haunting novel Whale Song, please visit her website and her pages on Kunati.com. Whale Song is now available for pre-orders from your favorite bookstore or online retailer. Visit Cheryl Kaye Tardif's site: www.cherylktardif.com
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| Jack Anthony is a freelance writer, film and book critic, currently residing in Bermuda with his lovely wife, three young children and a Siamese cat with attitude. |
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