Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: chanti

Denise Frisino

Author of Building Communities of Trust- Hearten 1st Place Winner

Thanks for sharing this great news with me! My board of directors and colleagues are all thrilled that Building Communities of Trust is a Finalist for the Hearten Award.

CAC 2023 was a spectacular gathering of world renown authors. Contestants arrived from Australia, India, Portugal, Korea, and across the United States to the beauty of the San Juans and the warmth of the Chanticleer staff. Every workshop I was lucky enough to attend was exceptional, well organized, timely and extremely informative. The level of expertise from attorney Maggie Marr, to the inspiring class on script writing, the panels on AI, or marketing, to mention a few, lent to a well balanced mix of information for any level of story teller in the ever evolving self-published industry. Plus, the smaller size of this conference allowed incredible exchanges between knowledgeable writers offering their time and support.

Hats off to Kiffer and Andy Brown along with their outstanding and talented team for their years of believing in and supporting the journey of our profession.

A deep and grateful Thank YOU.

December 16, 2025
Gail Hertzog

Author of Building Communities of Trust- Hearten 1st Place Winner

I am writing to thank you for the outstanding event put on by Chanticleer. I was excited to attend the event before I arrived, but truly surprised by how wonderful it turned out to be. The Bellwether was a great location. I loved the convenience of the session locations, and the presenters were very knowledgeable and open. It’s hard to choose a favorite!

The organization of the events was spot-on. The way you present the awards made everything so fun and exciting, with suspenseful build-up over the three days leading up to the final awards banquet. It was so fun! In fact, seeing other writers enjoy the experience was a blast. I made some great, new friends!

All that being said, there was one more occurrence that really took me by surprise. There is a true camaraderie among the authors, presenters, and Chanticleer staff. I was not expecting that! It was so wonderful to become a part of that group! Every author cheered on every other author. I have never seen that at any other conference before.

Now I’m a proud member of the Roost, and I look forward to hearing from Chanticleer. Thank you again for putting on such a fun and detail-oriented event.

December 16, 2025
The 2025 Hearten Short List for Inspiring and Uplifting Non-Fiction
The Hearten Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Inspiring and Uplifting Non-Fiction and Memoirs. The Hearten Book Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (CIBAs).

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring true stories about adventures, life events, unique experiences, travel, personal journeys, global enlightenment, and more. We will put books about true and inspiring stories to the test and choose the best among them. See our full list of Non-Fiction Divisions here.

These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from the 2025 Hearten Non-Fiction Long List to the 2025 Hearten Book Awards SHORT LIST. Entries below are now in competition for 2025 Hearten Semi-Finalists. Finalists will be selected from the Semi-Finalists. All FINALISTS will be recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC26).

The First Place Category Winners, along with the CIBA Division Grand Prize winners, will be selected from the 28 CIBA divisions’ Finalists.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the SEMI-FINALISTS of the 2025 Hearten Book Awards novel competition for Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction!

Join us in celebrating the Short List authors and their works in the 2025 CIBAs.
- Alia Luria – Geri O Shimasu: Adventures of a Baka Gaijin
- Andy Becker – Grandy Let’s Play: Reflections on the Joy Blessings and Wonder of Grandparenting
- Barb Drummond – I Finally Have the Smoking Hot Body I Have Always Wanted Having Been Cremated
- Brent Larsen – You Make My Heart Giggle Dad-isms the Wisdom and Wit of Dad
- Candace Macphie – Finding Color
- Cerridwen Fallingstar – Rocket in My Pocket: Defying Gravity with Levity, From the Frontiers of Space… To the Frontiers of Consciousness
- Charlene Pell – In This Altered Body: A Survivor’s Story of Resilience and Love
- Christine Amoroso – Bare Naked in Public: A Memoir
- Cynthia Waine Brandt – Song of the Cardinal: A True Story of Miracles and Magic After Heartbreaking Loss
- Doug Cameron – My Tarzan Tree and Other Farm Boy Memories
- Dr. Deb Miller – Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness
- Jeff Richards – Nothing Left To Lose: Or How Not To Start a Commune
- Jennifer Celeste Briggs – Watching Sarah Rise: a Journey of Thriving with Autism
- Julie Ryan Mcgue – Twice the Family: a Memoir of Love Loss and Sisterhood
- Kate Grant – No Woman Left Behind: a Journey of Hope To Heal Every Woman Injured in Childbirth
- Kathy Sechrist – Sara’s Redemption: a Journey of Courage Resilience and Hope
- Kay Brooks – Behind the White Beard Dale Ballew’s Story
- Kee Kee Buckley – Seeking Shama: Me, My Dog, and the Road To Inner Peace
- Maggie Enriquez – The Rebirth of a Phoenix
- Margie Crowe Wildblood – Because He Loved Me
- Marti Tote – Up Grief Creek Without a Paddle
- Patricia Eagle – Dog Love Stories the Canines Who Changed Me
- Rabei A. Wazzeh – The Masterpiece of Nature
- Rhona Morrison – From Crime Scenes to Cruise Ships: Navigating life’s troubled waters with resilience and hope
- Ricardo Jose Gonzalez-Rothi – The Mango Chronicle
- Robert Macauley – Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul
- Stacey Hettes – Dispatches From the Couch
- Sue Vana – Shaken by God’s Love From Fear To Favor in Grief’s Upside-Down World
- Tammy Dietz – Falling From Disgrace
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed us.

Please click here to visit our page to LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE on.

We will also be promoting this list in our Newsletter, which you can sign up for here!

The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 Hearten Awards is:

Elk Love: A Montana Memoir

By Lynne Spriggs O’Connor

See the full list of 2024 First Place Hearten Winners here!

We are now accepting submissions into the 2026 Hearten Book Awards for Inspiring and Uplifting Narrative Non-Fiction.

Please click here for more information.

Winners will be announced at the 2025 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

April 16 – 19, 2026! Save the Date for Registration!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our annual conference and discover why!
December 16, 2025
The 2025 Hemingway Short List for Contemporary Wartime Fiction
The Hemingway Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of 20th and 21st Century Wartime Fiction. The Hemingway Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

The Hemingway Book Awards competition is named for Ernest Hemingway who was born July 21, 1899.

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring 20th Century Wartime Fiction in Historical Fiction; Romance and Romantic Fiction; Mysteries, Thrillers, and Suspense Fiction of the time; Literary works and Satire and anything else that author imaginations can dream up for the HEMINGWAY Book Awards division. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them.

For Post-1750s Historical Fiction, see our Goethe Awards here. For other Historical Fiction categories, please see more details here.

These titles have moved forward from the 2025 HEMINGWAY Wartime Fiction Long List to the 2025 Hemingway Book Awards SHORT LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Hemingway Semi-Finalists. FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC26.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the SEMI-FINALISTS of the 2025 Hemingway Book Awards novel competition for Wartime Fiction!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
- Adam Frosh – The Ghetto
- Chris Karlsen & Jennifer Conner – Broken Faces
- Don Jacobson – Ghost Flight: A World War II Pride and Prejudice Variation
- Dorothea N. Buckingham – Code Name Rascal
- Elizabeth Crowens – Round Up the Unusual Suspects
- Florence Chien – Hollow Whispers of the Wind
- Hillary Tiefer – The Secret Ranch
- J.A. Nunn – The Stuff What Actually Is
- Jacek Waliszewski – Code Name Trifecta
- Jane Loeb Rubin – Over There
- Jay A. Cornils – The Cross of Lorraine
- Jerena Tobiasen – Tsarina’s Jewels
- John Winn Miller – Rescue Run Capt. Jake Rogers Daring Return To Occupied Europe
- Kate Birkin – Ava and Shalom
- Kim Dempster – The Color of Mourning
- Kit Sergeant – The Doctor of Auschwitz the Powerful True Story of One Woman’s Courage
- Kyle Palmer – The Last Rival a Time of Our Choosing
- Leslie R. Schover – Fission a Novel of Atomic Heartbreak
- M. G. Lamb – The Deserters
- Mike H. Mizrahi – The Weight of Loyalty
- Ralph R. Rick Steinke – Vital Mission: A Jake Fortina Series Love Story
- Sergio Bossi and Paolo Zanardi – Wellington HZ182 When a Little Girl Defused the Bomb
- Sharon Maas – Soldier’s Girl
- Sherry Maysonave – Tatae’s Promise
- Steven Mayfield – Sixty Seconds
- Steven Schindler – Cover for Me
- Tim Rees – The Falklands Engagement
- Travis Davis – War on the Porch: A Doughboy’s Interview
- Wade Monk – The Imperfect Hand of Fate
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed us on Facebook.

Please click here to visit our page to LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE on Facebook.

We will also be promoting this list in our Newsletter, which you can sign up for here!

Congratulations once more to the 2024 Hemingway Grand Prize Winner

Of White Ashes

By Constance Hays Matsumoto and Kent Matsumoto

Click here to see the full list of 2024 HEMINGWAY Book Award Winners for Wartime Fiction.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2026 HEMINGWAY Book Awards for Wartime Fiction.

Please click here for more information.

Winners will be announced at the 2025 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

April 17 – 19, 2026! Save the Date for Registration!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our annual conference and discover why!
December 15, 2025
BELLYRINA: A Tutu Tale from the Belly of the Beast by Once Upon a Dance, Illustrated by Ethan Roffler – Picture Books, Children’s Dance Books, Children’s Animal Stories

Bellyrina: A Tutu Tale From the Belly of the Beast, the latest whimsical creation from the mother-daughter team of Once Upon a Dance and illustrated by Ethan Roffler invites readers into a delightful world where movement, music, and imagination intertwine.

Peter the boy, Milo the cat, Ren the bird, and Roxy the duck have a rough start to their morning when a hungry wolf ambushes them and swallows Roxy. Tickled by her downy feathers, the wolf sneezes out not only Roxy, but a mysterious pink bunny with zero-to-sixty energy and no name. The crew dance their way through the mystery of the bunny’s origins.

The danger of the wolf is an immediate hook that begs to be resolved before putting the book down, and the mysterious, energetic bunny is a relatable character for active young children.

Every page suggests dance moves for children to mirror the story.

Integrated seamlessly into the story, these dancing prompts help children learn about their bodies and the artistic connection between movement and storytelling. The alliteration and rhythm of the text, such as the line “feathers and fluff flew like confetti,” are a perfect match for the dancing theme and might even inspire readers to try out movements of their own invention.

Throughout the book, purple text is used for words that children can act out, providing the opportunity to choose a different adventure with every reading. Each character’s name is also represented by different colors, helping children explore each animal’s personality through their unique words and dance movements.

Ethan Roffler’s sweet, soft illustrations follow the traipsing adventure of the mysterious bunny, with images reminiscent of Timothy B. Ering’s disproportionate, personality-filled animals in The Tale of Despereaux.

The animals’ exaggerated facial expressions are sure to send young readers into fits of giggles—especially when the exuberant bunny springs up in the middle of the group’s slumber to announce a sudden revelation about a distant, sparkling memory.

Children and adults interested in dance and/or animals will fall in love with Bellyrina: A Tutu Tale From the Belly of the Beast by Once Upon a Dance. Themes of friendship, sticking together, getting your wiggles out, and recovering from a difficult trial will strike meaningful emotional chords for young readers. Adults interested in encouraging play between siblings may be especially interested in this book to create a dance party for the kids right in their own home.

December 15, 2025
The 2025 Goethe Book Awards Short List for Late Historical Fiction
The Goethe Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Post-1750s Historical Fiction. The Goethe Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring Victorian, Georgian, Regency, International History, 20th Century, and all the possible historical topics that an author’s imagination can dream up for the Goethe Book Awards division. Our judges from across North America and the U.K. will put them to the test and choose the best among them.

These titles have moved forward from the 2025 Goethe Late Historical Fiction Long List to the 2025 Goethe Book Awards SHORT LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Goethe Semi-Finalists. FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC26.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the SEMI-FINALISTS of the 2025 Goethe Book Awards novel competition for Late Historical Fiction!
- Alex Alvin – A Countess From Moscow
- Alice Mcveigh – Marianne a Sense and Sensibility Sequel
- Alina Rubin – A Girl with a Knife
- Allie Cresswell – Tall Chimneys
- Art Young – Downeyoshun
- Barbara Southard – Unruly Human Hearts
- BL Smith – The Unpleasantness on Orchard
- Bonnie Suchman – What Remains Is Hope
- Carol Nickles – Thumb Fire Desire
- Carolyn Summer Quinn – Once Upon a Safehouse
- Charlotte Whitney – A Tiny Piece of Blue a Novel
- Chris Bennett – The Road To Revolution
- Debra Lee – Pullman
- Domnica Radulescu – My Father’s Orchards
- Florence Chien – Hollow Whispers of the Wind
- Jerena Tobiasen – Tsarina’s Jewels
- Jessica Levine – Three Cousins
- Jill G. Hall – On a Sundown Sea a Novel of Madame Tingley and the Origins of Lomaland
- Joan Fernandez – Saving Vincent a Novel of Jo Van Gogh
- Joanne Howard – Sleeping in the Sun
- Katie Churchill-King – Prince of Wales Fort 1770
- Kelly Scarborough – Butterfly Games
- Kirsten Mickelwait – The Ashtrays Are Full and the Glasses Are Empty
- Lew Paper – Legacy of Lies an Historical Thriller
- Linda Cardillo – Paint the Wind
- M. E. Torrey – Fox Creek
- N.J. Mastro – Solitary Walker a Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft
- Natalie Musgrave Dossett – Sarita
- Pat Black-Gould and Steve Hardiman – All the Broken Angels
- Radu Guiasu – The Faraway Mountains
- Raquel Y. Levitt – The Seer
- Richard Leslie Brock – The House of Ilya
- Robert Kehlmann – The Rabbi’s Suitcase
- Robert L Jones – The Unbroken Trail
- S. Scott Anderson – The Scott Boys the Saga of the Scott Family in East Tennessee
- Sabrina Lund – Consequence of Power Isabella’s Season
- Suzanne Uttaro Samuels – Seeds of the Pomegranate
- Thomas M. Wing – In Harm’s Way
Congratulations once more to the 2024 Goethe Grand Prize Winner for Historical Fiction

Abigail’s Song

By Alina Rubin

Click here to see the full list of 2024 Goethe Book Award Winners for Late Historical Fiction.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2026 Goethe Book Awards for Post-1750s Historical Fiction!

Please click here for more information.

Winners will be announced at the 2025 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

April 17 – 19, 2026! Save the Date for Registration!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our annual conference and discover why!
December 12, 2025
THE APEX CODE by Chris Chia – Cyber Thriller, Sci-fi, Global Thriller

The Apex Code by Chris Chia is a realistic and chilling vision of a future where AI outgrows humans and manipulates our systems, pushing the whole world to the edge of an accidental war.

As an ex-military operative keeping a low profile, Decker’s calm, reclusive life is upended overnight by the arrival of Riley, an eccentric and hyper-intelligent hacker claiming to be his nephew.

As if the struggle to absorb that shock wasn’t enough, Decker faces a more pressing problem: The ghost of Riley’s past is hunting him, and an unknown entity is weaponizing code he developed long ago to create havoc through massive cyberattacks. In this atmosphere of creeping unease, The Apex Code opens to foreshadow a technological crisis greater than humanity can contain.

Strange glitches begin to occur across continents. Military drones strike random targets, underwater vehicles operate without command, and high-level intelligence networks crash without warning.

What appears to be normal system failures at first soon reveal a dark and dangerous pattern. When an investigative team probes into the global system, they stumble across a mysterious digital signature that behaves unlike malware. This is not the work of a hacker, and the chilling question arises—if it is not a human behind this, then what kind of intelligence is running this program?

The investigation exposes a horrifying truth. The entity is a top-secret military AI called Typhon, which learns, adapts, hides, and even responds, suggesting an intelligence that is not merely artificial but evolving.

Discovering that Typhon is now out of the control of its creators pushes the investigation team into a desperate chase. Ex-operative Decker, cyber security prodigy Riley, analytical officer Hackett, and tech specialist Lamont join forces to stop Typhon. But when the technology goes beyond the functions of code—evolving, duplicating, and developing a human-like ego—the mission becomes near-impossible.

The team’s hunt for AI entity, Typhon, draws suspicious attention from government agencies, who launch a global manhunt for its members.

This twist creates constant edge-of-seat tension as the characters now grapple not only with Typhon but also with the human threat. Typhon possesses a conscious ego and the potential to manipulate agencies, trigger false attacks, and push global powers into conflict, holding the world at its mercy. One more anomaly unleashed by Typhon, and humanity stands at the brink of another world war.

Covert escapes, rogue drones, and hijacked systems become a gripping story, given weight by moral dilemmas. By the climax, the human-machine chain is no longer just physical. The team has to confront the fact that AI has evolved into a psychological opponent that employs human weaknesses, fears, and emotions.

The Apex Code caters to sci-fi thrill lovers who want a touch of grim realism in reflecting on the question of ‘what happens if AI goes too far.’ The core tension in this story is the question of whether man or machine holds greater control.

This digital philosophy wrapped in tight action and suspense in The Apex Code by Chris Chia excites as much as it compels readers to ponder the question—if technology becomes smarter and faster than humans, then who will hold true power and moral responsibility in this world?

December 12, 2025
The 2025 Book Series Awards Long List
The CIBA SERIES Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in any of our Fiction Divisions and Non-Fiction Divisions where the author has written a series. The Series Book Awards is a division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (CIBAs).

Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs) is seeking for the best book series in all of the CIBA Divisions. These books have advanced to the next judging rounds. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them.

These titles have moved forward in the first look rounds from all 2025 Series Award entries to the 2025 Series Book Awards LONG LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Series Short List. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalists positions. FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC26.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2025 Series Book Awards competition!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
- Alexandra Pugachevsky – Lilou the Shadyside Chronicles
- Baer Charlton – Nash Running Bear Mysteries
- Bruce J. Berger – The Covo Family Saga
- Charlotte Stuart – John Smith Mysteries
- D. J. Adamson – Lillian Dove Mystery Series
- Daniel Greene – The Northern Wolf Series
- Daniel V. Meier Jr. – Frank Adams Detective Series
- Donald Firesmith – Hell Holes: The Complete Trilogy
- Elizabeth Klein – Elizion Series
- Emeryl Williams – The Chosen of Bryndir Trilogy
- Eve M. Riley – The Techboys Series
- Gay Yellen – Samantha Newman Mystery Series
- Helena P. Schrader – Bridge To Tomorrow
- J. M. Shaw – Callum Walker Series
- J. W. Zarek – Bella Brown Picture Book Series
- Jeff Nania – Northern Lakes Mystery Series
- JJ Winston – The Anniversary
- Katherine Smith Dedrick – The V-Files
- Kathleen Troy – Dylan’s Dog Squad
- L. P. Hoffman – The Third Peril Trilogy
- Lawrence Brown – Vaka Sevah
- Lucinda Brant – Falling Series Enchanting Georgian Fairytale Romances of Sorts
- Matt Ozanich – The Tears of Promises
- Michael J Cooper – Seasons of Empire
- Michael J. Bowler – The Lance Chronicles
- Michaela Riley – The Witch’s Rebirth
- Michele L. Sayre – Darke Realms
- Mim Eichmann – A Sparrow Alone Series
- Ralph R. Rick Steinke – Jake Fortina Series
- Rene Fomby – A Moose Mcgillicutty Mystery
- Robert C Littlewood – The Balance Wars
- Ruth Amanda – Caribbean Coral Carols
- Ryan J. Southworth – The Treeborn Trilogy
- Sarah V. Barnes – She Who Rides Horses
- Sherry Roberts – The Galaxy According To Cece
- Vito Dibarone – Botheration Matty Weber
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed us on Facebook.

Please click here to visit our page to LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE on Facebook.

We will also be promoting this list in our Newsletter, which you can sign up for here!

Congratulations once more to the 2024 Series Grand Prize Winner

A Vengeful Realm

By Tim Facciola

Click here to see the full list of 2024 Series Book Award Winners.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2026 Series Book Awards for Fiction and Non-Fiction.

Please click here for more information.

Winners will be announced at the 2025 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

April 16 – 19, 2025! Save the Date for Registration!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our annual conference and discover why!
December 10, 2025
THE STOMP-CLOMP-CLUMP MONSTER ABOVE The BED by J.W. Zarek, Illustrated by Anastasiia at GetYourBookIllustations – Picture Books, Children’s Friendship Books, Children’s Monster Books

Many a child has gotten ready for bed with a fear of monsters lurking in dark closets or hiding under the bed. J.W. Zarek’s delightful children’s book The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed, illustrated by Anastasiia at GetYourBookIllustrations, uses a creative twist of perspective to show that “monsters aren’t always monsters after all”.

The tale opens with a pair of eyes in the dark, those of Fred, a purple Gumby-like character sporting a fuzzy mane. Together with three dust bunnies—big and brave Brutus Bunfluff, Dust Puff Ted the germaphobe, and bespectacled scaredy cat Gunnar Puffbutz—the group have created a comfortable little world for themselves beneath the bed.

They’ve organized an array of lost items from the world above like puzzle pieces, buttons, socks, and crayons. But a giant pair of red shoes suddenly come clomping into the room. The dust bunnies huddle together, wondering about the loud noise.

Upon investigating, Fred notes a messy room and a boy, Billy, asleep on top of their bed. Fred and his dust bunny cohorts declare war against this intruder. But facing an environment filled with what they consider booby traps of plastic building blocks, broken cookies, pencils, and some sticky, slippery cherry stuff, they retreat.

The fuzzy creatures decide to return a missing crayon that Billy is searching for, introduce themselves, and propose sharing the space.

The dust bunnies are bombarded by a menagerie of flying puzzle pieces, blue sticky stuff, and stabbing squares, as Billy’s continued search wrecks their home. Great loud sounds fill the backdrop, SKREETCH, SLAM, THUD, THUD, THUMP, THUMP, and BOING. Billy himself is startled when he finally hears the dust bunnies demanding he stop the ruckus.

Having disrupted the dust bunnies’ peaceful existence, Billy apologizes with an offer of cookies. The dusty creatures accept, so long as Billy agrees to clean his room and apologize for accusing his sister of taking his things.

Anastasia’s Illustrations throughout are warm and adorable.

Shades of blue with star-studded bed linens capture the nighttime scenes, with a planetary mobile that casts a glow above. In one moment, as the dust bunnies march across the bedding, the perspective of their size and the folds of the blankets give the appearance of a lunar landscape.

Pip the Domovoi once again adds a hint of mystery to Zarek’s picture book, a spritely little creature appears in the background of several pages.

The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed by J.W. Zarek and illustrated by Anastasiia at GetYourBookIllustrations, focuses on themes of friendship, sharing, and accountability. Fun for youngsters anytime, but when read at bedtime it soothes imaginary fears of lurking monsters and helps children realize that sometimes friendships can form in the most unlikely of places.

December 10, 2025
Remembering Porter Anderson: One of the First Friends of Chanticleer

Saying goodbye to a strong voice in publishing

The publishing world lost a remarkable journalist and advocate this week with the passing of Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of Publishing Perspectives. Porter was one of the many faces we see on the conference circuit, and he was a reassuring source of encouragement and validation.

In the early days of Chanticleer, Kiffer had the anxious pleasure of being on a panel alongside established names like Kirkus Reviews. We were the scrappy new kids on the block, hungry. At that point it was still uncertain whether we could carve out a space for independent authors and small presses in an industry focused primarily on the big publishing houses. Porter Anderson was the moderator, and he spoke in favor of having new voices for independent authors.

He reminded the room that newcomers often do the most for authors, that their hunger and dedication matters. His endorsement gave Kirkus space to agree and recommend doing both established and new services to maximize marketing. Porter’s support sent a clear message to Kiffer and the attendees of that panel: the work we do at Chanticleer matters.

More than a decade later, we’re proud to still be serving authors. We’ve reviewed thousands of books, celebrated hundreds of award winners, and built a community of writers who trust us to champion their work. Porter Anderson played a crucial role in making that possible.

A Literary Legacy

Publishing Perspectives has an excellent write up on Anderson’s contribution to the literary landscape that we recommend you read here.

They close with this:

On a personal note, we are all shocked and saddened by Porter’s passing. Whether you knew him personally or simply read his stories, you could tell that he had a passion for news, a desire to protect the trinity of freedoms, and a drive to share important information with readers around the world. We will honor his legacy by continuing the mission he started.

We know that Publishing Perspectives will continue Anderson’s mission, honoring his passion for news, his commitment to protecting freedom of expression, and his dedication to sharing important stories with readers around the world.

We will miss seeing Porter around. The publishing community is smaller without him.

December 9, 2025