Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: chanti

The Doctor Is In – Christine Fairchild’s Craft Skills are coming to CAC25

Most authors know that editing means getting out your literary scalpel and finding those things that drag a story down. For a former journalist and current book doctor like Christine Fairchild, the search for what works and what doesn’t is just the kind of operation she loves.

Christine Fairchild always had a love of storytelling. As a young reader, she gravitated toward stories about animals—Black Beauty and Where the Red Fern Grows were favorites. When she saw the fascination and rapt attention of her fellow 3rd grade classmates when reading her own essays, she knew she had a gift. Innately, she understood story structure, how to build invisible worlds, what makes a character compelling (especially animal characters), and the power of the imagination.

The moniker of “storyteller” followed her through her school years and into a journalism program, earning a B.A. in English from U.C. Berkeley—the top English department in the US at that time. After graduating, she worked as a professional copyeditor, speechwriter and freelance reporter, honing her skills at dissecting a written work to make the story pop and the information clear. Fairchild has served as writer and editor for publications like XFiles and SciFiMall.com, and has provided executive communications, marketing, branding, and press releases for corporate giants, like Microsoft, AT&T, and DHL. This professional environment gave her an understanding of the psychology of language and communications design with a focus on women consumer behavior and trends, adding more specialized tools to use when operating on her next writing assignment.

The Doctor is Calling

Fairchild’s various roles with high-profile clients informed her writing style and her tactical editing approach, giving her the sharp edge to refine a story and elevate it for her readers. With the skill of a surgeon, she looks for those problems that can muddy the text and slow down the reader when she puts a novel under the microscope to find those areas that need to be cured or cut from a story to get it to its most healthy state.

With these skills, Fairchild has grown her reputation as a bona fide “Book Doctor” and claimed her place in the literary world helping authors fine-tune their work to prepare it for publication. Her The Editor Devil’s Guide to CHARACTERS and The Editor Devil’s Guide to DIALOGUE gives writers a look inside her medicine bag where they learn the lessons she learned over the entirety of her professional writing career so they can become their own literary surgeons. Today, you can find Christine Fairchild sharing her knowledge with other writers by teaching classes and leading workshops on how they can become better editors of their own work and giving them an inside peak at the surgical equipment that has shaped her multifaceted career.

Chanticleer is proud to host Christine Fairchild at the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC) and the International Book Awards (CIBA) on April 3-6, 2025, where she will be giving a Masterclass that will guide authors in their quest to elevate their novels.

Don’t miss out on this chance to learn from Christine Fairchild, the “Book Doctor!”

Registration for Christine’s Master Class only on Thursday is available – Limited Seating

Discounted Seats available for those who have registered for CAC 25.

Register now! Space is limited!

Follow this link to reserve your spot at this special event!

March 3, 2025
YOU HAVE To BE PREPARED To DIE BEFORE YOU CAN BEGIN To LIVE: Ten Weeks in Birmingham That Changed America by Paul Kix – Black American History, Long-Form Journalism, Civil Rights

Paul Kix shows readers the bloody front lines of the civil rights movement in his novel You Have to Be Prepared to Die Before You Can Begin to Live: Ten Weeks in Birmingham That Changed America.

This historical nonfiction novel explores in-depth the Birmingham, Alabama campaign known as Project C. Kix dives deep into the minds of dozens of key historical figures who helped orchestrate the campaign, such as Martin Luther King Jr., James Bevel, and Fred Shuttlesworth. Despite an overwhelming fear of failure, Project C needed to catch the attention of the nation.

When the brutal murder of George Floyd sparked the Black Lives Matter movement, Kix and his wife were faced with the difficult task of explaining racism to their children. Kix, who is white, and his wife, who is Black, chose not to shield them from news coverage of the deaths and the protests that followed.

The jarring footage of Floyd’s death paralleled another startling image: that of a 15-year-old boy being attacked by a German shepherd handled by the Birmingham police.

Kix was fascinated by the photo. As a journalist, he began to spot connections between the events his family was living through in 2020 and the Birmingham marches in 1963.

Choosing to march in Birmingham was a desperate attempt by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference—a major player in the civil rights movement—to push for desegregation. They hadn’t made any real impact since the Montgomery bus boycotts nearly a decade ago and their recent Albany campaign had flopped.

Running out of money, and with the Kennedy administration refusing to enact civil rights legislation, the SCLC decided they needed to venture into the heart of segregated America.

Birmingham refused to desegregate, and often turned violent towards its Black citizens. The incredibly active KKK bombed the homes of activists, castrated Black men, and upheld the city’s moniker “the Murder City of the World.” Even facing reluctance from the city’s Black citizens, a lack of funds, and thinly veiled threats from mayor Bull Connor, the SCLC pushed forward. Kix brings to life the tension, inspiration, and determination that fueled Project C.

Kix’s detailed writing brings readers into the midst of vivid historical scenes, from extravagant fundraisers in New York to the desolate conditions in a Birmingham jail.

His writing gives due credit to many lesser-known participants in the project and shows how each individual overcame their own battles to contribute to a larger movement.

This novel includes enough nuance and historical analysis to keep any history buff engaged. By seamlessly introducing important context, Kix also makes sure even readers with limited knowledge know not only what is happening, but why it’s happening.

Kix’s background as a journalist shines through in the book’s factually rooted events and thoughtful commentary.

He offers insight into the rhetorical choices behind sermons, comments from the government, and King’s infamous Letter from Birmingham Jail. The only potentially dramatized aspect is occasionally heated dialogue, though most quotes come directly from newspapers, press conferences, or memoirs by those involved. Kix’s choice of quotes and his analytical comments don’t drag down the pace of the novel at all. Instead, they add a fiery authenticity to the story, which moves quickly from dramatic event to dramatic event.

The infamous marches in Birmingham are now more than sixty years in the past. As time moves on, it is important not to forget Project C and how it contributed to legislation that still protects Americans’ rights today.

Authors like Paul Kix help preserve America’s history by bringing it to life in the minds of readers. His unique insights, comprehensive research, and captivating characterization honors the stories of leaders that changed history. You Have to Be Prepared to Die Before You Can Begin to Live is a worthwhile educational read that illustrates why these stories are essential to understanding our present.

You Have to Be Prepared to Die Before You Can Begin to Live by Paul Kix won Grand Prize in the 2023 CIBA Nellie Bly Awards for Journalistic Non-Fiction.

March 3, 2025
NEW: The 2024 Chanticleer Cover Design Awards (CCDAs) Finalists for Non-Fiction
The Chanticleer Cover Design Awards (The CCDAs) for Non-Fiction recognizes artistic excellence across genre in great cover design. The CCDAs are a new Award Division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

Our design is inspired by books designed by the incomparable Coraline Bickford-Smith. Her simple, beautiful, and evocative designs do so much to make the book work as a visual ambassador, capturing the essence of story and compelling potential readers to pick it up, click on it, or share it with others. A well-designed cover signals professionalism, sets expectations for your genre, and serves as a powerful marketing tool to stand out in both digital and physical spaces.

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring clear genres, audience, time periods, typography, and longevity across genres of Non-Fiction.

These titles have moved forward from the Short List of the 2024 CCDA Non-Fiction Awards to the 2024 CCDA Non-Fiction FINALISTS. These entries are now in competition for the 2024 CCDA Non-Fiction First Place and Grand Prize Winners. FINALISTS will be recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC25.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 in beautiful Bellingham, WA at the Bellingham Yacht Club sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the FIRST PLACE and GRAND PRIZE WINNERS of the 2024 Chanticleer Cover Design Awards novel competition for Non-Fiction Books!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
- Anne Gately – Sunburnt a Memoir of Sun Surf and Skin Cancer
- Marianna Marlowe – Portrait of a Feminist a Memoir in Essays
- Linda M. Lockwood – Sky Ranch Reared in the High Country
- Meredith Wargo – Dawgs a True Story of Lost Animals and the Kids Who Rescued Them
- Kathryn Caraway – Unfollow Me
- Genét Simone – Teaching in the Dark a Memoir
- Kathleen Watt – Rearranged an Opera Singers Facial Cancer and Life Transposed
- Kasey Claytor – Finding the Light
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!

Who will be the First Grand Prize Winner for the Fiction CCDAs?

Stay Tuned to find out!

Click here to learn more about the Cover Design Awards.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2025 Chanticleer Cover Design Awards for Fiction.

Please click here for more information.

Winners will be announced at the 2024 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

April 3 – 6, 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 as we enter our second decade and discover why!
February 27, 2025
Monsters in the Closet, Thrills on the Page – Bestselling Author J.D. Barker is coming to CAC25!

As a boy, J.D. Barker was drawn to the shadows. He imagined monsters in his closet and wrote stories about the witches and ghosts he was certain lived in the woods outside his home. His active imagination kept him awake at night—it also turned him into a New York Times and international best-selling author.

Today, the award-winning author has an ever-growing list of spine-tingling thrillers, including several co-authored books with James Patterson and praise from the master of horror, Stephen King.

Barker’s work encompasses elements from several genres, presenting them in what has been broadly described as suspense thrillers. Horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural all have a role to play in his books, bringing the same level of intensity his mentors incorporate into their novels. The monsters that scared him as a child are now captured in the pages of his stories.

A Young Author Drawn to the Shadows

Mysteries were the first to grab Barker’s attention, reading the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series as a child, but eventually he moved onto the classics and found his home in the works of Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, and Edgar Allen Poe. Soon, he was writing his own stories, exploring the depths of his fear and producing tales of the monsters he imagined were living under his bed.

The literary life continued to call for Barker, even after receiving a business degree. When an article he wrote for a college assignment ended up in the hands of Paul Gallotta from the pop culture magazine, The Circus, he was invited to join the staff of 25th Parallel Magazine, an American lifestyle periodical. This unexpected path led him to interview celebrities for popular magazines, such as Seventeen, TeenBeat, and other national and local publications, and it wasn’t long before he had his own syndicated newspaper column called Revealed which centered around the investigation of haunted places and supernatural occurrences.

These early endeavors served as a crash course in writing, and he began working as a book doctor and ghostwriter, helping others fine tune their writing and readying it for publication. The experience proved invaluable. It taught him what works and what doesn’t in today’s popular fiction, and it led to his first venture into writing a novel of his own.

Tapping Into the Mind of the Masters of Horror

Forsaken, Barker’s first novel, was independently published in late 2014. Incorporating horror master Stephen King’s character Leland Gaunt from Needful Things offered Barker the opportunity to get his novel in front of King who granted Barker permission to utilize the character in the novel. The book went on to hit several major milestones. It landed the #2 spot on Audible (Harper Lee with Go Set a Watchman held #1), #44 on Amazon U.S., #2 on Amazon Canada, and #22 on Amazon UK. Forsaken was also nominated for a Bram Stoker Award (Best Debut Novel) and won a handful of other awards, including a New Apple Medalist Award. Soon Bram Stoker’s family reached out to Barker and asked him to co-author a prequel to Dracula utilizing the original notes and journals from Stoker’s own archives, much of which has never been made public. The novel, titled Dracul, sold at auction to G.P. Putnam & Sons, with film rights going to Paramount.

The success of his first novels drew the attention of traditional agents and publishers and in early 2016 his debut thriller, The Fourth Monkey, sold in a series of pre-empts and auctions worldwide, with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt set to publish it in the U.S. and HarperCollins in the UK. The book has also sold for both film and television. Barker has since gone on to write numerous titles which have appeared on bestseller lists around the world and is a frequent collaborator with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television.

From a child afraid of monsters, to an author who creates them, J.D. Barker has thrived on writing stories that thrill, excite, and scare people who love those mysterious bumps in the night. It’s a full circle journey that has given him a career that continues to thrill his international fanbase.

Chanticleer is proud to present J.D. Barker at the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC) and the International Book Awards (CIBA) on April 3-6, 2025,

where he will be sharing his expertise in book promotion, digital marketing, and the upcoming changes in the publishing industry!

Don’t miss out on this chance to learn from one of the literary world’s bestselling authors!

Register now! Space is limited!

Follow this link to reserve your spot at this special event!

February 27, 2025
NEW: The 2024 Chanticleer Cover Design Awards (CCDAs) Finalists for Fiction
The Chanticleer Cover Design Awards (The CCDAs) for Fiction recognizes artistic excellence across genre in great cover design. The CCDAs are a new Award Division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

Our design is inspired by books designed by the incomparable Coraline Bickford-Smith. Her simple, beautiful, and evocative designs do so much to make the book work as a visual ambassador, capturing the essence of story and compelling potential readers to pick it up, click on it, or share it with others. A well-designed cover signals professionalism, sets expectations for your genre, and serves as a powerful marketing tool to stand out in both digital and physical spaces.

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring clear genres, audience, time periods, typography, and longevity across genres of Historical Fiction, Romance, Literary, Satire, Speculative Fiction, and Youth Reads.

These titles have moved forward from the 2024 CCDA Fiction Semi-Finalists to the 2024 CCDA Fiction FINALISTS. These entries are now in competition for the 2024 CCDA Fiction First Place Category Winners and Division Grand Prize Winners! FINALISTS will be recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC25.

We will announce the First Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 in beautiful Bellingham, WA at the Bellingham Yacht Club sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the FIRST PLACE and GRAND PRIZE WINNER of the 2024 Chanticleer Cover Design Awards novel competition for Fiction Books!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
- J. Shep – The December Issue
- Margaret Porter – A Change of Location
- Chris Bennett – The Road To Revolution
- Travis Davis – One of Four
- Abbe Rolnick – The Underpainting
- Ann Philipp – Grand Theft Death
- Lucinda Brant – Their Graces Roxton Foundation Series
- Laura C. Rader – Hatfield 1677
- Kim Gottlieb-Walker – Lenswoman in Love
- Natalie Musgrave Dossett – Sarita
- Mark A. Gibson – A Song that Never Ends
- Gail Noble-Sanderson – The Book of Rules
- C.L. Olsen – Old Crabby Turtle
- Michelle Morningstar – The Space Between the Divine and the Unholy
- R.W. Meek – The Dream Collector Book I – Sabrine and Sigmund Freud
- Deborah Swenson – Till My Last Breath Book One in the Desert Hills Trilogy
- Strider S.R. Klusman – Luna – The Adventures of Rhone & Stone, book 2
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!

Who will be the First Grand Prize Winner for the Fiction CCDAs?

Stay Tuned to find out!

Click here to learn more about the Cover Design Awards.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2025 Chanticleer Cover Design Awards for Fiction.

Please click here for more information.

Winners will be announced at the 2024 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

April 3 – 6, 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 as we enter our second decade and discover why!
February 27, 2025
THE WOLF HUNTER: DESOLATION: Mack Murphy Series Book 1 by Terrence O’Malia – Military Thrillers, War & Military Action, Thriller & Suspense

In The Wolf Hunter: Desolation, Book One of Terrence O’Malia’s Mack Murphy series, staff sergeant Mack Murphy is convinced there are three types of people: sheep, wolves, and hunters.

The sweet, innocent, dutiful sheep are blissfully unaware of the deadly wolves that could strike at any time. But thankfully, the hunters protect the sheep and even seek out the wolves to prevent their attacks on the flock. Mack defines himself steadfastly as a wolf hunter. He loves his family with all his heart and would do anything to protect them.

Mack’s protective nature continues into his military life where he is part of a team based in the mountains of Afghanistan. Just as it is with his family, he pledges his full allegiance to his team.

We follow Mack Murphy as his team engages in battle, though his heart is back home where his wife Renee is on maternity leave from her US agent duties. Mack beams with passion for her, and his heart is full of pride for his newborn twin daughters, but he worries he may not see them again. This battle could be his last. He fights hard and smart but, after witnessing his best friend killed in action, Mack’s despair is matched only by his feelings of guilt for being relieved the bullet missed him.

Tragedy continues to hover on Mack’s horizon. An emergency Red Cross phone call changes his life forever and now the wolves are after his most beloved “sheep”—his wife and children.

Every step along Mack’s military flight home tests his patience, and when he finally arrives, he finds his perfect life has forever been changed. There had been a time when love conquered all. Now that love is shattered by unknown villains, and he vows to find them and bring them to justice.

Mack, who once clung to his brilliant, joyful life, no longer fears his own death. Nothing can break his commitment to find justice. He is The Wolf Hunter.

Terrence O’Malia plunges us into a thrill ride from start to finish. The wolves are prowling, the sheep are helpless, and Mack Murphy, a beleaguered marine with anger issues, is the hunter who vows to end the violence once and for all.

O’Malia, a doctor and retired marine himself, vividly captures the complex life-threatening situations faced by his characters with an incredible range of emotions. The best and worst of human nature is laid bare throughout this hard-to-put-down story. Just like life itself, what will happen next to the wolves, the sheep, and the Hunter is unpredictable, with consequences that will be irrevocable.

Both hope and fear drive the reader to keep turning pages as they accompany The Wolf Hunter on his gripping journey.

February 26, 2025
Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke 10 Question Interview with Chanticleer – Global Thriller, Terrorism, International Mystery & Crime

CHANTICLEER 10 QUESTION AUTHOR INTERVIEW SERIES

with Award-Winning Author, Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke

Hello friends, we have another fabulous interview for you today. Rick Steinke took home the 2023 Chanticleer Grand Prize in the Global Thriller Awards for his fascinating novel Jake Fortina and the Roman Conspiracy. Here, he tells us how his Jake Fortina character came to be and the subsequent heights it is now reaching! Take a minute or two and get familiar with Rick. You won’t be sorry!

Chanti: Your books go deep into international intrigue. How did you come to write such high stakes thrillers?

Steinke: I started writing when I was passed over for a senior US government service position that I coveted and thought I’d be a good fit for. Shortly thereafter, I began to write, and it was like pushing through an open door for me. I felt spiritually led in that direction and realized that I very much enjoyed writing!

Chanti: The thriller genre seems to fit right into your professional history, but they include so much more. Tell us about your military background and how you are able craft such authentic environments in your novels.

Steinke: Political and political-military, high stakes global thrillers best describe my genre and work to date. I also love to write suspense stories in general. My almost 42 years of combined service in the US Army and US Department of Defense, as well as 28 years of overseas service, led me to write in the global thriller and suspense genres. While writing is obviously about fiction, I try to keep my work as authentic as possible. As my stories also have US-European settings to them, I also like to write about local culture. Thus far, that has meant a lot of French and Italian culture.

Chanti: How do you come up with the trouble your character, Jake Fortina, faces in your novels?

Steinke: For now, I like the “ripped from the headlines approach,” focused on real world scenarios, particularly when they involve major US national and international security issues or interests. But I’ve also written about national security issues that I’ve come across in my professional experiences. I also try to feature certain professional groups that I’ve served with or interacted with during my public service, including the military, law enforcement, diplomatic, and intelligence communities, as well as US military noncommissioned officers (sergeants) and military families.

Chanti: With your background in the military, are you able to apply the same high discipline to your writing time?

Steinke: A full “writing day” is often a luxury, but I do my best to remain consistent, given the many family and travel opportunities throughout any given year. When traveling, I try to fit my writing into “downtime” as much as possible. I tend to always travel with my laptop, so most days – but not all days – allow for at least one and some days even two hours of writing. If I’m home, I try to get an early start, often rising around 5 a.m. and sometimes as early as 4 a.m., with the goal of getting in 3-4 hours or so of focused writing or editing. If I do much more than that in a day, I feel like I’m less effective.

Chanti: What do you do to grow your author chops? Do you have any authors you turn to learn from?

Steinke: For starters, I keep learning. I believe learning should be a proactive daily and lifelong process. I still occasionally let the passive voice creep into my writing, but thankfully I have an excellent editor who is attuned to it. My best writing investments were in three Master Classes, taught by James Patterson, Dan Brown, and Ken Follett. I would say my writing style tends more to James Patterson’s style than the latter two. I strive to keep my chapters relatively short (3-5 pages, on average) and crisp.

Chanti: What craft books have helped you the most?

Steinke: Without a doubt, Stephen King’s On Writing was the most consequential and revelational “craft book” for me. As Mr. King says, “Don’t write b—s—t.” That concisely sums up his style and wisdom!

Chanti: How do you relax when you aren’t writing? Tell us a little about your hobbies.

Steinke: I love spending time with my family, traveling the world with my wife Susan, going fly fishing, and participating in other outdoor activities like hiking and increasingly, pickleball. I’m trying to get in a bit more snow skiing but I’m not sure how much longer my body will stand up to the wear and tear of the ski slopes!

Chanti: What can we look forward to seeing next from you? Will Jake Fortina be taking on more terrorist groups?

Steinke: Change of Mission, the third book in the Jake Fortina series, was released last summer. Just like the first two books, Major Jake Fortina and the Tier One Threat and Jake Fortina and The Roman Conspiracy, this story is about an ordinary US Army officer who finds himself facing extraordinary national security threats. Thus far, thankfully, Change of Mission has been well received. In it, we follow Lieutenant Colonel Jake Fortina as he decides whether to continue with his same career path or make a change in his life’s mission. Meanwhile, he and his Italian bride, a Carabinieri officer, must confront a confluence of threats from Iranian extremists, as well as the Italian and Russian mafias.

I’m currently more than halfway through writing my fourth book, Vital Mission, A Jake Fortina Series Love Story. Jake Fortina will be called upon by a dear Ukrainian friend to help with the rescue of two Ukrainian children who were abducted from their bombed-out Ukrainian city and taken to Russia. This latest book in the Jake Fortina series is projected for publication in the July-September 2025 timeframe.

Chanti: What is the most important thing a reader can do for an author?

Steinke: Leave a review—and hopefully it will be a good one — on a major book selling or endorsing platform, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, or Audible. In today’s social media world, authors live and die by readers’ reviews.

Chanti: What excites you most about writing?

Steinke: The conceptual challenge and the entire creative journey! It’s like putting a puzzle together, but you must first create the pieces from pretty much a blank slate… or a good outline! I also enjoy entertaining, educating, and even occasionally enlightening readers. I would like them to experience the organizations and professionals out there who keep the United States and our Allies safe, with much of their work done behind the scenes, while we sleep comfortably.

Ralph Richard “Rick” Steinke is the award-winning author of the Jake Fortina global thriller series, including Jake Fortina and the Roman Conspiracy, awarded the Grand Prize for 2023 in the Global Thriller – High Stakes category at the Chanticleer International Book Awards (the CIBAs) in April 2024. The Jake Fortina series, beginning with Major Jake Fortina and the Tier One Threat, was also selected as a Book Series Finalist at the CIBAs.

Steinke has spent a lifetime in US national security roles, including twenty-eight years in the US Army and fourteen in the Department of Defense. His official duties have taken him from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to over thirty countries on the Eurasian landmass, including Afghanistan and Ukraine.

He holds master’s degrees in West European studies and diplomacy from Indiana and Norwich Universities, respectively, as well as post-graduation certificates in national and international security affairs from Harvard and Stanford Universities. His passions include faith, family, fly fishing, and travel.

He can be contacted at Ricksteinke@alumni.harvard.edu.

February 25, 2025
NEW: The 2024 Chanticleer Cover Design Awards (CCDAs) Semi-Finalists for Fiction
The Chanticleer Cover Design Awards (The CCDAs) for Fiction recognizes artistic excellence across genre in great cover design. The CCDAs are a new Award Division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

Our design is inspired by books designed by the incomparable Coraline Bickford-Smith. Her simple, beautiful, and evocative designs do so much to make the book work as a visual ambassador, capturing the essence of story and compelling potential readers to pick it up, click on it, or share it with others. A well-designed cover signals professionalism, sets expectations for your genre, and serves as a powerful marketing tool to stand out in both digital and physical spaces.

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring clear genres, audience, time periods, typography, and longevity across genres of Historical Fiction, Romance, Literary, Satire, Speculative Fiction, and Youth Reads.

These titles have moved forward from the 2024 CCDA Fiction Short List to the 2024 CCDA Fiction SEMI-FINALISTS. These entries are now in competition for the 2024 CCDA Fiction Finalists positions. FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC25.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 in beautiful Bellingham, WA at the Bellingham Yacht Club sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the FINALISTS of the 2024 Chanticleer Cover Design Awards novel competition for Fiction Books!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
- J. Shep – The December Issue
- Neal Rabin – Flat an Edgy Voyage of Accidental Discovery
- Raymond Paul Johnson – Conspiracy Ignited
- Margaret Porter – A Change of Location
- Chris Bennett – The Road To Revolution
- Travis Davis – One of Four
- Abbe Rolnick – The Underpainting
- Ann Philipp – Grand Theft Death
- Lucinda Brant – Their Graces Roxton Foundation Series Book
- Jason Farrell & Michael De Weever – Secret of the Emerald Star
- Laura C. Rader – Hatfield
- Deborah Swenson – Till My Last Day Book Two in the Desert Hills Trilogy
- Kim Gottlieb-Walker – Lenswoman in Love
- Natalie Musgrave Dossett – Sarita
- Dave Lager – Losses
- Mark A. Gibson – Roses in December
- Mark A. Gibson – A Song That Never Ends
- Gail Noble-Sanderson – The Book of Rules
- C.L. Olsen – Old Crabby Turtle
- Michelle Morningstar – The Space Between the Divine and the Unholy
- R.W. Meek – The Dream Collector Book Book I Sabrine Sigmund Freud
- Deborah Swenson – Till My Last Breath Book One in the Desert Hills Trilogy
- Shami Stovall – Time-Marked Warlock
- Strider S.R. Klusman – Luna – The Adventures of Rhone & Stone, book 2
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!

Who will be the First Grand Prize Winner for the Fiction CCDAs?

Stay Tuned to find out!

Click here to learn more about the Cover Design Awards.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2025 Chanticleer Cover Design Awards for Fiction.

Please click here for more information.

Winners will be announced at the 2024 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

April 3 – 6, 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 as we enter our second decade and discover why!
February 24, 2025
HIGH HOPES BIG DREAMS by Yolanda S. Pascal – Picture Books, Childrens Self-Respect & Determination Books, Childrens Self-Help Books

High Hopes Big Dreams by Yolanda S. Pascal is a colorful picture book that brings to life the adventures of a little dreamer whose commitment to fulfilling a goal is fraught with challenges.

At the heart of the story is George, a young boy who has always dreamed of constructing his perfect house made of connecting blocks, but constant disruptions prove challenging to the project, causing him much aggravation. If it is not one of his siblings destroying the structure, it is Rex, the family dog, pulling it down.

Nevertheless, George always manages to rebuild his home exactly the way he has always imagined it, regardless of how many obstacles he runs into. And to his parents’ amazement, one day he announces he has successfully completed the project! Despite his parents’ curiosity, George is not yet ready to share the result of his hard work. But his smile tells them he is over-the-moon happy with his house.

Through George’s frustrations, little “readers” will be captured by the power of his resilience, dedication, and creativity. Pascal immerses children in her character’s realistic dilemma to demonstrate a willingness to be flexible when faced with an unexpected hurdle. Whether read to kids before bed, during story time, or as part of a school story time, this picture book is sure to delight those busy minds as they think about the hurdles they face when trying to complete their own projects.

High Hopes Big Dreams by Yolanda S. Pascal is a wonderful avenue for discussions about objectives, diversions, and self-confidence with children.

This endearing story imparts several lessons to its young readers. Engaging, realistic situations and characters makes the story relatable, and the repeated refrain of “just as he always wanted it to be” emphasizes the main idea of pursuing your dreams even when obstacles are thrown in your way.

Vibrant, well-drawn illustrations by Zainab Asif Rahi lend warmth and vibrancy to George’s world. From the very first image on the book’s cover, George’s family welcomes readers into their “home” with an alluring promise of excitement and makes the struggle to complete his project even more compelling. For teachers and families who hope to instill the value of resilience and living a goal oriented life, the image George’s family presents is one of being united in their support for George and his project, despite the challenges to come.

This book is a wonderful reminder that every child has the ability to dream and that, with the right parental encouragement and a willingness to be flexible, those dreams can come true.

Yolanda S. Pascal’s High Hopes Big Dreams is for anyone looking for a charming story that children will easily connect with. It blends an important life lesson, stunning artwork, and an inventive, lively narrative voice in this modern tale of overcoming adversity.

February 24, 2025
2025 Publishing Trends You Need to Know NOW

A new year is upon us, my writing friends!

We have the energy of a new year to propel us toward our writing resolutions and new trends in the publishing industry to consider as we achieve our writing goals.

You’ll get the opportunity to dive deeper into these publishing trends, learn more about emerging strategies, and connect with fellow writers at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC25).

Sign up today to join us for a transformative event in Bellingham, WA, in April 3-6 2025!

Staying ahead of trends will put your book in the best position to succeed. We’ve compiled a list of trends that will be guiding the publishing industry in 2025. Buckle up, writers! We’re diving into what could be your best year yet!

AI, Copyright, and Collaboration

We’ve heard the drums beating for years—artificial intelligence (AI) will be used more widely in content creation, editing, and formatting. While we have heard much about the dangers of AI to authors in regard to copyright issues, AI tools can help with grammar, style, and structure and help publishers analyze reader data and predict market trends.

Author supported organizations are also working to create laws around the use of copyrighted material by AI services. Recently, congress introduced a bill called the Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act in response to the issues unregulated generative AI has created for authors and publishing. The need for these laws were recently underscored by a lawsuit brought against Facebook’s Meta company due to their use of pirated content to build up their AI tool. Time will tell how the AI revolution will evolve, but it is a relief that it is finally being formally addressed by lawmakers.

Beyond issues of copyright, practically AI has shown itself to be a brilliant brainstorming tool for authors, providing fresh perspectives and helping to spark new ideas for content, structure, and marketing strategies. From suggestions for marketing copy, taglines, and promotional marketing schedules, AI has the power to simplify a part of the author experience that many writers struggle with.

Self-Publishing and Print on Demand

Print on Demand (POD) is a game-changer for self-published authors. By allowing authors to print smaller batches of books as orders come in, POD eliminates the need for large upfront investments and the overhead costs associated with keeping inventory in a warehouse. This flexibility means authors can stay liquid while avoiding the financial burden of mass printing. Additionally, POD offers the ability to create specialty editions of books, such as limited runs or custom covers, which can add a unique touch and enhance reader engagement.

This also connects to the higher percentage of royalties per book when self-publishing compared to traditionally published authors, often reaching 60-80% compared to 5-15%. Independent authors also maintain more creative control, but they downside is they pick up the publishing costs and are responsible for all marketing activities. Traditional publishers are also adapting POD to stay competitive in the ever-changing market.

Audiobooks

For years, audiobooks have slowly found their footing in the publishing market. It is predicted the trend will continue to grow in popularity, as people become more comfortable with listening to books online. In 2023, audiobook revenue grew 9% to $2 billion, and each year audiobooks move closer to the sales numbers seen with ebooks and print.

Digital Publishing

Digital publishing will continue to grow in 2025. Authors will be engaging with their readers through online journals, blogs, social media posts, interactive websites, audio and video content, virtual galleries, and interactive exhibitions. By publishing digital content readers get to know the author on a more personal level and their work in many different ways.

Social Media vs. Newsletters

Social media platforms continue to evolve, with major changes unfolding at Meta and X (formerly Twitter), and new players like BlueSky emerging. As the digital landscape shifts, many authors find it increasingly difficult to maintain a consistent connection with their audience through social media alone. Algorithm changes, privacy concerns, and the rise and fall of platforms like TikTok have contributed to what feels like a revolving door of social media strategies.

However, newsletters remain one of the most powerful tools for direct communication with your audience. Unlike social media, where posts can be hidden or lost in the noise of algorithms, newsletters give you control over your message and provide a guaranteed way to reach your readers. Exclusive content, updates, and personal insights, newsletters allow authors to build long-term relationships with their community.

In a time of constant change in the digital space, newsletters stand strong as a reliable, personal, and effective way to stay connected with your most loyal readers.

Subscription Models

Subscription models have evolved, and today they provide an incredible opportunity for authors to build and sustain niche communities around their work. Platforms like Patreon and Kickstarter offer authors the chance to create exclusive content, foster deeper connections with their readers, and secure ongoing financial support. These models allow authors to engage directly with their fans, whether it’s through behind-the-scenes access, early drafts, or even running role-playing games based on their books.

A growing number of authors are finding success by leveraging subscription platforms to finance projects, such as crowdfunding a novel’s next chapter or funding an audiobook production. It’s about more than just direct sales—it’s about building a community that feels personally connected to your creative process.

Chanticleer’s Roost, for example, is an excellent subscription-based model that brings together writers and readers in a private, engaging online space. Subscription models like this foster close-knit communities, where authors can receive real-time feedback, share updates, and involve their audience in the creative journey. Whether you’re offering exclusive content or utilizing platforms like Kickstarter to support a new book launch, these models help authors maintain direct connections with readers and build lasting, engaged fanbases.

Sustainability

More authors and publishers are looking for ways to support efforts to combat climate change than ever before. In the coming year, this trend will continue as everyone, readers, writers, publishers, and booksellers, work to create a more sustainable world.

Blockchain

Blockchain will play a role in publishing. Blockchain is a decentralized database that stores and verifies transactions in a secure, transparent, and immutable ledger. It’s also known as Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). The appeal of blockchain technology is it reduces risk and cuts cost by cutting out the middle man—the banks—and allowing transactions to be a seamless process between the author and the book’s purchaser.

Direct Sales

Direct sales are becoming an increasingly prominent strategy for authors looking to take control of their business and increase their profits. With the rise of self-publishing and the continued dominance of digital platforms, authors now have more tools than ever to sell their books directly to readers without relying on traditional distribution channels.

In addition to selling books, authors can leverage direct sales to offer additional products and experiences. This could include personalized merchandise, bundled offers, or access to exclusive content. Authors who build a strong brand can turn direct sales into a long-term, sustainable business model.

Genre Fiction

Readers are dedicate to the stories they love! That’s reflected in the 2025 trend that predicts genre fiction will be hot in bookstores again this year. This is true whether they are shopping online for their next book, or if they step into a bookstore and head straight to the shelves containing their favorite genre.

As we look ahead, 2025 promises to be a transformative year for the publishing industry.

The publishing industry in flux, undergoing major changes right now. Readers are increasingly seeking authentic, inclusive stories, and authors are seeking out better business tools and sustainable publishing practices. Whether embracing cutting-edge technology or doubling down on community-building and niche markets, publishers and authors alike must stay adaptable to thrive in this evolving landscape.

Chanticleer predicts the future of publishing lies in balancing tradition with innovation to find the right audience that will make your next book a best seller!

Don’t miss out on these upcoming trends!

Register for the Chanticleer Authors Conference

Stay on top of Publishing as the Hub of Technology

Chanticleer is committed to stay on top of trends and help our authors from Manuscript to Market. Whether embracing cutting-edge technology or doubling down on community-building and niche markets, publishers and authors alike must stay adaptable to thrive in this evolving landscape.

All this and more will be at CAC25!

Sign up today for the Chanticleer Authors Conference and get ready to connect, learn, and grow as you take your publishing journey to the next level!

February 20, 2025