Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: chanti

Chanticleer 10 Question Author Interview Series with Maryanne Melloan Woods – Award-winning book, Sour Flower, Dante Rossetti Grand Prize Award, Author Life
From the 2023 Dante Rossetti Division Grand Prize Winner for Young Adult Fiction for her book Sour Flower, we have a brand new Chanticleer Author Interview!

Maryanne Melloan Woods won the Grand Prize in the Dante Rossetti Division of the 2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards for his novel, Sour Flower. The Dante Rossetti Book Award recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in the Young Adult fiction genre. The Dante Rossetti Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

The Young Adult division includes:
- Contemporary Young Adult
- SFF & Paranormal
- Dystopian/Edgy/Urban
- Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
- Historical Young Adult
- YA Adventure/Romance
Join us in getting to know the incredible writing of the Dante Rossetti’s newest Grand Prize Winner: Maryanne Melloan Woods!

Chanti: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with us. To start, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started writing.

Woods: I come from a family of writers: my parents and brother were all journalists, and my sister writes songs and poetry. So, when I was little I just thought that was what people did! But I can remember at age eight making a firm decision that I wanted to be either a writer or an actor. When I became a playwright (and later a TV writer), I developed a way to do both; I act out the parts in my head when I write scripts, and now novels.

A bit more on my writer’s journey: I remember when I was a teenager seeing a TV show where they interviewed TV comedy writers who worked in a “writers room” and I thought: that’s what I want to do.

But how does a Jersey girl make that jump? I was lucky enough to go to a high school that had a playwriting class, and then got to be part of a wonderful playwriting program at Drew University. After that I got involved in New York theater, and then took a deep breath and made the jump to L.A, where I was lucky enough to land a great agent. I wrote my “spec scripts” (which are scripts you write for existing TV shows that you use as writing samples) and my agent sent me around on meetings.

Partners is an American sitcom starring Kelsey Grammer and Martin Lawrence.

Just driving on to movie lots for the meetings blew my mind! And then when I finally landed my first sitcom-writing job – which was “Partners” with Jon Cryer – and met the other writers, I had the feeling that I had stumbled into some magical land where everyone spoke the same secret language I knew, and cared about the same things I did, like creating vivid characters, how to craft a joke etc.

I learned so much about the craft of comedy and writing in general from that job and the ones that followed. But after several years in Hollywood, I felt a strong pull back to the New York area (where I promptly met my husband and just stayed.) I knew I wanted to work in theater again, but I was also interested in the possibilities of YA fiction, which was really heating up at the time.

My first novel, Lazarus, originally started its life as a TV pilot that didn’t get picked up. But I just couldn’t let go of the story. So, I dug deep, read all the recommended YA fiction I could, and settled on two that I really studied, because I thought they were so good. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins (maybe you’ve heard of it) and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Those books were my training for learning a new form and ultimately writing Lazarus.

As I became a novelist I found I could use the storytelling skills I’d learned as a scriptwriter. Writing a first person narrative is a bit like writing a very long (and well-structured) monologue. I’m working from inside the characters’ minds again.

In my new novel Sour Flower, I found I could use the comedy writing chops I learned as a sitcom writer. There’s a lot of humor in the book, as well conflict and trauma.

Chanti: What an incredible start! That’s so wonderful that you were able to connect with a group that spoke the same language as you. Finding your “people” is so critical in the writing world. Would you talk more about genre, comedy, and your own writing?

Woods: My “lane” for much of my career has been comedy. Comedy-writing comes easily to me; I understand how it works. Sour Flower is a coming-of-age story that is initially quite comedic but ends up exploring deeper themes such as family dysfunction and substance abuse.

However, when the idea for my first novel, Lazarus, came to me, I knew it wasn’t a comedy, it was a mystery. And mysteries of course require very intricate and precise plotting plus clues and misleads, which DIDN’T come as easily to me. So, I studied the form and found the authors I liked best in this new genre (Ruth Ware tops my list.)

Ruth Ware is the author of psychological crime thrillers!

I had already learned so much about giving book characters a deep emotional life from Suzanne Collins, and while she doesn’t write mysteries, per se, she is the queen of the cliffhanger chapter ending. I found that to be an essential device in crafting Lazarus, which evolved into a paranormal thriller. I had to dig extra deep to write a YA thriller, using every element of craft I’d ever learned plus learning new ones that suited the genre. I think I have a handle on it now and indeed my forthcoming novel, The Last Howl of the Westerlakes, is also a mystery/thriller. So, I guess I would say that if you’ve honed your storytelling craft well, you can learn to write in a new genre. All of my work has comic elements, but if I had to label my novel-writing genre now, I’d call it “voice-driven YA fiction.”

Chanti: It sounds like you’ve done an amazing job creating a personal canon of books to help inform your writing and work. To ask something adjacent, what do you think about writing rules? Do you follow them, make up your own, or some combination?

Woods: I follow the rules that I learned starting as a theater major with a concentration in playwriting. I always think in terms of three acts, a structural form which goes back to Aristotle, and I’ve found that structure works well for writing novels too. In “Act One,” which is usually about the first quarter of a story, you’re setting up your characters and story and getting the reader/audience engaged. You’re also establishing tone, setting and genre. The protagonist’s journey begins, and you set up the desire line they’ll pursue until the story’s conclusion. In the middle section of Act Two, their journey becomes more and more challenging, with many setbacks and adversaries. In the last act of your story, you’re building to the climax of the piece, in which your protagonist finally battles their toughest opponent. I’ve found that this structure works in any genre or form: mystery novel, sitcom script, sci-fi western feature, or what-have-you. It’s what readers/audiences want and expect from a story.

Chanti: And speaking of story expectations, how do you come up with your story ideas?

Woods: I get little kernels of ideas, or mental images that play out like a short video. I’ve learned that if I keep coming back to it, there’s something there that I have to pay attention to. Something that I want to explore more deeply.

The idea for Lazarus came to me in the form of an image: a teen girl surrounded by the bleak, harvested cornfields of her prairie hometown, grimly intent on solving a murder. I knew that the girl was a great, natural detective, in fact she had better detective instincts than all the adults around her, including her police chief father. I knew that she had a love of funky thrift store fashion and that, at only 16, she had a profoundly deep relationship with her charmingly wise-ass boyfriend. And I knew that he had died, but that the death was a minor impediment to a love as great as theirs.

I was working in TV at the time so initially Lazarus was a pilot. It got me a lot of meetings around Hollywood, but ultimately didn’t get picked up. But I couldn’t let go of the story; it really resonated with me. So, I turned my attention to YA fiction.

Sour Flower is based on the upbringing of a friend of mine who was the responsible kid growing up with free spirit hippie parents in San Francisco. She wanted more from life than the day-glo, stoner chaos she saw around her, and managed to make her own way. I carried that story around in my back pocket for years; originally I thought it would make a great feature script. But when I started writing YA, I knew it would be perfect for a coming-of-age novel.

My next book, Last Howl, was based on an image again, this time of an idyllic suburban backyard garden party that’s suddenly disrupted by an unseen shooter. Stay tuned for that one!

Chanti: You have so many irons in the fire! With so many projects, how structured are you in your writing work?

Woods: In a word: very! With every project I write I outline and outline and then outline some more. I need to know where I’m going and have to know the progression of every chapter before I can start fleshing it out. Some writers can start without a road map, but I can’t. That said, many elements of the story change when I transition from outlining to actually writing. In both novels I’ve completed, I realized halfway through that the way I was taking the story wasn’t going to work. So, I had to put the central story line up on blocks and re-examine it. Once I figured out how to take the story in a better direction, more outlining! Luckily in both cases, the story flowed more smoothly, and everything finally clicked into place. It’s funny – I start out knowing the story will change, but I need to have a complete outline at the outset regardless. Go figure.

When not writing, Maryanne’s favorite hobby is playing and singing with The Johnny Woods Band.

Chanti: With that structure in mind, how do you approach your writing day?

Woods: I try to write for three to four hours every weekday morning. Particularly once I have an outline, I know what chapter or scene I’m going to write that day, so I just have at it. I usually only write one chapter a day. As far as writer’s block goes, I don’t generally have it, but I used to sometimes back in L.A. when I knew I had to have a spec script ready for hiring season in the spring. There was so much pressure. I got some great advice from a friend once: “Just sit down and write badly for a at least an hour.” You give yourself permission to start working whether it’s perfect or not. And before you know it, you’re in the flow, and you’re probably not writing too badly after all.

Chanti: You’ve named so many great authors and books. Can you offer up five of your favorite authors and describe how they influence your work?

Only five..? That’s gonna be hard! Since I’ve already mentioned John Green and Suzanne Collins I’ll skip over them here. I swoon over the writing style of both Markus Zusak and Fredrik Backman. Their storytelling chops, writing style and wisdom about the human condition never fail to amaze me. They make me try to raise my game. I love E. Lockhart’s great, out-of-the-box writing. She’s taught me to break rules and reach further in my descriptions. I think Ruth Ware is the best thriller author working today. I’ve learned so much about crafting mysteries, especially pace, suspense and misleads – from her. And for humor I’d have to say David Sedaris. I snort-laughed all the way through his book Me Talk Prety [sic] One Day. And his books aren’t just funny, they’re wise, relatable and heart-breaking too.

Maryanne and her husband, Johnny Woods at Haight Ashbury, a key location in Sour Flower.

Chanti: Those authors are amazing! It sounds like you have such a good base for your writing life. What areas would you say you are most confident in for your writing and what advice would you give someone who is struggling in that area?

Woods: I’m most confident in developing multi-layered characters, and writing dialogue. I have an exercise I use every time I start a project that helps me to flesh out the characters so I know how to write in their voice. First I explore each character’s wants, needs and fears. Then I figure out how each main character could be in conflict with every other main character. The latter part of the exercise often gives me good story ideas, as well as a deeper understanding of each character.

Chanti: That sounds like such an excellent plan! I’ll have to try that in my next project. As we wrap up, we’d love to know what you’re working on now.

Woods: I am really juggling right now. I have a TV pilot – a family dramedy – that I need to finish. Then I’ll get back to writing my new YA thriller, The Last Howl of the Westerlakes. At the same time, I’m working with a composer on my new musical, The Storm. And if you happen to be in Alabama in February you can see the premiere of my family musical, Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Book? at Birmingham Children’s Theater. So definitely many irons in the fire!

Chanti: We know Sour Flower is currently a manuscript. For aspiring authors with incredible writing like yours that’s looking for the right home, what sort of a place are you looking for in terms of placing it?

Woods: I’m looking for an editor who likes YA lit with equal parts humor, heart and angst. One who loves good character/voice-driven stories, who has the skills and background to point out the things I’ve missed and help to make this novel as good as it can be. I’m also looking for a well-established publishing house that has the resources to support and promote a solid YA offering.

Thank you Maryanne for taking the time for us to interview you!

Maryanne Melloan Woods is best known as a writer/producer for TV shows such as NBC’s Suddenly Susan, Fox’s Partners and Showtime’s The Chris Isaak Show, among others. Her screenplay, Steve, won “Best Comedy Feature Script” at the 2016 Nashville Film Festival. Her screenplay Match Made in Heaven won the Scriptation Showcase Screenwriting Competition in 2021. Her complete TV and film writing credits can be found here: Maryanne Melloan Woods – IMDb

Her YA novel Lazarus, a paranormal thriller, was published by Owl Hollow Press in 2020. Her second book, a coming-of-age YA novel entitled Sour Flower, won the 2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards’ Dante Rossetti Grand Prize for YA Fiction (it is not yet published.) She is currently at work on her third novel, a thriller titled The Last Howl of the Westerlakes.

Maryanne holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Drew University and an M.F.A. in Screenwriting from The American Film Institute.

She is a member of the Writers Guild of America, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, The Dramatists Guild and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Maryanne Melloan Woods won the Dante Rossetti 2023 Grand Prize for her amazing Young Adult fiction novel, Sour Flower! You can have a chance for your work to be recognized by entering the Dante Rossetti division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards!

You can learn more about Maryanne Melloan Woods and her writing on her website.
October 14, 2024
SUMMER CYCLONE: Magic at Myers Beach Book 4 by Alan B. Gibson – Fantasy Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fairies
The citizens of the three fairy kingdoms clash, forced to live shoulder-to-shoulder alongside ungoverned Outliers. In Summer Cyclone, fourth book of Alan B. Gibson’s Magic at Myers Beach series, unassuming tea-shop manager Stefán tries to find love while keeping all of fairy society from fracturing.

The three fairy kings, Theos, Zsombor, and Christophe, evacuate their people to Myers Beach. It’s only here that they have any chance of recreating fairy dust after their old sources had been poisoned, and saving every fairy life. They take in the Outliers, remnants of a fallen kingdom, and at first find good will between the groups. But with thousands of fairies moving in, they have to keep everyone on a short leash or else risk humans catching wind of their new neighbors. Resentment of these strange Outliers builds.

Stefán, a close confidant to Theos, struggles to keep anti-Outlier sentiment at bay with the help of some enigmatic and knowledgeable new friends. Rumors of him giving the Outliers special treatment grow stronger as some fairies begin to suspect that he’s actually one of them.

As an orphan of asylum-seeking parents, Stefán doesn’t even know his true ancestry.

But though his responsibilities weigh heavy on him, Stefán finds a bright spot in his life. He falls for Julie, the human woman who—even as a relative stranger—offered him kindness and support while he watched over Christophe’s recently-possessed sister, Princess Zoë.

Julie herself hesitates to be honest about her feelings, a recent failed relationship fresh in her mind. They tip-toe around each other, but draw gradually closer. Stefán makes her morning coffee and teaches her to cook. Julie shares her love of skateboarding, and the adventures she and Christophe had while travelling together the past few months. And at first, they bond as they help Zoë recover despite having lost her magic and wings to the witch possessing her body.

Julie worries, however, that Stefán and Zoë are getting too close. And with nearly all of her friends now fairies, it’s easy for her to feel like she has no lasting place in their world.

All the while, a murderous figure from the past—the very man who poisoned the old fairy dust—returns to take advantage of the weakened kingdoms.

Cross-kingdom tension builds beneath the surface until the fairies are nearly erupting. Agitators push greater and greater anger at the Outliers, empowered by the fear of a ticking clock. The royals only have a few weeks left to find the final ingredient to fairy dust before their people starve.

Each time Stefán and his friends think they have a solution to one of their pressing issues, it leads to greater outcry from the populace and more opportunity for sinister forces to take control. The patience of their people wears thin, and eventually, so does the patience they have for each other. Even a loving group of friends can be made to turn on each other with the right combination of fear and magic.

But with his willingness to tackle impossible tasks, and his deep desire to understand himself, Stefán opposes the destruction of his world while easily pulling readers into his shoes.

He and Julie are both outsiders among the people they love. But neither of them lets that stand in the way when their friends need help, proving that even if they don’t have the title of fairy royalty, they have no shortage of strength or nobility.

As it brings together both old friends and old foes from across the series, Summer Cyclone explores meaningful emotional threads.

Myers Beach shines with the return of characters from previous installments, particularly the fairy royals Theos, Lily, Zsombor, and Greta. Their distinct personalities weave together and clash now that they’re a team with the weight of fairy society on their shoulders.

Julie’s just happy to have her best friends back in her life, especially as Lily and Greta reveal that she’s going to be godmother to their future fairy children. But as a human, Julie’s as far from fairy royalty as someone can be. She has no magic. No authority. And as matters of state become overwhelming, she fears she’ll be left out of her friends’ lives once again.

Stefán’s easy friendship with Theos and Alias—nearly his adoptive brothers—is tested by the conflicting demands of royalty. While they all want the same peace between the different fairy peoples, Stefán will have to learn how to navigate changing dynamics of power.

Personal relationships blend into societal strife with dire stakes. Stefán and Julie lift each other up even as they struggle with their insecurities. And as the fairy kingdoms approach a vital choice in how their way of life will change—unity or division—Summer Cyclone delivers on the promises of its preceding books with a suspenseful whirlwind romance.

Read the whole series of Magic at Myers Beach!
October 14, 2024
The Eternal Radiance of a Diwali Celebration in Indian Literature

Celebrating the good things in life,

with hope of happiness and prosperity for you!

Diwali, or the “Festival of Lights”, is celebrated around the world with family gatherings, prayers, and festivities that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries. The festival marks the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, and has been a profound source of inspiration in Indian literature throughout history.

From ancient epics to contemporary novels, Diwali has been depicted India’s rich cultural significance and the deep-rooted traditions.

The origins of Diwali come from within the deep cultural history of Indian literature. Ancient Indian texts, particularly the Ramayana describes the festival as a celebration to honor Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after his victory over the demon king Ravana. In Valmiki’s epic, the joy of the citizens lighting oil lamps (diyas) to welcome Rama symbolizes the triumph of righteousness and good over evil, light over darkness. This theme of victory is echoed in various forms across different literary genres, capturing the essence of hope and renewal in the original story.

The stories that keep it alive!

Diwali is steeped in and immortalized in various forms of literature. Tales of goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of wealth and prosperity, and Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, are recounted in regional literature and oral traditions. These stories emphasize the spiritual significance of Diwali, reminding readers of the importance of virtues such as generosity, compassion, and humility.

Moreover, regional tales often present a more localized version of Diwali, reflecting the diverse customs and rituals practiced across India. Each region brings its unique flavor to the festival, enriching the literary landscape and showcasing the country’s cultural pluralism.

Diwali in Poetry

Indian poetry has beautifully encapsulated the spirit of Diwali, often intertwining personal emotions with collective celebrations. Poets like Rabindranath Tagore have used the festival as a lens for enlightenment and spiritual awakening. In his works, the lighting of lamps becomes a symbol of the inner light that guides individuals through darkness, echoing the belief that each person carries the potential for goodness.

Contemporary poets have also embraced Diwali, infusing it with modern sensibilities. For instance, in urban settings, Diwali is portrayed not just as a festival but as a time of reflection on social issues, consumerism, and environmental concerns. This nuanced representation enriches the literary tapestry of the festival, making it relevant to today’s world.

Fiction and Diwali

In novels, Diwali often serves as a backdrop for significant plot developments and character arcs. Writers like Salman Rushdie and Arundhati Roy have woven Diwali celebrations into their narratives, using the festival to explore themes of identity, community, and belonging. For instance, in The God of Small Things, the chaotic yet joyous atmosphere of Diwali reflects the complexities of familial relationships and societal norms.

Short stories also find a place for Diwali, where the festival acts as a catalyst for change. Authors like Ruskin Bond capture the essence of childhood nostalgia and innocence associated with Diwali, portraying the festival as a time of discovery and learning. These narratives often highlight the values of love, forgiveness, and unity that the festival embodies.

A New Perspective on the Festival of Lights

In recent years, contemporary Indian authors have begun to explore the complexities of Diwali in a globalized world. Novels set against the backdrop of migration, urbanization, and multiculturalism depict how the festival is celebrated away from home. This exploration reveals the challenges of maintaining traditions while adapting to new environments, highlighting the ongoing relevance of Diwali in a changing society.

It’s time to light up the night during Diwali!

Diwali is more than just a festival; it is a profound cultural phenomenon whose roots in ancient text continue to be explored and expanded upon in today’s literature. It symbolizes hope, unity, and the enduring human spirit, giving light to even the darkest of themes. As we celebrate Diwali, let’s reflect on contemporary Indian authors who continue to share their cultural heritage with the world with stories that illuminate the human condition and the need for hope, happiness, and love.

Interested in exploring the wonderful storytelling of Indian authors? Check out these amazing Indian authors!

Operation Mom
By Reenita Malhotra Hora
Grand Prize Chatelaine Award Winner

Master storyteller Reenita Malhotra Hora’s YA romance Operation Mom: My Plan to Get My Mom a Life and a Man takes us on a charming journey through the life of one teen, Ila Isham.

Hora introduces Ila and her best friend Deepali, two boy-crazy teens on a summer quest. Readers will fall in love with the smart, sassy, angst-filled, rebellious Ila. A typical teenage girl, Ila lives in Mumbai with her mom and Sakkubai, their house manager. Ila’s mother calls her obsessed, but that seems unfair. Is she obsessed just because her every waking minute is spent thinking of Ali Zafar, famous pop icon, singer, and heartthrob? Or is she obsessed with fellow classmate Dev?

Read more!

Dharma, A Rekha Rao Mystery
By Vee Kumari
Grand Prize M&M Award Winner

A complex murder mystery always requires a little spice. In Dharma, A Rekha Rao Mystery, that extra seasoning is provided by the casting of an Indian American woman as the amateur sleuth, despite her realistic fears for her personal safety.

Professor Rekha Rao is no Bollywood Mighty Girl. She’s a whip-smart American-born 32-year-old college instructor who must deal with her own PTSD after the murder of her father and her unstoppable passion for releasing the man wrongly convicted of her father’s slaying. That obsession is the reason Rekha was dismissed from her old teaching position. The scene is set for deep, personal involvement in the murder of a colleague, a fellow professor who is killed. And a rare, centuries-old statue excavated from an archeological dig in India is the murder weapon.

Read more!

Inner Trek
By Mohan Ranga Rao
Grand Prize Hearten Award Winner

A disinclined traveler journeys into the heartland of the revered Mount Kalash Parikarma in Tibet. Inner Trek by Mohan Ranga Rao follows a voyage that culminates in self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment.

Mohan Ranga Rao, a retired Indian businessman, finds himself between a rock and a hard place when a ruthless Bangalore mob boss threatens him to sell his land at a throwaway price. The situation escalates when he discovers that his trusted lawyer has joined forces with the enemy. He can only turn to his wife for solace.

With nothing for him to do about his land, Rao vows to trek around Mount Kailash, a holy Tibetan Mountain. This travel memoir traces his and his wife’s journey to the deified Himalayas, the land of Lord Shiva. Rao shares intimate details of his experience, including the spiritual transformation that he went through during his challenging high-altitude trek.

Read more!

Night Jasmine Tree
By Debu Majumdar
First Place Somerset Award Winner

Shankar, a recently retired professor of physics, and his wife, Durga, have left Michigan to resettle on Long Island with their son’s family in Debu Majumdar’s award-winning novel, Night Jasmine Tree.

While the migration from the Midwest to the East Coast is a small one, considering both characters moved from India decades before, the move spurs Shankar to ponder the life he left behind and to reassess his relationship with his sisters and parents.

In India, there are many different cultures, the main sprouting from the Hindu faith and political structure, the caste system.

In the West, we may be familiar with this caste system, we mostly are all aware of the ‘untouchables.’ However, what we may not understand, is how rigid the caste systems truly are. Durga and Shankar are not from the same caste. Shankar is Brahmin, his wife is of a lower caste. This difference is enough for Shankar’s family to reject her outright and disown him.

Read more!

In the sparkling tradition of Diwali, the Festival of Lights

May the light of Diwali illuminate your home and heart with happiness and prosperity.

Happy Diwali from Sharon, Kiffer, David, Dena, Scott, Anya, Andy, and the whole Chanticleer Team!

Thank you for being part of the Chanticleer Family!

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October 11, 2024
TOMMY ROCKET And The GOOBER PATROL by Thomas R. Kuhn – Children’s Adventure, Mystery, Sci-fi

Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol by Thomas R. Kuhn follows Nate, a young boy growing up in the 1970s, whose friendship with the kid genius robot builder, Tommy Rocket, leads him into mysterious adventures.

Tommy’s father invented the Prometheus chip that gives sentience to robots, and from a young age Tommy started creating a gang of robots called the Goober Patrol. Eccentric and wheelchair-bound, Tommy prefers to tinker with his robots at home. But he befriends Nate after he saves Tommy from bullies.

When Tommy’s aptly named ‘Monster-bot’ gets loose, Nate is tasked with finding and securing the rogue bot before anyone finds out. But the two boys soon find out there is more at work than one missing robot. There’s another tinkerer in town and they’re building their own special group of robots—which look just like one of Tommy’s creations. Nate and Tommy have to find out who has gotten their hands on the Prometheus chip before it’s too late.

Filled with 1970s nostalgia, Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol explores the best parts of childhood.

School is just a thing to endure and kids are wrapped up in their own adventures with their friends.

For these two kids, their adventures are more than playground games. This adventure has much more more at stake.

Tommy’s robots are quirky, comedic characters, but the star of the story is undoubtedly Nate. He’s a normal boy who loves to read superhero comics and often procrastinates with his homework until the last moment. He’s also tenacious, sticking up for what’s right even if it jeopardizes his friendship with Tommy.

An eccentric young kid, Tommy does not seem the easiest person to be friends with, but he cares for Nate in his own way, even reaching out with a coded message whenever they have a disagreement

The mystery of the Monster-bot flows at a pleasant, consistent pace as its clues are revealed.

This is a book for both kids who love going on adventures around the neighborhood with their friends, and for adults who grew up during the ’70s, making Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol a great book for children and parents to read together.

For the comic book readers and the budding science fiction fans, Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol is not to be missed.

October 11, 2024
The 2024 Humor and Satire Spotlight for books that make us laugh!
No Funny Business!

The Humor and Satire Awards are open through the end of October!

We are delighted to celebrate the 2023 Winners of the Humor and Satire Awards!
- Eileen O’Finlan – All the Furs and Feathers
- Allyson Rice – The Key to Circus-Mom Highway
- Marco Ocram – The Awful Truth About The Herbert Quarry Affair
- Lou Dischler – The Rising
- Steven Mayfield – The Penny Mansions
- Tom Strelich – Water Memory
The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2023 Humor and Satire Awards is:

Quantum Consequence: Physics, Lust and Greed Series, Book 5

by Mike Murphey

More posts are to come celebrating these amazing winners, but we’re here to tickle your appetite with these great books we’ve reviewed in the meantime!

THE GARDEN PLOT DIARIES
By Endy Wright

Endy Wright’s The Garden Plot Diaries is a delightful collection of four short stories about life, relationships, and consequences.

Wright captures the gossip and rivalries between factious groups of town folk, all between sixty and ninety-something, who have known each other since childhood and carry the grudges to prove it. Our delightful narrator professes, “I am a rambling old man with a tale to tell and in no hurry to tell it.” So, settle in.

Hailing himself from New Hampshire, Wright has set these stories in Monadnock, a New England town/region which he peoples with a menagerie of colorful octogenarians who drink, dance, and feud. In the voice of his narrator again, “[these are stories] of chaos creeping into God’s Garden.” Wright’s stories certainly do deliver a wonderful kind of chaos and pandemonium usually expected in a kindergarten class.

Read more here!

LIAR, ALLEGED: A Tell-All: Celebrities, Sex and All the Rest
By David Vass

Liar, Alleged: A Tell-All: Celebrities, Sex, and All the Rest is a raw and mature memoir, the account of a resilient individual, David Vass, who had felt ‘instinctively’ different and shunned since he was a child.

Vass was born in Baltimore as the seventh child of eight. His large family knew nothing more than chaos and absurdity, biting poverty, a violent father, and an eternal hand-to-mouth crisis. At an early age, he had recognized his inextinguishable fascination with other males, a discovery that he would later bring himself to express to his mother. He was pretty confident that being gay was core to who he would become.

By the time he was twenty-four, David’s parents had already passed on. But as fate would have it, he would come to meet ‘the mother he never had’ in the jazz legend Anita O’Day. She dealt with problems of alcohol, drugs, and men; the outcome had been nine abortions, stubborn guilt, and infamy as a heroin addict. Nevertheless, the two would become close confidantes until Anita’s demise at the age of eighty-seven.

Read more here!

DRUNK TALK
By Mike Davis & TL Banks

Authors Davis and Banks have combined forces to create this humorous but practical look at how people think and why they act as they do.

The essential message of this satiric volume is that most people tend to nurse false notions about their lives and the universe in general – notions that the authors rapidly and thoroughly debunk. They take the stance of a drunk hanging out at a bar, hearing about everything that goes on in people’s minds. In forty-eight segments, various human problems are examined, derided, and substituted for what many readers will consider far more rational viewpoints.

Some issues raised seem trivial – “Celebrities” who do not, as might be supposed, get to enjoy their fame since the general attitude toward them is “shut up and entertain us or else.” Other matters are significant. One of the longer treatises focuses on “Gods,” with the authors asserting that God is merely an imaginary projection, and religion only a means of seeing and believing what people want, “even if it’s not real or makes no sense.” A true, non-superstition-based belief system would impel people to help others more and take full responsibility for their actions.

Read more here!

Hot Air: An Arnold Falls Novel, Book 2
By Charlie Suisman

Charlie Suisman returns to the unique fictional town of Arnold Falls in his humorous novel, Hot Air.

Arnold Falls bristles with zany events, quirky locals, and colorful newbies. Above all, this memorable enclave buoys its people through heart, soul, wit, and a true sense of collective spirit.

Jeebie Walker returns as the story’s central narrator.

Read more here!

EVERYTHING THAT WAS
By Conon Parks, Chris Sempek, Mike MacNeil, Larry Knight

Everything That Was echoes myriad broken emotions born of the world in turmoil after 9/11, intricate and politically bold, and as disturbing in its brutal humanity as it is satisfying with witty jests.

The 9/11 terrorist attack has shattered the psyche of the American people. A volcanic eruption of questions demands the whys and hows of the attack. From this anger, a massive war on terror begins. This historical fiction reflects the chaos of 9/11 and its ensuing global chaos – resulting in a series of violent endeavors and events. Throughout Everything That Was, one can find a swarm of fragmented ideologies, mini memoirs of war veterans, and witness accounts – all screeching reasons for the attack, the ensuing war, and its consequences: political, ideological, and theological.

The book’s very structure expresses the central ideas of its content, making for an affecting read.

Read more here!

Whether the story makes us stop and pause or burst out laughing, we’re so happy to have reviewed these books!

Is your Humor or Satire Book Ready to turn it up to 11?

This is the journey from beginning to end for the CIBAs Levels of Achievement is so worthwhile! Every list you make means more promotion for you and your work as each list is posted right here on our website, on our social media, and also out in our newsletter!

Your book deserves to be discovered
October 10, 2024
The 2024 Hemingway Book Awards Spotlight on 20th & 21st c. Wartime Fiction
The History of War is always important

Especially in Historical Fiction

The Hemingway Awards is our Division for Historical Fiction of 20th Century Wartime. Named for famed War Correspondent and Author Ernest Hemingway, his writings embody much of what this award covers. He didn’t write only war related content, but A Farewell to Arms and For Whom The Bell Tolls are both amazing looks into the rather tumultuous early 20th century.

These are the categories for the 2024 Hemingway Awards for 20th and 21st century Wartime Fiction:
- World War 1
- World War 2
- Women in War
- Occupation/ Diaspora
- Espionage
- Love in Wartime
- Specific Campaign/ Theater/ Battle
The dropping of a nuclear bomb in Stanley Kubrik’s dark satire “Dr. Strangelove”

Submit Your Work Today!

We are delighted to celebrate the 2023 Winners of the Hemingway Awards!
- J.L. Oakley – The Brisling Code
- Kathryn Gauci – In the Shadow of the Pyrenees
- Michael J Cooper – Crossroads of Empire
- Ivan Luiz Hernandez – Isla Vulnerable
- Linda Stewart Henley – Kate’s War
- Jerena Tobiasen – Tsarina’s Crown
- William McClain – Alice’s War
The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2023 Hemingway Book Awards is:

The Silver Waterfall

A Novel of The Battle of Midway

by Kevin Miller

We love stories about wartime history here at Chanticleer. Here are some of the best books we’ve reviewed recently.

AN EMPTY HOUSE DOESN’T SNEEZE
By David Scott Richardson

In David Scott Richardson’s YA WWII historical novel, An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze, teenager Scott Johannsen—“Scotty” to his mom and friends—leads us on an adventure through the wartime Ravenna neighborhood in Seattle, Washington.

Boeing manufactures B-17s, his grandparents and neighbors grow victory gardens, his parents build a bomb shelter in their basement, and mandatory blackouts occur every night. Scotty navigates a chaotic world filled with danger and wonder yet finds security with family and friends in this heartfelt story.

Scotty runs with his pack—James, Marty, and Burr. We witness what lengths they will go to on a search for chocolate. With Ravenna Park as a backyard and Puget Sound just a short drive away, Scotty’s life is filled with exploration of the natural world. His fishing adventures with his dad in the Sound become an exciting way to supplement his family’s food rations as he dreams about netting a fighting salmon.

Read more here!

ROSES In DECEMBER: Hamilton Place, Book 2
By Mark A. Gibson

Roses in December is the epic conclusion to Mark A. Gibson’s compelling two-part family saga, Hamilton Place. Now focusing on the family’s next generation, James Hamilton Jr.—Jimmy—follows in the footsteps of the father he never met, a Vietnam War hero who died in battle, and ultimately finds his own path in life.

Pressured by a conning mother-in-law only out for monetary gain, the elder Jimmy’s widow, Becca, is pushed to marry Mack Lee, her deceased husband’s older brother who proves to be a cheating and abusive husband. Trapped in this loveless marriage, Becca hopes that attending church will remove her son from the toxic influence of her new husband and set him on the right path to a good life. But it’s the discovery of young Jimmy’s superior photographic memory that opens the door to a brighter future, and he sets a course to an outstanding medical career, coupled with military service in Afghanistan.

Gibson delivers the recent past with a great sense of immediacy, showing events that ripple into our contemporary world using pop references that are relevant in today’s world.

Read more here!

AFTER ME
By J. Shep

The arrival of a mysterious package makes for an enticing beginning in J. Shep’s After Me. Inside we find a manuscript with the same text as the book we’re about to read. This inventive start lends a sense of realism and truth to what follows and creates a vivid yet hazy quality, like memory itself.

After Me travels back in time to rural France just after World War II. The setting appears idyllic at first—almost unbelievably so. Still, there’s a disturbing undercurrent felt from the start. Not from an unwanted presence, but rather from an absence.

Told from the perspective of Ellande, a young boy, he recounts the summer his parents die in an accident and he and his nine-year-old little sister, Madeleine-Grace, are sent to their extended family’s summer home in France. Their care seems competent at first—but cracks in the façade gradually emerge as Ellande begins his tale.

Read more here!

EVERYTHING WE HAD: No Merciful War Book 1
By Tom Burkhalter

Everything We Had, book one of Tom Burkhalter’s No Merciful War series is an inexorable thrill that will grip readers tight. It starts with a poker game, through which a main character’s luck soon becomes evident. But will that luck hold out?

Jack—the poker player—and Charlie—Jack’s older brother—have been separated by war, even though that war has yet to be declared. Everything We Had focuses more on the machinations leading up to US involvement in World War II than on actual combat. The gears of war that have so many young men caught in them move with gradual but inevitable force, and so Everything We Had takes a more thoughtful approach to a historic moment in time.

Connecting with the characters is a gradual process as you get to know the intricacies that make up their individual personalities. This sets the reader up to feel the emotions of the characters as they face an uncertain fate, and throughout the book the author’s clear and methodical research shines with details such as specific views, locations, and—most notably—comprehensive descriptions of the airplanes Jack and Charlie pilot. This allows the reader to become deeply familiar with the motivations of the characters and the capabilities of the airplanes they fly.

Read more here!

These authors keep the recent past alive for us! We thank them for documenting these times and sharing their stories!

We hope to see your work in the 2024 Hemingway Awards!

This is the journey from beginning to end for the CIBAs Levels of Achievement is so worthwhile! Every list you make means more promotion for you and your work as each list is posted right here on our website, on our social media, and also out in our newsletter!

Your book deserves to be discovered
October 9, 2024
MINNESOTA POEMS From The OUTPOSTS by Hari Hyde – Poetry Collections, Spirituality, Natural World

Hari Hyde reveals the mysticism of exploring chaotic nature and our human need to connect with it. He takes readers to sites of wonder, physical and conceptual, in his collection Minnesota Poems from the Outposts.

“Part 1: Middle Rivers” illustrates the shared liminal states of people and the natural world.

Aligning symbols of the turning seasons with people growing up in their communities, “Middle River, Minnesota” establishes our innate kinship with nature—as individuals and collectives. “School Bus” follows the transient days of childhood, while “Unruffled Railway” looks back from the end of an era, as the rails are now overgrown and unused. But, to be overgrown is to find life, and a new way of being after the end of that old cycle.

Meanwhile, “Moon Over Thief Lake” illustrates the need to commune with nature through beautiful but distant imagery.

Part 1 maintains a childlike playfulness in its use of language.

“Goose Capital” and “Young’s Store” give in to flights of fancy about the little details of rural life, while a trio of poems “Ye Olde Depot Theater, River Avenue”, and “Church Bell” fully immerse themselves in the charm of small communities.

But Part 1 also touches on the difficult challenge of maturity. “Milking Holsteins” and “Angus Cattle” find peace in a world where each creature has a role to play. But, matching the use of rivers as a thematic force of eternal change, “Minnesota Highway 59” reckons with the fact that there are some deep yearnings a person will never be able to satisfy.

These first poems open the book well, introducing both the setting of rural Minnesota and a focus on living in relation to its natural forces. Some of the themes in Part 1 could be expanded upon, but the warm poetic voice beckons readers to continue on.

“Part 2: Smalltown Outposts” broadens its scope to include a variety of notable locations, embracing the culture and history of Minnesota.

A mixture of compelling imagery and unique tones give each new location a sense of identity, especially in poems like “Split Rock Lighthouse (Lake Superior)”.

This combines with whimsical renditions of local mythology in “Paulette Bunyan” and “Mankato Man and Nature’s Plan” to instill in readers Minnesota’s vital, defiant soul.

Hyde also explores the human shadow of Minnesota’s history—the inner lives of those who made it—in “Minnesota’s Ten Millennial Girl” and “Blue Mounds State Park”. These poems describe the personality that history leaves to its locations but, at the same time, exposes the complexities that can’t be preserved over a long period of time.

Where Part 1 embraced communion with nature, Part 2 creates a thematic duality by highlighting our inherent conflict with it.

“Mankato Man and Nature’s Plan” puts this conflict in stark relief. The central figure defies his place as a tool in Nature’s hand. But “Red River Flood” shows how futile that fight can be, with the narrator choosing to become like the river itself rather than try to live in spite of it.

The rhyming can create awkward lines sometimes, but this section’s beauty is in its clear familiarity with its locations, which maintain their grandeur.

“Part 3: Inner Outposts” and “Part 4: Family and Faith” create another dichotomy—the inner self and its struggle to fit in with the outer world.

“Private Ponds”, “Secret Snow Bones”, and “The Outside” encourage trusting the inner self, finding meaning beyond societal expectations and dogma. But “The Believable Distance” and “Last Love” both recognize the pain in being distant from others.

These sections make playful use of metaphors, but in poems like “Guard Dog”, those become more complex and conflicted. The animal part of one’s mind tears and recoils at the chains that bind it.

As a whole, Parts 3 & 4 step into darker territory. Pain and suffering are reframed as the necessary teachers of survival—from the mundane to the divine—in “Ancient Apathy”. “Corporal Counselor” grapples with pride and envy as truly inescapable sins, innate to the inner self.

While there’s a return to some of the mysticism of childhood from Part 1, these later parts offer a more nuanced perspective on relationships.

This is particularly true among the poems most concerned with death, “Elegy for a Nobody”, “Get Well Cards (Calibrated)”, and “A Little Light”. While the themes of family and faith don’t interact much in general, these death poems find interesting connections between how death changes our relationships to each other and the deep desire to understand one’s meaning in the universe.

“Jonah and the Great Fish” stands out as a unique take on this section’s view of God. Here, animals are to humans as humans are to the divine. But the might of nature tests the boundaries of this metaphor. A great and terrible sturgeon reigns as a bloody demon, and it’s only through the help of nature’s small and wriggling things that the fish can be bested.

This poem serves well as a transition point to the fifth and final part of the collection, “The Wild.” Here, the core ideas and writing style of Minnesota Poems from the Outposts both shine at their brightest.

“Moose Head” grants intention and emotion to the forces of the natural world, while reinforcing its incompatibility with human society. This poem and “Arrowhead Northern Lights” create a compelling combination of descriptive language and poetic contrasts. All underscored by a palpable appreciation for the wilderness of Minnesota.

“Into the Woods” and “Lake of the Woods” experiment most with structure and poetic flow, to fascinating effect.

Both are much longer than any other poems in the collection, with lines and paragraphs shifting in size as they explore new parts of the wilds. They take this time to fully immerse a reader in their contrasting views of wilderness.

The narrator finds that, to truly go “Into the Woods” and become a part of them, one has to give themselves up to the beautiful ways of nature. It’s a welcoming of the raw, physical world.

“Lake of the Woods”, on the other hand, seeks divinity in the beasts of the water. Recurring symbolism aligns the lakes with the sky—a celestial realm, where humans can touch and even enter, but will find themselves reflected back in challenging ways.

And yet, for all of the woodlands’ chaos and strangeness, people come.

Here, in these final poems, Hyde returns to the incessant yearning. The distance between a person and the worlds of men and trees alike might be vast, but the quest to cross it is equally as meaningful.

October 9, 2024
The 2024 Global Thriller Award Spotlight for High Stakes Suspense
The World is at Stake

Can your book save the day?

The Global Thriller Awards is our Division for all the Spy stories, International Conspiracies, and Science based novels. While some of the categories in this Division may have overlap with some others, Global Thriller stands strong in it’s quest to portray potentially World-Destroying Events.

The Categories in Global Thriller for High Stake Suspense are are:
- Historic: Theater of War, Spycraft, and more!
- Lablit: Real Science meets “What-If?” scenarios that feel all too plausible!
- Science Fiction: Sometimes the threat comes from outside our known reality like Alien or Predator
- Dramatic: Classic Die Hard style consequences
- Action/Adventure: ‘Nuf said
- Cybertech: Also known as Cyberpunk. Typically a Dystopian like story, commonly with 1980’s aesthetics and Futuristic technology.
We’re ready for your Thriller Today!

The Global Thriller Book Awards Close at the end of October! Don’t let your book miss out on the chance to be discovered!

We are delighted to celebrate the 2023 Winners of The Global Thriller Award!
- D. L. Wilburn Jr. – The God Protocol: Dragon
- Glenn Dyer – Trust No One
- Mark James – Friendship Games
- Randall Krzak – Ultimate Escalation
- Susan Rogers and John Roosen – Cobra Pose
The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2023 GLOBAL THRILLER Awards is:

Jake Fortina and the Roman Conspiracy

By Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke

For our Spotlight Articles we love to highlight some of the best High Stakes Suspense Thrillers that have come our way! Pull out your pen and paper, because your list of books to read is about to get longer!

MAJOR JAKE FORTINA And The TIER ONE THREAT
By Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke

Why would Iranian terrorists break into a Paris cemetery and steal the bones of an American Jewish WWI veteran? The answer lies in the deadly parallel history of WWI and the Spanish flu, but it’s a mystery that Jake Fortina will have to uncover in Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke’s thriller, Major Jake Fortina and the Tier One Threat.

During WWI, the Spanish Flu killed millions of people—some estimates as high as 100 million—but a Jewish nurse tossed off the flu like a cold and continued to serve her country. Iran’s leaders believe the DNA in her bones will let them develop a virus that could kill Americans and Israelis by the millions while simultaneously developing immunity for Iran’s own population.

This threat drives the story as it reaches deep into multiple countries and their governments, who collectively try to figure out the importance of the bones theft and, ultimately, what to do about it.

Read more here!

REVENGE: A Bruce and Smith Thriller Book 2
By Randall Krzak

Randall Krzak raises the bar of the thriller genre with Revenge, the action-packed second book in the Bruce and Smith series.

Javier retires from the Army and his despised desk job at the Pentagon. He lived for the action of working in the field, so as a civilian, he tries to build an international investigative agency called The Brusch Agency. Thanks to his connections from the military, he can do exactly the work he wants, with the people he chooses.

Krzak sets up this book meticulously, building conflicts in the first several chapters. Javier needs to apply for his concealed-carry permit and private investigator’s license while finding office space for his agency, but his plans are staggered as his condo is broken into and trashed. Despite his investigation and that of law enforcement, the culprit remains a mystery.

Read more here!

THE BRISLING CODE
By J.L. Oakley

In The Brisling Code, a fast-paced first installment of her historical thriller series, Oakley weaves a brilliant portrayal of the perils met by the Norwegian Resistance during WWII.

Layered perspectives—from resistance workers, traitors, and even an SS Officer—create a rich world through which readers can understand the sacrifices that were made to free our world from the tyranny of Nazi Germany.

Immersed in volatile Nazi-occupied Bergen, Norway, fearless young intelligence agent Tore Haugland and his team of organizers work tirelessly to protect the essential work of the Norwegian resistance.

Read more here!

APOCALYPSE In OUR TIME: The Accountant’s Apprentice Book 3
By Dennis M. Clausen

In The Accountant’s Apprentice III: Apocalypse In Our Time by Dennis M. Clausen, the director of a homeless shelter sees subtle changes in the community around him, changes that are both worrisome and bizarre—portending a change to the world beyond human understanding.

The story of Justin Moore, director of a homeless shelter in San Diego, continues. In the previous books in the series, he has met individuals who seem to be not quite of this world. A.C., a mysterious man in a wheelchair who played an important role earlier in the trilogy, is gone as of the third book, but his wheelchair is now being used by another man— seemingly catatonic and with no name. This man is known only as “Levi” by the staff at the bus depot where he was found, but Justin finds there is something more to him beneath the surface. Levi seems to have certain things in common with A.C., but with unique abilities. Justin is warned by a woman that the man he knows as Levi may be dangerous, but is he? And who is she, anyway?

So many questions are raised, and Justin has few if any answers. In the previous book, he saw a demonic army gathering on the horizon. Was that real? A.C. had given Justin a limited ability to see the future, and a horrifying promise of things to come:

Read more here!

These authors kept us on the Edge of our Seat, and we can’t wait for more!

Flip the switch and enter the Global Thriller Awards today!

This is the journey from beginning to end for the CIBAs Levels of Achievement is so worthwhile! Every list you make means more promotion for you and your work as each list is posted right here on our website, on our social media, and also out in our newsletter!

Your book deserves to be discovered
October 8, 2024
The 2023 Hearten First Place Winners for Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction

The Hearten Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction. The Grand Prize Winner, Nove Meyers’ book, Running Away From The Circus will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Clue contest page year ’round!

The best part about being a Chanticleer Int’l Book Award Winner is the love and attention you get all year ‘round!

The 2023 Hearten Winners were announced at the 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference in April, and you can see the official winners post here!

Join us in celebrating the 2023 First Place Hearten Winners!

Lisa Niver – Brave-ish

Newlywed Niver was on the adventure of a lifetime. She had quit her job, rented out her condo, and was traveling around Asia. To the outside world, Niver was a woman living out her dreams of exploring ancient ruins in Cambodia and seeing orangutans in Borneo. In private, she was keeping a dark secret. But, when she found herself lying on a sidewalk in Thailand, looking up at the sky in severe pain, she knew things had to change. At age forty-seven, Niver found the courage to set course on a new life.

Feeling like a failure, pushing fifty, and moving home to her parents’ house to start again from scratch, Niver started taking one tiny “brave-ish” step at a time to take her life far away from the old one and into the adventurous world of travel writing. These small hurdles led to the challenge of trying fifty new things before turning fifty. From diving into shipwrecks, swimming with sharks, bobsledding at 3 Gs, to indulging in wild escapades, Niver found herself traversing the world on a journey of reinvention, personal growth, and discovering what it actually means to be “brave.”

While Brave-ish chronicles Niver’s inspiring expeditions to distant corners of the world including Myanmar, Cuba, Morocco, Kenya and Mongolia this is more than a travelogue. Niver’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance. Brave-ish inspires readers to dream big, take risks, and embrace the unknown to create a life filled with wonder and excitement, even when courage seems elusive.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Lally Pia – The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy

When a military coup in Ghana leads to the abrupt closure of Lally Pia’s medical school, she is left stranded there, thousands of miles away from her family in California, with no educational prospects or money. Adding to her turmoil is her discovery that her American Green Card has been botched, which means she has no country to call home. But a Sri Lankan priest told Lally that she would one day become a “Doctor of Doctors” —and she is intent on proving him right.

This sizzling multicultural roller coaster illustrates the power of self-determination as Lally, a young immigrant with a drive to succeed, takes on obstacle after obstacle—an abusive relationship, the welfare state, and a gruesome job where she has to dismember human bodies—in order to fulfill her dreams. A story that will resonate with anyone who has faced cultural and immigration hardships, The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy is a nail-biting journey across continents, through hardships, and into ultimate triumph.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Tony Jeton Selimi – A Path to Excellence

Become the master of your destiny with this proven blueprint for achieving your true potential.

Are you tired of settling for mediocrity? Do you want to become the high-achieving person you know you can be? Are you ready to let go of your limiting beliefs and step into the prosperous, successful, and fulfilled life you know you are meant to have?

If so, A Path to Excellence™ is for you.

Thoroughly researched with authentic advice and ground breaking strategies, this illuminating blueprint for self-mastery invites you on a journey to realize your full potential, clarify your vision, and dare to achieve your dreams.

Inside, you’ll join #1 bestselling, award-winning author, Tony Jeton Selimi as he reveals a proven path to achieving the highest levels of personal and professional excellence. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Tony went from living homeless and penniless as a victim of civil war, to becoming a self-made millionaire and internationally recognised authority on emotional intelligence and maximising human potential.

Built on his critically acclaimed The Octagon of Excellence Method, this book breaks down Tony’s 30 years of experience into an easy-to-digest blueprint, challenging you to step beyond your limits and become the master of your destiny.

From Chanticleer:

On the belief that life isn’t just the random cards one is dealt, A Path to Excellence by Tony Jeton Selimi offers a blueprint—the octagon of excellence—to succeed personally, professionally, and spiritually.

Transcending the pitfalls and spontaneous stumbling blocks along the path of life can open the door to self-actualization and progression. As someone who experienced bullying, sexual abuse, early disability, and homelessness, Selimi sets on to become a beacon of light to the hopeless and marginalized.

Within each soul lies a bud of genius waiting to blossom. This book focuses on purpose, vision, and persistence to clear the way to that fullest potential. Affirming challenges as immutable truths of life, Selimi employs Buddhist teaching and personal anecdotes to encourage a head-on confrontation with one’s struggles and promotes a feeling of gratitude. As a blend of philosophical wisdom and practical experience, the initial chapters help readers acknowledge their current life situation, perceiving challenges as epochs of potential.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Trudy Wells-Meyer – Some Things Are Simply Meant To Be

A teenager’s dream, the immigrant — Coming to America. . .

A belief something extraordinary is possible. Starry-eyed she arrives in New York on a massive ocean liner from England, the first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty in the distance, her extended arm — like a welcome — what a goose-bump-moment. Alone, with 2 small suitcases, she steps onto American soil, speaking little English. A life unknown, fear a constant companion. She is 23.

Her trust in faith and fate guides her life, believing in the power of possibilities as far back as growing up in a tiny Swiss village, where even dreaming had its limits. Living above her parents’ hair salon, a stranger’s phone call, an American, with a German accent . . . visits her humble home, a one-hour taxi ride from Zürich, to offer her a job in Atlanta or Houston. As the handsome out of the ordinary mystery man leaves, Mom, and her Swiss stare embarrassing Trudy, holding her hands he says, “See you in America”. In the dark cold hallway, rooted to the floor with a broken leg, a cast to her knee, she utters words: “This . . . has something to do with later.”

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Aurita Maldonado – The Zen of Dancing in the Rain

Society has become a place where combat veterans would rather commit suicide than live. Many who “have it all” are discovering that they still feel miserable but can’t figure out why. They feel powerless under the boredom of what society deems necessary.

Aurita Maldonado is a Puerto Rican woman warrior and Afro Latin dance instructor who chose a different path before and after her two combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

She received a Purple Heart for wounds received in Afghanistan before leaving the Army to align her thoughts, words, and actions. She adopted a new mission: cultivate peace, happiness, and learn to become her own best friend. All while learning to live as one with Mother Earth.

Aurita rejected lucrative government jobs, sold her possessions, and moved to Haines, Alaska, in 2010 to begin her journey with PTSD and self-acceptance. An extreme athlete, she used movement to help her navigate the storms with a grin until she was suddenly paralyzed from the waist down in a fight against a deadly rat lungworm infection.

The perspective shifts she adopted to continue to enjoy life while learning to use her body again will make you reassess your choices to settle for the status quo.

This is an inspirational memoir of a remarkable woman’s journey to stumble in style as she navigates seemingly insurmountable tragedies early in life. It is a story of triumph and discipline. Joy and sorrow. A portrait of a Lady Hurricane dancing, both literally and figuratively as one with the storms of life.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2023 Hearten First Place Winners!

You can see our Hall of Fame on the Hearten Grand Prize Winners, including Nove Meyers’s incredible book Running Away From The Circus here.

Your book can join the Tiers of Achievement, but only if you submit to the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards!

Got a great Fiction Book? The 2024 Hearten Book Awards are open through the end of September!

Submit to the Hearten Awards Today!

October 7, 2024
I See You! How to Identify Your Book’s Target Audience
Every genre is a competition

Let’s face it, finding those who are looking for a book just like yours isn’t always easy. But finding your target audience is key to creating a base of loyal fans clamoring for your next novel. Understanding of your target audience allows you to tailor your messages to more effectively gain their attention and improve your marketing return on investment (ROI). You’ll be able to create content that resonates with your target readers, boosts engagement, and ultimately drives conversions. A win, win, win!!

Whether you’re launching your debut novel or running a marketing campaign, understanding your readers can make all the difference in your success. Here’s a guide to help you effectively identify your target audience.

Identifiers That Will Help You Find Your Target Readers

Analyze Your Current Readers

Start by examining your existing readers. That can be family, friends, co-workers, or anyone that you’ve shared your work with and know they want to read more. Look for common characteristics such as age, gender, location, income level, and interests. Once you get your website set up, tools like Google Analytics and social media insights can provide valuable data about who is already engaging with your brand.

Conduct Market Research

Talk to your current readers to find out what initially interested them enough to read your book. This can be done informally through conversations with pointed questions that will help you understand what drives your readers’ purchasing decisions.

Create Buyer Personas

Once you have sufficient data about your readers, develop a reader character description. Just like the character descriptions you create when developing your characters, these are semi-fictional representations of your ideal readers. The information should include the demographics, behaviors, goals, and challenges your readers experience. A well-crafted reader persona is an asset to guide your marketing strategies and content creation, making them more interesting to your readers.

Analyze Other Authors in Your Genre

We all want our books to land on the bookshelves next to the best writers in our genre, so you better have a good understanding of your neighbors on that shelf will be. Study other writers’ books to see how they market their novels. Look at their covers, size, messaging on the cover, how they present the content, and then look those authors up on the web to see how they extend their marketing to their online presence.

Engage on Social Media

Using tools you already have in place gives you a leg up on identifying your ideal reader. Using your social media platforms as a goldmine for understanding your audience can really bring in a payload of new readers. Pay attention to the conversations happening in your genre, join relevant groups, regularly post, engage with your followers, and encourage them to share your content across their social media channels. Their comments and feedback can provide insights into their preferences and pain points.

Test and Iterate

Identifying your target audience is an ongoing process. Launch small campaigns or create content tailored to different segments of your audience, then analyze the results. Use A/B testing to determine what resonates best, and be prepared to adjust your strategies based on feedback and performance metrics. The better the campaign the more readers it will reach!

“A/B testing, at its most basic, is a way to compare two versions of something to figure out which performs better.” Learn more from the Harvard Business Review here!

Considerations to Remember

Segmentation: Your audience is likely diverse, so consider segmenting it into smaller groups based on specific characteristics. This allows for more personalized marketing strategies.

Adaptability: Audience preferences can change over time. Stay informed about trends and be willing to adapt your approach as needed.

Feedback Loop: Encourage and monitor feedback regularly. This ongoing dialogue can provide invaluable insights into your audience’s evolving needs.

Identifying your target audience is a crucial step toward building a successful brand. By taking the time to understand who your customers are, what they need, and how they think, you’ll be better equipped to create meaningful connections that drive engagement and sales.

Remember, your audience is the heart of your business as an author! Knowing your audience is key to unlocking your full potential.

Chanticleer Editorial Services – We’re ready when you are ready!

Did you know that Chanticleer offers editorial services?

We do and have been doing so since 2011!

Tools of the Editing Trade

Our professional editors are top-notch and are experts in the Chicago Manual of Style. They have and are working for the top publishing houses (TOR, McMillian, Thomas Mercer, Penguin Random House, Simon Schuster, etc.).

If you would like more information, we invite you to email Kiffer or Sharon at KBrown@ChantiReviews.com or SAnderson@ChantiReviews.com for more information, testimonials, and fees.

We work with a small number of exclusive clients who want to collaborate with our team of top-editors on an on-going basis.Contact us today!

Chanticleer Editorial Services also offers writing craft sessions and masterclasses. Sign up to find out where, when, and how sessions being held.

A great way to get started is with our manuscript evaluation service. Here are some handy links about this tried and true service: https://test.chantireviews.com/manuscript-reviews/
October 7, 2024