Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: chanti

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
SEA TIGERS And MERCHANTS: Salem Stories Book 2 by Sandra Wagner-Wright – US Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Maritime Historical Fiction

Two families vie for power in mercantile 18^th-century Salem. Sea Tigers and Merchants, the second book in Sandra Wagner-Wright’s Salem Stories series, returns to a world of treacherous storms, tantalizing wealth, and the demands of high society on its children.

Elias Hasket Derby, Sr. has kept his promise to his wife Eliza—they rule Salem. Hasket’s merchant ships bring in great fortune, while Eliza holds court as the most influential woman in the city’s social spheres. And their ambitions have grown to meet their station. Hasket launches his riskiest endeavor—the Grand Turk, a ship so massive she’s nearly too heavy to be pulled out of the docks. Meanwhile Eliza, snubbed by George Washington’s stay at another family’s mansion, insists they build a house so grand it will put all others to shame.

Such success, of course, draws the envious eye of Hasket’s competitor.

The Crowninshield family has an uphill battle before them. The patriarch, George, Sr., is unable to employ all his own sons as captains of his small fleet—leaving them to work for their uncle Hasket. But George shares Hasket’s ambition. With the support of his wife, Hasket’s sister Mary, he builds greater ships of his own. If only he could get his eldest sons to follow his wishes, all his goals would fall into place.

But the pressures of the Crowninshield family weigh heavy on its sons, Geordie and Edward.

Geordie throws himself eagerly upon the waves to travel far from home. When he does walk the shore of Salem, he spends his nights at Ship Tavern, where he takes an interest in the newly arrived barmaid, Lizzie Rowell.

Edward had all but left the family years ago, moving away from Salem and marrying into a fishing family of much simpler means. But escaping the control of a man like George Crowninshield isn’t so easy, even if serving on one of his ships puts him in serious danger. Duty to family is of the utmost importance in Crowninshield’s world.

From the wealthiest merchant to an overworked barmaid, everyone must decide what they’re willing to risk for a better life.

Lizzie Rowell risks her aunt’s fury, and the loss of her home and occupation, for the affection of Geordie Crowninshield. And when an unexpected complication arises between them, Lizzie finds herself at the mercy of those with more wealth and power than she could ever hope to touch.

Wagner-Wright imbues Salem with authentic life, drawing readers into the last decade of the 18^th century.

Sensory descriptions flow in the cool sea air, carrying the smell of bridal fruitcakes and bitter hull-sealing pitch. We see the finery of wealthy dress, and the structure of lavish mansions as the characters wait on the shore for their far off dreams to come true.

Moments of hardship and pain punctuate the seafaring journeys, reminding readers of just how difficult it was to run a ship in days past, and why the goods they carried were so valuable. The captains have to handle the material needs of a great wooden vessel and its crew, while dealing with ever-shifting markets and unstable—or even hostile—foreign governments.

Readers get a view into the complexities of trade in the early days of the United States. Without a strong navy backing them, these American merchants have to tread carefully around both pirates and privateers. We also act as witness to the growing social world in the burgeoning country, with historical figures like George Washington playing his part as a living fixture of high society. Eliza rants about his visit upstaging her daughter’s wedding, while bemoaning his choice of residence.

Sea Tigers & Merchants maintains its accurate image of life in Salem with clearly focused research and a deep fascination for the historical setting.

Such a complex time in history could be difficult to grasp, but Wagner-Wright keeps the story clear and well-paced. She uses her grasp of the setting to carefully guide readers through the precarious world of trade and sailing in Early American history. By providing enough context for unfamiliar details, she prevents readers from missing key notes in the story. Which is especially impressive with such a large cast of characters.

Family legacy shapes this cast of characters, defining every relationship they have.

The new and old generation alike must make personal sacrifices for the sake of their family and reputation. Some begin to crack under that pressure, like Elias, Hasket’s heir, whose penchant for gambling leads him into mounting debt.

Family and business become ever more complicated as they intersect. Hasket is not only George’s greatest rival, but also his brother-in-law. He employs his nephews as captains, despite knowing their father’s ambition is to topple him and his growing business empire. Even marriage can’t soothe these strained bonds completely. A person’s very attendance to their loved one’s wedding carries heavy implications.

Stepping between the perspectives of its ensemble, Sea Tigers & Merchants gives a rich view of these characters’ inner lives.

Their personalities shine through dialogue and thought. Each person has a unique understanding of the world, prompting readers to consider deeply what they think about the figures of this story. Although mistakes abound driven by selfishness, fear, or unrelenting pressure, it’s easy to empathize with everyone’s particular struggles.

Captain Nathaniel “Nath” Silsbee stands out early on. Not a member of either powerful house, his own family has fallen on hard times, and it’s only by succeeding on the sea that he has any chance to saving his mother and siblings. He perseveres through misfortune, giving his voyages a gripping importance.

As we see these characters grow through the years, a universal need becomes clear. Everyone seeks to follow their inner compass and yet be understood by those around them.

Whether a character knows exactly what they want in life, or is in ways a stranger to themselves, they yearn for connection beyond the practical demands of power and wealth. This theme is never more pressing than in the question of marriage. The hope for a true partner shines on the horizon, but all could be lost by a person’s conflicts with their place in society, be it on land or sea.

For some, the sea is a tool of commerce, a treacherous but bountiful place to build their fortune. For others, it tethers itself to the soul as a deep connection from which they cannot drift away.

Each time someone sets out to sea, there’s no guarantee they’ll return. For those with a family, they risk leaving them behind without the means to support themselves. But for captains, especially those with shares in the ship or cargo, the reward is enough wealth to build an entire life. Readers will feel the desire and apprehension of these seafarers, while getting to see the myriad ways fortune can ebb and flow.

But even if someone makes their fortune and comes to shore for good, their heart might linger forever on the waves. That life creates a distance between people. Wagner-Wright takes the time to explore in detail how the sea shapes each character’s view of themselves, and their connections back home.

With the next generation starting households of their own, this series is poised to continue its expansive saga.

Sea Tigers & Merchants concludes with exciting steps laid out before many of the characters, setting up the next part of the tale. Historical fiction readers will find a complex and satisfying tale in Sandra Wagner-Wright’s Salem Stories series.

Read the review for book one in the Salem Stories, Ambition, Arrogance, and Pride here!

October 7, 2024
The Little Peeps First Place Roundup for Children’s Literature!

The Little Peeps Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Childrens and Early Readers. The Grand Prize Winner, Scrap University’s book, The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Little Peeps 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 Little Peeps 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 Little Peeps Winners!

Beth Davis – Lacinda the Lion is a Super Youneek Beast

Lacinda the Lion was born in a tiny town where being a Super Youneek Beast wasn’t always celebrated. Her friends and family didn’t know quite what to think of her! She faces some challenges and curious eyes when she goes to school for the first time, but there’s an awesome learning moment for all at the end of the day! This book is a touching story about being unique, gaining self-esteem, and celebrating exactly who you are!

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Adalgisa and David Nico – Fish in the Desert: The Untold Story of the Death Valley Pupfish

When some think of Death Valley, a barren wasteland comes to mind. Far from it, the area, now a protected national park known for its extreme temperatures, is teeming with a diverse range of endemic species, plants, and terrain. Fish in the Desert explores the fascinating and tiny ‘pupfish,’ the world’s rarest fish who have withstood the harsh conditions of Death Valley since the Pleistocene epoch.

The story follows Adele, a young girl, on a road trip with her family to Death Valley National Park in Southeastern California near the border with Nevada. Adele spots a beautiful and tiny blue and purple fish that the park’s Aquatic Ecologist tells the family is called a pupfish, an endangered fish species renowned for its ability to exist with the intense heat and salt and even adapt to a changing ecosystem over thousands of years.

Young readers will learn that the tenacious pupfish, originally among many types of sea life, is the only species to have survived the climate change and extreme conditions of Death Valley and that there are even subspecies of pupfish that evolved separately in different pools of water.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Ruth Amanda – Geckos in The Garden

Is there anything more fun than hunting for geckos in your garden? This delightful counting book, told in whimsical rhyming couplets, invites readers to explore the wonder and joy of tromping through nature to look for geckos.

There’s one on the patio! And another in the shrubs! Before you know it, the whole morning will go by happily hunting geckos. Readers will find one, two, three, four… well, you get the idea. Geckos are everywhere, and they’re oh so much fun to discover.

From Chanticleer:

Geckos in the Garden by Ruth Amanda is a children’s counting book that takes readers through a delightful, rhythmic, aesthetically pleasing romp past a series of hidden geckos.

Amanda starts out with just one gecko in the garden. Every page after, one more is added amongst myriad natural details such as flowers, a snail, a palm tree, garden taps, rocks, a mango tree, leaves, a gate, a bird’s nest, a pond, and more.

Amanda demonstrates a natural sense of narrative arc even within a counting book—readers will feel the climax of the adventure when they arrive at the ninth gecko and read the line, “I spot one—two—no, six—no, more! Nine!” The escalation of the words’ momentum makes the ninth and tenth geckos more dramatic. Furthermore, the clever dénouement includes the narrator realizing the geckos might watch them just as much as they watch the geckos, and this is written alongside an adorable picture of a gecko looking in the window of the narrator’s home.

Read More Here

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Jonna Laster – Nutshell Regatta

Grandma took a handful of nutshells from her sweater pocket. I saw empty peanut and walnut shells and asked what they were for. Grandma smiled, “Not shells but sloops and sailboats. This is the HMS Goober”.

From Chanticleer:

In Nutshell Regatta by Jonna Laster, the narrator’s grandmother reveals adventures in nature that could easily be missed without her watchful eye.

With her wise guidance, clouds turn into campers, dandelions hold moon yokes, leaves sing, and a broken branch takes on the form of a fox. Most importantly, twigs and pebbles become sailors who embark on a grand regatta in their nutshell sloops and sailboats.

Three ships come to the forefront of the story. Two of them sink, their twig sailors swimming safely to a nearby lily pad, while one continues on. Its passengers Burt the pebble and Betula the birch twig encounter what appears to be disaster, but when they fall over a waterfall, the grandmother guides the narrator to listen close. When they hear a faint “yipeeeeee” from the bottom of the waterfall, it’s clear that all has turned out well.

Read More Here

Find it Locally and on Amazon

T.K. Sheffield – The Night Icelandic Horses Saved Christmas Eve

Manuscript

Raven Howell – Friends Come in All Sizes

Patience and kindness are important when you want to make new friends, but it’s hard not to consider what it would be like to have a gangly giraffe or chilled-out polar bear as a pal.

A friendship mission prompts two boys to regard would-be companions of many shapes and sizes, and their imaginative adventures hatch brand new, unexpected buddies.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

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

You can see our Hall of Fame on the Little Peeps Grand Prize Winners, including Scrap University’s incredible book The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans 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 Little Peeps Book Awards are open through the end of September!

Submit to the Little Peeps Awards Today!

October 6, 2024
The 2023 M&M Awards First Place Roundup for Cozy and Not-so-Cozy Mysteries!
The Mystery & Mayhem Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Cozy and Not-So-Cozy Mysteries. The Grand Prize Winner, Michelle Cox’s book, A Haunting at Linley will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the M&M 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 M&M 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 M&M Winners!

Liese Sherwood Fabre – The Adventure on the Purloined Portrait

A long-buried past. A stolen portrait. The artist’s murder. Can Sherlock discover the connection between the three before he’s stopped permanently?

Sherlock can’t shake his apprehension about a family trip to Paris. His mother’s unflappable confidence vanished months ago, and her anxiety has set the whole family on edge. His greatest fears are realized when they witness the death of one of Mrs. Holmes’ former suitors.

As Sherlock seeks to unravel the reason behind the artist’s murder, he unearths a long-buried secret about his mother and survives several attempts to keep him from getting to the truth.

Can he bring a murderer to justice before he’s buried with these hidden secrets forever?

The Adventure of the Purloined Portrait is the gripping fourth case in The Early Case Files of Sherlock Holmes. If you enjoy traditional historical mysteries, you’ll love this origin series about the world’s greatest consulting detective.

Find it on Amazon

Gail Grant Park – We Are Shadows: An Irish Ghost Story

Moira Gallagher has been conversing with ghosts since she was five. Now as an adult, she’s finally putting that ability to good use.

Moira’s ability to talk with the dead gives her detective agency, Gallagher Investigations, an edge in uncovering secrets the past has buried. With the help of her sisters, Nuala and Deirdre, she assists those unsettled spirits in finding peace by righting the wrongs done to them before they found themselves on the Other Side. The past collides with the present as these Irish sisters solve cold-case murders and mayhem through their dreams, paranormal visitations, and spunk.

If you enjoy a cozy mystery, ghosts of the friendly and not-so-friendly variety, or anything Irish, you’ll love We Are Shadows.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Rebecca Olmstead – Dreams and Illusions

Suffering a crisis of faith, will one woman’s cryptic visions lead to the path of healing and save her sister from death row?

Gabrielle Dorian believes God has turned against her. Despite prophetic dreams, the grieving boutique owner resents that her alleged gift didn’t prevent her parents’ accidental deaths or protect her husband from a fatal worksite accident. So after receiving a panicked call from the last of her family, the distraught woman shelves her own sorrow and rushes to Seattle to rescue her estranged sister.

Discovering her sibling has been charged with murder, Gabrielle begins to fear the worst when her brother-in-law is missing and his best friend mysteriously comes up with bail money. Battling a hated former classmate in charge of the case, she fights through the murk of suspicious clues that all point to a guilty verdict.

With her last loved one’s life on the line, can she uncover the truth before it’s too late?

Dreams and Illusions is the riveting first book in the Gabrielle Dorian Mysteries Series. If you like headstrong heroines, fast-paced drama, and dark twists, you’ll love Rebecca Olmstead’s tale of doubt and redemption.

Find it on Amazon

Elizabeth Crowens – Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles

Asta, the dog from the popular Thin Man series, has vanished, and production for his next film is pending. MGM Studios offers a huge reward, and that’s exactly what young private detectives Babs Norman and Guy Brandt need for their struggling business to survive. Celebrity dognapping now a growing trend, when the police and city pound ridicule Basil Rathbone and ask, “Sherlock Holmes has lost his dog?” Basil also hires the B. Norman Agency to find his missing Cocker Spaniel.

The three concoct a plan for Basil to assume his on-screen persona and round up possible suspects, including Myrna Loy and William Powell; Dashiell Hammett, creator of The Thin Man; Nigel Bruce, Basil’s on-screen Doctor Watson; Hollywood-newcomer, German philanthropist and film financier Countess Velma von Rache, and the top animal trainers in Tinseltown. Yet everyone will be in for a shock when the real reason behind the canine disappearances is even more sinister than imagined.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Patrick E Craig -The Quilt That Knew
- A young girl buried in the woods for forty years…
- A desperate killer loose in the village…
- A mysterious quilt and a golden ring…
Jenny Hershberger returns to Apple Creek, Ohio, the village where she grew up. But this is not a happy homecoming. She’s been called upon to solve a horrible crime. But will the killer find her first…

Find it Locally and on Amazon
Lyn Squire – Immortalized to Death

Death strikes England’s foremost novelist, his latest tale only half told. Was he murdered because someone feared a ruinous revelation? Or was it revenge for some past misdeed? Set in the Kent countryside and London slums of 1870, Immortalised to Death embeds an ingenious solution to Charles Dickens’s unfinished The Mystery of Edwin Drood within the evolving and ultimately tragic consequences of a broader mystery surrounding the author himself. Debut author Lyn Squire kicks off his fascinating Dunston Burnett Trilogy with legendary Victorian novelist Charles Dickens dead at his desk, pen still in hand. Convinced that the identity of Dickens’s murderer lies in the book’s missing denouement, Dickens’s nephew and unlikely detective, Dunston Burnett, sets out to complete his uncle’s half-finished novel. A stunning revelation crowns this tale about the mysterious death of England’s greatest novelist, and exposes the author’s long-held secret.

Find it on Amazon

E.W. Finke – Coyote’s Wail

The baffling death of a beloved Elder. A convocation of eagles, sacred messengers of Kji-Niskam, poisoned. Mi’kmaw First Nation Chief Peter Joe must learn who’s behind the killings before more die. A determined wildlife activist, a self-important Minister of Parliament, a virulent poison, and a plan to eradicate Newfoundland’s newest and smartest predators tangle his trail to the cause and perpetrator, and put his life in danger.

Are things as they seem? The Old Ones’ stories hold the answers.

Find it at Barnes & Noble

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

You can see our Hall of Fame on the M&M Grand Prize Winners, including Michelle Cox’s incredible book A Haunting at Linley 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 M&M Book Awards are open through the end of September!

Note: Submissions are open until the dates update on the website!

Submit to the M&M Awards Today!
October 5, 2024
Illuminating the Shadows of Gothic Fiction: Celebrating Anne Rice’s Legacy on Her Birthday

Celebrating the Supernatural Legacy of Anne Rice!

Anne Rice, a name synonymous with the gothic and supernatural, has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape. Her unique storytellinginvites readers to sink their teeth into the richly textured worlds of vampires, witches, and the occult. Best known for her groundbreaking series The Vampire Chronicles, Rice transformed the public’s perfection of vampires from the tuxedoed count Bela Lugosi’s Dracula into creatures that were not only glamourous, but deeply emotional and philosophical. Lestat and Louis are not just beings of the night, but the are immortals grappling with the human condition.

Bela Lugosi’s Dracula from 1931

Growing Up in Gothic New Orleans

Born on Ocotber 4, 1941 in New Orleans, a city famed for its gothic architecture and rich spiritual history, Rice found her most powerful inspiration in its haunted corners. Her early years were shaped by loss with both her mother and grandmother passing away by the time she was sixteen. She sought refuge in literature, immersing herself in the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley. Under their influence, Rice’s imagination bloomed, combining dark imagery and complex emotional landscapes that would define her career.

While pursuing her master’s degree in English at San Fransisco State University, she married Stan Rice with whom she had two children, Michele and Christopher. Tragically, Michele was diagnosed with leukemia at age six. To cope with the grief, Anne Rice turned to writing, creating her first novel, Interview with a Vampire.

Years later, Rice recalled a prophetic dream she had months before the death of her daughter. In it, she was told that “somethings wrong with her blood.”

The Beginning of the Vampire Chronicles

Interview with the Vampire introduced readers to Louis de Pointe du Lac, an immortal vampire recounting his centuries-long tale of suffering, love, and loss to an intrigued reporter. The lush prose called on classic fin de siècle literature descriptions as seen in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, while infusing it with modern depth. Readers were captivated by the exploration of immortality, isolation, and Louis’ inner turmoil, creating a new kind of vampire – one who yearned, not just for blood, but for meaning. The Vampire Chronicles became a beloved series focused mostly on Louis’ maker Lestat de Lioncourt – the iconic golden haired rebel with the face of an angel.

This created more than a vampire series: It created a cultural movement. Vampires wrestling with questions of morality, religion, and humanity left behind the mold of good versus evil. Lestat came forward as a symbol of charisma, power, and vulnerability. Through him, Rice turned the idea of vampires from monsters of fear into beings of empathy that are capable of love and introspection, drawing readers into their eternal struggle.

The success of The Vampire Chronicles catapulted Rice into the literary spotlight and paved the way for a resurgence of interest in gothic fiction for future horror authors to create their own interpretations of vampire mythology.

Then and now. On the left is Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Cruise as Louis, Lestat, and Claudia in the original 1994 screen adaptation. The 2022 AMC series on the right is still running as of this posting and features Delainey Hayles, Jacob Anderson, and Sam Reid as Claudia, Louis and Lestat.

While Rice is primarily known for her vampire novels, she has written witches, werewolves, and even had a period of writing exclusively Christian fiction. Her supernatural writings explored spirituality, sexuality, and mortality, blending philosophical questions most often found in literary fiction into the paranormal and horror genre.

An Everlasting Legacy

Anne Rice’s impact on literature and popular culture is undeniable. Her works have inspired countless adaptations, including films, television series, and even musicals.

You can hear the musical score for Lestat, the Musical by none other than Sir Elton John here.

Through these mediums, Rice has introduced a new generation to her haunting vision of vampirism, and inspired the works of contemporary authors like Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight and Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse series which was adapted to True Blood.

On the left we have Sookie and Bill from True Blood and on the right is Bella and Edward from Twilight. Both are classic modern vampire stories that wouldn’t be very different without Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles

Rice’s characters often represent a rich interior life coupled with vibrant descriptions of the world and setting that reflects an older style of writing with lyrical prose that explores the human psyche.

Bryce Lankard/Getty Images

Anne Rice passed away on December 11, 2021, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate with readers and writers alike. Her lyrical prose, atmospheric settings, and unforgettable characters remind us that the supernatural is not only a realm of monsters, but a reflection of the human condition. As we celebrate Rice’s birthday, we honor her ability to blend horror with heart and her profound influence on modern supernatural fiction. Like Lestat and Louis, her stories live on – endlessly captivating, forever haunting.

If you are a fan of things that go bump in the night, we encourage to take a bite into these Chanticleer authors’ tales of supernatural.

Merging Paths
By Vince Bailey
CIBA Grand Prize award for a Series

Having escaped unjust imprisonment at the Fort Grant facility for juveniles, Curtis Jefferson is on the run, in Merging Paths,the third installment of Vince Bailey’s gripping, paranormal, Curtis Jefferson Series.

With only a small jug of water and the clothes on his back, Curtis has to cross the Sonoran Desert and find a way back to his mother and grandmother in Jacobs Well. But his trip is plagued by more than thirst, hunger, and fear of animals. A racist sheriff’s deputy, Myron Aycock, is hellbent on finding Curtis not only for the acclaim such an arrest will give him but also for vengeance against the beating he received at the hands of the aspiring boxer.

Trapped and desperate, Curtis is rescued by a mysterious figure and taken to Isabel and Ray Cienfuegos. After hearing Curtis’s unsettling stories about Fort Grant, the two understand that they have all been fighting the same evil forces – under the control of the sadistic Ezra. In a final confrontation, Isabel faces off against the wicked spirit, but just as they believe their problems are over, a new threat arises under the guise of friendship, and Isabel makes a life-changing decision that will mark her forever.

Read more here!

The Devil Pulls The Strings
By J. W. Zarek
CIBA Grand Prize award in the Shelley Division

The protagonist and all-around decent guy, Boone Daniels, is in a heap of hurt in JW Zarek’s new Young Adult novel, The Devil Pulls the Strings.

One would think being plagued by an evil spirit wendigo since age six would be enough inconvenience to last a lifetime, but when Boone jousts with his best bud at a Ren Faire and accidentally deals a mortal blow, the hurt he experiences suddenly lands on a sliding scale of 1 to 1 million. And Boone Daniels becomes a millionaire, so to speak.

No ordinary guy, Boone makes a living as a handyman and swashbuckling knight at Renaissance Faires around Missouri. He’s also uniquely gifted with a form of eidetic memory coupled with synesthesia. What’s that? Simply put, synesthesia allows people to see colors and taste things when they hear music – and an eidetic memory allows folks to memorize whatever they’ve seen or heard one time. But that’s not all. Boone can time-travel, make friends with almost any feline or shapeshifter, and convince a certain immortal he’s worth more as an ally than a snack. No kidding, Baba Yaya loves human meat.

Read more here!

The Street Between the Pines
By J.J. Alo

Something strange and terrible stirs in Frank Cavanaugh’s basement, in J.J. Alo’s psychological-thriller,The Street Between the Pines.

The giant hole at the bottom of Frank’s house wasn’t there before. Something so very ugly and dangerous is down there. Something with bright, glowing eyes. Adrenalin pumps through Frank’s aging body as he scrambles for the exit. Behind him, a low gurgling growl.

In suburban Connecticut, Iraqi war veteran Curtis is still fighting to surviving on multiple fronts. Curtis struggles with severe PTSD, visions of the war that continually overwhelm him. Now, after being released from jail after a manslaughter conviction, having caused a fatal auto accident, he struggles to put his life together. All the while, he navigates a shaky relationship with his wife Amy, and a complex connection to his autistic son Wes.

Read more here!

Requiem for a Queen
By Kaylin McFarren

To what lengths will a person go when ultimate power is within reach? Requiem For A Queen by Kaylin McFarren explores the depths of greed that propel a daughter to defy her father, the Devil himself.

Lucinda uses evil means to pursue an equally dark end, the crown of Hell. How can this woman be stopped, and an innocent child she’s stolen away be saved? Is there anyone willing to step forward, and muster the strength to stand up against the destructive battle between the Devil and his daughter?

Samara, a hybrid between angel and demon, can only save her abducted son by stepping into that battle.

Read more here!

Thank you for joining us in celebrating the supernatural horror Anne Rice!

The Shelley Awards are open now!

Do you have your own Supernatural or Paranormal novel that’s ready to be discovered? Formerly the Paranormal Awards, the Shelley Awards are open now and ready for the best Supernatural read of 2024!

The 2024 Shelley Awards are open until Oct 31, 2024!

Thank you again to the authors who wrote these frightfully fun books, and to Anne Rice, who inspired so many to pick up the pen!

October 4, 2024
The 2023 Chaucer First Place Roundup for Early Historical Fiction!

The Chaucer Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Early Historical Fiction. The Grand Prize Winner, James Hutson-Wiley’s book, The Merchant from Sepharad will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Chaucer 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!

In this years Chaucer posts, we are also highlighting some of the female authors of the past, often overlooked by History.

Marie de France was a 12th Century poet, considered to be the earliest known female poet writing in French. Her work is still read and was also an influence on the genre of Chivalric Romance. One of her works is a series of 102 fables, some translated from Aesop, the ones in the series she wrote have a focus on Female characters. Fable 51 is considered an early version of the Raynard the Fox tale, which was an inspiration for Chaucer while writing the Canterbury Tales, specifically the Nun’s Priest’s Tale, the tale also starring a certain rooster named Chanticleer.

The 2023 Chaucer 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 Chaucer Winners!

Gina Buonaguro – The Virgins on Venice

Venice in 1509 is on the brink of war. The displeasure of Pope Julius II is a continuing threat to the republic, as is the barely contained fighting in the countryside. Amid this turmoil, noblewoman Justina Soranzo, just sixteen, hopes to make a rare love marriage with her sweetheart, Luca Cicogna. Her hopes are dashed when her father decides her younger sister, Rosa, will marry in a strategic alliance and Justina will be sent to the San Zaccaria convent, in the tradition of aristocratic daughters. Lord Soranzo is not acting only to protect his family. It’s well known that he is in debt to both his trading partners and the most infamous courtesan in the city, La Diamante, and the pressure is closing in.

After arriving at the convent, Justina takes solace in her aunt Livia, one of the nuns, and in the growing knowledge that all is not strictly devout at San Zaccaria. Justina is shocked to discover how the women of the convent find their own freedom in what seems to her like a prison. But secrets and scandals breach the convent walls, and Justina learns there may be even worse fates for her than the veil, if La Diamante makes good on her threats.

Desperate to protect herself and the ones she loves, Justina turns to Luca for help. She finds she must trust her own heart to make the impossible decisions that may save or ruin them all.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Griffin Brady – The Hussar’s Duty

A duty he believes in. A general he idolizes. But when doubts surface, will he stay true to honor or the chance to return to the woman he loves?

Poland, 1620. Jacek Dąbrowski scents war in the air. Away from the battlefield for five years, the renowned fighter yields to a growing itch and answers the general’s request to help lead the army against the Ottomans. But he’s torn between duty and family when the perils of combat force him to leave his defenseless wife behind.

Attending war councils and taking command of problematic noblemen, Jacek starts to doubt the mission and the sacrifice of being far from his loved ones. But his loyalty to his commander could put him on an irreversible path to disaster…

Will Jacek’s call to arms prove to be his death song?

Find it on Amazon

Robert S. Phillips – Elodia’s Knife

Set in the late 4th century CE, Elodia’s Knife tells the gripping tale of a young Gothic girl who kills her abusive husband and flees his family’s retribution by rafting across the Danube River into Roman territory. Against the backdrop of a crumbling empire and the looming threat of Gothic invasion, Elodia must use her wits and her strength to rise to power in a world that seeks to crush her. With unforgettable characters, pulse-pounding action, and a vivid sense of historical detail, this is a must-read for anyone who loves adventure, romance, and history.

From Chanticleer:

Elodia is a young woman driven by dreadful circumstances to act with deadly force in the Robert S. Phillips novel Elodia’s Knife.

What Elodia hoped would be her leap away from danger instead left her surrounded by perilous threats that now threaten to consume her. Armed with her courage, determination, instincts, and a trusty knife, Elodia faces a hostile world in foreign territory.

Not all are against her though. Allies– even a friend– can be found, if Elodia can summon the bravery to listen to her feelings and own deep wishes.

Young Elodia is unhappily married to an abusive husband. But when he tries to attack her again, she strikes back and kills him.

Read More Here

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Rozsa Gaston – Margaret of Austria

Margaret of Austria was the most significant political negotiator of early 16th-century Europe. About as Austrian as French fries are French, she was born in Brussels in 1480, raised in France, married and widowed in Spain, then married and widowed again in Savoy by age twenty-four.

In 1506 Margaret’s life turned upside down when her brother Philip of Burgundy unexpectedly died in Spain. With their mother Juana of Castile insane, four children, heirs to the Habsburg empire, were left behind in the Burgundian-Habsburg Netherlands.

Margaret stepped in and took the reins.

Appointed by her father, Maximilian I, Margaret became governor of the Netherlands, then widened her role to broker the 1508 Treaty of Cambrai where Europe’s princes united against Venice.

Ferdinand of Spain, Henry Tudor then Henry VIII of England, Louis XII of France, and Louise of Savoy for Francis I all came to Margaret’s negotiation table. Under her deft diplomacy princes saw reason and wars were averted.

Enjoying political power, Margaret avoided remarriage. Then Henry VIII’s right-hand man Charles Brandon turned her world upside down.

Margaret’s court attracted Europe’s brightest, including the young Anne Boleyn. Yet halfway through her rule Margaret was ousted by enemies. She won back her position with a comeback strategy as astute today as it was in 1517.

Journey to the Renaissance with Margaret of Austria, who shot the fortunes of the House of Habsburg to the stars while setting a winning precedent for female rule in the Netherlands.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Rebecca Kightlinger – The Lady of the Cliffs: The Bury Down Chronicles, Book 2

Now nearly seventeen, Megge and Brighida must endure another brutal loss.

As they perform the rites of transition that precede a burial, Megge accepts a daunting new charge that carries consequences not even her cousin the seer can predict. It brings visions. Dreams. And voices that come to her as she goes about her work.

A silken voice beckons her back to the cliffs of Kernow, which she has seen only in dreams.

A commanding voice orders her back.

And the menacing voice she’s heard since she was a girl is now ever at her ear, bringing a haunting new meaning to her grandmother’s words, “You’re never alone.”

But only when the tales of an old woman, a stranger to Bury Down, echo those voices and conjure those cliffs does Megge embark on a journey that leads to a secluded cove they call The Sorrows and a destiny none of the women of Bury Down could have foreseen.

From Chanticleer:

In The Lady of the Cliffs, an ambitious sequel in the Bury Down Chronicles by Rebecca Kightlinger, a teenager embarks on a journey that will bring her face to face with unexpected destiny.

The year is 1286 CE in Cornwall, England. At the turn of her seventeenth year, Megge and her cousin Brighida find themselves dealing with a new loss, one that breaks both their hearts. As heirs to the Book of Seasons and Book of Times respectively, they have to protect the books from sinister hands as they hold knowledge and wisdom that must one day be united. The power of these two books calls for a duty that is far greater than any woman of Bury Down has ever borne.

As they take part in a final right of passage that the women of Bury Down perform for their dead, Megge, an apprentice weaver, takes on new challenges that Brighida, an apprentice seer, cannot foretell. Megge begins having dreams and visions. In one of her dreams, she sees a rolling sea drive itself into a cove at the foot of a cliff, and a silken voice asking her to return to the cliffs of Kernow, a place that she has only seen in her slumber.

Read More Here

Find it Locally and on Amazon

C.V. Lee – Token of Betrayal

1461, Isle of Jersey. Disillusioned by war, Sir Philippe de Carteret returns home to hang up his sword and embrace his duties as seigneur of the island’s most powerful manor. Desiring to raise his son in peace and safety, he is dismayed when news arrives that the impregnable fortress of Mont Orgueil Castle has been breached.

He seeks assistance from England to expel the invaders. But amid the chaos of the Wars of the Roses, his pleas go unheeded. To safeguard his son and preserve the family legacy, de Carteret pledges fealty to the new lord. Hopeful that the French will rule benevolently, his illusions are quickly shattered when their tactics turn brutal.

With spies everywhere and unsure of whom to trust, can de Carteret build a rebel force and lead them on a quest to liberate the homeland he loves?

Find it Locally and on Amazon

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

You can see our Hall of Fame on the Chaucer Grand Prize Winners, including James Hutson-Wiley’s incredible book The Merchant From Sepharad 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 Chaucer Book Awards are open through the end of September!

Note: Submissions don’t officially close until the date changes on the website!

Submit to the Chaucer Awards Today!

October 4, 2024
IF SOMEDAY COMES: A Slave’s Story of Freedom by David Calloway – Historical Fiction, African American History, Slavery & the Civil War

David Calloway’s moving historical fiction, If Someday Comes: A Slave’s Story of Freedom, tells the true story of his great-grandfather George Calloway, born into slavery on January 8, 1829. in Cleveland, Tennessee.

It is a tale of determination, perseverance, and achievement before and during the Civil War. If Someday Comes covers George’s final years in slavery; detailed accounts of the Civil War and its impacts on George and his family, both Black and White.

It is a family saga of survival and endurance.

The story begins in Cleveland, Tennessee, March 6^th, 1857. We meet George and his family, his wife Elizabeth, their infant daughter Baby Caroline, and the stratified world of slavery in which they live. Thomas Howard Calloway (Marsa Thom), is their White owner who owns the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad, the South’s only copper mines, and the local bank. He is one of Cleveland’s prominent town leaders.

Lincoln wins the 1860 election and the White community reacts fearfully. Fort Sumter is attacked, the War begins. The families of East Tennessee are mainly pro union, including Thomas Calloway. Cleveland is ‘occupied’ by the Confederate Army. The Union men flee to join the US Army or hide out in the nearby hills.

George and his family begin to help ‘runaway’ slaves escape north, eventually helping White men to escape to the Union Army. The Confederates take all the guns and food from the Union families.

Times get desperate: Marsa Thom is stripped of all his properties and must go into hiding among the caves in the mountains. George risks his life making repeated trips to the caves to take food and clean clothes to Marsa Thom for the duration of the war. Without the protection of Marsa Thom, George’s family is in constant danger of cruel punishments, violence, and exploitation.

Union and Reb troops fight over the tiny town and vital rail line, with control passing back and forth between the two sides. Treachery and desperation add to the suffering of both the White Calloways and the Black Calloways.

George becomes the undeclared head of both the White and Black families. With grit and determination, he provides for all, protecting them throughout the war.

“I found that to understand America, you must first understand the Civil War. George was then, and remains, a hero of our family.” – David Calloway

This account honestly and vividly depicts an era in history that should never be forgotten.

Those that love the history of the Civil War will be fascinated by this retelling.

David Calloway expresses his hope for the day when America will rise beyond the racist heritage that the founding fathers left behind. This award-winning historical masterpiece, If Someday Comes, combines the author’s relatives’ direct experiences and extensive, meticulous historical research to deliver a story that readers will appreciate through to the very end.

If Someday Comes: A Slave’s Story of Freedom by David Calloway won Grand Prize in the 2023 CIBA Goethe Awards for Late Historical Fiction.

October 4, 2024
The 2023 Clue Awards First Place Roundup for Suspense/Thrillers

The Clue Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Thriller and Suspense Mysteries. The Grand Prize Winner, Kevin G Chapman’s book, The Other Murder 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 Clue 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 Clue Winners!

Daniel V. Meier Jr. – Guidance To Death

In this gripping opening to a detective series, we dive into a world where the line between accident and foul play blurs. The story begins with the mysterious crash of an Amertec Electronics company jet, just after it takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on a dreary, rain-soaked day with low visibility. While the National Transportation Safety Board deems it an accident, the victim’s wife insists it was murder.

Enter the protagonist, a seasoned former NTSB investigator turned independent aviation accident sleuth. He takes on the case, only to find himself caught in a web of intrigue that points to deliberate sabotage. As he digs deeper, an additional murder ties back to Amertec, thickening the plot and confirming his suspicions of foul play.

The investigation soon reveals a complex puzzle with international implications. Working mostly solo, our detective finds himself in need of assistance and turns to an old flame and a retired Washington D.C. police officer. Their journey into the underbelly of air traffic and corporate espionage is fraught with danger, challenging their wits and courage.

The narrative weaves a tale of high-stakes and suspense, taking readers on a behind-the-scenes exploration of the aviation world. The story not only captivates with its thrilling plot but also educates, offering insights into the intricacies of air travel and investigation

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Frederick Douglass Reynolds – Saint Bloodbath

Detectives McGuire and Cortes take on a gruesome homicide case in Long Beach, California, and navigate the complex role of being the murder police in an area marked by homelessness, drug abuse, and gang violence. With little but their combined decades of detective experience to go off of, they investigate personal and gang-related motives in an attempt to identify and arrest their suspect. When a severed hand is found in the desert nearly 100 miles away, their years-long investigation crosses jurisdictions, and they must connect the dots before the bloodbath continues. Saint Bloodbath explores the true story of multiple heinous crimes, but perhaps more importantly, highlights the lives and experiences of the victims, their peers, and the investigators who sought to bring a murderer to justice.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Jode Millman – The Empty Kayak

For Detective Ebony Jones, crime is always personal. But this time, it strikes too close to home.

A pop-up thunderstorm marched its way across the Hudson River, ambushing a young couple’s kayaking trip. The woman miraculously made it back to shore, but her fiancé remains missing. Ebony and her partner are the first responders who rush to the river to assist in rescuing the capsized boater.

The victim’s identity shocks Ebony to the core. Kyle Emory, the ex-boyfriend of her estranged best friend, attorney Jessie Martin, is the man who never made it out of the water. The accident ignites a firestorm between the two friends, pitting them against each other in a race to discover whether Kyle survived or whether he met his untimely demise. Under pressure from the chief and the DA, Ebony needs to solve the mystery, while Jessie seeks justice for the sake of the daughter she shares with Kyle.The investigation leads them through the dark worlds of social media, online sports betting, and extreme sports. Along the way, they uncover lies and betrayals and gather a list of dangerous suspects who are all linked to the accident survivor, Kyle’s mysterious fiancée. Even more, the discovery that Kyle possessed his own life-shattering secrets has trapped Ebony between her career and her lifelong friendship with Jessie. Yet neither Ebony nor Jessie will stop until they discover the truth about the drowning, even if it destroys their friendship and their lives.

But the evidence is as murky as the secretive Hudson River. Only the river knows whether Kyle’s tragic death was an accident, a suicide, or something more sinister.

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Michelle Cox – A Haunting at Linley

In this seventh book of the series, Clive and Henrietta return to England to find Castle Linley in financial ruin. When Clive’s cousin, Wallace, invites an estate agent in to assess the home’s value, the agent is later found poisoned, throwing all of the Castle’s guests into suspicion. Clive and Henrietta are soon drawn into an investigation, which is slowed by an incompetent local inspector and several unexplained phenomena—the cause of which many, especially the frail Lady Linley, believe to be the workings of the ghost of a hanged maid.

Meanwhile, Gunther and Elsie have begun life on a farm in Omaha. Circumstances are difficult, but they are content—until Oldrich Exely appears, proposing an option Elsie finds difficult to ignore. Melody Merriweather, still masquerading as a nun to aid Elsie’s escape, likewise finds it difficult to ignore a letter with tragic news from home, while Julia, on the other hand, receives a very different sort of letter from Glenn Forbes.

Back in England, Clive is called away to London on suspicious business, leaving Henrietta to carry on with the investigation alone. When she is mysteriously locked in the study one night, however, things take on a more deadly, supernatural feel, leaving her to fear that Lady Linley’s “ghost” might just be real after all…

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Margaret Mizushima – Standing Dead

Deputy Mattie Cobb and her sister, Julia, travel to Mexico to visit their mother, but when they arrive, they discover that she and her husband have vanished without a trace. Back in Timber Creek, Mattie finds a chilling note on her front door telling her to look for “him” among the standing dead up in the high country.

The sheriff’s department springs into action and sends a team to the mountains, where Mattie’s K-9 partner, Robo, makes a grisly discovery—a body tied to a dead pine tree. Mattie is shocked when she realizes she knows the dead man. And then another note arrives, warning that Mattie’s mother is in desperate straits. In a last-ditch gambit, Mattie must go deep undercover into a killer’s lair to save her mother—or die trying.

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Raymond Paul Johnson – Conspiracy Ignited

“Drop the case!” Bashed over the head and tossed overboard into the cold, dark water of a Los Angeles marina, combat veteran turned litigator Eric Ridge struggles to stay alive—and discover who is trying to kill him. And why. No matter the answer, one thing is certain: Eric Ridge does not abandon his clients and will not drop the case. The question is, what case was his assailant yelling about? Working with his legal team—including his best friend and his computer-whiz wife—Ridge is ultimately drawn into the sinister world of the Raven Society, a secretive cabal that controls the courts by coercing or killing judges. And anyone else who gets in their way. In a race against the clock, will Ridge and his team survive to use the evidence they’ve developed? Or will they suffer the same fate as others who have dared to confront The Raven Society?

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

You can see our Hall of Fame for the Clue Grand Prize Winners, including Kevin Chapman’s incredible book The Other Murder 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 Clue Book Awards are open through the end of September!

Note: Late submissions are accepted until the dates change on the website!

Submit to the Clue Awards Today!

October 3, 2024