Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: chanti

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September 10, 2024
COMBAT MISSIONS by Burl D. Harmon – Wartime Memoirs, WWII Aviation, Military History

Sometimes, a close and personal story can reveal the true weight of major historical events. Combat Missions, a memoir from WWII veteran Burl D. Harmon, achieves this by detailing how Europe’s vicious aerial battles shape a young boy’s entry to manhood.

On December 7, 1941, Harmon is summoned to his high school’s auditorium to hear President Roosevelt proclaim it as, “a day which will live in infamy…” Soon after, his draft notice arrives. Harmon’s junior college studies and work at the local Rexall drug store are put on hold as he joins the vast flood of young American men and women conscripted into military service. Leaving his small Iowa town and a family mostly sheltered from the grim realities of the outside world, he travels to New York City with people from every imaginable background.

With no prior mechanical experience, he works diligently to become a flight engineer, training to master a lexicon of manual tasks and learn the intricacies of air-to-air combat amidst bombing runs. His training takes him even farther from home, to Detroit, Lorado, Texas, Puerto Rico, and even Cuba.

In these unfamiliar places, Harmon experiences other, more hidden sides of adulthood, including a visit to a notorious brothel in Havana. The reader feels his innocence shedding, but not his moral compass, which keeps him from indulging in many of the temptations that entice other draftees.

Once trained, Harmon spends most of his deployment in Italy, where he flies a total of 38 perilous missions.

He takes readers into the cockpit to experience aerial battle with first-hand, harrowing descriptions. But this memoir shows much more than just the violence of war. It’s also about the men he served with, the officers he served under, and the good and bad of both. He names beloved friends and respected officers, gives us glimpses of those who survived the war to live fruitful lives, and memorializes those who were lost in Europe’s battle-scarred skies.

Harmon reveals the struggles and joys of his own life in the shadow of war.

We see his quarreling parents in Iowa, the often tormented and confusing love life of a young man, and the family he befriends in Italy with the kindness they bestow upon him. At the conclusion of the war, he tells us of how it was to come home. He has to readjust to a quiet existence as he stumbles around trying to figure out a way forward until, ultimately, he discovers his love of teaching.

Decades later, at 85, Harmon takes on a new challenge when he joins a group called Global Volunteers, which places him overseas once again. The adventure takes him back to Italy, near the place where he was stationed during the war. It’s a bittersweet return. He makes new friends but discovers the family that he’d spent time with during the war is gone, chased from their home by fleeing Nazis who rampaged villages and confiscated everything they could find ahead of the Allied force’s advances.

This trim volume shows how the experience of war shaped Harmon’s character and the course of his life, looking back now at 97. Readers interested in the Greatest Generation, who risked their lives to win a war against a rising fascist power, this memoir offers fascinating and meaningful detail from that time. For those who want to understand the way war can change a young boy’s life, Combat Missions is a personal, compassionate must-read.

Combat Missions by Burl D. Harmon won First Place in the 2021 CIBA Military & Front Line Awards for Narrative Non-Fiction.

September 9, 2024
The 2024 Hearten Award Spotlight for Uplifting & Inspiring Non-Fiction
Tell Us Your Story!

The Hearten Awards are here for your Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction!

The Hearten Awards is one of our 6 Non-Fiction Divisions. Specifically, it covers Uplifting and Inspiring Memoirs. If you have written a book about yours, or someone else’s life story that can inspire others, Submit it to us!

The Categories for the Hearten Awards are:
- Humorous
- Motivational
- Advice/Inspiration
- Family and Chosen Family
- Self Discovery/Coming of Age
We are happy to Celebrate the 2023 Hearten Award Winners!
- Lisa Niver – Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty
- Lally Pia – The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy: A Memoir of an Unlikely Doctor
- Tony Jeton Selimi – A Path to Excellence
- Trudy Wells-Meyer – Some Things Are Simply Meant to Be
- Aurita Maldonado – The Zen of Dancing in the Rain: Becoming One with the Storm
The Grand Prize Winner of The 2023 Hearten Award is:

Running Away From the Circus

by Nove Meyers

Submit today to join this list of winners!

The Hearten Awards are open until the end of September! We’ll leave you with some of our favorite uplifting reads that have come through lately!

DIAMOND: The Memoir of a Lost Daughter of Japan
By Etsuko Diamond Miyagi

In a world ravaged by conflict and loss, Etsuko Diamond Miyagi’s memoir, Diamond: The Memoir of a Lost Daughter of Japan is a shining testament to the beauty of love and the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity.

Etsuko enjoys a peaceful childhood on the Philippine island of Mindanao, where her father owns an abacá plantation. But they are not safe when guerilla forces destroy her village murdering everyone and leaving her as the sole survivor. This deeply personal narrative of grief chronicles Etsuko’s harrowing journey to find solace and joy after the death of her parents.

At first, passed from house to house, Etsuko is forced to work as a domestic servant until a kind family takes her in. However, her safety and survival is once again in danger when she’s forced to leave her adopted family and take a position at Chief Doming Apostol’s estate in Magpet. It is there Etsuko receives the name ‘Diamond.’

Read more here!

A PATH To EXCELLENCE
By Tony Jeton Selimi
Hearten First Place Winner

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.

Read more here!

DAWGS
By Diane Trull & Meredith Wargo
Hearten Grand Prize Winner

We love our dogs. We love our cats. But what do we do when people no longer want them, use them for cruel purposes, or release them into the streets with no thought for what will happen to them? Diane Trull’s memoir with Meredith Wargo, DAWGS, shines a light on these questions.

Trull begins the story as a fourth-grade teacher in Dalhart, Texas. One of her young students asks about an article in a local paper showing photos of adorable dogs at a shelter who were up for adoption, wondering what happened to those who weren’t adopted.

Instead of dodging the question, and with great trepidation, she answered it with the truth: those who weren’t adopted would be put to sleep. Her tiny students were understandably shocked. Then one of them said, “I don’t want any of those dogs to die. Isn’t there something we can do to save them?”

Read more here!

LOVE, LIFE and LUCILLE
By Judy Gaman
Hearten First Place Winner

Award-winning author, motivational speaker, and podcast host Judy Gaman befriends a fun-loving and feisty centenarian in her CIBA Grand Prize-winning novel, Love, Life, and Lucille.

The list of titles and accolades Judy Gaman has accrued begin to pale when she encounters Lucille Fleming for the very first time. The whole reason for the meet-up with the centenarian was specifically to get her opinions on “aging gracefully,” the featured topic of a new book Judy planned to write. What was scheduled as an hour-long interview turned into an absolutely delightful, near three-hour visit. Lucille turned the tables and began asking questions about Judy’s life with compelling earnestness—something Judy rarely experienced. She was unprepared yet exhilarated.

Judy couldn’t stop thinking about this “dressed to the nines” woman with an ear-to-ear smile and a sturdy, affectionate hug. Her contact with this larger-than-life woman was so infectious, Judy made up an excuse—so that she could see her again. During that second meeting, the two became fast friends as they set Fridays aside as their day to get together. Before their next planned meeting, Judy learned that Lucille had gone into cardiac arrest. She was dead for three minutes before she came back full of vim and vigor as if nothing had happened. Five months later, Lucille was more than ready for TV interviews. With that, Judy made plans to write a second book about Lucille and their relationship.

Read more here!

Thank you for cheering on these Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction Books!

We hope to see your work in the 2024 Hearten 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.
September 8, 2024
THE TRUE ADVENTURES Of MILTON GINSBERG by Carolyn Russo Kinne, Illustrated by Libi Holder – Picture Books, Children’s Adventure Books, Animal Stories

Carolyn Russo Kinne’s children’s story, The True Adventures of Milton Ginsberg, follows the journey of a delightful little kitten from Washington to British Columbia, Canada and back.

Milton is the bright star of this story, even with his harrowing beginning as a stray with his mother and brother. While the humans’ storyline feels beyond Milton’s understanding, both the tense and tender moments make this beautifully illustrated story memorable!

The upbeat tone Milton narrates in is one of this story’s treasures.

This cat truly has nine lives as he faces each step of his adventure with luck. Pair that with his humble beginnings, and children will fall in love with Milton as he describes how his mother finds him and his brother a forever home with two humans, Dave and Nancy.

The tension builds when Dave and Nancy decide to move to British Columbia. They try and find homes for all three cats, but the people who take them on are only able to accept two. Milton’s family decide he is the adventurous one, and take him north. It’s a touching moment as Milton says goodbye to his mother and brother.

Milton’s indomitable spirit captures Dave and Nancy’s heart just as much as the reader’s.

Excited at first to be a traveling cat, Milton quickly discovers drives are long, bumpy, and boring. He can’t wait to get out of the car when they stop for supplies. Out gallivanting, he’s shocked to find the car has left while he was away. But he is one lucky cat, and when his people return calling his name, Milton runs to them and the story proceeds north.

After a disastrous time in British Columbia, the family winds their way back to the continental US to create a home. This is where Milton can grow into the wonderful, mischievous cat he was always meant to be.

Libi Holder’s beautiful illustrations will delight children and adults alike as they meld with Kinne’s story to paint the highs and lows of Milton’s adventures.

Holder’s soft representations of nature, our hero Milton, and his own hero will hold the interest of young readers and provide a sense of satisfaction to the story. A second set of illustrations spread throughout the book, drawn by Carolyn Russo Kinne’s own daughter, Rose, adds an engaging generational feature to this children’s tale.

Readers will love following Milton on his adventures as he and his family navigate growing up and finding their place in the world. This enchanting story will warm your heart and endear Milton to you as another admirable animal character in the canon of children’s literature. As fun companions to the story itself, Kinne includes activity pages at the end of the book, complete with discussion questions, a maze, and more!

Carolyn Russo Kinne’s The True Adventures of Milton Ginsberg will have readers ready to write their own adventures about always landing on your feet and being surrounded by those who love and care about you.

September 6, 2024
The 2024 Laramie Awards Spotlight for Americana Fiction
Don’t Spare the Horses!

The Laramie Awards are only open through the end of September!

Tales of frontier life steeped in historic places and dates have long captivated readers of all ages. From Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series to The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, these stories give readers a glimpse into what was or what may have been. This Americana genre focuses mostly on Western/Pioneer/Civil War stories but can easily contain sub-genres including mystery, romance, and adventure as long as they are dressed with the American West or South as a backdrop. This division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs) is meant to celebrate stories that evoke the rough-and-tumble nature of the Wild West, the heartbreaking croon of a lonesome cowboy by his fire, and the overly perfumed air of a small town saloon.

The Categories for the Laramie Award are:
- Western Romance
- Adventure/Caper
- Classic
- Civil War/Prairie/Pioneer
- Contemporary Western
- Americana
- First Nations
If you’re looking to shine a lantern on your work, submit to the Laramie Awards today! If you’re just a fan of some good ol’ fashioned themes coloring your experience, take a look at some of the previous Laramie Award winners.

We are delighted to celebrate the 2023 Winners of the Laramie Awards!
- Barbara Salvatore – The Trail to Niobrara
- T.K. Conklin – Promise of Spring
- Elizabeth Woolsey – The Travels of Dr. Rebecca Harper A Matter of Time
- Daniel Greene – Northern Dawn (Northern Wolf Series Book 4)
- K.S. Jones – Tastefully Texas
The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2023 LARAMIE Awards is:

The Last Man

A Novel of the 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery

by Thomas Goodman

More articles will come out celebrating those Laramie Awards Winners this month! For now, we’d like you to join us in celebrating these amazing books in the genre we’ve recently received!

BED of CONSPIRACY
By Juliette Douglas
Laramie First Place Winner

Growing up alone on the streets of Saint Louis in the mid-1870s, nineteen-year-old Samantha Davis has had to fight for everything.

When she rescues Colonel Brady from armed attackers, she isn’t trying to be a hero or land a dangerous new job, but the moment Brady sees her deadly aim and unparalleled courage, he knows he’s found his new undercover agent. Brady has been tasked with infiltrating the KGC, the Knights of the Golden Circle, a group of Southern sympathizers hellbent on bringing down the government in a Confederate uprising.

Brady believes Sam will be the perfect partner for Ross Cooper, a veteran agent who spends his off-time as a trail boss in Kansas. However, Ross is less than thrilled with Brady’s choice of the untrained, bad-tempered girl. Despite his misgivings, Ross agrees to team-up with Sam, and the two go undercover as Jim and Virginia Van Meter, a newlywed couple from South Carolina visiting Washington. After being introduced to Adam Mundy, the leader of this cell of the KGC, Ross (aka Jim) agrees to use his shipping business to help the Confederate cause.

Read more here!

TOM SAWYER RETURNS
By E.E. Burke
Laramie Grand Prize Winner

Tom Sawyer Returns is the second book in The New Adventures series by author E.E. Burke.

Readers join a now grown up and far more independent Becky Thatcher as she maneuvers her complicated life in Civil War era Mississippi. Tom has long since left, and Becky is engaged to Union Captain Alfred Temple, who offers her all the safety and security she needs in such uncertain times. But does she love him? Actually love him?

Becky soon discovers that her heart may have other plans.

Read more here!

MATAMOROS
By James Kahn
Laramie First Place Winner

With the American Civil War as a grisly backdrop, James Kahn shines a light onto the real old West in his latest novel, Matamoros: Civil War Adventure, Romance and Espionage in an Old West Border Town.

The tiny Mexican town of Matamoros becomes a haven for traders, traitors, ex-slaves, and card sharks. Bring the war into the mix with Northern and Southern agents, both self-appointed and official, and the result is perfect for plenty to go wrong.

Clayton Wilkes owns the Brave River Gambling Emporium and can smile and shoot almost in the same breath.

Read more here!

ROLLING HOME
By David Fitz-Gerald
Series Grand Prize Winner

David Fitz-Gerald concludes the Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail series with a grand finale for an eclectic cast of characters, as the long wagon train is finally Rolling Home to their new lives in the wild west of Oregon.

With the end of the trail just out of reach, however, their hopes dwindle and their hunger rages. The rigor of the western environment continues to test their determination and threaten vows of heartfelt romance. These weary people ache and mourn losses, while seeking new ways to survive and pull each other forward in the face of impending winter.

This wagon train of travelers will also face venomous villains who have been lurking in the shadows, outlaws waiting for their best opportunity to pounce.

Read more here!

Note: David Fitz-Gerald’s entire series of Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail is excellent. You can read all our reviews for it here.

GUARDED HEARTS
By T.K. Conklin
Laramie Grand Prize Winner

Guarded Hearts by T K Conklin is a sensual romance in the Wild West, with all the passion and excitement natural to the setting.

Sparks fly between a man with an outlaw past and a woman with a terrifying gift to heal or harm. Strykes is a man haunted both by a violent childhood and his time in an outlaw gang. But he has found a place in Rimrock, where he met LaRisa, an auburn-haired woman whom the townspeople have labeled a “witch” due to her healing herbs and rumors of her “powers”.

LaRisa has kept her distance from people, afraid of her gift of healing touch that can turn dangerous, even deadly. But, when she comes to town to deliver her medicinal herbs, she makes her way to the livery with tasks for Strykes such as shoeing her horse or fixing a spring in her wagon. He is only too happy to oblige the auburn-haired beauty. The attraction between them is instantaneous, yet they both are hesitant to act on it, fearing they would hurt the other– he from his violent past, and she from her “witch” power.

Read more here!

Give another three cheers for the amazing Westerns and Americana Fiction here!

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.

Submit to the Laramie Awards today!
September 5, 2024
Zooming Your Way to a Great Book Launch: A Step-by-Step Guide to Virtual Book Launch Events
We are Deep in the Digital Age

Is your virtual book launch ready?

In the digital age, a virtual book launch can be a highly effective way to celebrate and promote your new book. It offers an opportunity to reach a global audience, engage with readers in real-time, and create a buzz around your work–all from your own desk.

Planning to host a virtual book launch but not sure where to start?

So much to learn, so little time!

Let us walk you through the first steps to ensure a successful and memorable event.

1. Define Your Goals and Objectives

Before diving into the details, clarify what you want to achieve with your virtual book launch. Your goals might include:
- Increasing Book Sales: Drive pre-orders and sales through special promotions.
- Building Your Author Brand: Enhance your visibility and establish your presence as an author.
- Engaging with Your Audience: Connect with readers, fans, and influencers in your genre.
- Generating Media Coverage: Attract attention from bloggers, journalists, and book reviewers.
Authors should try to zero in on what their potential readers could look like and which outlets are the best for reaching those targets. Sometimes (more often than not), going in deep (some say guerilla marketing) towards a specific target audience for podcasts, blogging, and events (publicity) and then expanding the spheres if a strategy that works (marketing). Read more on this from Kiffer Brown here!

2. Choose the Right Platform

Selecting the appropriate platform is crucial for hosting your virtual book launch. Consider the following options:
- Zoom: Ideal for interactive events with features like breakout rooms and live Q&A sessions.
- Facebook Live: Great for reaching your social media audience and facilitating real-time engagement.
- YouTube Live: Offers high video quality and can be integrated with your book’s promotional content.
- Twitch: Suitable for a more informal, interactive experience, particularly with younger audiences.
Choose a platform that aligns with your goals and technical comfort level.

3. Plan Your Event Format

Decide on the format and structure of your virtual launch. Some popular formats include:
- Live Reading and Q&A: Read excerpts from your book and answer questions from attendees.
- Author Interview: Conduct an interview with another author, a moderator, or a celebrity guest.
- Panel Discussion: Gather experts or fellow authors to discuss themes related to your book.
- Virtual Book Tour: Share behind-the-scenes content or host virtual visits to locations featured in your book.
4. Set a Date and Time

Choose a date and time that will maximize attendance. Consider the time zones of your target audience and avoid scheduling conflicts with major events or holidays. Weekdays or weekends can work depending on your audience’s availability.

The experts who can market your book make up what we call Slant in the book industry. Our own Chanticleerian author Carol Cram wrote an article all about the best ways to connect and work with experts, which you can read here.

5. Promote Your Event

Effective promotion is key to a successful virtual book launch. Use a combination of strategies:
- Social Media: Create event pages and share regular updates on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
- Email Newsletters: Send invitations and reminders to your mailing list.
- Book Communities: Engage with book clubs, forums, and online reading groups.
- Collaborations: Partner with influencers, bloggers, and other authors to broaden your reach.
Design eye-catching promotional materials such as graphics, videos, and teaser content to generate excitement.

6. Prepare Your Content and Rehearse

Prepare and rehearse the content of your event to ensure smooth execution:
- Script: Outline key points, introductions, and transitions.
- Visuals: Create slides, book trailers, or other visual aids.
- Tech Check: Test your internet connection, microphone, camera, and platform features ahead of time.
- Rehearsal: Practice your presentation and timing to avoid any hiccups during the live event.
7. Engage with Your Readers

During the event, foster engagement and interaction:
- Welcome Attendees: Greet participants and provide an overview of the event.
- Interactive Elements: Use polls, chat features, and live Q&A to involve your audience.
- Personal Touch: Share personal anecdotes or behind-the-scenes stories related to your book.
- Encourage Sharing: Ask attendees to share their thoughts on social media using a specific hashtag.
8. Follow Up After the Event

Post-event follow-up is essential for maintaining momentum and maximizing the impact of your launch:
- Thank You Notes: Send gratitude messages to attendees, guests, and collaborators.
- Event Recap: Share highlights, recordings, or photos from the event on your website and social media.
- Feedback: Collect feedback from attendees to learn what worked well and what could be improved for future events.
- Continued Engagement: Keep the conversation going by engaging with your audience and providing updates on book sales or upcoming events.
9. Analyze and Reflect

Evaluate the success of your virtual book launch by analyzing key metrics:
- Attendance Numbers: Assess how many people attended and engaged with the event.
- Sales Data: Review book sales figures before, during, and after the launch.
- Audience Feedback: Analyze comments, questions, and feedback to gauge audience reaction and satisfaction.
Reflect on what went well and areas for improvement to enhance your future virtual events.

A well-executed virtual book launch can create a powerful platform for celebrating your book and connecting with readers. By following these steps, you can craft an fun, engaging event that not only promotes your book but also builds lasting relationships with your new fans!

Happy launching!
Thank you for joining us for this Writer Toolbox Article
There is so much to learn and do with Chanticleer!

From our Book Award Program that has Discovered the Best Books since the early 2010s to our Editorial Book Reviews recognizing and promoting indie and traditional authors, Chanticleer knows your books are worth the effort to market professionally!

Helpful Toolbox Articles:

How to Market Your Works Like a Book Publicist

TAPPING the EXPERTS – Researching for Your Works in Progress

When you’re ready,did you know that Chanticleer offers editorial services?We do and have been doing so since 2011.

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 us at info@ChantiReviews.com for more information, testimonials, and fees.

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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, with more information available here.

And we do editorial consultations for $75. Learn more here.
September 4, 2024
JAKE FORTINA And The ROMAN CONSPIRACY by Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke – Global Thriller, Terrorism, International Mystery & Crime,

Talk about a ripped-from-the headlines thriller in Jake Fortina and the Roman Conspiracy!

In this multinational geopolitical thriller by Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke, a power-crazed Russian oligarch wants to usurp the current Russian dictator to take his place as the head of the government. He forms his own paramilitary force to steal priceless paintings from a Vatican church with plans to resell them for billions to fund his campaign. But why stop there? He also explodes illicit small-scale atomic weapons to further destabilize the Russian leader and cast himself as the country’s new czar.

Meanwhile, a crazed U.S. right wing military adjutant buys loads of AK-47s from the Italian mafia to arm U.S. paramilitary groups intent on enforcing their own far-right views in America.

Jake Fortina, an Army foreign area officer with special training to handle international and political-military duties at embassies and in international duties, is on vacation in Italy with his new bride when he runs into an old military chum who pretends he doesn’t recognize Jake and speaks with a Russian accent. That sets off alarm bells for Jake who manages to photograph the man along with his car’s license plate. That information is turned over to his superiors which opens the door to the rogue oligarch’s nefarious plans. He overhears the right-wing U.S. officer launch a drunken tirade against the American “left wing” government while in the company of an Italian military officer with suspicious ties to the Mafia. That leads to investigations of the weapons transfers to the U.S. paramilitary movement and a reported assassination attempt on a U.S. politician.

Steinke breaks the mold by pairing a thriller with nuclear stakes to a careful and scholarly level of detail.

From the price of AK-47s on the black market, the history of a fine wine, to a detailed examination of an officer’s dedication to this country, this novel delivers a healthy dose of information, history, and the fabric of being a member of this elite corps of public servants. More of a clear cut story without the murkiness of a John LeCarre. Fortina is part of a world fashioned and lived in the military. Highly educated, loyal to country, with a military life forged in the hills of Afghanistan and at the tables of the world’s finest restaurants in his role as attaché in Rome. Steinke presents a different kind of thriller hero. There is little ambiguity regarding who the good guys are, nor of the clarity of decision-making and the chain of command to which Jake and others ascribe to.

For readers intrigued by how the real world handles existential threats, including but not limited to roiling Kremlin politics, rogue nuclear weapons in evil hands, and the U.S. paramilitary threat, Jake Fortina and the Roman Conspiracy is an important and intriguing novel.

September 4, 2024
The 2024 CYGNUS Awards Semi-Finalists for Science Fiction
The Cygnus Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Science Fiction, Steampunk, Alternative History, and Speculative Fiction. The Cygnus Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring space, time travel, life on other planets, parallel universes, alternate reality, and all the science, technology, major social or environmental changes of the future that author imaginations can dream up for the CYGNUS Book Awards division. Hard Science Fiction, Soft Science Fiction, Apocalyptic Fiction, Cyberpunk, Time Travel, Genetic Modification, Aliens, Super Humans, Interplanetary Travel, Climate-Fiction, and Settlers on the Galactic Frontier, Dystopian, our judges from across North America and the U.K. will put them to the test and choose the best among them.

These titles have moved forward from the 2024 Cygnus Short List to the SEMI-FINALISTS. Finalists will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC25.

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

These titles are in the running for the FINALISTS of the 2024 Cygnus Book Awards novel competition for Science Fiction!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
- Timothy S. Johnston – A Blanket of Steel
- Daniel Lawrence Abrams – Immortality Bytes: Digital Minds Don’t Get Hungry
- Janet Post – Vee: Shooting Star
- Joseph Anderson – Eden 2b
- Neil V. Young – Children of the Stars
- Jeremy Clift – Born in Space: Unlocking Destiny
- Derek Wachter – The Dark Side of the Moon
- Mark Sabbas – The Monarchs
- Sean M. Tirman – Hounds of Gaia (The Marrower Saga, Book One)
- Don Stuart – Darwin’s Dilemma
- Sheri T. Joseph – Edge of the Known World
- Alexandru Czimbor – Sentience Hazard
- Peter Dingus – Deep Time
- Jaime Castle – Purgatory
- Alexander Boldizar – The Man Who Saw Seconds
- Jayson Adams – Ares
- A. R. Black – No Man’s Land
- Jude Berman – The Die
- John Be Lane – The Future Lies
- Aaron Arsenault – The Climate Diaries: Book One: The Academy
- Russell Klyford – Emergent Mars
- S.G. Blaise – Meddling Mages
- PJ Caldas – The Girl from Wudang
- Thomas Weaver – Artificial Wisdom
- Ellen Ricciutti – One Time or Another
- Shami Stovall – The Half-Life Empire
- Lynn Yvonne Moon – Journey’s Travels – Mirrors
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

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

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

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

Congratulations once more to the 2023 Cygnus Grand Prize Winner

The Shadow of War

By Timothy S. Johnston

Click here to see the full list of 2023 CYGNUS Book Award Winners for Science Fiction.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2025 CYGNUS Book Awards for Science Fiction.

Please click here for more information.

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

April 3 – 6, 2025! Save the Date for Registration!

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

Join us for our annual conference as we enter our second decade and discover why!
September 3, 2024
The 2024 Little Peeps Award Spotlight for Children’s literature!
Books for Kids make Lifelong Readers!

Submissions for the Little Peeps Awards close at the end of September!

The Little Peeps Awards is our Division for the Children and Early Readers in your life. Introducing books from a young age creates lifelong Readers!

Finding the best books for a child is hard. While these books may be small, writing for children provides it’s own challenges. Needing to provide a moral to the story, something that teaches the reader without being obvious. Plus, adorable, bright and colorful art to go along with the story. For this age range, books need to stimulate imagination, creativity, and learning.

We also have some other Divisions aimed at younger age ranges. For Middle Grade (ages 6-13) see Gertrude Warner. For Young Adult (ages 14-18) see Dante Rossetti.

Our categories for the Little Peeps Awards are:
- Chapter books for grades K & 1
- Story Books
- Picture Books
- Self-Esteem
- Educational Books
- Experiences
- Holidays/ Traditions
- Exploring
- Interactive and Board Books
- Bedtime Stories
We are happy to celebrate the 2023 Winners of the Little Peeps Awards!
- Beth Davis – Lacinda the Lion is a Super Youneek Beast
- Adalgisa and David Nico – Fish in the Desert: The Untold Story of the Death Valley Pupfish
- Ruth Amanda – Geckos in the Garden
- Jonna Laster – Nutshell Regatta
- T.K. Sheffield – The Night Icelandic Horses Saved Christmas Eve
- Raven Howell – Friends Come in all Sizes
The Grand Prize Winner of The 2023 Little Peeps Award is:

The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans

by Shaziya M. Jaffer, Brad W. Rudover, and Jessica Alexanderson

Submit today to join this list of winners!

We’re excited to celebrate all the wonderful children’s books that are submitted to us!

Check out these great Early Reads!

ISLAND MOON
By Ruth Amanda

Ruth Amanda’s Island Moon is a magical moment captured in a poem.

The narrator lives on an island where the moon sings of fairies and the magic of the night. While out on a nighttime walk, the narrator breathes in the island scents and hears the waves kissing the shore. In the froth of the waves, and in the moon’s magical light reflecting on the water, the narrator sees the fairies dancing.

Read more here!

LET’S WORK SMARTER: Harmony Lane Adventures Book 2
By Katharine Mitropoulos

Katharine Mitropoulos’s Let’s Work Smarter, the second book of the Harmony Lane Adventures series, begins on a beautiful day at the Harmony Lane Farmer’s Market. There the residents are hoping to reach their fundraising goal to fix up the local playground.

The next day, after having met their fundraising goal, Mouse takes charge dividing everyone into groups, each with their own job to do. Kangaroo, Frog, and Kitten are tasked with planting a flower garden, which turns out to be hard work! They decide they just need to work harder to get the job done but end up making a mess. Cheetah and Mole work hard while cleaning up the sandbox, causing sticks and leaves to get all over the place. Painting the fence are Giraffe, Bear, and Bunny, who all have their own plan for the design.

Read more here!

YIMBY: Yes! In My Back Yard!
By Sheryl Recinos, illustrated by Amanda Ravensdale

In YIMBY! Yes In My Back Yard!, Sheryl Recinos presents a simple yet powerful story that speaks to the heart of human kindness and the need to help our fellow man.

Most people are familiar with the term NIMBY, the acronym for “Not In My Back Yard”, referencing opposition to the construction of something perceived as undesirable in one’s neighborhood. But this passionate and heart-warming children’s book offers a positive transformation to the word.

Read more here!

ESS-CAR-GO
By Ruth Amanda

With their park damp from the rain, seven snails line up for their next thrilling race in Ruth Amanda’s Ess-Car-Go!

Frogs, bugs, birds, and even a curious cat come to cheer on the famous snail racers, from the stylish Sterling to the easily-distracted Sherlock. And as each one runs into their own kind of trouble; this trophy could go to anybody!

Read more here!

NUTSHELL REGATTA
By Jonna Laster

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.

Read more here!

Thank you for joining us to celebrate these wonderful works for children!

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.

Submit to the Little Peeps Awards today!
September 3, 2024
Chanticleer’s Back to School Bundle! Don’t Miss Out on the Chance to Become a Member of The Roost!
Back to School Sales?

They’re not just for kids!

We have an ever bigger one you can Roost with!

As summer comes to a close, we’re excited to offer a bundle that includes a year’s worth of access to our online platform filled with goodies and discounts for authors: The Roost!

The Roost is our exclusive membership platform where we perch together to share knowledge and connect with our community of expert authors.

Every year after Labor Day the publishing industry comes back to life, and we’re happy to crow with the dawn and welcome it back!

The Roost is our Favorite Spot to Perch!

Don’t Miss Out on These Upcoming Events:
- Weekly Tuesday Morning Write-Ins with David Beaumier
- Weekly Wednesday Evening Write-Ins with Phoebe Walker and Janet Oakley
- Monthly Thriller Craft Discussions with Dena Weigel
- Monthly Writing Craft Discussions with David Beaumier
- Monthly Recorded Workshops
  - Upcoming is Kickstarting Your Book with Kiffer Brown and David Beaumier, 9/13 at 1pm PST
- Virtual Happy Hour (9/16 at 5pm PST) with Kiffer Brown
- We’re available for virtual Office Hours on the Roost!
- Plus Perpetual Discounts and Early Bird Deals on our Annual Authors Conference, Editorial Reviews, and the CIBAs!
The Roost is a space driven by community! We build and add to it based on what our members ask for and want. Join us, and help transform the space into whatever you want it to be!

Roost sign-ups are typically available only in-person at Conferences or for our First Place Winners. We’ve worked hard to cultivate this community of professionals. And it’s open now to you, but only through September 15th!

Sign up now for

A Chanticleer Editorial Review ($495)

Two entries to the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards ($198)

And a Full Year as Chanticleer Members on the Roost (priceless)

All for $645

What does that include?

The Objective Editorial Review

Every book that receives a Chanticleer Editorial Review written by one of our professional reviewers receives the following:
- Published online on the Chanticleer Reviews website for easy linking
- Each online published review comes with a built-in All IN One Search Engine Optimization package (AIOSEO) to maximize the review and the book title/author’s digital footprint.
  - AIOSEO interfaces with Google, Bing, Firefox, and Explorer search engines.
  - We carefully apply AIOSEO techniques to increase higher search rankings for each review.
  - AIOSEO allows for easier integration into Google Analytics.
- Each posted review comes with SEO metadata to optimize Google searches and Amazon crawlers.
- Digital links to Amazon, Independent Bookstores, and the Author or Publisher’s website.
- Each review is posted to our social media for easy sharing and commenting by the author/publisher.
- All our reviews are promoted and highlighted in our Newsletter.
- We continue to periodically post the review to social media and in blogposts with links to the review on our website for long-term marketing and to refresh digital footprints.
You do not have to use the Chanticleer Book Review package now. You can use it in the future when you are ready!

The Coveted Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards (CIBAs)

You know you want it.

The CIBAs run year round with promotions always popping up on our website to celebrate the incredible authors who advance. Starting at the Long List, we begin promoting work on our high-traffic website, on social media, and in our newsletter.

From that point we add in digital badges, promotional stickers. By the time we reach the $1000 cash prize for the Overall Grand Prize Winner, we’ve given away over $30,000 worth of prizes!

With all that plus our under the hood marketing technology, it’s no surprise that the CIBAs are the most popular of all our offerings at Chanticleer.

When You’re Ready, We’re Here

Signing up for this bundle doesn’t mean you have to immediately submit your work to the CIBAs or for Review. We’re happy to hold your spot and check in with you on your terms, when your work is at its best. The same with the two CIBA entries!

You might write your book alone, but authors live in community.

Join The Roost today. We’re here, and we can’t wait to support you in your author’s journey and help your book be discovered!

Can’t do the bundle but still want to join?

Reach out to AuthorOutreach@ChantiReviews.com for a discount code and sign up today!
August 30, 2024