Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: chanti

Celebrating National Bookstore Romance Day: A Love Letter to the Magic of Bookstores
Fall in Love at Your Local Bookstore

Our own Village Books right here in Bellingham, WA

It’s National Bookstore Romance Day!

August 17th is a day dedicated to celebrating the intersection of two of life’s greatest pleasures: romance and bookstores! National Bookstore Romance Day is a time to revel in the joy that comes from discovering a new favorite book and the unique charm of independent bookstores. It’s a day to honor the places that have been the backdrop for countless literary love stories and to celebrate the romance genre that captures our imaginations and hearts.

The Enticing Allure of Bookstores

Bookstores have long been cherished havens for readers. They’re more than just retail spaces. They’re sanctuaries where stories come to life, where every shelf holds a new adventure. Independent bookstores, in particular, have a special kind of magic. Their cozy nooks, eclectic selections, and knowledgeable staff create an atmosphere that invites readers to linger, explore, and connect with the books they love.

Our love of bookstores is growing! Bookstore sales finished the first half of 2023 up 6.9% over the comparable period in 2022, proving once again that the love of readers have for their favorite brick-and-mortar bookstore can never be underestimated.

On National Bookstore Romance Day, we pay tribute to these beloved spaces, including our beloved Village Books! Whether it’s a charming local bookstore with a café, a historic shop with creaky wooden floors, or a modern indie store with a curated selection, each bookstore offers a unique experience. It’s where we find the books that move us and connects us with the community that shares our passion for writing and reading.

Instead of sending flowers, we suggest doing this to show your love on National Bookstore Romance Day!
1. Visit Your Local Bookstore: Head to your favorite independent bookstore and immerse yourself in its unique atmosphere. Spend time browsing the shelves, chatting with the staff about their favorite romance novels, and perhaps even start writing the book you’ve always imagined.
2. Find Your Next Great Literary Romance: Look for novels that you haven’t read before. Many bookstores will feature special displays or recommendations in honor of the day. You might find a new author or series to fall in love with.
3. Attend Events: Many bookstores host special events for National Bookstore Romance Day, such as book fairs, author signings, readings, or themed parties. Check out local listings and participate in these celebrations to meet fellow book lovers and connect with the romance genre in a new way.
4. Support Local Businesses: Buying from independent bookstores helps support the local economy and ensures that these cherished spaces continue to thrive. Consider making a purchase, whether it’s a book, a gift, or a gift card to share your love with another fan of bookstores.
5. Share Your Passion: Use social media to share your love for romance novels and bookstores. Post about your favorite romance reads, recommend books to friends, or simply celebrate the joy that these stories and spaces bring to your life.
National Bookstore Romance Day is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the magic of bookstores and the joy of romance novels. It’s a day to acknowledge the spaces that nurture our love for reading and writing and illustrates our love for stories that touch our hearts. So, explore your local bookstore and take a moment to savor the romance in every book on the shelf!

The Chatelaine Awards are where we find all our romance books about bookstores and beyond!

Happy National Bookstore Romance Day!

Begin your National Bookstore Romance Day celebration with the stories that make our hearts soar!

LOVING BETH
By Bonnie Rose Ward
Chatelaine Awards First Place Winner

In Loving Beth, a Christian historical romance by Bonnie Rose Ward, a young woman finds herself in dire straits when her widowed mother dies unexpectedly.

Beth’s father had taken out loans to improve their property, but he was killed in the Civil War, leaving his wife and daughter to struggle to keep up with the payments. Now, Beth is alone without any means to keep her home—finding and taking in two young, abandoned children certainly doesn’t help. But even amidst her troubles, Beth’s thoughts keep going back to the mysterious and handsome stranger who found and brought home the body of her mother.

Life is not easy in her tiny settlement in West Virginia, and young, pretty Beth finds that it is not about to get any easier. The new banker holds a grudge toward her for having rejected his advances, and the man’s snobbish wife is determined to make Beth’s life even more miserable. The loans that Beth and her mother worked to pay each month are suddenly due in full— but the banker’s unwanted and ugly advances are foiled with the appearance of the mysterious stranger.

Read more here!

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

Guarded Heartsby 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!

AIR BOAT
By Jacek Waliszewski
Chatelaine & Shorts Awards Finalist

For readers interested in a unique romance,Air Boat: Love is an Adventureby Jacek Waliszewski offers a distinctive cast of characters and tense excitement in the sky.

Air Boat brings together a former Special Forces soldier, Luke, who prefers to keep to himself, an independent and sarcastic female pilot, Stella, and a three-legged Husky named Saint who marches to the beat of his own drum. These captivating characters embark on a fast-paced, page-turning tale.

Waliszewski starts this romantic adventure with a suspenseful scene of a vintage plane barreling towards the Twin Cities, accompanied by two F-16 fighter jets, before setting the stage for the two main characters to meet. The mystery of this scene will stick in the reader’s mind, drawing them forward with stark curiosity that only grows in excitement.

Read more here!

Summer Thunder
By Alan B. Gibson

Lily struggles to keep her business, her son, and her home. But inSummer Thunder,first book of theMagic at Myers Beachseries by Alan B. Gibson, Lily’s luck begins to turn as she connects with the enigmatic beach king Theos.

With the help of her friend and fellow business owner Greta “the Witch,” Lily tries to revitalize her fairy-themed decoration and figurine store. Her divorce from her abusive ex-husband Kelly is pending, and she must present a calm and reliable home to ensure full custody of her son Jamie. But when her kindly landlord, Ms. Coffey, passes away, she’s confronted with two options: lose her prime business location and upstairs apartment, or somehow make enough money to buy the building herself.

Enter Theos, a kitesurfing champion with adoring fans. He shows true appreciation for Lily’s fairy figurines, bringing her many more sales. But more importantly, Theos becomes deeply interested in Lily herself. Their romance begins on rocky footing, as Theos has a strange air about him and seems to vanish whenever a storm comes into town. But when he begins modelling for a new fairy figurine– aptly named Theos, the King– the two are drawn inevitably closer.

Read more here!

What Remains of Love
By Suzanne Trauth

Suzanne Trauth’s What Remains of Love begins with the discovery of a family secret.

Siblings Kate and DJ meet with their late father’s lawyer to go over the contents of their father’s will when it is revealed that a woman named Emilie had been added without their knowledge. DJ, an all-business, no-nonsense person, wants to deny the request. Kate wants to fulfill their father’s wishes even though they don’t understand the reason behind it. When they send a letter to Emilie, her daughter replies, stating Emilie has passed away and that she will not accept the money.

Her brother’s curiosity is satisfied, but Kate can’t help but feel there is more to the story, especially given that their father withheld his experiences in the war from them both.

Read more here!

Do you have a book that deserves to be discovered? You can always submit your book for an Editorial Review with Chanticleer!Chanticleer Editorial Review Packages are optimized to maximize your digital footprint. Reviews are one of the most powerful tools available to authors to help sell and market their books. Find out what all the buzz is about here.

Is your book an Award Winner?

Submitting to Book Awards is a great way to get your book discovered! Anytime you advance in the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards, your name and book are promoted right here on our website, through our newsletter, and across social media. One of the best ways to engage in long tail marketing!

Spread the love on National Bookstore Romance Day! Visit your neighborhood bookstores and find your next great read!
August 16, 2024
Unlock Your Creativity With These Keys to Break Through Writer’s Block from the desk of Dena Weigel
A Writer’s Greatest Enemy: The Block!

Your creativity is elusive and your imagination has taken a backseat to worry and anxiety.

Don’t worry!

We have time-tested tactics to break through writer’s block

Writers block is a common nemesis every writer faces at some point in our creative journey.

It’s a frustrating experience when inspiration seems elusive, and every word feels like it’s buried under layers of mental fog. But fear not! In this blog post, we’ll explore practical strategies to help you conquer your creative blockade and break through what’s keeping your imagination at bay.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, finding the keys that will unlock the door to your imagination and reclaim your writing flow.

The secret tools against writer’s block are just ahead!

Free write:

The first draft is for you, so embrace your half-baked ideas and write with total freedom! Push your negative thoughts to the side and just start writing anything that comes to mind. Don’t worry about structure or grammar, or the areas of your story that haven’t yet come together. Starting out boldly, without regard to what comes next, can help get your creative juices flowing.

Take breaks:

If you’re feeling stuck, take a short break. Take a walk, play with your pet, go for a run or do some yoga. Physical activity or relaxation techniques like deep breathing can help clear your mind.

Change of scenery:

Sometimes a different environment can stimulate your mind. Try writing in a new location, such as a coffee shop, park, or library. If you don’t want to roam too far, explore another writing space at your home. I do this often and find that it acts as an eraser to all the noise that came before, freeing up my mind for new thoughts to come in.

Set small goals:

Break down your writing task into smaller, manageable goals. For example, aim to write for 15 minutes without interruption or limit yourself to just one chapter. Sometimes I find seeing each chapter as its own super short story can help avoid feeling overwhelmed. You can read more about our suggestions of tracking productivity in your writing here.

Read:

Read books, articles, or even your own past work can inspire new ideas and perspectives. When we’re in the midst of writers block doubt can often seep in and stymie our writing process. By reviewing your own past work, you’ll see for yourself the wonderful writing we’ve delivered in the past. Need a new book? Check out our most recent reviews and add to your TBR!

Brainstorming:

You never know when inspiration will strike, so carry a notepad or use your smartphone to write down ideas, words, or phrases related to your topic so you can put into your story the next time you sit down to write. Overtime, that treasure chest of great ideas will be full of ideas for you to pull from on your next book, and the next, and so on!

Talk it out:

Discuss your ideas with someone else. Sometimes talking through your thoughts can help clarify them. We love to reach out to people in our Circle of Influence. You can learn more about forming a Circle of Influence here!

Change your approach:

If you’re stuck on a particular section, skip it and work on a different part of your writing. You can always come back to it later. Kiffer’s favorite advice we ever received is “Write Fast, Edit Slow.” Chanticleer Award Winner Michelle Rene goes into detail about why here!

Eliminate distractions:

Find a quiet space and eliminate distractions such as phones or social media to help you focus. If you find you are interrupted by people walking in and out of your writing space, clearly define your writing time and let them know you when you will once again be available.

Set a routine:

Establishing a regular writing routine can help train your brain to be more creative at specific times. Some writers rely on a pre-writing ritual that helps to clear their minds and put them in the right headspace to imagine the next plot twist. I like to make tea while listening to music that fits the scene I’ll be working on. YouTube has innumerable choices of background noise videos that help set the right mood, too.

Use prompts:

Sometimes a good writing prompt is all you need to do to get those creative juices flowing. Pick a photo, a phrase, something in the news, or something you overheard to get you started. Knowing this is just a one off, fun writing assignment, you can allow yourself to breath and enjoy the writing process once again.

Seek feedback:

All writers like to hear good reviews! Sharing your work-in-progress with others can provide fresh perspectives, constructive criticism, and even a whole lot of confidence that you can use like a sledgehammer to break through that writers block.

Remember, writer’s block is a common challenge, and different techniques work for different people. So, try a few different ideas and see what works best for you!

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/

Thank you for reading this Chanticleer Writer’s Toolbox article.

Helpful links!
August 15, 2024
Excited to SHARE these FREE and 99 Cents Books from Chanticleer OVERALL Grand Prize Winners

Hi and Happy Weekend from Kiffer Brown

I am excited to share with you two great books – Chanticleer Overall Grand Prize Winners – that are on special at BookBub and Amazon for the next several days! Be sure to add these to your To – Read digital library!

FORTUNE’S CHILD, A Novel of Empress Theodora by James Conroyd Martin

James Conroyd Martin brings to life one woman we should all know better in his multi-award-winning, epic novel, Fortune’s Child: A Novel of Empress Theodora.

Like Cleopatra, Empress Theodora was a legend in her own time. And also, like Queen Cleopatra before her, Empress Theodora’s life and accomplishments were distorted and maligned by the male historians of her own time. Even after death, men who couldn’t bear or couldn’t believe that a woman, particularly a woman of the lower classes as Theodora was, could possibly have accomplished the things she did or wield the power she had. Chanticleer Reviews

If you didn’t get the BookBub link, here are links where you may download this exceptional historical fiction for free through August 17th, 2024.

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ8T1G1

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07YQ8T1G1

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YQ8T1G1

Amazon AU: https://tinyurl.com/2uvw9udw

Don’t delay! Download your copy today for your To Read Library!

ALSO, here is another fantastic offer showcasing on BookBub another Chanticleer Overall Grand Prize Winner – a Mystery!

The Only Witness by Pamela Beason

Can a gorilla identify a criminal? Neema is a “signing” gorilla that is part of an animal communication project (think KoKo). She is also the only witness to a crime.

A missing baby. A teenage mother suspected of murder. A jaded detective whose reputation is on the line. A signing gorilla destined for the auction block. A scientist who is about to lose everything. Will the revelation that a gorilla is the only witness to the crime save or doom everyone involved?

I, personally, am a big fan of the “Neema” series! It is a marvel of storytelling and a riveting mystery. Read Chanticleer’s review here.

If you did not receive the BookBub email for the 99 cent sale of The Only Witness, you can download it to your To – Be Read digital library with the link below for 99 cents until August 21, 2024!

We are passionate about helping readers discover great reads and new authors!

If your Chanticleer Award Winning Book is featured in a book promotion for free or 99 cents, we’d love to share it! Email us with the related links to Info@ChantiReviews.com with Book Special in the Subject line.

If you are interested in the Chanticleer International Book Awards program, please click here.

August 15, 2024
The 2024 CYGNUS Awards Short List 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 Long List to the SHORT LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2024 Cygnus Semi-Finalists List. 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 SEMI-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
- David T. Isaak – Tomorrowville
- D. L. Wilburn Jr. – The God Protocol: Judgment
- Jeremy Clift – Born in Space: Unlocking Destiny
- C.P. Schaefer – Western Lights
- 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
- Zach Fortier – Volk’s Bane
- I.D. Marie – The Tyrant’s Daughter
- Jayson Adams – Ares
- A. R. Black – No Man’s Land
- Nina Munteanu – Thalweg
- Jude Berman – The Die
- John Be Lane – The Future Lies
- Aaron Arsenault – The Climate Diaries: Book One: The Academy
- Russell Klyford – Emergent Mars
- Liz Cummings – Down the Rabbit Hole
- Michael A. Richards – FounderLand
- 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!
August 15, 2024
The 2024 Ozma Long List for Fantasy Fiction!
The Ozma Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Magic, Steampunk and Fantasy Fiction. The Ozma Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

Chanticleer International Book Awards discovers the best books in the Ozma Awards featuring magic, the supernatural, imaginary worlds, fantastical creatures, legendary beasts, mythical beings, or inventions of fancy that author imaginations dream up without a basis in science as we know it. Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Dragons, Unicorns, Steampunk, Dieselpunk, Gaslight Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, or other out-of-this-world fiction. 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 in the first look rounds from all 2024 OZMA Fantasy Fiction entries to the 2024 Ozma Book Awards LONG LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2024 Ozma Short List. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalists positions. FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, 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 SHORT LIST of the 2024 Ozma Book Awards novel competition for Fantasy Fiction!
- K.N. Salustro – A Whisper from the Edge of the World
- J.V. Rutz – The Illusion Killer and the Phantom Magician
- Susannah Dawn – Search for the Armor of God
- Chloé A.H. Lewis – The Covenant Of Saints
- Helen Garraway – Sentinals Banished
- James McKenna – An October’s Journey: Poe’s Final Gift
- Roxana Arama – The Exiled Queen: A Roman Era Historical Fantasy
- Elana Gomel – Nine Levels
- Steve Stine – I, Enoch
- Anton Anderson – The Seekers: Kirin
- Jenn Lees – Of High Kings and Mages: Arlan’s Pledge Book Three
- Curt Locklear – Treasure and Murder In Ireland
- Shami Stovall – Time-Marked Warlock
- Marieke Lexmond – The Queen of Fairy, The Madigan Chronicles #6
- Jody Norman – New Trails
- Charles Allen – A Graveyard of Ships
- John Middleton – The Navel of the World
- Rhett C. Bruno and Jaime Castle – An Unexpected Hero
- Mary K. Savarese – The StarWriters Club
- Lynne Shaner – Journey to Everland Bay
- A.S. Norris – The Hunted Mage: The Adventures of Jack Wartnose
- Glen Dahlgren – The Realm of Gods
- David V Mammina – Death or Volentus: Macabre Masquerade (Book 2)
- David V Mammina – Death or Volentus
- Kolton Fitz-Gerald – Leon Sharp: The Scourge of Night
- Kolton Fitz-Gerald – Leon Sharp: The Tides of War
- Alan B. Gibson – Summer Storm (Magic at Myers Beach, Book 2)
- Zakary Bennett – Spirits of Leuun Shadows of the Chimera Vol 1
- J.A. Nielsen – The Winter Heir (Fractured Kingdoms, Book 2)
- Susan Wands – High Priestess an Empress, Book Two, Arcana Oracle Series
- R. M. Krogman – Liberation
- James Malone – The Song of Theodore-Return to Rainbow Gardens
- Omayra Velez – The General’s Gift
- J.M. Durham – Silla’s Awakening
- Ross Hightower – Spirit Light Volume 1
- Ross Hightower & Deb Heim – Desulti
- Mark Stanley – Elven Blood: Volume 1 of the Vellhor Saga
- Erin Lark Maples – A Circle of Stars
- Evette Davis – The Others
- M.D. House – Crossroads of Awakening Memory
- Ryan Schuette – A Seat for the Rabble
- Rae St. Clair Bridgman – Fish & Sphinx
- Rebecca Warner – Journey of Souls
- Luminescence Goh – Chronicles of the Enchanted Vanguard Seraphina and the Divine Mandate
- Rae St. Clair Bridgman – The Serpent’s Spell
- S.G. Blaise – Proud Pada
- Logan D. Irons – Oaths of Blood
- Joseph P Macolino – The Battle for Erathal
- Prue Batten – The Red Thread
- Joy Ross Davis – The Goddess of Weaver Street
- S.G. Blaise – Meddling Mages
- W.B.J. Williams – Johnny Talon and the Goddess of Love and War
- T.E. MacArthur – A Place of Fog and Murder
- Shami Stovall – Academy Arcanist
- J.A. Nielsen – The Claiming
- C.V. Vobh – The Yawning Gap
- David Scidmore – Aylun
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 Ozma Grand Prize Winner and Overall Grand Prize Winner

A Vengeful Realm

By Tim Facciola

Click here to see the full list of 2023 OZMA Book Award Winners for Fantasy Fiction.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2025 OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy 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!
August 14, 2024
THE FROG-EYED GOSPEL: A Texas Exodus by Leslie DeBrock – Historical Fiction, 1960s, Coming of Age

In his debut novel The Frog-Eyed Gospel: A Texas Exodus, Leslie DeBrock weaves together the inspiring yet complex stories of a diverse cast of characters, all making their way through a tense Texas summer in 1965.

Peter Loucas is the boy at the center of this story, a senior in high school bent on going to college and becoming the newest preacher in the Bible belt. His faith in God is passionate and strong — until his father is killed in an oilfield accident. In his grief, Pete finds himself suddenly questioning the teachings to which he had given himself blindly for years.

The setting of the story couldn’t be more poised for conflict: Sabine Gap, a small town with religious intimidation and racism everywhere you look. The Vietnam war rages and veterans flock home traumatized. Supporters and protestors clash nationwide. The residents of Tin Cup —Sabine Gap, a small town replete with religious and racial rigidity. While protests roil the nation, veterans return, some walking; some not.

As Pete begins to question his faith, he finds his world suddenly colliding with others.

He works the summer at a wax plant, falls in love, and sees new sides of Sabine Gap. Witnessing firsthand the atrocities that Black Americans face gives him insight into the racist foundation of his town. And as Pete continues his journey to redefine himself and his beliefs, he is pressured by the threat of being drafted if he doesn’t attend college.

This novel offers a look into the violence of the 1960’s. DeBrock does not shy away from hard truths of the times yet captures bittersweet moments in pockets of tragedy.

Any reader who has escaped a stifling hometown can relate to Pete’s development as he learns the life he was born into is not one he can live with.

The end of Pete’s journey not only captures the changes and traumas that he has gone through with emotional maturity and development, but also through a drastic change in setting.

Fans of historical fiction, literary fiction, and suspense will find their favorite genres swirled together as DeBrock walks them through a tale of questioning the society around you. Pete may still be uncertain of his place in an open-minded world, but he knows that his own transformation is inevitable.

The Frog-Eyed Gospel: A Texas Exodus captures the difficult journey of carving your own path in an intolerant town. DeBrock’s vivid and passionate characters seem like they’ve stepped right out of 1965 Texas, and each one brings perspectives that enlighten and inspire.

August 14, 2024
The 2024 Chatelaine Spotlight for Romance Fiction!
End the Summer with a little Romance

The Chatelaine Award submissions close at the End of August!

Just like the many objects hanging from a Chatelaine, Romance Fiction can have many different types and we’re excited to see what 2024 brings us! Here’s the Categories-
- Contemporary Romance
- Historical Romance
- Adventure & Suspense
- Romantic Steamy/Sensual (Not Erotic)
- Inspirational/Restorative/Clean
Romance Fiction doesn’t have just one type. Modern Day to History, Adventurous or not, Steamy or Clean, we love it all!

You know what fits most of our Categories? The Mummy. Modern movie, Historical setting, Plenty of Action, yet the Romantic elements are on the clean side.

While other Divisions also have Romantic inclined categories (Paranormal, M&M, Rossetti, Laramie and Hemingway all have categories for Romance) you can never go wrong with a plain and simple Love story. Or maybe you like a little drama in your books.

Historical Romance seems to be a rather popular category now, in both the books we see and wider in the book market. This year’s Grand Prize for Chatelaine is a Historical Romance! Taking place in the 1600’s in England, Colonial America and the Caribbean, it fits firmly into the Historical genre.

The SKEPTICAL PHYSICK (The Stockbridge Series, Book 2)
By Gail Avery Halverson

In the second in a series by author Halverson, an aristocratic, intellectually curious young woman has fallen in love with a young physician, a commoner whose radical experimentations have jeopardized his reputation. The couple is just recovering from the professional and personal rigors of dealing with London’s plague victims when the city is overwhelmed by fire. Their services are needed now more than ever.

Supported by mentor hospital administrator Father Hardwicke in his medical endeavors, Simon McKensie is finally on the verge of marrying the woman he adores, Catherine Abbott. Even the wealthy, protective Aunt Viola has come to terms with the fact that, though she might not approve the match on social grounds, she sees that Catherine will be happy with Simon.

Read more here!

Did you know? Gail Halverson’s book A Sea of Glass won the 2023 Chatelaine Grand Prize! The review is to come!

EDGED In PURPLE
By John W. Feist

Edged in Purple by John W. Feist welcomes readers to a place outside of time and space, a liminal space where characters of myth wait to return to their fated stories.

The Fold is a beautiful land, a near-utopia shepherded– literally– by Thetis and Peleus of Greek mythology. They raise the heroine of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, Perdita, after her father had accused her mother of betraying him with another, the whole sad story a product of his own paranoia.

Perdita’s story is proceeding as it was written. She has already met Florizel, the man who should be the hero of her romance– when her story is intersected by another. Just as The Winter’s Tale features royal courts, doomed relationships, mistaken identities, and family murder, so too does an ancient Greek drama: the Oresteia of Aeschylus, the story of Agamemnon after the Trojan War.

Read more here!

SUMMER STORM: Magic at Myers Beach Book 2
By Alan B. Gibson

In Summer Storm, the second book of Alan B. Gibson’s Magic at Myers Beach series, local business owner Greta the Witch has a chance at fame, fortune, and fairytale love—if she can keep it all from being stolen first.

Picking up cleanly after Summer Thunder (Book 1 in the series), this story opens with Greta worrying about her social life. Her best friend Lily has left on an extended honeymoon with her husband Theos the King. Fortunately, her acquaintance, Julie, moves back to town, and while they soon develop a close friendship, things get awkward when she learns that Julia received a massive financial gift from Lily and Theos, and she was left with nothing.

Greta can at least focus on her business, the Witch’s Cauldron, and being the star of a reality show that’s planning to film her daily life. And when Greta meets a mysterious and charming man—Zsombor, or “Dos” to his friends—she finds herself rocketed to a level of stardom she couldn’t have imagined. She attends an opening gala for the renovated Fairy Kingdom tea house, and after a mixture of disastrous and fabulous public appearances she becomes Myers Beach’s rising influencer star.

Read more here!

LOVING BETH
By Bonnie Rose Ward

In Loving Beth, a Christian historical romance by Bonnie Rose Ward, a young woman finds herself in dire straits when her widowed mother dies unexpectedly.

Beth’s father had taken out loans to improve their property, but he was killed in the Civil War, leaving his wife and daughter to struggle to keep up with the payments. Now, Beth is alone without any means to keep her home—finding and taking in two young, abandoned children certainly doesn’t help. But even amidst her troubles, Beth’s thoughts keep going back to the mysterious and handsome stranger who found and brought home the body of her mother.

Life is not easy in her tiny settlement in West Virginia, and young, pretty Beth finds that it is not about to get any easier. The new banker holds a grudge toward her for having rejected his advances, and the man’s snobbish wife is determined to make Beth’s life even more miserable. The loans that Beth and her mother worked to pay each month are suddenly due in full— but the banker’s unwanted and ugly advances are foiled with the appearance of the mysterious stranger.

Read more here!

Thank you for celebrating this great romance reads with us!

The Chatelaine Awards are open until the end of July!

Submit to the Chatelaine Awards today!
August 13, 2024
SUMMER STORM: Magic at Myers Beach Book 2 by Alan B. Gibson – Urban Fantasy, Romance, Fairies

In Summer Storm, the second book of Alan B. Gibson’s Magic at Myers Beach series, local business owner Greta the Witch has a chance at fame, fortune, and fairytale love—if she can keep it all from being stolen first.

Picking up cleanly after Summer Thunder (Book 1 in the series), this story opens with Greta worrying about her social life. Her best friend Lily has left on an extended honeymoon with her husband Theos the King. Fortunately, her acquaintance, Julie, moves back to town, and while they soon develop a close friendship, things get awkward when she learns that Julia received a massive financial gift from Lily and Theos, and she was left with nothing.

Greta can at least focus on her business, the Witch’s Cauldron, and being the star of a reality show that’s planning to film her daily life. And when Greta meets a mysterious and charming man—Zsombor, or “Dos” to his friends—she finds herself rocketed to a level of stardom she couldn’t have imagined. She attends an opening gala for the renovated Fairy Kingdom tea house, and after a mixture of disastrous and fabulous public appearances she becomes Myers Beach’s rising influencer star.

Summer Storm paints a cheeky but emotionally resonant portrait of stardom in the modern, fickle internet age.

Greta’s sudden fame brings incredible business success and access to a world of fashion, connections, and glamor that dazzles her. But the internet audience constantly demands more posts and more of Greta’s witchy brand. She relies on Julie for her social media expertise, especially as the adoration of fans threatens to overwhelm her.

Fame is a double-edged sword. And while Greta indulges in so many adoring eyes, that fame distances her from the people she truly wants to connect with. Her online persona dominates her presence among professional peers, and with all the time that her media presence takes to maintain, Greta falters in some of the most important relationships in her real life—most worryingly, her growing romance with the otherworldly Dos.

When a major scandal break over Greta’s head, she faces an even darker side to notoriety. An accusation of murder, no matter how quickly proven false, staggers Greta’s image and sets her up for a much more focused, malevolent force.

Greta meets unique, fantastical characters along her journey—friend and foe alike.

Dos, despite his strangeness, proves himself capable of the seemingly impossible, as he charms Greta by connecting with the soul of the woods, bringing magic to her singing performances at a local retirement home, and even helping her fund her charity.

Greta befriends the similarly magical Alias, who proves to be much more than the handsome beach bum she first imagines him to be. He and Dos maintain a sense of mystique and unpredictability, all while showing Greta a world of wonders and good fortune—before she even learns that they’re actually fairies.

With yet more characters like the gossip star Rona Divine, skateboard prodigy Christophe, and of course the multi-talented Julie, Summer Storm fills its setting with a vibrant and exciting cast.

But as Greta’s good fortune starts to turn, and the cruel sorceress Zsa Zsa Hajdu intrudes on her life, she struggles to hold onto her important connections.

Greta’s idyllic adventure of romance and fame begins to unravel. Zsa Zsa wields great and terrible influence in both her personal and public worlds, and by the time Greta realizes the danger she’s up against, the true witch might be impossible to stop.

Greta turns to her friends in the tug-of-war for Dos’s heart, but she’ll need to embrace her own strengths and authentic passions to stand up against supernatural danger.

Readers will love Greta for her drive and fears alike.

She becomes caught in the difficult questions of what truly matters to her in life, and what she’s willing to do or give up for it. Her layered, realistic personality plays well off when matched with Dos’s fantastical attitude, creating a romance that feels genuinely transformative for both characters.

Ending with a sharp cliffhanger, Summer Storm will set readers up eagerly for the next installment of the series, Summer Lightning, with conflicts of the fairy kingdoms stepping into the spotlight.

August 12, 2024
The Gertrude Warner Middle Grade Fiction Awards Round Up for the 2023 First Place Winners!

The Gertrude Warner Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Middle Grade Fiction. The Grand Prize Winner, Rae Knightly’s book, EXOSTAR will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Gertrude Warner contest page year ’round!

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

The 2023 Gertrude Warner 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 Gertrude Warner Winners!

Alex Paul – The Amarrat Invasion

The Amarrat army continues its march across the northern land route to attack Lanth. But Arken Freeth has been critically wounded by his encounter with a deadly Tant and may not survive to lead the Nanders to war. Meanwhile, the Amarrat armada is crossing the Circle Sea to rendezvous with their army at the River Zash.

Zuul, the Amarrat king has equipped Yolanta, king of the Tookans, with a fleet of twenty fighting ships, and he is leading the Amarrat armada across the Circle Sea. Yet Yolanta is plagued by doubts about his loyalty to Zuul after he invaded Yolanta’s mind.

Lanth is frantically preparing to defend itself as Arken’s friend, Asher, sails to the Nander Water Cave. He is accompanied by his mother, the Queen of Tolaria, who plans to read the Necklace of Tol in hopes of divining a strategy to defeat the Amarrats.

The collision of these forces is inevitable. But who will win the battle at sea against the Amarrat Armada?

Find it on Amazon

Chris Norbury – Little Mountain, Big Trouble

LITTLE MOUNTAIN, BIG TROUBLE is an inspirational story about a young boy with a big dream and the courage to chase that dream no matter the obstacles.

Twelve-year-old EJ is a short, unpopular, shy, self-described loser. He lives with his mother and younger brother on the wrong side of town and spends every other weekend with his hard-to-please, deadbeat father. Because surviving school and his home life are challenging enough, EJ’s the last kid you’d expect to dream of someday climbing Mount Everest …

… until he’s matched with a volunteer Big Brother. Russ is the opposite of EJ in almost every way. Despite their differences, they bond over helping EJ achieve his mountain-climbing dream. Their first goal is to hike to Minnesota’s highest point, Eagle Mountain.

But when a ferocious thunderstorm strikes in the middle of their trek, EJ and Russ are plunged into a life-or-death crisis. Fighting his loser self-image with every step toward safety, EJ learns that standing tall has nothing to do with height and everything to do with determination, heart, and courage.

Find it Locally or on Amazon

Liese Sherwood-Fabre – Wilhemina Quigley: Magic School Dropout

Family wields the greatest magic.

A missing father. A mother bewitched. Wilhelmina must use her unpredictable magic to catch whoever—or whatever—is stalking her parents. Will her powers be enough to restore her family?

When Wilhelmina accidentally sets her remedial magic class on fire, she is sent to live in the ordinary world with a mother she barely knows. Her adjustment gets off to a very rocky start. She has sudden, unexplainable bursts of magic—mostly while navigating the middle-school minefield—and her mother’s behaving like she’s under some spell. Despite her handicapped magic, Wilhelmina vows to get to the bottom of it all—even if she could vanish without a trace just like her father.

“Wilhelmina Quigley: Magic School Dropout” is a fish-out-of-water story with touches of mystery, fantasy, and humor. A witty tale of enchantment.

Find it Locally or on Amazon

Kevin Dunn – Vicious is My Middle Name

With a partially-shaved head, purple Doc Marten boots, and the sinking realization that no one in a fifty-mile radius has ever heard of her favorite all-female punk band Lite Brite, 13-year-old Sydney Vicious Talcott wants to be anywhere but her new home of Beaver Dam, NC, especially when mean girl Brittany Winters treats her like the punch-line to every joke. But just as life begins to seem more tolerable with her two new book-nerd friends and a growing appreciation for the beauty of the Appalachian mountains, Sydney discovers that a shady corporation is planning to build an environmentally-damaging asphalt plant right next to the school. Her attempts to work through the system to stop the plant’s construction fail, so it’s up to Sydney to fight the corporation and their political lackeys the only way she can, using the do-it-yourself tools she has learned from punk rock. But before she can triumph, Sydney, her family, and friends must endure bullying, harassment, immigration raids, and more.

Find it Locally or on Amazon

Alisse Lee Goldenberg and Joseph Goldenberg – Lucky At Bat

Lucky At Bat follows the story of a young boy named Jack and his two rescue rats-Lucky and Gus-Gus. When Jack discovers that Lucky has a talent for baseball, the little rat becomes the mascot and secret batting coach for Jack’s Little League team. Unfortunately, a rival team considers Lucky’s presence “cheating,” and tensions rise, resulting in a terrible accident. Lucky and Jack wonder if maybe a ballpark is no place for a rat.

Now it’s up to Jack’s teammates and Gus-Gus to show both Lucky and Jack that they are special and important, and they should not give up on their dreams, no matter how big those dreams may be.

From Chanticleer:

Alisse Lee and Joseph Goldenberg, a mother and son team, knock their new middle-grade novel, Lucky at Bat, out of the park.

This story follows ten-year-old Jack and his pet rats. Baseball is a major theme, and with Joseph as illustrator, Lucky and Gus Gus come to life. Their mutual friendship and support raise them up against the forces that would try to bring them down.

When Gus Gus and Lucky arrive in Jack’s life, he is thrilled to have pets and wants to share his life and passions with them. One of those passions is baseball, and Lucky finds something appealing about the game. When Jack’s little league team begins playing, he invites both his pets, but only Lucky goes.

When the team meets Lucky, they make him their mascot, and turn around their losing record.

Read More Here

Find it Locally or on Amazon

Ben Gartner – One Giant Leap

I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.

Blast off with the four winners of the StellarKid Project on a trip to the International Space Station and then to the Gateway outpost orbiting the Moon! It’s a dream come true until space junk collides with the ISS, turning their epic trip into a nightmare of survival. Alone aboard the Aether starship, the kids have to work as a team to save the adults before the ISS is destroyed. Suit up, cadet, and launch into adventure with One Giant Leap!

Find it Locally or on Amazon

Sue C Dugan – SOS

Thirteen-year-old Brandon, Amy, and their family are on a cruise to Bermuda when hurricane-force winds sink their ship. Brandon and Amy escape into a life raft. Brandon needs to use his wits to keep himself and his sister safe until they are rescued by The City of Benares—an evacuee ship with children fleeing from the Germans during WWII. They seem to have gone back in time!

Although their situation is confusing and seems like a dream, not all is terrible when Brandon meets the beautiful Eleanor, who is going to New York to escape the London bombings. They can’t comprehend why they have gone back in time. The atmosphere on the ship is fun, even though the threat of the German torpedos is real. When the ship is sunk by a torpedo, Brandon, Amy, and Eleanor escape and are rescued by the Titanic. They remember what happened with the iceberg and know they must leave and plan their escape. They leave the Titanic to be rescued by the SS Austria—a wooden ship from the 1800s—where the passengers view them suspiciously. When the Austria burns and sinks, they are adrift until they find land, spot a small plane taking off from the jungle, and know they’ve discovered a way home.

Find it Locally or on Amazon

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

Watch for our Spotlight and Hall of Fame Articles that will feature incredible books, including Rae Knightly’s amazing EXOSTAR!.

Your book can join the Tiers of Achievement, but only if you submit to the Gertrude Warner Awards!

Got a great Middle Grade Book?

The 2024 Gertrude Warner Book Awards are open through the end of August!

Submit to the Gertrude Warner Awards Today!

August 11, 2024
ISLAND MOON by Ruth Amanda – Picture Books, Animal Stories, Children’s Mystery & Wonder Books

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.

While describing all the animals active during nighttime, the narrator sees a tired sea turtle coming ashore to lay eggs. The moon blesses the creature, calling in the tide to aid the exhausted turtle back home to the sea. The songs of the night birds and the rays of the moon’s light follow the narrator back to bed and into their dreams.

The rhyming of the poem and illustrations are truly beautiful. In a few short lines and pages, you are transported to a tranquil night on the island of Barbados.

Many readers will find comfort in the perfectly captured quiet peacefulness of night. Ruth Amanda herself calls the island of Barbados home and draws inspiration for her writing every day, even carrying around a notebook for when an idea strikes.

The lively illustrations are also by Ruth Amanda, and her creativity shines throughout them.

Readers will see all the active nighttime animals going about lives, from the curious green lizards climbing on the window blinds to the tired sea turtle coming ashore to lay her eggs.

At the end of the story, Ruth includes a fact sheet about Barbados and the animals from the story, giving context to the story and teaching readers about her home island.

Whether it is read as a bedtime story or on a lazy afternoon, young and old alike will adore Ruth Amanda’s Island Moon.

August 9, 2024