Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: kbrown

  • Popular Tips to Get and Keep Your Writing Groove On – NaNoWriMo or Not – Chanticleer Writer’s Toolbox Series

    IF you are participating in NaNoWriMo, you are getting close to the FINISH LINE! Stay the Course as you try to achieve the 50,000 words goal.

     

     If you are NOT participating in NaNoWriMo, then we hope that this post will spur you on as write your work-in-progress (w-i-p) or your next work.

    RULE # 1

    WRITE FAST!  EDIT SLOW! 

    Don’t edit your first draft as you write it!

    Writing your first draft should be a mad dash to get your story out of your brain. Don’t hinder it by worrying about each little detail. There will be time for that later. NaNoWriMo or not.

    Not taking our word for that piece of advice?

    Chelsea Cain, a bestselling thriller author (with a TV series to her credit),  gives this piece of advice:

    Write the bare-bones version of the scene first using mostly dialogue, and then move on and in the second draft flesh out the scenes with description and action.

    “Action is dialogue. Dialogue is action.” – Robert Dugoni, Amazon Bestselling Author

    What is YOUR STORY?

    Story is essentially a problem that needs solving for the protagonist. – Jessica Morrell

    • What is your protagonist’s problem that must be solved—or else?
    • What is the worst thing that can happen next to your protagonist?
    • Remember that it is not your problem. It is your protagonist’s problem, obstacle, impossible dream.
    • Start at least one subplot. This subplot(s) should also complicate the protagonist’s goals.

    No matter when the problem begins (it’s always in Act One) the problem is weighty and vexing, perhaps insurmountable. If the problem is not immediately personal, it should become so that it will create a bond (connection) between the protagonist and antagonist. Classic examples are the connection between Sherlock Holmes and Jim Moriarty and Harry Potter and Voldemort. 

    What is the inciting event or threat? 

    The inciting incident might lead to the problem. This event will disrupt the status quo, demand response, and set actions in motion. It’s a threat that unbalances the story world and creates dilemmas that must be dealt with.

    To name a few:

    • The tornado incident in the Wizard of OZ
    • Katniss’s little sister selected for the Hunger Games
    • Luke Skywalker ‘seeing’ and hearing Princess Leia calling for help in Star Wars
     These excerpts above are from The Inciting Incident blogpost

    Environment (internal and external)

    These are great tips to get your creativity groove on!

    • Remember you want to send your protagonist into new emotional territory with new challenges and pressures.
    • And at the same time, she will need to deal with new physical territories such as a new school (Footloose) or a different culture (Dances with Wolves) or a different legal society with different norms (Handmaid’s Tale) or a new environment (Deadwood)  or a different time ( Outlander) or galaxy (Farscape).
    • Don’t be afraid to stage danger in benign or lovely settings or conversely gentle scenes in dangerous and gruesome settings.

    Kiffer’s Note:  I just saw this bucolic scene while watching The Wheel of Time first episode. All white coats and white tents. And then, bam! We learn that the guys in white are not the “good guys” —at all—even if their name is Children of the Light.

    Bucolic looking camp scene in Wheel of Time inhabited by these characters all in white.

    Atmosphere

    • Allow the overall atmosphere and mood to imbue your writing from the get-go.
    • The atmosphere lends itself to the overall tone and mood of a work. Allow it to permeate your work as you write.

    The atmosphere in Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo

    Or Sex in the City by Carrie Bradshaw

    Why use atmosphere in your first draft? (or during NaNoWriMo)? 

      • Because it will affect your mood and approach to your story.
      • It will make you focus on creating unease–a necessary ingredient not always considered in early drafts.
      • Unease contributes to writing a page-turner.
      • Atmosphere underlines themes–even if you don’t have your themes nailed down yet.

    Here is the link to our Writer’s Toolbox article on Atmosphere

    Emotional Baggage

    • Know your protagonist’s main emotional wound, sometimes called baggage in real life. How is it going to affect his or her ability to solve the story problem? (See the questions below to jumpstart creativity.)

    Remember that Writers (that is you) should carry a notebook everywhere you go. You never know when a brilliant solution is going to appear. Jessica Morrell

      If I could offer a single piece of advice about creating characters it would be this (Jessica Morrell):

      • Take risks with your main characters.
      • Make them stand out from the myriads of fiction published each year.
      • And don’t be afraid to allow eccentricities, quirks, and oddball ways of seeing reality.

      More questions for your protagonist from Jessica Morrell—these are guaranteed to get your creative wheels turning:

      First, ask yourself these questions and then “ask” your protagonist. Have your protagonist go into depth. Find out what your protagonist’s iceberg under the waterline is all about.

      Photo taken in Greenland’s waters.

      Kiffer suggests that you take a walk when you are considering these questions. Be sure to either take notes or record your thoughts on your smartphone while you explore your protagonist’s emotional baggage. Walk a mile in your protagonist’s shoes. 

      • What’s the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
      • What is your biggest regret?
      • What is your superpower?
      • Who do you cherish most in the world?
      • If you could change one thing about your world, what would it be?
      • What is your average day or schedule?
      • What 5-6 words sum up your values?
      • What do you do after a really bad day?
      • How do you celebrate?
      • The secret you’d never tell your significant other? Your mother? Your sibling?
      • What reminds you of home?
      • What item must you always take along when traveling?
      • Favorite drink?
      • Secret vice?
      • Pizza or tacos? Cookies or tequila?
      • Favorite climate?
      • Reading or television to unwind?
      • Breakfast or coffee only?

      We hope that we helping you, Dear Writer, to arm and prep yourself to get down to the writing of your next work—the reckoning.

       

       

      Ernest Hemingway:  There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.

      Stay tuned for more NaNoWriMo Tips // Jump Start Your Novel Tips

       

      Chanticleer Editorial Services – 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://www.chantireviews.com/manuscript-reviews/

      Writer’s Toolbox

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

      Writers Toolbox Helpful Links: 

      The INCITING INCIDENT: STORY, SETBACKS and SURPRISES for the PROTAGONIST – A Writer’s Toolbox Series from Jessica Morrell’s Editor’s Desk

      ESSENCE of CHARACTERS – Part One – From the Jessica Morrell’s Editor’s Desk – Writer’s Toolbox Series  

      Keep writing, keep dreaming, have heart. Jessica

      Jessica Morrell is a top-tier developmental editor and a contributor to Chanticleer Reviews Media and to the Writer’s Digest magazine. She teaches Master Writing Craft Classes at the Chanticleer Authors Conference that is held annually along with teaching at Chanticleer writing workshops that are held throughout the year. 

       

      Keep creating magic! Kiffer 

      Kathryn (Kiffer) Brown is CEO and co-founder of Chanticleer Reviews and Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards (The CIBAs) that Discover Today’s Best Books. She founded Chanticleer Reviews in 2010 to help authors to unlock the secrets of successful publishing and to enhance book discoverability. She is also a scout for select literary agencies, publishing houses, and entertainment producers.

       

      The Secret to Successful Publishing

    • The 2021 MYSTERY & MAYHEM Short List Book Awards for Cozy and Not-So-Cozy Mysteries

      The 2021 MYSTERY & MAYHEM Short List Book Awards for Cozy and Not-So-Cozy Mysteries

      Cozy Mystery Fiction Award

      The M&M Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the Cozy and Not-So-Cozy Mystery & Mayhem fiction genre.  The M&M Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

      Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring “mystery and mayhem,” amateur sleuthing, light suspense, travel mystery, classic mystery, British cozy, not-so-cozy, hobby sleuths, senior sleuths, or historical mystery, perhaps with a touch of romance or humor, we will put them to the test and choose the best among them. (For suspense, thriller, detective, crime fiction see our Clue Awards, and for international intrigue see our Global Thriller Awards)

      These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2021 M&M Cozy and Not-So-Cozy entries  to the 2021 M&M Book Awards SHORT LIST. These entries are now in competition for 2021 M&M Semi-Finalists. The Semi-Finalists will compete for the Finalists positions. FINALISTS will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC22).

      The First Place Category Winners, along with the CIBA Division Grand Prize winners, will be selected from the 24 CIBA divisions’ Finalists.

      We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, June 25th, 2022 at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash. sponsored by the 2022 Chanticleer Authors Conference–whether virtual, hybrid, or in-person. 

      These titles are in the running for the SEMI-FINALS of the 2021 M&M Book Awards novel competition for Cozy and Not-So-Cozy Mysteries!

      Congratulations to the Mystery & Mayhem 2021 Short Listers!

      Short Listed for the 2021 CIBAs

      Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!

      • Andrew Hunkins – Evil Alive     
      • Michael Scott Garvin – Ophelia’s Room     
      • J.W. Zarek – The Devil Pulls the Strings    
      • Codi Schneider – Cold Snap: A Viking Cat Mystery
      • Vicki Batman – Temporarily Out of Luck   
      • Lori Roberts Herbst – Double Exposure  
      • Mally Becker – The Turncoat’s Widow  
      • Tina deBellegarde – Winter Witness    
      • Alexander Mukte – The Recruiter    
      • Traci Andrighetti – Marsala Maroon   
      • B.L. Smith – Bert Mintenko and the Serious Business  
      • B.L. Smith – The Irritating Misadventures of Bert Mintenko    
      • Patricia Catacalos – Lurking in the Darkness (1832 Regency Book 4)   
      • Arlene McFarlane – Murder, Curlers & Kilts  
      • Eileen Charbonneau – Death at Little Mound  
      • Elizabeth Crowens – Babs and Basil, and the Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles    
      • Debbie De Louise – No Gravestone Unturned    
      • Mary Gehlen Seifert – Titanic Trial    
      • Charlotte Stuart – Who Me? Fog Bows, Fraud and Aphrodite 
      • Jolie Tunnell – Loveda Brown Sings the Blues      
      • Patrick M. Garry – Through the Waves a Steady Path    
      • Lori Robbins – Murder In First Position     
      • Tony Kelsey – Once A Man Indulges     
      • Patricia C. Lee – First Gear : a Sadie Hawkins Mystery   
      • Cam Lang – The Concrete Vineyard   
      • Chuck Morgan – Crime Unknown, A Buck Taylor Novel    
      • Susan McCormick – The Fog Ladies: Family Matters   
      • Diane Weiner – An Ear for Murder   
      • Darryl Wimberley – A Star in her Crown   
      • Kelly Miller – Accusing Mr. Darcy   
      • Phil Bayly – Loving Lucy   

      PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS! 

      This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the FB post. However, for FB to allow us to tag an author, that author must LIKE our page and Follow Chanticleer Reviews. FB rules — not ours.

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

      Additionally, we also post on Twitter. Chanticleer Twitter’s handle is @ChantiReviews

      Or click here to go directly to Chanticleer’s Twitter feed.

      Good luck to all as your works move on the next rounds of judging.

      Click here to see the 2020 M&M Book Award Winners for Cozy and Not-So-Cozy Mysteries.

      The M&M Book Awards for Mystery & Mayhem

      for Cozy and Not-So-Cozy Mysteries 2020

      Grand Prize Winner is

      Blue and gold Grand Prize Winner Badge for M & M Mystery and Mayhem The Discovery by Patrick M. Garry

      THE DISCOVERY by Patrick M. Garry

      Cover of The Discovery by Patrick M. Garry

      We are now accepting submissions into the 2022 M&M Awards writing competition.

      Please click here for more information.

      Winners will be announced at the 2021 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2022 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

      VIRTUAL and IN-Person –  June 23 – 26, 2022! Register Today!

      FLEXIBLE REGISTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE for these challenging times.

      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 10th annual conference and discover why!

      Featuring: International Best Selling Authors: Cathy Ace and  Robert Dugoni along with A+ list film producer Scott Steindorff.

    • Update from Kiffer Brown at Chanticleer Reviews

      Update from Kiffer Brown at Chanticleer Reviews

      Hi! I don’t quite know where to start.

      And for those who know me know that it is rare when I’m at a loss for words. Hey! No comments from the peanut gallery.

      If you want to know where the term Peanut Gallery comes from scroll down to the end of this article. Love the Muppets!

      I have a lot of good news to share with you!

      As the 2020 Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards Blue Ribbon Winners are aware of, the shipping of the coveted blue ribbons was delayed due to our supplier’s shortage of labor and materials because of the Covid effects on businesses. The owner contacted us to tell us that they are running behind. As with many small companies, they have found themselves short-handed and the staff they have are working longer days and weekends and are working around the clock to fill their custom ribbon orders.

      We, like the Blue Ribbon Winners, were anxiously awaiting the beautiful handmade custom Chanticleer Blue Ribbons to be ready for pickup  from our local pacific northwest supplier. It is a woman-owned company and they have created our beautiful ribbons since we began awarding them more than a decade ago. It is  a great local company in a very niche market!

      Hand made here in the PNW!

      FINALLY, we got the call! The handmade ribbons (all 206 of them from the Shorts winners to the Overall Grand Prize winner for Best Book) were ready to pickup last Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 5th. We got into Sharon’s mini-van and made the drive to Blaine, Wash. to pick them up. The ribbons were counted, sorted, and inspected back at our office in Bellingham by David and Hayley. By the end of the business week, the packing process had begun. Each and every CIBA ribbon is mailed, tracked, and insured by U.S. Post Priority Mail. It is quite the process.

      So, YAY! Because we are busy with judging rounds for the 2021 CIBAs that will be awarded at CAC 22! And now finally get to award the 2020 CIBAs. It  is about time! Right? Right! All we can do is just keep moving forward.

      I  want to thank each and everyone on the 2020 CIBA winners for their patience and understanding in these continuing challenging times. It is appreciated and valued more than you know by Team Chanticleer as we head into the 20th month of of the Covid pandemic. Here at Chanticleer, we learned new technologies while working remotely, learned how to use new computer applications, and are trying to work in a very deadline oriented industry. Heck, we are even receiving entries now into the 2022 CIBAs that will be awarded in 2023. It is great to be busier than ever especially in these crazy unprecedented times.

      Moving on. But, I am not complaining Universe, but it is my experience is that things tend to clump.

      The same day that we got the anxiously awaited call to pick up the ribbons, I, of course, also received the email from our local printer that the sixth issue of the Chanticleer Reviews magazine copies were ready to pickup. The magazine was delayed because of the printer’s mechanism for stitching the pages together was broken. The owner said he had no idea when they would receive the parts needed to fix it. However, he could have it printed if we switched to a “perfect bound” magazine. I said, “Sure!” But, of course, (yes, using that term again!), it wasn’t that simple. The gutters, margins, spine design, and spacing had to be reworked in InDesign. So, we pivoted and reworked the layout. Our printer printed the pages but had to have another printer do the binding. Seven weeks later than scheduled, we have the magazine in hand.

      The silver lining is that we really do like the perfect bound look even if it costs more. We love the new look! However, it does mean that we need to add twenty more pages to future issues. Below is a screen shot of the cover featuring the awesome author Ann Charles! I’ll do another post on the magazine and how you can get your copy—print or e-zine.

      Next, there is the new perch for the Roost, a community for Chanticleer Authors to connect with each other. This one is much more interactive and way easier to use than the previous perch (ahem, application). We so appreciate each and every Chanticleer that supported us during the trial run and helped to get the new Roost up and running (two weeks ago). Did I mention clumping? 

      The new Roost can be accessed on your mobile phone, on tablets, laptops, and desk computers. AND all the videos from the VCAC 20 and VCAC 21 recordings of the live sessions are available at the new perch. We started the BETA Roost the summer of 2019. Trying out different things. Seeing how things work. Kicking the tires, so to speak. Argus Brown (the rooster who makes all the tech stuff happen at Chanticleer) was researching systems, writing code, and doing all of the other mysterious digital stuff that he does so that we could have an online community. Many Chanticleerians had requested the need for one. They want to keep the conversations going after gathering at conferences and book events.

      The plan was to debut the Roost at CAC 20, but then Covid struck and the world changed. We were all trying to adjust, trying to pivot, trying to figure what we needed to do. Sharon and I are were hoping that by July 2020, we could host the Chanticleer Authors Conference in real life (IRL). Then, we thought perhaps Labor Day weekend in September. Alas, this was not to be with the rising Covid numbers.

      In late July, we decided that we would need to have the conference virtually and award the 2019 CIBA winners. September 8th, 2020 was determined to be the starting date since we knew no one would want to spend Labor Day weekend zooming. The learning of Zooming, Audio, recording, coordinating with presenters across multiple time zones commenced. VCAC 20 was deemed a great success with Robert Dugoni, Scott Steindorff, J.D. Barker, Paul Cutsinger, head of ALEXA (yes, that Alexa), and other stellar presenters and the wonderful interactive Chanticleerians participating and connecting. It was even written up in The WRITER magazine as one of the best virtual conferences to have attended in 2020.

      Back to the Roost. So, we moved the debut of the Roost to CAC 21. Certainly, we could have CAC 21 in April IRL (In Real Life). Alas, alas, it wasn’t to be. So, we pivoted again. Cathy Ace, international bestselling crime writer,  was our featured presenter for VCAC 21. And she was outstanding! We have all the recordings of VCAC21 available to view on The Roost.

      The Roost

      Back to the Roost! Our Roost Team kept trying to find a new and easier platform that will facilitate connection and interaction between members so that we all can learn from each other. And we did! It took a while and a lot of testing, but we all agreed on the new platform that is now hosting The Roost! We have Topics, Events, Interests, Groups, and Workshops on Writing Craft, Marketing Tips, Author Events, and Happy Hours and Coffee Klatches. There are even  Write-Ins! Because every writer needs a place to perch!

      We will post another article on The Roost soon! We’ve got Chanticleer Blue Ribbons to package and mail!

      By the way, October 31st CIBA Submission Deadlines are for the OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction, the Paranormal Book Awards for Supernatural Fiction, and the Global Thriller Book Awards for High Stakes Thrillers.

      More news to come. There is a lot more to share! Save the Dates for CAC 22 – our 10th conference! April 7 – 10, 2022.

      Keep on Creating! Kiffer 

      As promised – the origins of the term Peanut Gallery – from Wikipedia –

      A peanut gallery was, in the days of vaudeville, a nickname for the cheapest and ostensibly rowdiest seats in the theater, the occupants of which were often known to heckle the performers.[1] The least expensive snack served at the theatre would often be peanuts, which the patrons would sometimes throw at the performers on stage to convey their disapproval. Phrases such as “no comments from the peanut gallery” or “quiet in the peanut gallery” are extensions of the name.

       

    • Making Your Story Narrator Irresistible | 2-hour Online Class with Steve Almond for Laurel Leigh

      Making Your Story Narrator Irresistible | 2-hour Online Class with Steve Almond for Laurel Leigh

      How to Create an Irresistible Narrator – Taught by Steve Almond

      Many a short story, essay, novel, and memoir have gone unpublished because the author fails to create a strong narrator, one who can act as a wise and entertaining guide to the reader. In this class, you will  examine the work of Sylvia Plath, Jane Austen, Alicia Erian, Joan Didion, and others in an effort to make sure your next narrator isn’t just strong, but irresistible. 

      Steve will upend what you thought you knew about narrators and make you reconsider how you go about creating characters on the page.

      The fiercely amazing writer Steve Almond (Candyfreak, God Bless America) has been  teaching writers for a long time, including at Seattle’s Hugo House and Portland’s Tin House Summer Writer’s Workshop.

      Steve Almond, author of ten books of fiction and non-fiction, including the New York Times bestsellers “Candyfreak” and  “Against Football.”

      Now he is teaching an online class to support one of our own, Laurel Leigh, to help her cover her medical and other basic expenses.

      The class Steve will be offering for this project is: How to Create an Irresistible Narrator

      Laurel Leigh has supported her community of friends and writers across the country for decades. She has always had time to give advice, send a cheerful message, share a heartfelt hello. She has mentored new writers and aspiring authors. She has let wordsmiths borrow her confidence until they found their own. Now it’s time for us to step up and support her.

      Laurel Leigh – mentor for writers, editor, and builder of writer communities.

      Laurel Leigh Needs Our Help

      Recently, our wonderful friend and mentor Laurel Leigh got devastating news from her doctors: She has advanced-stage lung cancer.

      She’s never smoked. Nobody knows exactly when or why she developed lung cancer, but she did.

      Laurel is self-employed and has not been able to work full-time since starting treatment last month. By the time it was discovered, her cancer was inoperable, and part of her right lung is collapsed around the main tumor. She is undergoing simultaneous chemo and radiation therapy. To make matters worse, she cannot tolerate some of the medications used to lessen the treatment side effects. Her health insurance is covering only a part of the treatment costs, and as a freelancer she does not have paid time off or short-term disability coverage.

       

      The only way to get a seat at Steve Almond’s exclusive class on narration is to donate $75 or more, using this link, with “Steve Almond” mentioned  in the Comments  section on Laurel Leigh’s GoFundMe webpage. The Zoom invitation will be sent via GoFundMe’s Thank You email.

       

      If you are not taking the online class, please consider making a contribution to help Laurel cover her medical and other basic expenses. It doesn’t have to be much. Even a small amount will reduce the pressure on her in this difficult time. You may contribute here. 

       

      Note from Kiffer:  I first met Laurel Leigh while she was supporting local authors at Village Books in Fairhaven at an event. She is considered to be a founder of the Bellingham writers’ community. Many of us remember her from Open Mic with Laurel Leigh at Whatcom Talks  and Village Books where she encouraged published and unpublished authors. She is a gracious and talented word-crafter who is generous with her knowledge and experience. 

       

      Please join Sean Dwyer, Cami Ostman, Paul Hanson, and myself along with Sabine Sloley, Dawn Groves, Selah Tay-Song, and others of the writing community who have joined forces to help Laurel fight the good fight. Please feel free to contact any of us if you have any questions or want to know how you can help Laurel. 

       

      Here’s to Laurel’s full and speedy recovery! – Kiffer and Andrew Brown 

       

      This class on narration is suitable for all levels of writers.

      When: Wednesday,  September 22, 2021 from 5 – 7 p.m. PDT (8 – 10 p.m. Eastern Time)

      Where: Online via Zoom

      COST:  A donation of $75 or more to the GoFundMe campaign of the amazing Laurel Leigh to help cover illness-associated expenses. Make sure to add the words “Steve Almond” as a comment. Steve has graciously offered to teach this two-hour online class with proceeds going to the Laurel Leigh GoFundMe campaign.

      Click here to enroll in the online class or to make a donation to benefit Laurel Leigh Erdoiza GoFundMe.com project.
      I cannot oversell this opportunity work with my colleague Steve Almond. He is a writer. He teaches writing at a level unequaled. In particular his lectures on the narrator are excellent. You will be grateful to work with him. Claudette Sutherland. 

    • The 2021 Chanticleer Authors Conference, the 2020 CIBA Announcements, and an Update – by Kiffer Brown

      Happy Spring to our Northern Hemisphere Chanticleerians!

      Happy Autumn to our Southern Hemisphere Chanticleerians!

      What a crazy and challenging past year it has been! We are certainly looking forward to warmer and longer days here in the Pacific Northwest!

      Spring here brings tidings of the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC)!

      But, alas, this spring CAC will be VCAC once again due to Covid.

      However, we have an exciting line-up of ACE Presenters for VCAC 21.

      The VCAC 21 Sessions will be LIVE and INTERACTIVE! 

      Learn from the Best at VCAC 21! 

      VCAC21 laurel wreathThe Virtual Chanticleer Authors Conference will take place April 21 – 24, 2021 via ZOOM webinar.

      VCAC will feature bestselling international crime and mystery author Cathy Ace.

      VCAC 21 and the 2020 CIBA Finalists Announcements will be broadcasted over ZOOM live from the Hotel Bellwether’s Admiral’s Room. Please scroll down for more information.

      WEDNESDAY, April 21, 2021 (you may register for these separately from VCAC or combine) Registration is Required for the Master Class and the Workshop.

      • 9:10 a.m. until noon — Book Distribution/Production WORKSHOP by Paul Hanson, Village Books
        • How to get Your Books on Independent Booksellers Shelves across North America – The WHY, WHAT, and HOW with Paul Hanson, Village Books
      • 1 – 4:30 p.m. — Master Writing Class with Jessica Morrell
        • Story People: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly as taught by Jessica P. Morrell

      We’ll discuss the many roles for your story people from protagonist to minor characters, and delineate their impact on the plots and protagonist. However, we’ll also cover the outliers in fiction and the chaos, conflict, zest, and realism they add to your story world. To further expand our discussion we’ll also cover immersive, intimate viewpoint and narrative distance. Please bring your favorite imaginary folks to the workshop.

      Click here to Register for Jessica’s always in demand Master Writing Class.

      Click here to learn how to navigate getting your books on the shelves of Indie Bookstores with Paul Hanson, Village Books. 

      You may register for one or both of these without registering for VCAC21.

      Click here to Register for VCAC 21 and check out Jessica’s always in demand Master Class and Paul’s workshop on how to get into national distribution to Indie Bookshops.

      April 22, 23, & 24 Sessions  – 9:10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. PST.

      VCAC21 Registration is Required for Attendance

      The next three days, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, will offer the VCAC Sessions. These sessions will be held one at a time through out the day. These one hour-long sessions will be LIVE and Interactive with Q & A periods and discussion.

      The day sessions will include Cathy Ace, crime and mystery author sharing her writing craft and marketing tips along with other stellar presenters.

      Learn from the Best at VCAC21!

      Click here for more information about VCAC 21 Faculty.

      Click here for the VCAC 21 Schedule. 

      Click here to register for VCAC 21

      The 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards Announcements

      The 2020 CIBAs FINALISTS

      We will announce the titles and authors whose works advanced from the 2020 CIBA Semi-Finalists position to the Premier Finalists Level starting at 6 p.m. on April 22, 23, & 24 according to the following schedule:

      Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 6 p.m. PST  

      • CYGNUS – Science Fiction
      • Paranormal – Supernatural Fiction
      • OZMA – Fantasy Fiction
      • Mystery & Mayhem – Cozy and Not-So-Cozy Mysteries
      • CLUE – Suspense & Thriller
      • Global Thrillers – High Stakes and Lab Lit
      • Dante Rossetti – Young Adult Fiction

      Click here to Register to Attend this 2020 CIBA Finalists Announcement Event. A confirmation will be sent you from ZOOM for this Chanticleer CIBA  Event held on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 6 p.m.

      Friday, April 23, 2021 at 6 p.m. PST

      • Laramie – Americana & Western Fiction
      • Goethe – Post 1750s Historical Fiction
      • Chaucer – Pre 1750s Historical Fiction
      • Chatelaine – Romantic Fiction
      • Mark Twain – Satire, Allegory, and Humor Fiction
      • Somerset – Literary and Contemporary Fiction
      • Gertrude Warner – Middle-Grade Readers

      Click here to Register to Attend this 2020 CIBA Finalists Announcement Event. A confirmation will be sent you from ZOOM for this Chanticleer CIBA  Event held on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 6 p.m.

      Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 6 p.m. PST – Non-Fiction Divisions

      • Hearten Book Awards – Uplifting, Humorous, Inspirational
      • Harvey Chute – Business, Enterprise, and Finance
      • Mind and Spirit Book Awards
      • Nellie Bly – Investigative and Long Form Journalism
      • Instruction & Insight Book Awards – How – To and Guides, Cookbooks
      • Journey Book Awards – Memoir, Survival and Trauma accounts
      • Little Peeps –  Early Readers and Picture Books

      Click here to Register to Attend this held on Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 6 p.m.2020.  A confirmation will be sent you from ZOOM for this Chanticleer CIBA  Event.

      The 2020 CIBA Finalists announcements will be on FACEBOOK LIVE and on ZOOM webinars. Attendance is Free but Registration is Required for Each Day that you want to attend. 

      2020 CIBA 1st Place and Grand Prize Winners

      and the

      2020 Winners of the SHORTS and FICTION SERIES

      The 2020 CIBA First Place and Grand Prize Winners along with the SHORTS and FICTION Series Winners will be announced on June 5, 2021 at the HYBRID CIBA Ceremony and Dinner.

      The CIBA Ceremonies will be ZOOMED LIVE and on FaceBook LIVE Events.

      Attendance is FREE, but Registration is Required. All VCAC registered attendees will automatically be registered and will be sent the ZOOM Link.

      We will broadcast via ZOOM and FaceBook LIVE the 2020 CIBA WINNERS Announcements from the Hotel Bellwether on JUNE 5, 2021 starting at 3 p.m. PST

      After VCAC 21 and the FINALISTS announcements, we post the link on how to register for this FREE Event. The link and registration from will be posted by May 1, 2021.

      After the announcements, we will host a HYBRID VIRTUAL/LIVE Happy Hour for the virtual and in-person attendees at the Hotel Bellwether.

      Because our  Chanticleer Team and Local Chanticleer Authors will be vaccinated, we are having  small  dinner event to  celebrate VCAC21 and the 2020 CIBA Winners.

      It will be our first gathering since the initial Shelter-In-Place orders of early March 2020. And we are EXCITED. If you have been fully vaccinated and live within driving distance or want to fly in, we invite you to join us for an evening of camaraderie and celebration. If you would like more information about attending and participating, please email KBrown@ChantiReviews.com

      SAVE the DATE for CAC 22

      We have

      2022 Chanticleer Authors Conference

      and the

      2021 CIBA Book Awards Gala & Banquet

      Scheduled for April 7 – 10, 2022

      at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash.

       

    • The 2020 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards for Middle Grade Fiction – the Semi-Finalists, 2020 CIBAs

      The 2020 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards for Middle Grade Fiction – the Semi-Finalists, 2020 CIBAs

      Gertrude Warner Children's Chapter Books

      The GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of middle-grade readers, fiction and non-fiction, that compel children to read and explore. The Gertrude Warner Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs).

      Named in honor of the author of the quintessential children’s series – The Boxcar Children, Gertrude Warner.

       

      Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring stories of all shapes and sizes written to an audience between the ages of about eight to twelve. Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, Historical, Adventure we will put them to the test and choose the best Middle-Grade Books among them. (For Young Adult Fiction see our Dante Rossetti Awards, for Children’s Literature see our Little Peeps Awards.)

      These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from the 2020 Chatelaine Book Awards LONG LIST to the 2020 SHORT LIST and now have progressed to the 2020 Semi-finalists. 

      These titles have reached the Semi-Finalists for the 2020 Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle-Grade Fiction

      • Catherine Grangaard – A Fairy’s Tails
      • Poem Schway – The Infinity Pendant
      • Ruthy Ballard – Frankie and the Gift of Fantasy
      • Laura Gerhardt Schonberg – Joker
      • Ben Gartner – The Eye of Ra
      • Gregory Saur – Best Shot Forward
      • Wendy Leighton-Porter – The Shadow of the Witchfinder
      • Ian C Douglas – The Particle Beast
      • Carolina Ugaz-Moran – Aline and the Blue Bottle
      • Jay Spenser – The Barn Owl Mystery
      • Jay Spenser –The Phantom Airplane Mystery
      • Tricia L McDonald – The Sally Squad: Pals to the Rescue
      • Carmela Dutra – Little Katie and the STEAM Team
      • Carmela Dutra – Little Katie Goes to the Moon
      • John Middleton – Dillion and The Skeleton Hall
      • William X. Adams – Alien Body
      • Catherine M. O’Connor – Throwing the World
      • Alison Rice – Chasing Snow
      • Frank Saraco – Life in the Grand Pause
      • Richard Groseclose – Henry Castlewaite and the Portrait of Doom
      • Kelly Oliver – Kassy O’Roarke, Cub Reporter

      These titles are in the running for the Finalists of the 2020 Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle Grade Fiction. 

      The 2020 CIBA FINALISTS will be announced at VCAC 21, April 22 – 24, 2021.

      Which of these works will move forward in the judging rounds for the 2020 Gertrude Warner Book Awards for Middle-Grade Readers?

      Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

      The Semi-Finalists’ works will compete for the First Place Winner positions, and then all will be recognized in the evenings at VCAC21 April 22-24th from 6-8 p.m. PST.

      The First Place Category Winners, along with the CIBA Division Grand Prize winners, will be selected from the 23 CIBA divisions Finalists. We will announce the 1st Place Category Winners and Grand Prize Division Winners the CIBAs Ceremonies June 5th, 2021 virtually (Free) and LIVE at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash.

      VCAC21 laurel wreath
      Register today!

      We are now accepting submissions into the 2021 Gertrude Warner Awards Book Awards. The deadline for submissions is June 30th, 2021. The winners will be announced in April 2022.

      Please click here for more information.

      Don’t Delay! Enter Today! 

      As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions at Info@ChantiReviews.com.

       

    • The 2020 DANTE ROSSETTI Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction – the Semi-Finalists for the Rossetti Book Awards Division of the 2020 CIBAs

      The 2020 DANTE ROSSETTI Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction – the Semi-Finalists for the Rossetti Book Awards Division of the 2020 CIBAs

      Dante Rossetti Awards for YA Fiction

      The Dante Rossetti Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Young Adult Fiction. The Dante Rossetti Book Awards is a genre division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (#CIBAs).

      Named in honor of the British poet & painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti who founded the Pre-Ralphaelite Brotherhood in 1848.

      Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring stories of all shapes and sizes written to an audience between the ages of about twelve to eighteen (imaginary or real). Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, Mystery, Paranormal, Historical, Romance, Literary, we will put them to the test to discover the best. (For Middle Grade Fiction see our Gertrude Warner Awards, and for Children’s Literature see our Little Peeps Awards.)

      These titles are in the running for the Finalists of the 2020 Dante Rossetti Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction. 

      • Michelle Rene – The Canyon Cathedral: The Witches of Tanglewood, Book Two
      • Strider S. R. Klusman – Within Reach
      • Sue C Dugan – Suppressed
      • B. L. Smith – The Fall of the Axe
      • Liana Gardner – Speak No Evil
      • Sara Hosey – Iphigenia Murphy
      • Susanne Dunlap – The Paris Affair
      • Susan Wingate – How the Deer Moon Hungers
      • Felicia Farber – Ice Queen
      • PJ Devlin – The Chamber — A Wissahickon Monsters Story
      • Dallas Woodburn – The Best Week That Never Happened
      • Kelly Vincent – Finding Frances
      • Chynna Laird – Just Shut Up and Drive
      • L.L. Eadie – Yearning for the Unattainable
      • Jodi Lea Stewart – Blackberry Road
      • Denis Olasehinde Akinmolasire – The Mission to End Slavery
      • Tory Gates – Searching for Roy Buchanan
      • Cris Harding – Red Wing
      • Brooke Skipstone – Someone To Kiss My Scars

      Good Luck to All as your works compete for the FINALIST rounds of the CIBAs!

      We will announce the Finalists of the 2020 CIBA divisions April 22, 23, & 24, 2021.

      The 22 divisions of the 2020 CIBAs’ Grand Prize Winners and the Five First Place Category Position award winners will be announced at the April 25th, 2021 Chanticleer International Book Awards Annual Awards Gala, which takes place at the Chanticleer Authors Conference that will be held in virtually Bellingham, Wash. 

        The Semi-Finalists’ works will compete for the First Place Winner positions, and then all will be recognized in the evenings at VCAC21 April 22-24th from 6-8 p.m. PST.

        The First Place Category Winners, along with the CIBA Division Grand Prize winners, will be selected from the 23 CIBA divisions Finalists. We will announce the 1st Place Category Winners and Grand Prize Division Winners the CIBAs Ceremonies June 5th, 2021 virtually (Free) and LIVE at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash.

        VCAC21 laurel wreath
        Register today!

         

        We are now accepting entries into the 2021 Dante Rossetti Book Awards for YA Fiction. 

        As always, please contact us at Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com with any questions, concerns, or suggestions!

         

      • WORLD RADIO DAY – In All ITS CONTENT FORMS – Audiobooks, Podcasts, and Communications

        WORLD RADIO DAY – In All ITS CONTENT FORMS – Audiobooks, Podcasts, and Communications

        We invite you, Dear Chanticleerians, as authors, writers, and publishers, to join us in celebrating the

        10th annual World Radio Day on February 13, 2021.

        World Radio Day is celebrated across the planet!

        UNESCO proclaimed that February 13, 2011 will be known as World Radio Day. The United Nations General Assembly adopted this year as an International Day as we celebrate 110 years of radio.

        With the advent of voice-driven technologies in the publishing of content, radio is pivotal for authors to connect with readers either by podcasts, audiobooks, call-in live shows, and to extend marketing reach.

        Accessible anywhere and anytime, radio reaches a broad audience. It presents itself as an arena where all voices can be expressed, represented, and heard – hence why radio is still the most consumed medium worldwide today. 

        United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

        According to UNESCO, radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse.

        One of the most widely consumed medium at the global level, radio has the ability to reach out to the widest audience, in the process having the ability to shape a society’s experience of diversity and providing a platform for everyone to be represented and heard.

        This year’s theme is New World, New Radio – an ode to the resilience of radio.

        Radio continuously adapts and innovates as technologies and needs change.

        When the world changes, radio connects. 

        The 3 themes of World Radio Day 2021:

        • EVOLUTION. The world changes, radio evolves.
          This sub-theme refers to the resilience of the radio, to its sustainability ;
        • INNOVATION. The world changes, radio adapts and innovate.
          Radio has had to adapt to new technologies to remain the go-to medium of mobility, accessible everywhere and to everyone;
        • CONNECTION. The world changes, radio connects.
          This sub-theme highlights radio’s services to our society—natural disasters, socio-economic crises, epidemics, etc.

        Radio gives people from all walks of life an unprecedented opportunity to tell their stories to a global audience.

        What could be more relevant today than staying connected by sharing stories while we self-isolate and social distance?

        Come connect with Senior Hindenburg Trainers and storytellers worldwide virtually on our next free hands-on audio record, editing, and publishing  training and webinars.

        To celebrate WORLD RADIO DAY, our favorite and world’s best radio editing software for audiobooks and podcasts, Hindenburg Systems, is having a ONCE-A-YEAR SALE for ONE DAY ONLY! 

        HINDENBURG 24-HOUR SALE! 

        • AUDIOBOOK Creator – ACX Validation ensure high quality results
        • Podcasting Software
        • MP3 Audiobooks
        • Free Webinars and Support with Step by Step video tutorials
        • Audio Production and Broadcasting Support

        And Hindenburg Systems is also offering FREE ONLINE WEBINARS in Creating Audiobooks and Producing Podcasts to celebrate WORLD RADIO DAY! 

        At Hindenburg, it is all about the story!

        ALSO, Hindy is donating 10% of all income from World Radio Day to CULTURAL SURVIVAL organization

        Cultural Survival distributes rights-based radio content to more than 1,650 community radio stations across 69 countries and 130+ Indigenous languages.

        “There are 476.6 million Indigenous people, belonging to 5,000 different groups, in 90 countries, speaking 4,000 languages.

        Cultural Survival works toward a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples’ inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance. – Cultural Survival.org

        We invite you to check out the Cultural Survival website to learn more about its vital mission.

        MEANWHILE, check out the 40% off on all of their products for ONE DAY ONLY.

        https://hindenburg.com/news/2021/world-radio-day-2021?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Big+Discounts+On+World+Radio+Day%21&utm_campaign=%5BWRD+2021%5D+Newsletter

        As a subscriber, you know that it rare that we ever promote products and services on our marketing blog, but this is a Once a Year event and we know that many Chanticleerians are using Hindenburg Systems to create audiobooks and podcasts on a budget.

        Also, we want to pass on these savings and access to the Hindenburg webinars on to you because we know how important it is for authors to have their works in as many content forms as possible.

        Happy WORLD RADIO DAY!

        Kiffer Brown

      • GIFT CARDS are Experiencing Unprecedented Sales – AUTHORS, are YOUR Selling Platforms Ready? – Kiffer Brown

        GIFT CARDS are Experiencing Unprecedented Sales – AUTHORS, are YOUR Selling Platforms Ready? – Kiffer Brown

        Tis the SEASON for HOLIDAY GIFT CARDS – REDEMPTIONS for ONLINE and BRICK & MORTAR STORES

        Perhaps you are thinking, “But Kiffer, it is December 27th! Isn’t it too late to do anything about this holiday season?”

        And, I would have to reply, “No, it isn’t dear Chanticleerian. It is is just in the nick of time because of GIFT CARDS!”

        And I think that is why this fellow is named Ol’ Saint Nick—not for Nicholas but for JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME! 

        What is the Market Size of GIFT CARDS?

        • AMAZON has almost 60% of the market share. Walmart comes in next at 15%.  *Of course, we hope that many people purchased gift cards from their local independent bookstores and local community stores.

        And we know who the biggest bookseller on this planet is—digital or print! —Amazon.

        • The Global Gift Card market size was valued at 619.25 billion USD in 2019. It is much higher this year. See *
        • The USA Gift Card market size was estimated to be 160 billion USD in 2018. It is projected to be approximately 400 billion dollars in 2020.

        COVID-19 will bring healthy holiday web sales for Gift Cards and e-Gift Cards.*

        Software provider Salesforce.com Inc. says holiday sales in the U.S. will rise 34% year over year for the 2020 season. That’s a major jump from the estimated 13.6% growth in November and December 2019.

        2020 News

        Amazon announced plans to hire 100,000 seasonal workers for its fulfillment center on top of the 75,000 it hired in April and the 100,000 it brought on in September. Meanwhile, FedEx is hiring 75,000 seasonal employees for this holiday season, an increase of 27% over 2019. And, Walmart Inc. (No. 3) hired 20,000 seasonal workers this holiday season after hiring more than 500,000 workers since the beginning of COVID-19. DigitalCommerce360.com

        What are the Top Driving Factors of Sales Growth of Gift Cards?

        • The Pandemic Fuels Gift Card Sales – Gift Card Sales were up by 50% by September 2020.*
        • The High Adoption Rate of Smartphones

        Gift cards have become more innovative with rapid evolution of smart phones. Use of modern technology and marketing strategies has created different ways for gift card lovers and smartphone users to integrate everything into one convenient package. Rise in adoption of smart phones is expected to boost the gift cards market by offering flexible & convenient ways of payment for customers. Allied Market Research

        The first annual National Use Your Gift Card Day is Saturday, January 18, 2021—an extra prompt for consumers to use their gift cards to buy something they didn’t get for the holidays, take advantage of post-holiday sales or to treat themselves.

        • Gift cards topped all other potential presents, including jewelry, clothing, books, movies, music, electronics and sporting goods. National Retail Federation report. 
        • Gift cards are the most popular items on wish lists — 14 years straight.
        • The majority of recipients of these GIFT CARDS do not begin shopping with them until late December at the earliest! 
        • Gift Cards have extended the Holiday Buying Season all the way through the month of January into the end of February. 

        INCREASING ONLINE BOOK SALES

        When was the last time that you checked out your Amazon, Kobo, B&N, Bookchain, Smashwords, etc. page(s)? 

        Visit your Selling Platform Pages and Tidy Them and Add some SPARKLE! 

        • Most importantly, do you have the latest cover of your title uploaded?
          • I see this all the time, the author sends me her latest cover (because as you know, I am all about the cover!) but then for some reason fails to upload the dazzling new cover to the title’s selling pages on the different platforms.
        • Update your selling pages with the latest tweaks to the title’s description. Is the description as compelling as it can possibly be? Amp it up! 
          • Make sure that every word of your book’s introduction/marketing blurb (that first paragraph that comes after the title and to the right of the cover) is effective—especially the first ten introductory words. These first ten words are “crawled” by the online sales platform’s search engine whenever a reader does “a search.” If it is a series or you are planning to make the work a series, then be sure to conclude the book’s marketing blurb with this information.
        • Have you listed the title’s latest awards and kudos near the end of the description to seal the deal?
        • Have you updated the reviews in the Editorial Reviews section? Add new ones and author blurbs (recommendations) in the Editorial Reviews section.
          • Sixty-one percent of customers read Editorial Reviews before making an online purchase (Harvard Business Review)
          • Editorial/Trade Reviews set the tone for Customer Reviews – which is (from what I hear) quantity is more important that than quality (number of stars). 100 customer reviews tend to be the magical number.
        • The Editorial Reviews section is where blurbs of reviews from Chanticleer, Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly should be posted along with VIP Author Blurbs.
        • Or to that matter, do you have anything in the Editorial Reviews section? If not, you are missing some SEO goodness. In fact, each of Chanticleer Reviews come with a turbo-charged SEO package and Meta-Data built in to help your book’s digital footprint populate the internet.
        • If your books are available in other languages besides English, list the languages in this section.
        • Is it time to liven up your author bio? Does it reflect the latest YOU? Does it make the reader want to meet you (like at your next book event?) as someone who he/she would enjoy meeting at a cocktail party?
          • Make sure that your photo resonates with readers’ expectations. A great example of this is Diana Gabaldon’s Amazon photo; it is one of her standing in front of the Stonehenge monument with a timeless black shawl wrapped around her. The Stonehenge background hints at the historical/fantastical nature of her works and the opening of her series.

        Author Photos

          • Take a close look at your Author Central photo. If it doesn’t move your author brand forward, take a look through your photographs for one that does. It doesn’t have to be a photo taken by a professional photographer. It does have to have a layering effect and convey your author branding/personality. If you have a photograph that does convey elements of your author branding and is taken by a professional photographer, then that is even better. Here is an example of a professionally taken author photograph that exudes the author’s branding as a post-apocalyptic fiction writer. Notice that the setting and outfit exude the dystopian aspects of his Deserted Lands series:Robert Slater author of ALL IS SILENCE
        • In your Author Information section, list any other published works that are related to this particular selling page–especially if you have series or multiple titles in the related genre.
        • While you are on the title’s selling pages, double-check that all the different formats that your title is available on in any given platform are available and ready for sale!
          • Print? e-pub? combo — purchase a print book and receive the digital e-pub version for a discount or for free? (Amazon used to call this package “matchstick” )
        • Make sure that the links to purchase books from your website work and do not go off into cyberspace.
        • Test your “Look Inside” feature on Amazon and make sure that it works and that it isn’t just opening to the Table of Contents or the front matter of the book.
        • Double-check your pricing on each selling platform that the title is available for sale on. Really. 

        OVERALL

        Make sure that your information is up-to-date, fresh and relevant!

        Like a well-written book plot,  make sure that each piece of information on your title’s selling platform moves your book and author branding forward and into the hands and minds of eager book buyers? 

        Handy Amazon Links

        Holiday Book Buying Online

        BUT WAIT, WE LOVE LOVE LOVE Independent Booksellers!

        So make sure that you help them sell your books! Win-Win!

        Make sure that YOUR BOOKS get some of that Gift Card LOVE!

        Quick and Easy Tips to Get Your Books Ready for the Biggest Book Buying Season of the Year

        Here is a Handy Checklist for Brick and Mortar Stores Where Your Books Are for Sale.

        Help Your Booksellers Sell Your Books! 

        These Point of Sale items can make a huge difference in book sales!

        Shelf talkers are proven to increase book sales!
        • It seems obvious, but make sure that wherever you have your books for sale or on consignment have them IN-STOCK. (yes, I am yelling here)
        • NEXT — make sure to promote in social media wherever your books are for sale and TAG the store/shop/bookseller. Be sure to use a photo of the shop and its location.
        • Promote your book’s cover and genre and tag the merchant again on social media.
        • If you can, make sure that your books have book stickers on them for any awards or kudos.
        • Don’t forget SHELF-TALKERS
        Chanticleer Shelf talker
        • If you have a series or other books, does each one of your books have a “bookmark” inside with all of your books listed?
          Does this bookmark have your website and social media handles printed on it? If not, get on it — you can print your own at your local copy shop.
          You can even add an invite to visit your website/blog to win prizes
          In your next printing, make sure that at the end of your book that  you include an invitation to visit your website/blogpost/social media posts for:

          • more information
          • a chance to win free prizes
          • for advance notifications of your next book
          • to have a character named after the reader
          • Book Club Benefits (ZOOM – Virtual Visits and Discussions)
          • You can have these printed off and slip them into the books — they should not be bigger than the book. Remember, this is a surprise for the reader to find and must not add to “clutter” the book.
        Your Books at Indie Booksellers

        If you don’t live close to the booksellers selling your books, see if any of your street team members, family, friends, or other authors (you know, the ones that you are cross-promoting with) if they would stop by the shops in their neighborhoods and help implement the P-O-S plan. Of course, make sure that they utilize all safety and health pandemic protocols. Make sure that they have a letter from you (they can print it out if you email it to them). Have your “street team” introduce themselves to the shop’s staff and explain what is going on.

        We all have to PIVOT, PIVOT, PIVOT in these unprecedented times.

        AND now is a good time to schedule your VIRTUAL Author Events and Book Club Meetings for 2021!

        And add the events to your website and social media platforms.

        Good Manners for Point of Sale Tips

        • Use magic tape (and carry it with you) so that you will not gum up the store’s shelves with shelf-talkers — and you don’t have to ask the staff to take time to look for some for you.
        • If the staff is busy, consider coming back at a later time. The holidays are a “make or break” season for most small brick and mortar stores so you don’t want to impede the staff from making sales and helping customers during this crucial time. [This is a pet peeve with booksellers about authors #justsaying]
        • If your books are “shop-worn” ask about exchanging them out for fresh new books.
        • Offer to help out-of-the-area authors with the books that are for sale in your neighborhood. Connect and reach out!

        REPEAT. RESTOCK. RE-POST. REMIND.
        Remember the GIFT CARD buying season stretches into the end of February.

        Take advantage of this busiest season of the year and help your bookseller sell more of your books.

        Now make sure that some of those  billion dollars on Holiday Gift Cards are used to purchase YOUR BOOKS!


        That would be me, Kiffer Brown–Mother Hen and Head Hen at Chanticleer Reviews.

        Happy Holidays from the Chanticleer Team!

         

      • VETERANS DAY 2020 – Honoring Authors Who Have Served

        VETERANS DAY 2020 – Honoring Authors Who Have Served

        Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good, and to protect our democracy. 

        As an annual tradition here at Chanticleer Reviews on Veterans Day, we are suggesting these titles from among our reviews of authors who are Veterans. 

        But before we recognize these outstanding works, let us take a minute to review these statistics about those who have served our country.

        • 22 veterans, on average, commit suicide every day. The majority (71%) with a firearm. (Stars and Stripes, Mar 5, 2020)
        • The suicide rate of veterans is double that of civilians.
        • The suicide rate for younger veterans (18 -29) is 7 times higher than their civilian peers.
        • The suicide rate among female veterans is 140 percent higher than their civilian peers.
        • No one knows how many military spouses and families members commit suicide.
        • Gulf War – Era veterans now account for the largest share of all U.S. Veterans.
          • In 2017, there were 6.8 million living American veterans who served in the Vietnam Era.
          • In 2017, there were 7.1 million living American veterans who served in the Gulf War Era.
        • It is believed that 45% of all veterans who served in the Gulf War are disabled.

          SOURCES 

          Stars and Stripes, PEW  Research.org (http://pewrsr.ch/2jgY89s), Census.gov, American Community Survey 2017, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, data.census.gov

          HELPFUL LINKS for ASSISTANCE  

          https://www.datahub.va.gov/

          https://www.va.gov/

          Wounded Warrior Project

          Red Badge Project 

          Writing is known to be a “transformative therapy’ for veterans haunted by their experiences. “The Red Badge Project encourages Wounded Warriors to rediscover their personal voice and realize the value of their experiences and emotions.”

          “RBP partners with Vet Centers and allows Veterans of all ages to take advantage of the Red Badge Project’s program while providing a link between veterans of multiple generations.” Here is a link to a Seattle Times article by Nicole Brodeur that was published on November 11, 2019, that is about the Red Badge Project.

          We here at Chanticleer Reviews have had the honor of reviewing top novels and narrative non-fiction written by outstanding authors whose stories enlighten, remind,  empathize, and creates a better understanding with those who have served in the armed forces.

          Outstanding Fiction  — CLICK on the links to read the full reviews and for links to the authors.

          Facing the Dragon by Philip Derrick

          Philip Derrick, Air Force brat and then served in the US Army, and now an award -winning Military Thriller author

          …Derrick takes us through bases and onto transports that finally bring us to the landscape of the Vietnam War, up close and personal. We are with Jim as mines are exploding all around him, as Huey helicopters are blown out of the sky right above his head, as he catches malaria…Derrick shows the daily grind of humping through the jungle, the mind-numbing boredom of waiting for battle, and then the chaos in the very-all-too-real life or death battles…

           

          Jeffrey K Walker   None of Us the Same

          Jeffrey K Walker, served 20 years as an Air Force officer as a navigator and is now a law professor along with being an award-winning author working on his First World War Trilogy. He and his wife love to travel. He writes a fascinating and relevant blog. https://jeffreykwalker.com/blog/

          ..the novel takes us deep into the lives of its characters as they serve in the bloody trenches, convalesce, and try to live normal lives despite the physical and emotional damages they suffered…Their humanness, their frailties confronted by the awfulness of the war, gives the book its special heart…

          Three page-turning thriller novels with unlikely heroes that make for great reads.

          Dog Soldier Moon by McKendree Long

          Dog Soldier Moon by McKendree Long“Long goes far beyond the simplistic notion of the Civil War as told in American history texts to accurately portray the daily challenges faced by homesteading families, freed slaves, American Indians robbed of their ancestral lands, and ex-soldiers who face the disrespect of the Union army. Heart-warming and at times hilarious adventures are juxtaposed with gritty and emotionally wrenching moments such as Custer’s 1868 attack on Chief Black Kettle’s Cheyenne camp at Washita… Author McKendree Long displays a natural gift for storytelling.” Click here to read the full review.

          McKendree R. (Mike) Long III is a former soldier whose awards and decorations include the Parachutist’s Badge, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Silver Star, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (Gold and Silver Stars).

           

          Tarnished Hero by Jim Gilliam

          Tarnished Hero by Jim Gilliam“It is when Kelly accepts an open invitation to spend some time in Guzman’s drug palace in Northern Mexico that his code of “trusting friends first” will force him to face not only the dilemma of a loyalty to be divided between Guzman and Dave Holt, but also of being thrust into a senseless and bloody border war that has more than a few parallels to the Vietnam conflict. As such, Gilliam’s novel stands not only as a complex and intriguing “band of brothers” romp but also as a reflection on the evils of unquestioned authority and corruption.”  Click here to read the full review.

          Jim Gilliam served on active duty with the Coast Guard from January 1957 until June 1966. In June 1978 he joined the Army as an airborne combat physician assistant. May 2001 he joined the Navy’s Military Sealift Command as a civilian mariner physician assistant. He is a veteran of multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

          Measure of Danger by Jay Klages

          “Measure of Danger,” Jay Klages’ debut novel is a page-turning techno-thriller written by a former military intelligence officer and a West Point graduate. Klages experience and expertise is revealed with his believable dialog, details, and operative descriptions. The work features military-trained Kade Sims, and his accountant sidekick, Alex Pace; we can’t wait to read what other dangerous puzzles this unlikely dynamic duo will be called on to solve.

          Jay Klages is a former military intelligence officer and West Point graduate. He attended the MBA program at Arizona State University, where he successfully deprogrammed himself for service in corporate America. He enjoys desert trail running and is particularly good at falling down.

          NON-FICTION

          No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor by GySgt I Christian Busssler USMCR 

          Though now retired from the Marines, GySgt L. Christian Bussler is still active in the veteran community and acts as a mentor for other veterans. A truly magnificent and heartfelt memoir, No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor is a must-read for every American.

          General in Command by Michael M. Van Ness

          Michael M. Van Ness, the grandson of “the general in command,” has created a remarkable biography chronicling the adventures of a farm boy who rose high rank in the US military and served with distinction in two world wars as a combatant, officer, and sage observer…John Benjamin Anderson served in the Mexican War, WWI, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and WWII where he met with Winston Churchill, oversaw the liberation of the Dutch city of Roermond, and served in the Rhineland of Germany.  

          Hillbillies to Heroes by S.L. Kelley 

          Kiffer’s favorite quote from this book:“…it took all of our personal sacrifices to go from war to peace.” Quinton Kelley

          World War II veteran Quinton Kelley recounted his life story to his daughter…Kelley’s tale begins in Coker Creek, Tennessee, where he was raised on an 80-acre farm, in a log cabin that he described as rough, but “brightened” with flowers…The second part of the book shows Kelley leaving Coker Creek for Camp Beale, California, where he became the company carpenter. Assigned to an armored division, the former farm boy showed his worth as the only member of his group who did not need the training to drive a tank…He drove into combat, first in France, then in Germany, as part of an initiative that ultimately saw the end of Hitler’s Third Reich…Kelley did not glorify himself in recounting his war exploits, but vividly described what it’s like to sit in a tank, looking at the action through a tiny window, always in danger of being killed while trapped inside the metal box. There’s not much room, he opined, for mistakes in battle.

           

          Merry Christmas and a Happy PTSD by Christopher Oelerich

          Merry Christmas and a Happy PTSD by Christopher Oelerich, author and Vietnam Veteran

          “A very personal, no-holds-barred yet ultimately empowering discussion of PTSD and its effects on those who suffer from it.” – CBR

          The book has been written in a ‘How To’ format for combat soldiers which is reflected in examples and language.

          “I went away to war one person and came back another, and in my wildest dreams would never have chosen to be the one who came back…I was a twenty-year-old Warrant Officer Helicopter Pilot fresh out of flight school when I arrived in South Vietnam in May of 1969 and was assigned to B Troop 7/17 Air Cav in Pleiku.  I joined the Scout Platoon and spent my entire tour as a Scout Pilot in the Central Highlands, and in that time saw my friends killed, captured, wounded and lose their minds.”

          Standby for Broadcast by Kari Rhyan

           PTSD, Wartime Nursing, Social Issues

          Rhyan served nearly twenty years in the US Navy as a nurse, her final deployment taking place in Afghanistan to a medical unit run by the British where Rhyan upheld her duties to aid others, while inwardly feeling unprotected and helpless. After witnessing the many tragedies of war, primary among them multiple amputations, she comes home scarred in mind. Her trauma becomes so obvious that she is sent to a special private unit.

          Rhyan’s memoir is frank, insightful, and a powerful reminder of the toll taken by those who wrestle with the fallout of the carnage of war. She also reminds us of the resiliency of the human spirit and the power of hope.

          Just a Note from  Kiffer Brown:

          On a personal note, many of my family members have served their country (many of whom have passed) and are serving their country: my father (Marine Corps, deceased), my brother (Army, with us but 100% disabled), my nephew Robert is currently serving in the Air Force,  my dear Aunt Ellen (WWII nurse – she passed away recently), my cousin Billy Wayne (first 100 to die in the USA – Vietnam Conflict), and many other cousins too numerous to mention here.

          My father served in WWII (Atlantic Theater), Korean War, and the Vietnam Conflict. He passed away in 1981 from 100% service related causes. He was 53 years old. His father enlisted him when he was 13 years old. He had just completed sixth grade, but was tall for his age.

          This is my small way of honoring and recognizing my relatives along with other Veterans for their service to our country.

          Thank you for taking the time to read my annual Veterans Day blog post.

          Semper Fi – Kiffer