The Realm of Gods, book three of Glen Dahlgren’s The Chronicles of Chaos series strikes a delicate balance. It has the familiar hallmarks of fantasy: swords and sorcery, daring and disaster. Yet it also subverts expectations, avoiding a too-simple “good versus evil” narrative.
The gods wield phenomenal power, able to make their whims reality, but can be as fickle and foolish as any human. Mortal lives are inextricably intertwined with their gods, for better or worse. Even the “faithless”, who lack direct connections to the gods, are exploited and oppressed by the elaborate religious structures around them.
But there are some humans who imagined a better way, and then fought for it. The Realm of Gods begins in the aftermath of this grand battle.
A rebel group has managed to banish the implacable gods of Order by using the oppositional forces of Chaos. Banishing the gods might have been the right choice, but it cost some lives and left a complicated mess behind. Now, it’s up to the remaining characters to heal the world’s wounds as best they can.
A young girl named Eve emerges as the hero of this story, facing a chain of god-related consequences she accidentally sets off.
This book is fast-moving and action-focused—perfect for holding the attention of its younger target audience.
Dahlgren switches perspectives rapidly, weaving the viewpoints of different characters to move the story forward. A few viewpoints are surprising: even a truly detestable character gets a chance to show things from his perspective. There’s no lack of suspense as we switch from character to character and even world to world, waiting to see how all the pieces fit together.
Sometimes, those pieces come together literally. Dahlgren’s experience as a video game designer shines through in pivotal moments when two main characters, while navigating a complex unfinished temple, must solve puzzles to reach their destination. Following along as they figure it out is almost as satisfying as solving the puzzle yourself.
Author Glen Dahlgren has younger readers in mind, but the complex story he’s woven has lots to love for readers of all ages, and plenty of surprises along the way.
As the last in the series, The Realm of Gods delivers unexpected and compelling turns of fate for several beloved characters.
Dahlgren’s certainly left the possibility of a sequel open. However, in this for-now-final book, he offers closure to the story with a few twists left up his sleeve. The characters seem just as surprised by how things turn out as many readers will be.
Dahlgren also pays off the series’ longstanding questions. The gods are real in this world, but it wasn’t always that way. When two characters explore a magical realm called the Dreaming, they find they can visit scenes from the past, learning how the gods of Order came to life—in a very unexpected way. Just as the gods can be brought into the world, they can also be banished. But are they eternally bound to return, or can this world be rid of them for good?
Multiple storylines meet as a team assembles around Eve, determined to help her enact her solution to the god problem.
A world with too much Order needs the force of Chaos to keep it in check. Eve and her friends will have to go far beyond the boundaries of the known world to find the Chaos they seek, bringing the universe back into balance.
Eve’s plan isn’t perfect. Problems arise and mistakes are made. In the end, not everyone ends up quite where they were supposed to be. But as the book winds down, there’s plenty of happiness to be had in The Realm of Gods. Dahlgren lingers on joyous reunions and newly-discovered talents, giving readers one last moment to bask in his vibrant world. His characters bring one saga to a close and begin a new journey. Though readers can’t come with them down this new path, it’s a satisfying parting nonetheless.
The Little Peeps Book Awards features the best of the books that we read to our children and the young people who matter so much in our lives! Love of literature starts right away, and we’re proud to support these books for kids!
Cheering on the past Grand Prize Winners for the Little Peep Awards!
Island Moon
Written and Illustrated by Ruth Amanda
Ruth Amanda’sIsland Moonis 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.
The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans By Shaziya M. Jaffer, Brad W. Rudover and Jessica Alexanderson Illustrated by Adam Trask
The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans, by Shaziya M. Jaffer, Brad W. Rudover, & Jessica Alexanderson, is perfectly written for children between three and eight years old.
Eye-catching colorful graphics by Adam Trask, fun characters, and a wonderfully lighthearted storyline uphold this book’s message of protecting the environment. Both children and adults will feel empowered to help our planet one can at a time.
An adventurous young girl named Ellie wants to buy a Unicorn. To earn the money she needs, Ellie plans to collect and recycle one million cans. But she soon realizes that her plans may need to take a different track. Together with her community of friends, who show great teamwork and perseverance, environmental lessons continue on with fantastic results.
Ravens Roost Written & Illustrated by Maggie Bates
Maggie Bates’s Ravens Roost is a Children’s book that explores the illustrated nighttime adventures of a woman with her friend, a small frog.
This story teaches children how to be curious about forest animals, even in the middle of a wind storm. Bates is new to writing Children’s books, and cares deeply for the natural world. Her rapport with animals likely inspired her debut tale.
Ravens Roost begins with a frog sitting on a roof, wondering where ravens go at night. The woman who lives in the house decides to help the frog follow his curiosity on an adventure. First, she climbs up a tree to watch ravens soar overhead. She admires the moon and notices the birds perching in her favorite tree. She climbs down and starts her trek along a forest path as night falls and the wind picks up. The woman tucks her frog friend into her pocket for safety. Along their journey, the frog and the woman share a special friendship.
Victoria and The Big, Brave Breath By Andrea Vaughan
Illustrated by Ryan Feltman
Andrea Vaughan’s Victoria and the Big Brave Breath is a beautifully illustrated children’s book, written to ease conversations about anxiety and worry with a child.
This story teaches children how to calm their nerves by focusing on their breath, using a clever onomatopoeia to help. Vaughn’s book is a timely must-read!
Victoria and the Big, Brave Breath starts with a little girl named Victoria recognizing that she is often worried. She lists examples (trying new foods, going to the doctor, playing in the park) of her anxieties. Physically-speaking, Victoria’s hands sweat, her knees shake and her tummy hurts when her feelings appear. Her teddy bear best friend Baxter has a suggestion for her to ease these unfamiliar (and uncomfortable) feelings.
Great as a Button By Masoud Malekyari
Illustrated by Sebastiao Peixoto
Masoud Malekyari’s Great As a Button is a delightful children’s book that places a soulful little plastic adornment at center stage in a thought-provoking story that offers up a positive lesson about self-worth.
This tale unfolds from a first person POV as a lonely, black plastic button falls off a shirt. The button ruminates over its plight of feeling too plain to be noticed, and wishes perhaps to be a sock, a key, or a pair of glasses, i.e., a more important item that the button surmises someone would go out of their way to look for.
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).
Science fiction is having a moment, and these incredible books prove it. From climate catastrophes to galactic adventures, from AI consciousness to time-bending mysteries, this year’s Cygnus Long List showcases the full spectrum of speculative imagination that authors are bringing to life.
Each of these authors is already winning with their books are now featured on our high-traffic website, shared across our social media, and promoted to our newsletter subscribers. But this is just the beginning of their CIBA journey.
These titles have moved forward from the 2025 CYGNUS Science Fiction Long List to the 2025 Cygnus Book Awards Short List. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Cygnus Semi-Finalists. Finalists will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC26.
We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA.
These titles are in the running for the Semi-Finalists of the 2025 Cygnus Book Awards novel competition for Science Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
A.T. Balsara – The Great and the Small
AA Dasilva – The Bleed-Through Effect
Aspry Jones – Protectors of the Light Crown
Augustus Cileone – Galloper’s Quests
B. Lynn Carter – The Eyes Have It
Carrie Kwiatkowski – The Bindery Guild
Celia Seupel – Girl with the Silver Hair
Charles Weindorf – Comets of Omen the Presser Arc
Chris Coward – Perpendicular Women: Adventures in the Multiverse
Claudia Leboeuf – Fields of Prosperis
Corey Frazier – Orion Heavenfall
David M. Pearce – The Holovid Hero
Deborah Mistina – Imber
James Azinheira – Alphamind the Collective Consciousness
James R Wells – The Eternal Moment
Joanne Hatfield – Ghost of Nostalgia
Joshua A.H. Harris – Eyes of Iris
Joshua Dyer – Avitron Ephemeris
Kevin D. Miller – Taquoma
L. Galuppo – Eco Reign Warning the Barriers Burn
L.R. O’Brien – Tomorrow Is the Day
Lawrence Brown – Black Phantom Dogs Book 1 Unrestricted Climb
Lloyd Jeffries – Embers of Shadow Ages of Malice Book III
Lou Dischler – In the Time of False Gods
Lynn Yvonne Moon – Journey’s Travels – Mirrors
M. E. Schuman – The Catalyst
Maxime Trencavel – The Matriarch Messiah
Michael Gorton – Tachyon Tunnel 2: The Daklin Empire
Michael W Hickman – Richard War Erupts
Mickey Dubrow – Always Agnes
Noah Kaplan – The Last Book. the Diary of the Last Earthling
Pa Vasey – Homo Machina
Philip Carlisle – Mellisya
Q Turner – Blood Sacrifice
Robert C Littlewood – Equilibrium (The Balance Wars Book 3)
Russ Colson – A People Joined Asunder
Russ Colson – Future’s Soul
Russ Colson – The Vast Empty
S. W. Lawrence Md – Cloud Dragon
S.G. Blaise – Eldryan Elders
Sarena Straus – DeInception
Sean Kennedy – The Fire Within
Spaulding Taylor – Last Star Standing
Stephen A Salaka – Elysium Rising
Stephen Eric Johnson – The Man From Rock Bottom
Tak Salmastyan – The Accelerates Forty Days To Dust
Thomas Lapham – Beyond the Signal
Thomas Sundberg – Bending Light
Tim Rees – Tim Rees Original Earth
Wilson Kincaid – The Murder Algorithm
Y S Pascal – The Zygan Emprise
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!
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We will also be promoting this list in our Newsletter, which you can sign up for here!
Congratulations once more to the 2024 Cygnus Grand Prize Winner
Submissions for the 2026 Cygnus Awards and other Speculative Fiction Divisions are open now! For other genres, we still have 25 divisions open for the 2025 CIBAs! Whether you write mystery, romance, historical fiction, or something entirely different, there’s likely a perfect fit for your work.
Winners will be announced at the 2025 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.
April 17-19, 2026! 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 14th annual conference and discover why!
Only 10 days left to submit your books to these prestigious CIBA Divisions and embark on an extraordinary journey to success. With over $30,000 in prizes awarded annually, now is the time to make your mark!
The Journey, Hearten, Military and Front Line and The Nellie Bly Awards are still open!
Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Journey Awards for Overcoming Adversity!
Kirsten Throneberry –Guided: Lost Love, Hidden Realms, and the Open Road
Jennifer Gasner –My Unexpected Life: Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis
Anne Gately –Sunburnt: A Memoir of Sun, Surf and Skin Cancer
Rachael Siddoway and Sonja Wasden –An Impossible Life: A True Story of Hope and Mental Illness
Lindsey Henke –When Skies Are Gray
Claudia Marseille –But You Look So Normal: Lost and Found in a Hearing World
And a huge round of applause to our 2024 Journey Grand Prize Winner:
Unfollow Me
By Kathryn Caraway
Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Hearten Award for Uplifting Non-Fiction!
Genét Simone –Teaching in the Dark
David Hutton –Drums of a Distant Tribe
Etsuko Diamond Miyagi –Diamond: The Memoir of a Lost Daughter of Japan
Rachael Siddoway and Sonja Wasden –An Impossible Life: A True Story of Hope and Mental Illness
Susan Cole –Holding Fast: A Memoir of Sailing, Love, and Loss
Tony Jeton Selimi –The Unfakeable Code®
And a huge round of applause for our 2024 Hearten Grand Prize Winner:
Elk Love: A Montana Memoir
By Lynne Spriggs O’Connor
Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Nellie Bly Award for Long Form Journalism!
Carla Conti – Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir
Kori Reed – Men-in-the-Middle Conversations to Gain Momentum with Gender Equity’s Silent Majority
Bonnie Bley – Stolen Voices: Missing and Murdered in Big Horn County
Sarah Towle – Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands
And a huge round of applause to our 2024 Nellie Bly Grand Prize Winner:
The Sing Sing Files:
One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice
By Dan Slepian
Congratulations to our 2024 Winners of the Military and Front Line Award for Service to Others!
Roderick S. Haynes – Unauthorized Disclosures a Navy Memoir of the 1980s
David Huntley – The B-17 Tomahawk Warrior: a WWII Final Honor
Patrick Hogan – Coincidence, You Say?
Shari Biery – It’s Your Turn How To Rediscover Yourself Prioritize Your Well-Being Thrive with Purpose
Max Lauker & Antonio Garcia – Number 788: My Experiences in Swedish Special Operations – Preparing for NATO and the War on Terror
Bibi LeBlanc – Wings of Freedom – The Story of the Berlin Airlift | Flugel der Freiheit – Die Geschichte der Berliner Luftbrucke
And a huge round of applause to the 2024 Military and Front Line Grand Prize Winner!
Memoirs From The Front Lines:
Four states, Two years, One pandemic
By Kim Sloan
The CIBAs offer more than just recognition — they provide a ladder to success with a range of achievement tiers and expert long tail marketing strategies. From the highly anticipated Long List to the prestigious Overall Grand Prize Winner, the CIBA lists energize both authors and readers, maximizing your digital footprint and expanding your fan base.
We are always eager to support the Best Books through the CIBAs. Join the ranks of celebrated authors who have already taken this critical step in their publishing.
Your book deserves to be discovered, celebrated, and shared with the world. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your talent and gain valuable exposure at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (April 3-6, 2025) where Winners from all 25 Book Award Divisions will be announced and honored.
In a world hungry for good books, your story deserves to be heard. Submit now and leave a lasting impression.
The Little Peeps Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Children’s Books and Early Readers. The Grand Prize Winner, Ruth Amanda’s book, Island Moon will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Little Peeps contest page year ’round!
The best part about being a Chanticleer Int’l Book Award Winner is the love and attention you get all year ‘round!
Seven-year-old Lorelei doesn’t know what she is more excited about for her upcoming first day of first grade, making a new best friend or finding her “uniquely special thing” that Mee-maw says every child has that makes them stand out. It’s hard to leave her parents, three-year-old brother, and their sasquatch-hunting behind, but after donning the perfect outfit (brightly colored leggings, a tie-dyed tutu, sparkly gold Mary Janes and the perfect headband), she is all bubbly inside with anticipation.
Things at school start off great when Lorelei enters Miss Grim’s room which is as bright and cheery as the teacher herself, and Lorelei is asked by a girl named Adeline to play at recess. Could this be her new best friend? But her optimism is soon darkened by a confrontation with the braggy “superstar” of the classroom, Emily, a.k.a. “Hands,” who always needs to be the center of attention. As the day closes, Lorelei isn’t sure that she’s found this “uniquely special thing,” but she is buoyed by her budding new friendships and all she’s learned about herself.
Lovable, mischievous, and imaginative, Lorelei brings a refreshing twist of kindness and emotional intelligence to the page. Her witty humor, hilarious honesty, and upbeat mindset of life are sure to engage even the most reluctant of young readers.
From Chanticleer:
Lorelei the Lorelei seeks a best friend and to figure out what makes her truly special, all on her first day of public school. InLorelei the Lorelei: The First of Many Firstsby Kristen J. Anderson, young Lorelei finds that not everything is as she expected.
After anxiously waiting for her dad and baby brother J.J. to get ready, and armed with the wisdom of her Mee-maw, Lorelei strides into Hillside Elementary School. She shows off her eclectic fashion and discovers that even a teacher named ‘Miss Grim’ can be welcoming. At first, Lorelei’s plans are coming together. She’s certain that Adeline, a girl who shares her exuberant nature, will be her best friend.
But Lorelei butts heads with Emily, aka “Hands” given her impatience to be called on. As a student of ballet and future sugary-cereal-advertisement star, Emily has little patience for Lorelei taking the spotlight.
As a newcomer to public school, Lorelei has to navigate this conflict while learning new schedules, rules, and terms. But she keeps her heart and mind open, even when she doesn’t quite understand all of her new classmates.
Share the joy of the truck community as children awaken their curiosity about how transportation works. Learn where things belong, various modes of truck use, and the concept of distance as playful animals demonstrate cooperation in our cities and countries.
Julie Lomax (JuJu) – Melissa Moo Moo’s Special Lesson
Melissa Moo Moo is a little cow with big brown eyes and a bigger heart. One day when she overhears the other cows gossiping about why she doesn’t have a lot of milk, Moo Moo feels sad. While crying herself to sleep, Moo Moo worries about what the other cows think of her.
The next morning, Moo Moo hides behind a berry bush and watches the other cows. She thinks that if she is special, then Farmer Jack will love her and the other cows will not talk mean about her. But when Moo Moo eats a few of the berries that have fallen onto the ground, she has no idea that everything is about to change as she learns to love herself and be confident.
Melissa Moo Moo’s Special Lesson is the charming tale of a little cow who learns the importance of just being herself.
Will’s Grandmother has told Will about the Candy Mountain since he was a small child. One night Will is awakened by the Conductor of a train. He is told to hurry to catch the train. “What train?” “The train to the Candy Mountain, of course.” On the train, he meets a boy named Quinn and they decide to go on the adventure together. He can hardly believe he is going to the Candy Mountain. Together there are many decisions they have to make, each more mysterious than the other. What will they find?
In this new adventure, Ellie and her friends have already accomplished the incredible feat of recycling 1 million cans. But their quest for a cleaner environment doesn’t end there! Now, they have set their sights on tackling the problem of other metal items being needlessly thrown in the trash.
Determined to make a difference, they embark on a journey to collect everyone’s wires, Christmas lights, pots and pans, unicorn shoes and other metal items. They then take these treasures to their local scrapyard, turning them into valuable resources through recycling as metal can be recycled forever!
They also learn about the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals. With the help of Mr. Ferrous Magglio and Gallium the Unicorn, they set off on an unforgettable journey to the scrapyard. Get ready for a thrilling and educational experience!
We believe that your kids will not only enjoy this book but also discover that they can earn some extra cash for their piggy bank by participating in neighborhood clean-up efforts. It’s a fun and rewarding way to make a positive impact!
From Chanticleer:
See our review for Book 1 of this series, The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans, the 2023 Little Peeps Grand Prize Winner, here!
The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans, by Shaziya M. Jaffer, Brad W. Rudover, & Jessica Alexanderson, is perfectly written for children between three and eight years old.
Eye-catching colorful graphics by Adam Trask, fun characters, and a wonderfully lighthearted storyline uphold this book’s message of protecting the environment. Both children and adults will feel empowered to help our planet one can at a time.
An adventurous young girl named Ellie wants to buy a Unicorn. To earn the money she needs, Ellie plans to collect and recycle one million cans. But she soon realizes that her plans may need to take a different track. Together with her community of friends, who show great teamwork and perseverance, environmental lessons continue on with fantastic results.
Few books do such a fine job of combining so many life lessons while still keeping the learning lighthearted and fun.
Meet Carla, our self-appointed social committee of one, who makes everyone at summer camp feel welcome. Carla spots a shy new boy who hides from others in his cabin, closing his curtain. Carla follows her heart and gathers a small group of fellow campers to coax him out to play games. With Carla’s encouragement, our new camper builds up his self-confidence, loses his fear, and learns to enjoy his new friends.
About the authors: Mike Mirabella, an established musician and publisher of children’s books—and Lenny Lipton, who wrote the folk song “Puff the Magic Dragon”—sat in their living rooms writing songs as they babysat their disabled daughters. The bonus song “Little Brown Pony” includes the lyrics and music notations as does “I Used to Be Shy.”
The outstanding illustrations were done by Amy O’Hanlon, an inspired artist in a family of musicians who does stage projection design for several San Francisco musicals, one of which was the Bay Area Children’s Theatre’s She Persisted, based on the book by Chelsea Clinton.
From Chanticleer:
InI Used to Be Shy, from the Carla Stories by Mike Mirabella and Lenny Lipton, Carla meets a nervous boy with physical disabilities at Camp Allbelong. Through their friendship, Carla helps him become confident enough to join in the camp games in this compassionate illustrated story about inclusion told through song.
We begin with Carla’s bright yellow light contrasting with the boy’s deep, lonely blue representation. As their friendship grows, those two colors begin to mix, becoming a vibrant green that paints the heartwarming, pastoral scenes of Camp Allbelong. When the boy joins his peers in the center of these illustrations, his blue color takes on a new tone that reflects the expansive sky in the background.
Amy O’Hanlon’s delightful illustrations show how one friendship can bloom to become a garden full of many relationships.
The detailed and actionable guide, It’s Your Turn by Shari Biery, encourages women to reclaim the time and space they deserve in life from the slow creep of demands like home, childcare, and supporting a spouse’s career.
To help women take “their turn,” much of this book is devoted to slowing down: why, how, and when to do it. Even its conversational writing style is an invitation to do so. It’s Your Turn leads readers to reflect, assess, and make effective changes in their lives. This isn’t a quick-hit self-help book, but a meditation for navigating midlife flux amid marriage and family responsibilities.
Biery draws on her own experiences living through many challenges frequently encountered by modern women. She struggled most with balancing personal needs and family responsibilities. Biery’s own needs and dreams long fell by the wayside in favor of managing her household and supporting her husband with his career in the military. With It’s Your Turn, she hopes to share her process of reclaiming those needs and dreams and reclaiming her well-being.
It’s Your Turn is loosely organized around Biery’s “C.A.L.M. method.” Through Clarity, Awareness, Learning, and Mindset, she teaches women how to carve out necessary space for themselves.
After Part I sets the book’s intentions, Part II guides readers through the C.A.L.M. method. Then, Part III helps them reenter the world to “embrace your turn.” Throughout the book, boxed text inserts offer actionable tidbits like questions to reflect on and even a self-care game. This format invites readers to break out the highlighters and sticky notes, adding their own marks to the parts that resonate with them most.
Some of the lessons are more widely applicable than others. Biery is a military wife, and certain advice is clearly designed for military spouses in particular, including a list of military spouse resources near the end. Yet other advice, like a detailed guide to journaling, can truly apply to anyone.
This book focuses its advice for family-oriented women who want to find more balance and self-care in their lives.
It’s Your Turn isn’t intended as a guide for decision making about looming relationship difficulties, major financial issues, or long-term career and education choices, although women navigating divorce, business failure, and other major catastrophes may still find benefits here. Biery occasionally touches on more serious issues like health problems but is careful to stay within her realm of expertise.
Clever use of anecdotes adds to the messages of well-being in It’s Your Turn. The chapters begin with windows into real people’s lives which illustrate Biery’s advice in action.
Some anecdotes are drawn from Biery’s career as a health and wellness coach, while others come from her own life. In one instance, Biery uses her experience navigating the Covid-19 pandemic as an example for slowing down daily routines to bring clarity to what one truly need in life.
The advice shared in It’s Your Turn is given by a qualified expert who has used these methods to successfully make changes in her own life, and the welcoming, encouraging, and authentic anecdotes make it feel as if the reader and the author were supportive friends chatting over a cup of coffee. A wonderful combination for delivering the message that “It’s Your Turn.”
There’s something magical about watching a child discover the joy of reading – the moment when pictures and words combine to transport young minds to new worlds, teach important lessons, or simply bring smiles and wonder to bedtime routines. The Little Peeps Awards celebrate this magic, recognizing the authors and illustrators who understand that creating exceptional children’s literature is both an art and a responsibility.
The best children’s books plant seeds of imagination, teach valuable lessons without preaching, and create positive associations with reading that can last a lifetime. From board books that introduce babies to the rhythm of language to chapter books that help young readers take their first independent literary steps, these works serve as gateways to a world of lifelong learning and discovery.
The Art of Writing for Young Hearts and Minds
Creating outstanding children’s literature requires a unique blend of skills: the ability to see the world through young eyes, the talent to craft stories that captivate short attention spans, and the wisdom to address important themes in age-appropriate ways. The best children’s books achieve something remarkable: they speak to children on their level while offering layers of meaning that adults can appreciate too.
Whether it’s teaching self-esteem through relatable characters, exploring different cultures and experiences, or simply creating beautiful bedtime stories that soothe and inspire, children’s literature serves crucial developmental purposes. These books help young readers understand emotions, navigate new experiences, and develop the empathy and curiosity that will serve them throughout their lives.
The Little Peeps Awards recognize that children’s literature encompasses a range of genres, including educational books that make learning fun, interactive experiences that engage multiple senses, and beautifully illustrated works that demonstrate how art and words can work together to create something truly special.
Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!
We’re delighted to honor Ruth Amanda, whose enchanting picture book Island Moon claimed the 2024 Little Peeps Grand Prize with a work that perfectly embodies the magic of children’s literature. Set in a Caribbean paradise where “warm night airs fill your heart with magic,” this gorgeously illustrated book captures the sweet sounds and sights of a tropical night—from cooing doves and whistling frogs to fairies dancing on waves of froth.
We love Island Moon as a perfect bedtime story for little ones or a simply peaceful moment for readers during a busy day. Ruth Amanda’s vibrant illustrations, tinted with Caribbean blues and moonbeam silver, transport readers to an island paradise while her gentle, rhyming text creates the kind of soothing rhythm that makes for perfect bedtime reading. The book demonstrates how the finest children’s literature creates experiences that families can share and treasure together. In addition to ongoing promotional features, Island Moon will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Ruth Amanda will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview.
Categories That Nurture Every Stage of Development
The Little Peeps Awards welcome children’s books across every format and developmental stage:
Chapter Books for Grades K & 1 – Early independent reading books that help young readers take their first literary steps
Story Books – Narrative-driven books perfect for reading aloud and sharing family time
Picture Books – The beloved format where illustrations and text work together to create magical experiences
Self-Esteem – Books that help children build confidence and understand their unique worth
Educational Books – Learning-focused works that make education engaging and fun
Experiences – Books that prepare children for new situations or introduce them to different cultures and ways of life
Holidays/Traditions – Seasonal and cultural celebration books that help children understand special occasions
Exploring – Adventure and discovery books that encourage curiosity about the world around us
Interactive & Board Books – Hands-on experiences designed for the youngest readers to touch, manipulate, and explore
Bedtime Stories – Gentle, soothing tales crafted to create peaceful transitions to sleep
Each category serves a different developmental purpose while maintaining the core mission of fostering a love of reading and learning.
Celebrating Record-Breaking Excellence
Last year’s Little Peeps Awards celebrated nearly 100 exceptional books – a testament to the incredible creativity and dedication of today’s children’s book creators. This record turnout wasn’t just about quantity; the quality of submissions demonstrated that children’s literature continues to evolve and flourish, with authors and illustrators pushing creative boundaries while never losing sight of their young audience’s needs.
This tremendous response reflects the growing recognition that children’s literature plays a crucial role in early development and education. Publishers, librarians, educators, and families all understand that investing in quality children’s books means investing in the next generation of readers, thinkers, and dreamers.
Looking at Children’s Literature Excellence
Check out some of these wonderful children’s books we’ve celebrated recently!
Lorelei the Lorelei: The Problem with Science Fairs, Cicadas and Sewers
By Kristen J. Anderson; Illustrations by Audrey Suau
Lorelei, the charismatic and outspoken seven-year-old, leaps at the chance to save her school’s science fair from disaster in Lorelei the Lorelei: The Problem with Science Fairs, Cicadas, and Sewers, second book in Kristen J Anderson’s Lorelei the Lorelei series.
Beyond excited for the science fair, Lorelei prepares a project with a mission. She hopes to change people’s perception about cicadas, which most consider a gross nuisance of a bug. On the day of the science fair, during a trip to the restroom, Lorelei encounters a plumbing catastrophe.
With the help of her family and friends, Lorelei put a plan in motion to protect the school fair, while learning valuable lessons about sportsmanship, classroom behavior, and empathy. She may be silly and likeable, but some of her quirks can get her into trouble too!
Even when she gets into trouble, Lorelei is always and unapologetically herself.
Littlest Mano at Bedtime
By Anita Dromey; Illustrations by Taranggana
In Littlest Mano at Bedtime by Anita Dromey, illustrated by Taranggana, Mano wants to keep grazing and playing in the hills when his mamma calls him to come down to the shore.
The rest of the goats wait for Mano, who only comes when his mamma asks him to lead the group. But Mano trips in the evening darkness and loses his chance to lead the procession. Once he and all the other goats reach the ocean, he promises not to make them wait so long next time.
Littlest Mano at Bedtime is a great evening book for children learning to read.
Dromey writes in a consistent rhyming scheme, making the rhythm easy to grasp and read along with.
This story teaches the importance of listening and cooperating with others, and does so with a soft hand fitting for very young readers.
Valley of the Giant Snakes
By Mac Bell; Illustrations by Andy Vanderbilt
After crash-landing his jet, young Ace must embark on an epic adventure through the treacherous Valley of Giant Snakes in this fun tale about imagination by Mac Bell and illustrated by Andrew Vanderbilt.
Valley of the Giant Snakes, the first installment of the Adventure Ace series, takes readers journeying with Ace through a vast and fantastical wilderness.
Ace encounters a humongous moth gliding overhead, casting an ominous shadow on this unknown world. He weaves his way through a forest of colossal mushrooms as he walks to a mountain in the distance.
A pair of mysterious eyes glow inside a tunnel, and a giant snake blocks Ace’s path when he backs away. Ace has only his ingenuity to make it past the beast.
Andy Vanderbilt’s illustrations hearken back to the adventure cartoons of the 70s and 80s, with a fresh look for the modern day.
A Tail of Twirls: Kittina and the Starlight Ballerina
By Once Upon A Dance; Illustrations by Stella Maris
Once Upon a Dance’s captivating children’s picture bookA Tail of Twirls: Kittina and the Starlight Ballerina follows an inquisitive cat as she makes a mysterious discovery.
In Pirouette Pines, small cat Kit peers through the dirty window of an abandoned dance studio. After a desperate initial attempt to enter, Kit spots an opening. The dance photos on the walls fascinate her as soon as she walks in. Curiosity gets the best of her, and she attempts to mimic some of the dance positions.
Her entire world changes in an instant when a voice—coming from a very unexpected source behind her—asks why she has been there every night. Kit has a cordial conversation with the animated mirror, which concludes with a pledge from the mirror to assist Kit in finding her dance.
Kit gains proficiency quickly and is keen to learn more. But as she considers what she has learned and what she still wishes to, she is split between gratitude and despair. To complicate her learning further, Kit is taken aback by yet another startling discovery, which is swiftly followed by a directive that will have an impact on Pirouette Pines as a whole.
These works demonstrate how the best children’s literature combines entertainment with education, creating experiences that delight young readers while supporting their growth and development.
See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!
We’re excited about all the exceptional children’s books we receive every year for both the CIBAs and for our Editorial Reviews. The Chanticleer International Book Awards offers an incredible $30,000 in cash, prizes, and promotion across all divisions!
The Little Peeps Awards provide recognition for the often-undervalued but incredibly important work of creating literature for our youngest readers. Whether you’re an author crafting your first picture book, an illustrator bringing stories to vivid life, or a publisher committed to quality children’s literature, these awards celebrate the dedication required to nurture young minds and foster lifelong love of reading.
Plant Seeds of Literary Love
Creating children’s literature means accepting a beautiful responsibility—the chance to introduce young minds to the joy of reading and the power of imagination. Your book could be a child’s first favorite story, the bedtime book that creates cherished family memories, or the educational adventure that sparks a lifelong interest in learning.
Gail Heath’s Miracle on the Mountain: An Appalachian Christmas shares a message of love and redemption through the heart-warming tale of Granny, a faithful, disciplined, and generous Appalachian woman.
On a blustery winter day, Granny starts down her home’s snowy, mountain landscape to attend Christmas Eve service in the village. When her dog, Shep, wanders off, Granny runs into Pete. The young man uses firewood collecting as an excuse to not attend service, hiding a deeper motive beneath.
Granny asks after his grandfather, who is in the midst of a long recovery after being attacked by a boar. Pete is forlorn, casting aspersions at Granny’s message that a miracle may yet happen, especially on this of all nights. Sensing his loss of faith, Granny offers Pete a few cups of her warm chicory as she regales the miracle on the mountain she witnessed ten years ago that made her a true believer.
In Granny’s tale, a cantankerous man named Luster appears one spring on Granny’s mountain. He lives in a ramshackle cabin with his dog and complains any time Granny makes noise. Following the guidance of her upbringing, Granny campaigns to sweat out Luster’s gruffness with kindness and prayer, but to no avail. By winter, Granny has left it up to the Lord to thaw the man’s misery.
On Christmas Eve, a snowy night much like the one ten years later, Granny feels the Lord encouraging her to visit her solitary neighbor.
She walks through the storm with a fresh loaf of bread to wish Luster a merry Christmas, which earns her his hottest bout of temper yet. The grinch refuses any of Granny’s warmth, and she reconciles that she can do no more, deciding Luster has no heart to be touched.
Later that night a tragedy befalls the village. Granny offers her warm home and hot chicory to a sheriff and his volunteers searching for a lost child. She seeks out Luster once again, hoping he would lend his mass and strength to the search effort, but his shack is empty. Luster’s hound, Shep, bounds through the snow and coaxes Granny to follow him. Together, they brave the wintery weather, and Granny encounters a miracle beyond her imagination.
What makes Miracle on the Mountain: An Appalachian Christmas special is its simplicity alongside the sharpness of Heath’s writing craft.
With lively characters in Granny and Luster and dialogue that stays true the spirit of Appalachian character, the reader gets everything they need to feel Granny’s message in their hearts.
The artwork from Barabash Sviatoslav creates an immersive Christmas atmosphere through detailed backgrounds that place readers firmly in the heart of an Appalachian winter. Each scene radiates warmth despite the mountain chill, inviting readers to step into Granny’s world of snow-covered cabins and frosted landscapes. The characters are portrayed with dynamic energy, their active poses drawing readers directly into the unfolding story and making them feel part of each scene’s emotional moment.
Miracle on the Mountain: An Appalachian Christmas by Gail Health expresses the spirit of Christmas through a fresh perspective.
Its message isn’t confined to one set of beliefs. Friendship, understanding, and sacrifice may be protected by people in ways we don’t always understand, but even at times when we’ve given up hope a surprise may just remind us that miracles do happen, sometimes where we least expect.
Bookstore Romance Day might just be your perfect match
You know the feeling. Your heart swoons for them, you squeal in excitement as companions come together in love, whatever it is, you’ve found it between the pages of a book. True romance to light a fire in your heart.
Held every August, this delightful celebration brings together two of life’s most irresistible pleasures: independent bookstores and the romance genre. It’s a day where book lovers gather to celebrate the cozy, quirky, fiercely passionate indie bookshops that make discovering those romantic tales feel like magic.
Bookstore Romance Day is your excuse (not that you needed one) to support a local business, shop small, and maybe fall in love with a book, a bookstore, or even both. Buying from a local independent bookstore makes the whole community better!
It’s time to go on a date with your town’s Indie bookstore!
Independent bookstores are the heart and soul of their communities, championing local voices and fostering meaningful connections between readers and authors. They also provide an unrestrained avenue to books that can be overlooked by a curated algorithym that threatens to overlook great, but unknown, books.
The space a bookstore inhabits is an intimate expression of the community itself. Every shelf reflects the personality and passion of the booksellers who hand-pick each title based on the desires of the readers they serve. It’s a great way to validate the diversity of your community through their varying interests in reading material.
Support Your Local Bookstore and Indie Authors!
Frequenting an indie bookstore and supporting indie authors comes from the connection, passion, and joy of storytelling shared between themselves and their community. When a reader chooses to shop local, attend readings, or simply spread the word about a favorite new release, it’s like slipping a love note into the hands of those who pour their hearts into every page and every recommendation. These small gestures create ripples—helping authors find their readers, bookstores to keep their lights on, and neighborhoods to become rich with imagination and soul. It’s a romance rooted in reciprocity: when we show up for our bookstores, they show up for us, again and again, with stories, romance and all genres, that make us laugh, cry, and believe in happy endings.
Show Your Love of Bookstores and the Romance Found Inside
Next time you stroll down to your corner independent bookstore, take a moment to think about the amazing relationship your favorite bookseller has with your community and pick up a romance to fall in love with as you celebrate Bookstore Romance Day!
Fall in love with the romantic streaks from these Chanticleer authors!
Vermilion Harvest
By Reenita M. Hora Overall Grand Prize CIBA winner!
Reenita M. Hora’s Vermilion Harvest weaves love and liberation into literary gold.
“Why do love and freedom have such a complicated relationship?” This haunting question pulses through every page of Vermilion Harvest, Hora’s breathtaking debut that creates, in one of history’s darkest moments, a luminous testament to the power of love in transcending boundaries.
A star-crossed romance sparks against the backdrop of empire.
Set in 1919 Amritsar, Vermilion Harvest introduces readers to Aruna Duggal, a nineteen-year-old Anglo-Indian schoolteacher caught between worlds—too brown for British acceptance, too white for Indian belonging. Born from violence, raised in the shadows between communities, Aruna navigates life’s margins until she meets Ayaz Peermohammed, a passionate Muslim law student from Lahore. Ayaz’s dreams of Indian independence ignite something revolutionary within Aruna’s heart.
The subtitle “A Spicy Lesbian Romance” belies the true emotional depth of Kathleen Brehony’s The Third Act. This story is a testament to the unbreakable connection between a “Tribe” of 60ish lesbian women, and the unexpected possibility of love appearing even in the darkest of times.
The story opens as Shannon, a member of the Tribe, witnesses her lifelong best friend, Linda, pass away after a decade-long battle with breast cancer.
Shannon has been by Linda’s side during the last part of her battle, and now she’s the friend who sends the rest of The Tribe the simple message “She’s gone.” They make a plan to come together on Labor Day weekend to celebrate Linda’s life at Shannon’s family’s beachside resort on the Jersey shore in the hopes that the closeness and comfort they’ve shared as friends all these years will help them begin to heal. When they arrive at the coastal cottage, they toast their friendship with a quote from Rumi, “Friend our closeness is this: anywhere you put your foot, you feel me in the firmness underneath you.”
It is here, with the gathered Tribe, that we begin to understand the long, complicated history between Shannon O’Connell and Elizabeth Mathews.
Antonia Gavrihel shows off superb storytelling and narration skills in her audiobook, Back to One, where passion, family, and, most importantly, friendship clash in an emotionally intimate slow-burn romance.
When Catherine Leigh meets famous actor Kyle Weston at a Hollywood party, an unbreakable bond snaps into place. But, while Cate and Kyle each acknowledge this intense connection, their life situations make a courtship impossible. Cate is happily married, and Kyle’s career leaves him with little time for any personal ties.
The two vow to take romance off the table and love each other as best friends—or at least try to.
Cate and her young family help reinvigorate Kyle’s strained relationship with his son Scott, while Kyle revives Cate’s acting career. This surprisingly wholesome romance focuses on the support that two true friends can give each other, and how it forms a strong foundation to lean on during difficult times.
Back to One, Gavrihel’s debut novel, was quickly followed up with three additional books in the series of the same name. This audiobook version brings even more vibrancy to her work.
Spruce Harbor Possibilities, the second book in David A. Stone’s Spruce Harbor series, pulls an independent bookstore owner and a savvy tech billionaire into an improbable whirlwind romance, but each with their own reasons to be guarded about love.
Romantic Maggie Bennett’s last breakup diminished her self-confidence, and she’s since put all her energy into running her cozy literary shop in the small community of Spruce Harbor, Washington. Her best friend and co-worker Bobby wants her to get back in the dating game, but for the moment Maggie contents herself with the solace of her bookstore and her Golden Retriever, Mr. Darcy.
That is until Jason Porter arrives in town.
Handsome and extremely wealthy, Jason was co-founder of the Lifestar Gaming Company, recently and unceremoniously sacked by the Board of Directors and his business partner.
Though they come from different worlds, there’s an undeniable attraction between Maggie and Jason.
Luca Lucchesi had it all—a successful restaurant, a loving wife, an adoring mother. Then it all came crashing down. Occhi Belli by Tim McDonald explores the depths of Luca’s despair, his battle with alcohol, and ultimately his journey back to life—and love.
Luca hadn’t planned to work in the restaurant industry but eighteen years later there he was, what one would call a “lifer.” Time flows differently in the lives of restaurant people, and it flew by for Luca. He was coming up on Occhi Belli’s tenth anniversary but felt like he’d opened it just yesterday. Luca’s vision had been a simple one—to build a great restaurant with great food and great characters. With that goal in mind, he built Occhi Belli into a hugely successful neighborhood gem in north Seattle. He’d poured his life into it and truly loved it, but at what price?
He knows he drinks too much, but it is part of the world in which he lives. So far, he’s been lucky and has never been caught driving after drinking. Then his luck runs out.
He totals his car, is hit with a DUI, and his life begins to unravel. His wife, Lillian, announces she’s had enough and files for divorce. After nine years of watching Luca put his restaurant and alcohol before her and their marriage, she chooses her own well-being over his. But suddenly single at thirty-six, Lillian wonders what she will do next.
Celebrate the Romance Genre with Professional Recognition
Romance is one of the most beloved and marketable genres today, and a little romance goes a long way in making any book more appealing to readers. Professional recognition helps your love story stand out in this competitive but rewarding market.
Got a great romance read?Chanticleer Editorial Book Reviews provide the professional third-party validation that romance authors need to build credibility with readers. Our comprehensive reviews serve as powerful marketing material, giving you polished content to share with romance readers who are always hungry for their next great love story.
Confident you’ll get a great review? Consider submitting to the Chanticleer International Book Awards Chatelaine Romance Division. Whether you’re writing contemporary romance, historical love stories, romantic suspense, or steamy sensual fiction, the Chatelaine Awards recognize outstanding romance across all subgenres.
Award recognition adds prestige to your romance novel while providing ongoing marketing material that resonates with romance readers—one of the most loyal and enthusiastic reading communities. Romance readers trust recommendations, and professional recognition signals quality they can count on.
The romance market rewards authors who invest in professional credibility. Give your love story the recognition it deserves.
You have until August 31st to share your Story with us and enter the 2025 Laramie Division of the CIBAs!
Charles M. Russell painted the cowboy seen on Chanticleer’s very own Laramie contest badge. It is one of many such paintings he did that encompassed the Old American Wild West. An advocate for the Native Americans, Charles M. Russell also helped establish a reservation in Montana for the Chippewa people.
Our Laramie Hall of Fame Celebrates the Grand Prize Winners of now and past years!
Sarita
By Natalie Musgrave Dossett
Our review for the newest Laramie Grand Prize Winner is forthcoming. In the meantime, here is what some GoodReads readers have been saying!
“Sarita has one of the best female protagonists I have read in a novel in years. There is so much action, it is fast paced and easy to read, so you won’t want to put it down. The setting is fabulous, it is well described and I could easily imagine myself there. I had never heard of this author before, but wow, this book should get her noticed!” -Natalie
“Sarita is a riveting page-turner that captivated me from start to finish with its suspense and unexpected twists. The protagonist, Sarita, is a compelling champion for women’s voices, set thoughtfully against the backdrop of the 1920s. Her struggle and determination resonate deeply, bridging the gap between historical and contemporary experiences. Dossett’s fearless approach to storytelling, where even richly developed characters meet untimely ends, adds a layer of authenticity that truly reflects the harsh realities of the wild horse desert life in that era. This commitment to realism enhances the novel’s depth and impact, making it an unforgettable read.” -Alicia
“I was absolutely hooked on this book straight from the start, the brutal death of her brother sent Sarita on a journey to find her brother’s killer.
I felt every emotion reading this book the writing really brought the story to life.
Sarita found so many people affected by Javier, her strength to carry on when still struggling with the loss of JJ and worries of her father really was captivating.” -Lisa
The Last Man: A Novel of the 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery By Thomas Goodman
InThe Last Man: A Novel of the 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robberyby Thomas Goodman, four men in a small, depression-era Texas town lay in wait to carry out their unique plan for a holiday heist.
It’s December 23 and a man in a Santa Claus suit walks into a bank. But rather than his bag full of Christmas surprises, he’s brought a gun. With the element of surprise on their side, the robber and his two partners would collect the cash, while another partner waited in the getaway car. It all seemed so simple.
At the time, Texas bankers—in order to deter crimes such as this—promised a $5,000 reward for any dead bandits, “and not one cent” for the capture of a live one. Should anything go wrong, the possibilities for disaster were clear as a Greek tragedy, but what could go wrong?
Guarded Hearts by T K Conklin is a sensual romance in the Wild West, with all the passion and excitement natural to the setting.
Sparks fly between a man with an outlaw past and a woman with a terrifying gift to heal or harm. Strykes is a man haunted both by a violent childhood and his time in an outlaw gang. But he has found a place in Rimrock, where he met LaRisa, an auburn-haired woman whom the townspeople have labeled a “witch” due to her healing herbs and rumors of her “powers”.
LaRisa has kept her distance from people, afraid of her gift of healing touch that can turn dangerous, even deadly. But, when she comes to town to deliver her medicinal herbs, she makes her way to the livery with tasks for Strykes such as shoeing her horse or fixing a spring in her wagon. He is only too happy to oblige the auburn-haired beauty. The attraction between them is instantaneous, yet they both are hesitant to act on it, fearing they would hurt the other– he from his violent past, and she from her “witch” power.
Tom Sawyer Returns is the second book in The New Adventures series by author E.E. Burke.
Readers join a now grown up and far more independent Becky Thatcher as she maneuvers her complicated life in Civil War era Mississippi. Tom has long since left, and Becky is engaged to Union Captain Alfred Temple, who offers her all the safety and security she needs in such uncertain times. But does she love him? Actually love him?
Becky soon discovers that her heart may have other plans.
Trouble The Water By Rebecca Dwight Bruff
Overall Grand Prize Winner
Robert Smalls’ life should have been one for the history books.
Smalls was born a slave in Beaufort, South Carolina, in 1839. When the first shots of the Civil War were fired upon Fort Sumter, Smalls was an experienced helmsman aboard a small cargo ship plying the coastal waters of South Carolina and the neighboring states. Once the war broke out, he found himself working to support a cause that kept him, his wife, and their children locked in chattel slavery.
But in a daring escapade that fell somewhere between a raid and a rescue, Smalls planned, with the help of his fellow crew members (also slaves) aboard the CSS Planter, to abscond with the ship, its cargo of munitions taken from Fort Sumter, and bring their families. The plan was to sail the ship as though its white officers were still on board, pretending to be carrying out their orders—at least until the ship was out of the reach of Fort Sumter’s guns.
Now that you’re set on your next reads, what are you waiting for? The only way to join this amazing list of Laramie Winners is to enter today!
Those who submit and advance will have the chance to win the Overall Grand Prize of the CIBAs and $1000!
Are you a Chanticleer Author who has some good news to share? Let us know! We’re always looking for a reason to crow about Chanticleerians! Reach out with your news to info@ChantiReviews.com
The Realm of Gods, book three of Glen Dahlgren’s The Chronicles of Chaos series strikes a delicate balance. It has the familiar hallmarks of fantasy: swords and sorcery, daring and disaster. Yet it also subverts expectations, avoiding a too-simple “good versus evil” narrative.
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).
The detailed and actionable guide, It’s Your Turn by Shari Biery, encourages women to reclaim the time and space they deserve in life from the slow creep of demands like home, childcare, and supporting a spouse’s career.
