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Why Write Fast and Edit Slow? – Tips to Write and Finish that First Draft! – Michelle Rene, award winning author
From Snail to Sprint – Encore

I wrote the first draft of my award-winning historical novel, Hour Glass, in sixteen days. You read that correctly—sixteen days. My experimental novella, Tattoo, was written in about three weeks. Both have been released in 2018.

Though I am intensely proud of this accomplishment, I’m not telling you this to brag. I’m telling you that you can do this, too.

“Sit down every day to write. Even if you don’t want to. A little every day.” –Michelle Rene

Sounds like a line you’ve heard before, right? Yeah, me too. It’s not that this is bad advice. Far from it. Many people find this the best way for them to consistently write draft after draft. But if you really want to knock that rough draft out of the park, I’m going to ask you to kick that notion to the curb.

I’m not magical; I’m a binge writer, and none of the ideas in this article are uniquely mine. Most of them are exercises I’ve stolen from other writers. I used to be just like you because I was led to believe novels should take years to write. I would write a chapter, go back and edit it, and then proceed to the next one. A first draft took me over a year to complete.

It wasn’t until I decided I really needed to finish my novel, I Once Knew Vincent, that I decided to shove my face in the cold, scary, deep end of the writing ocean. I went away to a writer’s retreat and forced myself to write as much as I could every day. I wrote the lion’s share of that book in six days, and those chapters were by far the best in the book.

Why is that?

Isn’t it counterintuitive that the chapters written in a whirlwind of typing be the best? I’m glad you asked, nebulous reader voice in my head. Let’s delve into that.

Why Write This Fast?

Nothing kills a book faster than never finishing that initial draft. A malaise sets in, often slowing a writer down to a crawl while they chip away over a long time and often give up entirely.

“Will I ever finish this book?” the writer asks, (fists raised to the sky for dramatic effect).

Maybe. Maybe not. That first draft is possible if you pick yourself up by your metaphorical bootstraps and do the work every day, but a large percentage of writers never cross the finish line. What a shame that is!

Strangely, there is a raw emotion that comes from writing something so fast you don’t have time to noodle it to death.

How excited are you when you first start fleshing out a story? How amazing does it feel to start naming your characters and setting up their scenes in your mind? Fan-freaking-tastic!

This is because you are in the beginning of a book affair.

Writing a book is like having a relationship. In the beginning, it’s like a honeymoon! You feel all the emotions. Love and pain and excitement and lust. Well, okay. Maybe not lust. Paper cuts hurt, so let’s not go there.

“Writing a book is like starting a new relationship.” Michelle Rene

The point is the first draft should be all elation and honeymoon. Leave the nitty-gritty for your fifteenth edited draft. You don’t want to be sitting in a rocking chair with your first draft complaining about how much he snores before you even get to edit. Taking years to write that first draft can land you in complacency town before you cross the finish line. Pour your heart and soul into the rough draft with reckless abandon.

“Pour your heart and soul into the rough draft with reckless abandon.” – Michelle Rene

“But nothing good can come from my sloppy first draft if I write it in a few weeks,” says the nebulous reader voice in my head that’s starting to sound whiny.

Please refer to the infographic below. It lists some of the most popular books and how long it took the writer to finish them. While Lord of The Rings took a whopping sixteen years to complete (no shocker there), I’d like to direct your attention to roughly a quarter of the chart that indicates books written under three months. If the Boy in the Striped Pajamas was written in two and a half days, you can write something of quality in four weeks. Write Fast. Edit Slow.

Hugh Howey wrote the sensational bestselling science fiction story WOOL in four weeks during NaNoWriMo 2011.

Water for Elephants was drafted by Sara Gruen in four weeks.

Jack Kerouac’s semi-autobiographical tale, On the Road, took three weeks to write the first draft.

How Do I Start?

Let’s begin with talking about the snarky, three-hundred-pound elephant in the back of your mind. Your inner editor. We are going to bind and gag that jerk, and it may take fifty shades worth of rope because it’s three-hundred pounds and takes up a lot of headspace.

Write Fast! Edit Slow!

Sara Bale, an extremely prolific romance writer, has similar advice for your would-be-elephant editor.

“I think the biggest mistake an author makes when writing a rough draft is stopping and rereading/editing their work. The key is to keep moving forward and get the whole story out. Know the beginning and the ending. If you have those elements, the rest is easy.”

Sara Bale

“The key is to keep moving forward and get the whole story out.” Sara Bale

The passionate ideas come when the critic in our mind is silenced.

Your visceral idea is key, and I will not accept the old “I don’t know what to write about” excuse. You are here to pour your heart and soul into a story. If you are having a hard time with inspiration, here’s a handy dandy exercise to help that I stole from a writer’s workshop I attended.

Sit down with a piece of paper and a pen. Yes, a real piece of paper and pen. No cheating with keyboards. I know, I know. Your handwriting is horrible because all you do is type now. My handwriting looks like a serial killer’s ransom note, so I totally understand, but stick with me.

Next, set a timer for ninety seconds.

Hit start, write the first thing that comes to your mind and don’t stop until that timer goes off. No contemplating it. No editing your idea and wondering if Stephen King has already done it. He probably has. Just write, no excuses, for the whole ninety seconds.

Go ahead… I’ll wait…

You back? Okay. I’m not a betting woman, but I would put money on what you wrote was pretty damn good.

Whether or not that is the idea you run with doesn’t matter. It’s an exercise to get the creative juices flowing. Use that. Build your characters. Plot the story fast and loose. Fall in love with your story. Get down and dirty in that honeymoon phase…but not literally because remember the paper cuts. We talked about that.

And finally, outline! For the love of all that is holy, outline your story! Do not do this flying by the seat of your pants. That is a sure-fire way to crash and burn. It doesn’t need to be an in-depth outline. On the contrary, keep that pretty loosey-goosey, too.

My outlines are often little more than a few sentences for each chapter.

Time Management

Okay, you have your outline, your idea, and your story. Let’s do this. The clock begins when you type “Chapter One” or “Prologue” if you want to be fancy. Let’s use NaNoWriMo (National Write a Novel in a Month) rules as I find these to be the best guidelines: 50,000 words in four weeks.

So four weeks. That’s your mission.

Write Fast. Edit Slow.

Select a four-week span of time in your life that you can devote to writing. Don’t sabotage yourself by doing this during a family vacation or when it’s the busy season at work. Choose a month that will allow you some time to devote to this endeavor because it is important.

For that month, give up on being the best mom, husband, wife, etc. Let your family know that this is going to be what you are doing for this month, and they can have you back after it’s over. The laundry can wait. Order in food. Maybe shower because, well, hygiene.

Editor’s Note: I totally agree with Michelle. November can be an impossible time for many because of increased work demands, family demands for the approaching holidays, the doldrums due to shorter and shorter days. The main thing is to pick a time that works for you. It can be NaFebWriMo if you have to put in overtime starting in November for the holiday season, or NaJulyWriMo – if you are a teacher. Find a time period that works for you and stick with it! Put it on your calendar. Alert your friends and family.

I highly, highly, highly recommend you track your progress. Doing a rough draft during NaNoWriMo is a great idea. This happens in November, and the organization sets you up for a win. You have a word tracker, writer friends to cheer you on, and helpful articles when you get stuck. If November is not a good month for you, try a program like WriteTrack. It will help you keep up with your progress.

Insider secret: Don’t shoot for the minimum goal. If your tracker says you need to write 2,000 words that day, shoot for 3,000 or 4,000. It’s easy to fall behind only doing the bare minimum; but if you’re always ahead, you have a little breathing room.

The Black Hole of the Internet

Can someone say distractions? Turn those notifications off! Set your phone to do not disturb except for emergencies. Hang a banner on your doorknob with a picture of Gandalf saying, “Thou shall not pass!” Get away from the addicting vacuum of social media. It will be there when you get back.

“That’s all well and good if you are writing something you just made up, but what about people who need to research their content?” asks nebulous reader voice again.

With Hour Glass, I wrote a historical fiction novel about Calamity Jane. There was definitely some research involved there. I did as much as I could before the writing began, mainly broad stroke things: dates, places, and a few good details relevant to the story. Nothing more.

Research is the most unassuming trap in writing. You’re on a good writing jag, everything is flowing, and then you hit a spot where you need the name of a city or a date or a vocabulary word. You have to have that accurate information, right? So you switch to the internet and start researching. Well, that first page on a website leads you to another, which leads you to Facebook; and then before you know it, it’s been three hours, and you lost your momentum.

Broad stroke your research before you start; but while you’re writing, don’t research. If you need the name of a city, don’t go looking. Just write something like, “He rode into the sunset hoping his horse knew the way to {insert city name}.” Get the story down, and go back in later to fill in those brackets.

Write your story from the heart and with passion. Research and accuracy can be added later.

Write Fast! Edit Slow!

The Middle Stick

It’s right around the 30,000-word mark that this happens. The Middle Stick is what I call the point where your initial enthusiasm begins to wane, and your progress gets sluggish. What began as “yay, I’m writing a book” turns into “I don’t know if I can do this.” It happens to everyone.

This is where participating in programs like NaNoWriMo can be helpful. Having other writers in the same place can be encouraging, and they can hold you accountable. If you aren’t doing NaNoWriMo, I suggest getting a group of like-minded author friends to do this together. This is also where writing ahead of your minimum word count helps because The Middle Stick will almost certainly slow you down.

Here are some other helpful tips.
- Try that writing something in ninety seconds exercise I mentioned earlier to get inspiration.
- Go out of your comfort zone and experience something related to your book. For example, if you are writing a western, go see a rodeo. Get away from your computer.
  
  Multi-award winning author, Janet Shawgo, has this to say about immersing yourself in your research outside the page when she was researching her book, Look For Me, set in the Civil War. “What helped me was putting feet on the ground at Gettysburg to get a feel of the area, what my characters saw, what they heard. To try on costumes true to that era. I walked some of the roads soldiers did in Virginia. If at all possible, put yourself there.”
Janet Shawgo Won the Chatelaine Grand Prize
- Switch up your chapters. This is where outlining really helps you. If you are hitting a wall writing chapter thirteen, jump forward and write chapter twenty. Sure, you’ll have to go back to that chapter eventually, but this helps you jump over that block and continue to get your word count in.
I wrote Tattoo entirely this way. It’s made of seven parts of a story told chronologically backward. I didn’t write any of those parts in order. Not one. Yet, I still managed to piece them together in the end.

Just keep moving. The momentum will pick back up. You can do this.

Hurray! You Did It!

Out of breath and exhausted, you crossed that finish line. You did it! Rejoice! I told you you could do it!

Go celebrate. Treat yourself to a fancy dinner. Toast your deed with some friends. Eat a whole chocolate cake. I don’t care. Party it up because you managed to do what the vast majority of humans on this planet cannot do. Most people never dream about writing a book. Fewer attempt it. Only a small fraction actually finish a draft.

You are spectacular.

Now, put the book aside for at least a month (more like two). You will eventually go back and edit. You will fill in those empty brackets. You will allow that annoying three-hundred-pound editor elephant back into your life. But not right now. That’s for another day.

Michelle Rene and her Chanticleer Grand Prize Ribbons

Michelle Rene, the author of this blog post, is a creative advocate and the author of a number of published works of science fiction, historical fiction, humor, and everything in-between.

She has won indie awards for her historical fiction novel, I Once Knew Vincent. Her latest historical novel, Hour Glass, won the Chanticleer International Book Awards Grand Prize for Best Book. It was released on February 20th to rave reviews from Chanticleer, Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. Her experimental novella, Tattoo, was released on March 7th.

When not writing, she is a professional artist and self-described an all-around odd person. She lives as the only female, writing in her little closet, with her husband, son, and ungrateful cat in Dallas, Texas.

A special thanks go out to the authors Sara Bale and Janet Shawgo for contributing their writing expertise to help others.

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 ENCORE Chanticleer Writer’s Toolbox article.
October 31, 2021
ALL HALLOW’S READ: The Tradition of Giving a Spooky Book for Halloween and Why Do We Read Them
ALL HALLOW’S READ!

Beware! Beware! Tis the season of the great All Hallow’s Read!

What if, instead of giving sugary sweets and candy to each other for Halloween, we gave each other a scary book? That’s what All Hallow’s Read is all about!

A Blank Page! The Writer’s Greatest Fear!

That was an idea Neil Gaiman came up with in 2010 to try and change the focus of Halloween a little bit more scary and a little less cavity-inducing.

Good Omens

Neil Gaiman is a wonderfully prolific author of the weird, spooky, and plain fun. Probably best known for his works, Stardust, Good Omens, and American Gods, all of which have been converted to the screen, Gaiman’s most frightening work is perhaps in his short story collections like Fragile Things and Trigger Warning. He also is the author of the Sandman Series, which was the inspiration for the TV show Lucifer.

For the first All Hallow’s Read, Gamain released an audio short story called “Click Clack the Rattle Bag” which you can listen to in the video below. IF YOU DARE…

Of course, when we heard of this, we couldn’t help but think of Jolabokaflod, the Icelandic tradition of the Yule Flood where books are given for Christmas that we celebrate every winter.

On the theme of spookiness, why do we like to be scared?

The Toys are inside the house!

There are many reasons for this, but it seems to come down to a few key things:
1. A quick fright can release dopamine, which feels good
2. Being scared with a group can be a bonding experience
3. Frightening media can be a way to critique the status quo
Now, one of the key elements to all the fear-inducing possibilities out there – books, movies, haunted corn mazes, and more – is that we know, on some level, that we are actually safe in these situations. That safety net is key in being able to enjoy fear.

That Feel Good Feeling

Honestly, we don’t know much about the exact science behind fear feeling good, so we’ll simply refer to this excerpt from a Psychology Today article:

When we get scared, we experience a rush of adrenaline and a release of endorphins and dopamine. The biochemical rush can result in a pleasure-filled, opioid-like sense of euphoria. Coupled with this, when we are reminded of our safety (i.e., the safety net), the experience of fear subsides, and we are left with a gratifying sense of relief and subsequent well-being.

Group Fright

Eek!

This one may seem counterintuitive but think about it: When you go to a haunted corn maze with a group, part of the joy is getting to overcome the challenges and hardships together.

There’s also the habit of taking a date to the movies. While it’s true your sweetie might clasp your arm for support and protection, that feeling of heightened intensity, coupled with safety and relief, can definitely help both people feel close.

Critiquing the Status Quo

“We need to talk about your behavior”

Thinking of ghosts and haunting, so often brings up the ideas of someone who has been wronged. Eve Tuck and C. Ree going into this beautifully in their piece “A Glossary of Haunting,” but for those who aren’t looking to get into intense academic discourse today, there’s a quicker version of this from USC News:

Stories of ghosts are prevalent in most societies and often carry cultural implications. In the United States, they feature prominently in connection with slavery and the mistreatment of native tribes, like the trope of the American Indian burial ground as an explanation for supernatural events.

Samhain – The History of Halloween

Origins of Halloween date back to the ancient (for about 2,000 years) Celts’ festival of Samhain (pronounced SAH-win). The Samhain pagan religious festival was observed on October 31st until for about 3 days to six days—mid-point between Fall equinox and Winter Solstice. Anyone committing a crime or used their weapons during the festival faced a death sentence. Mischief and mayhem that did occur (tricks) were blamed on fairies, imps, and other worldly beings.

It was believed that during this time that the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead blurred. The festival marked the beginning of the coming winter and the end of the harvest season. In the 7th century A.D., the Catholic Church tried to blend the ancient Celtic rites with All Saints Day. Again, in 1000 A.D., the church tried again to supplant the ancient festival with All Souls Day on November 2nd. But, ancient rites are hard to extinguish. Sources: History.com

Ancient Samhain — Keep those fires lit!

Now that we have a little primer on why we like being scared, let’s get into some book recommendations!

PLAGUE
By C.C. Humphreys

Captain William Coke lives as a thief with a conscience, in C.C. Humphrey’s historical thriller, Plague. Never loading his pistol with anything more than powder, he carefully selects his victims from the wealthy and the pompous. But he soon walks into crimes far more horrific than robbery.

Captain Coke and Dickon, a rescued street urchin, never expected to find their marks slaughtered on the road to London. Coke has never seen a killing like this, not even on the battlefield fighting to restore his king to the throne in the English Civil War. Pitman, a thief-taker, is likewise shocked by the brutality of the murders supposedly committed by the highwayman he has come to see as a gentleman bandit. Now, Pitman will stop at nothing to find Coke, who has become known as the Monstrous Cock after the notorious murder.

Read more…if you dare!

PULSE and PREJUDICE: The Confessions of Mr. Darcy, Vampire
By Colette L. Saucier
First Place Winner in Chatelaine Awards

As a wealthy member of the landed gentry, Fitzwilliam Darcy has obligations in Colette Saucier’s mashup, Pulse and Prejudice: The Confessions of Mr. Darcy, Vampire.

Darcy must secure a suitable match for his younger sister, maintain his cool facade of indifference, and live as quietly as possible. He refuses to consider marriage for himself due to his unusual “affliction.” Forced to live a shell of his former existence for the past six years, Darcy relies on his valet, Rivens, for his every need. He shuns most company because Darcy is a vampire. So, when his close friend, Charles Bingley, insists that Darcy accompany him to a country ball, Darcy is loath to accept. When Bingley meets and is immediately captivated with Jane Bennet, Darcy suspects the Bennets are fortune seekers, interested only in finding wealthy matches for the five Bennet daughters, including the fiery Elizabeth, Jane’s sister.

Read more…if you dare!

OPHELIA’S ROOM
By Michael Scott Garvin

A frantic, distraught father pounds on a bolted chapel door in a small country hospital…. A tiny, two-day-old infant cries in peril…. A deranged grandfather sees demons in every shadowy corner.

The opening scene read like something out of a young parent’s nightmare. Will their child be healthy? Will they grow up to be successful? Will the child be safe in their grandparents’ arms? Questions that any new mother and father ask themselves. In Garvin’s Ophelia’s Room, the answers are terrifying.

Read more…if you dare!

JUST DIE
By E. Alan Fleischauer
First Place in Paranormal Awards

E. Alan Fleischauer’s lead character holds the power of life and death in his fingertips in the new crime thriller, Just Die.

How would you react to holding the fate of the living in your bare hand? Recovering from his own near-death experience, retired financial advisor Jake Silver attempts to understand his new powers after a stint in the hospital. When he points his bare finger and utters well-worn words, the object of his attention instantly dies.

Read more…if you dare!

The Adventure of the Murdered Midwife
By Liese Sherwood-Fabre
First Place Winner in M&M Awards

The game is afoot! It’s years before Sherlock Holmes’ ponderings from 221B Baker Street. Sherlock is a teenager when challenged to solve his first case, The Adventure of the Murdered Midwife by Liese Sherwood-Fabre.

The stakes are among the highest. Sherlock’s beloved mother is the accused killer when he and his infamous brother Mycroft are summoned home from their boarding schools. The family reunites to a single purpose. They must prove Violette Holmes’s innocence. They soon discover that proving her innocence will not be enough to restore her standing in the court of public opinion. They can only clear her name by also finding the actual killer. That investigation involves a dangerous pursuit that requires detailed observation, logic, and action. Young Sherlock Holmes will also need to watch his back.

Read more…if you dare!

THE DEVIL PULLS the STRINGS
By JW Zarek

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

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

Read more…if you dare!

WRITING IS MURDER: An Emlyn Goode Mystery
By Susan Lynn Solomon
First Place in M&M Awards

A perfect seasonal read, Susan L. Solomon’s mystery, Writing is Murder: An Emlyn Goode Mystery delivers a witty, intuitive red-headed writer who has many connections in her community, a handsome police detective-maybe-lover, a mouthy cat who keeps her grounded, and a Wiccan BFF whom she can trust with her most profound concerns. And, of course, magical abilities inherited from her ancestor, Salem’s legendary accused witch Sarah Goode, adds layers of mystique.

When Roger Frey interrupts Emlyn Goode battling her recalcitrant muse, she can’t be upset. Roger, aka Police Detective Roger Frey, her next-door neighbor and sometimes sleep-over boyfriend, stumbles on the hunt for coffee, a good-morning kiss, and a sympathetic ear, in that order. He’s bored at work and wants to complain.

Read more…if you dare!

Have a spooky story that will thrill and chill your readers? Click here for our Full List of Book Awards here!

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

Our professional editors are top-notch and are experts in the Chicago Manual of Style. They have and are working for the top publishing houses (TOR, McMillian, Thomas Mercer, Penguin Random House, Simon Schuster, etc.).

If you would like more information, we invite you to email 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, with more information available here.
- And we do editorial consultations for $75. Learn more here.
- If you’re confident in your book, consider submitting it for a Editorial Book Review here or to one of our Chanticleer International Awards here.
And remember! Our 10th Anniversary Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC22) will be April 7-10, 2022, where our 2021 CIBA winners will be announced. Space is limited and seats are already filling up, so sign up today! CAC22 and the CIBA Ceremonies will be hosted at the Hotel Bellwether in Beautiful Bellingham, Wash. Sign up and see the latest updates here!

Writer’s Toolbox

Thank you for reading this Chanticleer Writer’s article.

Helpful Writer Links:

Neil Gaiman, “Click Clack the Rattle Bag”

JOLABOKAFLOD – an Icelandic Tradition

5 Reasons We Enjoy Being Scared

A Glossary of Haunting by Eve Tuck and C. Ree

Why do we like to be scared?

The traditional publishing tool that indie authors can use to propel their writing careers to new levels? The Seven Must-Haves for Authors – Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Publishing Series by Kiffer Brown
October 29, 2021
JUST DIE by E. Alan Fleischauer – International Mystery & Crime, Occult Horror, Thriller & Suspense

E. Alan Fleischauer’s lead character holds the power of life and death in his fingertips in the new crime thriller, Just Die.

How would you react to holding the fate of the living in your bare hand? Recovering from his own near-death experience, retired financial advisor Jake Silver attempts to understand his new powers after a stint in the hospital. When he points his bare finger and utters well-worn words, the object of his attention instantly dies.

With great power comes great responsibility. Now that Jake has this power, how will he decide to use it? And what repercussions come with his decision?

Happy to be home after a stroke, Jake celebrates a second chance at life with his fiancée Beth. He’s also made a new friend from the hospital. This man, Omar, turns out to be an idolized NFL Super Bowl winner, and he joins in Jake’s celebration.

Despite Jake’s gratitude for being home, life’s annoyances can still rub him the wrong way. When he flashes a familiar gesture at any living thing, it dies. It dawns on him that he’s the cause of the deadly results. When a particular bike rider crosses a path near Jake’s home, he suffers this ultimate, lethal punishment. An overreaction? Keep reading to find out more.

The biker’s death brings on a police investigation, exploring motive, means, and opportunity.

Witnesses come forward with motives of their own. Both Jake and his beloved Beth are questioned as witnesses – and then as suspects. How can Jake answer the cops? Concerns grow over whether this stress will force an end to the couple’s engagement, bring them closer together than ever, or put one or both behind bars.

Omar shares a provocative idea with Jake.

After seeing firsthand his friend’s extreme power, Omar shares a story with him. An all-too-familiar tale of justice denied – and the impact upon Omar’s family moves Jake. He sees that it’s within his new power to deliver justice by a covert plan to kill a freed criminal. Will Jake intentionally take on the role of judge and jury to execute what he thinks is the rightful outcome?

In the meantime, the police investigation heats up.

Jake’s power may no longer be a secret. Someone wants this power used for the benefit of the nation and tells an influential official. Now Jake faces more potential danger and critical decisions as the government has designs on his powers. Where will Jake turn? His retired life, gratefully saved in the hospital, has been interrupted by the thriller life of a hired gun.

An action-packed paranormal thriller, Just Die challenges readers with questions about the quality of life, shades of morality, and personal loyalty.

E. Alan Fleischauer masterfully creates relatable characters, including the human frailties shouldered by an NFL star. No one is immune from the limits of being human when tackling bigger-than-life issues. Fleischauer handily delivers a paranormal thriller destined to garner the attention it so rightly deserves. How will it all end? Who will survive the threats and the investigations, and who will just die? Readers, get ready for one thrill ride of a novel. This one will keep you up at night! Just Die won 1st Place in the 2020 CIBAs for Paranormal Fiction.

October 27, 2021
An October Spotlight on the 2021 Paranormal Awards

What’s that creepy sound? The clawing at your door…could it be…the Paranormal Awards? It is!

It’s not just the Dead…it’s the Deadline of the 2021 Paranormal Book Awards

Submit your spooky, unnatural, and supernatural fiction by the end of the month to be considered for the 2021 Paranormal CIBAs.

What makes something Paranormal?

At Chanticleer we are looking to discover the best books that feature Paranormal Romance, Urban/Edgy, Magical Beings & Creatures, Supernatural Powers, and Adventure/Mystery/Thriller books! The overlap with Fantasy and Science Fiction is palpable, but we know Paranormal when we see it. Paranormal often delves into the weird, bizarre, and spooky. There’s often a modern touch, similar to urban fantasy where the world looks similar to our world, just with ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures.

The Vampire Bill Compton in “True Blood” based on the Sookie Stackhouse Series

Now, some will draw a line between Supernatural Fiction and Paranormal Fiction, saying that Supernatural Fiction is always beyond the realm of science into transcendental subjects like the soul and God. While Paranormal Fiction is also beyond the realm of science, it lives on the lines of possibility, no matter how remote, that one day we might understand something of that strange and magical nature. While knowing this distinction exists, we won’t send a vampire after you if they feel confusing.

Common examples of accepted Paranormal Fiction are Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files, Zoraida Córdova’s The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, or Marissa Meyer’s Cinder.

And of course, we have reviews of Paranormal reads that can thrill, chill, and fulfill you! Check them out!

SOUL SEEKER
By Kaylin McFarren
Grand Prize Winner in Paranormal Awards

The realms of demons and angels clash, as the possibility of romance, plunges the beings of Hell into chaos. Kaylin McFarren’s Soul Seeker follows the otherworldly set as they flee for their lives, uncover millennia-old secrets about one another, and face the possibility of love in a very dangerous world.

But first, the demon, Crighton, wreaks havoc on his human target, a man named Poe, devastating the man and his family. You could say, Crighton’s at home collecting wicked souls for his boss, Lucifer. His villain persona is put into question when he meets the angel, Ariel. At first, Crighton believes the angelic Ariel would make an excellent prize for the prince of darkness, as the demon is well aware that his master adores ruining pretty things. However, when an undeniable attraction emerges between them, they wrestle with each other, pitting strength against strength. Beware any who would do anything to tear these two apart—that would spell certain death.

Read more…if you dare!

NOWEVER
By Kristina Bak

When 17-year-old high school student, Stevie Wales, suddenly blossoms, she and her best friend, the ever-popular Winter, have some adjusting to do. Sometimes, however, adjusting to new information between friends isn’t possible.

In their case, Stevie winds up alienated from Winter and the group in her Puget Sound Island community. She decides to become what she believes they all see – the weird girl. As her oddity status rises, so does her anger. When she takes a job at an equine therapy ranch, tending the horses used in the program, she discovers her unusual ability to take away pain in both animals and humans.

Read more…if you dare!

The DEVIL PULLS the STRINGS
By J. W. Zarek

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

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

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

Read more…if you dare!

WRITING IS MURDER: An Emlyn Goode Mystery
by Susan Lynn Solomon
First Place Winner in M&M Awards

A perfect seasonal read, Susan L. Solomon’s mystery, Writing is Murder: An Emlyn Goode Mystery delivers a witty, intuitive red-headed writer who has many connections in her community, a handsome police detective-maybe-lover, a mouthy cat who keeps her grounded, and a Wiccan BFF whom she can trust with her most profound concerns. And, of course, magical abilities inherited from her ancestor, Salem’s legendary accused witch Sarah Goode, adds layers of mystique.

When Roger Frey interrupts Emlyn Goode battling her recalcitrant muse, she can’t be upset. Roger, aka Police Detective Roger Frey, her next-door neighbor and sometimes sleep-over boyfriend, stumbles on the hunt for coffee, a good-morning kiss, and a sympathetic ear, in that order. He’s bored at work and wants to complain.

Read more…if you dare!

The MADWOMAN of PREACHER’S COVE
By Joy Ross Davis
Grand Prize Winner in Paranormal Awards

Award-winning author, Joy Ross Davis’ latest work, The Madwoman of Preacher’s Cove, ventures beyond the paranormal into the surreal. Like Medusa on a bad hair day, the lives of characters are intertwined and twisted in a snaky snarl of conflicting human desires, terrifying inexplicable events, and the lingering afterlives of ancient, supernatural beings.

Davis gifts us with a 21st-century legend, replete with mythological themes and creatures, and snippets of folklore and superstition melded with documented vagaries of weather, obscure herpetology, and creates a mystical potion worthy of Circe. In other words, Davis gives us a thrilling read!

Read more…if you dare!

Have a great Paranormal story? Submit before the end of October for the 2021 CIBAs!

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

Our professional editors are top-notch and are experts in the Chicago Manual of Style. They have and are working for the top publishing houses (TOR, McMillian, Thomas Mercer, Penguin Random House, Simon Schuster, etc.).

If you would like more information, we invite you to email 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, with more information available here.

And we do editorial consultations for $75. Learn more here.

If you’re confident in your book, consider submitting it for a Editorial Book Review here or to one of our Chanticleer International Awards here.

Also remember! Our 10th Anniversary Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC22) will be April 7-10, 2022, where our 2021 CIBA winners will be announced. Space is limited and seats are already filling up, so sign up today! CAC22 and the CIBA Ceremonies will be hosted at the Hotel Bellwether in Beautiful Bellingham, Wash. Sign up and see the latest updates here!

October 25, 2021
The 2021 DANTE ROSSETTI Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction – CIBAs Long List
The Dante Rossetti Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Young Adult Fiction. The Dante Rossetti Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The 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 and choose the best Young Adult Books among them for the winners of the Dante Rossetti Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction. Looking for middle grade contests? Check out our Gertrude Warner Awards.

These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2021 Dante Rossetti Young Adult Fiction entries to the 2021 Dante Rossetti Book Awards LONG LIST. Entries below are now in competition for 2021 Dante Rossetti Shortlist. The Short Listers will compete for the FINALIST positions. Finalists will be selected from the Short List. All 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 SHORT LIST of the 2021 Dante Rossetti Book Awards novel competition for Young Adult Fiction!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works in the 2021 CIBAs.
- P.H.C. Marchesi – Florissant
- K.C. Sprayberry – Sins of the Parents
- Angela Yeh – A Phoenix Rises
- Shadow Bleak – Riot Shield
- B.L. Smith – The Last Golden Light
- M.J. Evans – The Sand Pounder: Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII
- Michael Tunison – The Shadow Kingdom
- Dan Rice – Dragons Walk Among Us
- Blue Spruell – TARO: Legendary Boy Hero of Japan
- Sean March – Little Wade and Watchtower: Abigail and the Great Gang Trap
- E.A. Allen – Percy St. John and the Chronicle of Secrets
- J.W. Zarek – The Devil Pulls the Strings
- Glen Dahlgren – The Game of War: The Trials of Dantess, Warrior Priest
- Mark Wakely – A Friend Like Filby
- Rick Duffy – The Sigil Masters
- Strider K – Stone (former title: You Rock my Life)
- Eileen Charbonneau – Death at Little Mound
- Jon Robinson – Sunshine and the Full Moon
- J W Nelson – Pentagon Pirate Gang: The Secret of the Orchard
- Rektok Ross – Ski Weekend
- Nancy Thorne – The Somewhere I See You Again
- Dennis D. Skirvin – The Treasure of Nonsense Woods
- Susan Faw – Bone Dragon
- Kourtney Spadoni – In The Underwood
- Rebecca Danzenbaker – The Color of My Soul
- John Thomas Everett – Aesop’s Fox
- L. A. Thompson – Isle of Dragons
- Shay Siegel – Fractured
- Thomas Corrigan – The Good Life
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 Dante Rossetti Book Award Winners for Young Adult Fiction.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2022 Dante Rossetti Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction. The 2022 CIBA winners will be announced at CAC 2023.

Please click here for more information.

For our other Youth Reader Fiction Awards, please see the following:
- The Gertrude Warner Awards for Middle Grade Fiction
- The Little Peeps Awards for Children’s Literature
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.
October 25, 2021
The 2021 LITTLE PEEPS Book Awards for Early Readers & Picture Books – CIBAs Long List
The Little Peeps Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Early Readers. The Little Peeps Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring stories of all shapes and sizes written to an audience for Early Readers. Story books, Beginning Chapter Books, Picture Books, Activity Books, and Educational Books. These books have advanced to the Long List for the 2021 CIBAs. (For Young Adult Fiction see our Dante Rossetti Awards, for Middle Grade Readers see our Gertrude Warner Awards.)

These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2021 Little Peeps Early Readers entries to the 2021 Little Peeps Book Awards LONG LIST. Entries below are now in competition for 2021 Little Peeps Shortlist. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalist positions. Finalists will be selected from the Semi-Finalists. All 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 SHORT LIST of the 2021 Little Peeps Book Awards novel competition for Early Readers!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works in the 2021 CIBAs.
- M. Lisa Rinaca – Matt Needs A Werewolf
- Avril van der Merwe – I Don’t Want To Be a Hyena
- Linda Harkey – The Remarkable Story of Willie the Crow
- Once Upon a Dance – Belluna’s Big Adventure in the Sky: A Dance-It-Out Creative Movement Story for Young Movers
- M. Lisa Rinaca – Just James
- Susan Faw – Poppy Ogopogo
- Stephanie Matolyak & Deborah Bailey – A Farm Animals’ Christmas-No Ordinary Farm
- Brenda Faatz & Peter Trimarco – Now What?
- Ellie Smith – Tex the Explorer Journey Through Our Solar System
- Steven Haggard – There’s an Elephant in My Room!
- Rita M Boehm – Bluebirds in the Garden
- Zaynab Al-Yassiri – LunchBox Wisdom
- Cindy A. Bell – I Love You, Fiorella, Flaws and All!
- Dana Brackob – Molly: A Love Story
- Carmela Dutra – A Lua
- David Horn – Eudora Space Kid: The Great Engine Room Takeover
- Rebecca Dwight Bruff – Stars of Wonder
- E. Alan Fleischauer – Charlie Lou Goes to the Rodeo
- Lauren Stockly – Mindful Monsters Therapeutic Workbook
- Lauren Stockly – Be Mindful of Monsters
- Cynthia Kern OBrien – I Don’t Want to go to Preschool, the Fairy Queen calls
- JL Morin & Stephan Theo – Tuck-a-tuck Dragon
- Denise Ditto – Tooth Fairy Day Celebration
- Kevin Brougher – Grandpa Kevin’s…Jack and the Bean Stalk
- Brooks Olbrys – Blue Ocean Bob Discovers His Purpose
- Katy McQuaid – Everybody Loves Grace: An Amazing True Story of How Grace Brings Love to Everyone She Meets
- Deborah Serani – Sometimes When I’m Mad
- Vicky Wu – Patty Panda Gets a Potty!
- Peggy Sullivan – Shadow Walkers, The Secret Lives of the Shy Sisters
- Vincent Kelly – All People are Beautiful
- Kyle Poehls – From Nicholas To Christmas
- Michael Ferrone – Frankenbots: Sunken City of Scraps
- Wanda Carter Roush – You Got This – A Tale of Courage
- Karen B. Kurtz – Sophia’s Gift
- Amy Leaf – Harry and the Pelican
- Andrea Vaughan – Victoria and the Big, Brave Breath
- Megan Herr – Lucas Takes His Food Allergies to Daycare
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 Little Peeps Book Award Winners for Early Readers Fiction.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2022 Little Peeps Book Awards for Children’s Literature. The 2022 CIBA winners will be announced at CAC 2023.

Please click here for more information.

For our other Youth Reader Fiction Awards, please see the following:
- The Gertrude Warner Awards for Middle Grade Fiction
- The Dante Rossetti Awards for Young Adult Fiction
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.
October 25, 2021
WRITING IS MURDER: An Emlyn Goode Mystery by Susan Lynn Solomon – Cozy Mystery, Paranormal Mystery Series, Women Sleuth

A perfect seasonal read, Susan L. Solomon’s mystery, Writing is Murder: An Emlyn Goode Mystery delivers a witty, intuitive red-headed writer who has many connections in her community, a handsome police detective-maybe-lover, a mouthy cat who keeps her grounded, and a Wiccan BFF whom she can trust with her most profound concerns. And, of course, magical abilities inherited from her ancestor, Salem’s legendary accused witch Sarah Goode, adds layers of mystique.

When Roger Frey interrupts Emlyn Goode battling her recalcitrant muse, she can’t be upset. Roger, aka Police Detective Roger Frey, her next-door neighbor and sometimes sleep-over boyfriend, stumbles on the hunt for coffee, a good-morning kiss, and a sympathetic ear, in that order. He’s bored at work and wants to complain.

She’s heard it all before. But soon, she sees something remarkable.

When Emlyn goes to her writers group, she experiences an out-of-body experience that takes her back in time. She travels across to the Crystal Beach amusement park, across the lake in Canada, where modern-day condominiums grow. There, she glimpses two couples, one unfamiliar to her, the other, her parents. Before she can process what she sees, one of Em’s writing cohorts jerks her away from the action, asking her a question.

The group takes a break, and Emlyn has a curious talk with Daniel Bennett, the newest writer in the group. Daniel shares with her a copy of an old document he found in his deceased grandfather’s possessions. She catches only a glimpse of it before Daniel gets spooked and puts it away – but she won’t forget.

The mystery sparks to life.

A few days later, on Halloween night, Em joins her writing cohorts for a ghost hunt. Their good fun turns to horror when they discover Daniel’s murdered body in an empty, historic home. Emlyn, to her dismay, might be implicated.

Susan Solomon skillfully uses a prologue to set Writing is Murder’s theme and mood. She introduces the reader to “perhaps one of the most haunted areas in the country,” relates the legend of an ancient Tuscarora curse and seemingly related murders, and includes accurate descriptions of historical places and events in western New York State. All this pulls the reader into the story and keeps them there.

As the story progresses, Emlyn realizes that the past and present must somehow converge before solving the murder. Thanks to Emlyn’s unique gifts, along with her friend Rebecca Nurse’s witchy knowledge and advice, she might do just that.

Writing is Murder: An Emlyn Goode Mystery will entertain readers who love their mysteries with a bit of paranormal in the mix. The plot twists and turns to satisfy even the most ardent sleuths. In addition, the burgeoning romance coupled with sometimes glib banter, and the notion that potions and spells may really work, highlight the characters’ charm.

Susan Lynn Solomon’s Writing is Murder: An Emlyn Goode Mystery won 1st Place in the 2019 CIBA Mystery & Mayhem Book Awards for Cozy and Not So Cozy reads.

October 25, 2021
An October Spotlight on the 2021 Ozma Awards
Writing to Dorothy: the importance of Fantasy and the Ozma Awards

As anyone who follows Chanticleer knows, the Ozma Awards for Fantasy Fiction are named after Princess Ozma of Oz, one of Dorothy Gale’s companions in Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz series.

L. Frank Baum, Author of The Wizard of Oz series

What you may not know is the dedication at the front of that book that reads:

To all the boys and girls who read my stories
– and especially to the Dorothys –
this book is lovingly dedicated.

As Chanticleer looks for the best Fantasy Fiction featuring magic, the supernatural, imaginary worlds, fantastical creatures, legendary beasts, mythical beings, or inventions of fancy, there’s something beautiful hidden in that dedication. When authors write fantasy, they’re diving into a world beyond science, beyond the realm of understanding.

These are the best parts of escapism in literature. While the worlds may be similar and the struggles and allegories run parallel to our world, the separation of a whole new world of fantastic magic takes us from the mundane into a realm beyond our own.

As always, Masterclass.com has an excellent definition at the ready for us:

Fantasy is a genre of literature that features magical and supernatural elements that do not exist in the real world. Although some writers juxtapose a real-world setting with fantastical elements, many create entirely imaginary universes with their own physical laws and logic and populations of imaginary races and creatures. Speculative in nature, fantasy is not tied to reality or scientific fact.

With all that in mind, think back to the dedication in Ozma of Oz. Who is the Dorothy you write for? That reader who needs to escape from the dreary grays of their world into a reflection of reality that shines beyond all belief. When we bring the reader into this world, we create something truly special and unique, and sharing that brings the magic to life.

To put all this into perspective, L. Frank Baum published the first OZ work in 1900.

Note from Kiffer: If you are writing fantasy, it will be well worth reading Baum’s first three books—if you haven’t already. Learn from the best!

Baum’s OZ series helped to pave the way for fantasy epics such as:
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis published 1950.
- Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien was published July 29, 1954. His The Hobbit was published in 1937.
- The Witcher novel series by Andrzej Sapkowski. Published 1986
- The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Published 9 July 1995
- Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. First book published June 26, 1997
- Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer. First book published 2005.
Ozma of Oz: A Record of Her Adventures with Dorothy Gale of Kansas, Billina the Yellow Hen, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger; Besides Other Good People Too Numerous to Mention Faithfully Recorded Herein, published on July 30, 1907, was the official third book of L. Frank Baum’s Oz series. It was the first in which Baum was clearly intending a series of Oz books. [Peter Glassman, “Afterword,” p 271 L. Frank Baum, Ozma of Oz, ISBN 0-688-06632-1]

Princess Ozma and her Royal Court of Oz are the rulers of the Land of Oz. She does not appear in the first book in the Oz series, but makes a grand entrance in the second of the series, The Marvelous Land of Oz. She is kind, wise, and brave. She was a long lost princess who was hidden away for her own safety when the Wizard of Oz took the throne (the man behind the curtain).

Also, notice that Dorothy is holding Billena, the speaking hen, on the cover. Billena plays an instrumental role in Dorothy’s Hero’s Journey in OZMA of OZ.

Did you know that L. Frank Baum wrote and published 40 Oz books in the series?

If you have a Fantasy book that you know deserves the recognition of a prestigious Chanticleer Int’l Book Award, submit it here by the end of October to be entered into the 2021 CIBAs.

You can see the 2020 Ozma CIBA winners here, and you better believe we have some extra Fantasy reviews to Recommend to you!

Before we dive in, if you haven’t checked out our Ten Question Interview with Elana A. Mugdan, now’s the time to fix that! She’s a marvelous fantasy author and dragon expert.

Elana A. Mugdan cosplaying as one of her characters

Without further ado, let’s see some fantasy books, starting with Mugdan!

Dragon Speaker (Book 1 in the Shadow War Saga)
By Elana A. Mugdan
Ozma Grand Prize Winner

A young girl is charged with rescuing a dragon and, ultimately, saves her world in this wide-reaching fantasy conception of love, war, danger, and magic. Massive amounts of magic!

Keriya is a simple girl of no great pedigree who lives in Aeria where everyone except her wields some form of magic. At age 14, she knows she will not be selected to prove herself worthy of a greater destiny in the annual Ceremony of Choice. But she has to try. Even though the consequences of failure will be a life of slavery, she yearns for the opportunity. She approaches the selection committee and begs – no, demands – a chance.

Continue reading here!

The Sightless City
By Noah Lemelson
Ozma First Place Winner

The city of Huile burns with trouble in Noah Lemelson’s dieselpunk novel The Sightless City.

Four years ago, the United Confederacy of the Citizens Resurgence defeated the Principate in a devastating war. Marcel Talwar lost his leg to that conflict but became a national hero for saving Huile. Now he’s settled down to work as a private detective. However, the schematics to a strange device throw his temporary calm into disarray.

Continue Reading here!

Isle of Dragons
By L.A. Thompson

Jade of House Sol has the chance to save her father from the Isle of Dragons, but land, sea, and the guards of her homeland stand between them. Will, her new friends, prove loyal and capable enough to see her journey through, and what will they find on the elusive island?

Carison Sol, betrayed by his fellow nobles, disappears across the sea in the dark of night. Meanwhile, Jade flees the guards chasing her, the leader whom is Kaylen, a former friend. Just as her pursuers close in, a young witch named Miria saves her and offers shelter, but Jade can’t stay still long. Though she doesn’t know much about the Isle of Dragons, Miria and her brother Dan must find their parents, and they offer to join Jade in her quest. Together, the three of them find a dragon who can take them to the magical island. Their journey is full of friends and enemies – and situations that test their mettle and their connection to one another.

Continue Reading here!

Cecelia (Book 1)
By Sandra L. Rostirolla
Dante Rossetti First Place Winner

Content and happy in a village nestled deep within the forest, eighteen-year-old Cecilia never realized a bigger world existed in Cecilia (The Cecilia Series Book 1) by Sandra L. Rostirolla.

After the Great War, Cecilia’s great ancestor led a small group of followers far away from the destruction left behind. For many years, they lived underground away from the poisonous air until it was safe to begin life above ground again. Now, generations later, Cecilia lives an idyllic life with her mother and two older brothers. One day, a group of dark riders decimates her village, killing every female and old person and taking prisoner all of the males old enough to join their ranks or serve as slaves for Vitus, a city Cecilia never knew existed.

Continue Reading here!

Soul Sacrifice (Book 3 in the Spirit Shield Saga)
By Susan Faw
Dante Rossetti First Place Winner

Evil has taken hold of Cathair and the surrounding lands, and only the Spirit Shields can save both the living and the dead. Cayden and Avery, human twins housing the spirits of the godling children of Morpheus, have been tasked with stopping their sister Helga. She is hellbent on wiping out humanity and controlling the spirits of both man and beast.

Separated by missions unique to their abilities, Avery and Cayden are frantically searching for a way to defeat Helga. Cayden, the keeper of the Well of Souls, is connected to all spirit life. He can feel the life literally draining from the land but is nearly powerless to stop it because he is Soul Fetched, his mind imprisoned by Helga. He knows he must fight her insidious commands but is weakening mentally and physically. Avery must find a way to commune with their father and beg his help in defeating Helga since only a god’s power can destroy her minion army of Charun, souls of former warriors returned to ethereal bodies. She is also fighting against the Daimon, creatures born of hatred and fire who consume the souls of men before they can return to the river of souls awaiting reincarnation.

Continue Reading here!

And just HOW DOES SHIRLEY TEMPLE fit into all this?

She had a show titled Shirley Temple’s Storybook series made for TV. She hosted and narrated the series that featured adaptations of classic fantasy fiction, fairy tales, and family fiction for children. [1958 – 1961] The Marvelous Land of Oz episode debut was on September 18, 1960.

Have a great Fantasy story? Submit before the end of October for the 2021 CIBAs!

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

Our professional editors are top-notch and are experts in the Chicago Manual of Style. They have and are working for the top publishing houses (TOR, McMillian, Thomas Mercer, Penguin Random House, Simon Schuster, etc.).

If you would like more information, we invite you to email 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, with more information available here.

And we do editorial consultations for $75. Learn more here.

If you’re confident in your book, consider submitting it for a Editorial Book Review here or to one of our Chanticleer International Awards here.

Also remember! Our 10th Anniversary Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC22) will be April 7-10, 2022, where our 2021 CIBA winners will be announced. Space is limited and seats are already filling up, so sign up today! CAC22 and the CIBA Ceremonies will be hosted at the Hotel Bellwether in Beautiful Bellingham, Wash. Sign up and see the latest updates here!
October 22, 2021
TEVYE The MAGICAL THEATER CAT (Introduction to Community Theater) by Peggy Sullivan, M.Ed., Counseling – Children’s Performing Arts Fiction, Children’s Drama Books, Children’s Community Theater Books

An ordinary gray tabby discovers the behind-the-scenes magic of community theater in Peggy Sullivan’s, Tevye the Magical Theater Cat: Introduction to Community Theater.

Sullivan builds a straightforward, simple narrative on the foundation of a true story. ‘Cat’ the furry neighborhood wanderer happens upon a work-in-progress stage production at the local theater. She follows her curiosity, touring through the box office, the heavily curtained stage, a sound and lighting booth, and a group of gathering musicians.

Amidst the extraordinary wonders of a welcoming environment, the intrigued feline also finds a family of her own.

Cat takes special interest in the neighborhood cast who don wardrobes and makeup to undergo magical transformations. Any readers familiar with classic stage and screen productions will quickly recognize this community presentation as a rendition of the ever-popular “Fiddler on the Roof.” As the play unfolds, Cat decides to adopt the name of the central character who sings about his life and family. These local thespians – and the play itself – ignite Cat’s own longing for a sense of connection.

Sullivan’s inviting illustrations feature clean lines and bright and colorful imagery.

The sweet and longing expressions of the inquisitive Cat compliment the star-studded backdrops that highlight the harmony of cast and crew. A stellar ensemble performance grows from the bonding community effort. This kind of magic proves available for everyone, including our four-footed, furry friends.

As a licensed mental health counselor and cat lover herself, Sullivan has written and illustrated a series of books with life lessons from a cat’s point of view. She draws on her experience and expertise to charm and teach her audience. This entertaining story features the emotional relatability and connection to humankind that those feline creatures offer.

In a heartfelt effort of community spirit, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to local community theaters. Tevye the Magical Theater Cat introduces local theater to young children, emphasizing the joy and magic of community and family.

A sweet, imaginative tale, with an earnestly shared message. Highly recommended!

Tevye the Magical Theater Cat by Peggy Sullivan, M.Ed. won 1st Place in the CIBA 2018 Little Peeps Book Awards for Early Readers.

October 22, 2021
Chanticleer Magazine featuring USA Today Bestselling Author Ann Charles is Available in Print and E-Zine
The latest issue features Ann Charles, USA Today Best-Selling Author.

Ann shares her amazing author journey and her secrets to success! She has five, count them, five book series that are filled with mystery, humor, romance, supernatural, and the paranormal. Ann has also been awarded the CIBA Grand Prize for Paranormal Fiction.
- - Five Tips for Building Relationships with Readers
    
    How to Refuel Your Creative Tank
    
    Charting Plot Structure
    
    Writing Life
    
    Secrets for Writing Series
All this and more in Sharon E. Anderson’s great interview with Ann!

Order your print copy today!

Download your e-pub copy today! Click here for a digital copy featuring Ann Charles.

Writing Craft with Jessica Morrell, Top-Tiered Editor and one of Chanticleer’s exceptional Master Writing Class instructors, expands on the components of successful fiction.

Jessica Page Morrell

James Conroyd Martin, Chanticleer Overall Grand Prize Winning Author known for bringing historical fiction to life, 10 Question Interview.

James Conroyd Martin, Overall Chanticleer Grand Prize Winner!

Sweet Lavender Days with Gail Noble-Sanderson with her delicious lavender shortbread cookie recipe. Gail is a multi-award-winning author who weaves an epic tale of romance set against World War I and II, full of warmth, family, and the hope that love can indeed conquer all.

Award-Winning Author Gail Noble-Sanderson

What Will You Read Next? Discovery New Reads from this issue’s Chanticleer reviews of these authors’ works from Non-Fiction to Fiction and even an anthology! More than 80 Chanticleer Reviews on the following authors’ works.

Robert L. Slater, Ted Neill, G.R. Morris, Paul E. Vaughn, T. K. Riggins, JW Zarek, Joy Ross Davis, Jeny Heckman, Richard J. OBrien, Chris Karlsen, Corey Lynn Fayman, Kevin G. Chapman, Pamela Beason, Norman M. Jacobs, M.D., Marilyn Larew, Michael Pronko, Michelle Cox, Wally Duff, Ann Charles, Karen Musser Nortman, Anna Castle, James Conroyd Martin, Bruce Gardner, Blaine Beveridge, Joe Vitovec, Sandra Wagner-Wright, Andrea McKenzie Raine, Gerri Hilger, Michael L. Ross, Kari Bovee, David Fitz-Gerald, Sandra Rostirolla, L. A. Thompson, Susan Faw, Tiffany Brooks, Kay M. Bates, Robert D. Calkins, Aric Cushing, Sara Dahmen, Robert Scott Thayer, Simon Calcavecchia, L. E. Rico, Bronwen Evans, Elana Mikalsen, Claire Fullerton, Gene Helfman, Charlie Suisman, Lou Dischler, Eileen Charbonneau, Yorker Keith, Kris Kelso, Julie Jason, Lance Brewer, Franklin Ball, David Okerlund, Linda Jamsen, Cassandra Overby, Stevanne Auerbach, Bill W, Thomas Widman, Karen Keilt, Jill Anderson, Dan Juday, Ilene Birkwood, Dr. Rhona Epstein, Ramzi Najjar, K, Tanner T. Roberts, J. Nell Brown, Maya Castro, Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D, and The Red Wheelbarrow Writers.

Where can you get you copies of the Chanticleer Reviews Magazine?

You may order print and e-zine copies directly from us! Print copies receive complimentary shipping to anywhere in the United States.

OR Purchase Print Copies from these Independent Booksellers:

U.S.

Village Books of Bellingham, Wash. They can mail magazines out anywhere and they keep copies of the latest issue of Chanticleer Reviews quarterly magazine in stock on their magazine racks.

Canada & U.K.

If you live in Canada or the United Kingdom, then order your print magazine from Dragon’s Lair: www.DragonsLairArtist.com or email Susan Faw at susan@dragonslairartist.com | We ship a stack to Dragon’s Lair in Ontario, Canada. Then, they can ship them much easier, faster, and for cheap to Canadian addresses.

E-zines!

Order from Bookchain.ca

Or download directly from us!

Advertise? Yes, please! Email DBeaumier@ChantiReviews.com for more information.

Chanticleer Reviews magazine will make a great showpiece for the coffee table, or to take to book signings, or to have in your writer’s den, or to take to other promotional events for your books, or with you to book club meetings, and just in time for the holidays!
October 20, 2021

Chanticleer Book Reviews