In the second volume of the Call of Vengeance series, author John Stafford takes the fight overseas in A Sword of Vengeance.
Brady, the young American hero of the first volume, A Prayer of Vengeance (see our review), continues his crusade to decimate The Beast, the Evil One, the darkness, whatever your favorite term, wherever it exists. Along with his three brothers, his girlfriend, and an ever-expanding crew of like-minded supporters, they take on Beelzebub in Israel’s Temple Mount and France.
This time, in 1980, the book leaps into revisionist history as Pope John Paul supports an attack by Brady and his companions on the evil spirit that has taken over the Islamic Imam of the Temple Mount. By freeing the most sacred building of the world’s three major religions of its evil, in coordination with the Vatican, Brady makes it possible for the Pope to convene a most secret meeting of the Council of Cardinals, telling them that he is casting out the Devil from the Vatican along with those who waver from the faith with an Act of Consecretion to the Sacred Heart.
Simultaneously, the Dome of the Rock, housed within the Temple Mount and supposedly the place where Mohammed ascended into Heaven, will be consecrated with holy water containing the blood of Jesus, casting out The Angel of the Fallen from the sacred spot.
While these acts will mean much more to Catholic readers, the planning surrounding these events reads more like a combination of graphic thriller and supernatural thriller in one. Brady and his three brothers, his girlfriend Michelle, and some additional crew members find themselves on a luxury yacht at the beginning of the book, bonding with the Mighty Men of King David, an Israeli military group of 40 men led by a general and his daughter. They enjoy a great food-filled celebration with each other, capped by seeing Brady, infused by the light, elevating into the air so they can see for themselves the miracle of who he is: the man who talks to the angels.
But before the storm, there is a coupling to celebrate.
A joyous union among the team comes as a surprise to all involved. Nevertheless, family and friends have managed to remain hidden on the yacht before the nuptials. The wedding procession preceding the landing in Israel and the possibility of death all make the bonding aboard the yacht so special.
Backed by the Israelis, Brady and company make their way into the Temple Mount in a military-style operation and perform their miracle, but not without tragedy. But Brady uses his unique talents given him by the Mother of God to save a life, taking unto himself the wounds suffered by another.
Brady roots out evil in the church, as well.
Brady must face one more assignment overseas: to release dozens of children captured by an evil sect of the Church. Corrupt priests and nuns capture children and allow unspeakable evil to be done to them in an annual bacchanal at a chateau outside Paris. With the same religious fervor, Brady takes on the task. The house’s defense by Iranian shooters hidden in the bushes causes considerable damage to the would-be rescuers, including people near and dear to Brady and his people. In the world of this series, Iranians do the Devil’s work.
As in the first book, the evil fought here may repulse some people. The descriptions, in some instances, are uncomfortably vivid. Yet, the writer believes that the need to portray the good properly must be accompanied by a strong showing of the evil that must be cast out forcibly and by any/every means necessary from the world. Readers will find these books well-written and intriguing additions to the supernatural thriller genre – but quite graphic.
Alan Fleischauer ushers in his new Action/Adventure Western series with Rescued – and gives us a protagonist worthy of the title “hero.“
John Thurgood (JT) Thomas just found the most unusual cave, housing a strange treasure trove of high-end furniture, extraordinary inventions, and a custom gun. While he’s enjoying his mountain view and wondering what should happen with the goods, he spies another unusual site. Three women follow a wagon of dangerous-looking desperados. JT can’t help but step in, little knowing that action will alter his entire life. As a former lieutenant colonel in the Civil War and U.S. Marshal, JT rescues the three women and finds a fourth sitting in the wagon. He immediately abandons his cave camp and takes the women to nearby Point Stevens Pass, Colorado, where he stays until their safety is secured.
One of the women, however, leads the gang and is responsible for kidnapping the others. Jean Cantrell, a bloodthirsty bank robber, and murderer flees town before the women spill the beans – but not before leaving behind a dead banker.
Hellbent on capturing Cantrell, JT pursues the villain, but another woman, Annabelle Hewitt, insists on accompanying him. JT and Annabelle soon realize their feelings may run more profound than those of “victim and rescuer” when they take shelter in the very cave JT had earlier abandoned. Inside, they soon discover a secret. However, Cantrell isn’t about to give up her need for revenge and her greed, and soon, the new couple will face off with the kidnapper again, and their lives will take an incredible turn once again.
So many characters in this novel are unbelievable survivors, especially the female characters.
Annabelle is the most obvious example of these fierce women. Annabelle is married to a violent, dangerous man, Marcus. They lived in New York, where Annabelle trained as a nurse under the tutelage of Marcus’s father; however, when Marcus turns to alcohol and womanizing, Annabelle makes up her mind to leave with their daughter. Marcus isn’t about to let her go, though, and chases her down, takes their daughter from her, and leaves her penniless and abandoned. Annabelle refuses to return with him and works as a housekeeper in an inn until she saves money to keep traveling. While traversing the vast plains, a group of Cheyenne takes her prisoner. She earns the respect of the tribe as a healer, but her adventure doesn’t stop there. Annabelle creates her own business as a midwife and returns from a visit when the Cantrell gang takes her. Meeting JT makes her even more resolved, especially when the two embark on a trip back to New York to take back her daughter and get her freedom legally through a divorce.
Annabelle isn’t the only female survivor.
Though unbelievably evil in a “super-villain” way, Jean Cantrell is also a survivor. While Annabelle gains strength and independence by helping others, Jean chooses the opposite route; nevertheless, her story is one of survival in the brutal world of the Old West. Jean takes on one of the oldest occupations open to women and becomes a whore until she stumbles into a bank robbery where she quickly, remorselessly kills the would-be robber and takes the money. Once Jean realizes how much easier her life can be, the transition from prostitute to outlaw is quick, and no one gets in her way. Though her path is bloody and ruthless, she knows what she must do to survive. She is respected, albeit through fear, and no one, but JT, is willing to challenge her. Evil or not, Jean is a survivor.
Another great theme in the novel is the kindness of strangers, best seen in the actions of JT Thomas.
JT is the consummate good guy. Lovers of old westerns will recognize his gallantry in that comfortable, protector of weak way. He cannot stop himself from helping everyone he meets. He not only saves these women, but he also insists on paying their way, buying them clothes, and finding other people to safeguard them when he leaves to chase Jean Cantrell. When the plot transitions to the big city of New York, JT proves to be the hero again and again. He becomes fast friends with Mrs. C, the owner of a failing hotel, and finds a way to refurbish and restore her hotel. When he meets Annabelle’s daughter, he makes sure she is cared for in all forms, including hiring her boyfriend to manage the hotel. With a few loose ends left at the novel’s end, JT’s heroic actions seem likely to be continued in subsequent adventures.
From the rugged mountains of Colorado to the grit and glitz of New York City, this novel is a fast-paced, twisting adventure that lovers of westerns will devour. Rescued (JT Thomas Adventures Book 1) took home 1st in Category in the 2019 CIBAs for LARAMIE, Western Fiction.
The Ancient Greeks believed that there were eight different types of love. To the poet Emily Dickinson, “… Love is all there is, Is all we know of Love.” But in the words and stories in this collection, Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K., love sometimes requires desperate action, whether embraced, resisted, or a combination of the two.
The twelve stories here range from the mythic past to a far-flung future as the author goes back to retell the classic myth of “Orpheus and Eurydice.” In “Automatonomatopoeia,” we reach forward into a future that resembles the harsh authoritarian worldview of Orwell’s classic 1984 until its protagonist learns the truth behind the strict conformism that kept him isolated and alone.
Several of the most poignant stories present as contemporary reflections on the forms of love and the ways that society twists love around.
In “Calamity Jane,” the friendship of two teenaged boys crashes into the rocks of their mutual love for the same beautiful and calamitous girl. A girl who seems to like getting between the two friends more than she loves either one of them – or herself.
Meanwhile, in “Vikings” we meet a protagonist caught between several different types of love. He’s in a situation where the best thing he can do may very well destroy him. What could it be? The only certainty, the only way forward – the only way to preserve what he loves is to leave everything he cherishes behind. Can he do it?
The would-be lovers in “Head Down” face a dilemma made all the more heartbreaking because it feels so very real.
This sad tale speaks of the conflict between love and duty, wrapped around a romance that can never be fulfilled because the lovers have met too late. Both parties have commitments that they cannot or will not break. So, they must break each other’s hearts instead.
As with any collection of short stories, whether by multiple authors or by a singular author, not every story will appeal to every reader. That being said, Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories, with its wide range of genres, not only showcases the author’s talent, but is certain to please a vast readership. From myth to historical to romantic to speculative, and its exploration of all the different kinds of love from the altruistic to the romantic to the obsessive, those looking to have their hearts touched and their minds blown in the space of a single, beautifully curated collection need look no further.
In other words, Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K. tops our list for what to read this summer.
Celebrating the 4th of July – Independence Day in the U.S.A.
In July 1776 the United States declared Independence from England. As more than politics heat up, it can be difficult to talk about our Independence Day in a complex and nuanced way.
John Dunlap printed copies of the Declaration of Independence in his Philadelphia shop on the night of July 4, 1776. (National Archives Identifier 301682)
Click here for the National Archives Link that will give you a closer look at this historic event.
Since US Independence was declared, the path to voting rights for all has been a long one getting from there to here, and there’s still more work to be done. You can read an abridged history of the journey of voting rights for women and people of color here, with special attention paid to the 19th Amendment.
Of course, we also have Juneteenth, which was celebrated as a federal holiday for the first time this year. The holiday celebrates a June 19, 1865 proclamation that freed enslaved peoples in Texas. Texas then, in 1979, became the first state to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday. You can learn more about Juneteenth here.
Clearly, the US Independence Day has a deep, rich history that still lives on and evolves today. The traditions to celebrate the Fourth of July also continue to change and grow with the world. Here in the Pacific Northwest, as we recover from a heatwave that saw record temperatures in areas without infrastructure like air conditioning to manage it, people are reconsidering fireworks that might contribute to an early fire season—a fifth season that no one is happy about. This doesn’t mean that vaccinated people can’t gather safely now, just that we rethink the best ways to maximize our celebration while being mindful of our community responsibilities.
Here in Bellingham, Wash., there will be a free fireworks display that will be launched from a barge in the middle of our beautiful Bellingham Bay in honor of Independence Day. The fireworks should be visible from multiple viewpoints. Because Bellingham’s sunset is 9:15 p.m. and our twilight continues to 9:57 p.m., the fireworks will start at 10:15 p.m. PST.
It is also a time to remember those who serve and have served to preserve our nation’s independence and democracy.
To that end, we want to recognize some of the wonderful titles that have come up that made us think differently about climate and the environment. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
Author Gene Helfman, noted academic expert on aquatic biodiversity, delivers a fictional tale about an orphaned orca (killer whale) named Sam and the humans who seek to change his life in Beyond the Human Realm.
The book opens from Sam’s viewpoint. On display for humans, whom he calls “split-tails” or “logriders,” Sam relies on the humans now for food in his too-small habitat. In exchange, he must perform tricks such as carrying balls and leaping about, actions he performs reluctantly if at all. There’s one split-tail that he likes, though, a female who speaks to him gently. Sam allows her to ride on his back as one of his tricks. When a female companion arrives in his habitat Sam falls in love and the pair produces a baby. All seems blissful until the split-tails take his baby, and his partner dies of grief. Continue Reading here…
A search for the truth behind Lusca, the legendary sea dragon, leads to areas far more menacing than a mere myth in Kristie Clark’s Killing Dragons: Order of the Dolphin.
Eva Paz is a doctorate-level marine biologist at the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS), performing research on whistle-signature spectrograms. Even though Eva believes she’s close to a breakthrough in dolphin-human communication, her statistics may not be enough to keep the grant she needs to continue her work and support her employment at RIMS. Her connection with a petite Atlantic bottlenose dolphin named Taffy, an animal trained by the Navy, and Taffy’s mate, Finn, go back thirteen years during a horrific time in Eva’s life. Continue Reading here…
KOBEE MANATEE® – Climate Change and the Great Blue Hole Hazard
By Robert Scott Thayer
Author Robert Scott Thayer and illustrator Lauren Gallegos bring to life another beautifully told tale in the fourth book in the series, Kobee Manatee® – Climate Change and the Great Blue Hole Hazard.
In the engaging and increasingly popular Kobee Manatee® children’s book series, the lovable sea cow and friends are off to help Cousin Quinn clean up the plastic that’s littering the ocean area around her new underwater eating establishment. The 500-mile journey across the water turns into an enlightening adventure, as these characters face unexpected challenges and dilemmas, many brought on by the harmful effects of climate change and ocean pollution. Continue Reading here…
Climate Fiction and Thrillers
NATURE’S CONFESSION
By JL Morin
Dante Rossetti First Place Winner
In a dystopian near-future where nobody is safe, the world is ruled by a ruthless capitalist. Humankind’s last hope may be a fourteen-year-old named Boy. Part sci-fi, part diverse love story, Nature’s Confession by J.L. Morin is an ecological coming of age novel that spans the universe.
The story opens with Boy, so-called because he hasn’t reached an age where he will be named yet for security reasons, managing to survive in the dystopian world he calls home. On next year’s earth, humanity is essentially enslaved by a worldwide corporate government, not for the people or by the people; but, one that operates to ensure its citizens are brainwashed, downtrodden, and too exhausted to be able to offer any sort of resistance. When Boy stays after school one day, he meets a man who turns out to be his long-time idol—Tyree. Tyree is a member of the resistance and recruits Boy to help him and their cause, believing that Boy may be their last hope. Continue Reading here…
A DIVINE WIND
By Norman M. Jacobs MD, MS
A Divine Wind by Norman M. Jacobs MD, MS is a technothriller that will keep readers glued in their seats until the last page is read.
Working in secret, one government experiments with technology that allows them complete control over the weather. If the user guides the technology with a heavy hand, the weather will strike like a weapon; likewise, if those at the control wield compassion, calm weather that nourishes the land will result. Calculated strategies could deploy storms against one’s foes. Of course, any intentions to channel the weather for good may produce scattered, unintended, and deadly consequences. There’s an old saying, “An ill wind may blow nobody any good.” However, a divine wind may unite people if they don’t kill one another first. Continue Reading here…
OVER
By Sean P. Curley
Over is a sci-fi novel of big ideas: the scourge on the future by today’s environmental negligence, the effects of biological warfare, even the development of a faster-than-light warp drive that opens the door to a future among the stars.
In this dystopian future, humankind must grapple with the repercussions from a technological advancement that essentially imparts immortality: immortality to a very few. Less than 30,000 of the world’s inhabitants, the privileged class, Overs, and the resentment of the billions of people who don’t fit into that category, aptly named, Unders. Continue Reading here…
This Independence Day, we wish you the following:
May your family and loved ones be close and happy. May we share in the benefits of a community that cares for and loves each other.
Happy Fourth of July from Sharon & Kiffer & David and the whole Chanticleer Team!
And Remember! You can join the Chanticleer Family Anytime!
Sign up for our Newsletter here! Join our online community, The Roost, here for discounts and special offers!
Keep an eye out for new information about our 10th Anniversary Conference, CAC2022! More information will be posted here, and until then you’ll be able to see what we did in the past.
VCAC 21 featured Bestselling Crime Author Cathy Ace, J.D. Barker – Master of Suspense, C.C. Humphreys – Historical Fiction with a twist, Jessica Morrell – Top-tiered Developmental Editor, and more!
Check out our Editorial Services here and our Manuscript Overviews here, OR, if your work is already polished to a fine shine, it’s time to submit to our Editorial Reviews here and our Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs) here!
We are deeply honored and excited to continue to announce the 2020 Winners of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs) with our third of three official postings.
The winners were recognized at a special CIBAs ceremony held on June 5th, 2021 in-person and by ZOOM webinars based at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether, Bellingham, Wash.
The CIBA announcements were made LIVE with Chanticleerians participating and interacting from around the globe and North America.
We cheered on the CIBA Premier Finalists with our bubbly of choice from wherever we were Zooming!
Raising our glasses to cheer the CIBA Winners!
We want to thank all of the CIBA judges who read each and every entry and then comment, rate, and rank within each of the 24 CIBA Divisions. Without your labors of love for books, the Chanticleer International Book Awards would not exist. THANK YOU!
We want to thank all of the authors and publishers who participated in the 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards (the CIBAs). Each year, we find the quality of the entries and the competitiveness of the division competitions increasing exponentially. We added a new level to the judging rounds in 2019—the premier Level of FINALIST per each CIBA Division. The CIBA judges wanted to add the Finalist Level of Achievement as a way to recognize and validate the entries that had outstanding merit but were not selected for the very few First Place Award positions within each genre division.
This post will recognize the First Place and Grand Prize Winners for the
Six Non-Fiction Divisions:
Journey, Hearten, Harvey Chute, Mind and Spirit, I & I, and Nellie Bly
Leslie Bains – Let’s Take A Hike: 7 Family-Friendly Trails of Nantucket
Carole Bumpus – Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table, Book Two
Jill Sherer Murray – Big Wild Love: The Unstoppable Power of Letting Go
The NELLIE BLY Book Awards
for Investigative and Long Form Journalism Non-Fiction
Grand Prize Winner is
PRISON FROM THE INSIDE OUT by William ‘Mecca’ Elmore & Susan Simone
The Nellie Bly First Place Category Winners are:
Ashley Conner and Cierra Camper – Memoirs of Michael: The Hurricane Project
Kris Newby – BITTEN: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons
Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D. – Cause and Civility: Imploring Reason and Respect From An Advocate Journalist, Book I (now, Advancing the Good Society: Real Advocacy Journalism™ in Action, Book I Ethics and Values)
Patricia Martin Holt – EMPOWER A REFUGEE, Peace of Thread and the Backyard Humanity Movement
Gigi Berardi – FoodWISE: A Whole Systems Guide to Sustainable and Delicious Food Choices
Ted Neill – Two Years of Wonder
The HARVEY CHUTE Book Awards
for Business & Enterprise Non-Fiction
Grand Prize Winner is
EDGE: TURNING ADVERSITY INTO ADVANTAGE by Laura Huang
The Harvey Chute First Place Category Winners are:
Gary M. Shiffman – The Economics of Violence: How Behavioral Science Can Transform our View of Crime, Insurgency, and Terrorism
Susanne Tedrick – Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators
Rachel Thompson – The BadRedhead Media 30-Day Book Marketing Challenge
Marcus Kirsch – The Wicked Company
Anthony Delauney – Owning the Dash
Tikiri Herath – Your Rebel Dreams: Discover Your Purpose and Passions to Power Up Your Life
Mike D. Kinney – Navigating Your Safety Culture Journey
The MIND & SPIRIT Book Awards
for Spirituality and Enlightenment Non-Fiction
Grand Prize Winner is
EXIT THE MAZE: ONE ADDICTION, ONE CAUSE, ONE CURE by Dr. Donna Marks
The Mind and Spirit First Place Category Winners are:
Cindy Rasicot – Finding Venerable Mother: A Daughter’s Spiritual Quest to Thailand
Nancy Pickard – Bigger Better Braver
Jennie Lee – Spark Change: 108 Provocative Questions for Spiritual Evolution
Anna Carner – Blossom – The Wild Ambassador of Tewksbury
Marianne Ingheim – Out of Love: Finding Your Way Back to Self-Compassion
Jill Sherer Murray – Big Wild Love: The Unstoppable Power of Letting Go
The HEARTEN Book Awards
for Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction
Grand Prize Winner is
LOVE, LIFE, AND LUCILLE by Judy Gaman
The Hearten First Place Category Winners are:
Annerose D. Watts – Blue Plate Journey
Katherine Snow Smith – Rules for the Southern Rulebreaker, Missteps, and Lessons Learned
Rebecca Dwight Bruff will also be awarded $1,000 USD in recognition of her 2020 BEST BOOK of the YEAR – Chanticleer International Book Awards – Sponsored by Chanticleer Reviews & Media.
A Chanticleer Review ofTrouble the Waterwill be featured in the in the SPRING 2022 quarterly edition of the Chanticleer Reviews Magazine (print and epub) along with other promotional and marketing opportunities along with an interview with the author, Rebecca Dwight Bruff.
Thank you Rebecca Dwight Bruff for participating in the 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards. We look forward to receiving future work in our CIBAs.
We look forward to toasting Rebecca in person at our next gathering–hopefully in 2022. We are so happy that she joined us virtually for the CIBA announcements at our special ceremony on June 5th, 2021.
CONGRATULATIONS REBECCA DWIGHT BRUFF!
From all of us at Chanticleer International Book Awards and Chanticleer Reviews.
THANK YOU to VCAC21 SPONSORS and FRIENDS
And to FRIENDS of CHANTICLEER REVIEWS:
Cathy Ace, J.D. Barker, Robert Dugoni, Chris Humphreys, Bradley Metrock, Jessica Morrell, Scott Steindorff, and Paul Hanson of Village Books
We will post more photographs and information. Do check back and subscribe to the Chanticleer Reviews e-news letter.
The video recordings of VCAC21 will be available on VIMEO. More information to come.
We have exciting news for the Chanticleer Community on the horizon so do stay tuned!
You know you want a coveted Chanticleer Reviews Blue Ribbon!
Be sure to register early for the 10th Anniversary 2022 Chanticleer Authors Conference that will start on April 7th, 2021 with the 2022 CIBA banquet and ceremony scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 10th, 2022 at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash. If we cannot move forward with CAC22 due to the coronavirus, we will host another LIVE and HYBRID Chanticleer Authors Conference and 2021 Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards ceremony.
Pivot and Oscillate are the Words for Today’s Challenging Times.
An email will go out to all 2020 CIBA award winners prior to October 30, 2021, with instructions, links, and more information about the awards packages. We appreciate your patience. As stated many times before “One does not need to be present at the CIBA ceremony and banquet to win. But it sure is a lot more fun!” –even if it is virtual!
As always, please contact us at Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com with any questions, concerns, or suggestions!
Donna Cameron’s guide, A Year of Living Kindly: Choices That Will Change Your Life and the World Around You, invites readers to live more richly, thoroughly, and fruitfully.
Perhaps the best way to enjoy Cameron’s guide to kindness is to drink it in slowly, for a year, as its structure suggests. Savoring one of its 52 meditations – thoughtful, introspective, resonate, and wide-ranging discussions – each week. She turns to a new topic grouping with the advent of each new month, traversing the four parts, the “seasons,” as the year progresses.
Of course, as Cameron will tell you, living a year of kindness is not, in the end, enough; it’s a journey suited to a lifetime. But the habit of it, the joy of it, can take root throughout a year.
Based on the experiences of its author, the book’s foundation lies in the work of a lifetime of nurturing nonprofits and championing causes from the varied perspectives of executive, consultant, trainer, and volunteer. The guide incorporates observation and situates itself also in research. In and among her insights, Cameron weaves the thoughts, studies, and findings of cultural anthropologists, philosophers, physicians, psychologists, investigative journalists, mindfulness experts, and other teachers. The source notes at the back are modest enough to be accessible to those outside academia, yet extensive enough to show sinew.
So that readers might more easily incorporate these habits of thought into their own lives, each meditation ends with a Kindness in Action exercise. Together, these exercises are the passageways to reshaping ourselves.
The four seasons – Discovery, Understanding, Choosing, and Becoming – mirror the natural contours of such a journey.
In Discovery, we learn about kindness: what it is and what it isn’t, the health benefits that being kind grants, how we might begin to be truly warm and caring. In Understanding, we learn the barriers to kindness – from within and without – and delve more deeply into opening ourselves to this way of encountering the world. In Choosing, we explore the courage that kindness can take, the roles of vulnerability and curiosity – yes, curiosity – play, and what it means to extend compassion to all, including standing up to bullies, online and off. In Becoming, we settle in to look soberly at the challenges, at what we might do to create a kinder world, and at what it means to live in kindness every day.
This structure makes for a powerful presentation and easy entry into the eddies and currents of these gently meditative discussions. But it is not, as Cameron herself notes, necessary to follow a linear path. A reader could just as quickly open the book and flip to any point within it to encounter something rich and thought-provoking to ponder that day, that week, that month.
In this journey to kindness, we might each of us follow whichever path calls to us.
Giving our whole selves to kindness helps us to become whole.
A Year of Living Kindly is a generous book brimming with open good-heartedness and calm practicality, with guidance firm yet gentle. Wise, yet itself kind. Cameron undertakes her journey from a position many would recognize – not so much unkind as hurried, distracted, disengaged. Perhaps in the habit of being, when the situation calls for it, “nice.” Civil, not especially warm. Cautious, not connected.
Cameron invites us instead to be open to the world. To be generous with our time and our talent, in word, deed, and spirit. To be aware of and awake to others. To be fully present. To be, fully.
She invites us to embrace kindness as a way of embracing life. Adopting the “mantle of kindness,” she says, will enable each of us to enjoy more entirely in the abundance of our own lives and in the richness the world has to offer. Such a journey connects us more deeply with ourselves and others, enabling us to live our best lives. And such kindness spreads. When we give so wholly of ourselves, others tend to take that gift and pass it along.
The case she makes is compelling. The message, timely. It’s an invitation that’s difficult to resist, particularly in the company of such a guide. In the world it seems we’ve all been hurtling toward in the past five years or so, Donna Cameron’s steady voice and clear-eyed vision is a balm for the soul.
Perhaps, just perhaps, with enough kindness, we might indeed remake neighborhoods, remake communities, and transform the national temper. A Year of Living Kindly placed 1st in Category in the CIBA 2019 Instruction and Insight Awards for Non-Fiction How-To manuals.
We are deeply honored and excited to continue to announce the 2020 Winners of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs) with our second of three official postings.
The winners were recognized at a special CIBAs ceremony held on June 5th, 2021 in-person and by ZOOM webinars based at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether, Bellingham, Wash.
The CIBA announcements were made LIVE with Chanticleerians participating and interacting from around the globe and North America.
We cheered on the CIBA Premier Finalists with our bubbly of choice from wherever we were Zooming!
Btw, Kiffer’s favorite Champagne!
We want to thank all of the CIBA judges who read each and every entry and then comment, rate, and rank within each of the 24 CIBA Divisions. Without your labors of love for books, the Chanticleer International Book Awards would not exist. THANK YOU!
We want to thank all of the authors and publishers who participated in the 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards (the CIBAs). Each year, we find the quality of the entries and the competitiveness of the division competitions increasing exponentially. We added a new level to the judging rounds in 2020—the premier Level of FINALIST per each CIBA Division. The CIBA judges wanted to add the Finalist Level of Achievement as a way to recognize and validate the entries that had outstanding merit but were not selected for the very few First Place Award positions within each genre division.
This post will recognize the First Place and Grand Prize Winners for the Laramie, Chaucer, Goethe, Hemingway, Chatelaine, Mark Twain, and Somerset Awards.
Coveted Chanticleer Blue Ribbons!
We are honored to present the
2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards
Grand Prize Winners
The 2020 CIBA Winners!
The LARAMIE Book Awards for
American, Western, Pioneer, Civil War, and First Nation Novels
The Grand Prize Winner is
TROUBLE THE WATER, A NOVEL by Rebecca Dwight Bruff
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please email us at Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com We will try our best to respond within 3 business days.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating the 2020 CIBA Winners! – The Chanticleer Team
We are deeply honored and excited to announce the 2020 Winners of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs). The Finalists were recognized at the Virtual Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Ceremonies, and the First Place Category and Grand Prize Winners were announced June 5th, 2021 by ZOOM webinars based at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether, Bellingham, Wash.
The 2021 Chanticleer Authors Conference and the 2020 Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards Banquet and Ceremony was originally scheduled for April 21 – 25, 2021. Each year, Chanticleerians from around the globe come together to celebrate and cheer each other on at the annual CIBA banquet and awards evening at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether that is situated on beautiful Bellingham Bay, Washington State.
However, in order to celebrate being able to meet in person in even a limited capacity (due to the fact that we all able to be vacinated in time), we postponed the First Place Winner and Grand Prize Ceremonies to June 5th, 2021 at the Hotel Bellwether with local Chanticleerians attending cheering each other on along with cheering on the virtual attendees. Champagne was poured and shared as the 2020 CIBA Grand Prize Division Award Winners were announced. After the event the small gathering of Chanticleerians were able to dine together immediately after in the Admiral Room of the Hotel Bellwether.
CIBA Grand Prize Winners in Before Covid Times
We’ve now hosted two virtual events and are pivoting to yet another new normal where events will now be expected to be in person and virtual! We were glad to still host VCAC21 on schedule with inimitable presenters like Cathy Ace, J.D. Barker, Bradley Metrock, Dr. Janice Ellis, Jessica Morrell, Paul Hanson, and more! Many of our presenters have already contacted us about the 2022 Chanticleer Authors Conference currently scheduled for April 7-10, 2022, and we are optimistic that we will be able to host that one in person as vaccinations continue to sweep the US.
At the June 5th, 2021 Ceremonies, we are excited to recognize the 18 Fiction and 6 Non-Fiction CIBA Divisions for the First Place Category and Grand Prize Winners!
First of all, we want to thank all of the CIBA judges who read each and every entry and then comment, rate, and rank within each of the 23 CIBA Divisions. Without your labors of love for books, the Chanticleer International Book Awards would not exist. THANK YOU!
We want to thank all of the authors and publishers who participated in the 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards (the CIBAs). Each year, we find the quality of the entries and the competitiveness of the division competitions increases exponentially. We added a new level to the judging rounds in 2019—the premier Level of FINALIST per each CIBA Division.
The CIBA judges wanted to add the Finalist Level of Achievement as a way to recognize and validate the entries that had outstanding merit but were not selected for the very few First Place Award positions within each genre division. You can order promotional stickers and such here.
A Recap of the CIBA Selection Process
The 2020 CIBAs have 18 Fiction Divisions and 6 Non-fiction Divisions.
First Place Category award winners were selected for each one of the 24 divisions from an overall field of titles that progressed to the Premier FINALIST Division Level from the Division Semi-Finalists positions from the Shortlists, the Long List, and the infamous beginning slush pile rounds.
One Grand Prize award winner was selected from the First Place Category Award Winners for the 23 CIBA divisions.
One Overall Grand Prize award winner was selected from the 24 divisions of Grand Prize Award Winners
All 2020 CIBA FINALISTS were recognized with their respective division at the CIBA awards ceremony that was held each evening of VCAC21.
This post will recognize the First Place and Grand Prize Winners for Cygnus, Ozma, Paranormal, Global Thrillers, M&M, Clue, Little Peeps, Gertrude Warner, and Dante Rossetti Book Awards.
THANK YOU to VCAC21 SPONSORS and FRIENDS
CIBA Grand Prize Ribbons!
We are honored to present the
2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards
Grand Prize Winners
The 2020 CIBA Winners!
The CYGNUS Book Awards
for Science Fiction Novels
Grand Prize Winner is
THE LUNA MISSILE CRISIS by Rhett C. Bruno & Jaime Castle
Mark T. Sneed – Bully Nation
JL Morin – Loveoid
Timothy S. Johnston – The Savage Deeps
PA Vasey – Trinity’s Fall
Russ Colson – The Arasmith Certainty Principle
Zach Fortier – Volk: Book one of The Overseer series
The OZMA Book Awards
for Fantasy Fiction
Grand Prize Winner is
DIVINITY’S TWILIGHT: REBIRTH BY Christopher Russell
T. Cook – Shin
Michelle Rene – The Canyon Cathedral: The Witches of Tanglewood, Book Two ( YA)
Gordon Preston – Zendragon
H.J. Ramsay – Ever Alice
Alison Levy – Gatekeeper: Book One in the Daemon Collecting Series
Jeny Heckman –The Warrior’s Progeny
Glenn Searfoss – Cycles of Norse Mythology: Tales of the AEsir Gods
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please email us at Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com We will try to respond within 3 business days.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating the 2020 CIBA Winners! – The Chanticleer Team
Sometimes When I’m Mad, “… it’s because everything goes wrong,” is the enticing opening phrase of psychologist Deborah Serani’s informative children’s book. It explores the emotion of anger and helps youngsters identify and cope with this often uncomfortable feeling.
Here we meet a dark-haired girl with spiky pigtails who is easily frustrated by the day’s happenings. Whether a spilled glass of milk, a frantic search for a toy, or discontent when a friend doesn’t come over to play, sharp images of a furrowed brow, snarling face, or pouting lips tell the story. Concerned parents, grandparents, and a teacher soon help this youngster realize that simple actions can help remedy and manage her anger. Ultimately a talk or fun activity, a nap or hug, or sometimes even an apology can calm the inner turmoil and make an individual feel better.
Kyra Teis’s artful illustrations beautifully complement the straightforward narrative.
The opening background of a lined and spattered wall seems intentionally reflective of the tumultuous subject matter. Details like a crossed arm stance, ears covered to avoid listening, or the rising blush in cheeks when attempting to put on a pair of socks all prove indicative of the child’s building frustration. The color palette is natural yet toned down. For appropriate contrast, the central character’s bright red shirt and shorts and an orange sweatshirt draw the reader’s attention and accentuate the young girl’s intense upset. A final smiling image, where she dons cool-green attire and pets her ever-present, inquisitive feline, helps bring an element of soothing comfort to the storyline.
The book’s final pages guide concerned adults looking to help a child deal with their emotions of anger. Learning to understand it can prove a transformative, healing, and empowering force. Serani smartly explains how the negativity of anger may appear as many physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, appetite, and sleeping problems. Anger unmanaged can also contribute to academic difficulties, as well as social and emotional concerns. Ideally, learning to express anger in adaptive ways will help build confidence and allow children to experience greater physical and emotional well-being.
Serani also points out that anger can manifest itself differently within each child, but there are specific patterns to look for within the developmental stages of specific age groups.
Treating children with respect, helping a child understand that anger is natural, encouraging open and honest communication, and providing age-appropriate consequences for aggressive behavior are also noted as methods to help promote healthy emotional expression. Special needs challenges such as ADHD, Autism, or learning disabilities may also influence a child’s anger. Likewise, if a child’s anger becomes more frequent and intense, consultation with a mental health professional or specialist may be in order. Also included is a list of various organizations offering information and support.
An easy read intended for the 4-8 age group, Sometimes When I’m Mad proves an intelligent choice that delivers positive reinforcement and direct ways to handle complicated feelings that can stir within us at any age. Highly recommended.
The CIBA FICTION SERIES Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in any of our 18 Divisions where the author has written a series. The Fiction Series Book Awards is a division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (CIBAs).
Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs) is seeking for the best book series in all of its fifteen fiction divisions: Mysteries, Suspense Thrillers, Espionage/High Stakes, Young Adult, Middle-Grade Readers, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Supernatural and Paranormal, Romance, Historical Fiction
Congratulations to the First Place Category Winners
for the CIBAs New Division for Fiction Series Book Awards!
CHATELAINE Book Series Awards for Romantic Fiction
Multi-cultural/Inter-racial Romance Series:
The Prodigy Slaveby Londyn Skye
The Prodigy Slave: Journey to Winter Garden
The Prodigy Slave: The Old World
The Prodigy Slave: The Ultimate Grand Finale
Regency/Georgian Romance Series:
The Donet Trilogyby Regan Walker
To Tame the Wind
Echo in the Wind
A Fierce Wind
Historical Romance Series:
The Lavender Meuse Trilogy by Gail Noble-Sanderson
The Lavender House in Meuse
The Passage Home to Meuse
The Lavender Bees of Meuse
HEMINGWAY Book Series Awards for Wartime Historical Fiction
The Devil’s Bookkeepers – Three Books by Mark Newhouse
The Noose
The Noose Tightens
The Noose Closes
CLUE Awards Series for Mystery & Suspense
The Annie Oakley Mystery Series– Three Books by Kari Bovee
Girl with a Gun
Peccadillo at the Palace
Folly at the Fair
LARAMIE Series Awards Western, Americana, Civil War Fiction
Americana Fiction
An American JourneyNovel Series – Four Books by Richard Alan Schwartz
The Emigrant
The Pioneer
The Surgeon
The Soldier
GOETHE for Historical Fiction Series, post-1750s
The Poland Trilogy– Eastern European Literature -Three Books by James Conroyd Martin
Push Not the River
Against a Crimson Sky
The Warsaw Conspiracy
DANTE ROSSETTI Book Series Awards for Young Adult Fiction
The Adventures of Jonathan Moore Book Series– Three Books by Peter Greene
Warship Poseidon
Castle of Fire
Paladin’s War
M & M Book Series Awards for Cozy and Not-So-Cozy Mysteries
The Henrietta and Inspector Howard Mystery Series – Five Books by Michelle Cox
A Girl Like You
A Ring of Truth
A Promise Given
A Veil Removed
A Child Lost
OZMA Book Series Awards for Fantasy Fiction
Terribly Serious DarknessGaslamp Fantasy Book Series – Three Books by Sam Hooker
Peril in the Old Country
Soul Remains
Now Before the Dark
PARANORMAL Book Series Awards for Supernatural Fiction
The Winters Sisters– a Paranormal Romantic Suspense Series – Four Books by Joanne Jaytanie
Chasing Victory
Payton’s Pursuit
Willow’s Discovery
Corralling Kenzie
SOMERSET Book Series Awards for Contemporary, Literary, & Mainstream Fiction
The Anne McFarland Book Series – American Literature – Three Books by Jill G. Hall
The Black Velvet Coat
The Silver Shoes
The Green Lace Corset
The GRAND PRIZE Winner of the 2020 CIBA New Division in BOOK SERIES:
is Proudly Awarded to
The Devil’s Bookkeepers – Three Books by Mark Newhouse
Alan Fleischauer ushers in his new Action/Adventure Western series with Rescued – and gives us a protagonist worthy of the title “hero.“
