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FROM the SHADOWS by KB Shaw – YA, Science Fiction, Action/Adventure

In the tradition of H. G. Wells and Isaac Asimov, K.B. Shaw’s From the Shadows piques the reader’s imagination. In the world where Cameron Rush, a shy, geeky boy from Wisconsin, and Rosa Costas, the bright, sassy daughter of a New Mexico ranch foreman, live, twenty-first-century technology makes a quantum leap and changes the nature of human experience.

Sounds amazing, right? This new technology could take tailgating to a new level. Seriously, what could possibly go wrong?

Only, Robert K. Merton’s law of unintended consequences still prevail. So, there is that…

Fifteen-year-old Cameron and Rosa have never met in person. However, they know each other well, as they met in a chat room, and talk daily on their multiComs. The couple takes GundTech’s multiCom technology — computers, without cameras, that capture images and display them in a way that allows virtual eye contact among users—for granted. It’s been around forever, well, at least ten years. They also take for granted their personal AIs.

A multiCom computer’s artificial intelligence (known as its AI) allows it to think, have personalities, experience emotions, and develop self-images. Each computer’s AI is unique and requires that the user demonstrate respect and courtesy to get a requested response. Cameron and Rosa understand this — as the rules of operation were clearly explained in the operating instructions. Therefore, they are never surprised when Sam and Vee, their respective multiCom AIs, sometimes add their two bits worth during conversations.

But they never expect to meet the AIs in person.

Unbeknownst to them, Cameron and Rosa were preordained centuries ago to play an integral part in the technological evolution triggered when GundTech’s mysterious creator introduces the Interactive Holographic Transmitter. With the IHT, time and space can be manipulated enabling humans, alone or collectively, to touch, see, hear, and ultimately, smell, and taste events as they happen.

Throughout this complex, fascinating tale, Shaw manages to keep the teen protagonists real and likable. They are “in touch” with their families, community, and school; they tease, flirt, grumble and complain, and impress the reader with their spirit and ingenuity.

In this well-crafted book, the amalgam of speculative fiction with a hint of Gothic eeriness works very well. What happens, to whom, how, and why is the stuff of possibility thinking. Fast-paced and engaging, with no loose ends, From the Shadows provides readers no opportunities to rest or close the book. Here’s a YA novel that’s a good read for any age.

March 2, 2018
Instructional and Insightful Non-Fiction Book Awards 2017 Shortlist
We are excited to announce the Instructional and Insightful Non-Fiction Book Awards 2017 Shortlisters. The I&I’s Books Awards focus on guides, how-to, self-help, and instructional non-narrative non-fiction works. The I&I Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards and Writing Competitions.

Congratulations to the Official 2017 Instruction and Insight Non-Fiction Book Awards Shortlisters!
- Nicole Evelina – The Once and Future Queen: Guinevere in Arthurian Legend
- Mark Devro – Forever in Bloom
- Andrés T. Tapia – The Inclusion Paradox: The Obama Era and the Transformation of Global Diversity
- Robert Rodriquez, Ph.D. & Andrés T. Tapia – Auténtico: The Definitive Guide to Latino Career Success
- Gustavo J. Gomez, Ph.D. – Private Money Lending: Learn How to Consistently Generate a Passive Income Stream
- Christopher Zoukis – Federal Prison Handbook: The Definitive Guide To Surviving The Federal Bureau Of Prisons
- P.J. Frick – Pizza With Jesus (No Black Olives)
- Fiza Pathan – CLASSICS: Why and how we can encourage children to read them
- Kelly Tan Peterson – Keto East: Cooking Asian Cuisine Ketogenically
- Deeann Callis Graham – Head-On, Stories of Alopecia
- Barbara McNally – Wounded Warrior, Wounded Wife
Good luck to all the I&I Book Awards Short List as they compete for the First Place Category Positions. First Place Category Positions will be announced on Saturday, April 21st, 2018 at the annual Chanticleer International Book Awards ceremony.

More than $30,000 dollars in cash and prizes are awarded to Chanticleer International Blue Ribbon Awards Winners annually.

We are now accepting entries into the 2018 I&I Book Awards for Non-Fiction. The deadline is December, 31st, 2018. Please click here for more information:
March 1, 2018
WIZZY WIG: THANATOS RISING, BOOK 2 by Tiffany Pitts – Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Humor
Have you ever wondered what might happen if you unknowingly ripped a hole in the space-time continuum? Jake and Kix find out firsthand just how much madness can ensue when this exact conundrum befalls them in Wizzy Wig: Thanatos Rising Book Two by Tiffany Pitts, a fun and quirky Sci-Fi romp that fans of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams are sure to enjoy.

The evening begins innocently enough when Jake invites Kix over with a pizza to help him solve a wave function experiment. While Kix relaxes on the couch, Jake turns his attention to an experiment he’s come up with based on the idea of Schrödinger’s cat, except instead of a cat in a box, Jake’s version uses a pizza in a box. For those unfamiliar with the concept of Schrödinger’s cat, this thought experiment posits that an unobservable cat in a box is simultaneously alive and dead—essentially the cat can exist in any or no state at all. Jake hypothesizes that an unobservable pizza in a box is inherently similar—it could exist in any state as well—and thus can have its toppings changed if one knows the right math—which he does.

Jake turns his attention to his computer and does his best not to be distracted by Kix’s (striped) tights and his massive crush on her while he attempts to alter the toppings on the unseen pizza in the box. He succeeds. And the world as they know it is altered in incredible, yet difficult to see ways. Soon, Kix is on the run for her life from the genuinely creepy and disturbing Brad, a far more sinister version of her neighbor Thad, who has crossed over from another version of reality.

Enter Thanatos, Dark Lord of the Underworld, otherwise known as Toesy. Toesy is not your normal housecat. Firstly he is part demon, secondly, he has thumbs that help him open doors (a souvenir from a previous experiment of Jake’s in book one) and lastly, he’s got Executive Wartime Consigliore Steve…the voice inside his head who helps him strategize his battles. As a cat, Toesy is a natural ‘boundary walker’ and quickly realizes what the other characters do not—that the hole Jake ripped in the space-time continuum by solving his wave experiment has caused the distinct versions of the multiverse to overlap and merge in terrifying ways.

Wizzy Wig is told through the shifting perspectives of its diverse cast of characters, some of whom are alternate versions of each other. Multiple storylines that may at first be confusing come together in the end to create a complex story set in the heart of modern Seattle. Readers should note that this isn’t the type of novel one can halfway pay attention to. Wizzy Wig requires all of a reader’s attention. We are dealing with the space-time continuum after all and characters do not only cross from one reality to another in easily tracked ways. The realities themselves overlap and merge at times, and characters may appear as one or the other version of themselves or even change personalities altogether.

Pitts has crafted a fun, complex, modern Sci-Fi novel in which nothing is off limits. Multiverses exist, murderous banana spiders find their way into apartment buildings, sugar gliders seek their freedom, readers find themselves in the mind of a sociopath, and the boy who just may get the girl, if they can both survive long enough. Wizzy Wig: Thanatos Rising is an entertaining and quirky Sci-Fi novel, and while there are some punctuation errors throughout, it doesn’t detract from the story. Readers will find clever and resourceful heroes worth cheering for in this second installment of the Thanatos Rising series.
February 27, 2018
AMASKAN’S BLOOD, Book 1 of the Boahim Series by Raven Oak – Coming of Age, Sword & Sorcery, Epic Fantasy, YA
In Amaska, residents serve Anur, the God of Justice. Amaskans, men and women, train with a rigor akin to the Spartans to be in peak physical strength and to be ever alert for the presence of danger. Yes, the Amaskans kill, but only to right a wrong as directed by the “Order.” They take no delight in carnage, but they will not stand idly by when someone is suffering an injustice. Knives are their weapon of choice. When not in combat, they identify themselves proudly with tattoos of circles on their jaws.

The Tribor, on the other hand, are a people void of morals who worship Itova, the Death Goddess, and kill with abandon. Their triangular tattoos are covered by their clothing and there is nothing noble about their instinct to murder.

Then there are the previously warring kingdoms of Alexander and Shad, now existing in a tentative peace, one that rulers hope will be solidified through a royal marriage. A princess of Alexander is betrothed to a prince of Shad. If the union is successful, the two kingdoms hope the brutal conflict over the borderlands will cease once and for all. Unless, of course, the marriage a ruse on the part of one side, the first step in a strategy to conquer. There’s speculation and intrigue as readers speculate who are the allies and who is about to be betrayed.

Locales, readers soon learn, are of great importance in this book and provide insights into the characters. The author includes a map of “Boahim” and we learn much about its “Little Dozen” kingdoms.

As accomplished as the situations and settings are, the real feat of this novel is the depth of characterization. At the heart of this tale are twins, young women who were born five minutes apart. Princess Margaret of Alexander is delicate, genteel, silly, spoiled, and absurdly naïve about political matters. At least her sister, Adelei thinks so.

In contrast, Adelei, raised in Amaska since she was five years of age, moves with the strength and stealth of one who has killed many times for a cause, who puts duty above any earthly pleasure. She has the advantage and the burden of having two fathers, King Leon of Alexander, her biological father, and Master Bredych of Amaska, the man who adopted her when she was five. How she came to leave her kingdom of origin and return a decade later is a riveting, suspenseful tale, part of which is told in flashback. Of course, present events are tied to the past, and Adelei will have to reconcile what has happened to her when she was a child, known then as Iliana, if she is to perform the assigned task of protecting her twin sister.

Princess Margaret is preparing to marry Prince Gamun of Shad, a young man with the worst of reputations (think Joffrey in Game of Thrones), although the dreamy young woman hopes it is only petty gossip maligning her betrothed. In protecting her sister, Adelei is also protecting their shared father, the elderly and ailing king, and the entire Kingdom of Alexander.

As events unfold, can two such markedly different sisters learn from each other? And, if so, what will the consequences be? Just when you think you know where the novel is headed, the author will surprise you, frighten you, charm you, and, ultimately, move you profoundly.

Raven Oak’s fantasy novel, Amaskan’s Blood, pays such careful attention to detail that readers will likely feel as if they’re reading historical fiction. While it does take occasional detours from realism, this epic novel reads like an extraordinary and engrossing depiction of actual events. This is a credit to Oak’s very precise and inviting prose and her enormous talent for elaborate plot twists imbued with emotional drama. Will fans of fantasy still like this book? Absolutely! In fact, if you’re longing for the next season of Game of Thrones to begin, this is the novel to read while you’re waiting.
- Writing: Excellent
- Sex: Nothing graphic – advised for 13+
- Violence: Killings involving knives and blood
- Narration: 3^rd Person
- Tense: Past
- Mood: Adventurous/Suspenseful
February 27, 2018
SOMERSET Book Awards 2017 Shortlist for Literary and Contemporary Fiction
The SOMERSET Book Awards recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Literary, Contemporary, and Mainstream Fiction. The Somerset Book Awards is a division of Chanticleer International Novel Writing Competitions.

More than $30,000.00 dollars worth of cash and prizes will be awarded to Chanticleer Book Reviews 2017 writing competition winners at the Chanticleer Authors Conference April 21st, 2018!

This is the Official Semi-Finalists List of the Authors and Titles of Works that have been SHORT-LISTED for the Somerset 2017 Book Awards. These titles will now compete for the First In Category positions.
- Stephanie C. Lyons-Keeley & Wayne J. Keeley – Going All In
- Julie Carrick Dalton – Four Degrees
- Lou Dischler – Too Pretty for a Hit Man
- John Herman – The Counting of Coup
- J.P. Kenna – Joel Emmanuel
- Gregory Erich Phillips – The Exile
- Gayle Hanratty – Gray Hampton
- Toni Wilbarger – Words Will Never Hurt Me
- Lou Dischler – The Benzene Carnival
- Blaine Beveridge – A Bit of Candy in Hard Times
- Samuel Winburn – Ten Directions
- Justine Avery – The One Apart: A Novel
- Judith Kirscht – The Camera’s Eye
- Kaylin McFarren – Twisted Threads
- David B. Seaburn – Parrot Talk
- C.L. Ogilvie – Skipping Out on Henry
- Elizabeth Crowens – Dear Mr. Hitchcock
- Chuck Gould – The Rabbi’s Gift
- James Gregory Kingston – The City Island Messenger
- Malcolm Ivey – On the Shoulders of Giants
- Michelle Rene – Hour Glass
- Yorker Keith – The Other La Boheme
- J.L. Skirvin – Rollins of Stone House
- Jessica Dainty – The Shape of the Atmosphere
- Richard Barager – The Atheist and the Parrotfish
- J. Argo – The Blackest Crow
- Carol June Stover – Kenmore Square/ A Novel
- Sarah Houssayni – Fireworks
- Beth Wareham and Jason Davis – Hair Club Burning
- Conon E Parks – Empty Bottle of Smoke
- Kathleen M. Rodgers – Seven Wings to Glory
Good Luck to all of the 2017 SOMERSET Short-Listers as they compete for the First Place Category positions.

First In Category announcements will be made at the Awards Ceremony. The SOMERSET Grand Prize Winner and First Place Category Winners will be announced at the April 21st, 2018 Chanticleer Writing Contests Annual Awards Gala, at the Chanticleer Authors Conference that will be held in Bellingham, Wash.

We are now accepting submissions into the 2018 SOMERSET Book Awards for Literary, Contemporary, and Mainstream Fiction. Please click here for more information.
February 21, 2018
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, A JERSEY SHORE MYSTERY by Michele Lynn Seigfried – Cozy Mystery, Female Sleuth
Bonnie Frattori, the heroine of Michele Lynn Seigfried’s latest Jersey Shore installment, has it all: a handsome neurosurgeon husband, two lovely little girls, and a big house right on the beach. Things couldn’t be peachier—until Lemon Face moves in next door.

Lyla (aka Lemon Face) and her husband, Senator Cason Spratt, are the neighbors from hell. Before they even settle in, Bonnie overhears Lyla accusing Cason of dropping his trousers in all the wrong places. It soon becomes apparent that Lyla is consumed with jealousy and sure Cason is after anything in a skirt.

Seeing that her own natural, innocent tendency to flirt bugs Lyla, and having gotten on the wrong side of her new neighbor’s temper without even trying, Bonnie goads Lemon Face on by humorously pretending she’s planning an affair with Cason. It isn’t long before Bonnie’s adoring spouse begins to suspect it’s true and stomps out in a rage. Poor Bonnie is left alone to deal with the increasingly insane, enraged Lemon Face who sends over poop bombs, paints WHORE on Bonnie’s garage door, and makes sure everyone in the community knows what a home-wrecker she is. See how quickly playing games can get you into trouble?

The book begins, though, on a far more sinister note with Bonnie sitting in a dank cell, with no memory of how she got there. She hears another woman’s screams through the walls. As Bonnie scours her memories of the past few weeks before she wound up in this terrifying situation, she recalls how she and her friend Chelsey, a private investigator, tried to find some connection between Lyla, Cason, and a girl named Polly Pitcher whose disappearance has the community in an uproar. Digging ever deeper, even neglecting her new job as a Municipal Clerk to hunt for dirt on Lyla and her philandering senator husband, Bonnie makes herself the target of thugs who will not stop at threats, but plan to murder her and the woman in the next cell. Flashbacks from Bonnie’s captivity to her attempts to ferret out the truth about her neighbors and restore peace on her little piece of the Jersey Shore make for moments both hilarious and harrowing.

Author Michele Seigfried has created Bonnie from a knowledgeable perspective, as she herself has worked as a Municipal Clerk in the State of New Jersey. Her up-close look at life behind the scenes in a local government office rings true. Chelsey, Bonnie, and others are recurring characters in this third of the Shore mystery series.

Seigfried knows how to cook up a multi-flavored stew with lots of surprise ingredients. Despite the imminent threat, her charmingly conceived heroine has more than her fair share of attitude and keeps comedy constantly on the boil.

A whodunit played for laughs as well as suspense, Community Affairs runs the gamut from gossip to greed to gore when neighbors clash on the posh Jersey Shore.

“Bonnie Frattori’s hijinx land her and her marriage in peril as she digs up dirt on her new neighbor. Cozy Mystery fans unite for Michele Seigfried’s 3rd book in The Jersey Shores Series: Community Affairs, a mystery with plenty of twists and turns staring a heroine with a penchant for designer shoes and trouble!” – Chanticleer Reviews
February 19, 2018
PARANORMAL BOOK AWARDS Shortlist for 2017
The PARANORMAL Book Awards recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Magic, supernatural, superhumans, magical beings, vampires and werewolves, and etc. The PARANORMAL Book Awards is a division of Chanticleer International Book Awards.

Congratulations to these authors for their works moving up from the 2017 Paranormal slush pile to the Short List. These novels will now compete for the First Place Category positions!

Each of the titles below has earned the PARANORMAL BOOK AWARDS SHORTLIST bragging rights!

More than $30,000.00 dollars worth of cash and prizes will be awarded to Chanticleer Book Reviews 2017 writing competition winners!

The PARANORMAL Book Awards FIRST IN CATEGORY sub-genres are Adventure/Mystery/Thriller, Paranormal Romance, Magical Beings & Creatures, Strange and Unexplained, & Supernatural powers.

The following titles will compete for the FIRST IN CATEGORY Positions and Book Awards Packages.

NOTE: This is the Official List of the PARANORMAL 2017 SHORT LIST.

This is the Official 2017 Shortlist for the 2017 PARANORMAL Book Awards:
- Joanne Jaytanie – Willow’s Discovery
- Alex E. Carey – Water’s Reflection
- Judith Docken – Ghosted: A Novel of Life, Love and Moving On
- Pamela LePage – Virtuous Souls
- Elizabeth Crowens – Dear Mr. Hitchcock
- Elizabeth Crowens – A Pocketful of Lodestones, Time Traveler Professor Book 2
- Emma Rose Millar – Delirium
- Joy Ross Davis – Countenance
- Susan Buffum – Out
- Lydia Staggs – Rea
- Jerry Gundersheimer – Face of the Bell Witch: Book One of The Medium Series
- Tom & Nancy Wise – Life on Base: Spirit of Quantico
- DJ Erfert – Window of Time
- Ann Charles – Make No Bones About It
- Chynna Laird – Dark Water
- Heather Starsong – Never Again
- Avanti Centrae – VanOps – The Lost Power
- Laura Wolfe – Barn Shadows (Dark Horse, Book Two)
- J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison – Demon Freaks
As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions at Info@ChantiReviews.com.

Congratulations to the Short Listers in this fiercely competitive contest!

Good Luck to each of you!

The PARANORMAL Grand Prize Winner and the Five First Place Category Position award winners along with all Short Listers in attendance will be announced at the April 21st, 2018 Chanticleer Book Awards Annual Awards Gala, which takes place at the Chanticleer Authors Conference that will be held in Bellingham, Wash.

We are now accepting submissions for the 2018 PARANORMAL Awards writing competition. The deadline for submissions is September 30th, 2018. Please click here for more information.
February 17, 2018
HOW to POST an EDITORIAL REVIEW on AMAZON.COM by Sharon Anderson – Book Marketing, Reviews, Instructional
It’s not as hard as you think…

Chanticleer Editorial Book Reviews for #SeriousAuthors

Why do you want to post reviews on your book’s Amazon page in the Editorial Reviews section?

Kiffer Brown chimes in here:
1. It is well-known and believed that part of Amazon’s secret sauce search algorithm crawls the Editorial section of each book’s Amazon page. It is believed that the more individual blurbs attributed from different sources, the better. Be sure to leave a blank line between review blurbs along with giving attribution to the reviewer will attract the notice of the “crawler” program.
2. And having review blurbs in the Editorial Reviews section gives your title a certain cachet and panache that will separate it from the other books (read millions) that do not have them.
3. Editorial reviews help to garner more “consumer reviews” (reader reviews). They do this because they give readers the language to discuss your book and reaffirms the readers’ opinion. This is why traditional publishers spend a lot of time, effort, and money on getting reviews for pre-released books.
It’s a numbers game.

To get on Amazon’s radar, even more, your title will need at least 100 consumer reviews. Notice I didn’t say one hundred 5-starred reviews. It is the quantity that counts here. And the more mixed the better.

Why do you want your title to get on Amazon’s “good books radar?”

When a reader does a search on Amazon for a particular genre to read, Amazon “ranks” which books will be shown to the searcher (reader) as a potential selection that he or she might want to purchase. And Amazon is in the business of selling things (consumer goods). Books for “the Trade” (genre fiction) are consumer goods.

Now back to Sharon Anderson…

Most authors sell their books on Amazon.com because that’s where a fair share of the reading public goes to purchase their books. If an author has worked hard at conditioning their audience – or if enough people have read an author’s work, soon reviews will be added. Good or bad.

Sidenote: We all like good reviews, right? I mean, who doesn’t? But bad reviews can be just as helpful. Believe it or not, bad reviews (1-2 stars) are instructive. They will tell you about formatting issues, grammar issues, plot failures and more. Pay attention to them! Besides, if all you have are 5-star reviews – well, that’s a little unbelievable.

Back to our topic…

That’s all well and good, however, what do you do with your Chanticleer Editorial Review?

Update 3/20/2020: We just noted that we have not updated this paragraph. Our apologies. Kiffer: We are no longer allowed to post our reviews on Amazon since summer 2018 or so. It is Amazon’s policy not ours –even though Amazon ranked us highly and gave us special recognition. <<~~We will post the entire review on your book’s Amazon page Consumer Reviews>~~>

But there IS something that only you can do and that is to post a blurb of it in the Editorial Reviews section.

Posting Your Chanticleer Book Review to the Editorial Review Section

You cannot do this from Amazon.com. You first have to log in to your Author Central account.

You do have a fully functional Amazon Author Central account—don’t you.

If not, start here:

https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/help?topicID=200620850

Back to posting a review blurb in the Editorial section on your title’s Amazon page…

The welcoming page should look like this:

Click on Books:

Your books will pop up and the screen should look something like this:

Click on the book you wish to add a Chanticleer Review to:

Hit the “add” button and place the Chanticleer quote you wish to use. Preview it, and if it looks good, click on “save changes.”

In a few days, you will see the Chanticleer quote appear under the Editorial Reviews section on your book’s Amazon.com page.

Another chime in from Kiffer:

For a professional look, do not post the entire review. A well-selected blurb will do nicely. Be sure to use ellipses if you are taking a section out. And always give attribution!

Example:

…Readers who are new to Larew’s series are in for a fabulously thrilling, nail-biting, page-turning, edge-of-their seats ride. Marilynn Larew’s writing style is smooth, engaging, and well-paced. Her ability to craft vibrant settings against the backdrop of exotic and gritty Hong Kong is exceptionally well-delivered. To sum it all up, Hong Kong Central is an absolute win. —Chanticleer Book Reviews
February 17, 2018
The MYSTERY of HOLLOW INN (SAMANTHA WOLF MYSTERY, BOOK 1) by Tara Ellis – Middle Grade Mystery, Folk Tales, Children’s Books
A summer vacation turns sinister for two tweeny girls far away from home.

Twelve-year-old Samantha (Sam) Wolf and her best friend Alyson (Ally) Parker leave their home state of Washington vacation two weeks in Montana where Sam’s aunt and uncle have turned an old mansion into a hotel called Hollow Inn, after the family that once lived there. While things look pretty good initially, the girls learn from the staff that the place is haunted. Moreover, business is suffering since the last guests abruptly left claiming someone else was in their room – a ghost! Now, Sam’s aunt and uncle must deal with negative rumors and targeted vandalism.

Sam doesn’t fall immediately into the trap of believing the mansion is haunted. Being a natural investigator, Sam happily delves into the Hollow family journal found in the attic. Her hope is to find answers, to separate fact from fiction where the Hollow family history is concerned, and find a way to boost her uncle and aunt’s business.

While Sam’s intentions are good, situations become challenging and downright frightening when a dark presence appears in her room during her first night at the inn. The next day, the girls take a little boat out on the lake and panic when the boat mysteriously overturns. More determined than ever, Sam and Ally begin snooping around the estate in earnest to get to the bottom of the strange occurrences. Their investigation pays off when they discover a secret passageway. Little do they know, however, that their find will point them down a dangerous path.

Ellis’ The Mystery at Hollow Inn, the first book in the Samantha Wolf Mysteries is a well-written work, filled with engaging dialogue, plenty of twists and turns, and chapter cliffhangers that champions a confident, inquisitive young girl and her friend.

Reminiscent of Nancy Drew, Samantha (Sam) Wolf is a relatable, well-crafted character that young readers will enjoy getting to know. Level-headed, smart, and focused, Ellis’ newest heroine can consider any situation that comes her way without allowing her emotions to taint her decisions. She’s also exceptionally curious, an asset that lands her in hot water time and time again.

Working with a small and relatively harmless-looking cast, Ellis keeps her antagonists under wraps while sprinkling red herrings and false leads throughout the narrative; and while clues (lightly laced with twists) are given, it’s a who-dun-it to the very end.

Make room on your bookshelf next to Nancy Drew! Here comes a new series perfect for today’s young mystery fan. Samantha Wolf tackles ghosts, vandals, and a creepy sense that someone or something is watching her every move!

Reviewer’s Notes:
- How was the writing? (very good style, minimal errors)
- Is there any sex? (none)
- Is there any violence? (very low- age appropriate)
- How is the book narrated? (third-person POV)
- Which tense is the book? (largely present tense)
- What’s the mood? (a classic Middle-Grade mystery that consistently builds tension)
February 17, 2018
Writers’ Chinese New Year Horoscopes for 2018

Fun and Inspirational Good-Fortune Horoscopes for Writers for the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Dog! by 殿堂级 Diàntáng Jí (Chanticleer’s cousin)

February 18th, 2018 heralds the New Year according to the Traditional Chinese Calendar.

This year of the Earth Dog comes after the year of the Fire Rooster (2017) and before the year of the Earth Pig (2019). The Pig comes in as the last of the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, making the year of the Dog the eleventh sign of the cycle.

Chinese Horoscope astrologers forecast that 2018 will be a good year as opposed to the tumultuous last year of the Fire Rooster. The focus will be on home and hearth. The astrologers advise that 2018 is the year for all to start healthy habits and cut back on bad health habits.

Below are Chinese Horoscope forecasts for those who live the Writing Life

Note from Kiffer Brown: Chanticleer believes that we each make our own destiny by being optimistic and positive, being kind and loving, by dreaming and inspiring, being bold and doing, by appreciating and being grateful, and by expanding our awareness of the Universe.

Enjoy and have fun!

If your sign is a Dog (honest, loyal, and hardworking):

This is your lucky year—if you thrive on hard work and discipline. Be sure to nourish and champion other writers in your life who are supportive of you as they will reward you later. Build good relationships with your editors to alleviate worry about your work in progress. It is forecasted that being a team player will be fortuitous for you. You will have the mental clarity to keep your writing flowing. Try not to control the flow or overthink the writing process. Trust in yourself.

If your sign is a Pig (kind, friendly, and curious):

Researching your family history may lead to new storylines and surprising new characters. If you can travel to your ancestors’ homelands, you will be inspired. Being inquisitive will pay off. If you are fortunate enough to be in the position to help other writers, you should do so. Do not become complacent, but be diligent about making good efforts in your work-in-progress. Don’t listen to nay-sayers. Explore new ways of connecting with readers.

If your sign is a Rat (amiable and creative):

Explore new areas, take up a new hobby or interest to supercharge your creativity. Have you been interested in writing in a second genre? If so, this may be your year to try it. Perhaps you should consider adding a dash more romance to your works…This year, celebrate the many good things in your life. This is the year to break out of your writing ruts. Your perfectionist tendencies can cause you to worry unnecessarily and to doubt yourself when you have no need to.

If your sign is an Ox (leaders and loyal friends)

Your attention to detail and being actively involved will serve you well this year! The year of the Earth Dog has the propensity to make prosperous in your endeavors. This is a good year to take on new projects and to expand your horizons. However, if you stick with bad routines and unsatisfactory projects, luck may turn its back on you. Have confidence in your self and your projects, but be moderate where spending money is concerned.

If your sign is a Tiger (passionate and have courage)

This is a particularly promising year for you. Your writerly connections will increase bringing you new opportunities. Forge ahead with your work-in-progress, but be sure to listen to advice given by your editors. Your writing is daring and powerful. You like to cross boundaries and break writing conventions, which is good. However, collaboration with those whom you respect will bring you success. Be sure to share your knowledge with other authors.

If your sign is a Rabbit (friendly and possessing great common sense):

This is the year to contemplate balancing your lifestyle. Are you spending too much time sitting in front of the computer? Are you drinking too much coffee or soda while writing? Be sure to take breaks for walks in nature to invigorate your creative juices. Speaking of juices, try more healthy drinks such as green or white tea instead of coffee this year. As for your writing projects, follow your instincts and try not to second guess yourself. Be sure to read some new books by authors whose works you have not read before.

If your sign is a Dragon (passionate and quickwitted)

This is the year to upgrade your computer/application skills. These new skills will take your writer’s career to a new level. Are there new technologies out there that will benefit your writing career? Be sure to investigate! Concentrate on your pursuits and keep your nose to the grindstone. Try to appear outwardly more moderate in your opinions during the year of the Dog. If you can’t leave a positive review, don’t leave one at all during the year of the Dog.

If your sign is a Snake (wise and almost mystical):

This is the year where you will discover new interests and new techniques to propel your writing career. You are able to hone in on trends before they become popular. Be sure to have your works evaluated and proofed before publishing this year. Don’t be hasty when it comes to publishing. Consider adding romantic elements to your work-in-progress. Be sure to read extensively during the year of the Dog. Be sure to promote and market your backlist in new ways. Your forecast says you will be well rewarded for your efforts.

If your sign is a Horse (independent and high-spirited):

This is your year to explore new cultures and geographies. This exploration will provide new inspiration for your future works and will supply the finishing touches for your work in progress. Be on the lookout for new platforms and methods to promote your works. Are you ready to take up a new challenge? Perhaps begin a new work? The astrologers forecast that conditions will be favorable—if you step up. Don’t doubt yourself. You have what it takes to take on that new writing project.

If your sign is a Sheep (artistic and compassionate):

Attitude is everything this year. Take a chance and try to connect with your favorite author who writes in your genre. The connection you cultivate may bring you new opportunities for your writing career. This year your writing talent will be extra magical. Be sure to line up author events, attend conferences/conventions, and try to reach out to new avenues to promote your works (perhaps at wine tastings, grocery stores, etc.). Try enlisting a few fellow authors in promotional events for the best results.

If your sign is a Monkey (confident and innovative) :

This is the year that you must be organized and prepared. If you are, then you will find brilliant solutions to your writer’s block or plotholes. These ups and downs will allow you to make significant progress—if you make the effort to organize your writing endeavors. Be sure to treat other writers with respect especially this year. If you want reviews from other authors, you must review their works first. An extra dose of friendliness and respect will go far.

If your sign is a Rooster (progressive thinkers and doers and unafraid to be different):

Be sure to take the time to step away from your computer/writing desk this year and exercise. This is the year to finally manage your weight. Put your OCD tendencies to improve your health! Your tendency to work tirelessly at your work-in-progress should be balanced with exercise and good diet practices especially during the year of the Dog. Roosters are natural storytellers and love to do background research to add details to their works. Their drive, resourcefulness, and attention to writing craft will pave the way to their success as authors. Most of all, try to have a fun and enjoyable year!

Wondering How to Determine Your Chinese Zodiac Sign?

Use the handy table below to find your birth year.

We hope that you enjoyed this fun blog post that is meant as a way of thinking about new perspectives.

Chanticleer believes that we each make our own destiny by being optimistic and positive, being kind and loving, by dreaming and inspiring, being bold and doing, by appreciating and being grateful, and by expanding our awareness of the Universe.

We wish you an AWESOME New Year of Good Fortune, Good Health, and Many Book Sales!

The Chanticleer Reviews Team

February 15, 2018

Chanticleer Book Reviews