Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: gail-noble-sanderson

  • National Nurses Day — Florence Nightingale and a Thank You to Nurses Everywhere

    National Nurses Day — Florence Nightingale and a Thank You to Nurses Everywhere

    May 6th – 12th kicks off National Nurses Week which recognizes and honors Nurses around the world. And after the last year we’ve had and the healthcare struggles we continue to deal with at home and worldwide, we want to show them our appreciation and gratitude!

    The theme for International Nurses Week 2021 is A Voice to Lead: a Vision for Future Healthcare

     

     

    While Nurses Day was proposed twice to different administrations, it wasn’t until 1974 that Nixon recognized it, and in 1982 President Reagan officially proclaimed National Nurses Day in the US to celebrate those in one of our most trusted and important of professions.

    This Thursday isn’t just the day in the US to recognize nurses, but it launches Nurses Appreciation Week, which culminates on May 12th, International Nurses Day! Why the twelfth? Because it’s the birthday of famous nurse, Florence Nightingale.

    Who Is Florence Nightingale?

    Florence Nightingale with a lamp wearing a black and white habit for whom Nurses Day is celebrated

    Also known as “The Lady of the Lamp,” Florence Nightingale is a statistician who revolutionized the field of nursing.

    During the Crimean War, many people died in horrible hospital conditions. The care facilities lacked sanitation, and straw was often left on the floor to soak up excess blood. Nightingale brought in a regimen of cleanliness, cleaning the hospital for the wounded from top to bottom, and enforcing several hygiene practices, such as handwashing. In practicing these measures, the death rate of the injured reduced from 42% to 2%, an incredible achievement.

    Improvements made to the field hospital at Üsküdar by British nurse Florence Nightingale revolutionized the treatment of wounded soldiers and paved the way for later developments in battlefield medicine. Britannica

    We can see the effect of measures meant to maximize health today, as in the last year with the emphasis on mask wearing and handwashing that led to a steep drop in flu cases. This last year was the lowest hospitalization rate for people with the flu ever recorded (recording began in 2005), and only 1 pediatric flu death has been reported this year compared to the 196 in the 2019-2020 flu season. You can read more of what the CDC has to say about flu cases in the past year here.

    A white person's hands being heavily sudsed under a sink

    Remember, when washing your hands you can count out 20 seconds by singing “Happy Birthday” twice, but we prefer to recite the intro from Star Trek, The Next Generation.

    Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before!  

    Back to Nightingale, after the Crimean War, she continued to advocate for sanitary conditions in hospitals and for living situations generally, lowering the death rate in peacetime by an impressive amount. In 1860, she also founded the first secular nursing school in the world, which is still a part of King’s College London.

    On top of all of this, Nightingale was a prolific writer, which we always love to see at Chanticleer. We’re proud to have done our part with two virtual conferences to encourage social distancing and safety to care for both ourselves, and also be responsible for the larger community that we are a part of. As we say for our Non-Fiction Awards, “Truth matters now more than ever.”

    Learn More about Florence Nightingale:

    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

    We have book recommendations, of course, to support the nurses in your life, but before we move to that, we’d like to quote from “Santa Filomena” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, which refers to how Nightingale received her nickname through her tireless efforts to care for troops during the Crimean War:

    Lo! in that house of misery
    A lady with a lamp I see
    Pass through the glimmering gloom,
    And flit from room to room.

    We would like to introduce you to some of our favorite novels written by or about nurses.

    Passage Home to Meuse
    by Gail Noble-Sanderson

    It’s 1923 and character Marie Durant Chagall is now 27 years old as she tells about her life-altering events in The Passage Home to Meuse, thanks to author Gayle Noble-Sanderson. This is the second historical novel in the Meuse Trilogy. The world around Marie is still reeling from the devastation of World War I. She and the other characters in the book are learning how to continue living, and perhaps more importantly, wishing to find joy once again in life.

    Marie is at home in France, seeking peace within, as well as for those around her. She looks for ways to help others who are in need, and her nursing skills come in handy to help this farming community. Nearby she’s found a sense of belonging with the Sisters at the Chapel, and her friendships continue with Henri and others.

    Continue Reading Here…

     

    Look For Me series
    by Janet Shawgo

    The first novel in a series of novels about war-time nurses written by  travel nurse, Janet K. Shawgo.

    A lantern, a medicine pouch, and a bell to stop the gunfire: That was all nurses took into the Civil War battlefields as they sought out injured men, boys, and women disguised as men. Among them is Sarah Bowen, a young healer from Georgia, whose use of herbal medicine brings her scorn from most field doctors even as it saves countless lives.

    Look For Me begins with young, affluent New York-er Samuel White, who has just embarked on his career as a war correspondent. Through an early incident between their fathers, he is also Sarah’s longtime pen pal.

    Meanwhile, Mack, a teenage girl traveling as a boy, delivers a letter from the youngest Bowen son to the family farm, lingering long enough to be tutored by Sarah and to fall in love with brother James before leaving to pursue her goal of becoming a Confederate spy. Soon after her departure, a band of traveling nurses comes looking for the local healer, and it doesn’t take much persuading for Sarah to realize her destiny. This is when all of the primary story-lines begin to intersect.

    Continue Reading Here…

    The Particular Appeal of Gillian Pugsley
    by Susan Örnbratt

    Irish-born Gillian McAllister knew she was meant for bigger things than a quiet life among her large extended family. Leaving home at seventeen against her protective father’s wishes, Gillian is looking for adventure – and that’s exactly what she finds. She was a nanny for a maharaja, a caretaker for WWII internees, and a nurse on the Isle of Man before finally becoming a wife, mother, and grandmother in London, Canada, where she spent the majority of her eighty-nine years.

    However, with only weeks to live after being stricken by cancer, she knows her time with her beloved granddaughter and namesake is truly precious. Before she goes, she wants to pass on the poems that capture her long, adventurous life to the junior Gilly in hopes the girl will use the poems to write about her adventure – her hidden love story.

    Continue Reading Here…

    Our Duty
    by Gerri Hilger

    Our Dutyopens with a group of nursing students sunbathing on the roof of their apartment. Pauline Garrity, aka Polly, has a little bit of fun and decides to sunbathe sans robes. While this stirs some of the girls up a bit, others know Polly is only being Polly. When a fighter plane does a fly-by on a training mission, Polly has a little more fun.

    Here’s a story of World War II with a slightly different bend. Rather than focus on the horrors of what was happening in the trenches, Gerri Hilger centers her novel around Polly and her close-knit group of friends who are attending nursing school together. Our Duty is a novel for fans of lighthearted historical fiction with a sprinkling of cozy romance and a thread of Christianity.

    Continue Reading Here…

    None of Us the Same 

    by Jeffrey K. Walker

    Five young friends from then-English Newfoundland and Ireland together join a regiment to serve in the war, as does a young nurse from Dublin. At first, a reader might be lulled into thinking this is a light-hearted Irish dialect-filled romp a la Finian’s Rainbow, but the novel takes us deep into the lives of its characters as they serve in the bloody trenches, convalesce, and try to live normal lives despite the physical and emotional damages they suffered.

    Diedre, the tough but emotionally scarred nurse, Jack, who left “bits” of him on the battlefield, Will, with his invisible yet no-less devastating wounds—these are a few of the complex yet wholly identifiable characters who become alive through this novel’s pages. These are no simplistic people. Their humanness, their frailties confronted by the awfulness of the war, gives the book its special heart.

    Continue reading here

    Thank you to nurses everywhere!

     

    Have a great story about nursing?

    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! We’re hosting our 2020 CIBA Ceremonies for First Place Category and Grand Prize Winners June 5th at the Hotel Bellwether in Beautiful Bellingham, Wash. Attending the June 5, 2021 VIRTUAL Ceremonies for the 2020 CIBAs is Free. However,  registration is required. We will have the link posted on our website after the Finalists are announced.

    Thank you to nurses everywhere!

     

     

     

  • How to Use Book Awards to Promote Your Books – Book Marketing Tips by David Beaumier & Kiffer Brown

    How to Use Book Awards to Promote Your Books – Book Marketing Tips by David Beaumier & Kiffer Brown

    The days of publishers handling all an author’s marketing are looking like a thing of the past, even for traditionally published authors. This means you need to take control of your own marketing strategy for your books’ promotions.

    To begin, list off the places where you imagine people will see information about your book(s). We have some ideas, but you know your community best so trust your expertise there. It’s safe to say you will need to at least look in these places:

    • Your Website!
    • Your Social Media Platforms (that point back to your website — not a selling platform)
    • A Cross-Promotion platform that you share with other authors
    • Bookchain.ca, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, PublishDrive, and as many selling platforms as possible to create streams of revenue/royalties.
    • Independent Bookstores and Retail Outlets (many Chanticleerians join with garden shops, wineries, gift shops, toy stores, etc.) to  sell their books.

    Local Bookstores

    Your local bookstores deserves special attention. There are always loyal readers with a strong preference to shop local, so take some time to show those stores extra love.

    • Shelf-talkers for point of sale displays
    • Small posters (free standing and  flat for windows and bulletin boards
    • Shiny book stickers work! – They make your  books stand out on the shelf.
    • Bookmarks with your WEBSITE and Social Media Handles and your Covers — ask if you may insert them in your books.
    • Make plans to participate in virtual author events – most indie booksellers are hosting these with great success
    • THEN you promote your events every where! (Social Media, email blasts, website, posters, etc.)

    Now let’s put those together for some general recommendations (remember, your situation is unique, so if this advice clearly needs an adjustment for you, go for it).

    [Editor’s Note: David Beaumier has worked with Village Books (Bellingham’s local Independent Bookstore) for several years before rejoining the Chanticleer Team after completing his Master Degree in English, so he knows what he is talking about with how to increase sales at local bookstores.]

    How to Make Your Website More Effective in Promoting Your Books

    We recommend that your website has a tab for Reviews and Awards, in addition to a tab for your books. It can also be good to include your shelf talker blurb after that to showcase a strong hook to bring your reader in. Then, from your Book tab, lead them to your review from there so they can see you have a strong digital base already built up with accolades from an independent and respected reviewer. These nods to your success tell the reader that your book is worthwhile and make it stand out from the thousands of other books they’ll come across.

    Website Checklist

    • Tab for Reviews and Awards
    • Books Tab for more information with links to wear to purchase
    • Feature Your Digital Badges
    • Sign up Page for Announcements, Freebies, Bonuses, Short Stories, News, and Beta Readership Opportunities
    • If your books are available at indie bookstores, or other retail outlets — list where they are and give links!
    • Questions For and How To Connect with Book Clubs (remember — virtual gives you a wider audience span and the benefit of  no travel expenses)

    You can feature your digital sticker in proximity to an image of your cover in both places. It can also be good to include your shelf talker blurb after that to showcase a strong hook to bring your reader in. Then, from your Book tab, lead them to your review from there so they can see you have a strong digital base already built up with accolades from an independent and respected reviewer. These nods to your success tell the reader that your book is worthwhile and make it stand out from the thousands of other books they’ll come across.

    Marketing packages can include an ARC, any swag you have (bookmarks, buttons, wrist bands, quarter sheet advertisements), a one page Sell Sheet (aka a  write up of your book) which should mention your awards and positive reviews (including excerpts). On websites where your book is sold, you can populate their editorial review section of the site with your Chanticleer Editorial Book Review.

    Village Books, Bellingham, Wash. all aglow!

    Village Books at night. A brick cornerstone of the community with light pouring out the windows when it gets to be dark at 4 p.m. Our very own local, Bellingham bookstore. Local bookstores are key for selling your book! 

    That’s David up in the upper left hand corner sans grad school mustache.

    Check to see if they have a regular advertising publication or newsletter and ask about including your review or your shelf talker in it (depending on space). Ask if you can post shelf talkers at their store and what the specifications for talkers are through their store.

    Chanticleer Shelf talker
    Shelf Talkers sell Wine and Books! They work!

    If a bookstore team member says they love the genre you write in, you can even offer them a free copy of your book and ask if they can do a write up for you. They have an abundance of riches when it comes to free books, but they don’t have a personal connection with every author. Only offer if they seem interested. Generally, do remember to always be kind to bookstore employees. They are the people who hand sell your book the most after you.

    If the bookstore does do raffles on sale event days, or if you are having a socially distanced author event perhaps the staff can  offer your swag such lavender sachets to each attendee or purchaser (as Gail Noble Sanderson does with The Lavender Meuse Trilogy or Kizzie Jones offers with coloring sheets for her Tall Tale of Dachsunds children’s book series).

    Here is what Kizzie Jones is doing for her foreign book editions:

    Plan events with your ribbon front and center — even if it is virtual — have your well-earned Chanticleer Blue Ribbon placed where it can be seen — another subtle way of stating that you are an award-winning author without having to say so yourself in your virtual presentation.

    Chanticleer Award for Best Novels

    People know what a blue ribbon means, and it’s a great way to start a conversation about your book. Events are for more than just your local bookstore, but any stores near where you live or other places you think your story might resonate. Ask yourself if you might know special interest groups that would want to read your work that deals with zookeeping, financial advising, or a classic thriller. Reach out and add these places to your tour stops–yes even virtual tours—all small businesses are looking for ways to create virtual events to keep existing customers and find new ones.. Bookstore websites often run reading and writing groups that might connect to the genre you work in, and they love to have published authors stop by to chat with them.

    But what about “virtual events” at your local bookstore? 

    If  this means bookmarks, buttons, stickers, quarter sheets, and remember to put in your winning status and/or a blurb from your review as applicable and as makes sense for fitting the information onto the material. These swag items are a great way to keep the book in people’s mind. Bookstores can drop all of these into customer’s bags, which can really pay off in sales! Especially if the purchase was instigated by a virtual event. These items let your readers know that they are special to YOU! Be sure to invite them to visit your website because you offer readers special prizes and raffles and other fun stuff to readers who subscribed.

    Always be gracious with anyone who might sell or buy your work at an event. There’s no crowd too small, even if it’s just a bookstore employee—remember, that person will hand sell your book and be your representative to customers in the store. 

    The short version of this, as with all the best advice, is to have a plan, reach out to your local community that provides built-in support, and always be kind and gracious to those around you.

    Tweet us @ChantiReviews on Twitter to let us know how you used your marketing materials and award from Chanticleer to help generate interest in your book. We will share and LIKE and Comment.

    Promote your wins by showing off your digital badges (Semi-Finalist, Finalist, First Place, or Grand Prize), book stickers, and reviews!

    Now to start preparing for the HOLIDAY SEASON – Stay tuned for Tips and Tools for Increasing Holiday Book Sales.

     

  • LEARN FROM THE BEST at VCAC 20 – J.D.Barker, Bob Dugoni, Chris Humphreys, Don Maass, Jessica Morrell

    LEARN FROM THE BEST at VCAC 20 – J.D.Barker, Bob Dugoni, Chris Humphreys, Don Maass, Jessica Morrell

    Learn from the Best at VCAC 20

    Join us at the Virtual Chanticleer Authors Conference

    Tuesday – Sunday, Sept 8 – 13, 2020 

    9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST

    VIRTUAL LIVE SESSIONS via ZOOM

    The New ERA of Content Creation in All Its Forms

    J.D. Barker, Robert Dugoni, Chris Humphreys,

    Donald Maass, Jessica Morrell,

    Scott Steindorff

    Read more about the VCAC faculty, by clicking here. 

    Sessions will be recorded and available later viewing through VIMEO exclusively to all registered participants.

    Only one session will be presented at a time so YOU select which ones you want to see LIVE and which ones you will want to view later via VIMEO or revisit the session. Master Classes and Workshops will be held the following week starting on Wednesday, Sept 16, 2020. 

    Tuesday – Sunday, Sept 8 – 13, 2020 – VCAC Sessions

    9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST

    Click here for the VCAC Schedule

    Headliners Include: 

    JD Barker
    Robert Dugoni
    Chris (C.C.) Humphreys
    Scott Steindorff

    Technical Workshops with Hindenburg Systems Experts

    Wed. Sept 16, 2020

    Audiobook Creation with Jonathan Hurley

    Podcast Nuts and Bolts with Anita Michalski

    Click here to learn more about the Hindenburg Workshops

    Master Writing Classes to Take Your Works to the Next Level 

    with Donald Maass

    Sunday, Sept 20, 2020 (9:30 – 4:30 PST with breaks, lunch breaks and Q & A)

    and Jessica Morrell

    Jessica Page Morrell

    Thursday and Friday mornings, Sept 17 & 18, 2020 (9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST with breaks)

    Click here to learn more about the Master Writing Classes

    Don’t Delay! Register Today!   You may register for Workshops and Master Classes separately

    Click here for the VCAC Schedule of Sessions

    Topics at VCAC 20

    • Virtual Author Events: How To Pivot from LIVE to VIRTUAL for Book Launches, Book Clubs, and Book Events with Janet Oakley, Sean Dwyer, & Gail Noble Sanderson
    • Book to Film Panel Discussion with Scott Steindorff, Robert Dugoni, and J.D. Barker. Moderator is Chris Leibig
    • It Takes a Village to Make a Film – Authors, Actors, Screenwriters, Producers, & Directors  a Discussion with Tina Sloan, Scott Steindorff, & Kaylin McFarren, and Talk to Crows Production Company 
    • The Critical Role Authors Play in Fostering a Better Society – Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D. 
    • Exploration of New and Revolutionary Ways of Storytelling including Delving into Immersive, Mixed Reality, and Digital Art – Scott Steindorff 
    • How to Have 1,048 Readers Requesting Your Book in the 1st Day of a 100 Book Giveaway – Kaylin McFarren shares her Goodreads and Amazon Secrets to increasing book sales. 
    •  Writing and Selling Children’s Books – Children’s Book Authors Share Their Tips & Tools – Denise Ditto Satterfield, Barbara Jean Hicks, M.J. Evans, 
    •  Voice Driven Technology and the Future of Publishing – Paul Cutsinger 
    • Why Amazon Alexa Should Be Telling Your Story – 3 Sessions– Amy Stapleton and Wayne Richard
    • How to Create a Sustainable and Compelling Series – Panel : Diane Garland, Wendy Delaney, Pamela Beason, J.D. Barker 
    • 5 Reasons Why You Should Publish Your Epubs on  Bookchain – Simon-Pierre Marion
    • Your Story World: Beyond Eye Color and the Weather – Diane Garland
    • Don’t be Left OUT and OFF the Airwaves – Intro to Podcasting with Hindenburg Systems’ expert Anita Michalski
    • Historical Fiction–Chris Humphreys will examine how to both fictionalize real characters and realize fictional ones. 
    • Just Call Out My Name – Collaborating with Other Authors – Janet Shawgo & Sean Dwyer
    • Writers: Improve Your Productivity and Your Health by  Correcting Posture with Tana Hope
    • 5 Reasons Why You Should Publish Your Epubs on  Bookchain – Simon-Pierre Marion

    And more …

    Click here to read more about the VCAC presenters and panelists! 

    Don’t Delay. Register Today for these LIVE ZOOM SESSIONS! 

    Sessions Start in just 7 Days! Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020! 

    The 2019  CIBA Awards First Place Awards Winners will be announced  every day (Tuesday – Saturday, Sept 8 -12, 2020) starting at 5 p.m. PST at the CIBA Virtual Ceremonies.  All 2019 CIBA Finalists will be recognized during VCAC!

    The 2019 CIBA Grand Prize Division Winners and the Overall Grand Prize for Best Book will be announced and recognized on Sunday, Sept 13, 2020 starting at 5: 30 p.m. PST ceremony.

    All announcements are LIVE and we will have a Virtual Celebration Party after each day! 

    Have your favorite bubbly ready to cheer on your favorite authors! LIVE and INTERACTIVE! 

    See YOU at VCAC 20!

  • SPOTLIGHT on CHATELAINE and Its Hall of Fame Authors – Romance Novels & Romantic Fiction in all its Forms!

    SPOTLIGHT on CHATELAINE and Its Hall of Fame Authors – Romance Novels & Romantic Fiction in all its Forms!

    Chanticleer Book Reviews is seeking today’s best books featuring romantic themes and adventures of the heart, historical love affairs, perhaps a little steamy romance, we will put them to the test and choose the best among them.

    Find out more about the stunning beauty that Dante Rossetti painted, Jane Morris, at the end of this blog post.

     

    Do you have a romance novel or manuscript ready for readers?

    Do you want to see how it stands up to others in its category?

    Then don’t delay! The CHATELAINE Book Awards division is accepting submissions from both recently published and complete manuscripts in romance and romantic fiction. But this year we’ve moved our deadline – to keep you on your toes!

    The new deadline for the Chatelaine Awards is AUGUST 31, 2020! 

    That’s right, the last day for submissions into the 2020 Chatelaine Book Awards is August 31, 2020. So, if you love Piña Coladas – and getting caught in the rain… I mean, if you like writing about those things, and other things having to do with matters of the heart, including these:

    The Chatelaine Awards Categories are:|
    Contemporary Romance
    Historical Romance
    Adventure & Suspense
    Romantic Steamy/Sensual (Not Erotic)
    Inspirational/Restorative

    Send them in today! What are you waiting for?

    Click here for more information and submission form! 

    Don’t Delay! Enter Today! 

    Insiders’ Tip: Other genre divisions of the Chanticleer International Book Awards have romance categories as well. Multiple submissions of the same work to a variety of  CIBA writing competitions divisions are accepted. Check out our divisions here. 

     

     

     

     

    Please join us in congratulating and reading these top works in this diverse range of all reads Chatelaine: Romance, Chick-Lit,  Women’s Fiction, Inspirational, Suspenseful, and, of course, Steamy and Sensual in the
    CHATELAINE HALL of FAME!

    Nicola Slade took home the Chatelaine Grand Prize Ribbon in 2018 for The House at Ladywell.

    Congratulations to the 2018 CHATELAINE Book Awards for Romantic Fiction  First in Category Winners!

     

    Leigh Grant’s MASK OF DREAMS  took home the Chatelaine Grand Prize Ribbon for 2017.

    The First Place Category Winners of the CIBA 2017 CHATELAINE Awards:

     

     

     

     

     

      M.A. Clarke Scott’s The ART of ENCHANTMENT took home the 2016 Chatelaine Grand Prize.

     

    The First Place Category Winners of the CIBA 2016 CHATELAINE Awards:

     

    Nicole Evelina’s DAUGHTER of DESTINY took both the Chatelaine Grand Prize and the OVERALL Grand Prize winner for 2015.


     

    The First Place Category Winners of the CIBA 2015 CHATELAINE Awards:

     

    Janet Shawgo’s FIND ME AGAIN won the 2014 Chatelaine Grand Prize.

    Find Me Again Janet Shawgo

    The First Place Category Winners of the CIBA 2014 CHATELAINE Awards:

    Kate Vale’s CHOICES was awarded the 2013 Chatelaine Grand Prize and took home the OVERALL Grand Prize for best book of the year!

     

    The First Place Category Winners of the CIBA 2013 CHATELAINE Awards:

    • Historical Romance: The Lily and the Lion by Catherine T. Wilson & Catherine A. Wilson
    • Southern Romance: Swamp Secret by Eleanor Tatum
    • Mystery: The Hourglass by Sharon Struth
    • Jane Austen Inspired: Pulse and Prejudice by Colette Saucier
    • Paranormal: Crimson Flames by Ashley Robertson
    • Christian Inspirational Romance: Chasing Charlie by C. M. Newman
    • Restorative: A Path through the Garden by Nancy LaPonzina
    • Classic Bodice Ripper: To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield by Bronwen Evans

     Who will win the CHATELAINE Book Awards Blue Ribbons for 2020?

    The judging rounds will commence in August! Submit your works today!

    The last day for submissions into the 2020 Chatelaine Book Awards is August 31, 2020. Winners will be announced at our CAC21 conference – scheduled for April

    Click here for more information and submission form! 

    Don’t Delay! Enter Today! 

    And remember our Insiders’ Tip: Other genre divisions of the Chanticleer International Book Awards have romance categories as well. Multiple submissions of the same work to a variety of  CIBA writing competitions divisions are accepted. Check it out here!

    A little information about the Chatelaine Book Awards icon:

    Romance Fiction Award

     

    We feel that Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s Pre-Raphaelite painting of Jane Morris (muse and wife of William Morris) in a Blue Silk Dress captures the many moods of the Chatelaine division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards.  Jane Morris (nee Jane Burden—little is known about her childhood but that it was poor and deprived) was known for her keen intelligence. William Morris fell in love with her when she sat for him as a model. She was privately tutored to become a gentleman’s wife upon their engagement. It is said that she was the inspiration for George Bernard Shaw’s character Eliza Dolittle of My Fair Lady fame. The Blue Silk Dress was painted in 1868 by Rossetti and it currently resides in the Society for Antiquaries of London.  She was 29 when Rossetti painted it. Rossetti and Jane Morris became closely attached until his death in 1882. To read more about the fascinating Jane Morris, click on this Wikipedia page.

  • VALENTINE’S DAY SWEET READS with LOVE from CHANTICLEER – Romance, Historical Romance, Western Romance, Thriller/Suspense Romance

    VALENTINE’S DAY SWEET READS with LOVE from CHANTICLEER – Romance, Historical Romance, Western Romance, Thriller/Suspense Romance

    A Valentine to Mark Twain, a beloved American Author 

    “Both marriage and death ought to be welcome: the one promises happiness, doubtless the other assures it.”
    – Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain

    Editor’s Note: Samuel Clemons writing as Mark Twain is a beloved author to Fairhaven, a village in Bellingham, Wash. where Chanticleer Reviews’ home office is located and where the company was founded. On August, 14, 1895, Mark Twain spoke to  a full house at the Lighthouse Hall (700 seats) and received a standing ovation. Admission was seventy-five cents and one dollar for the best seats. This was the last stop in his United States tour. He arrived from presenting in Seattle on August 13, 1895. His next stop was Vancouver, British Columbia before heading out west across the Pacific Ocean for a world tour.

    February 14th is really one of the strangest holidays we celebrate with its origins in the early Church, mired with martyrs. No one really knows for sure if there was one Valentini or two, or perhaps an entire herd of them, but, it is believed that Saint Valentine lost his head over converting people to the Christian faith. The head in question now resides in “…glass reliquary in a small basilica in Rome, surrounded by flowers.” [Atlas Obscura] 

    Editor's Note: Did we mention that Sharon Anderson, the author of this article, writes horror...

    For us, February 14th is the day we all wear our hearts on our sleeves (literally), write little notes professing our love to one another, exchange candied hearts (Necco hearts may not be on the shelf this year because the company that purchased the popular brand said they, “Didn’t have time…” ), buy long-stemmed red roses for those we love (One site claims that in 2010, over 110 million long-stemmed roses were sold! That’s a lotta roses!), and chocolates… let’s not forget about the chocolates!

    Susan Marie Conrad offering CHOCOLATES at her book signing, The INSIDE PASSAGE.

    Whichever way you celebrate February 14th,
    we’ve got some fabulous reads lined up for you that are just
    too sweet to pass up!

    A Valentine of Great Reads for YOU from Chanticleer! 

    The Art of Enchantment by M. A. Clarke Scott is a well-paced escape for those hungering for art, history and a hot ride with a handsome Italian hero.

    M.A. Clarke Scott won the 2016 Grand Prize in the Chatelaine Awards for this novel!

    Daughter of Destiny: Guineviere’s Tale, Book 1 by Nicole Evelina is rich in historical detail and fantastical landscapes. This novel takes a brilliant twist on the historical perception of Queen Guinevere: she has magical powers, but will her gift be enough to save her people?

    Nicole Evalina not only won the 2015 Chatelaine Grand Prize for this novel and took home the Overall Grand Prize!

    Twisted Threads by Kaylin McFarren is a fast-paced romantic thriller complete with secret assassins, notorious secrets, steamy passion nights abound on this luxury Caribbean cruise – in other words, exhilarating! This is the fourth book in the Threads Romantic Thriller series and won Grand Prize in the 2017 CIBA CLUE Awards.

    Find Me Again by Janet Shawgo is a mystery, a conspiracy theory, and an amazing love story that crosses generations—all combined into one amazing read. Although there are two more novels in the series, each book stands alone.  Wait For Me.  WWII  Women  Look For Me.   Civil War Historical Fiction

    The Winters Sisters Series by Joanne Jaytanie contain elements of genetic engineering, strong women and the men who love them and nods to the author’s beloved dogs. These are hot romantic thrillers!

    Under an English Heaven by Alice Boatwright has twists and turns aplenty that will make any cozy fan enjoy this easy read, and enough descriptions of the bucolic village landscape and teas to make anyone who loves all things British happy. A second Ellie Kent Mystery is promised sometime this year.

    Building Mr. Darcy by Ashlinn Craven is a fun, fast-paced cozy reveals what happens when the witty and charming Mr. Darcy springs to life as an A.I. But, is he more than his two developers can handle?

    Seize the Flame by Lynda J Cox is a romantic Western celebrating second chances and proving that lightning not only strikes twice – but sometimes in the exact same spot.

    Threads of Passion by T.K. Conklin is a paranormal romance, western-style, that will leave you begging for more!

    The Blackbird by Kristy McCaffrey is a steamy, intelligent historical fiction set in the Arizona desert where the harsh environment matches the characters who populate it. This is the fourth book in McCaffrey’s Winds of the West series. 

    Hot Scheming Mess by Lucy Carol is a hilarious, fast-paced sexy cozy mystery with a believable lead and a gripping plot. Sassy, smart, and FUNNY!

    Mistress Suffragette by Diana Forbes is an engaging, stimulating, and action-packed novel that examines the facts of life, the challenges of social restrictions, and the woes of youthful love through the eyes of a sharp-minded, sharp-shooting young woman.

    The Passage Home to Meuse by Gail Noble Sanderson is an epic journey back to the post-war world of the 1920s where Noble Sanderson’s characters explore whether love can indeed conquer all.

    The Boundary Stone by Gail Avery Halverson – This story is set against the backdrop of the black plague, one woman of note risks everything to follow her calling and find her true love…

    Dare Devil: A Georgian Historical Romance, Book 3 of the Roxton Family Saga by Lucinda Brant

    A Girl Like You: A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel by Michelle Cox is about a brave and daring darling of the Great Depression puts herself in harm’s way to solve a mystery and endear herself to the handsome detective whose job it is to solve it.

    Check out our list of Chatelaine Award Winners here.

    Please let us know, who is your favorite romance author?

     

  • PASSAGE HOME to MEUSE by Gail Noble-Sanderson – Historical Romance, Post-WWII, Literary

    PASSAGE HOME to MEUSE by Gail Noble-Sanderson – Historical Romance, Post-WWII, Literary

    It’s 1923 and character Marie Durant Chagall is now 27 years old as she tells about her life-altering events in The Passage Home to Meuse, thanks to author Gayle Noble-Sanderson. This is the second historical novel in the Meuse Trilogy. The world around Marie is still reeling from the devastation of World War I. She and the other characters in the book are learning how to continue living, and perhaps more importantly, wishing to find joy once again in life.

    Marie is at home in France, seeking peace within, as well as for those around her. She looks for ways to help others who are in need, and her nursing skills come in handy to help this farming community. Nearby she’s found a sense of belonging with the Sisters at the Chapel, and her friendships continue with Henri and others.

    Under pressure of a persistent letter campaign from her father and her sister Solange, Marie consents to take a voyage from France to New York to visit them, not realizing she’ll discover a secret that awaits her there. Sailing on the incredibly luxurious SS Paris is an exciting trip filled with unexpected experiences, interesting people, and new friends. The author takes the time to engage the reader in the beauty of this voyage. Upon arrival in New York, the contrast of post-war Europe and America is striking, skillfully portrayed, and thought-provoking. After a visit filled with surprises, the journey home propels Marie into grand plans for her future, but will she be able to turn those into reality?

    The author’s extensive research of this historical period permeates every page. Additional notes from her research at the end of the book present fascinating insights into the period. The writing in the novel is charming, and the expansive descriptions of both settings and events ignite the reader’s imagination. All the characters jump off the pages with their hopes and dreams, and even their fears bringing great dimension to their personalities.

    Author Gail Noble-Sanderson is a speech-language pathologist who has published many educational programs for children with special needs. Fortunately for historical fiction readers, she decided to turn her attention to this genre.

    The Passage Home to Meuse is an epic journey back to the post-war world of the 1920’s. Wistfully Marie wonders, “What might have been, what would have been had the war not torn us all apart, rupturing the very soul of our lives?” Somehow she and those around her must find meaning in life again. Every aspect of human nature and the desire to rebuild is explored in this novel, including rebuilding family, whether blood or chosen. Ultimately, Noble-Sanderson explores whether love can indeed conquer all.

    Gail Noble-Sanderson won 1st Place in the 2017 CHATELAINE Awards for The Passage Home to Meuse.

     

     

     

  • CREATING A UNIQUE NICHE MARKET: Adventures in PUBLISHING, #3: by Gail Noble-Sanderson – Marketing, Book Promotion, Self-Publishing

    CREATING A UNIQUE NICHE MARKET: Adventures in PUBLISHING, #3: by Gail Noble-Sanderson – Marketing, Book Promotion, Self-Publishing

    The online Merriam-Webster defines the word niche as:

    a: a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted 
    b: a habitat supplying the factors necessary for the existence of an organism or species
    c: the ecological role of an organism in a community especially in regard to food consumption
    d: a specialized market

    This is an apt description as we explore and determine the perfect “habitat” for our books, our “organisms.” While we need and want our books available in bookstores, online, etc., creating niche markets—those unique and special places that perfectly align along the path that resonates with our readers—can be critical in creating our platforms, generating sales, getting our books read, and encouraging consumers to write reviews.

    Whether you write romance or horror, science fiction or historical fiction, with a little research, you too, can create and expand your niche. Below we hear from three award-winning authors who have very successfully created and worked their niche markets. And we conclude with how I discovered and created my own niche market for books at the end of this article.

    Susan Conrad spent the last two summers working with Princess Cruise Lines traveling on their voyages to Alaska, including the Inside Passage. She is part of their award-winning “North to Alaska” program on ships that exclusively sail up the Inside Passage from Puget Sound to SE Alaska. On board ship, Susan engages with hundreds of passengers on each cruise, speaking to large audiences and connecting with travelers one-on-one about her unique first-hand experience. This is Susan’s current niche, the place she and her book have captured to perfectly mesh the readers’ interest and Susan’s passion.

    Susan, author of the award-winning book Inside: One Woman’s Journey Through the Inside Passage, says we must ask ourselves, “Why is my book important and who cares? It’s those ‘who cares’ answers that you’re now soliciting.”

     

     

    Janet Oakley, an award-winning author of historical fiction, has written many books to her credit. Along with her mystery series, her novel Tree Soldier, set in the Great Depression in a Civilian Conservation camp, won the 2012 EPIC e-book award for historical fiction as well as the 2012 grand prize with CIBA, the Chanticleer International Book Reviews. 

    Janet says, “I have a Northwest niche with Tree Soldier, Timber Rose, and Mist-chi-mas: A Novel of Captivity (with its Pig War story and Hawaiians immigrants of the 19th century Pacific NW), and a Scandinavian niche in Jøssing Affair. Tree Soldier is my unexpected platform with connections to local history, parks, and the environment.”

    Janet is active in talking about the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Washington State and utilizes her knowledge of history and skill in creating characters from various times to write powerful stories bringing history to life. She has created niche markets within niches!

    Another excellent example of an author who is creating a niche for herself is Janet K. Shawgo, award-winning indie author for her Look for Me Series. Janet has been a nurse for over 32 years and the last 20 of those years as a travel nurse. She infuses her novels with the history of nursing and the experiences of nurses as they travel across the North and South to heal. Are nurses, as well as others, avid readers of her books? You bet they are!

    When Janet wrote her last book, Archidamus, she created another clever niche.

    She says, “I have been selling my books at Brushy Creek Vineyards since 2011.  I received their support from the very beginning of my author career.  When Archidamus was written I worked with them to support their winery in two of my books.  They, in turn, had a vat of wine with no name inspiring them.  I approached with the book.  The owner chose “Archidamus” as the name for of  the wine.” She now sells Archidamus wherever wine lovers congregate: vineyards, tasting rooms, wine bars, and, of course, book clubs!

    Find Me Again Janet Shawgo

    Janet overjoyed with her Chatelaine Grand Prize win! We love this photo!

    These are great examples of thinking out-of-the traditional boxes to create a plan to promote and sell your books!

    And a final example of creating a niche is my own.

    It took me a while, but I realized that my historical novels, The Lavender House in Meuse and The Passage Home to Meuse, though about a women’s experience in and after WWI in France, really appeal to people that love all-things-lavender and the places where lavender is grown. This last year I began contacting lavender farms around the country and have placed my books in tens of lavender farms and shops across the United States.

    They sell very well throughout the year and in the summer during the lavender festivals, I do events at local farms in the Pacific Northwest.  I found a unique niche.  And for the first time since starting Noble Press in 2017, I am making a profit.  What put me in the black was not my Amazon or bookstore sales, but the sales from the lavender farms and shops, a niche market especially suited to my books.

    HOW DO AUTHORS PROMOTE THEIR NICHE?  

    with Meta-Data for Authors

    As you begin to envision where your book will live in the world, determine what attracts readers to your writing and why. Use this information while you create your meta-data; keywords that are used to indicate what your book is about and in what sub-categories it belongs. Meta-data information should be listed on the copyright page of your book and is critical in effective search engine optimization for buyers and retailers.

    Meta-data information should be listed on the copyright page of your book and is critical in effective search engine optimization for buyers and retailers.

    [Did you know that each one of Chanticleer’s reviews comes with a custom SEO package that is automatically uploaded with the review? It is true! Just another way that Chanticleer Reviews increases the digital footprint of authors.]

    Use this list of meta-words to spring-board into creating niche markets unique to your book. Niche markets can evolve, expand, change and grow. And as you revise your already published books and write subsequent new books, keep in mind what you already know about attracting readers to your specific genre, topic, time period and style. The creation of niche markets is only limited by our imagination and willingness to put ourselves and our work out there.

    Be daring, be bold!  Go forth with confidence and find those readers who are just waiting to find your work! Gail Noble-Sanderson, Author

    Next month’s article from Gail will discuss aspects of successful marketing and promotion.

    Remember, “Keep falling in love with the potential of what you are doing!” – Gail

    Gail Noble-Sanderson is the author of two works of historical fiction, both of which are self-published under her own Noble Press.  The Lavender House in Meuse is an emotional, intriguing, and sensitive account of the crises of World War I and one woman’s journey towards recovery and growth. 

    Her second novel, The Passage Home to Meuse won 1st Place in the 2017 Chatelaine Awards, the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs)  for romantic fiction.

    Both books are available through Amazon and Village Books.

    We invite you to visit Gail’s homepage at http://gailnoblesanderson.com/ and follow her on social media.

     

  • ADVENTURES in SELF-PUBLISHING, #2: A PRIMER by Gail Noble-Sanderson – Marketing, Book Promotion, Self-Publishing

    ADVENTURES in SELF-PUBLISHING, #2: A PRIMER by Gail Noble-Sanderson – Marketing, Book Promotion, Self-Publishing

    Once you decide to embark on the adventure of self-publishing, take some time to clearly articulate your purpose and vision.  Is your writing a hobby or are you wanting to commit to something broader? Remember, this is your experience and you can craft it in any way that feels just right for you.

    If you decide to pursue going the distance, it is important that you accept the fact that there is a learning curve to self-publishing and to give yourself permission to feel occasionally overwhelmed and sometimes scrambled. Below are action steps and informational links to help us ink up our hands, Self-Publishers, and take on the task.

    Establish a Budget: 

    Some authors publish their work on a shoe-string budget doing their own editing, acquiring public domain images or designing their own cover designs, setting up their own files for printing, etc.  Others choose to spend more and hire a content and/or copy editor, professional cover artist, typesetting, etc. Depending on your piggy bank and your vision, you may spend anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.

    Acquire Your ISBN(s) – INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BOOK NUMBER(s):

    An ISBN is the most important identifier you can possibly give your book – that will assist book buyers worldwide to search and find your novel. The number (along with its barcode) will link to essential information, sales tracking, catalogs for bookstores, libraries, and online sellers. Each version of your book will need its own ISBN – in addition, if you are involved in a major rewrite, or you’ve just gotten your rights back from your publisher, you will need to acquire a new ISBN for your book. Take a deep breath, it’s not that difficult.

    Unless you are absolutely sure this will be your only book and you will never, ever revise it, I suggest buying multiple numbers. It is both convenient and economical to purchase ISBNs ( as a bundle (www.bowker.com ). There are providers out there who will offer to sell you ISBN numbers, but Bowker is the official source for the United States and worldwide, and well, why wouldn’t you go to the source?

    Work with a Skilled Editor:

    Some self-publishing authors choose to work with friends, family or other authors who serve as their editor. People often assume that editing is only about correct punctuation and spelling. That is a myth sometimes used to rationalize why we don’t need to spend money on a “professional” editor.  If you can jiggle some more coins from your publishing piggy bank, I believe it is of utmost importance to place your manuscript in well-seasoned, competent editorial hands. Nothing says “poor quality” and “I don’t believe my work is relevant” louder than a poorly edited book. Network with other authors who have established successful relationships with their editors and secure recommendations.

    Chanticleer Aside: Do you know that Chanticleer Reviews has a host of Industry-tested, skilled editors just ready and willing to work with you? Well, we do! We cover all aspects of editing from Manuscript Overviews, Proofreading, LineEditing, and Copyediting. Simply contact us for details, at: Editor@ChantiReviews.com

    Cover Art:

    What captures our attention when we are buying books? The cover! Good covers are the first point of a sale.  How many times have we read a book and as the story unfolds we go back, again and again, to look at the cover? Good cover art reflects the story. Again, network with your author friends and contacts to explore options. My sister, artist Kathleen Noble, (www.watercolorwonderpaintings.com) does the cover art for my books. Unless the artist is your sister or a talented, generous friend, working with a cover artist can cost more or less $300 – $600 to purchasing licenses for photography and artwork that can range in the thousands of dollars.

    Kiffer Brown says (along with many queried independent booksellers) that your book’s cover is the number one tool to selling your book. The content between the cover will sell your next book.

    Here is a helpful link titled FIVE ESSENTIAL BOOK COVER ELEMENTS or Effective Book Covers Deconstructed. 

    Here are some helpful links to explore for book covers:

    • SelfPubBookCovers This site walks you through their predesigned templates. You choose your picture array, your font, any quote you want on the cover. Once you settle on a design, the site promises the uploaded images that make up your design are yours and yours alone.
    • 99Designs Simply put, upload what you are looking for (your genre, character, setting) and in a few days, you will be able to choose from 99 designs for your cover. This site allows voting, so that is an interesting way to find out which cover resonates best with your potential readers.
    • Fiverr On the go since 2010, Fiverr is a site that offers competitive designs from an array of artists for a reasonable price.

    Choose Your Typesetter, Printer, & Distributor: 

    There are many venues to choose from in getting these steps accomplished. I suggest working with a  book production professional to layout your book. Most of us do not have the skills to do the nitty-gritty needed to execute a book’s final exterior, interior design, cover layout, typesetting, and formatting.  Once you have the final files then you can then upload them to book-selling platforms. If you want Indie Booksellers to sell your books in their brick-and-mortar stores, then you should consider uploading your books to IngramSpark (www.ingramspark.com) for print-on-demand and e-book publishing. Distribution is through Lightning Source, www.ingramcontent.com. CreateSpace is another on-demand publishing service that is owned by Amazon (www.createspace.com).  There are many options which you can view on the web. *You may wish t0 utilize artists and designers on 99 Designs and Fiverr to accomplish the typesetting for print and ebook. 

    Copyright, Library of Congress:

    A very informative site is www.loc.gov.  Don’t let the amount of information overwhelm you.  Just take your time and peruse as you learn.  You can call their helpline and very kind people will assist you.

    Protect your work by registering your work at the Writers Guild of America (WGA) Here is why you should:  “…The registration process places preventative measures against plagiarism or unauthorized use of an author’s material. While someone else may have the same storyline or idea in his or her material, your evidence lies in your presentation of your work. Registering your work does not disallow others from having a similar storyline or theme. Rather, registering your work would potentially discourage others from using your work without your permission.”

    Business License & Dept. of Revenue:

    I formed an LLC (Limited Liability Company), Noble Press, and submit quarterly tax reports. I have yet to pay a penny.  Guess you know what that means!  But now that my books have been out there a few years and selling, I am beginning to make money after expenses.  Not much and I certainly won’t quit my day job, but enough to say “Yahoo!”  These are a few helpful links: www.sba.gov, and www.irs.gov.  There are many sites online offering to take your money to set up your business.  I strongly urge you to do this yourself as it is important as a self-publisher and business owner to be educated on every aspect of setting-up, running and maintaining your self-publishing business. Remember, the business is a separate entity from your writing.  I find writing much more enjoyable but the business aspect is a necessity for meeting my goals and is proving rewarding in itself. Be patient with yourself as you learn, asking many questions.

    Final Thoughts: 

    In conjunction with finishing your final edits, allow four to six months to complete all the business pieces. I say, again, that it is important to be organized and to track where you are in each step of every process. In addition to my online and hard files, I keep a writing and publishing journal and make dated notes all along the journey.  It has helped me time and time again to look back and see when what occurred as well as my thoughts.

    Make a weekly and monthly schedule. For instance, two mornings a week tend to the business aspects, and three days a week focus on your editing and writing. You will change it up along the way as you figure out what works best for you but, if you can begin in an organized, systematic fashion, you will feel productive and not stymied by too much to do and losing your way. Well, you may still lose your way from time to time but you will never be lost! You will have a vision, a well thought out plan, and be ready to go! Next month we will discuss marketing and promotion.

    Remember, “Keep falling in love with the potential of what you are doing!”

    • Gail Noble-Sanderson

    Read the conclusion to this article series here.

    Gail Noble-Sanderson is the author of two works of historical fiction, both of which are self-published under her own Noble Press.  The Lavender House in Meuse is an emotional, intriguing, and sensitive account of the crises of World War I and one woman’s journey towards recovery and growth. 

    Her second novel, The Passage Home to Meuse won 1st Place in the 2017 Chatelaine Awards, the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) for romantic fiction.

    Both books are available through Amazon and Village Books.

     

    She invites you to visit her website  http://gailnoblesanderson.com/ and to follow her on social media.

     

  • ADVENTURES in SELF-PUBLISHING, #1: VANQUISHING the FEAR by Gail Noble-Sanderson – Self Publishing, Marketing, Moving Beyond Fear

    ADVENTURES in SELF-PUBLISHING, #1: VANQUISHING the FEAR by Gail Noble-Sanderson – Self Publishing, Marketing, Moving Beyond Fear

    We can do nothing, including taking risks, if fear is our overriding emotion. Fear is paralyzing and certainly, there are many of us who write that feel fear around the edges of our egos and emotions as we put pen to paper, share our work with others, send a letter to an agent, speak with a publisher or, even vaguely consider self-publishing our own work.

    You’ve GOT THIS!

    Moving through our fears is the only way to the other side where we can step fully forward making choices true to who we are.

    Many years ago, on Sunday afternoons when living in Maryland, I would pack up my two young daughters and, along with my guitar, we would visit with the very elderly in a nearby long-term care facility.  Although these senior folks could no longer carry on conversations regarding the present, they could remember the words to the old hymns, singing along as I strummed my guitar and my small girls dispensed hugs all around.

    I continued these weekly visits over several years becoming familiar with the relatives of these precious people and much about the lives they had lived.  I became especially close to a woman of 80 years named Calle.  Fragile of body, but sharp of mind, displaying a caustic wit and a no-nonsense approach to all of life, she was the last person whom we visited on those Sundays.  Calle was not especially social and did not attend the hymn singing as she was still living in the present and very conversive. All her friends had passed on and her two sons lived quite a distance away, seldom visiting their mother. We became fast friends.

    Calle was a woman ahead of her time.  She went to university and studied nursing and radiology. Radiology technology in the early 1900’s was a field in which she worked for over forty years.  She would tell me of the challenges of working in a profession primarily occupied by men and how her fiercely competitive nature and desire to constantly learn, often got her “into trouble.”

    She was never afraid to pursue excellence, never afraid to take risks.

    Calle thought me a fine young woman but extremely meek.  She persisted in challenging me to think about my own future.  What were my dreams and aspirations in addition to being a mother? I told her I loved playing music, writing songs, poetry, and stories.  And that because I stuttered, I wanted to someday go to college and become a Speech-Language Pathologist. She told me that “someday was here” and I was to plot a plan for how my future dreams were to be accomplished.  I told her I was afraid.  Afraid my husband would object to my going to university, afraid I would be seen as a negligent mother, afraid I wasn’t intelligent enough, afraid my music and writing would be found wanting by everyone – especially me.  With a great sigh, Calle asked me what I was NOT afraid of and I should start there.

    • Can you identify your fears related to your writing?
    • Where, as a writer, does your confidence lie?
    • Do you aspire to self-publish your stories, poems, novel, memoir, non-fiction – whatever you are wanting to publish?

    It is important first to recognize all your strengths and make them work for you.

    Gail Noble-Sanderson

    If you have entertained the thought that you might want to self-publish, I am here to tell you it is not rocket science (although I’m sure you could do that as well).  If you have done all the hard work of research, writing, and editing and are ready to send your work out into the world, then you can certainly self-publish.  Especially if you have attempted over some time to find an agent and/or publisher and there has been no forward movement. Or if you have spoken with other self-published writers, some of whom were published with a publishing house and later decided to self-publish, or if you feel strongly that you want to retain control of and manage your work from the beginning and thinking self-publishing is best for your vision.

    A few days before we moved to Washington state, I said my good-byes to Calle. I asked her if she had to live her life over what would she do differently.  She fiercely took hold of my hands and said, “I would have vanquished fear and taken more risks.”

    So, if you are considering the option of self-publishing your work, walk through the fear because, truly, it is not the difficult, frightening process some would lead writers to believe.  The next article in this series will look at where to begin and how to proceed when you decide to publish your own work.  Remember, “keep falling in love with the potential of what you are doing” and move you and your work forward without fear.

    Read the follow up to this article here.

     

    Gail Noble-Sanderson is the author of two works of historical fiction, both of which are self-published under her own Noble Press.  The Lavender House in Meuse is an emotional, intriguing, and sensitive account of the crises of World War I and one woman’s journey towards recovery and growth. Her second novel, The Passage Home to Meuse 

    won 1st Place in the 2017 Chatelaine Awards, the Chanticleer International Writing Competition for romantic fiction.

    Both books are available through Amazon and Village Books.

    Visit Gail’s homepage at http://gailnoblesanderson.com/ and follow her on social media.