Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: robert-s-phillips

The 2025 Chaucer Spotlight for Early Historical Fiction
Tales from the Distant Past

The Chaucer Awards Honor Early Historical Fiction Excellence

The submissions for the 2025 Awards are underway, and Chaucer closes on August 31, 2025!

In an age when stories spread by firelight and traveling minstrels, when legends were born from whispered tales and historical truth blended seamlessly with mythic storytelling, Geoffrey Chaucer understood the power of narrative to capture both the spirit of an age and the eternal human condition. The Chaucer Awards, inspired by the great poet whose “Prior’s Tale” gave Chanticleer its very name, celebrate this same tradition and honoring authors who bring the distant past to vivid life through masterful storytelling.

As Chanticleer’s first historical fiction division, the Chaucer Awards represent our foundational commitment to discovering exceptional historical narratives. From the mists of pre-history through the grandeur of the Renaissance, these awards recognize the unique artistry required to transform ancient civilizations, legendary figures, and distant eras into compelling contemporary fiction.

The Art of Ancient Storytelling

Writing early historical fiction demands extraordinary imagination and research skills. Authors must recreate worlds where written records are scarce, daily life was vastly different from our own, and the very foundations of modern society were still being formed. These storytellers serve as literary archaeologists, piecing together fragments of history, legend, and human nature to create authentic worlds that feel both historically grounded and emotionally true.

The best early historical fiction doesn’t just transport readers to distant times—it reveals the timeless aspects of human experience that connect us across millennia. Whether exploring the political intrigue of Tudor courts, the epic journeys of Celtic heroes, or the daily struggles of medieval peasants, these stories illuminate how courage, love, ambition, and family loyalty have remained constant throughout human history.

The challenge of early historical fiction lies in making ancient worlds accessible to modern readers while respecting the fundamental differences in how people thought, believed, and lived in earlier eras. The most successful works achieve this delicate balance, creating stories that feel authentically historical yet emotionally immediate.

Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!

We’re delighted to honor Rozsa Gaston, whose meticulously researched novel Maid of Honour: Anne Boleyn at Margaret of Austria’s Court claimed the 2024 Chaucer Grand Prize with a fresh perspective on one of history’s most infamous queens. Set in 1513 Europe, the novel follows young Anne Boleyn during her formative time as one of eighteen maids of honor at the court of Margaret of Austria, Europe’s most powerful woman, before her fateful journey to France and eventually to Henry VIII’s court.

Gaston’s work exemplifies the scholarly depth and narrative skill that defines exceptional early historical fiction, exploring how Anne’s ambitious character was shaped by her early experiences with political intrigue, intellectual reform, and the complex dynamics of European court life. As one reviewer noted, this is “a young Anne in whom I absolutely believe, and who does much to explain the woman she’d become.” In addition to ongoing promotional features, Maid of Honour will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Rozsa Gaston will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview, and Maid of Honour will receive a coveted Chanticleer Editorial Review.

Categories That Span the Ancient World

The Chaucer Awards welcome early historical fiction across the full spectrum of pre-1750s history:
- Pre-Historical Fiction – Stories from before recorded history, exploring humanity’s earliest experiences
- Ancient Historical Fiction – Classical civilizations of Greece, Rome, Egypt, and other ancient empires
- Dark Ages, Medieval, Renaissance – The transformative periods that bridged ancient and modern worlds
- Elizabethan/Tudor – The golden age of English history and literature
- 1600s – The century of exploration, scientific revolution, and political upheaval
- World/International History Pre-1750s – Global perspectives on early historical periods
- Americas – Historical Fiction Pre-1750s – Stories from the indigenous and colonial Americas
- Legend Based pre-1750s Historical Fiction – Arthurian tales, Beowulf, and other mythic narratives
- Norse/Celtic – Stories from the rich traditions of northern European cultures
Each category represents a different window into humanity’s distant past, from intimate personal stories to epic tales of kingdoms and empires.

Explore All of Our Historical Fiction Divisions

The Chaucer Awards anchor Chanticleer’s comprehensive celebration of historical fiction across all time periods:
- Goethe Awards for Late Historical Fiction – Post-1750s historical fiction spanning the Georgian era through the 20th century
- Laramie Awards for Americana Fiction – First Nation stories, the American frontier, pioneer tales, Civil War narratives, and Contemporary westerns
- Hemingway Awards for 20th Century Wartime Fiction – The World wars and military conflicts of the modern era
Whether your historical fiction explores recent decades or the distant past, Chanticleer offers recognition for every period and perspective.

Looking at Early Historical Excellence

Check out some of these outstanding early historical fiction works we’ve celebrated recently!

The Tale of the English Templar
By Helena P. Schrader

Far from the romantic legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Helena P. Schrader’s The Tale of the English Templar faithfully captures the harsh decimation of the Knights Templar. Schrader offers a sobering, immersive look at one of history’s darkest betrayals. This is historical fiction worthy of legend with its feet planted firmly in research—not myth.

Set in the early 14th century, the novel captures the downfall of the Knights Templar at the hands of French King Philip IV. With the Pope’s reluctant cooperation, the Templars are accused of heresy and tortured until they confess to crimes they didn’t commit. The king’s true motive? Their immense wealth.

Among those captured is Sir Percy de Lacy, an English Templar who is swept up in a raid by local French soldiers and caught in a mass arrest on Friday, October 13th, 1307. What follows is a harrowing account of imprisonment, torture, and unlikely survival.

Read More Here

Diomedes in Kyprios
By Gregory Michael Nixon

Gregory Michael Nixon’s Diomedes in Kyprios, book 2 in the Diomedeia Series,continues the adventures of the godlike yet all too human hero, Diomedes of Tiryns, as he seeks to discover a meaningful destiny in the chaos of the Bronze Age Collapse.

We begin after the fall of the Hittite Empire, four years after the destruction of Troy. He emerges from the dark river that runs through the underworld where the sacrifice of the Hittite Great King has just occurred, and he has rescued the Hittite Queen from certain death. Nearly drowned but still alive, he recalls only that he had vowed to reunite with the former Queen of the Hittites, the woman he loves named Lieia, at Paphos on the island of Kyprios (ancient Cyprus).

Lieia must undergo her own “odyssey” to get to Paphos to meet Diomedes. She depends on her band of protectors, but they pay for fare aboard a ship with evil men who cannot be trusted.

Read More Here

Elodia’s Knife
By Robert S. Phillips

A Chaucer First Place Winner!

Elodia is a young woman driven by dreadful circumstances to act with deadly force in the Robert S. Phillips novel Elodia’s Knife.

What Elodia hoped would be her leap away from danger instead left her surrounded by perilous threats that now threaten to consume her. Armed with her courage, determination, instincts, and a trusty knife, Elodia faces a hostile world in foreign territory.

Not all are against her though. Allies– even a friend– can be found, if Elodia can summon the bravery to listen to her feelings and own deep wishes.

Young Elodia is unhappily married to an abusive husband. But when he tries to attack her again, she strikes back and kills him.

Read More Here

See our Review of Book 2 Here

See our Review of Book 3 Here

Shelter in a Hostile World
By Mack Little

Chanticleers 2023 Shorts Grand Prize Winner!

Shelter in a Hostile World, second installment in Mack Little’s Love and Peace series, is an epic tale of resistance, desire, and tragedy, saturating readers in the complexity of Igbo culture.

Little paints a character-rich portrait of the horrors of enslavement and the unthinkable violence against women in the Caribbean, locking people together in relationships molded by adversity.

Set in 17th century Igboland—the invaded region of Nigeria — and on the island of Barbados, Shelter in a Hostile World is a searingly brief novel packed with mesmerizing prose. It blends genres to create a literary language entirely its own.

Throughout Little’s story, readers follow the life and loves of Badu Obosi, a haunted revolutionary escaping enslavement to protect his daughter from sexual violence.

Read More Here

See our Review of Book 1, the 2022 Chaucer Grand Prize Winner Here

Mistress of Legend
By Nicole Evelina

Chanticleers 2021 Series Grand Prize Winner!

In Mistress of Legend, the enticing finale of Nicole Evelina’s Guinevere’s Tale trilogy, matters are life-and-death by the second sentence, pulling readers deep into Guinevere’s fate in this retelling of Arthurian legend.

We come upon heroine Guinevere in the midst of an ill-fated romance with Lancelot. It’s far from her first troubled entanglement, but the stakes rise as she’s severely injured and faces even more threats, pursued by possible enemies. The novel’s beginning is woven with backstory, which adds suspense to the drama unfolding in Guinevere’s present. This summarizing might be slow for readers familiar with the series, but makes the story accessible for those who haven’t picked up the first two books.

Many more characters appear, waving the web of intrigue Guinevere finds herself caught in.

Read More Here

See our Review of Book 1 Here

See our Review of Book 2 Here

These works demonstrate how the best early historical fiction combines rigorous research with compelling storytelling to bring ancient worlds to vivid life.

See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!

We’re excited about all the exceptional early historical fiction we receive every year for both the CIBAs and for our Editorial Reviews. The Chanticleer International Book Awards offers an incredible $30,000 in cash, prizes, and promotion across all divisions!

The Chaucer Awards recognize the extraordinary scholarship and imagination required to recreate distant worlds and ancient civilizations. Whether you’ve spent years researching medieval manuscripts, exploring archaeological evidence, or reimagining legendary tales, these awards celebrate both your historical dedication and narrative artistry.

Your Ancient Tale Awaits

Great early historical fiction serves as a bridge between past and present, helping modern readers understand both how much the world has changed and how much human nature remains constant. Whether your story unfolds in a medieval castle, an ancient marketplace, or the legendary courts of Arthurian Britain, the Chaucer Awards celebrate the authors who keep the distant past alive through the power of exceptional storytelling.

Honor the literary tradition that inspired our name—the deadline is August 31, 2025!

You know you want it…

Submit to the Chaucer Awards today and help us celebrate the foundations of historical fiction!
August 11, 2025
MATILDE’S EMPRESS: The Visigoth Saga Book 3 by Robert S. Phillips – Historical Fiction, Ancient Rome, Historical Women Leaders

In Matilde’s Empress, book three of The Visigoth Saga by Robert S. Phillips we follow Matilde’s exploits during the decline of the Roman Empire, with unrelenting battles, meticulous period detail, and insight into how Romans and non-Romans alike dealt with shifting alliances and the frequent loss of loved ones.

Now eighteen, feisty and wise Matilde has lost a child, her lover, and her safety. After she escapes to Thessalonica where her stepbrother Alaric presides, a courier brings word of Emperor Arcadius’s desire to rid his Eastern kingdom of the Visigoths. All Roman subsidies for the Goth’s armed forces are canceled.

Ever the advisor, Matilde pushes for Alaric’s people to shift loyalties and align with Stilicho, the sympathetic Roman general who leads the Western kingdom’s military. Under the guise of delivering wedding gifts to the Western Emperor Honorius, a delegation departs to meet with Stilicho. However, not before Matilde enters a three-way marriage with Alaric and his wife, Pentadia.

During her travels, Matilde discovers she’s pregnant.

The web of politics becomes more complicated as Stilicho remains on friendly terms but will not go against the East. Soon after the delegation returns, Matilde gives birth to Theodoric. It quickly becomes apparent that without enough money to go around clans will soon fall on each other and dissolve into pure conflict. The chieftains appoint Alaric as King of the Goths, which bestows on him the responsibility to find his people a fertile land far from their enemies.

As their migration begins, they wade through a land of violence – battles within the barbarian tribes, between barbarian and Roman armies, and between Romans and Huns. Men are slaughtered, and their wives and children are sold to slave traders.

Amidst the bloodshed, Matilde – Queen of the Goths by virtue of her marriage to Alaric – is taken captive. She becomes enamored with a Roman general, Constantius, and they begin an affair.

Political machinations – treachery, poor planning by excessively proud men, frequent shifts of power – create an intriguing plot. But while Matilde’s love affairs provide some respite, the near-constant fighting and casual indifference to death wears at the heart. Even Matilde is not immune to the weight of it: “Constantius allowed the captured legionaries to swear allegiance to Emperor Honorius. Only a few refused. He had them executed, along with all the barbarian prisoners. I thought that brutal, but, indeed, how were we to manage prisoners?”

Even when there’s hope, sorrow lurks nearby: Matilde is finally released to go home to her family, only to find that a sickness has taken many. Alaric insists that their son Theodoric, his only heir, remain with him. He grants Matilde a divorce so that she can return to Italia with Constantius.

The Roman Empire continues its fall, as usurpers such as Constantine arise, and allegiance to the Western and Eastern emperors is easily turned by gold.

All sides continue to loot, plunder, and pillage any unfortified community. Incestuous marriages are made as power plays. When a longtime Roman ally of Alaric’s is murdered, the empire’s last grasp of power loosens. In 410 CE, Alaric leads the Goths to sack Rome.

Lands and migrations are granted, only to see more battle over those lands. Within a year, Britain is no longer Roman. Within eight years, the Romans finally conceded to allowing barbarian tribes to live peacefully within their territory.

Despite her years of foresight and reasoned counsel, men continued to discount Matilde for being a mere woman. Even Constantius loses interest when she fails to provide him with an heir. Her closest friend, Placidia—ready to marry Constantius once the two divorce – tells her, “A wife either produces sons or she is not a good wife. Your brilliance and other qualities were interesting but not essential.”

In a few years, however, Placidia seeks her help in fending off Honorius. Matilde muses, “Of course, I will go. My next adventure is just beginning.”

This final chapter in The Visigoth Saga will satisfy readers with Matilde’s tale of a girl who grows into a woman on her own terms. Phillips dives into the ancient world and brings readers with him to stand side-by-side with a legendary warrior heroine.

December 11, 2024
MATILDE’S GENERAL: The Visigoth Saga Book 2 by Robert S. Phillips – Historical Fiction, Ancient Rome, Visigoths

Matilde’s General, the second book in The Visigoth Saga by Robert S. Phillips, follows young Matilde, daughter to the Visigoth Elodia and the Roman Caius, as she takes part in the looming fall of the Roman Empire.

Showing the same will and cunning exhibited by her mother in Elodia’s Knife, Matilde spends her youth training to fight. She transforms from an 11-year-old bravado into someone stronger, wiser, and ultimately respected by men in power.

Matilde’s General thrusts readers right into battle – and the action keeps blazing throughout this ancient history.

Her stepbrother Alaric, and his fighters – prized by the Roman Emperor Theodisius – are hired to fight in a civil war. Matilde follows behind in secret. When she is discovered, Matilde is grudgingly allowed to help her mother with the medical cart. But nothing has prepared her for the bloody conflict ahead.

Used as arrow fodder, half the Goth fighters are slaughtered, with most of those still alive badly wounded. Compartmentalizing her grief and horror, Matilde helps treat the injured, whose numbers are multiplied when a ferocious storm follows the battle.

As the ragged remainder, including a wounded Alaric, return home, Matilde asks, “Our songs and stories are full of heroic deeds. Why don’t they tell the truth? That war is horrible, and young men die?” Elodia tells her that men are born to fight and protect us – women to be mothers – but Matilde thinks otherwise.

She listens carefully and begins to debate military philosophy with first Alaric, and eventually, all men in her sphere.

Although Rome viewed all non-Romans as barbaric, the Goths held themselves as civilized. All peoples plundered and burned other villages, but the Goths only took what they needed. Matilde’s family experiences this firsthand on their return home to Storgosia. The Huns have destroyed all but the old Roman fortress.

Matilde and Alaric agree that their people can’t remain there. Together, they hatch a plan.

Emperor Theodosius has died, leaving his kingdom split between his two mentally weak sons. The pact between the Goths and the emperor is now nullified. Alaric determines to forge a new one, not only codifying him as magister militum, but also giving his people lands within the Roman empire.

Matilde refines Alaric’s speech to the Goths and is credited by one of the leaders as “wise beyond her years.” It won’t be the only time. In fact, many of the women far outweigh the men in perceptiveness and prudence. This echoes the point that Elodia made to her daughter.

The Goths under chieftain Alaric journey to Constantinople to propose their new pact. Now recognized as a thoughtful advisor by her people, Matilde attends in the guise of a server but whispers counsel in Alaric’s ear. The negotiations last a month, and ultimately, Emperor Arcadius grants Alaric the region of Thessalia, but no military title.

When Arcadius reneges on part of the pact, a battle breaks out, but the top Roman generals Stilicho and Gainas choose not to escalate.

General Gainas takes note of Matilde. Before the Romans return to Constantinople, they demand two hostages as “guarantors of Alaric’s good behavior.” With Gainas’s growing respect for and attraction to Matilde, it’s no surprise that she is chosen.

Robert Phillips imbues Rome with life and color, exciting readers with the ancient city just as it fascinates Matilde herself.

The market stalls are filled with silks, jewelry, and other riches. Matilde joins on weapons drills, astonishing the young men. She watches gladiatorial games and chariot races, realizing that above all, Rome is defined by the constant presence of bloodsport, violence, and death.

But for all its jubilant chaos, Rome is controlled by careful intrigue and political machinations. Matilde has to quickly grasp the tenuous flow of power.

She is taken prisoner as a spy, but soon released back to an ever-more adoring Gainas, who acts on her suggestion to remove the chief minister and take his place. However, Arcadius feels threats closing in on him and starts having generals killed, so Gainas departs with an envoy to recruit more fighters.

Befriended by a general’s wife, Matilde confesses: “Gainas is destined to be the Stilicho of the East […] though he doesn’t know it. He needs a woman to help him fulfill his purpose. I am that woman […] Gainas and I would become the rulers – the effective rulers – of half the world.”

For once, Matilde’s instincts fail her.

On their return to Rome, unrest escalates, and the empire’s slow demise is reflected in Matilde’s personal life. Now very pregnant, she loses the empress’s friendship. Gainas is obsessed with military action, and he no longer takes her counsel. She realizes that, faced with turmoil, “Gainas was too proud to take suggestions from a little girl.”

With few people she can rely on, Matilde will have to survive this collapsing city.

Historical fiction rarely looks into the so-called barbarian tribes who helped bring about the fall of the Roman Empire. The Visigoth Saga illuminates this fascinating and important part of the ancient world.

Phillips bolsters this story with intriguing, authentic details about battle maneuvers, political plotting, and life in general circa 400 CE. Each chapter is introduced with the words of an actual ancient historian. Within this historical veracity, Matilde’s General is made intimate by its intelligent women who love, and understand, their flawed men.

Readers can look forward to Matilde’s story reaching its epic conclusion in book 3 of The Visigoth Saga: Matilde’s Empress.

November 27, 2024
The 2023 Chaucer First Place Roundup for Early Historical Fiction!

The Chaucer Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Early Historical Fiction. The Grand Prize Winner, James Hutson-Wiley’s book, The Merchant from Sepharad will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Chaucer contest page year ’round!

The best part about being a Chanticleer Int’l Book Award Winner is the love and attention you get all year ‘round!

In this years Chaucer posts, we are also highlighting some of the female authors of the past, often overlooked by History.

Marie de France was a 12th Century poet, considered to be the earliest known female poet writing in French. Her work is still read and was also an influence on the genre of Chivalric Romance. One of her works is a series of 102 fables, some translated from Aesop, the ones in the series she wrote have a focus on Female characters. Fable 51 is considered an early version of the Raynard the Fox tale, which was an inspiration for Chaucer while writing the Canterbury Tales, specifically the Nun’s Priest’s Tale, the tale also starring a certain rooster named Chanticleer.

The 2023 Chaucer Winners were announced at the 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference in April, and you can see the official winners post here!

Join us in celebrating the 2023 First Place Chaucer Winners!

Gina Buonaguro – The Virgins on Venice

Venice in 1509 is on the brink of war. The displeasure of Pope Julius II is a continuing threat to the republic, as is the barely contained fighting in the countryside. Amid this turmoil, noblewoman Justina Soranzo, just sixteen, hopes to make a rare love marriage with her sweetheart, Luca Cicogna. Her hopes are dashed when her father decides her younger sister, Rosa, will marry in a strategic alliance and Justina will be sent to the San Zaccaria convent, in the tradition of aristocratic daughters. Lord Soranzo is not acting only to protect his family. It’s well known that he is in debt to both his trading partners and the most infamous courtesan in the city, La Diamante, and the pressure is closing in.

After arriving at the convent, Justina takes solace in her aunt Livia, one of the nuns, and in the growing knowledge that all is not strictly devout at San Zaccaria. Justina is shocked to discover how the women of the convent find their own freedom in what seems to her like a prison. But secrets and scandals breach the convent walls, and Justina learns there may be even worse fates for her than the veil, if La Diamante makes good on her threats.

Desperate to protect herself and the ones she loves, Justina turns to Luca for help. She finds she must trust her own heart to make the impossible decisions that may save or ruin them all.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Griffin Brady – The Hussar’s Duty

A duty he believes in. A general he idolizes. But when doubts surface, will he stay true to honor or the chance to return to the woman he loves?

Poland, 1620. Jacek Dąbrowski scents war in the air. Away from the battlefield for five years, the renowned fighter yields to a growing itch and answers the general’s request to help lead the army against the Ottomans. But he’s torn between duty and family when the perils of combat force him to leave his defenseless wife behind.

Attending war councils and taking command of problematic noblemen, Jacek starts to doubt the mission and the sacrifice of being far from his loved ones. But his loyalty to his commander could put him on an irreversible path to disaster…

Will Jacek’s call to arms prove to be his death song?

Find it on Amazon

Robert S. Phillips – Elodia’s Knife

Set in the late 4th century CE, Elodia’s Knife tells the gripping tale of a young Gothic girl who kills her abusive husband and flees his family’s retribution by rafting across the Danube River into Roman territory. Against the backdrop of a crumbling empire and the looming threat of Gothic invasion, Elodia must use her wits and her strength to rise to power in a world that seeks to crush her. With unforgettable characters, pulse-pounding action, and a vivid sense of historical detail, this is a must-read for anyone who loves adventure, romance, and history.

From Chanticleer:

Elodia is a young woman driven by dreadful circumstances to act with deadly force in the Robert S. Phillips novel Elodia’s Knife.

What Elodia hoped would be her leap away from danger instead left her surrounded by perilous threats that now threaten to consume her. Armed with her courage, determination, instincts, and a trusty knife, Elodia faces a hostile world in foreign territory.

Not all are against her though. Allies– even a friend– can be found, if Elodia can summon the bravery to listen to her feelings and own deep wishes.

Young Elodia is unhappily married to an abusive husband. But when he tries to attack her again, she strikes back and kills him.

Read More Here

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Rozsa Gaston – Margaret of Austria

Margaret of Austria was the most significant political negotiator of early 16th-century Europe. About as Austrian as French fries are French, she was born in Brussels in 1480, raised in France, married and widowed in Spain, then married and widowed again in Savoy by age twenty-four.

In 1506 Margaret’s life turned upside down when her brother Philip of Burgundy unexpectedly died in Spain. With their mother Juana of Castile insane, four children, heirs to the Habsburg empire, were left behind in the Burgundian-Habsburg Netherlands.

Margaret stepped in and took the reins.

Appointed by her father, Maximilian I, Margaret became governor of the Netherlands, then widened her role to broker the 1508 Treaty of Cambrai where Europe’s princes united against Venice.

Ferdinand of Spain, Henry Tudor then Henry VIII of England, Louis XII of France, and Louise of Savoy for Francis I all came to Margaret’s negotiation table. Under her deft diplomacy princes saw reason and wars were averted.

Enjoying political power, Margaret avoided remarriage. Then Henry VIII’s right-hand man Charles Brandon turned her world upside down.

Margaret’s court attracted Europe’s brightest, including the young Anne Boleyn. Yet halfway through her rule Margaret was ousted by enemies. She won back her position with a comeback strategy as astute today as it was in 1517.

Journey to the Renaissance with Margaret of Austria, who shot the fortunes of the House of Habsburg to the stars while setting a winning precedent for female rule in the Netherlands.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Rebecca Kightlinger – The Lady of the Cliffs: The Bury Down Chronicles, Book 2

Now nearly seventeen, Megge and Brighida must endure another brutal loss.

As they perform the rites of transition that precede a burial, Megge accepts a daunting new charge that carries consequences not even her cousin the seer can predict. It brings visions. Dreams. And voices that come to her as she goes about her work.

A silken voice beckons her back to the cliffs of Kernow, which she has seen only in dreams.

A commanding voice orders her back.

And the menacing voice she’s heard since she was a girl is now ever at her ear, bringing a haunting new meaning to her grandmother’s words, “You’re never alone.”

But only when the tales of an old woman, a stranger to Bury Down, echo those voices and conjure those cliffs does Megge embark on a journey that leads to a secluded cove they call The Sorrows and a destiny none of the women of Bury Down could have foreseen.

From Chanticleer:

In The Lady of the Cliffs, an ambitious sequel in the Bury Down Chronicles by Rebecca Kightlinger, a teenager embarks on a journey that will bring her face to face with unexpected destiny.

The year is 1286 CE in Cornwall, England. At the turn of her seventeenth year, Megge and her cousin Brighida find themselves dealing with a new loss, one that breaks both their hearts. As heirs to the Book of Seasons and Book of Times respectively, they have to protect the books from sinister hands as they hold knowledge and wisdom that must one day be united. The power of these two books calls for a duty that is far greater than any woman of Bury Down has ever borne.

As they take part in a final right of passage that the women of Bury Down perform for their dead, Megge, an apprentice weaver, takes on new challenges that Brighida, an apprentice seer, cannot foretell. Megge begins having dreams and visions. In one of her dreams, she sees a rolling sea drive itself into a cove at the foot of a cliff, and a silken voice asking her to return to the cliffs of Kernow, a place that she has only seen in her slumber.

Read More Here

Find it Locally and on Amazon

C.V. Lee – Token of Betrayal

1461, Isle of Jersey. Disillusioned by war, Sir Philippe de Carteret returns home to hang up his sword and embrace his duties as seigneur of the island’s most powerful manor. Desiring to raise his son in peace and safety, he is dismayed when news arrives that the impregnable fortress of Mont Orgueil Castle has been breached.

He seeks assistance from England to expel the invaders. But amid the chaos of the Wars of the Roses, his pleas go unheeded. To safeguard his son and preserve the family legacy, de Carteret pledges fealty to the new lord. Hopeful that the French will rule benevolently, his illusions are quickly shattered when their tactics turn brutal.

With spies everywhere and unsure of whom to trust, can de Carteret build a rebel force and lead them on a quest to liberate the homeland he loves?

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2023 Chaucer First Place Winners!

You can see our Hall of Fame on the Chaucer Grand Prize Winners, including James Hutson-Wiley’s incredible book The Merchant From Sepharad here.

Your book can join the Tiers of Achievement, but only if you submit to the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards!

Got a great Fiction Book? The 2024 Chaucer Book Awards are open through the end of September!

Note: Submissions don’t officially close until the date changes on the website!

Submit to the Chaucer Awards Today!

October 4, 2024
The Shorts Roundup for the 2023 First Place Winners!

The Short Story Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Short Stories, Collections and Novellas. The Grand Prize Winners, Mack Little’s book, Shelter in A Hostile World and Catherine Brown’s story The Heart of Kublai Khan’s Menagerie Keeper will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Shorts contest page year ’round!

The best part about being a Chanticleer Int’l Book Award Winner is the love and attention you get all year ‘round!

The 2023 Shorts Winners were announced at the 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference in April, and you can see the official winners post here for Novellas and Collections! And here for Short Stories and Essays!

Join us in celebrating the 2023 First Place Shorts Winners!

Paper Lantern Writers – Unlocked

Who knows what treasures will be found when this ancient trunk is finally Unlocked?

In much the same manner as Pandora, each Paper Lantern Writer takes a turn opening an old wooden chest, digging out stories spanning seven centuries. The individuals in these tales—heroes, villains, and in between—are more than people from the past. Whether they are making mayhem, waging war, or quietly holding their families together, their strength and fortitude shines on the page. From the Swinging Seventies to the Middle Ages, these characters gather, keep, and spill the secrets of their souls.

Find it on Amazon

Elizabeth Rau – The Good Slope

Moving, bold, and funny, this collection of essays by Elizabeth Rau captures the poignancy of ordinary life through the voices of everyday people–children, friends, neighbors, and even the mail carrier. In vivid and lyrical prose, she chronicles her childhood in the Midwest, her many years as a newspaper reporter, and, above all, her plunge into motherhood in middle age. At a time when some writers tend to grouse about raising children, Rau revels in her good fortune and the day-to-day: teaching her younger son how to read using “Garfield” comic books; encouraging her older son to design his grandmother’s gravestone; observing the motley crew of boys who patronize “the yellow house” for years, bringing their wit, charm, and stuff, from yo-yos to baseball gloves. Along the way we meet characters in her neighborhood, like Ed the mailman whose true passion is growing and selling daylilies because they are “beautiful and resilient and won’t die on you.” Engaging, yet never indulgent, the collection elevates moments we take for granted into luminous stories about the experience of home.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Sean Thomas Dwyer – Tiptoeing Past The Dragon

This work is a manuscript. Sean also won a 2018 First Place in the Journey Award for his Book A Quest For Tears (Find that Locally and our review for it here). He has also recently been awarded with Village Books Literary Citizenship Award. Congratulations Sean!

Mary Ann Bernal – AnaRose and The Templar’s Quest

A dangerous expedition. A precious artifact. A race against time.

Museum curator and expert in antiquities AnaRose Preston accepts the challenge to find one of Christianity’s holy relics concealed in the hilt of a legendary dagger. Traveling throughout contemporary France, she rushes to solve a historical mystery. But members of a secret society stand in her way. AnaRose risks her life to locate the weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.

Find it on Amazon

JuJu – The Costly Wish

Be careful what you wish for, they say…

We’re so caught up in wishful thinking that we fail to acknowledge the drawbacks associated with them. It’s the way of the universe; you need to give up something dear to you in order to achieve something dearer. With that being said, there is a balance that needs to be met for everything to work in perfect harmony. But what happens when you’ve bitten off more than you can chew? What happens when your granted wish has consequences you did not ask for?

Presenting a narrative that begins with a grave warning, condensing into a plot that will send shivers down your spine. A narrative that will toy with you, allowing you to find comfort only to take it away when you least expect it.

Find it Locally or on Amazon

Gary Baysinger – A Kind of Homecoming

1914 England

Rose is swept off her feet by young German Sebastian, who shares many of her passions and dreams. The world is their oyster—until it is not, with the rising drums of war reinforcing their differences and proving an obstacle to any relationship dreams each may have harbored.

As Rose throws herself into the rigors of being an Army nurse, cleaning up after the infantry’s battles, she can’t help but wonder how the pain and suffering she witnesses fits into the beliefs and ideals she once held.

From issues of patriotism and opportunity to confrontations with the “lottery of fate” that transforms dreams and dreamers alike, A Kind of Homecoming represents a vivid story of war and transformation that will appeal to libraries and readers seeking succinct yet powerful explorations of World War I’s impact on individual ambitions.

Find it on Amazon

Brian Feutz – Pity the Peasants

Read the Award Winning story on his website here!

From fiction to humor, short-story narrative to poetry —
Brian Feutz has an affinity for the music of words. A wide range of life experiences and interests converge in a lively perspective that challenges conventions and stimulates thought.

A.J. McCarthy – The Strike

The author of mystery suspense novels, A.J. McCarthy is always on the lookout for new ideas. Her friends and family are cautious, concerned they may become a victim in her next novel. Those who are more adventurous offer up ideas and are willing to sacrifice certain family members for the cause. A.J. bides her time, waiting for the right moment and the perfect victim. She hides behind a quiet façade, and few know what she’s really thinking.

A.J. grew up reading Agatha Christie, Sidney Sheldon, and many other masters of mystery and suspense. A lifelong love of the genre evolved. She’s a member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. When she isn’t writing, chances are she is reading.

Find her books on Amazon

Logan D. Irons – Bridge of Kings

Two Warriors. Two Kings. One bridge.

Some men hold secrets that are far darker than war. An old oath obligates Ulf Bodvarsson to join King Harald Hardrada’s army of Norsemen, seeking to assert his claim to the English crown. Yet near Stamford Bridge, enemies await, seeking to fulfill their own oaths of blood. The struggle that awaits them all will decide who rules and who dies.

This gritty historical fantasy novella gives new readers an excellent introduction to the dynamic grimdark world created by Logan D. Irons. Start the series that is perfect for fans of George R.R. Martin, Bernard Cornwell, Joe Abercrombie, John Gwynne, and Mark Lawrence.

Find it on Amazon

Marie Sutro- Son Down

Marie Sutro is was born in the San Francisco Bay Area, which served as the setting for her debut novel, Dark Associations. As soon as she learned to read, she developed an insatiable appetite for books. With each new story, Marie became more fascinated with the transformative power of words. The magic she discovered in those printed pages sparked an ardent desire to write, which continues to this day.

Marie remains committed to sharing the knowledge that has brought so much joy to her life. She volunteers with California Library Literacy Services, helping adults improve their reading and writing skills. Marie is also a member of Sisters in Crime, where she has served on the board of her local chapter. She currently serves on the board of Bouchercon World Mystery Convention.

Robert S Phillips – The Great River

You can read his story can be found on HamLit here for their issue Life Expectancy. His Novel, Elodia’s Knife is available Locally and on Amazon, and our Review of that book is here.

Writing didn’t become a priority for Robert until recently. In 2023, he published his first novel, “Elodia’s Knife,” a historical epic set in the late 4th century CE, when the Western Roman Empire was on the brink of collapse. The book tells the story of a young Gothic girl who flees her abusive husband and finds refuge in Roman territory. She uses her wits and strength to survive and rise to power in a world that seeks to crush her.

The novel’s ordinary characters are made extraordinary by the world-shaking events of their time. Its unconventional story is bursting with confusion and danger, all precisely framed by the known historical record. “Elodia’s Knife” is a testament to Robert’s love of history, adventure, and suspense.

S.M. Stevens – The Wallace House of Pain

Troubled family relations, modern social justice issues, deeply personal choices.

Activist Xander Wallace and his straitlaced father do not have an easy relationship. Jim’s views on race, immigration, gender, sexuality and even Millennials alienate his son no matter how hard Xander tries to find common ground. Toss in Jim’s second marriage ten months after Xander’s mother died and it’s a volatile cocktail. How, against this backdrop, will Xander ever dare to bare his soul and reveal his greatest secret?

Find it on Amazon

Remembering Robert Phillips

Robert Phillips passed on August 8, 2024. He is deeply missed. Here is a note from Robert’s family:

Robert retired from his life-long career as a software engineer at the beginning of the COVID lockdown, and immediately focused his time and energy on caring for Mom and writing his first historical fiction novel. Elodia’s Knife was published in 2023, and received numerous local awards and accolades. Not one to let time go to waste, he immediately started writing the sequels.

Dad never stopped missing Mom after her death, and spoke about her with love and reverence regularly. But he also continued to grow his own community here in Bellingham, working out at ProFitness Northwest under the expert care and compassion of our trainer Christy, connecting with writers in Whatcom County through the Village Books writers group, and volunteering his time and energy with the lively set-building crew at the Bellingham Theatre Guild. He travelled to visit friends and family in British Columbia, Alberta, Israel, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Texas, New Mexico, and North Carolina.

Dad and I talked in January of 2024. He was clear and definite in his intentions. He wanted to use whatever remaining time he had to finish the sequels to Elodia’s Knife, to spend time with friends and family, to live fully and pain-free for as long as possible.

If you knew Robert and would like to donate in his memory, his family asks that donations be sent to End of Life Washington, which is a powerful and critical advocacy group here in Washington, and was an incredible support to me as we prepared for his death: https://endoflifewa.org/ or The Bellingham Theatre Guild, which creates incredible local theater with an all-volunteer crew: https://bellinghamtheatreguild.com/.

Reviews for both of the sequels to Elodia’s Knife will be coming soon. We are honored to be able to continue to remember and celebrate Robert and his writing.

Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2023 Shorts First Place Winners!

Your book can join the Tiers of Achievement, but only if you submit to the Shorts Awards!

Got a great Short Book? The 2024 Shorts Awards are open through the end of August!

Submit to the Shorts Awards Today!

August 22, 2024
10 Days Left! The 2024 Chatelaine, Shorts and Gertrude Warner Awards close at the end of August!
Three Divisions Close at the end of August

Three excellent divisions close at the end of August!

Don’t let your book miss out!
Only 10 days left to submit your books to these prestigious CIBA Divisions and embark on an extraordinary journey to success. With over $30,000 in prizes awarded annually, now is the time to make your mark!

The Chatelaine Awards for Romantic Fiction, The Shorts Awards, and the Gertrude Warner Awards for Middle Grade Fiction are still open!

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2023 Chatelaine Award for Romance!

Enter here!
- T.K. Conklin – Guarded Hearts
- Bonnie Rose Ward – Loving Beth
- S.G. Blaise – Proud Pada
- Morgan Sloan – Stableshoes
- Rose Prendeville – Mistress Mackintosh and the Shaw Wretch
And a huge round of applause for the 2023 Chatelaine Grand Prize Winner:

A Sea of Glass by Gail Avery Halverson

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2023 Shorts Awards!

Enter here!

Novellas, Collections and Essays:
- Paper Lantern Writers – Unlocked
- Elizabeth Rau – The Good Slope
- Seán Thomas Dwyer – Tiptoeing Past the Dragon
- Mary Ann Bernal – AnaRose and the Templar’s Quest
- JuJu – The Costly Wish
- Gary Baysinger – A Kind of Homecoming
And Short Stories:
- A.J. McCarthy – The Strike
- Brian Feutz – Pity the Peasants
- Logan D. Irons – Bridge of Kings
- Marie Sutro – Son Down
- Robert S Phillips – The Great River
- S.M. Stevens – The Wallace House of Pain
And a huge round of applause for the 2023 Shorts Awards Grand Prize Winners:

Shelter in A Hostile World by Mack Little

The Heart of Kublai Khans Menagerie Keeper
A manuscript by Catherine Brown

Congratulations to the 2023 Winners of the Gertrude Warner Awards!

Enter here!
- Alex Paul – The Amarrat Invasion
- Chris Norbury – Little Mountain, Big Trouble
- Liese Sherwood-Fabre – Wilhelmina Quigley: Magic School Dropout
- Kevin Dunn – Vicious is My Middle Name
- Alisse Lee Goldenberg & Joseph Goldenberg – Lucky At Bat
- Ben Gartner – One Giant Leap
- Sue C Dugan – SOS
And a huge round of applause for the 2023 Gertrude Warner Grand Prize Winner:

Exostar: The Lost Space Treasure Series Book 1 by Rae Knightly

The CIBAs offer more than just recognition — they provide a ladder to success with a range of achievement tiers and expert long tail marketing strategies. From the highly anticipated Long List to the prestigious Overall Grand Prize Winner, the CIBA lists energize both authors and readers, maximizing your digital footprint and expanding your fan base.

We are always eager to support the Best Books through the CIBAs. Join the ranks of celebrated authors who have already taken this critical step in their publishing.

Your book deserves to be discovered, celebrated, and shared with the world. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your talent and gain valuable exposure at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (April 3-6, 2025) where Winners from all 25 Book Award Divisions will be announced and honored.

In a world hungry for good books, your story deserves to be heard. Submit now and leave a lasting impression.

Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

Don’t Delay! Enter Today!

The Chatelaine Awards, The Shorts Awards, and The Gertrude Warner Awards

Your book deserves to be discovered
August 21, 2024
Making Character Introductions Memorable from the Desk of Editorial Assistant Scott Taylor
Think of Characters like Speed Dating

Is he actually cute?

Who is This Guy and Why Should I Care?

Writers often fall in love with our characters before their names ever appear on a page. They’re charming, intimidating, scrappy, and clever. Most of all, they matter to us.

But how do you get the reader to agree that this brainchild of yours is worth checking out? Like all good first impressions, shaping how your character enters the story is important.

This introduction will shade every other moment the character will have. Here are three tips to give your characters the best chance at a second date.

Lights, Camera, Action!

When the character enters they need to be doing something important. Maybe it’s key to the plot, maybe to themselves or another person—or, even better, both.

We see characters through their actions: What they’re capable of, what they’re willing to do, what they want. And seeing what someone is in a position to do tells the reader almost everything they need to know about the role that person will play in the broader story.

In her sci-fi novel A Closed and Common Orbit, Becky Chambers introduces the character Owl by having her save a young girl’s life.

She felt some spit hit the back of her leg.

The voice changed. ‘Hey! This way! Come towards me!’

There was no time for questions. Jane 23 ran at the voice.

A machine stuck out from one of the scrap piles, a huge machine with thick sides and — and a door.

Though Owl is only known as a nameless, disembodied voice at this point, she’s already a meaningful character—a sanctuary of kindness in an otherwise horrifying ordeal.

This immediately establishes a dynamic between Owl & Jane 23—savior and saved. With this foundation, Chambers develops a deep and resonant relationship between the characters, as Owl guides Jane 23, encouraging her to keep going despite all the danger and hardship around her.

This introduction also serves the function of pushing the plot forward. Jane 23 has her first real chance at survival. She escapes the beasts—for now.

While not every character needs such a dramatic entrance, consider whether some of your characters might be well-illustrated by emphasizing them first with action. This may be delivering a casserole to a grieving widow, binding a magical beast in chains of cold iron, or stuffing a wedding invitation deep at the bottom of a cluttered drawer.

And speaking of drawers…

In what environment do we first find your character?

A prison cell implies too much to list here. Go deeper. Ask yourself what does your character have on the wall of their prison cell? This is a great opportunity for contrast. You can show how your character relates to the world around them, how they clash or are at peace with it.

This tells the reader what kind of power they hold. Remember, that also means what kinds they clearly do not. If your character visits wealthy distant relatives, are they put in an opulent guest room or are they relegated into the former servant’s quarters?

Loren Eiseley opens his short story, The Star Thrower, with an impactful example of contrast and powerlessness. The protagonist muses on how he’s come to a place called Costabel, concluding that his arrival there might have been simply inevitable. He immediately relinquishes his agency, which is given significant meaning by the description of the beach itself.

The beaches of Costabel are littered with the debris of life. Shells are cast up in windows; a hermit crab, fumbling for a new home in the depths, is tossed naked ashore, where the waiting gulls cut him to pieces. Along the strip of wet sand that marks the ebbing and flowing of the tide, death walks hugely in many forms.

He isn’t just resigned to the idea that he would inevitably end up somewhere—but here. A place where uncaring fate casts vulnerable creatures to their deaths. It’s easy to see the kinship he shares with them.

This gloomy introduction reveals his lack of self-worth and deep sorrow, which, crucially, frames the protagonist’s experiences and transformation through this story.

What’s Your Problem?

So, why are you still single?

Characters are most interesting when they’re actively dealing with their big conflict!

This is obvious with protagonists, but especially consider also how you can flesh out the side characters or antagonists. A conflict-focused introduction establishes where a character stands in the plot as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

Armistead Maupin opens Tales of the City by immediately connecting us with the inner conflict of the protagonist.

We meet Mary Ann just as she’s made the decision not to come home to the Midwest, and instead stay in San Francisco. She has no job here, no apartment, but when she calls her mom about her decision, she’s resolute—more than resolute, she’s excited.

“Her mother began to cry. ‘You won’t come back, I just know it.’

‘Mom… please… I will. I promise.’

‘But you won’t be… the same!’

‘No! I hope not.’”

In much of Mary Ann’s following story, she embraces and struggles with the culture of 1970s San Francisco, as she’s pulled along by the bay winds of fate. And right here at the start, the contradictions in her character are established.

She’s impulsive, terribly so. Desperate to be part of a wider world. Perhaps careless, maybe unprepared, a stranger in the place she now calls home, but she’s alive! Readers fall in love with Mary Ann because she needs to be free from the world she came from, and because she has the bravery to take that risk.

This leads to a hint of trouble yet to come. As Mary Ann claims her adult life, she’ll struggle with new and changing relationships. Her impulsiveness enthralls the readers and stresses her emotional connections.

Best Foot Forward

Next time you introduce a character revisit these three tips. Even if you choose a different introduction method, examine the essential parts of your characters and how those elements shine through in their first appearance. That spark—what makes them curious, important, worth reading a story about—will seize your readers and carry them through to see not only what becomes of those characters, but what they become.

Thank you for joining us for this Writer Toolbox Article

There is so much to learn and do with Chanticleer!

From our Book Award Program that has Discovered the Best Books since the early 2010s to our Editorial Book Reviews recognizing and promoting indie and traditional authors, Chanticleer knows your books are worth the effort to market professionally!

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 us at info@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.

Looking to add to your TBR?

Check out the books mentioned in this article below:
Even better, find a new Chanticleer Reviewed Book with a great introduction!
August 6, 2024
The 2023 Shorts Book Awards WINNERS for Short Stories and Essays
The Short Story Awards recognize emerging talent and outstanding works in Short Stories, Essays, Novelettes, and Novellas. The Short Story Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards program.

The Chanticleer International Book Awards program discovers today’s best works. The Short Stories Awards discovers the Best New Shorts in Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction.

NOTE: We are posting the Novellas, Long Essays, and Collected Works in a different post. These are Short Stories and Essays

1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners were announced at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony by Mike Murphey on Saturday, April 20th, 2024 at the Four Points by Sheraton in beautiful Bellingham, Wash. sponsored by the 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

This is the OFFICIAL 2023 LIST of the SHORTS BOOK AWARDS First Place Category Winners and the SHORTS Grand Prize Winner.

Congratulations to the FIRST PLACE CATEGORY WINNERS of Individual Short Stories, Novellas, and Essays Awards, a division of the 2023 CIBAs.

Join us in celebrating the following authors and their works!
- A.J. McCarthy – The Strike
- Brian Feutz – Pity the Peasants
- Catherine Brown – The Heart of Kublai Khan’s Menagerie Keeper
- Logan D. Irons – Bridge of Kings
- Marie Sutro – Son Down
- Robert S Phillips – The Great River
- S.M. Stevens – The Wallace House of Pain
The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2023 Short Story Awards is:

The Heart of Kublai Khan’s Menagerie Keeper

A Manuscript

by Catherine Brown

You can see all of our amazing 2023 Shorts Finalists! Congratulations to all and thank you for submitting!

Well done climbing the CIBA Levels of Achievement!

PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

Attn CIBA Winners: More goodies and prizes will be coming your way along with promotion in our magazine, website, and advertisements in Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards long-tail marketing strategy. Welcome to the CIBA Hall of Fame for Award Winners!

This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, for Facebook to allow us to tag an author, that author must LIKE our page and Follow Chanticleer Reviews.

Please click here to visit our page to LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE on Facebook.

Additionally, we also post on Twitter. Chanticleer Facebook and Twitter handle is @ChantiReviews

Or click here to go directly to Chanticleer’s Twitter feed.

A Note to ALL the WINNERS: The coveted CIBA Blue Ribbons will be mailed out starting in June. We will contact you with an email to verify your mailing address and other items.

To ALL the WINNERS: You will receive an OFFICIAL EMAIL NOTIFICATION with Digital Badges and more information.

NOTE: We will post at least two 2023 CIBA Divisions’ OFFICIAL Winners per business day starting April 24, 2024. We do a final sweep and reconciliation prior to making the Official CIBA Posts for the 2023 First Place and Grand Prize Winners. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. There are many moving parts involved with the Chanticleer International Book Awards Program.

Thank you for participating in the 2023 CIBAs! We are looking forward to reading your future entries.

Team Chanticleer!
April 29, 2024
The Chaucer 2023 Book Awards Winners for Early Historical Fiction
The Chaucer Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in pre-1750s Historical Fiction. The Chaucer Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

The Chaucer Book Awards competition is named for Geoffrey Chaucer the author of the legendary Canterbury Tales. The work is considered to be one of the greatest works in the English language. It was among the first non-secular books written in Middle English to be printed in 1483.

Chanticleer International Book Awards is seeking for the best books featuring Pre-1750s Historical Fiction, including pre-history, ancient history, Classical, world history (non-western culture), Dark Ages and Medieval Europe, Renaissance, Elizabethan, Tudor, 1600s, we will put them to the test and choose the best among them.

The other three Historical Fiction Genres are the Laramie Awards for Americana Fiction, the Goethe Awards for Late Historical Fiction, and the Hemingway Awards for 20th c. Wartime Fiction.

1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners were announced at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony by Anya Mueller on Saturday, April 20th, 2024 at the Four Seasons By Sheraton in Bellingham, Wash. sponsored by the 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

This is the OFFICIAL 2023 LIST of the CHAUCER BOOK AWARDS First Place Category Winners and the CHAUCER Grand Prize Winner.

Congratulations to the FIRST PLACE CATEGORY WINNERS of the CHAUCER BOOK AWARDS for Pre-1750s Historical Fiction, a division of the 2023 CIBAs.
- Gina Buonaguro – The Virgins of Venice
- Griffin Brady – The Hussar’s Duty
- James Hutson-Wiley – The Merchant from Sepharad
- Robert S Phillips – Elodia’s Knife
- Rozsa Gaston – Margaret of Austria
- Rebecca Kightlinger – The Lady of the Cliffs: The Bury Down Chronicles, Book Two
- C.V. Lee – Token of Betrayal
The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2023 CHAUCER Awards is:

James Hutson-Wiley

The Merchant from Sepharad

You can see all of our amazing 2023 Chaucer Finalists! Congratulations to all and thank you for submitting!

Well done climbing the CIBA Levels of Achievement!

PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

Attn CIBA Winners & Finalists: More goodies and prizes will be coming your way along with promotion in our magazine, website, and advertisements in Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards long-tail marketing strategy. Welcome to the CIBA Hall of Fame for Award Winners!

This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, for Facebook to allow us to tag an author, that author must LIKE our page and Follow Chanticleer Reviews.

Please click here to visit our page to LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE on Facebook.

Additionally, we also post on Twitter. Chanticleer Facebook and Twitter handle is @ChantiReviews

Or click here to go directly to Chanticleer’s Twitter feed.

A Note to ALL the WINNERS: The coveted CIBA Blue Ribbons will be mailed out starting in June. We will contact you with an email to verify your mailing address and other items.

ALL the WINNERS: You will receive an OFFICIAL EMAIL NOTIFICATION with Digital Badges and more information.

NOTE: We will post at least two 2023 CIBA Divisions’ OFFICIAL Winners per business day starting April 24, 2024. We do a final sweep and reconciliation prior to making the Official CIBA Posts for the 2023 First Place and Grand Prize Winners. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. There are many moving parts involved with the Chanticleer International Book Awards Program.

Thank you for participating in the 2023 CIBAs! We are looking forward to reading your future entries.

Team Chanticleer
April 24, 2024