Chanticleer Book Reviews

Category: Contest News

The Official List of The CLUE Awards 2013 Finalists
The CLUE Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Thriller, Suspense, and Mystery Fiction.

Finalists will compete for 1st Place Category positions. First Place Category winners will compete for The CLUE Awards Overall Best Book 2013.

The CLUE Awards 2013 for Thriller/Suspense/Mystery Fiction is a division of Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

These Finalists have made it through the first 3 rounds of competition. The first sixty to ninety pages of these works have been read; they are presently making the next series of rounds. From here on out, each round is increasingly more competitive as the judges determine if the works will move forward to best of category.

We are honored to announce the Finalists of the CLUE Awards 2013.

CBR Official List of Titles & Authors Finalists for the CLUE Awards 2013 are:
- Small Town Storm by Elise K. Ackers
- An Accusing Finger by Richard E. Gower
- Death Over Easy by Toby Speed
- Forevermore by JimMusgrave
- Disappearance by Jim Musgrave
- Stray Cats by Geoffrey Mehl
- Guarding Shakespeare by Quintin Peterson
- Without Consent by Bev Irwin
- The Space Between by Sydney T. Blake
- Firetrap by Richard Mann
- Beyond the Bridge by Tom MacDonald
- Connections by Sandra Olson
- Deadly Recall by Donnell Ann Bell
- Parchman Preacher by Michael Hicks Thompson
- Don’t Cry Over Killed Milk by Stephen Kaminski
- Raggedy Man by Clyde Curley
- The Grave Blogger by Donna D. Fontenot
- Grind His Bones by Richard Newell Smith
- Buried Threads by Kaylin McFarren
- Poe, Nevermore by Rachel M.Martens
- The Last Dance by Lonna Enox
- Auditory Viewpoint by Lillian R. Melendez
- Eleven by Carolyn Arnold
- Trophies by J. Gunnar Grey
- Spiked by Sharron Gold
- Fyre & Ice by Barbie Ray
- Third Eye Witness by Kathy Bjorkman
- Too Many Violins by Mark Reutlinger
- The Politician’s Daughter by Marion Leigh
- Blue Coyote by Karen Musser Nortman
- Peete and Repeat by Karen Musser Nortman
- Blue Coyote Hotel by Dianne Harman
- Blue Coyote in Provence by Dianne Harman
Now this is something to CROW about!

Congratulations to the CLUE Awards 2013 Finalists!
- Good luck to all in the next competitive rounds for 1st Place Categories!
- 1st Place Category winners will be announced in approximately two months.
We are now accepting entries into the Clue Awards for 2014. Click here for more info.
March 3, 2014
The Dante Rossetti Awards 2013 for YA First Place Category Winners
The Dante Rossetti Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Young Adult Fiction.

We are honored to post the Official List of 1st Place Category Winners for the Dante Rossetti Awards 2013 for Young Adult Fiction, a division of Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Writing Competitions.

These 1st Place Category Winners have been read cover to cover and have made it through seven rounds of judging. The authors of the winning titles will receive a Chanticleer Editorial Book Review and promotional package.

First Place Category winners will compete for Overall Best of The Dante Rossetti Awards for Young Adult Fiction 2013. Overall Best Book for the Dante Rossetti Awards 2013 will win a $250 purse and will compete for the Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Awards Grand Prize for Best Book 2013 and a $1,000 purse (U.S. Dollars).

The Overall First Place Genre Winner for the Dante Rossetti Awards 2013 is:

Thomas P. Wise and Nancy Wise, The Borealis Genome

The First Place Category Winners Titles & Authors of the Dante Rossetti Awards for Young Adult Fiction 2013 are:
- Time Travel, Sci-Fi: Cryptic Space – Book One: Foresight by Deen Ferrell
- Romantic/Fantasy: Creatura by Nely Cab
- Christian: Sanctuary by Pauline Creeden
- Contemporary/Paranormal: The Undead by Elsie Elmore
- Thriller: Spirit Legacy by E.E.Holmes
- New Adult: The Immortal Game by Joannah Miley
- Edgy: Black Crow, White Lie by Candi Sary
- Dystopian : All is Silence by Robert L. Slater
- Urban: Leon Martin and the Fantasy Girl by Andre Swartley
- Speculative: The Borealis Genome by Thomas P. Wise and Nancy Wise
We now have a new category for outstanding works that didn’t quite fit into the YA/New Adult categories, but were stellar works for younger readers.
- Tweens Coming of Age: A Town Bewitched by Suzanne de Montigny
- Tweens Fantasy: Fiona Thorn and the Carapacem Spell by Jen Barton
- Tweens Historical: Dangerous Road by Jenny Clark
- Tweens Inspirational: The Knoll by Ginger Cucolo
- Tweens Paranormal: The Mouse Catcher: Witches Beware by Julie G. Helm
- Tweens Adventure: I, Walter by Mike Hartner
Now this is something to CROW about!

Congratulations to the Dante Rossetti 2013 Finalists!

The staff and judges at Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Writing Competitions want to thank everyone who participated in the Dante Rossetti YA Writing Competition 2013. Keep on Writing!
- The deadline for the Dante Rossetti Awards 2013 was April 30, 2013.
- The deadline for the Dante Rossetti Awards 2014 was April 30, 2014.
- The deadline for the Dante Rossetti Awards 2015 is April 30, 2015.
Click here for more info.

CBR — Discovering Today’s Best Books!
February 20, 2014
Great Beginnings – Winners of Today’s Best Opening Lines Winter 2013

Do you want to know how your opening paragraphs will fare with the Slush Pile Readers at agencies, publishers, distributors & booksellers?

We are pleased to announce the following authors whose works earned the title of Best Opening Lines – Great Beginnings Winter 2013:

These winning authors will receive a paid contest entry into CBR Blue Ribbon Awards Blue Ribbon Writing Competitions of their choice. The certificate will be valid until Jan. 4th, 2016.

GB – CYGNUS (SciFi & Fantasy): Jesikah Sundin for Legacy

GB – JOURNEYS (Narrative Non-Fiction): Scott Kiersztyn for Life Experience

GB – CLUE (Suspense/Thiller/Mystery): Kate Vale for Her Daughter’s Father

GB – PARANORMAL (Mystery): Kaylin McFarren for Buried Threads

GB – CHAUCER (Historical Fiction): Emma Rose Millar & Kevin Allen for Five Guns Blazing

GB – LARAMIE (Western, Pioneer, Civil War): Louise Lenahan Wallace for Children of the Day

GB – SOMERSET (Mainstream, Contemporary, Blended Genres): Jacinda DeRoy for Finding Hopewood Lane

GB – M&M (Mystery & Mayhem): Kate Vale for Dream Chaser

We are now accepting entries for the Great Beginnings Opening Lines, summer contest until June 30th, 2014. The entry fee is $15 dollars

Click on this link for more info: https://www.chantireviews.com/store/#!/~/product/category=5193080&id=29427002

February 4, 2014
The Chaucer Awards 2013 for Historical Fiction First Place Category Winners

The Chaucer Awards recognize new and outstanding works in the genre of Historical Fiction Novels.

Chanticleer Book Reviews is honored to announce the First Place Category Winners for the Chaucer Awards 2013, the Historical Fiction Genre Division of the Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Award Writing Competitions.

The 1st Place Category winners have completed another four rounds of judging. These works have been read cover-to-cover and have garnered the most votes for the category into which the work was entered.

The Overall First Place Genre Winner for the Chaucer Awards 2013 is:

Sean Curley, Propositum

First Place Category Winners for the Chaucer Awards 2013 are:

Adventure/Young Adult: I, Walter by Mike Hartner

N.A. Western:  Crossing Purgatory by Gary Schanbacher

World War II (European):  Deal with the Devil by J. Gunner Grey

Adventure/Romance/YA: “Lady Blade” by C.J. Thrush

Nordic History: The Jossing Affair by J.L.Oakley

Regency:  Traitor’s Gate by David Chacko & Alexander Kulcsar

Women’s Fiction/WWII: Wait for Me  by Janet K. Shawgo

Medieval/Dark Ages: Divine Vengeance by David Koons

Legacy/Legend: Propositum by Sean Curley

Women’s Fiction/World History: Daughters of India by Kavita Jade

First place category winners competed for the Overall First Place Genre winner for the Chaucer Awards 2013.

1st Place Overall Genre winners then competed for the position of Chanticleer Book Reviews Grand Prize 2013 Blue Ribbon for Best Book.

Chanticleer Book Reviews Best Books will be announced and winners will receive their awards at the CBR Banquet in June 2014.

The deadline for submitting entries to the Chaucer Awards 2013 was June 30, 2013, midnight.

The Official List of Finalists for the Chaucer Awards was posted on Oct. 1, 2013.

We are now accepting submissions to the Chaucer Awards 2015 writing competition. Enter Here

Again, congratulations to all the authors whose work made it into the Official Chaucer Awards 2013 Finalists shortlist.

Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media retains the right to not declare “default winners.” Winning works are decided upon merit only. Please visit our Contest Details page for more information about our writing contest guidelines.

CBR’s rigorous writing competition standards are the reason literary agencies seek out our winning manuscripts and self-published novels. Our high standards are also the reason our reviews are trusted among booksellers and book distributors.

Please do not hesitate to contact Info@ChantiReviews.com about any questions, concerns, or suggestions about CBR writing competitions. Your input is important to us.

January 20, 2014
The Chatelaine Awards for Romance Novels 1st Place Category Winners 2013
Chanticleer Book Reviews is honored to announce the First Place Category Winners for the Chatelaine Awards 2013, the Romantic Fiction genre division of the Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Award Writing Competitions.

The Chatelaine Awards recognize new and outstanding works in the genre of Romantic Fiction. It is a division of Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

The Overall First Place Genre Winner for the Chatelaine Awards 2013 is:

Kate Vale, Choices

The Official List of 1st Place Category Titles and Authors of the Chatelaine Awards 2013 are:
- Historical Romance: The Lily and the Lion by Catherine T. Wilson & Catherine A. Wilson
- Contemporary: Choices by Kate Vale
- 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
These first place category winners went on to compete for the Best Book of the Chatelaine Awards 2013.

The deadline for the Chatelaine Awards 2014 was August 31, 2014. The deadline for the Chatelaine Awards 2015 is August 31, 2015. Please click here for more info.

Good luck to all!

Now this is something to CROW about!

Congratulations to the Chatelaine Awards Finalists!
January 18, 2014
The Official List of the Dante Rossetti Awards 2013 Finalists for Young Adult Fiction
The Dante Rossetti Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Young Adult Fiction.

Finalists will compete for 1st Place Category positions. First Place Category winners will compete for Overall Best of The Dante Rossetti Awards for Young Adult Fiction 2013.

The Dante Rossetti Awards 2013 for Y/A Fiction is a division of Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

These Finalists have made it through the first 3 rounds of competition and are presently making the next series of rounds. From here on out, each round is increasingly more competitive as the judges determine if the works will move forward in the final rounds.

Titles & Authors Finalists for the Dante Rossetti Awards for Young Adult Fiction 2013 are:
- The Immortal Game by Joannah Miley
- Creatura by Nely Cab
- The Appeal of Evil by Pembroke Sinclair
- All is Silence by Robert L. Slater
- Great Beat Blues by Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel
- The Great Empty by Anita Melillo
- I, Walter by Mike Hartner
- The Hourglass by Barbie Ray
- Cryptic Spaces by Deen Ferrell
- The Knoll by Ginger Cucolo
- The Mouse Catcher: Witches Beware by Julie G. Helm
- Seeds of Eden, The Concilium Series by Paige Watson
- Dangerous Road by Jenny Clark
- Pause, Rewind, Play by Priyanuj Mazumdar
- The Borealis Genome by Thomas P. Wise and Nancy Wise
- The Elementals by L. M. Peralta
- The Undead by Elsie Elmore
- Al d’Rien (The Power of the Trilogy) by Sarah Beste
- Black Crow, White Lies by Candi Sary
- Spirit Legacy by E.E.Holmes
- Snow Babies by Michael Beyer
- Against All Odds by Patricia Vanasse
- The Way It Was for Ruby by Henrietta Cole
- Morgan Kilvein: So In Lies the Life and Times by J.M. Colbert
- The Life and Times of a Perfectly Sane Psycho by Ashleigh Mounser
- Sanctuary by Pauline Creeden
- The Crimson Purpose by Kelly L. Ward
- Fiona Thorn and the Carapacem Spell by Jen Barton
- The Race by Della Loredo
- Leon Martin and the Fantasy Girl by Andre Swartley
- The Running Club by Adam Heilbrunn
- A Town Bewitched by Suzanne de Montigny
- Prodigy Genius by DC
- Through the Bleary Eyes of an Aging Adolescent by Zan Sabatini
- Eyes of Aeden by Linda Creel
- Fall from Grace by Linda Creel
Now this is something to CROW about!

Congratulations to the Dante Rossetti 2013 Finalists!

Good luck to all in the next competitive rounds for 1st Place Categories!

1st Place Category winners will be announced before Feb. 28th, 2014.

We are now accepting entries into the Dante Rossetti Awards for 2014. Click here for more info.
January 12, 2014
Category Winners for the Laramie Awards for Western Fiction 2013
Chanticleer Book Reviews is proud to announce the First Place Category Winners for the 2013 Laramie Awards, a division of the Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Writing Competitions.

The Laramie Awards recognize emerging new works and outstanding authors in the genre of Western Fiction.

The Overall First Place Genre Winner for the Laramie Awards 2013 is:

Dale B. Jackson, Unbroke Horses

Congratulations to the Laramie Awards 2013 1st Place Category Winners:

Mystery: Double or Nothing by Meg Mims

Action/Adventure: Haunted Falls by Ken Farmer & Buck Stienke

Historical Fiction: Because of the Camels by Brenda Blair

Civil War: Ford at Valverde by Anita Melillo

Prairie Pioneer: They Rode Good Horses by Dale B. Jackson

Literary Western: Unbroke Horses by Dale B. Jackson

First Novel: Confessions of a Gunfighter by Tell Cotten

Best Manuscript: “Lick Creek” by Deborah Lincoln
- First Place Category Winners of the Laramie Awards for Western Fiction 2013 competed for Overall 1st Place and the Laramie Awards BEST BOOK 2013.
- 1st Place Overall Genre winners will then compete for the position of Chanticleer Book Reviews Grand Prize Blue Ribbon 2013 and CBR’s BEST BOOK 2013.
- The deadline for submitting entries to the Laramie Awards 2013 was July 31st, 2013.
- The submissions deadline for the Laramie Awards 2014 was July 31st, 2014.
- The deadline for the Laramie Awards 2015 is July 31st, 2015.
Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media congratulates the Laramie Awards 2013 Finalists. Thank you for participating in CBR’s Blue Ribbon writing competitions.

Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media retains the right to not declare “default winners.” Winning works are decided upon merit only. Please visit our Contest Details page for more information about our writing contest guidelines.

CBR’s rigorous writing competition standards are why literary agencies and publishers seek out our winning manuscripts and self-published novels. Our high standards are also why our reviews are trusted among booksellers and book distributors.

Please do not hesitate to contact Info@ChantiReviews.com about any questions, concerns, or suggestions about CBR writing competitions. Your input is important to us.

Thank you for your interest in Chanticleer Book Reviews writing competitions.
January 9, 2014
RAW NaNoWriMo 2013 Writing Competition

We are excited to announce the debut of Chanticleer’s RAW NaNoWriMo writing competition. And to celebrate our newest contest, we are offering complimentary concise editorial feedback for the first 50 entries!

Now this is something to CROW about!

Yes, a writing competition where the judges actually expect typos, grammatical errors, POV switching, or dialogue that requires work.

Manuscripts do not have to be complete. We understand that these are works in different levels of progress.

CBR’s editors are searching for RAW MANUSCRIPTS that exhibit writing talent, page-turning plots, intriguing characters, and compelling story lines. For more information, click here
Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month.

December 4, 2013
The Chatelaine Awards 2013 Finalists for Romantic Fiction
It is our pleasure to post the Official List of The Chatelaine Awards Finalists 2013.

Finalists will compete for 1st Place Category positions. First Place Category winners will compete for Overall Best of Chatelaine for Romantic Fiction 2013.

The Chatelaine Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Romantic Fiction. It is a division of Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

The Updated list of Finalists Titles & Authors that made the Chatelaine Awards 2013 Shortlist are:
- The Lily and the Lion by Catherine T. Wilson & Catherine A. Wilson
- Choices by Kate Vale
- Swamp Secret by Eleanor Tatum
- The Hourglass by Sharon Struth
- Wait for Me by Janet K. Shawgo
- Pulse and Prejudice by Colette Saucier
- Crimson Flames by Ashley Robertson
- Love on the Back Burner: A Tasty Romantic Comedy by Barbara J. Oliverio
- Chasing Charlie by C. M. Newman
- Shining Star by Anna Lopez
- Give Her the Stars by Marilyn Lathrop
- A Path through the Garden by Nancy LaPonzina
- Show No Weakness by Joyce Holmes
- Whatever He Wants by Bridgett Henson
- Brimstone and Water by Sharon House
- I, Walter by Mike Hartner
- To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield by Bronwen Evans
Now this is something to CROW about!

Congratulations to the Chatelaine Awards Finalists!

Good luck to all in the next two rounds! 1st Place Category winners will be announced before Jan. 15, 2014.
November 20, 2013
The Laramie Awards 2013 Finalists for Western, Pioneer, and Civil War Fiction
It is our pleasure to post the Official List of The Laramie Awards Finalists 2013.

Finalists will compete for 1st Place Category positions. First Place Category winners will compete for Overall Best of Laramie Awards for Western Fiction 2013.

The Laramie Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Western, Pioneer, and Civil War Fiction. It is a division of Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

The Updated list of Finalists Titles & Authors that made the Laramie Awards 2013 Shortlist are:
- Because of the Camels by Brenda Blair
- Absolution’s Curse by C.L. Blanton
- Confessions of Gunfighter by Tell Cotten
- Haunted Falls by Ken Farmer & Buck Stienke
- Lick Creek by Deborah Lincoln
- Unbroke Horses by Dale B. Jackson
- They Rode Good Horses by Dale B. Jackson
- Hacker’s Raid by Jared McVay
- Ford at Valverde by Anita Melillo
- Double Crossing by Meg Mims
- Double or Nothing by Meg Mims
- Look For Me by Janet K. Shawgo
Now this is something to CROW about!

Congratulations to the Laramie Awards Finalists!

Good luck to all in the next two rounds! 1st Place Category winners will be announced before Dec. 31st, 2013.
November 4, 2013