Chanticleer Book Reviews

Category: Contest News

The Chaucer Awards for Historical Fiction 2013, The Finalists
It is our pleasure to post the official list of the FINALISTS Round of The Chaucer Awards for Historical Fiction, 2013.

Finalists will compete for 1st Place Category positions. First Place Category winners will compete for Overall Best of Historical Fiction Genre Chaucer Award 2013.

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

Finalists for the CHAUCER Awards 2013 are:
- I, Walter by Mike Hartner
- Daughters of India by Kavita Jade
- Crossing Purgatory by Gary Schanbacher
- The Jossing Affair by J. L. Oakley
- Deal with the Devil by J. Gunnar Grey
- The Romanovs Wish You Health in the New Year by Linda Gorelova
- Divine Vengeanance by David W. Koons
- The Wren and The Eagle by Robert Nowak
- Wait for Me by Janet K. Shawgo
- Lick Creek by Deborah Lincoln
- Strains of an Aeolian Harp by Emma Rose Millar
- Poplar Hill by S. R. Glines
- Ford at Valverde by Anita Melillo
- Painting Bridges by Patricia Averbach
- Propositum by Sean Curley
- Fort Douglas by Nancy Foshee
- The Spirit Room by Marschel Paul
- Traitors Gate by David Chacko & Alexander Kulcsar
- Lady Blade by C. J. Thrush
Congratulations to the CHAUCER Awards for Historical Fiction Finalists!

Good luck to all in the next two rounds! 1st Place Category winners will be announced before Dec. 30, 2013.
October 1, 2013
The M&M Awards 2013 – Finalists for Mystery & Mayhem Fiction
Once again, the FINALISTS of the M&Ms Awards, 2013!

It is our pleasure to post the official list of the FINALISTS Round of The Mystery & Mayhem Awards (M&Ms) 2013.

Finalists will compete for 1st Place Category positions. First Place Category winners will compete for Overall Best of M&M Genre 2013.

The M&Ms Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Cozy Mystery Fiction. It is a division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

Finalists for the Mystery & Mayhem Awards 2013 are:
- Murder in the Round by Patricia Rockwell
- Blue Virgin by Marni Graff
- Fatal Induction by Bernadette Pajer
- Body in the Bus Barn by Judith Pettibone
- Trudy, Madly, Deeply by Wendy Delaney
- Rules of Lying by Stephie Smith
- Mrs. Kaplan in the Soup by Mark Reutlinger
- Murder Actually by Stephanie McCarthy
- Tea Leafing by Weezie Macdonald
- Murder Strikes a Pose by Tracy Weber
- The Last Dance by Lonna Enox
- Small Town Storm by Elise Ackers
- Parchman Preacher by Michael Thompson
- Package Deal by Kate Vale
- Bayview by Penny Page
- Her Boyfriend’s Bones by Jeanne Matthews
Now this is something to CROW about!

Congratulations to the Mystery & Mayhem Awards Finalists!

Good luck to all in the next two rounds! 1st Place Category winners will be announced before Oct. 15, 2013.

Note from the Editor-in-Chief: We are re-announcing the Finalists for the Mystery & Mayhem Awards because the first time (July 2013) that we published the announcement our entire website system was down ( due to a system-wide failure on Amazon’s server which had “multiple failures of the underlying hardware components and we (Amazon) we were unable to recover it….(which also caused) concurrent hardware failures of multiple components.”

Moral to the story:
Always back-up your back-up and then do an in-house back-up even if you were promised redundant system wide back-ups. – Chanticleer
September 2, 2013
First Place Category Winners for the Cygnus Awards for Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Steampunk 2013
Chanticleer Book Reviews is honored to announce the First Place Category Winners for the Cygnus Awards 2013, a genre division of the Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Award Writing Competitions.

The Cygnus Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Mythological, and Steampunk fiction. The Cygnus Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

First Place Overall Genre Winner for the Cygnus Awards 2013 is:

Bennett R. Coles, Virtues of War

First Place Category Winners for the Cygnus Awards are:

Science Fiction: Citadel 7, Earth’s Secret by Yuan Jur

Military Sci-fiction: Virtues of War by Bennett R. Coles

Young Adult/Steampunk: The Lotus Effect by Bridget Ladd

Paranormal: Celia’s Heaven by Nancy Canyon

Mythological: Artemis Rising by Cheri Lasota

Women’s Fantasy/SciFi: The Maiden Voyage of the Mary Ann by Linda Reed

Fantasy: Ragnarok: Demon Seed by E. Bishop
- All First Place Category winners of the Cygnus Awards 2013 competed for Overall 1st Place for the Cygnus Awards.
- 1st Place Overall Genre winners went on to compete for the position of Chanticleer Book Reviews Grand Prize Blue Ribbon 2013.
- The deadline for submitting entries to the Cygnus Awards 2013 was Jan. 31, 2013, midnight.
- The deadline for The Cygnus Awards 2014 was Jan. 31, 2014.
- The deadline for The Cygnus Awards 2015 is Jan. 31, 2015.
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 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.
June 8, 2013
Journey Awards First Place Category Winners for Narrative Non-fiction
Chanticleer Book Reviews is honored to announce the First Place Category winners of the Journey Awards for Narrative Non-fiction.

The Journey Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Narrative Non-fiction. The Journey Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

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

Christine Smith, More Faster Backwards

First Place Category Winners for the Journey Awards for Narrative Non-Fiction are:
- Era Memoir – Unforgiving, The Memoir of an Asperger Teen by Margaret Jean Adam
- Travelogue Experiences – My Next Husband Will be Normal by Rae Ellen Lee
- Enlightenment – My Aphasic Journey – by Carol Schultz
- Experiences – Survivor Clift by Jessica Clift
- Experiences – The Tutor by Debra Boyle
- True Action/Adventure – More Faster Backwards by Christine Smith
- Personal Journey – Leaving Early by Don Waitt
First Place Category Winners competed for the Overall 1st Place Prize for The Journey Awards 2013.

The Overall 1st Place Prize received $250 U.S. cash prize plus promotion. Overall 1st Place Award winners went on to compete for the Grand Prize Blue Ribbon purse of $1,000. For more information, please visit our Contest Details page at: https://www.chantireviews.com/contest-details

The deadline for submitting entries for The Journey Awards 2013 was Jan. 31, 2013 midnight.

The deadline to enter The Journey Awards 2014 was Feb. 28, 2014.

The deadline to enter The Journey Awards 2015 is Feb. 28, 2015.
May 30, 2013
The Cygnus Awards – Finalists 2013 Finalists for SciFi, Steampunk, Paranormal, Mythological, & Fantasy
It is our pleasure to announce the FINALISTS of Rounds One and Two of The Cygnus Awards for Sci-fi, Speculative, & Fantasy Fiction 2013.

The Cygnus Awards recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of SciFi & Fantasy Fiction. It is a division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

Finalists for the Cygnus Awards 2013 are:
- Ragnarok: Demon Seed by E. Bishop
- Celia’s Heaven by Nancy Canyon
- Virtues of War by Bennett R. Coles
- Effectuation by Julie Greenwald
- The Lotus Effect by Bridget Ladd
- Artemis Rising by Cheri Lasota
- Citadel 7, Earth’s Secret by Yuan Jur
- Arawn’s Quest by Edward Larel
- Bayview by Penny Page
- The Banshee Screamed by MaryAnn Doty Rizzo
- The Maiden Voyage by Linda Reed
First Place Category Winners; The Cygnus Awards will be announced shortly. First Place Category Winners will compete for the Overall 1st Place Prize for The Cygnus Awards 2013.

The deadline for submitting entries for The Cygnus Awards 2013 was Jan. 31, 2013 midnight.

The deadline to entry The Cygnus Awards 2014 will be Jan. 31, 2014.

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.

Please do not hesitate to contact info@ChantiReviews.com about any concerns, questions, or suggestions about CBR writing competitions. Your input is important to us.
April 24, 2013
The Journey Awards – 2013 Finalists for Narrative Non-Fiction
It is our pleasure to announce the FINALISTS of Rounds One and Two of The Journey Awards for Narrative Non-Fiction 2013.

The Journey Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Narrative Non-fiction. The Journey Awards is a division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

Finalists for the Journey Awards 2013 are:
- Unforgiving: The Memoir of an Asperger Teen by Margaret Jean Adam
- The Tutor by Debra Ann Boyle
- Love Is So Brief: A Journey through Pablo Neruda’s “Poem 20″ by Sean Dwyer
- Survivor Clift by Jessica Clift
- The Devil’s Gateway by Helen Coleman
- My Next Husband Will be Normal by Rae Ellen Lee
- Borrowed Time by Carolyn Leeper
- Meritage Divorce by Cheryl Nielsen
- The Shell of a Person by Lance Pototschnik
- Crossing the Void: My Aphasic Journey by Carol Schultz
- More Faster Backwards: Rebuilding David B by Christine Smith
- Leaving Early by Don Waitt
The next round will be for First Place Category Winners; The Journey Awards. Winners will be contacted before the end of June 2013. First Place Category Winners will compete for the Overall 1st Place Prize for The Journey Awards 2013.

The deadline for submitting entries for The Journey Awards 2013 was Jan. 31, 2013 midnight.

The deadline to enter The Journey Awards 2014 will be Jan. 31, 2014.

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.

Please do not hesitate to contact info@ChantiReviews.com about any concerns, questions, or suggestions about CBR writing competitions. Your input is important to us.
April 19, 2013
“Virtues of War” by Bennett R. Coles won the 1st Place SciFi Military Category of the Cygnus Awards

Chanticleer Book Reviews is honored to award the Cygnus Awards 1st Place for SciFi Military Novel Category to Bennett R. Coles for Virtues of War.

Virtues of War by Bennett R. Coles

Virtues of War is now eligible to compete for the Cygnus Awards Overall 1st Place Blue Ribbon Award for Best Science Fiction & Fantasy works 2013.

The author, Bennett R. Coles, an officer with plus 15-years experience in the Canadian Navy, demonstrates a crisp writing style, an impressive knowledge of military tactics and techno jargon, and an imagination crossed with a study of physics that has produced believable weaponry and space travel of the future.

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Editor’s Note: A SciFi thriller of physical and psychological combat, Virtues of War sends readers hurtling through space….This is no Star Trek mission of exploration….Drops from space through planetary atmosphere are vicarious thrill rides that get the reader’s heart pumping, and the battle scenes are wrought with suspense. Virtues of War is the first of this SciFi thriller series from author Bennett R. Coles.]

We invite you to read Virtues of War‘s Chanticleer Book Review here.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

March 29, 2013
“New Smyrna Swing” by D.D. Queens awarded a 1st Place Blue Ribbon INDIE Manuscripts Div., Mystery Suspense Div.
Chanticleer Book Reviews is pleased to announce that New Smyrna Swing by D.D. Queens has won 1st place in the INDIE Manuscript Awards, Cozy Mystery Category (INDIE is a division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Writing Contests).

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Editor’s Note: Meet Jenna, the newest and quirkiest P.I. in Florida. New Smyrna Swing is the first of the Jenna Palmer mystery series. Join Jenna and her sidekicks on their many misadventures as she pursues the bad guys along with the ones who attract her–for better or for worse.]

Chanticleer Book Review Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Contests recognize outstanding books and manuscripts.

We are honored to announce the INDIE Awards First Place Blue Ribbon winning manuscripts and their authors, Mystery/Thriller/Suspense category.

Each winning INDIE manuscript was judged for the following qualities:
- Is the story compelling
- Professionalism of editing & formatting
- Characterization
- Continuity of story-line
- Satisfying ending (not necessarily “happy”)
- Intriguing opening
- Uniqueness of story
- Writing craft
- Red herrings
- Sidekicks
- Suspense building
The INDIE Writing Competition Prizes – Unpublished & Manuscripts Division

First Place Winners in each category will win a Chanticleer Manuscript Overview Package (valued at $ 325.00) . All first place winners will be automatically entered into the CBR Grand Prize Writing Competition for CBR’s Best Manuscripts of 2013. All winners’ works will be considered by Cloudberry Press (with author’s approval, of course) for publication.

Or winning authors may elect to have their works reviewed when it is published in galley form (pre-press) or after publication. Published manuscripts winners are welcome to enter any CBR Published Novels Division contests upon publication.

For a full list of winners, visit Chanticleer Book Reviews website at chantireviews.com.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
January 25, 2013
“Rain Shine Secrets” by Alice T. Robb awarded a 1st Place Blue Ribbon in INDIE Manuscripts Division, Women’s Fiction
Chanticleer Book Reviews is pleased to announce that Rain Shine Secrets by Alice T. Robb has won 1st place in the INDIE Manuscript Awards Division, Mainstream category (INDIE is a division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Writing Contests).

Rain Shine Secrets by Alice T. Robb

[Editor’s Note: Rain Shine Secrets is a brilliant work of fiction that reflects our contemporary society. Robb masterfully intertwines the past and present, streams of consciousness, and the lives of Rain Shine Secrets vivid characters. ]

Chanticleer Book Review Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Contests recognize outstanding books and manuscripts.

We are honored to announce the INDIE Awards First Place Blue Ribbon winning manuscripts and their authors.

Each winning INDIE manuscript was judged for the following qualities:
- Compelling-ness of story
- Professionalism of editing & formatting
- Characterization
- Continuity of story-line
- Satisfying ending (not necessarily “happy”)
- Intriguing opening
- Uniqueness of story
- Writing craft
The INDIE Writing Competition Prizes – Unpublished & Manuscripts Division

First Place Winners in each category will win a Chanticleer Manuscript Overview Package (valued at $ 325.00) . All first place winners will be automatically entered into the CBR Grand Prize Writing Competition for CBR’s Best Manuscripts of 2013. All winners’ works will be considered by Cloudberry Press (with author’s approval, of course) for publication.

Or winning authors may elect to have their works reviewed when it is published in galley form (pre-press) or after publication.Published manuscripts winners are welcome to enter any CBR Published Novels Division contests upon publication.

For a full list of all winners, visit Chanticleer Book Reviews website at chantireviews.com.
January 23, 2013
“Murder Strikes a Pose” by Tracy Weber awarded a 1st Place Blue Ribbon in INDIE Manuscripts Division, Cozy Mystery
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]
Tasha & Tracy Weber

Chanticleer Book Reviews is pleased to announce that Murder Strikes a Pose by Tracy Weber has won 1st place in the INDIE Manuscript Awards, Cozy Mystery Category (INDIE is a division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Writing Contests).

Murder Strikes a Pose, a Downward Dog Mystery by Tracy Weber

[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Editor’s Note: We hope to see more Downward Dog Mysteries. Our judges thoroughly enjoyed reading this murder/mystery/suspense manuscript. The writing is fresh, the story is relevant on several levels, and the suspense keeps the pages turning. A hands down winner!]

Chanticleer Book Review Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Contests recognize outstanding books and manuscripts.

We are honored to announce the INDIE Awards First Place Blue Ribbon winning manuscripts and their authors.

Each winning INDIE manuscript was judged for the following qualities:
- Compelling-ness of story
- Professionalism of editing & formatting
- Characterization
- Continuity of story-line
- Satisfying ending (not necessarily “happy”)
- Intriguing opening
- Uniqueness of story
- Writing craft
The INDIE Writing Competition Prizes – Unpublished & Manuscripts Division

First Place Winners in each category will win a Chanticleer Manuscript Overview Package (valued at $ 325.00) . All first place winners will be automatically entered into the CBR Grand Prize Writing Competition for CBR’s Best Manuscripts of 2013. All winners’ works will be considered by Cloudberry Press (with author’s approval, of course) for publication.

Or winning authors may elect to have their works reviewed when it is published in galley form (pre-press) or after publication.Published manuscripts winners are welcome to enter any CBR Published Novels Division contests upon publication.

For a full list of all winners, visit Chanticleer Book Reviews website at chantireviews.com.

[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
January 22, 2013