Chanticleer Book Reviews

Category: Marketing

  • Create a Mobile Selling Site: An Author’s Comprehensive Guide to QR Codes from the desk of Dena Weigel – A Writer’s Toolbox Article

    Anywhere, Anytime

    A QR code for the I&I Awards

    QR codes have emerged as
    a versatile and powerful tool
    for authors to promote and sell their books

    In the ever-evolving landscape of book marketing and reader engagement, QR codes, these seemingly simple squares of black and white pixels can open doors to a multitude of opportunities. This makes them an invaluable asset for writers looking to connect with their audience in innovative ways. Here we’ll  delve into how QR codes work and how authors can harness their potential to sell more books!

    What is a QR Code?

    QR codes, or Quick Response codes, are two-dimensional barcodes that can store a variety of information. When scanned using a smartphone or QR code reader, they can direct users to websites, videos, social media profiles, and more. Unlike traditional barcodes, QR codes can hold much more data and can be read from any angle, making them exceptionally user-friendly.

    Books, shelves, phone, hand, qr code, lights

    How Do QR Codes Work?

    Encoding Information:

    QR codes are created by encoding information into a pattern of black and white squares. This information can range from URLs, to contact details, or even multimedia content.

    Scanning the Code:

    When a QR code is scanned using a smartphone or tablet, the embedded data is quickly decoded and the user is redirected to the stored content, whether it’s a webpage, a promotional video, or a digital book. It’s a seamless and mostly effortless way for your readers to find you on the internet.

    Decoding and Action:

    The scanning app or device, such as a cell phone, reads the QR code and performs the action associated with it. If the QR code contains a URL, the device will open the linked webpage automatically.

    data, rainbow, colorful, yellow, red

    Why Should Authors Use QR Codes?

    QR codes present a unique opportunity to engage with readers in a more interactive and dynamic way. These are just some of that ways you can incorporate QR codes into your marketing strategy:

    Streamlined Book Sales:

    Place QR codes in promotional materials, at book signings, or on your book covers to lead readers straight to your selling sites, like Amazon or your personal website.

    Direct Access to Content:

    QR codes can link directly to book trailers, sample chapters, exclusive content, or your Newsletter! This immediate access helps generate interest and provides readers with a direct path to learn more about your work. For more information on different types of content marketing and how to build your Newsletter, check out this interview with Chanticleer Overall Grand Prize Winner Michelle Cox!

    Enhanced Author Websites:

    Use QR codes to direct readers to your author website where they can find more information about your books, upcoming events, or subscribe to your newsletter.

    Interactive Marketing:

    QR codes can be used to participate in interactive campaigns. For example, you can create codes that lead to online contests, reader polls, or exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

    Social Media Integration:

    Encourage readers to follow you on social media by including QR codes on you promotional materials. Scanning the code can take them directly to your social media profiles, making it easier for them to connect with you.

    Simplify Reader Reviews:

    Having a QR code at the end of your book can better link the reader directly with your Amazon or Goodreads page where they can leave a review of your book. Remember! Editorial Reviews help drive Reader Reviews by giving them language to work with. You can learn more about updating your Editorial Reviews on your Author Central here.

    For more tips on marketing your book, check out this article here, which includes suggestions for using Book Awards and Editorial Reviews to market your work!

    QR Code, book, computer, blue, display, hands, cartoon, cell phone

    How to Create and Use QR Codes Effectively

    Generate the QR Code:

    Use a QR code generator tool (Many of which are free) to create your code. Enter the URL or information you want to encode, and download  or screenshot the generated code.

    Design with Purpose:

    Incorporate your QR code into your book cover design, marketing materials, or business cards. Ensure it is large enough to be easily scanned and placed in a prominent location.

    Test Thoroughly:

    Before printing or distributing, try scanning your QR code yourself. Nothing is worse than discovering the code you set up for people to use just doesn’t work!

    Provide Instructions:

    Not all readers may be familiar with QR codes. Including a brief explanation on how to scan the code and what to do afterward can be the call to action you need to make things as easy as possible for your readers.

    QR code, woman, books, hand, cell phone

    Give Readers More with QR Codes

    QR codes are a powerful, cost-effective tool for authors aiming to enhance their marketing efforts and engage with readers in new ways. By providing direct access to content, facilitating book sales, and integrating with your online presence, QR codes can significantly boost your visibility and reader interaction. Embrace this technology to unlock new opportunities and keep your promotional strategies ahead of the curve!

    Thank you for joining us for this Writer Toolbox Article

    A red toolbox with the words "What's in your toolbox

    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!

    Helpful Links:

    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.

    Read more great articles from Chanticleer here!

     

  • Celebrating National Bookstore Romance Day: A Love Letter to the Magic of Bookstores

    Fall in Love at Your Local Bookstore

    Our own Village Books right here in Bellingham, WA

    It’s National Bookstore Romance Day!

     

    August 17th is a day dedicated to celebrating the intersection of two of life’s greatest pleasures: romance and bookstores! National Bookstore Romance Day is a time to revel in the joy that comes from discovering a new favorite book and the unique charm of independent bookstores. It’s a day to honor the places that have been the backdrop for countless literary love stories and to celebrate the romance genre that captures our imaginations and hearts.

    The Enticing Allure of Bookstores

    A book covered in flower petals with the pages formed into a heart

    Bookstores have long been cherished havens for readers. They’re more than just retail spaces. They’re sanctuaries where stories come to life, where every shelf holds a new adventure. Independent bookstores, in particular, have a special kind of magic. Their cozy nooks, eclectic selections, and knowledgeable staff create an atmosphere that invites readers to linger, explore, and connect with the books they love.

    Our love of bookstores is growing! Bookstore sales finished the first half of 2023 up 6.9% over the comparable period in 2022, proving once again that the love of readers have for their favorite brick-and-mortar bookstore can never be underestimated.

    On National Bookstore Romance Day, we pay tribute to these beloved spaces, including our beloved Village Books! Whether it’s a charming local bookstore with a café, a historic shop with creaky wooden floors, or a modern indie store with a curated selection, each bookstore offers a unique experience. It’s where we find the books that move us and connects us with the community that shares our passion for writing and reading.

    Instead of sending flowers, we suggest doing this to show your love on National Bookstore Romance Day!

    1. Visit Your Local Bookstore: Head to your favorite independent bookstore and immerse yourself in its unique atmosphere. Spend time browsing the shelves, chatting with the staff about their favorite romance novels, and perhaps even start writing the book you’ve always imagined.
    2. Find Your Next Great Literary Romance: Look for novels that you haven’t read before. Many bookstores will feature special displays or recommendations in honor of the day. You might find a new author or series to fall in love with.
    3. Attend Events: Many bookstores host special events for National Bookstore Romance Day, such as book fairs, author signings, readings, or themed parties. Check out local listings and participate in these celebrations to meet fellow book lovers and connect with the romance genre in a new way.
    4. Support Local Businesses: Buying from independent bookstores helps support the local economy and ensures that these cherished spaces continue to thrive. Consider making a purchase, whether it’s a book, a gift, or a gift card to share your love with another fan of bookstores.
    5. Share Your Passion: Use social media to share your love for romance novels and bookstores. Post about your favorite romance reads, recommend books to friends, or simply celebrate the joy that these stories and spaces bring to your life.

    National Bookstore Romance Day is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the magic of bookstores and the joy of romance novels. It’s a day to acknowledge the spaces that nurture our love for reading and writing and illustrates our love for stories that touch our hearts. So, explore your local bookstore and take a moment to savor the romance in every book on the shelf!

    Romance Fiction Chatelaine Award
    The Chatelaine Awards are where we find all our romance books about bookstores and beyond!

    Happy National Bookstore Romance Day!

    Begin your National Bookstore Romance Day celebration with the stories that make our hearts soar!

    Loving Beth Cover

    LOVING BETH
    Chatelaine Awards First Place Winner

    In Loving Beth, a Christian historical romance by Bonnie Rose Ward, a young woman finds herself in dire straits when her widowed mother dies unexpectedly.

    Beth’s father had taken out loans to improve their property, but he was killed in the Civil War, leaving his wife and daughter to struggle to keep up with the payments. Now, Beth is alone without any means to keep her home—finding and taking in two young, abandoned children certainly doesn’t help. But even amidst her troubles, Beth’s thoughts keep going back to the mysterious and handsome stranger who found and brought home the body of her mother.

    Life is not easy in her tiny settlement in West Virginia, and young, pretty Beth finds that it is not about to get any easier. The new banker holds a grudge toward her for having rejected his advances, and the man’s snobbish wife is determined to make Beth’s life even more miserable. The loans that Beth and her mother worked to pay each month are suddenly due in full— but the banker’s unwanted and ugly advances are foiled with the appearance of the mysterious stranger.

    Read more here!

    Guarded Hearts Cover

    GUARDED HEARTS
    Laramie Awards Grand Prize Winner

    Guarded Heartsby T K Conklin is a sensual romance in the Wild West, with all the passion and excitement natural to the setting.

    Sparks fly between a man with an outlaw past and a woman with a terrifying gift to heal or harm. Strykes is a man haunted both by a violent childhood and his time in an outlaw gang. But he has found a place in Rimrock, where he met LaRisa, an auburn-haired woman whom the townspeople have labeled a “witch” due to her healing herbs and rumors of her “powers”.

    LaRisa has kept her distance from people, afraid of her gift of healing touch that can turn dangerous, even deadly. But, when she comes to town to deliver her medicinal herbs, she makes her way to the livery with tasks for Strykes such as shoeing her horse or fixing a spring in her wagon. He is only too happy to oblige the auburn-haired beauty. The attraction between them is instantaneous, yet they both are hesitant to act on it, fearing they would hurt the other– he from his violent past, and she from her “witch” power.

    Read more here!

    Air Boat Cover

    AIR BOAT

    For readers interested in a unique romance,Air Boat: Love is an Adventureby Jacek Waliszewski offers a distinctive cast of characters and tense excitement in the sky.

    Air Boat brings together a former Special Forces soldier, Luke, who prefers to keep to himself, an independent and sarcastic female pilot, Stella, and a three-legged Husky named Saint who marches to the beat of his own drum. These captivating characters embark on a fast-paced, page-turning tale.

    Waliszewski starts this romantic adventure with a suspenseful scene of a vintage plane barreling towards the Twin Cities, accompanied by two F-16 fighter jets, before setting the stage for the two main characters to meet. The mystery of this scene will stick in the reader’s mind, drawing them forward with stark curiosity that only grows in excitement.

    Read more here!

    Summer Thunder Cover

    Summer Thunder

    Lily struggles to keep her business, her son, and her home. But inSummer Thunder,first book of theMagic at Myers Beachseries by Alan B. Gibson, Lily’s luck begins to turn as she connects with the enigmatic beach king Theos.

    With the help of her friend and fellow business owner Greta “the Witch,” Lily tries to revitalize her fairy-themed decoration and figurine store. Her divorce from her abusive ex-husband Kelly is pending, and she must present a calm and reliable home to ensure full custody of her son Jamie. But when her kindly landlord, Ms. Coffey, passes away, she’s confronted with two options: lose her prime business location and upstairs apartment, or somehow make enough money to buy the building herself.

    Enter Theos, a kitesurfing champion with adoring fans. He shows true appreciation for Lily’s fairy figurines, bringing her many more sales. But more importantly, Theos becomes deeply interested in Lily herself. Their romance begins on rocky footing, as Theos has a strange air about him and seems to vanish whenever a storm comes into town. But when he begins modelling for a new fairy figurine– aptly named Theos, the King– the two are drawn inevitably closer.

    Read more here!

    What Remains of Love Cover

    What Remains of Love

    Suzanne Trauth’s What Remains of Love begins with the discovery of a family secret.

    Siblings Kate and DJ meet with their late father’s lawyer to go over the contents of their father’s will when it is revealed that a woman named Emilie had been added without their knowledge. DJ, an all-business, no-nonsense person, wants to deny the request. Kate wants to fulfill their father’s wishes even though they don’t understand the reason behind it. When they send a letter to Emilie, her daughter replies, stating Emilie has passed away and that she will not accept the money.

    Her brother’s curiosity is satisfied, but Kate can’t help but feel there is more to the story, especially given that their father withheld his experiences in the war from them both.

    Read more here!

    Do you have a book that deserves to be discovered? You can always submit your book for an Editorial Review with Chanticleer!Chanticleer Editorial Review Packages are optimized to maximize your digital footprint. Reviews are one of the most powerful tools available to authors to help sell and market their books. Find out what all the buzz is about here.

    Is your book an Award Winner?

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

    Submitting to Book Awards is a great way to get your book discovered! Anytime you advance in the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards, your name and book are promoted right here on our website, through our newsletter, and across social media. One of the best ways to engage in long tail marketing!

    Spread the love on National Bookstore Romance Day! Visit your neighborhood bookstores and find your next great read!

     

  • Unlock Your Creativity With These Keys to Break Through Writer’s Block from the desk of Dena Weigel

    A Writer’s Greatest Enemy: The Block!

    Your creativity is elusive and your imagination has taken a backseat to worry and anxiety.

    Don’t worry!

    We have time-tested tactics to break through writer’s block

    Writers Block, brick wall, computer, frustration, table

    Writers block is a common nemesis every writer faces at some point in our creative journey.

    It’s a frustrating experience when inspiration seems elusive, and every word feels like it’s buried under layers of mental fog. But fear not! In this blog post, we’ll explore practical strategies to help you conquer your creative blockade and break through what’s keeping your imagination at bay.

    Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, finding the keys that will unlock the door to your imagination and reclaim your writing flow.

    The secret tools against writer’s block are just ahead!

    Free write:

    The first draft is for you, so embrace your half-baked ideas and write with total freedom! Push your negative thoughts to the side and just start writing anything that comes to mind. Don’t worry about structure or grammar, or the areas of your story that haven’t yet come together. Starting out boldly, without regard to what comes next, can help get your creative juices flowing.

    Take breaks:

    If you’re feeling stuck, take a short break. Take a walk, play with your pet, go for a run or do some yoga. Physical activity or relaxation techniques like deep breathing can help clear your mind.

    Change of scenery:

    Sometimes a different environment can stimulate your mind. Try writing in a new location, such as a coffee shop, park, or library. If you don’t want to roam too far, explore another writing space at your home. I do this often and find that it acts as an eraser to all the noise that came before, freeing up my mind for new thoughts to come in.

    Headphones, man, beard, computer, phone, lamp, window

    Set small goals:

    Break down your writing task into smaller, manageable goals. For example, aim to write for 15 minutes without interruption or limit yourself to just one chapter. Sometimes I find seeing each chapter as its own super short story can help avoid feeling overwhelmed. You can read more about our suggestions of tracking productivity in your writing here.

    Read:

    Read books, articles, or even your own past work can inspire new ideas and perspectives. When we’re in the midst of writers block doubt can often seep in and stymie our writing process. By reviewing your own past work, you’ll see for yourself the wonderful writing we’ve delivered in the past. Need a new book? Check out our most recent reviews and add to your TBR!

    Brainstorming:

    You never know when inspiration will strike, so carry a notepad or use your smartphone to write down ideas, words, or phrases related to your topic so you can put into your story the next time you sit down to write. Overtime, that treasure chest of great ideas will be full of ideas for you to pull from on your next book, and the next, and so on!

    Friends, women, books, computer, smiling

    Talk it out:

    Discuss your ideas with someone else. Sometimes talking through your thoughts can help clarify them. We love to reach out to people in our Circle of Influence. You can learn more about forming a Circle of Influence here!

    Change your approach:

    If you’re stuck on a particular section, skip it and work on a different part of your writing. You can always come back to it later. Kiffer’s favorite advice we ever received is “Write Fast, Edit Slow.” Chanticleer Award Winner Michelle Rene goes into detail about why here!

    Eliminate distractions:

    Find a quiet space and eliminate distractions such as phones or social media to help you focus. If you find you are interrupted by people walking in and out of your writing space, clearly define your writing time and let them know you when you will once again be available.

    door, man, black suit, pushing, door handle, lock

    Set a routine:

    Establishing a regular writing routine can help train your brain to be more creative at specific times. Some writers rely on a pre-writing ritual that helps to clear their minds and put them in the right headspace to imagine the next plot twist. I like to make tea while listening to music that fits the scene I’ll be working on. YouTube has innumerable choices of background noise videos that help set the right mood, too.

    Use prompts:

    Sometimes a good writing prompt is all you need to do to get those creative juices flowing. Pick a photo, a phrase, something in the news, or something you overheard to get you started. Knowing this is just a one off, fun writing assignment, you can allow yourself to breath and enjoy the writing process once again.

    Seek feedback:

    All writers like to hear good reviews! Sharing your work-in-progress with others can provide fresh perspectives, constructive criticism, and even a whole lot of confidence that you can use like a sledgehammer to break through that writers block.

    Remember, writer’s block is a common challenge, and different techniques work for different people. So, try a few different ideas and see what works best for you!

    typewriter, woman, floor, paper

     

    Chanticleer Editorial Services – We’re ready when you are ready!

    Did you know that Chanticleer offers editorial services? We do and have been doing so since 2011!

    Tools of the Editing Trade

    Our professional editors are top-notch and are experts in the Chicago Manual of Style. They have and are working for the top publishing houses (TOR, McMillian, Thomas Mercer, Penguin Random House, Simon Schuster, etc.).

    If you would like more information, we invite you to email Kiffer or Sharon at KBrown@ChantiReviews.com or SAnderson@ChantiReviews.com for more information, testimonials, and fees.

    We work with a small number of exclusive clients who want to collaborate with our team of top-editors on an on-going basis. Contact us today!

    Chanticleer Editorial Services also offers writing craft sessions and masterclasses. Sign up to find out where, when, and how sessions being held.

    A great way to get started is with our manuscript evaluation service. Here are some handy links about this tried and true service: https://test.chantireviews.com/manuscript-reviews/

    Thank you for reading this Chanticleer Writer’s Toolbox article.

    Helpful links!

  • Excited to SHARE these FREE and 99 Cents Books from Chanticleer OVERALL Grand Prize Winners

    Hi and Happy Weekend from Kiffer Brown

    I am excited to share with you two great books – Chanticleer Overall Grand Prize Winners – that are on special at BookBub and Amazon  for the next several days! Be sure to add these to your To – Read digital library! 

    FORTUNE’S CHILD, A Novel of Empress Theodora by James Conroyd Martin

    James Conroyd Martin brings to life one woman we should all know better in his multi-award-winning, epic novel, Fortune’s Child: A Novel of Empress Theodora.

    Like Cleopatra, Empress Theodora was a legend in her own time. And also, like Queen Cleopatra before her, Empress Theodora’s life and accomplishments were distorted and maligned by the male historians of her own time. Even after death, men who couldn’t bear or couldn’t believe that a woman, particularly a woman of the lower classes as Theodora was, could possibly have accomplished the things she did or wield the power she had. Chanticleer Reviews 

     

    If you didn’t get the BookBub link, here are links where you may download this exceptional historical fiction for free through August 17th, 2024.

    Don’t delay! Download your copy today for your To Read Library!

    ALSO, here is another fantastic offer showcasing on BookBub another Chanticleer Overall Grand Prize Winner – a Mystery! 

    The Only Witness by Pamela Beason

    Can a gorilla identify a criminal? Neema is a “signing” gorilla that is part of an animal communication project (think KoKo). She is also the only witness to a crime.

    A missing baby. A teenage mother suspected of murder. A jaded detective whose reputation is on the line. A signing gorilla destined for the auction block. A scientist who is about to lose everything. Will the revelation that a gorilla is the only witness to the crime save or doom everyone involved?

    I, personally, am a big fan of the “Neema” series! It is a marvel of storytelling and a riveting mystery. Read Chanticleer’s review here. 

    If you did not receive the BookBub email for the 99 cent sale of The Only Witness, you can download it to your To – Be Read digital library with the link below for 99 cents until August 21, 2024!

     

    We are passionate about helping readers discover great reads and new authors!

    If your Chanticleer Award Winning Book is featured in a book promotion for free or 99 cents, we’d love to share it! Email us with the related links to Info@ChantiReviews.com with Book Special in the Subject line.

    If you are interested in the Chanticleer International Book Awards program, please click here. 

     

  • The 2024 Shorts Spotlight for Brief but Spectacular Writing

    Short but Sweet

    ***Send us your short story today***

    Shorts Awards submissions close at the End of August!

    H.G. Wells once described the purpose of a short story to be “The jolly art, of making something very bright and moving; it may be horrible or pathetic or funny or profoundly illuminating, having only this essential, that it should take from fifteen to fifty minutes to read aloud.”

    A Story doesn’t need a long winding plot to get it’s point made. Compelling characters and plot twists in 5 pages can have much the same effect as 100.

    In 1846, Edgar Allan Poe wrote an essay called The Philosophy of Composition. In it he described his theories on writing Short Stories, using The Raven as the example. He had 3 theories for writing – Length, Method and ‘Unity of Effect.’

    According to Poe, the limits on the length of a short story is what makes them so good.

    In his words “For it is clear that the brevity must be in direct ratio of the intensity of the intended effect.” On length, Poe said for one of his stories: “[W]hat I conceived the proper length for my intended poem – a length of about one hundred lines. It is, in fact, a hundred and eight.”

    In terms of method, He states that a writer should first think of how they want a story to end. Of course, that’s just how he wrote, you can start from the beginning, or the end, or maybe the middle. His last theory is everything together. Emotion, Length, Tone, and making them all work together.

    The Shorts Awards launched just a few years ago and is already one of our most competitive divisions!

    Your Short Fiction and Non-Fiction deserve to be discovered!

    There are several options when submitting to the Shorts Awards to match your type of writing:

    • Single Story or Essay – also great for Novellas and Novelettes!
    • Short Story Collection
    • Novelette Collection
    • Novella Collection
    • Essay Collection

    You can also submit anthologies to any of the collection options! Just pick the one that best describes the type of work found in the anthology! This includes anthologies with a mix of fiction, non-fiction, and even poetry!

    Let’s dive into some wonderful short work that we’ve reviewed recently!

    THE GARDEN PLOT DIARIES
    By Endy Wright
    Shorts Finalist

    Endy Wright’s The Garden Plot Diaries is a delightful collection of four short stories about life, relationships, and consequences.

    Wright captures the gossip and rivalries between factious groups of town folk, all between sixty and ninety-something, who have known each other since childhood and carry the grudges to prove it. Our delightful narrator professes, “I am a rambling old man with a tale to tell and in no hurry to tell it.” So, settle in.

    Read more here!

    A WILD REGION: Tales and Stories from the Heartland
    By Robin Lee Lovelace
    “Savonne, not Vonny” won the Shorts Grand Prize!

    A Wild Region: Tales and Stories from the Heartland by Robin Lee Lovelace is a wonderful collection of Weird fiction (emphasis on Weird), showcasing the oddities and fantastic adventures which hide among the everyday people of the midwestern United States.

    Lovelace opens with ‘Virgie’s Headless Chicken’, setting the tone for the full collection as Virgie attempts to reproduce a circus sideshow act. Lovelace shares her familial inspiration for this story in a fascinating preface.

    Read more here!

    NEW YORK: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst
    By Elizabeth Crowens
    Shorts Grand Prize Winner

    New York Cover

    Prepare to be carried away to bustling, vivacious streets as you read Elizabeth Crowens’ New York: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst.

    This captivating literary anthology is a love letter to the great city from a group of brilliant artists and authors, which delves into the multifaceted lives of New Yorkers.

    Short fiction and a few poems describe the ins and outs of New York living. Murder mysteries, revenge, family struggles, family sagas, and, of course, the most important questions regarding real estate. Finding the perfect place to live in the city may be difficult, but this story brings into vivid relief the heart of what makes New York special: the people.

    Read more here!

    A WEEK at SURFSIDE BEACH
    By Pierce Koslosky, Jr.
    Shorts Grand Prize Winner

    A Week at Surfside Beach

    Vacationers from all walks of life converge on Portofino II-317C, South Carolina, a quaint blue beach house, in Pierce Koslosky Jr.’s short story collection, A Week at Surfside Beach.

    From May 30th-December 26th each group of people comes to stay one week at a time, to forget their cares of the big city, to work, to celebrate, or to simply get away. Surfside Beach has much to show them, including temperamental weather.

    The small town itself offers a charming supermarket where fishing supplies, whoopie pies, and local southern favorites can be found. The Christmas vacationers, the final of the thirteen beach house renters, struggle to find a tree in time; a real tree simply wouldn’t allow enough space for the family to sleep, and the fake tree would cost too much. But they find arts and crafts supplies in town, to fashion a paper Christmas tree during a day of rainy weather.

    Read more here!

    WISHES, SINS, and the WISSAHICKON CREEK
    By PJ Devlin
    Somerset First Place Winner

    Wishes Sins and the Wissahickon Creek

    Wishes, Sins, and the Wissahickon Creek by PJ Devlin emulates the lives of fictional characters brimming with hope and promise yet living a truthful life of existence in the gorgeous setting of Pennsylvania’s Wissahickon Creek.

    The book encompasses ten short stories making it a complete work of fiction. Devlin creates characters which are rich in both experience and struggle. Not only do they live in a real world created by Devlin, but her characters, a mix of children and adults, both struggle with daily, real-world issues most Americans deal with. The stories are all relatable in this sense, which makes the text come alive, page after page.

    Read more here!

     

     

    Thank you to everyone who submitted to the 2024 Shorts Awards! We can’t believe that the whole adventure starts again when the Shorts Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards close on August 31st, 2024.

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

    This is the journey from beginning to end for the CIBAs Levels of Achievement is so worthwhile! Every list you make means more promotion for you and your work as each list is posted right here on our website, on our social media, and also out in our newsletter! Your book deserves to be discovered.

    You know you want it…

    Submit to the Shorts Awards today!

  • Chanticleer 10 Question Author Interview Series with Thomas Goodman – Award-winning book, The Last Man, Laramie Grand Prize Award, Author Life

    Western Pioneeer Civil War Fiction Award

    From the 2023 Laramie Division Grand Prize Winner for Americana and Western for his book The Last Man, we have a brand new Chanticleer Author Interview!

    Thomas Goodman won the Grand Prize in the Laramie Division of the 2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards for his novel, The Last Man. The Laramie Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the Americana and Westerns fiction genre. The Laramie Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

    The Laramie division includes:

     

    Western Romance, Adventure, Caper, Classic  Western Romance, Adventure Caper Classic Western,

    Civil War/Prairie/Pioneer, Contemporary Western, Americana, and First Nation

     Join us in getting to know the thrilling writing of the Western genre’s newest talent, Thomas Goodman!

    Blue and Gold badge recognizing The Last Man by Thomas Goodman for winning the 2023 Laramie Grand Prize

    Chanti: Tell us a little about yourself: How did you start writing? 

    Goodman: I first heard the story of the 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery in the 1990s when I lived in the small Texas county where it took place. All the accounts ended with the deaths of three of the four robbers, with little information about the life of the last surviving member of the gang. As it turns out, the details of his spectacular prison escapes and eventual rehabilitation are as fascinating as the violent endings of the other three robbers. By the time he died in his 90s around the same time I learned of the robbery, he had received a full pardon and had been a married model citizen for 50 years. In his honor, I named my book, The Last Man: A Novel of the 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery.

    The Last Man, Tom Goodman, green shirt, brown carpet, tripod stand, poster, award
    Thomas Goodman donating his book, The Last Man, to “Books for the Brave,” which stocks military bases with books the troops can read for free.

    Chanti: Let’s talk about genre. What genre best describes your work, and what led you to pick that genre for your writing?

    Goodman: Identifying the genre was a challenge. It’s closely based on a true crime, so it’s non-fiction; but telling the story required some measure of speculation, so it’s fiction. Like any good novel in the crime genre, it’s a grim and violent story; and yet like any compelling novel in the inspirational genre, it’s a redemption story, too. And the story begins in the 1920s with an old-fashioned bank robbery in a small Texas town, which makes it a Western; but the story ends in post-WW2 society, which makes it historical fiction.

    Thankfully, booksellers and libraries allow books to be cataloged in various genres, but my “go-to” answer when asked about the genre is “historical crime fiction.”

    Chanti: What about your own personal writing structure day to day? Do you have a routine?

    Goodman: Since I have a full time job, I write 3 days a week from 6:00-8:30am before the office day begins. Between the 2 approaches to writing–the “plotters,” who create a broad outline of the plot before they begin, and the “pantsers,” who start writing and just see what develops–I am definitely a “plotter.” That said, I’m often surprised at what a character decides to do or what turn my well-planned plot takes when I’m in the middle of writing.

    Book cover, The Last Man, Thomas Goodman, Santa Claus, hangman's noose, western, americana,

     

     Look for the Chanticleer Review of this Laramie Grand Prize Winner! Coming soon and will link to this article! 

    Chanti: It’s difficult finding time to consistently write. How do you approach your writing day to stay consistent?

    Goodman: When I was at a writers conference six years ago, I met an author who had traditionally-published a series of cozy mysteries. She told me she would get up at 5am and write until 7:30am when it was time to go to her “real job” as an assistant elementary school principal. That gave me the idea to write from 6am until 8:30am when my office opened. Once I began to write under that schedule, I completed my book in 2 years.

     

    Chanti: Who are a few of your favorite authors and how have they influenced your work. 

    Goodman: James Wade’s All Things Left Wild gave me the confidence to believe that the Western genre wasn’t a dead genre. 

    Clouds, sunrise, orange, salmon, purple, All Things Left Wild, James Wade

    I also really like Texas author Paulette Jiles (News of the World, Chenneville, and especially Stormy Weather.) She strikes the right balance between situating her story in a world over a 100 years ago without bogging the plot down with a lot of details and explanations of how life used to be—a constant temptation for a historical fiction writer.

    For prose that’s beautiful but not syrupy, I love Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead, Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses, and Annie Proulx’s Close Range: Wyoming Stories. 

    Tom Goodman, peple, green vest, red hair

    Chanti: Reading books in our genre is so crucial to developing voice. What else has helped you grow your author chops?

    Goodman: John Trumby’s The Anatomy of Story is helpful. So is Steven James’s Story Trumps Structure. Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird is next on my list.

    Chanti: Those are both great. Lamott is the starting inspiration for so many wonderful writers. Do you have any books about the business of writing that have helped you?

    Goodman: Ricardo Fayet’s How to Market a Book and Amazon Ads for Authors was helpful. And David Gaughran’s book, Following, Strangers to Superfans, and Let’s Get Digital. Every author should read Tammi Labrecque’s Newsletter Ninja. 

    Chanti: And from that wealth of knowledge, what are your best marketing tips? What’s helped sell more books? How have you gained notoriety? What strategies have you used to expand your literary footprint?

    Goodman: Get a desirable reader magnet and build your newsletter list; sign up for the festivals that fit your genre and engage with customers at your book table; convince customers to leave starred reviews at their favorite online bookstore and review sites, and give them the direct link(s) to those sites.

    sky, rock, cliffs, man, hiking, tom goodman, backpack, clouds
    Author Tom Goodman, hiking McKittrick Canyon in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

    Chanti: What are you working on now? What can we look forward to seeing next from you?

    Goodman: I’m writing a novel around a minor character who showed up late in my debut novel. She’s in her 70s when readers meet her as a boardinghouse owner in The Last Man. I go back to 1905 when she was 35. It’s turning out to be a gentler family drama as opposed to the grim and violent story of my first novel. But I’m liking it so far. After that, I’ll probably return to the crime genre. I’ve discovered a true story from the very early 1900s in East Texas about a “pistol-packing preacher” who faced down a violent gang of bootleggers who was shredding his town to bits. Irresistible story!

    Chanti: Before we let you go, who is the perfect reader for your book?

    Goodman: Someone who likes historical fiction that closely tracks with real characters and events.

    Chanti: Thank you, Thomas Goodman, for sharing your author journey with us. I am looking forward to seeing you at the next Chanticleer Authors Conference!

    You can follow Thomas Goodman through his Facebook page here.

     

    Tom Goodman, writer, author, the last man, westerns, black shirt, gotee, grey hair, bald Thomas Goodman won the Laramie 2023 Grand Prize for his amazing true crime/historical fiction novel, The Last Man! And also, because he believed in his work enough to enter it into the Laramie division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards…

    In other words, if you don’t enter, you will never know how your work stacks up against the other entries.

    If you want a shot at the HONOR of Laramie Americana & Western Awards  for 2024, don’t delay, enter the Laramie B00k Awards today!

  • Making Character Introductions Memorable from the Desk of Editorial Assistant Scott Taylor

    Think of Characters like Speed Dating

    A white man around 40 gestures flirtatiously
    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?

    A young Asian woman is on a first date at a nice restaurant.
    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

    A red toolbox with the words "What's in your toolbox

    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!

  • Creating Your Ideal Writing Space from the Desk of Dena Weigel – Reviews Editor – Writer’s Toolbox Article

    Lay Out the Welcome Mat for Productivity and Imagination

    Creating an effective writing space is more than just finding a quiet corner with a comfortable chair and a sturdy desk. It’s about creating an environment that nurtures your imagination, enhances focus, and inspires productivity. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, the space in which you write plays a crucial role in your overall writing experience.

    Orange, teal, typewriter, flowers, pen, books, flowers

    Having a good writing space is crucial to a writer!

    Writers can find a million excuses to put off sitting in the chair and getting some thoughts on paper (well, okay – monitors), but by setting the right environment in your work space you’ll find it’s easier to get started, maintain the flow, and finish faster because a good work space can

    1. Minimizes Distractions: Whether it’s a separate room, a quiet corner, or even a specific coffee shop, having a designated area signals to the mind that it’s time to focus solely on writing.
    2. Boosts Creativity: Personalizing the space with inspiring decor, books, or artwork can stimulate ideas and encourage innovative thinking.
    3. Enhances Comfort and Ergonomics: A well-designed space ensures writers can work for extended periods without discomfort or strain.
    4. Creates a Routine: Having a consistent writing space helps establish a ritual around writing, making it easier to get into the flow and maintain momentum.
    5. Reduces Mental Barriers: When your space is personalized and clutter-free, writers can focus more on their ideas and less on external chaos.
    6. Inspires Discipline: Writers are more likely to stick to their writing goals when they have a dedicated area that reinforces their commitment to the craft.

    Writing space, keyboard, paper, pen, pencil, mouse, coffee, cup, journal, book

    Creating an effective writing space is a personalized process that balances functionality, comfort, and inspiration.

    Here are practical steps to help you design a writing space that enhances your productivity and creativity:

    1. Choose the Right Location: Select a quiet area in your home or a favorite spot where you feel comfortable and can focus without interruptions. Natural light is beneficial, so consider proximity to windows if possible.

    2. Personalize Your Space: Surround yourself with items that inspire you. Whether it’s motivational quotes, artwork, plants, or personal mementos, these can contribute to a positive and creative atmosphere. However, avoid clutter that could become distracting.

    ergonomics, chair, posture, computer, desk, keyboard, phone, plant

    3. Invest in Comfortable Furniture: Your writing desk and chair should be ergonomic and supportive. Ensure your desk height allows for comfortable typing or writing without strain. Consider a chair that promotes good posture and allows you to sit for extended periods without discomfort.

    4. Organize Your Supplies: Keep essential writing materials within easy reach. This includes pens, notebooks, reference books, and any other tools you frequently use. A tidy workspace contributes to mental clarity and reduces distractions.

    5. Manage Technology Wisely: Minimize digital distractions by organizing your computer desktop and using apps or tools that block social media or other distracting websites during focused writing sessions.

    Pens, scissors, computer, monitor, paper, windows, outdoors, pencil cup

    6. Ensure Good Lighting: Proper lighting is essential for reducing eye strain and maintaining alertness. If natural light is insufficient, invest in a desk lamp with adjustable brightness and color temperature.

    7. Create a Distraction-Free Zone: Establish boundaries with household members or roommates to respect your writing time and space. Consider noise-canceling headphones or background music if it helps you concentrate.

    8.Maintain Cleanliness and Order: Regularly de-clutter and organize your writing space to keep it conducive to creativity and productivity. A clutter-free environment promotes clear thinking and focus.

    Woman, writing, papers, desk, pink shirt, glasses, window

    9. Establish a Ritual: Develop a pre-writing ritual that signals your brain it’s time to write. This could involve making a cup of tea, lighting a candle, or reading a few pages from a favorite book to transition into a focused writing mindset.

    10. Evaluate and Adjust: Periodically assess your writing space to ensure it continues to meet your needs. Experiment with changes in layout, decorations, or routines to optimize your productivity and comfort.

    Minimize distractions and maximize your writing production by tailoring your writing space to support your workflow and see how your writing space transforms into a sanctuary for inspiration and productivity.

    Thank you for joining us for this Writer Toolbox Article

    A red toolbox with the words "What's in your toolbox

    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.

    Read more great articles from Chanticleer here!

  • A Chanticleer Happy Birthday to Ernest Hemingway – A Man Who Defined His Times Through Writing

    This year we celebrate the 125th anniversary of the birth of one of America’s most important authors, Ernest Hemingway.

    Hemingway, black and white, typewriter, writing, desk, white shirt, glasses

    Born on July 21, 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois, the influential American literary icon changed the style of novel writing by creating prose that was straightforward and concise, while not sacrificing the emotional impact and lyrical prose. Hemingway wrote about important and timely topics, such as war and the bloody sport of bullfighting, in an accessible way without losing the underlying meaning or sacrificing the emotional reaction he strove to activate in his readers. For this reason, he continues to be celebrated today. In honor of his 125th birthday, I’ll connect three of his most famous stories with the real-life events that influenced his writing.

    A Farewell to Arms, Hemingway, bodies, black background

    A Farewell to Arms – Exploring the Heart of A Young Man in Love and War

    After graduating high school, Hemingway became a reporter for the Kansas City Star in Missouri, and the following year he volunteered as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross in Italy during World War I. He was wounded by mortar fire and spent months recuperating under the care of an English nurse, Agnes von Kurowsky, with whom he fell in love and had affair. She was an older woman who eventually broke Hemingway’s heart when she ended the relationship after he returned to the United States.

    In A Farewell to Arms, Hemingway’s fictional character Lt. Frederic Henry falls in love with Catherine Barkley, and their relationship explores the emotional, physical, and spiritual connection Hemingway and van Kurowsky shared during the tumult of World War I.

    A Moveable Feast, Hemingway, paris, bridge, seine, river, trees, boulevard

    A Moveable Feast – A Writer’s Life in 1920s Paris

    Ernest Hemingway chronicled his early years as a struggling journalist and writer in Paris during the 1920s in A Moveable Feast. The work mentions Paris’s legendary bars, cafes, and hotels of the era, and gives insight into his relationships with other notable cultural figures of the “Lost Generation,” such as  Sylvia Beach, Aleister Crowley, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, and Gertrude Stein.

    One scene in the book offers a moment of reflection for every writer. His first wife, Hadley Richardson, mistakenly throws out the only copy of a book he’d been working on. It’s a heartbreaking scene, but one that adds to the poignancy of the story.

    The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway, sea, boat, blue sky

    The Old Man and the Sea – The Death of the Writer’s Soul

    After a period of frustrating writers block, Hemingway published what would become his last significant work in 1952. “The Old Man and the Sea,” a novella about an aging fisherman in pursuit of a marlin off the coast of Cuba explores how perseverance and dignity are the “weapons” used to battle through a person’s struggles in life and the theme acts as an allegory of the writer’s own struggles to preserve his art in the face of the fame and attention.

    Hemingway struggled to produce a major literary work for more than a decade before the “The Old Man and the Sea” debuted, and despite some critics proclaiming it didn’t hold up next to his earlier works, the book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1954.

    We will always remember Hemingway

    Oftentimes, Ernest Hemingway’s life is told as a series of amazing adventures, mental and physical suffering, lost loves, and a sad and unfortunate ending. Many would say his life was tragic, but that life provided a deep well of stories that propelled Hemingway to produce some of the most important literature in the American cannon. With the skill of a surgeon, Hemingway relied on lessons gained as a reporter to deliver emotionally impactful storytelling in a clear and concise way that many writers continue to turn to for inspiration and learning.

    Hemingway, Patio, black and white, drink, cocktail, smiling, man, white shirt, white shorts, liquor

    Happy 125th birthday, Ernest Hemingway!

    Interested in exploring the times Hemingway experienced through the storytelling of today’s authors? We encourage you to dig into stories written by Chanticleer’s authors who bring to life the early days of the Twentieth Century with the following books.

    Passage Home to Meuse
    First Prize Winner in the Chatelaine CIBA Division

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

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

    Continue Reading here…

    A War in Too Many Worlds Cover

    A War in Too Many Worlds

    Musician-turned-time-traveler John Patrick Scott adds spy and saboteur to his resume while undercover in Germany in the final months of World War I, in A War in Too Many Worlds, the third installment of Elizabeth Crowen’s thrilling sci-fi series, The Time Traveler Professor.

    Meanwhile, Scott’s once and future collaborator in psychic experiments, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is back in Britain sharing real time-travel adventures with the inventor of the fictional time machine, H.G. Wells.

    Continue Reading here…

    The cover of A Week at Surfside Beach by Pierce Koslosky Jr

    A Week at Surfside Beach
    By

    Vacationers from all walks of life converge on Portofino II-317C, South Carolina, a quaint blue beach house, in Pierce Koslosky Jr.’s short story collection, A Week at Surfside Beach.

    From May 30th-December 26th each group of people comes to stay one week at a time, to forget their cares of the big city, to work, to celebrate, or to simply get away. Surfside Beach has much to show them, including temperamental weather.

    The small town itself offers a charming supermarket where fishing supplies, whoopie pies, and local southern favorites can be found. The Christmas vacationers, the final of the thirteen beach house renters, struggle to find a tree in time; a real tree simply wouldn’t allow enough space for the family to sleep, and the fake tree would cost too much. But they find arts and crafts supplies in town, to fashion a paper Christmas tree during a day of rainy weather.

    Continue Reading here…

    The Sower of Black Field Cover

    Sower of the Black Field
    By

    In The Sower of Black Field, Katherine Koch’s historical fiction novel, Father Viktor Koch— a 67-year-old Catholic priest— presides over a monastery in a small German village, as the Nazi regime sweeps through the country.

    The time is April, 1941. Fr. Viktor’s order, the U.S.-based Passionists, built the monastery eight years prior, providing employment for most of the villagers and remaining a symbol of their faith.

    Fr. Viktor has lived in Europe for over 20 years, but balances his love of Germany, its land, its mysticism, with his American roots. He will need all his personal and religious resources over the next four years as the Nazis take hold in the village and, later, the Americans come to “de-Nazify” the town and hold its people responsible for the horrors of the Holocaust.

    Continue Reading here…

    Hemingway, Library, books, writing, desk, chair, shorts, white shirt, glasses, writing, papers

    Thank you for joining us in celebrating America’s literary icon, Ernest Hemingway!

    Do you have a book that deserves to be discovered? You can always submit your book for an Editorial Review with Chanticleer!Chanticleer Editorial Review Packages are optimized to maximize your digital footprint. Reviews are one of the most powerful tools available to authors to help sell and market their books. Find out what all the buzz is about here.

    Is your book an Award Winner?

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

    Submitting to Book Awards is a great way to get your book discovered! Anytime you advance in the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards, your name and book are promoted right here on our website, through our newsletter, and across social media. One of the best ways to engage in long tail marketing!

    Ernest Hemingway looking off to the right
    The 2024 Hemingway Awards are open until Oct 31, 2024!

    Thank you again to the authors who wrote these wonderful books, and to Ernest Hemingway, who inspired so many to pick up the pen!

  • Taking an Adventure in Writing, Travel Writing Basics from the desk of Dena Weigel

    Interested in travel writing? Here are just a few great authors writing about their adventures!

    Explore Europe on Foot

    travel writing

    In Cassandra Overby’s encyclopedic guide Explore Europe On Foot, readers are taken through a step-by-step process of dreaming, planning, and hopefully soon experiencing memorable, slow travel ventures of a lifetime. Whether it’s choosing a route and destination, deciding what to pack, finding appropriate accommodations and food options, or dealing with inevitable challenges, Overby supplies a world of information in this colossal foot travelers’ bible.

    Read more here!

    Square Up: 50,000 Miles in Search of a Way Home
    By Lisa Dailey

    Square Up Lisa Dailey

    Although she and her husband had planned to take their family on a ’round-the-world adventure, she didn’t expect their plans to come together on the heels of grief, after losing seven family members in five years. Square Up shows us that travel not only helps us understand and appreciate other cultures, but invites us to find compassion and wisdom, heal from our losses, and discover our capacity for forgiveness, as well as joy.

    Find a copy today!

    Thank you for joining us for this Writer Toolbox Article

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    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!

    Writer Toolbox Helpful Links: 

    12 MUST-DO’s for AUTHORS by Kiffer Brown and Sharon Anderson

    The Ropes Around Research for the Accurate Writer by David Beaumier

    The traditional publishing tool that indie authors can use to propel their writing careers to new levels?  Check it out here!

     

    Do you have a book about travel that deserves to be discovered? You can always submit your book for an Editorial Review with Chanticleer!

    Chanticleer Editorial Review Packages are optimized to maximize your digital footprint. Reviews are one of the most powerful tools available to authors to help sell and market their books. Find out what all the buzz is about here.

    Have an Award Winner?

    I&I or Instruction & Insight Awards CIBA Badge

    The I&I Book Awards has a Category just for Travel Writing!

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

    You can see our full list of Non-Fiction Book Awards is a great way to get your book discovered!

    Anytime you advance in the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards, your name and book are promoted right here on our website, through our newsletter, and across social media. One of the best ways to engage in long tail marketing!

    Now pack your bags, grab your laptop, and get exploring, writing, and creating great stories!