Chanticleer Book Reviews

Category: Marketing

  • The Second Blog Post of 2021 – ZOOM Primer – 12 Must Do’s for Writers and Publishers for 2021 by David Beaumier and Kiffer Brown

    The Second Blog Post of 2021 – ZOOM Primer – 12 Must Do’s for Writers and Publishers for 2021 by David Beaumier and Kiffer Brown

    You can bet that whether you return to the office next fall, or stay as work from home (WFH), or do a mixture of both as we do here at Chanticleer, Zoom meetings will continue to be a part of normal life.

    Authors and publishers will particularly need to Zoom or video conference to stay in contact with their readers and as a major component  of their book promotion strategy and author branding.

    Zooming and video conferencing is a terrific way of reaching out to book clubs, reader fans, book launches, and author events.

    Are You Trying to Access a Zoom Webinar or Zoom Meeting and What Are the Differences?

    First, determine if you what you are trying to access is a Zoom Webinar or a Zoom Meeting as they are different in how to access them. Webinars tend to be more secure and are also used for Zoom events that are expecting more than 50 attendees.

    Zoom Meetings

    If it is a Zoom Meeting, all you will need to is the link from the host of the meeting and, and in some cases, perhaps a password that the host will also share with you via an emailed invitation to the specific meeting.

    Zoom meetings are perfect for hosting more interactive sessions or if the audience needs to be in broken out into smaller groups. All attendees  can see who the other attendees  are along with the host and are able to interact with them via the CHAT feature on Zoom.

    All attendees can mute and unmute their audio at will.

    All attendees can share screens with other attendees.

    You do not have to have a Zoom account to attend at Zoom meeting.

    Meetings are for collaboration and discussion along with visiting others. We use Zoom meetings for our Roost Happy Hours.

    Zoom Webinars

    You do have to have an account to attend and accept a ZOOM webinar invitation.

    Zoom webinars require users to have an account with an email address and password with ZOOM.us 
    Use this address when registering for Zoom webinars.
     

    Why use Zoom webinars instead of Zoom Meetings?

    • Webinars can allow for panelists – not just host and co-host.
    • Webinars can be accessed by 100 to 10,000 attendees depending on the host’s Zoom license.
    • Only the Host and Panelist can see who is attending.
    • Webinars are more secure than meetings.
    • Only the Host can unmute or mute attendees and appoint panelists.
    • Only the Host or Panelists may share screens.
    • Webinars may allow attendees to interact via Chat, Q & A, and answering polling questions.

    Zoom webinars tend to be used for lectures, conferences, and larger audiences. Think of the zoom webinar more or less like an auditorium. Meetings are more like sitting around a conference table or participating in a classroom.

    Zoom webinars are available through Zoom as a paid add-on by the host.

    How can I tell if I have registered with ZOOM.us? — VISIT www.ZOOM.us and try to login. If you cannot, you need to set up a ZOOM account.
    It bears repeating…
    Why is this important:  You will need to have an email address that you use to login to ZOOM.us for webinars. You do not need a Zoom account for meetings.

    Frequently Asked Questions:

    • Do I have to pay to use ZOOM?  No. Only hosts have to pay for webinars applications. Zoom is free to users—meetings or webinars. Although, you may have to pay to register for the event that is being Zoomed to receive the password, login, and invitation.
    • Can I stop and take a break once I log-in?   Yes, all you have to do is click the login in  again to the daily email invite from ZOOM to access the particularwebinar again.
    • Do I have to register for individual sessions or just show up?  No, like attending a real conference, you may pop in and out at your convenience. 
    • How do I log back in? It is easy. All you have to do is click on that day’s link that you will receive in your event’s email invitation.
    • Will I be able to ask questions of the presenters? Yes, there is a way to ask questions and to chat with other attendees during the sessions. 
    • How do I ask a Question? Hover your pointer (aka mouse pointer) over the bottom of the ZOOM screen, you will see a menu popup that has Q & A, CHAT, Video, Polls, Video, Mic, etc. Click on Q & A. You will see the Q & A form pop-up. Type your question here. 
    • What is the difference between CHAT and Q & A? The Q & A will be monitored by the session moderator. The CHAT feature is not monitored by the monitor or presenter. This is akin to passing notes in class or texting with your fellow attendees. GO ahead and chat! It is fun to do! And this time you won’t get in trouble. Chatting is like passing notes in class with no worry of getting caught.

    And, we know you all will want to attend the 2021 Chanticleer Authors Conference #CAC21 virtually on Zoom. VCAC 21 will be held as a Zoom webinar and not a  Zoom meeting. 

    You also might be interested in joining Chanticleer’s exclusive Roost club where authors mingle, mix, and share their expertise and knowledge. It is comfortable and convenient place to take a dip into the Zoom pool.

    Leading me to the next item:  Zoom etiquette and handy tips.

    The Roost at Chanticleer Happy Hour Spring 2020

    1. Set up Your Space

    If your computer can manage it, virtual backgrounds are always acceptable. You can figure out how to set those up here. See a favorite background of David’s below. There are thousands to choose from. It is up to you select or create the background for your particular purpose. It will be a different one for “visiting with friends and family” than for work or presenting to a book club group or for taking a virtual Zumba or Yoga class. Varying your backgrounds (even using real places) for Zoom meetings will help set the stage for the purpose of the Zoom meeting. 

    The five stars of the Pleiades constellation
    David B.’s fav screen background for Zoom. It is out of this world!

    However, some people, like myself, don’t have a computer that lends itself well to virtual backgrounds. I have good news! Most people don’t have professional in home offices, and that’s understandable, so no one will be upset if your bed is floating somewhere behind you. Generally, keeping the space behind you neat and, if you can, free of doors where people who you live with might make a guest appearance.  If you have objects that relate directly to your work—books, advertising swag (Chanticleer Blue Ribbons perhaps), etcetera—you can always have that displayed prominently (nothing wrong with a little subliminal advertising). Kiffer advises dressing to promote your brand when promoting your work or participating in publishing/writer events.

    Lighting

    For lighting, it helps to have one overhead source of light, and then another, brighter light source, set at a forty-five-degree angle to where you’ll be sitting. This helps light you in a way that prevents you from being washed out since you’re lit from multiple angles, and while one side is a little more shadowy, you’re clearly not disappearing into the dark. 

    And try to keep all of your lighting the same. Most light bulbs come in a blue tint, white tint, or soft white (tungsten, which has an orange tint). Pure white light is the best.

    Make sure that you are not backlit (sitting in front of window on a sunny day) or with a lot of lighting behind you. If you are backlit, your video image will disappear. You will appear as a silhouette or a shape.

    And some people use professional lighting just for videoing  to make themselves look their best. A popular device is a “light ring” that is setup behind the video camera that you are using (whether it is like mine and is situated in my laptop or a separate camera that is connected to your computer.

    The main thing is to reduce the amount of light behind you and increase the light shining on you. Just think about how talk shows are always brightly lit even if the air in the evening. Light on you makes wrinkles and aging shadows disappear and generally is more flattering to almost everyone.

    State of the Art Brownie Camera!

    Lighting should be in front of you and behind the camera. Just like using an old Brownie camera.

    2. What to Wear

    There’s a certain casual ease to working from home, which is wonderful, but it’s worth keeping a couple of things in mind. For example, when we stand up, we tend to naturally bend over a little bit first. Normally this isn’t a huge problem, but when I’m wearing my billowy pirate shirts for “Talk Like a Pirate Day” everyone’s treated to a look at my navel, which isn’t quite the nautical theme I’m going for.  [David B]

    You may want to consider to wear solid colors or lightly patterned tops. Take your cue from news announcers and talk show hosts to look your professional best.

    For authors, if you are Zooming with a book club or an author event, be sure to promote your author brand with what you are wearing. Treat the video call just like if you were having the event in person.

    Also when standing up, whatever you’re wearing on your legs might be visible. Dark sweat pants tend to look more or less like slacks, so there’s still no huge pressure to be wearing jeans.  

    While it’s great to know how to set up the background and how to possibly dress, one thing that I cannot overemphasize is that you never owe someone a visual look into your home. Zoom fatigue is real, and sometimes we just need to know we aren’t presenting to be on camera twenty minutes after rolling out of bed. If you can manage it, people do like to be able to see who they are speaking to, but if you can’t I truly believe Miss Manners would suggest a simple “I’m sorry, but I’m just not presentable now” should sate any questions about last minute Zoom meetings.

    How to Appear at Your Best

    Easy photogenic things to do to help you look your best while Zooming

    1. If you are using a laptop with the camera centered at the top of the monitor screen, Kiffer suggests setting it on a stack of books to that the camera is more level with your eyes or perhaps slightly higher so you tilt your head back a bit instead of down. Doing this will help in reducing the look of double chins and undereye shadowing. Plus, it will help you hold your head high! If you need to reach the keyboard, just use an independent keyboard that is within reach along with a mouse.

    JellyComb make wireless, foldable, lightweight keyboards starting at $29 topping out at $59. They even have one that you can use with your smart phone! ($49). And while you are checking them out, look at their mice products. Kiffer found out about this company when she trashed her laptop’s keyboard with one too many coffee splashes and cookie crumbs. Her computer was working just fine and so was the monitor. JellyComb’s combo package of mouse and keyboard for $29 had her laptop back up and working pronto! Now she uses the equipment with her new laptop for video calls.

    2. Be careful about “Talking Head Syndrome”  — Position your camera and/or laptop far enough away from you so that at least  your head AND shoulders appear in the video. If the camera is too close you will look like a huge floating head bobbing around to the persons on the receiving side of the videocall.

    3. Zoom has a feature called “Touch Up My Appearance” —it really does! It smooths out the complexion. You can find this feature in Settings. Toggle this option back and forth to see the difference.

    Here is a handy link so can learn more about it before your next Zoom meeting.

    3. Zoom Hotkeys

    Hot Cakes Recipe | RecipeLand.com
    No, no, hot keys

    Your life will become a lot easier if you master a few Zoom hotkeys. You can read directly about all of them here, but I’m going to cover my favorites in this section. Now, these can feel a little frustrating, because you will need to make sure your Zoom window is selected before using any of them. This means you’ve clicked somewhere on the Zoom window before using the hotkey.  

    The first one worth noting is just Alt, which shows you the possible buttons you can click without needing to mouse over your screen. This means that as you try to use the other hotkeys you’ll be able to visually confirm they’re working by whether or not a red slash has appeared across the associated icon.  

    Alt+A lets you mute immediately. What Alt+A means is that you hit the Alt and A keys simultaneously. The next numbered section will talk about muting and unmuting, but using Alt+A is a great way to quickly turn of your sound when you see the dog running to the front door ready to bark and deafen everyone in the meeting.  

    Higher rents, less community and one barking dog - Santa Monica Daily Press
    Fido serenading the other Zoom attendees

    Is your roommate just heading out of the shower walking absentmindedly into your video screen? Alt+V will quickly shut off your video. It’s also handy if you want to eat while the meeting is happening and don’t want people treated to a show of watching you chew.

    Poky Internet? Turning your video off can also be a great way to help improve the quality of your internet. 

    What will the other attendees see if I turn off my video camera?

    Your name that you used to register with ZOOM. That is it.

    You without your video camera on during a Zoom meeting. Replace Author with your registered Zoom user name.

     I don’t use any of the other hotkeys in meetings except for these three.  Alt, Alt+A, and Alt + V. There are several others that you can learn more about on the ZOOM.us website if you are interested. 

    4. Mute Yourself

    You can always start off by saying hi, but for the most part get comfortable muting and unmuting yourself. If you’re not talking, the best course of action is to stay muted. I have a habit of talking to myself a little or humming to myself when in Zoom meetings, maybe occasionally needing to burp a little bit. Having myself muted allows me to keep most of these things hidden rather than embarrassing myself by any unknown sounds.  

     

    I also find that leaving myself on mute helps me be more thoughtful when I choose to unmute myself rather than when I can speak at anytime.  It is considered to be excellent Zoom etiquette to mute yourself except when you are addressing the rest of the group. 

    The reason for mute and unmute on Zoom is that only one user at a time will be broadcasted over the audio. For example, if you do not mute and you leave to refill your coffee cup and your cat or dog begins talking (meowing or barking) they will have “the floor” of the Zoom meeting. If a phone rings during a pause it will be picked up.

    And David and I can’t begin to tell you how many times that we have inadvertently heard private conversations during breaks when people place calls or chat with roommates and had no idea that everyone on the ZOOM meeting could hear the conversation—whether we wanted to or not.

    Mute and Unmute is your Zoom friend!

    5. Use the Chat

    Now you’re muted, and someone is making a excellent point that you can absolutely relate and add to! Interrupting in Zoom can be tricky, which is where the chat option comes into play. Now, it’s good to know that the host can often save the chat and even see private messages, so make sure that no matter who you type it’s something that won’t embarrass you or hurt anyone’s feelings if the whole group sees it.  

    Chat can be a great way to show you agree with someone “+1 to Kiffer’s comment!” or to share a resource that you think might help with part of someone’s question. 

    If you do want to add to the discussion, raise your hand or if it is a happy hour or casual situation, wait your turn and then unmute. Just like you would do in an in person meeting. Don’t interrupt, but do add to the conversation. And just like at cocktail party, or luncheon, don’t be the one who dominates the conversation.

    6. Consider the Ethernet

    To improve your internet connection consider using an ethernet cable for a direct connection to the internet, and you can try turning off your video if you still have connectivity issues. Remember that Ethernet cable—the blue one? 

    The cable that was used before wifi internet…long ago and far away…

    As said before, you can also always turn off your video if you’re having connection issues.  

    7. Look into the CAMERA

    Looking into the camera will give your viewers the appearance that you are making eye contact with them. It is hard to do at first and will take a conscience effort, but it will make a big difference in how you are perceived in Zoom meetings by appearing attentive and interactive especially if it is a small Zoom meeting.

    8. Sipping is okay. Generally speaking, eating is not.

    For most Zoom meetings, unless it is an actual virtual dinner going on or a virtual party or some other event where eating is a focus of the meeting, eating while the video camera is a definite no-no. If you have to eat during a Zoom meeting that is not centered around food, then please turn off your video camera while you eat. Perhaps you can get away with popping a piece of cheese or chocolate into your mouth…

    If it is an event where eating is part of the meeting, please make sure that your video camera is even further away from you—perhaps videoing you from the waist up. And definitely mute while you are chewing and slurping!

    As with most meetings in person, drinking coffee, tea, water, or any kind of beverage is okay. We definitely encourage drinking the beverage of your choice at the Roost Zoom Happy Hours.

    And now for something fun!

    Which Zoom LEGO Figure Are You?

    Thanks to Diane Garland for the meme!

    For a look at what not to do or how to get invited to less meetings if that is your plan–LOL. Consider watching the following video from Saturday Night Live. 5 minutes 48 seconds. It’s a classic! And I think it is hilarious how Henriette and Nan got out of future Zoom meetings. Smart!

    Starting from here, you’ll have most of what you need for your basic Zoom use. Check out our upcoming Chanticleer Writer’s toolbox article on advanced video conferencing  techniques for authors and publishers here.  

    As always, we would love to hear from you! 

    Contact us at Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com

    Happy Zooming! 

    The Chanticleer Team

  • The FIRST Blog Post of 2021- Twelve Must Do’s for Writers: Writing Life, Business of Writing, Author Life

    The FIRST Blog Post of 2021- Twelve Must Do’s for Writers: Writing Life, Business of Writing, Author Life

    Please enjoy Chanticleer’s 12 Must-Dos for a Happy and Productive 2021!

    Well…maybe not “enjoy” as there ere is a lot of work to be done to complete this list that will help you have a successful and productive 2021 year for your writing career.

    Twelve Must-Dos for Authors and Publishers for 2021!

    At Chanticleer, as many of you know (especially if you have attended a Chanticleer Authors Conference or VCAC), we do things a little differently. Adapting the theme of “12 Days,” we are bringing you an author checklist, things for your author development and business. That’s why we’re here!

    We suggest tackling one Must-Do a month in any order that you chose except for the first three. Also, we will have a handy checklist to print out at the end of the series for your author lair to help keep you on track.

    We wish you a successful and productive year for achieving your publishing goals! ~ The Chanticleer Reviews Team

    On the First Blogpost of 2021, Chanticleer gave to me… 

    Advice on how to care for arguably the most important tool in our toolbox. Care to guess what it is?

    We will give you a hint. It stores your intellectual property, aids in getting words from your brain into little alphabet letters that add up to a story. And for most of us, enables us to create what we love most—books and stories!

    Your hardworking computer—whether it is a desktop, laptop, pad, or your own Mad Maxx creation of technologies, deserves a little bit of attention.

    Computer Care for Authors and Publishers

    We often forget how important it is to maintain a clean computer on the inside and outside, even if our desk and the surrounding area is spotless. Here are a few tips to get you started. And, yes, this is your annual reminder!

    1. Clean your keyboard 

    If you don’t want to be like the person in this XKCD comic, you might want to clean your keyboard. Luckily, this is an easy task you can do once a week.  Or at least once a year…

    Wipe it down with a slightly damp microfiber cloth, dry it with a different cloth, and then use a disinfectant wipe or a cloth just damp with rubbing alcohol to finish it out (do not use bleach!).  Probably best to do this when your computer and keyboard are unplugged because keyboards are actually quite delicate inside.

    Gross stuff under the keycaps. Maintenance will prevent your computer keyboard from getting to this state.

    Also, as the character in the cartoon that you clicked on above, turn your keyboard or laptop upside down and give it a gentle shake or two about once a week. Gentle being the operative word. You may be surprised to see what falls out of it.

    Especially if you have a cat for an intern. Here’s looking at you, Janet Oakley!

    Janet’s intern, Kinky Boots, hard at work.

    We’ve even seen Argus vacuum his keyboards. But, that is up to you.

    Really consider giving this a try. Your keyboard will feel cleaner. All the bits of dust and crumbs of food you’ve learned to ignore will be gone, and it will be such a pleasant experience for your hands.  

    1. Clean your screen

       

    We’ve all had that experience of editing and suddenly an errant apostrophe or period appears where there ought not to be one. We click on it to edit it, but something about the way it appears doesn’t quite make sense, and then we can’t delete it from the page. That’s when it clicks. The screen is just dirty.  

    To clean it, a microfiber cloth is always the recommendation. Always dab any cleaning solution (Windex and/or a little bit of mild soap and water are recommended but check before trying anything else!) onto the cloth not directly on the screen itself.  

    1. Password Management

       

    6.85 million passwords are hacked each day or 158 every second. INC magazine 2018 — this number has gone up substantially since 2018.

    The concept of a healthy mind healthy body can be applied to healthy software healthy hardware. Now that you have a clean machine, make sure you have a good password system. While two-factor authentication (such as when you need to type in a code from your phone or email as well) can seem like a hassle but is also another key factor in security. For reliable password managers, see the following. 

      and so do numbers, characters, and upper and lower cases matter it comes to passwords

      We here at Chanticleer use Keypass – but beware!

      Make sure that the password that you decide on is something that is memorable to YOU. The only other person who should have it is your estate executor or life partner or someone that you would trust with your bank accounts and credit cards. 

      If you happen to momentarily forget your master password, because someone was talking to you while you were creating it – you will need to start over. There is no way to recover your account, unless you happen to find the random piece of paper you scribbled your master password on… Experience is a cruel teacher… #justsaying

      IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE THE SAME PASSWORD for your business/work accounts and your personal household accounts or publishing accounts. This is how hackers can take people down by infiltrating a business password –harder but to do but then they have access to so many personal accounts because so many people use the same password for home and personal accounts.

      But after hearing from several authors  whose computers were hacked, bank accounts taken over, ransomware remotely installed, and other malicious activity that drained their credit card balances and credit ratings, and stole their intellectual property (as in books – published and unpublished), do not go another day without a password manager.

      There is no excuse. There are several excellent password managers that are FREE or as little as $36 per year.

      For more information here are three links to articles about password managers from reliable sources: 

      Here is a link from C|Net on the Best Password Manager to Use for 2021.

      https://www.cnet.com/how-to/best-password-manager/

      And here is a link from WIRE magazine

      https://www.wired.com/story/best-password-managers/

      PC Mag’s roundup of the best password managers 

      1. Keep a clear cache. 

         

      [Not from Editor: Do NOT proceed to this step until you have your Password Manager project all sorted out. ]

      As we barrel forward into the future there’s so much that this has started to be a bigger and bigger project. Luckily, PC Mag has a great article about how to clear your cache on any browser. While this can be a little tricky to navigate, it can be worth it for the faster computer speed. PC Mag also focuses on the security risks of the cache, but chances are most of us don’t have to worry too much about those.  

      WHY SHOULD YOU CLEAR YOUR CACHE from COOKIES? 

      This is called “Browser Hygiene.” Really.

      Browsers tend to hold onto information and like a clogged drain, after a while, it will slow down the speed and performance of your computer. Where your browser holds onto this information is in its “cache.”

      A computer’s cache (pronounced ‘cash’) is also where websites that you visit implement their “cookies” —that bread crumb trail that rambles through the internet linking your computer to the websites that you visit. Each and every website uses cookies —even yours is guilty of it. It is the nature of the internet…

      Have you ever had this happen to you?

      “I don’t see the change. You said you updated on your web page.”

      That is because your computer is storing and showing you the previous cache of the website it stored in its cache. You are not seeing the latest and greatest of the website that you are re-visiting, but a “shadow” of it.

      To see the latest version of a website or web-post, you will probably have to clear your computer’s cache which will delete cookies.

      Each computer and browser has a different system, so we advise you to search on your browser (i.e. google it) on how to do clear the cache for your particular system.

      Also, you can decide how much of the cache that you want to clear. All of it? Only the cookies? Save the passwords? Clear the passwords? (the reason to do #2 Password Management first). It is probably a good idea to clean the password cache at least once a year. But remember that you will need to do a fresh login for each website that you visit. See #2 Password Management.

      We clear our caches here at Chanticleer at least every three months or as needed to access new data from websites that we visit.

      More info

      Remember all that fuss about Data Privacy back in May 2018? Cache and Cookies are what that was and is all about. Here is a handy link to Chanticleer’s blog post about it. Are you ready for the GDPR?

      1. Virus Protection

      What are the odds of becoming a victim of a cyber attack? One in Four

      Any highly rated anti-virus and anti-malware program will update itself on a daily basis for latest hacking techniques, Trojan horses, phishing methods, ransomware, adware, spyware, and worms (I shudder to think about this one), and other malicious activity. This is different than updating the program itself. Is your antivirus program a couple of years old? If so, time to do some research.

      Again, we’re going to turn to the experts here and look at CNET’s best Windows antivirus Protection. A good antivirus keeps your computer running in top shape, and it keeps your data and writing easy to access for yourself, so you don’t end up like one of the characters in Neal Stephenson’s Reamde who end up with all their files locked away by ransomware.   

      Now for some potentially bad news. If malware has made it into your computer, you will need to have it professionally removed or contact the family and friends computer geek to save your computer and your sanity. If you are computer handy, then you have probably already taken steps to rid your computer of it.

      The scary thing about malware is that once it has infiltrated your computer, it may be hard to detect even by anti-virus protection. That is how sneaky and under handed malware can be.

      Some symptoms that your computer may be infected with malware:

      1. Your computer is slowing down
      2. Your computer crashes more often or “locks up”
      3. Your friends and contacts receive strange messages from you
      4. Suddenly you do not have any storage space available
      5. Your homepage changed itself without you changing it.
      6. PUPs show up. These are Potentially Unwanted Programs that have infiltrated your system when you give your consent to install additional tools on your computer. We think “barnacles” would be a better name.
      7. Unusual Error Messages

      Here is an article from Heimdal Security (based in Copenhagen) with more information about malware. (June 2019) https://heimdalsecurity.com/blog/warning-signs-operating-system-infected-malware/

      For more expert advice see CNET’s best Windows antivirus Protection

      The Best Protection is Prevention!

      Make sure that your computer (and smart phone) has the latest anti-virus and anti-malware programs protecting it.

      Now for some definite good news!

      Highly rated by independent and professional reviewers of Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware programs are available from free to $59 a year. A small price for piece of mind.

      Don’t think that it can’t happen to your computer. Computer viruses and malware are prevalent and widespread. Once they find a home, they tend to go systemic in a very sly and under-the-radar kind of way. Your screen will not flash or start posting pictures of Moriarty when your computer has been invaded. Today’s hacks tend to be silent but deadly.

      That’s what we want to see! You are safe!

      1. Back up your files

         

      Anything that you’d have trouble replacing it’s worth backing up. There are several places like One Drive, Dropbox, or Google Drive that will let you store files for free, up to a certain point. Luckily, external hard drives are getting cheaper all the time, and you can always do both. Whenever one of my free online drives fills up, I move anything I’m not currently using onto my external hard drive. I also make sure to periodically back up my writing.  

      This is such a great fear of mine that on my fire list (list of things that I need to immediately grab in case of fire) I have my external hard drive above everything else. I’m sure if you aren’t someone who has lost data, you know people who have, and I dearly hope to never have to worry about that.  

      Cyber Threats STOPS with each of US!

      Once your computer and files are all protected, you’ll be free to write without any anxiety over your head. Like cleaning and maintaining most things, a routine means you only need to do a little work when the time comes to get everything squared away. 

      We hope these were handy reminders. We all get busy and can easily procrastinate about taking care of these mundane but vital tasks. We certainly do!

      If there is something we should add to this blog-post or you have an experience that you would like to share or a question that you would like to ask about this blog post, please contact us at Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com

      We’d love to hear from you!

      Thank you for joining us and please stay tuned for the next article on Marketing and Promotion.

      Writer’s Toolbox
    • GIFT CARDS are Experiencing Unprecedented Sales – AUTHORS, are YOUR Selling Platforms Ready? – Kiffer Brown

      GIFT CARDS are Experiencing Unprecedented Sales – AUTHORS, are YOUR Selling Platforms Ready? – Kiffer Brown

      Tis the SEASON for HOLIDAY GIFT CARDS – REDEMPTIONS for ONLINE and BRICK & MORTAR STORES

      Perhaps you are thinking, “But Kiffer, it is December 27th! Isn’t it too late to do anything about this holiday season?”

      And, I would have to reply, “No, it isn’t dear Chanticleerian. It is is just in the nick of time because of GIFT CARDS!”

      And I think that is why this fellow is named Ol’ Saint Nick—not for Nicholas but for JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME! 

      What is the Market Size of GIFT CARDS?

      • AMAZON has almost 60% of the market share. Walmart comes in next at 15%.  *Of course, we hope that many people purchased gift cards from their local independent bookstores and local community stores.

      And we know who the biggest bookseller on this planet is—digital or print! —Amazon.

      • The Global Gift Card market size was valued at 619.25 billion USD in 2019. It is much higher this year. See *
      • The USA Gift Card market size was estimated to be 160 billion USD in 2018. It is projected to be approximately 400 billion dollars in 2020.

      COVID-19 will bring healthy holiday web sales for Gift Cards and e-Gift Cards.*

      Software provider Salesforce.com Inc. says holiday sales in the U.S. will rise 34% year over year for the 2020 season. That’s a major jump from the estimated 13.6% growth in November and December 2019.

      2020 News

      Amazon announced plans to hire 100,000 seasonal workers for its fulfillment center on top of the 75,000 it hired in April and the 100,000 it brought on in September. Meanwhile, FedEx is hiring 75,000 seasonal employees for this holiday season, an increase of 27% over 2019. And, Walmart Inc. (No. 3) hired 20,000 seasonal workers this holiday season after hiring more than 500,000 workers since the beginning of COVID-19. DigitalCommerce360.com

      What are the Top Driving Factors of Sales Growth of Gift Cards?

      • The Pandemic Fuels Gift Card Sales – Gift Card Sales were up by 50% by September 2020.*
      • The High Adoption Rate of Smartphones

      Gift cards have become more innovative with rapid evolution of smart phones. Use of modern technology and marketing strategies has created different ways for gift card lovers and smartphone users to integrate everything into one convenient package. Rise in adoption of smart phones is expected to boost the gift cards market by offering flexible & convenient ways of payment for customers. Allied Market Research

      The first annual National Use Your Gift Card Day is Saturday, January 18, 2021—an extra prompt for consumers to use their gift cards to buy something they didn’t get for the holidays, take advantage of post-holiday sales or to treat themselves.

      • Gift cards topped all other potential presents, including jewelry, clothing, books, movies, music, electronics and sporting goods. National Retail Federation report. 
      • Gift cards are the most popular items on wish lists — 14 years straight.
      • The majority of recipients of these GIFT CARDS do not begin shopping with them until late December at the earliest! 
      • Gift Cards have extended the Holiday Buying Season all the way through the month of January into the end of February. 

      INCREASING ONLINE BOOK SALES

      When was the last time that you checked out your Amazon, Kobo, B&N, Bookchain, Smashwords, etc. page(s)? 

      Visit your Selling Platform Pages and Tidy Them and Add some SPARKLE! 

      • Most importantly, do you have the latest cover of your title uploaded?
        • I see this all the time, the author sends me her latest cover (because as you know, I am all about the cover!) but then for some reason fails to upload the dazzling new cover to the title’s selling pages on the different platforms.
      • Update your selling pages with the latest tweaks to the title’s description. Is the description as compelling as it can possibly be? Amp it up! 
        • Make sure that every word of your book’s introduction/marketing blurb (that first paragraph that comes after the title and to the right of the cover) is effective—especially the first ten introductory words. These first ten words are “crawled” by the online sales platform’s search engine whenever a reader does “a search.” If it is a series or you are planning to make the work a series, then be sure to conclude the book’s marketing blurb with this information.
      • Have you listed the title’s latest awards and kudos near the end of the description to seal the deal?
      • Have you updated the reviews in the Editorial Reviews section? Add new ones and author blurbs (recommendations) in the Editorial Reviews section.
        • Sixty-one percent of customers read Editorial Reviews before making an online purchase (Harvard Business Review)
        • Editorial/Trade Reviews set the tone for Customer Reviews – which is (from what I hear) quantity is more important that than quality (number of stars). 100 customer reviews tend to be the magical number.
      • The Editorial Reviews section is where blurbs of reviews from Chanticleer, Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly should be posted along with VIP Author Blurbs.
      • Or to that matter, do you have anything in the Editorial Reviews section? If not, you are missing some SEO goodness. In fact, each of Chanticleer Reviews come with a turbo-charged SEO package and Meta-Data built in to help your book’s digital footprint populate the internet.
      • If your books are available in other languages besides English, list the languages in this section.
      • Is it time to liven up your author bio? Does it reflect the latest YOU? Does it make the reader want to meet you (like at your next book event?) as someone who he/she would enjoy meeting at a cocktail party?
        • Make sure that your photo resonates with readers’ expectations. A great example of this is Diana Gabaldon’s Amazon photo; it is one of her standing in front of the Stonehenge monument with a timeless black shawl wrapped around her. The Stonehenge background hints at the historical/fantastical nature of her works and the opening of her series.

      Author Photos

        • Take a close look at your Author Central photo. If it doesn’t move your author brand forward, take a look through your photographs for one that does. It doesn’t have to be a photo taken by a professional photographer. It does have to have a layering effect and convey your author branding/personality. If you have a photograph that does convey elements of your author branding and is taken by a professional photographer, then that is even better. Here is an example of a professionally taken author photograph that exudes the author’s branding as a post-apocalyptic fiction writer. Notice that the setting and outfit exude the dystopian aspects of his Deserted Lands series:Robert Slater author of ALL IS SILENCE
      • In your Author Information section, list any other published works that are related to this particular selling page–especially if you have series or multiple titles in the related genre.
      • While you are on the title’s selling pages, double-check that all the different formats that your title is available on in any given platform are available and ready for sale!
        • Print? e-pub? combo — purchase a print book and receive the digital e-pub version for a discount or for free? (Amazon used to call this package “matchstick” )
      • Make sure that the links to purchase books from your website work and do not go off into cyberspace.
      • Test your “Look Inside” feature on Amazon and make sure that it works and that it isn’t just opening to the Table of Contents or the front matter of the book.
      • Double-check your pricing on each selling platform that the title is available for sale on. Really. 

      OVERALL

      Make sure that your information is up-to-date, fresh and relevant!

      Like a well-written book plot,  make sure that each piece of information on your title’s selling platform moves your book and author branding forward and into the hands and minds of eager book buyers? 

      Handy Amazon Links

      Holiday Book Buying Online

      BUT WAIT, WE LOVE LOVE LOVE Independent Booksellers!

      So make sure that you help them sell your books! Win-Win!

      Make sure that YOUR BOOKS get some of that Gift Card LOVE!

      Quick and Easy Tips to Get Your Books Ready for the Biggest Book Buying Season of the Year

      Here is a Handy Checklist for Brick and Mortar Stores Where Your Books Are for Sale.

      Help Your Booksellers Sell Your Books! 

      These Point of Sale items can make a huge difference in book sales!

      Shelf talkers are proven to increase book sales!
      • It seems obvious, but make sure that wherever you have your books for sale or on consignment have them IN-STOCK. (yes, I am yelling here)
      • NEXT — make sure to promote in social media wherever your books are for sale and TAG the store/shop/bookseller. Be sure to use a photo of the shop and its location.
      • Promote your book’s cover and genre and tag the merchant again on social media.
      • If you can, make sure that your books have book stickers on them for any awards or kudos.
      • Don’t forget SHELF-TALKERS
      Chanticleer Shelf talker
      • If you have a series or other books, does each one of your books have a “bookmark” inside with all of your books listed?
        Does this bookmark have your website and social media handles printed on it? If not, get on it — you can print your own at your local copy shop.
        You can even add an invite to visit your website/blog to win prizes
        In your next printing, make sure that at the end of your book that  you include an invitation to visit your website/blogpost/social media posts for:

        • more information
        • a chance to win free prizes
        • for advance notifications of your next book
        • to have a character named after the reader
        • Book Club Benefits (ZOOM – Virtual Visits and Discussions)
        • You can have these printed off and slip them into the books — they should not be bigger than the book. Remember, this is a surprise for the reader to find and must not add to “clutter” the book.
      Your Books at Indie Booksellers

      If you don’t live close to the booksellers selling your books, see if any of your street team members, family, friends, or other authors (you know, the ones that you are cross-promoting with) if they would stop by the shops in their neighborhoods and help implement the P-O-S plan. Of course, make sure that they utilize all safety and health pandemic protocols. Make sure that they have a letter from you (they can print it out if you email it to them). Have your “street team” introduce themselves to the shop’s staff and explain what is going on.

      We all have to PIVOT, PIVOT, PIVOT in these unprecedented times.

      AND now is a good time to schedule your VIRTUAL Author Events and Book Club Meetings for 2021!

      And add the events to your website and social media platforms.

      Good Manners for Point of Sale Tips

      • Use magic tape (and carry it with you) so that you will not gum up the store’s shelves with shelf-talkers — and you don’t have to ask the staff to take time to look for some for you.
      • If the staff is busy, consider coming back at a later time. The holidays are a “make or break” season for most small brick and mortar stores so you don’t want to impede the staff from making sales and helping customers during this crucial time. [This is a pet peeve with booksellers about authors #justsaying]
      • If your books are “shop-worn” ask about exchanging them out for fresh new books.
      • Offer to help out-of-the-area authors with the books that are for sale in your neighborhood. Connect and reach out!

      REPEAT. RESTOCK. RE-POST. REMIND.
      Remember the GIFT CARD buying season stretches into the end of February.

      Take advantage of this busiest season of the year and help your bookseller sell more of your books.

      Now make sure that some of those  billion dollars on Holiday Gift Cards are used to purchase YOUR BOOKS!


      That would be me, Kiffer Brown–Mother Hen and Head Hen at Chanticleer Reviews.

      Happy Holidays from the Chanticleer Team!

       

    • CYBER SALE – It Only Happens Once a Year – Thank Goodness I’m a ROOSTER SALE

      CYBER SALE – It Only Happens Once a Year – Thank Goodness I’m a ROOSTER SALE

      Keep on reading to check out our

      ONLY CYBER SALE of the YEAR 

      CHANTICLEER says

      “THANK GOODNESS, I am a ROOSTER!” 

      CYBER SALE

      We can’t save the turkey,

      but we can save you $$$

      Check out these T.G.I.A.N.A.T. SPECIALS

      (Thank Goodness I am Not a Turkey)

      SALE PRICES ARE VALID Wednesday, November 25th until Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020 

      CYBER SALE – LIMITED TIME

      Check out these awesome sales!

      Chanticleer Editorial Book Review Package for $325

      Purchase the book review package now and you can redeem it anytime in the future.

      Use this code upon checkout to receive the discount the unprecedented discount of $100:     BKRVWTGIANAT

      Our Book Review Package (Regularly $425) includes SEO, Meta-Data, Tagging, Social Media Promotion, and Publication in the Chanticleer Reviews Magazine.

      Click here to purchase a Chanticleer Book Review Package for only  $325.

      Receive a $100 discount off the VCAC21 Virtual Chanticleer Authors Conference package that will take place LIVE and VIRTUALLY from the Hotel Bellwether (April 21 – 24, 2021 core dates). 

      Learn from the Best at VCAC21

      Presenters are: Cathy Ace, J.D. Barker, Paul Cutsinger,  Robert Dugoni, Chris Humphreys, Scott Steindorff and other insightful and exciting presenters.

      Multichannel Marketing

      and the Business of Being a Writer

      The New Era of Content Creation in All Its Forms

      Take Your Writing Craft to the Next Level  

      Use this code upon check out to receive this $100 discount – our deepest discount for the conference.  CACTGIANAT

      Click here for more info and checkout.

      Holiday Gift Cards for ANY AMOUNT 20% OFF

      This is an unprecedented discount for these challenging times!

      Valid for any Chanticleer Product or Service

      Use this code upon checkout to receive the 20% discount     GCTGIANAT

      Click here for more info and to checkout.

      And REMEMBER, PAYPAL Offers 6 Months Same as Cash! 

      Don’t Delay! Take advantage of this Once A Year CYBER SALE!

      This sale ends firmly at midnight PST Wednesday, December 2, 2020. 

      As always, please contact us at Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com for any questions, concerns, or suggestions.

      We wish you and yours a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

      We are thankful for you, Dear Chanticleerians! 

      Be well. Stay safe. Keep on Writing Because We Need Good Books More Than Ever! 

      Kiffer, Sharon, David, Argus, and the Entire Chanticleer Team! 

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

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

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

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

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

      Local Bookstores

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

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

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

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

      How to Make Your Website More Effective in Promoting Your Books

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

      Website Checklist

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

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

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

      Village Books, Bellingham, Wash. all aglow!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      Chanticleer Award for Best Novels

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

       

    • VETERANS DAY 2020 – Honoring Authors Who Have Served

      VETERANS DAY 2020 – Honoring Authors Who Have Served

      Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good, and to protect our democracy. 

      As an annual tradition here at Chanticleer Reviews on Veterans Day, we are suggesting these titles from among our reviews of authors who are Veterans. 

      But before we recognize these outstanding works, let us take a minute to review these statistics about those who have served our country.

      • 22 veterans, on average, commit suicide every day. The majority (71%) with a firearm. (Stars and Stripes, Mar 5, 2020)
      • The suicide rate of veterans is double that of civilians.
      • The suicide rate for younger veterans (18 -29) is 7 times higher than their civilian peers.
      • The suicide rate among female veterans is 140 percent higher than their civilian peers.
      • No one knows how many military spouses and families members commit suicide.
      • Gulf War – Era veterans now account for the largest share of all U.S. Veterans.
        • In 2017, there were 6.8 million living American veterans who served in the Vietnam Era.
        • In 2017, there were 7.1 million living American veterans who served in the Gulf War Era.
      • It is believed that 45% of all veterans who served in the Gulf War are disabled.

        SOURCES 

        Stars and Stripes, PEW  Research.org (http://pewrsr.ch/2jgY89s), Census.gov, American Community Survey 2017, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, data.census.gov

        HELPFUL LINKS for ASSISTANCE  

        https://www.datahub.va.gov/

        https://www.va.gov/

        Wounded Warrior Project

        Red Badge Project 

        Writing is known to be a “transformative therapy’ for veterans haunted by their experiences. “The Red Badge Project encourages Wounded Warriors to rediscover their personal voice and realize the value of their experiences and emotions.”

        “RBP partners with Vet Centers and allows Veterans of all ages to take advantage of the Red Badge Project’s program while providing a link between veterans of multiple generations.” Here is a link to a Seattle Times article by Nicole Brodeur that was published on November 11, 2019, that is about the Red Badge Project.

        We here at Chanticleer Reviews have had the honor of reviewing top novels and narrative non-fiction written by outstanding authors whose stories enlighten, remind,  empathize, and creates a better understanding with those who have served in the armed forces.

        Outstanding Fiction  — CLICK on the links to read the full reviews and for links to the authors.

        Facing the Dragon by Philip Derrick

        Philip Derrick, Air Force brat and then served in the US Army, and now an award -winning Military Thriller author

        …Derrick takes us through bases and onto transports that finally bring us to the landscape of the Vietnam War, up close and personal. We are with Jim as mines are exploding all around him, as Huey helicopters are blown out of the sky right above his head, as he catches malaria…Derrick shows the daily grind of humping through the jungle, the mind-numbing boredom of waiting for battle, and then the chaos in the very-all-too-real life or death battles…

         

        Jeffrey K Walker   None of Us the Same

        Jeffrey K Walker, served 20 years as an Air Force officer as a navigator and is now a law professor along with being an award-winning author working on his First World War Trilogy. He and his wife love to travel. He writes a fascinating and relevant blog. https://jeffreykwalker.com/blog/

        ..the novel takes us deep into the lives of its characters as they serve in the bloody trenches, convalesce, and try to live normal lives despite the physical and emotional damages they suffered…Their humanness, their frailties confronted by the awfulness of the war, gives the book its special heart…

        Three page-turning thriller novels with unlikely heroes that make for great reads.

        Dog Soldier Moon by McKendree Long

        Dog Soldier Moon by McKendree Long“Long goes far beyond the simplistic notion of the Civil War as told in American history texts to accurately portray the daily challenges faced by homesteading families, freed slaves, American Indians robbed of their ancestral lands, and ex-soldiers who face the disrespect of the Union army. Heart-warming and at times hilarious adventures are juxtaposed with gritty and emotionally wrenching moments such as Custer’s 1868 attack on Chief Black Kettle’s Cheyenne camp at Washita… Author McKendree Long displays a natural gift for storytelling.” Click here to read the full review.

        McKendree R. (Mike) Long III is a former soldier whose awards and decorations include the Parachutist’s Badge, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Silver Star, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (Gold and Silver Stars).

         

        Tarnished Hero by Jim Gilliam

        Tarnished Hero by Jim Gilliam“It is when Kelly accepts an open invitation to spend some time in Guzman’s drug palace in Northern Mexico that his code of “trusting friends first” will force him to face not only the dilemma of a loyalty to be divided between Guzman and Dave Holt, but also of being thrust into a senseless and bloody border war that has more than a few parallels to the Vietnam conflict. As such, Gilliam’s novel stands not only as a complex and intriguing “band of brothers” romp but also as a reflection on the evils of unquestioned authority and corruption.”  Click here to read the full review.

        Jim Gilliam served on active duty with the Coast Guard from January 1957 until June 1966. In June 1978 he joined the Army as an airborne combat physician assistant. May 2001 he joined the Navy’s Military Sealift Command as a civilian mariner physician assistant. He is a veteran of multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

        Measure of Danger by Jay Klages

        “Measure of Danger,” Jay Klages’ debut novel is a page-turning techno-thriller written by a former military intelligence officer and a West Point graduate. Klages experience and expertise is revealed with his believable dialog, details, and operative descriptions. The work features military-trained Kade Sims, and his accountant sidekick, Alex Pace; we can’t wait to read what other dangerous puzzles this unlikely dynamic duo will be called on to solve.

        Jay Klages is a former military intelligence officer and West Point graduate. He attended the MBA program at Arizona State University, where he successfully deprogrammed himself for service in corporate America. He enjoys desert trail running and is particularly good at falling down.

        NON-FICTION

        No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor by GySgt I Christian Busssler USMCR 

        Though now retired from the Marines, GySgt L. Christian Bussler is still active in the veteran community and acts as a mentor for other veterans. A truly magnificent and heartfelt memoir, No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor is a must-read for every American.

        General in Command by Michael M. Van Ness

        Michael M. Van Ness, the grandson of “the general in command,” has created a remarkable biography chronicling the adventures of a farm boy who rose high rank in the US military and served with distinction in two world wars as a combatant, officer, and sage observer…John Benjamin Anderson served in the Mexican War, WWI, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and WWII where he met with Winston Churchill, oversaw the liberation of the Dutch city of Roermond, and served in the Rhineland of Germany.  

        Hillbillies to Heroes by S.L. Kelley 

        Kiffer’s favorite quote from this book:“…it took all of our personal sacrifices to go from war to peace.” Quinton Kelley

        World War II veteran Quinton Kelley recounted his life story to his daughter…Kelley’s tale begins in Coker Creek, Tennessee, where he was raised on an 80-acre farm, in a log cabin that he described as rough, but “brightened” with flowers…The second part of the book shows Kelley leaving Coker Creek for Camp Beale, California, where he became the company carpenter. Assigned to an armored division, the former farm boy showed his worth as the only member of his group who did not need the training to drive a tank…He drove into combat, first in France, then in Germany, as part of an initiative that ultimately saw the end of Hitler’s Third Reich…Kelley did not glorify himself in recounting his war exploits, but vividly described what it’s like to sit in a tank, looking at the action through a tiny window, always in danger of being killed while trapped inside the metal box. There’s not much room, he opined, for mistakes in battle.

         

        Merry Christmas and a Happy PTSD by Christopher Oelerich

        Merry Christmas and a Happy PTSD by Christopher Oelerich, author and Vietnam Veteran

        “A very personal, no-holds-barred yet ultimately empowering discussion of PTSD and its effects on those who suffer from it.” – CBR

        The book has been written in a ‘How To’ format for combat soldiers which is reflected in examples and language.

        “I went away to war one person and came back another, and in my wildest dreams would never have chosen to be the one who came back…I was a twenty-year-old Warrant Officer Helicopter Pilot fresh out of flight school when I arrived in South Vietnam in May of 1969 and was assigned to B Troop 7/17 Air Cav in Pleiku.  I joined the Scout Platoon and spent my entire tour as a Scout Pilot in the Central Highlands, and in that time saw my friends killed, captured, wounded and lose their minds.”

        Standby for Broadcast by Kari Rhyan

         PTSD, Wartime Nursing, Social Issues

        Rhyan served nearly twenty years in the US Navy as a nurse, her final deployment taking place in Afghanistan to a medical unit run by the British where Rhyan upheld her duties to aid others, while inwardly feeling unprotected and helpless. After witnessing the many tragedies of war, primary among them multiple amputations, she comes home scarred in mind. Her trauma becomes so obvious that she is sent to a special private unit.

        Rhyan’s memoir is frank, insightful, and a powerful reminder of the toll taken by those who wrestle with the fallout of the carnage of war. She also reminds us of the resiliency of the human spirit and the power of hope.

        Just a Note from  Kiffer Brown:

        On a personal note, many of my family members have served their country (many of whom have passed) and are serving their country: my father (Marine Corps, deceased), my brother (Army, with us but 100% disabled), my nephew Robert is currently serving in the Air Force,  my dear Aunt Ellen (WWII nurse – she passed away recently), my cousin Billy Wayne (first 100 to die in the USA – Vietnam Conflict), and many other cousins too numerous to mention here.

        My father served in WWII (Atlantic Theater), Korean War, and the Vietnam Conflict. He passed away in 1981 from 100% service related causes. He was 53 years old. His father enlisted him when he was 13 years old. He had just completed sixth grade, but was tall for his age.

        This is my small way of honoring and recognizing my relatives along with other Veterans for their service to our country.

        Thank you for taking the time to read my annual Veterans Day blog post.

        Semper Fi – Kiffer 

      • BOOK MARKETING: TIPS and TRICKS from a PRO! – Book Marketing, Author Interview, Writing Craft, CIBAs

        BOOK MARKETING: TIPS and TRICKS from a PRO! – Book Marketing, Author Interview, Writing Craft, CIBAs

        We’ve long said that we are leaders in digital and technology. This is who we are! Now, because of our new living situation, i.e. COVID19, digital platforms and marketing tips are even more important to creating and sustaining our author platforms and building our readership.

        What we need is strategy – and a bit of know-how to make our efforts pay off. We all want to sell books. We all want to be writing and connecting with our audiences. While thinking about this today, Kiffer and I thought we would revisit one of our most helpful posts about Book Marketing. Michelle Cox’s, Hot Marketing Tips are Shared in the 10 Question Author Interview with MICHELLE COX – Author Interviews, Marketing, Craft of Writing. Here’s an author who knows what she’s talking about.

        Michelle Cox is one of the panelists on A Multi-prong Approach to Book Marketing with Paul Hanson of Village Books, Michelle Cox – Historical Fiction, J.I. Rogers – Science Fiction, and Tina Sloan, contemporary thriller author and actress that is scheduled for Sunday, Sept 13, 2020 at  VCAC.

        After reading this post, you feel you would like some new information, I would like to invite you to our VCAC starting next week, September 8 – 13, 2020, where experts, like bestselling authors Robert Dugoni, J.D. Barker, top film producer Scott Steindorff, author /actor Chris Humphreys, Amy Stapleton and Wayne Richard from CHATABLES, and Paul Cutsinger from ALEXA, Anita Michalski and Jonathan Hurley from Hindenburg Systems – and so many, many more experts (click here to see a complete list of our Headliners, Presenters, and Faculty) who will go into depth about book marketing in today’s new world. We even have Tana Hope to show us how to take care of yourself. We all need that, right?

        Here’s your official invitation to VCAC20: click here.

        And now, back to Michelle Cox… 

        Mystery & Mayhem Book Awards Grand Prize winner Michelle Cox graciously shares her writing life and knowledge with us along with some hot marketing tips and tools! Read on!

         “When I finally decided to try writing, the creativity within me, that divine essence, finally found its true home.  I’m happiest when I’m creating, and I hope I can keep writing for a long time.” – Michelle Cox

        Michelle Cox, award-winning author, at work in her writing lair

        Chanticleer: Thanks for coming by, Michelle. Tell us what genre best describes your work? And, what led you to write in this genre?

        Cox: Well, that’s a great question!  I usually at least place as a semi-finalist in three different categories at the Chanticleer awards, for example, so that should be a pretty good indication.

        Romance Fiction Award Post 1750s Historical Fiction Award Cozy Mystery Fiction Award

        My series is set during the 1930s in Chicago, so that qualifies it to be historical fiction, but it’s also mystery and romance.  I guess “romantic-suspense” would be the best way to describe the series, but without the bare-chested guys on the cover.

        They always say to write what you would want to read, and this is it!  I set the series set in my favorite era; added a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance; flavored it with the haves- and the have-nots of the era, as well as a touch of the English aristocracy; and then stocked it with lots of characters and subplots weaving in and out . . . sheer heaven!

        Chanticleer: And that’s why we love you and your books! What do you do when you’re not writing? Tells us a little about your hobbies.

        Cox: I no longer have any! I used to have hobbies before writing took over my life. If I do have a few minutes here and there, I still love to garden and bake, but my real love, however, is board games.  I’m a fanatic and have become a sort of a collector now.

        Playing games with Michelle Cox! Did the butler do it?

        Chanti: That sounds like a lot of fun! So, how do you approach your writing day?

        Cox: As soon as my kids get on the bus at 6:50 am, I make my second cup of coffee and sit down at my desk.  I’m not allowed to do any social media, though I do always do a quick email check to see, you know, if I won the Pulitzer or something (it’s always no), and then I start working on whatever manuscript I’m currently on.  My brain is its crispest early in the morning, so I have to use that time for the work that takes the most concentration.  There’s something to be said about productivity when you know you only have a limited time to write.  There’s no room for writer’s block or procrastination.  When you know you only have so much time, you have a way of just sitting down and doing it.

         

        When I reach whatever my writing goal is for that day, I spend the next five to seven hours (until the kids come home) doing marketing and PR—anything from writing the blog or the newsletter or articles or interviews, taping podcasts, setting up events, answering email, attending to social media, etc.  It’s really a full-time job, though, sadly, the actual writing, the part I love, is the part I get to spend the least on.

         

        Chanti: Marketing pays off, right? Name five of your favorite authors and describe how they influence your work.

        Cox: My series is known for the plethora of rich characters scattered throughout and the big saga-like plots.  I was definitely influenced in this by my early favorites: Louisa May Alcott, Catherine Cookson, and Charles Dickens.  My other two favorites would be Anthony Trollope and Jane Austin for their subtlety in character and their overall ability to use language so beautifully.

        Chanti: I cannot argue with your choices. These are delicious authors – and novels!

        I know you gave us a snapshot of your work-day earlier, but could you give us your best marketing tips, what’s worked to sell more books, gain notoriety, and expand your literary footprint.

        Cox: Wow!  That’s a great question, but so hard to answer.  All marketing is pretty elusive, isn’t it?  It’s a constant process of throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks.  It’s also important to remember that what works for one person, might not work for everyone.  It’s not an exact science.  If it were, we’d all be rich!

        But, in general, here are some good marketing tips that I have found to work:

        • Try to figure out where your readers are. Most of my readers, for example, are on Facebook, so that’s where I spend most of my social media time.
        • Think of yourself as a brand and try to match your posts accordingly. I post things about myself or the book or writing, but mostly old recipes, period drama news, or old stories from the past (which constitute my blog). Also, I’m very careful never to post anything religious or political.  This is a business, and the more you see yourself that way and follow basic business protocols, the more successful you’ll be.

        • Try to build your newsletter list by offering a freebie (such as free story, writing tips, a webinar, a prequel). Personally, I do it by running contests with really big prize packages. I make sure to state that the contest winner will be picked only from my newsletter subscribers.  I pay a designer to create a beautiful graphic of the prizes, post it on FB, and then boost the post.  Not only does this get me a lot of new subscribers (sometimes thousands), but it exposes the series to new readers as well!
        • Build your network. Join online author groups (I am part of a fabulous private FB group organized by my publisher, She Writes Press. We all share ideas, marketing tips, and offer support and advice, especially to the newer authors just coming on board.  It’s a collective wealth of information.) or real-world groups in your area.  Don’t be jealous of the success of others, but help each other as much as possible. As my publisher, Brooke Warner has said, “There’s room for everyone at the table.”
        • Show up at other authors events, write reviews, help promote whenever possible.  Go to conferences to meet not just readers, but other authors who can potentially help you.  Remember that you are a business, and you need to do work within your community to begin standing out.

        • For example, my publisher and I overprinted Book 2 of my series, so, as per my contract, when the first year of publication had passed, I was faced with having to pay a storage fee for these extra books (a couple of thousand), have them shipped to my garage, or have them destroyed.  I decided, instead, to send them to libraries and conference organizers.  It was a lot of work and expense, but it got my book into the hands of hundreds, if not thousands, of potential readers, and hopefully, they’ll come back for more and buy the rest of the series.  You have to be willing to take risks.

         

        • Also in this category would be to try to get a Bookbub deal, which, as we all know is really tough.  Again, for Book 2 of the series, we submitted four times, trying to get a deal with the book being priced at .99 cents.  I finally decided to offer it for free, and we cleverly put a buy link to book 3 at the end of Book 2.  Bookbub then offered me a deal, and I had over 55,000 downloads in one day!  Hopefully, a lot of those people will go on to buy Book 3 at full price.

        • Lastly, if the first book of your series is free, either permanently or occasionally, you can join Book Funnel, in which you “bundle” your book with others of a similar genre with each author promoting the bundle to their social network, which exposes your series to a whole new crop of readers.  Readers are able to download your free book in exchange for their email address.  So not only are you getting readers hooked on your series (hopefully!), but you’re building your subscriber/newsletter list.

         

        Chanti: You could teach a Master Class on this at CAC20! Let’s chat about this later.

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

        Cox: Book 5 of the series is currently in production and scheduled to be released in Spring 2020.  I said I was going to take a break from the series after that, but I admit, I’ve already started sketching out Book 6 –  I can’t help it!

        But what’s really exciting is a new stand-alone novel, The Love You Take, that I wrote, also based partially on a true story and set in Chicago in the 1930s.  It’s a really fabulous book if I do say so, about a “backward” girl who has to go and live at a home for “bad girls” after she unwittingly becomes pregnant. I’m currently querying agents for it.

        Chanti: Sounds intriguing. Please keep us updated. Who’s the perfect reader for your book?

        Cox: Though some men enjoy my books, the primary audience is women. Anyone who loves Downton Abbey; Upstairs, Downstairs; Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, the old black and white films, like The Thin Man . . . basically any period drama or old movie . . . will love my series.  I can’t tell you how many people have written to me to tell me that the series is so visual, that reading it was like watching a movie.  It’s delightful escapism; people tell me all the time they feel like they’ve been transported back in time after reading them.

        Chanti: I know that’s why we read your books #delightful! What is the most important thing a reader can do for an author?

        Cox: Tell a friend!  Research shows that the number one thing that influences people to buy books is word-of-mouth.  If you like a book, recommend it to friends or your book club.  The second best thing is to write a review!  People seem wary of doing this, telling me that they’re nervous about what to write.

        “Nonsense!” I say.

        A review can be one sentence: “This was a great book; I enjoyed it!”

        There.  Done.

        You don’t have to go into a lengthy reworking of the synopsis (why do people do this?) or delve into symbolism or themes or whatever.  Just give your one-sentence opinion!

        Chanti: I’ve been telling my non-writing friends this for years… Do you ever experience writer’s block? What do you do to overcome it?

        Cox: Not really!  I have a lot of story ideas in my head, and thus I usually have the opposite problem.  This is where outlining can really help.  If you have a pretty weighty outline sketched out, then when you sit down to write each day, you pretty much already know what you’re supposed to write that day.  Likewise, I enjoy taking an evening walk (or I try to, anyway!), during which I think about tomorrow’s chapter and what needs to go into it.  Sometimes I even voice record if I have a really good idea or some strands of dialog.  There’s something about walking—moving the legs back and forth, back and forth—that seems to stimulate something in the brain. They say that Dickens used to walk the streets of London for hours in the wee hours of the night.  Now I know why!

        Chanti: Time to reflect and let your mind wander. Movement really does help with this. What excites you most about writing?

        Cox: Creating something out of nothing.  I’ve always been a really creative person.  Looking back, I see now that I’ve always been striving to create, and for a long time it took on many different forms.  As a kid, I was always trying to illustrate Louisa May Alcott’s books or write little fan fiction stories based on Jo March.  As I got older, it took the form of gardening and decorating the house, and then baking and then creating elaborate kids’ birthday party invitations!  When I finally decided to try writing (long story), the creativity within me, that divine essence, finally found its true home.  I’m happiest when I’m creating, and I hope I can keep writing for a long time.

        Chanti: We hope you do, too, Michelle. What a fabulous interview! Thank you for sharing your story with us. 

        Speaking of sharing, if you like what you’ve read, please “like, comment, and share!” Sharing is caring, baby!

        The CIBA Grand Prize Winners

         

        Michelle Cox is a multi-award-winning author who recently spent some time with us at CAC19. This year was particularly special because Michelle won the CIBA 2018 Grand Prize for Mystery & Mayhem Awards!

         

        and took 1st Place in the Chatelaine Awards for Romantic Fiction – both awards are in honor of her book, A Promise Given. We will probably never stop celebrating this – it’s just too much fun!

        To find out what Michelle’s up to next, Find and Follow her here:

         Facebook 

        Twitter

        Instagram 

        Michelle’s Website: http://michellecoxauthor.com/

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

        Learn from the Best at VCAC 20

        Join us at the Virtual Chanticleer Authors Conference

        Tuesday – Sunday, Sept 8 – 13, 2020 

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

        VIRTUAL LIVE SESSIONS via ZOOM

        The New ERA of Content Creation in All Its Forms

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

        Donald Maass, Jessica Morrell,

        Scott Steindorff

        Read more about the VCAC faculty, by clicking here. 

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

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

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

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

        Click here for the VCAC Schedule

        Headliners Include: 

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

        Technical Workshops with Hindenburg Systems Experts

        Wed. Sept 16, 2020

        Audiobook Creation with Jonathan Hurley

        Podcast Nuts and Bolts with Anita Michalski

        Click here to learn more about the Hindenburg Workshops

        Master Writing Classes to Take Your Works to the Next Level 

        with Donald Maass

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

        and Jessica Morrell

        Jessica Page Morrell

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

        Click here to learn more about the Master Writing Classes

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

        Click here for the VCAC Schedule of Sessions

        Topics at VCAC 20

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

        And more …

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        See YOU at VCAC 20!

      • HOMAGE to the SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL – Women’s Rights, Voting Rights, Suffrage, the 19th Amendment

        HOMAGE to the SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL – Women’s Rights, Voting Rights, Suffrage, the 19th Amendment

         

        Suffragists parade down Fifth Avenue, 1917.
        Advocates march in October 1917, displaying placards containing the signatures of more than one million New York women demanding the vote. The New York Times Photo Archives.

        On August 18, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States of America Constitution was ratified and signed into law on the 26th that same month.

        We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment’s adoption into the U.S. Constitution: the amendment that guarantees citizens the right to vote regardless of their gender, and the victory of the American Suffrage Movement. It took more than seventy years of protesting, picketing, and struggles for women to gain the civil right to vote in US elections. And many more decades passed before other disenfranchised groups  were systematically denied the right to vote.

        The Nineteenth Amendment was the capstone of that fight, but it took over seventy years to achieve it.

        And still, the vote was not granted to Black women and men. That right came about much later than most people realize, June 6, 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, which outlawed the discriminatory voting practices that some Southern states adopted after the Civil War.

        During this election season, we call all Chanticleerians to Vote Your Conscious and to not let anything get in your way!

        Women’s suffrage was not just a long fight, but one taken on by many pivotal figures. But the story of the suffrage movement is best told by remembering many of its impactful suffragists, such as Alice Stone Blackwell, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terrel, and Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin.

        Suffragists were physically attacked by mobs of angry men and boys while police looked the other way. They’d been roughly arrested; been held in fetid, cold, vermin-infested cells; been shackled to the wall; and endured abuse and even torture in jail. When they went on hunger strikes, they were force-fed, tubes rammed up their noses. The Christian Science Monitor. 

        Elizabeth Cady Stanton, c. 1880

        Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the women who first crystallized the Suffrage Movement, having helped organize the Seneca Falls Convention. Her unique background was pivotal in formulating the first demand for women’s suffrage in 1848.

        As the movement grew and drew public attention, Stanton proved herself to be a skilled orator and writer, working closely with Susan B. Anthony throughout the years; Stanton actually wrote some of the speeches that Anthony delivered, and– along with Anthony– was one of the founders of the National Woman Suffrage Association. Stanton wrote for a more equitable future in more than voting; in addition to the question of suffrage, she championed a broader view of women’s freedoms, supporting labor rights, property rights, and the right to divorce. She saw that women should have the chance to lead their own lives, taking part in all aspects of society equally to men.

        Movements don’t just happen, they come alive when a group of people decides to take action against injustice, and even small beginnings can lead to sweeping change.

        Elizabeth Cady Stanton came from a privileged background and used her position and means to propel her views. Her father was a prominent attorney, Congressman, and a judge. He also was a slave owner. Elizabeth was exposed to the study of law and the government mechanisms that govern by her father. She was particularly against how religion was used to justify the oppression of women. She penned The Woman’s Bible to tackle misogynistic traditions rooted in religious dogma after being sent to a seminary at the age of sixteen.

        She became an adamant abolitionist to end the practice of slavery in the United States in 1839 at the age of 24. Many historians believe that the Abolitionist Movement to End Slavery experiences and lessons were essential to pave the way for the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

        Stanton wasn’t the only suffragist who saw the reality of sexist injustice throughout her society, and one of her contemporaries joined her in drawing attention to these wrongs. Matilda Joslyn Gage was considered a radical in her time, having fought against traditionalist views as Stanton had. Matilda was on the revising and editing committee for Elizabeth’s  highly controversial The Woman’s Bible. 

        Matilda Electa Joslyn
        March 24, 1826

        This right to vote was a battle, fought and won 100 years ago by women we will never know, but by what they have written, what others have written about them, and what they have done for all of us.

        Alice Stone Blackwell

        One of the women who played a significant role in uniting these two groups was Alice Stone Blackwell. She was in a position to do so because of her connection to the AWSA: her mother was Lucy Stone. Along with Alice’s father, Henry Browne Blackwell, they were some of the primary organizers of the group. As Alice Stone Blackwell grew up, she worked with her parents on their paper, the Woman’s Journal, and eventually ran the paper. Once the AWSA and NWSA had merged, Blackwell served as the NAWSA’s recording secretary.

        While the centennial celebrates the federal adoption of women’s suffrage, we shouldn’t forget the smaller victories and works that punctuated the movement’s length, those who spoke out against injustice in many forms, while seeking the vote. One such woman was Ida B. Wells, who played an active role in the suffrage movement of Chicago. The city had given partial suffrage to women. Wells, along with a fellow suffragist Belle Squire, started the Alpha Suffrage Club to advance women’s suffrage further and educate women on civic involvement.

        Wells & Squire marching in 1913

        The club especially supported African American candidates for the city’s elections, working to break down multiple unjust barriers in politics. Wells participated in one of the NAWSA’s best-remembered marches, set in Washington D.C. the day before the inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson. At the beginning of the rally, she was told to walk at the back, but she refused. Ida B. Wells marched with her sister suffragists from Illinois at the front. The power of social change comes from unified work between many people, and Wells refused the idea that she, as a suffragist, could be divided from anyone else.

        Along with women like Wells and Ruffin, Mary Church Terrel was an advocate for racial equality. She was entwined with gender equality, which shows throughout her work with the NAWSA, where she frequently met with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She insisted that the movement fight for the rights of black women alongside those of white women, and spoke highly of the suffragists who fought for everyone oppressed by the political and social systems of the time. She spoke at NAWSA meetings, delivered speeches, and called for the suffragists to remember all of the women whose vote they worked so hard to gain.

        Ida B. Wells

        Let’s not allow their work to be forgotten – and let us never give up our full Rights as U.S. Citizens to carry out this all-too-important privilege.

        Despite the NAWSA’s issues with racism, some black women did act within that organization, such as Mary Church Terrel, who was an advocate for racial equality entwined with gender equality, which shows throughout her work with the NAWSA, where she frequently met with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Mary insisted that the movement fight for the rights of black women alongside those of white women, and spoke highly of the suffragists who fought for everyone oppressed by the political and social systems of the time. She spoke at NAWSA meetings, delivered speeches, and called for the suffragists to remember all of the women whose vote they worked so hard to gain.

        Mary Church Terrel September 23, 1863

        Women’s suffrage had a complex relationship with black civil rights in large part thanks to the period of history in which the suffrage movement began: the Seneca Falls Convention took place in 1848, seventeen years prior to the abolition of slavery. This meant that the women’s rights movement was progressing and focusing at the same time that black people across were achieving freedom and directing themselves in a country that, while changing dramatically, still marginalized them.

        Harriet Tubman’s work is an example of how black women fought on both fronts; she’s a figure best remembered for her work as a liberator, freeing slaves prior to and during the civil war, but she took part in the suffrage movement as well. During the time of the NAWSA, she traveled to meetings and demonstrations to give speeches, telling of her experiences fighting for freedom and facing down oppressive and dangerous power structures during the time of slavery, and how important the struggle for freedom is. She bridged her advocacy for equality into the fight for the vote, and during this time, Ruffin’s The Woman’s Era wrote a profile on Tubman, as the country’s attention was once again drawn to her fight.

        Harriet Tubman after the Civil War

        All of these histories show that the suffrage movement’s victory– the adoption of the nineteenth amendment– was the result of disparate people, dedicated and idealistic people coming together and fighting hard for their rights. They gave time, energy, and passion to a movement that would, eventually, provide them with the right to participate in the democracy of their country. The fact that the suffrage movement stayed strong for 70 years united its two significant organizations, tackled legislation at both the national and local levels, is a testament to the people who refused to give up, and whose worked– together– to win the fight.

        It’s been a century since women won the right to vote, and more than 170 years since the American suffrage movement started in earnest. This movement has a lot it can teach us: the value of working together, across the country, to bring about change; the importance of remembering that there is always more than one fight for progress and rights, that we should listen to the voices of everybody who’s been pushed down and denied their rights and opportunities; and, of course, that even in the face of a power structure that calls rebellion and the fight for equal freedoms’ radical’, that fight is a good one, and worth taking on.

        At the Seneca Falls Convention, the call for women’s suffrage rang out in America, whereas before it had been considered a fringe idea, or even impossible. The fight was long, but after seventy-two years, the suffragists made what was ‘radical’ a reality.

        So, in the spirit that the right to vote is something that all people deserve, and should never have been restricted to any one group over another, let’s celebrate the centennial of a victory that brought America one step closer to the ideals of equality, freedom, and the rights of all. The power of the vote has shaped America’s history. We must all understand the importance of voting, and today we recognize those who fought for our rights. We are thankful for those brave suffragettes, for it is their struggle that has given us the right to participate in our democracy regardless of gender.

        It required three generations of fearless activists over a span of more than seven decades working in more than 900 state, local, and national campaigns to finally win the vote for American women. And that active verb – win – is important: Women were not given the vote; they were not granted the vote. As one commentator so aptly describes it: “They took it.” Christian Science Monitor

        Links to articles and sources are listed at the end of this blog post.

        We want to thank Scott Taylor, our newest member of the Chanticleer Team, for his research for the blog post in this collaborative effort of honoring and remembering the women who struggled and worked for ratifying the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920.

        We thought you might enjoy viewing some of our very favorite books about Suffrage and Strong Women we admire: 

        Love of Finished Years by Gregory Erich Phillips

        Love of Finished Years is one of Kiffer’s favorite novels as it tackles workers rights, women’s suffrage, the looming shadow of World War One, the plight of immigrants, and the horrors of wars from the trenches. Phillips reminds us that love, light, and perseverance can help us find a way to overcome almost any obstacle. Love of Finished Years won the Chanticleer Overall  Grand Prize for Best Book while it was still in manuscript form. 

        From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream by Dr. Janice S. Ellis

        This pivotal work serves as an historical record which serves as a historical record amid one of the most tumultuous yet empowering eras in American history. Complete with a discussion guide in the Appendix, the book can serve as a text for a college course or a community book club exploring themes of race and gender.

         Janice’s overarching message is to stay true to oneself and continue to follow your heart, no matter how unpopular or uncomfortable your choices. From Liberty to Magnolia was awarded the Journey Book Awards Grand Prize. 

         

        Madame Presidentess by Nicole Evelina

        A story based on the mysterious, mystical Victoria Woodhull, a free-thinking woman well ahead of her time with a rags to riches story. Woodhull was the first woman to run for president of the United States, at a time when, with the full support of the law, most American men did not even regard their mothers, wives and daughters as citizens. She was also the first woman to own a brokerage firm on Wall Street. Nicole Evelina brings Victoria Woodhull vividly to life in this award winning novel. 

        Chanticleer Non-fiction Award-winning Books — just click on the link to read our reviews.

        The Romance Diet: Body Image and the Wars We Wage on Ourselves by Destiny Allison

         

        Wounded Warrior, Wounded Wife: Not Just Surviving, but Thriving by Barbara McNally

         

        Inside: One Woman’s Journey Through the Inside Passage by Susan Marie Conrad

         

        Fishing With Hyenas  by Teresa Matthews

        Links to Sources and Resources:

        A Timeline of Voting Rights Acts:  https://www.businessinsider.com/when-women-got-the-right-to-vote-american-voting-rights-timeline-2018-10#1965-congress-passes-the-historic-voting-rights-act-removing-discriminatory-barriers-that-kept-many-people-of-color-from-voting-12

        Sources: US Department of Justice,  Brennan Center for Justice, Business Insider

        19th Amendment: The six-week ‘brawl’ that won women the vote –https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2020/0803/19th-Amendment-The-six-week-brawl-that-won-women-the-vote

        Why Celebrate the Centennial of the 19th Amendment?

        Britannica https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Cady-Stanton

        History.com

        https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/abolitionist-movement

        https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/elizabeth-cady-stanton

        https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/the-fight-for-womens-suffrage?li_source=LI&li_medium=m2m-rcw-history

        Brooklyn Museum – Alice Stone Blackwell: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/heritage_floor/alice_stone_blackwell

        Americans Who Tell the Truth – Elizabeth Cady Stanton   

        https://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/portraits/elizabeth-cady-stanton

        https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/woman-suffrage/gage-matilda-joslyn/

        NPS – Ida B. Wells

        https://www.nps.gov/people/idabwells.htm

        Blackpast – Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin

        https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/ruffin-josephine-st-pierre-1842-1924/

        Wikipedia – Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_St._Pierre_Ruffin

        National Womens’ History Museum – Mary Church Terrell

        https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mary-church-terrell

        Blackpast.org – Mary Church Terrell

        https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/terrell-mary-church-1863-1954/

        Harriet Tubman Historical Society – Harriet Tubman

        http://www.harriet-tubman.org/women-rights-suffrage/

        National Parks Foundation – Harriet Tubman

        https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/beacon-resilience-and-love-harriet-tubman

        Alice Stone Blackwell, between 1880 and 1900
      • QUOTES for MEMORIAL DAY 2020 – and Suggested Books that Remember and Honor Those Who Have Served.

        QUOTES for MEMORIAL DAY 2020 – and Suggested Books that Remember and Honor Those Who Have Served.

        Quotes for Memorial Day

        “Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.” — President George Washington

        Joint Colors of the USA Armed Forces

        “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”— President Abraham Lincoln 1865

        “In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.” — President Franklin D. Roosevelt

        “Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” —President Franklin D. Roosevelt

         “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” — President John F. Kennedy

         “Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay. But we can honor their sacrifice, and we must.” –President Barack Obama

        Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States in remembrance of the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. It is observed the last Monday of May.

        Originally, there were two different holidays celebrated by the North and the South to honor their Civil War dead in 1868. After World War One, the two holidays were combined to honor all Americans who died while in the military service.

        Veterans Day, which honors all U.S. veterans, is celebrated annually on November 11th–the day that WWI officially ended. V-E Day (Victory in Europe), May 8th, 1945 is the date United States and Great Britain celebrated defeating the Nazi war machine.

        We at Chanticleer Reviews are honored to present four excellent reads that exemplify the honor and courage of the men and women who serve in the U.S. military. For information about each book, please click on the link provided. 

        NON-FICTION Books

        NO TOUGHER DUTY, NO GREATER HONOR  by GySgt L. Christian Bussler

        GySgt. Bussler served three tours of duty in Iraq in 2003. The last tour (2005 -2006) proves to be the most challenging when Bussler narrowly escapes an IED blast with his life and sent home with injuries. The year proved challenging not just for Bussler, but for his whole team and it leaves each one of them forever changed. After recovery, Bussler then served as a Mortuary Affairs officer.

        Though now retired from the Marines, GySgt L. Christian Bussler is still active in the veteran community and acts as a mentor for other veterans. A truly magnificent and heartfelt memoir, No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor is a must-read for every American.

        Journey Book Awards, 1st Place award-winner.

        Merry Christmas and a Happy PTSD by Christopher Oelerich

        MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY PTSD  by Christopher Oelerich (non-fiction)

        “I went away to war one person and came back another, and in my wildest dreams would never have chosen to be the one who came back.” – Christopher Oelerich

        For those who suffer from PTSD, understanding that they are not alone and that they can help themselves is a huge step toward embracing a recovery program. Oelerich, as one who has experienced combat and traumatic events, wrote this book as a “How To” guide for combat soldiers, like himself, who suffer from PTSD.

        Christopher Oelerich relates his own personal history, beginning from when he was drafted into the military during the Vietnam War, and continuing through his return to civilian life and his own rocky road to recovery.

        GENERAL in COMMAND – The Life of Major General John B. Anderson by Michael M. Van Ness

         A remarkable biography chronicling the adventures of a farm boy born in 1891 who rose high rank in the US military and served with distinction in two world wars as a combatant, officer, and sage observer. He served in the Mexican War, WWI, the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Great Depression, and WWII. 

        HILLBILLIES to HEROES: Journey from the Black Hills of Tennessee to the Battlefields of World War II – The Memoir of James Quinton Kelley by S.L. Kelley.  

        A farm boy from the hills of Coker Creek, Tennessee to driving tanks across France and into Germany as part of an initiative that ultimately saw the end of Hitler’s Third Reich. A heartfelt recollection of the sacrifices of America’s soldiers in WWII.

        FICTION Books

        None of Us the Same by Jeffrey K. Walker 

        Love. Honor. Friendship. Exactly what we need from a historical fiction novel, at exactly the right time. WWI. 

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

        WAIT FOR ME

        Wait For Me by Janet K. Shawgo  –World War II  (historical fiction)

        The often-unknown role of women in wartime as travel nurses and pilots, as well as the use of herbs for natural healing, adds interesting and relative historical content to the story. The WASP pilots and their active role in the war effort was particularly fascinating reflecting Shawgo’s vigilance with her medical and military history research. 

        After the prologue shows Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, establishing the World War II setting, the story begins on September 23, 1940 in New York.

        Readers may find it interesting that Shawgo, along with being an award winning novelist, is also a travel nurse who goes where and when she is needed for national disasters.

         

        LIfe on Base: Quantico Cave review

        Life On Base:  Quantico Cave by Tom and Nancy Wise  (contemporary fiction)

        A riveting portrayal of the lives of children whose parents serve in the armed forces. Being a teenager is hard enough, but adding the constant uprooting and moving from base to base adds its own unique challenges as well as rewards.

        The story focuses around young Stephen, a “military brat”—a term that these children use to distinguish themselves from their civilian counterparts. Stephen finds himself uprooted once again from his most recent home in California and moved across the country to Quantico Bay, Virginia. His father is a Marine and relocating often has become a part of Stephen’s life. However, becoming accustomed to something is not the same as liking it.

        Quotes from some of our favorite notable authors:

        “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.“–Mark Twain

        “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” – Maya Angelou

        “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” —Joseph Campbell

        MemorialDay

        Remembering those who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice….

        My first cousin, Billy Wayne Flynn, at West Point Academy. He was killed in Vietnam January 23, 1967.

        As my father who passed in 1981 from 100% service-connected disabilities (a Marine Corps lifer with tours of duty in WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam conflict in his military service) repeated more times than I can remember. With each passing year, I know that this statement is true.

        “May we never forget freedom isn’t free.” —Unknown

        My older brother, Tony, my father, and me. My mother is taking the photo. Both Tony and my father are/were 100% disabled Veterans.