Chanticleer Book Reviews

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The CIBAs 2023 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards for Middle Grade Fiction – The Long List
The Gertrude Warner Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Middle Grade Fiction. The Gertrude Warner Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

The Gertrude Warner Book Awards competition is named for Gertrude Chandler Warner, the wonderful author of The Boxcar Children.

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring Contemporary Middle Grade, SFF & Paranormal Middle Grade, Mystery Middle Grade, Historical Middle Grade, Adventure Middle Grade, and Graphic Novels. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them. For Young Adult Fiction see our Dante Rossetti Awards here and for Children’s Literature see our Little Peeps Awards here.

These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2023 Gertrude Warner Middle Grade Fiction entries to the 2023 Gertrude Warner Book Awards LONG LIST. Entries below are now in competition for the 2023 Gertrude Warner Shortlist. The Short Listers will compete for the FINALIST positions. Finalists will be selected from the Short List. All FINALISTS will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC24).

The First Place Category Winners, along with the CIBA Division Grand Prize winners, will be selected from the 25 CIBA divisions’ Finalists.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 20st, 2024 at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash. sponsored by the 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2023 Gertrude Warner Book Awards novel competition for Middle Grade Fiction!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works in the 2023 CIBAs.

The 2023 Gertrude Warner Book Awards Long List
- Tomás Pérez-Zafón – Trotter and the Twins: The Magic of Imagination
- Sue C Dugan – SOS
- Carrie Sword – The Gospel of the Reindeer
- Gregory Saur – Drowning Hate
- Jenna L. Campbell – Camp Silversand and the Lost Heart of the Lake
- Gabriel Bietz – The Adventures of Arya and Krishna Betta Fish
- Alex Paul – The Amarrat Invasion
- Hans Ness – Rolo the Pet Earthling
- Jason Colpitts – Corrine and the Secret Mountain Colony
- Marsha Tufft – The Sea Turtle Spy Project: Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures? Book 4
- Chris Norbury – Little Mountain, Big Trouble
- V Knox – Snow Behind the Door
- Zane Re-Bloom – The Magic of Moon & Herbs
- Malinda Andrews – Awaken
- Marsha Klopmeier Tufft – The Buoyancy Project: Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures, Book 2
- Peter Serko – Hattie’s War
- Andrew Dolberg and Rob Long – The Great Weather Diviner: The Untold Origin of Punxsutawney Phil
- Vincent M. Miceli – The Last Triceracorn, Book One
- J.T. Tenera – Erift’s Journeys: The Dark Messengers
- Liese Sherwood-Fabre – Wilhelmina Quigley: Magic School Dropout
- Mel Sobolewski – Second Chances Moonlight Mile Ranch
- Eileen Hobbs – Under the Golden Rain Tree
- Caryn Rivadeneira – Frankinschool (Book 1): Monster Match
- Elizabeth R. Jensen – Fire & Wolves: A Tale of Etria
- David Swindell – The Wonderful Friendship
- Maxine Rose Schur – The Word Dancer
- Kevin Dunn – Vicious is My Middle Name
- Nikita Kapoor – Pack of the Lost – The Uninviting Forest
- J.T. Tenera – Erift’s Journeys: Secrets of The Sealed Forest
- Paisley Summer – The Butterfly Nebulae
- Sheri Graubert – Molly Shipton, Secret Actress
- Rae Marsh – Love, Maggie-Chronicles of 3rd Grade
- David Nos – Kordan The Wizard
- Barbara Gold – Operation Save PawPrints, an Izzy Rose Green Mystery
- Ryan OBrien – Adventures Through the Magic Portal
- Susan Diamond Riley – The Sea Witch’s Revenge: A Delta & Jax Mystery
- Rae Knightly – EXOSTAR (The Lost Space Treasure Series, Book 1)
- Alisse Lee Goldenberg & Joseph Goldenberg – Lucky At Bat
- Mark Cheverton – Facing the Beast Within
- Lynne Howard – Dylan Dover: Into The Vortex
- L.T. Caton – Find Me In Time: Meeting Columbus
- Cintia Alfonso Fior – Moraline
- Rae St. Clair Bridgman – The Kingdom of Trolls
- Ben Gartner – One Giant Leap
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

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

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

Additionally, we also post on Twitter. Chanticleer Twitter’s handle is @ChantiReviews

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

Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2022 GERTRUDE WARNER Awards is:

MYSTERY FORCE, Volume 1

by Ted Neill and Suzi Spooner

The 2023 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards winners will be announced at CAC24 on April 20, 2024. Save the date for CAC24, scheduled April 18-21, 2024, our 12-year Conference Anniversary!

Submissions for the 2023 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards are open until the end of August. Enter here!

Don’t delay! Enter today!

April 18-21, 2024! Register Today!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our 12th annual conference and discover why!
September 12, 2023
Gertrude Warner Hall of Fame — Celebrating Middle Grade Readers

Engaging young readers chapter by chapter!

Your adventure begins with The Gertrude Warner Awards

***Tell us your story today***

You have until August 31st to share your story and enter the 2023 CIBAs!

Submit today!

Embark on an enchanting voyage through the realms of Middle Grade Fiction with the Gertrude Warner Book Awards. These awards transcend genres, uniting tales that ignite youthful imaginations with captivating exploits. Whether whisked away to far-off lands, unraveling mysteries, or forging friendships, these stories cocoon young readers in a world of adventure. Every story invites exploration and engagement, fostering a love for reading that lasts a lifetime. The Gertrude Warner Awards celebrate authors who craft stories that spark curiosity, empathy, and the joy of discovery.

Inspire your inner child with the Grand Prize Winners of the Gertrude Warner Awards!

Fishing For Luck
By Murray Richter

During the pre-internet era of 1980, Kevin and his friends just want to enjoy a good fishing adventure, but troubles from the past come back to complicate their carefree boyhood in Murray Richter’s novel, Fishing for Luck.

As the group prepares their fishing raft for its maiden voyage, Kevin tries to solve these problems himself before anyone else knows of them, but no matter what he tries, the situation only gets worse. His parents seem on the verge of a divorce, his mentor struggles to find his long-lost love, and his sister just wants her bike back already. As Kevin takes on more and more responsibility to avoid what seem to be inevitable consequences, will he be able to see that this is all too much for one kid to handle and ask those he trusts for help?

Fishing For Luck is a wild ride of pre-teen hijinks reminiscent of the golden age of coming-of-age comedies and sitcoms we all know and love. Our young main character gets into a situation where everything goes wrong, and scrambles to fix it before anyone notices. Kevin’s predicament becomes engrossing with an extra dose of danger.

Read More Here

Kassy O’Roarke Cub Reporter
By Kelly Oliver

In this first installment from the new Kassy O’Roarke Pet Detective Series, award-winning author Kelly Oliver delivers a fun and engaging kid-friendly literary experience. Here is a story intended for middle-graders, Cub Reporter proves a quality blend of adventure and mystery involving a smart, inquisitive 12-year old with aspirations of becoming a spy.

As a reporter for her school paper, Kassy’s hoping to nab a front-page scoop and win the honorable Thompson Award for Journalism. Unfortunately, help from her pesky, but the well-intentioned younger brother, sets in motion a roller coaster of calamities she never expected. From animal-nappings and a mixed-bag of clues to car chases and rescues from entrapment, ultimately the constant reinforcement from family, friends, and a menagerie of furry companions bring positive lessons to the forefront of this likable tale.

Amidst popular classics like Emil and the Detectives and the resurgence of the Nancy Drew mysteries, Oliver has hit the mark with this bright and entertaining series opener. Though geared toward a younger audience, readers of all ages can look forward to more investigative capers on the horizon featuring the creative escapades of Kassy and company. Highly recommended!

Read More Here

The Valley of Death – Arken Freeth series book 5
By Alex Paul

The Valley of Death, Book Five in the Arken Freeth Middle-Grade series, continues the story of a heroic young man in a land before time.

The book is the latest chapter in the swashbuckling saga of Arken Freeth, a hero who will eventually become the central figure of his era, 11,000 years before the Roman era, as powerful and wise as Alexander the Great would be to his time. The many readers of the award-winning series know his adventures as a teenager in the land of the Neanderthals, or Nanders as they are called, along with his royal friend Asher, heir to the throne of Tolaria, and the young woman Talya. They know his Nander blood brother Ord, the evil pirate Yolanta, king of the Tookans, and the vile Gart whose life he saves despite their difficulties.

These familiar figures return in the latest thrilling installment. A war between the leading factions of the time, the Amarrats, the Lanthians, and the Tolarians is on the brink. The central prize that all desire: ownership of the necklace of Tol, which possesses enormous powers such as foretelling the future to those who own it. The quest to own the necklace is such that war is being threatened by the Amarrats against the Lanthians in order to possess it. Arken, who placed the necklace in the hands of the Nanders, is now the one person who can successfully stop the bloodshed by retrieving the necklace.

Read More Here

The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2022 GERTRUDE WARNER Awards is:

MYSTERY FORCE, Volume 1
by Ted Neill and Suzi Spooner

See the rest of the 2022 Gertrude Warner Winners here

Now that you’re set on your next reads, what are you waiting for? The only way to join this amazing list of Gertrude Warner Winners is to submit today!

Those who submit and advance will have the chance to win the Overall Grand Prize of the CIBAs and $1000!

Submit to the CIBAs Today!

Don’t miss your chance to light up the minds of young readers everywhere. Send us your Middle Grade Reader stories by the end of August for the chance to be recognized and celebrated for your amazing work!

The Gertrude Warner Awards is your next step!

The 2022 Grand Prize Winners from CAC23!

And remember! Our 12th Anniversary Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC24) will be April 18-21, 2024, where our 2023 CIBA winners will be announced. Space is limited and seats are already filling up. Sign up and see the latest updates here!

August 22, 2023
Spotlight on the 2023 Gertrude Warner Awards Celebrating Middle Grade Fiction
The Gertrude Warner Awards are calling

Can your Middle Grade Fiction come out to play?

Enter by August 31, 2023

Does your work focus on the key point of development between become a child and an adult? Do you find yourself drawn to work like the Redwall series or the Chronicles of Prydain, but you want to make a different mark for it? We’re ready for your ideas that will whisk young readers away on thrilling adventures, sparking their imaginations and ignite their love for storytelling. Join the CIBA 2023 Gertrude Warner Awards—an arena designed to honor and elevate outstanding middle-grade fiction.

The Gertrude Warner Awards:

Named in honor of the revered author of “The Boxcar Children” series, the Gertrude Warner Awards hold a unique place in our heart. Gertrude Chandler Warner’s timeless tales have enchanted generations of young readers, and now, we invite you to follow in her footsteps and leave your indelible mark on the world of middle-grade fiction.

Submitting to the CIBAs is a great way to help promote your book. We partner with other major supporters of indie and traditionally published authors like ALLi, IBPA, Reedsy, and Book Award Pro to bring the unique excellence of our Book Awards to you. Whether you sign up in the hopes of winning a Blue Ribbon, Author Interview, or Editorial Book Review Package, know that each time your book advances in our tiers you will receive regular promotion on our website, social media, and Newsletter!

Celebrating First Place and Grand Prize Gertrude Warner Winners!

The Gertrude Warner Awards have previously celebrated remarkable authors who’ve breathed life into middle-grade fiction. Here’s a glimpse of our esteemed winners from the last year:
- Alex Paul – The King’s Armada, (Arken Freeth and the Adventure of the Neanderthals) Book 6 of 6
- J.K. Pinsel – KAZI
- Didem Saracel – Story of Universe
- Ben Gartner – People of the Sun
- U. W. Leo – ARKO: The Dark Union
And the Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2022 GERTRUDE WARNER Awards is:

MYSTERY FORCE, Volume 1 by Ted Neill and Suzi Spooner

Submit to the CIBAs Today!

Now is your chance to weave narratives that linger in young hearts and minds. Prepare to make your mark as we open the doors for submissions to the 2023 Gertrude Warner Awards. Your masterpiece could be the next cherished tale inspiring future generations.

Submit your middle-grade fiction manuscript or recently published work before the August 31, 2023, deadline. Let your storytelling prowess shine as you venture into the vibrant world of the Gertrude Warner Awards.

Submit Today!

The Gertrude Warner Awards Winners will be announced at the CIBAs Ceremony on April 20, 2024 in Bellingham, WA and will be sp0nsored by the Chanticleer Authors Conference.
August 15, 2023
Chanticleer Authors Conference – Update and Latest Info by Kiffer Brown
Learn from the Best at CAC 23!

~Book to Film Workshop – What Every Author Needs to Know~

~How to Use Magazine Features to Promote Your Works~

~Travel Writing – How To and Breaking In to the Business~

~Podcasting for Authors~

~Narrative Fiction Podcasts vs Audiobooks~

~Decoding the Amazon Algorithm~

~Outlining Your Books, Pacing & Plotting, Genre Specific Editing~

~Kickstarter Publishing – Primer and How-To ~

~Exercising and Building Good Movement Habits for the Writing Life~

~BookBub and Book Funnel Selling Platforms~

~Increasing Your Email List and Expanding Your Readership~

~Book Covers that Sell~

~ChatGPT – What is it and What does it mean for authors and content creators~

~Multi-Channel Marketing for Authors ~

~How to be Your Own Book Publicist~

~Alphabet Soup (SEO, ISBNs, BISAC, Meta-Data) for Book Distribution and Discovery~

and many more sessions on the marketing and business side of being an author and publisher

Don’t Delay – Register Today!

Only Four Weeks until the 2023 Chanticleer Authors Conference

and the

2022 Chanticleer International Book Awards Banquet and Ceremony

Join us at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether on beautiful Bellingham Bay!

There are FIVE different registration packages available!
1. Book to Film 3-Hour Workshop with Maggie Marr, Atty – Creative Representation
2. 3-Day All Inclusive Registration with CIBA Ceremony and Banquet with options for discounted Book to Workshop, Companion Pass Option, and CIBA Dinner Guest option.
3. 2-Day Registration Pass with Awards Banquet – Saturday and Sunday & Book Fair
4. “Locals” Basic Day Pass for Saturday and Sunday Registration – No Awards Banquet. Book Fair included
5. CIBA Banquet and Ceremony Only for Saturday Evening
Join Us for the Crowning Event

of the

Chanticleer Authors Conference

the CIBAs Annual Banquet and Ceremony

The Icing on the Cake, the Crowning Event, the Highlight of the conference is the CIBA Banquet and Awards Ceremony that is held on Saturday evening of the conference.

The CIBA Banquet and Ceremony

First, we start with a cocktail hour (five-thirty in the afternoon with a cash bar, complimentary appetizers are served at six o’clock in the evening.

Most every one is dressed to impress – either “in brand,” posh, or “after-five” special. Of course, this is Bellingham, so there will always be those who bring out their best fleece and wool socks!

The ceremony photographer is set-up to take complimentary headshots, group photos, and, of course, photograph the ceremony announcements and presentations. After the event, he continues with division group photos, winner photos, cheering sections photos—a lot of photos—that attendees may download digitally for free!

Our CAC23 photographer is Dwayne Rogge of PhotoTreeHouse Photography, Bellingham, WA.

FINALIST attendees are given a Finalist Ribbon to attach to their name badge upon registration pick-up—btw.

Also, there are many different lodging options for different budgets and needs. Click here for more info

Who will take home the coveted Chanticleer Blue Ribbons?

At seven o’clock in the evening, each attendee is handed a ceremony program with all the Finalists listed by division.

Next, we are seated for a lovely dinner catered by the Hotel Bellwether. Acknowledgements, a short keynote presentation, and recognition of the Finalists in attendance during the salad course.

Then we enjoy the Northwest inspired dinner prepared by the Hotel Bellwether’s Executive Chef Marcello Mazzoleni.

After dinner, coffee and dessert (the cash bar stays open the entire time!) are served and we begin the announcements for the Division First Place Award Winners. We have a small break and photo opportunities.

Next, we announce the Division Grand Prize Winners. And, finally, the Overall GRAND PRIZE WINNER of the 2022 CIBAs!

More photos are taken!

At the end of the glorious evening, we all head to the Hotel Bellwether’s fireside bar to gather and enjoy each others company and congratulate the winners.
March 24, 2023
2022 GERTRUDE WARNER CIBAs Finalists for Middle Grade Fiction
The Gertrude Warner Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Middle Grade Fiction. The Gertrude Warner Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

The Gertrude Warner Book Awards competition is named for Gertrude Chandler Warner, the wonderful author of The Boxcar Children.

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring Contemporary Middle Grade, SFF & Paranormal Middle Grade, Mystery Middle Grade, Historical Middle Grade, Adventure Middle Grade, and Graphic Novels. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them. For Young Adult Fiction see our Dante Rossetti Awards here and for Children’s Literature see our Little Peeps Awards here.

These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2022 Gertrude Warner Middle Grade Fiction Semi-finalists to the 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards FINALISTS. All FINALISTS will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC23).

The First Place Category Winners, along with the CIBA Division Grand Prize winners, will be selected from the 25 CIBA divisions’ Finalists.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash. sponsored by the 2023 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the First Place and Grand Winner of the 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards novel competition for Middle Grade Fiction!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works in the 2022 CIBAs.

The 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards Finalists
- Joy A. Burke – Surviving Christmas
- Cicek Bricault – KyRose Takes A Leap
- Sam Hooker & Lindy Ryan – Hemlock N Glitter
- S.P. O’Farrell – Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London
- J.K. Pinsel – KAZI
- Alex Paul – The King’s Armada: Arken Freeth and the Adventure of the Neanderthals, Book 6
- Bo Gannon – Rabbit Tracks – The Trail to Gettysburg
- Ana Cortes – Marco, Pablo, & Olivia: Fútbol Tryouts
- Ben Gartner – People of the Sun
- PJ McIlvaine – Violet Yorke, Gilded Girl: Ghosts in the Closet
- Jon & Di Nelson – Spooky Stuff – Back Pocket Summer Camp Tales
- Didem Saracel – Story of Universe
- Christian A. Shane – Salmon Survivor
- Ted Neill & Suzi Spooner – Mystery Force Volume 1: Books 1-3 of the Mystery Force Series
- Ellen Dee Davidson – WIND
- Tamra Andrews – Mirror Child: Book One: The Woolgatherer
- U.W. Leo – ARKO: The Dark Union (A Sci-fi Adventure Series)
- JK Noble – HALE: The Rise of the Griffins
- J. B. Spector – The Amethyst Tower, Book 2 of The Mer-Prince Adventures
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

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

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

Additionally, we also post on Twitter. Chanticleer Twitter’s handle is @ChantiReviews

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

Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2021 GERTRUDE WARNER Awards was:

Fishing for Luck

by Murray Richter

See the full list of 2021 Gertrude Warner Winners here

The 2023 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards winners will be announced at CAC23 on April 29, 2023. Save the date for CAC23, scheduled April 27-30, 2023, our 11-year Conference Anniversary!

Submissions for the 2023 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards are open until the end of August. Enter here!

Don’t delay! Enter today!

April 27-30, 2023! Register Today!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our 11th annual conference and discover why!
February 22, 2023
The CIBAs 2022 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards for Middle Grade Fiction – The Semi-Finalists
The Gertrude Warner Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Middle Grade Fiction. The Gertrude Warner Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

The Gertrude Warner Book Awards competition is named for Gertrude Chandler Warner, the wonderful author of The Boxcar Children.

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring Contemporary Middle Grade, SFF & Paranormal Middle Grade, Mystery Middle Grade, Historical Middle Grade, Adventure Middle Grade, and Graphic Novels. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them. For Young Adult Fiction see our Dante Rossetti Awards here and for Children’s Literature see our Little Peeps Awards here.

These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2022 Gertrude Warner Middle Grade Fiction Short List to the 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards SEMI-FINALISTS. Finalists will be selected from the Semi-Finalists. All FINALISTS will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC23).

The First Place Category Winners, along with the CIBA Division Grand Prize winners, will be selected from the 25 CIBA divisions’ Finalists.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash. sponsored by the 2023 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the FINALISTS of the 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards novel competition for Middle Grade Fiction!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works in the 2022 CIBAs.

The 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards Semi-Finalists
- Joy A. Burke – Surviving Christmas
- Cicek Bricault – KyRose Takes A Leap
- Sam Hooker & Lindy Ryan – Hemlock N Glitter
- S.P. O’Farrell – Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London
- J.K.Pinsel – KAZI
- L.K. Keenan – Seb Artigas Gone Wrong
- Alex Paul – The King’s Armada: Arken Freeth and the Adventure of the Neanderthals, Book 6
- Bo Gannon – Rabbit Tracks – The Trail to Gettysburg
- Ana Cortes – Marco, Pablo, & Olivia: Fútbol Tryouts
- Ben Gartner – People of the Sun
- PJ McIlvaine – Violet Yorke, Gilded Girl: Ghosts in the Closet
- Jon & Di Nelson – Spooky Stuff – Back Pocket Summer Camp Tales
- Didem Saracel – Story of Universe
- Christian A. Shane – Salmon Survivor
- Ted Neill & Suzi Spooner – Mystery Force Volume 1: Books 1-3 of the Mystery Force Series
- Ellen Dee Davidson – WIND
- Tamra Andrews – Mirror Child: Book One: The Woolgatherer
- U.W. Leo – ARKO: The Dark Union (A Sci-fi Adventure Series)
- JK Noble – HALE: The Rise of the Griffins
- Wilson Whitlow – Mystery of the Khar Chuluu
- J. B. Spector – The Amethyst Tower, Book 2 of The Mer-Prince Adventures
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

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

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

Additionally, we also post on Twitter. Chanticleer Twitter’s handle is @ChantiReviews

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

Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2021 GERTRUDE WARNER Awards was:

Fishing for Luck

by Murray Richter

The 2023 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards winners will be announced at CAC23 on April 29, 2023. Save the date for CAC23, scheduled April 27-30, 2023, our 11-year Conference Anniversary!

Submissions for the 2023 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards are open until the end of August. Enter here!

Don’t delay! Enter today!

IN-Person – April 27-30, 2023! Register Today!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our 11th annual conference and discover why!
January 24, 2023
The CIBAs 2022 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards for Middle Grade Fiction – The Short List
The Gertrude Warner Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Middle Grade Fiction. The Gertrude Warner Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

The Gertrude Warner Book Awards competition is named for Gertrude Chandler Warner, the wonderful author of The Boxcar Children.

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring Contemporary Middle Grade, SFF & Paranormal Middle Grade, Mystery Middle Grade, Historical Middle Grade, Adventure Middle Grade, and Graphic Novels. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them. For Young Adult Fiction see our Dante Rossetti Awards here and for Children’s Literature see our Little Peeps Awards here.

These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2022 Gertrude Warner Middle Grade Fiction Long List to the 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards SHORT LIST. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalist positions. Finalists will be selected from the Semi-Finalists. All FINALISTS will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC23).

The First Place Category Winners, along with the CIBA Division Grand Prize winners, will be selected from the 25 CIBA divisions’ Finalists.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash. sponsored by the 2023 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the SEMI-FINALISTS of the 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards novel competition for Middle Grade Fiction!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works in the 2022 CIBAs.

The 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards Short List
- Joy A. Burke – Surviving Christmas
- Cicek Bricault – KyRose Takes A Leap
- Ketevan Alexander – Two Days with Zio
- Sam Hooker & Lindy Ryan – Hemlock N Glitter
- S.P. O’Farrell – Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London
- J.K.Pinsel – KAZI
- L.K. Keenan – Seb Artigas Gone Wrong
- Barbara Hills – The Sun and the Starlings
- Alex Paul – The King’s Armada: Arken Freeth and the Adventure of the Neanderthals, Book 6
- Alan Frost – Time Travelers of the Caribbean
- Bo Gannon – Rabbit Tracks – The Trail to Gettysburg
- Ana Cortes – Marco, Pablo, & Olivia: Fútbol Tryouts
- Anthony Feinman – I’M FAT! A Critters Adventure
- Ben Gartner – People of the Sun
- PJ McIlvaine – Violet Yorke, Gilded Girl: Ghosts in the Closet
- Jon & Di Nelson – Spooky Stuff – Back Pocket Summer Camp Tales
- Didem Saracel – Story of Universe
- Christian A. Shane – Salmon Survivor
- Andres Leopoldo Faza – Pomme’s Wondrous Journey
- Jason Colpitts – Corrine and the Underground Province
- Ted Neill & Suzi Spooner – Mystery Force Volume 1: Books 1-3 of the Mystery Force Series
- Ellen Dee Davidson – WIND
- Tamra Andrews – Mirror Child: Book One: The Woolgatherer
- U.W. Leo – ARKO: The Dark Union (A Sci-fi Adventure Series)
- Marc Remus – The Chocolate clouds
- JK Noble – HALE: The Rise of the Griffins
- Wilson Whitlow – Mystery of the Khar Chuluu
- J. B. Spector – The Amethyst Tower, Book 2 of The Mer-Prince Adventures
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

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

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

Additionally, we also post on Twitter. Chanticleer Twitter’s handle is @ChantiReviews

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

Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2021 GERTRUDE WARNER Awards was:

Fishing for Luck

by Murray Richter

The 2023 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards winners will be announced at CAC23 on April 29, 2023. Save the date for CAC23, scheduled April 27-30, 2023, our 11-year Conference Anniversary!

Submissions for the 2023 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards are open until the end of August. Enter here!

Don’t delay! Enter today!

IN-Person – April 27-30, 2023! Register Today!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our 11th annual conference and discover why!
January 10, 2023
The CIBAs 2022 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards for Middle Grade Fiction – The Long List
The Gertrude Warner Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Middle Grade Fiction. The Gertrude Warner Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

The Gertrude Warner Book Awards competition is named for Gertrude Chandler Warner, the wonderful author of The Boxcar Children.

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring Contemporary Middle Grade, SFF & Paranormal Middle Grade, Mystery Middle Grade, Historical Middle Grade, Adventure Middle Grade, and Graphic Novels. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them. For Young Adult Fiction see our Dante Rossetti Awards here and for Children’s Literature see our Little Peeps Awards here.

These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2022 Gertrude Warner Middle Grade Fiction entries to the 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards LONG LIST. Entries below are now in competition for the 2022 Gertrude Warner Shortlist. The Short Listers will compete for the FINALIST positions. Finalists will be selected from the Short List. All FINALISTS will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC23).

The First Place Category Winners, along with the CIBA Division Grand Prize winners, will be selected from the 25 CIBA divisions’ Finalists.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash. sponsored by the 2023 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards novel competition for Middle Grade Fiction!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works in the 2022 CIBAs.

The 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards Long List
- Tanya Volkova – The Enchanted Wind
- Joy A. Burke – Surviving Christmas
- J. Bruno – The Amazing Flight of Aaron William Hawk
- Cicek Bricault – KyRose Takes A Leap
- Ketevan Alexander – Two Days with Zio
- Sam Hooker & Lindy Ryan – Hemlock N Glitter
- S.P. O’Farrell – Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London
- J.K.Pinsel – KAZI
- L.K. Keenan – Seb Artigas Gone Wrong
- Barbara Hills – The Sun and the Starlings
- Alex Paul – The King’s Armada: Arken Freeth and the Adventure of the Neanderthals, Book 6
- John Pliska – The Secret of the Park Street Dragon Warriors
- Elizabeth M. Grieco – Paws in Paris: The Adventures of Tenny and Bella
- Alan Frost – Time Travelers of the Caribbean
- Bo Gannon – Rabbit Tracks – The Trail to Gettysburg
- Ana Cortes – Marco, Pablo, & Olivia: Fútbol Tryouts
- Anthony Feinman – I’M FAT! A Critters Adventure
- Ben Gartner – People of the Sun
- Robert Cole – Squirrels Going Nuts
- PJ McIlvaine – Violet Yorke, Gilded Girl: Ghosts in the Closet
- Jon & Di Nelson – Spooky Stuff – Back Pocket Summer Camp Tales
- Charlotte Stuart – Not Me: Speluncaphobia, Secrets & Hidden Treasure
- Charlotte Stuart – Moonlight Can Be Deadly (A Discount Detective Mystery)
- Didem Saracel – Story of Universe
- Christian A. Shane – Salmon Survivor
- Andres Leopoldo Faza – Pomme’s Wondrous Journey
- Jason Colpitts – Corrine and the Underground Province
- Ted Neill & Suzi Spooner – Mystery Force Volume 1: Books 1-3 of the Mystery Force Series
- Ellen Dee Davidson – WIND
- Tamra Andrews – Mirror Child: Book One: The Woolgatherer
- U.W. Leo – ARKO: The Dark Union (A Sci-fi Adventure Series)
- Marc Remus – The Chocolate clouds
- JK Noble – HALE: The Rise of the Griffins
- Wilson Whitlow – Mystery of the Khar Chuluu
- Didem Saracel – Story of Oxygen
- J. B. Spector – The Amethyst Tower, Book 2 of The Mer-Prince Adventures
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

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Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2021 GERTRUDE WARNER Awards was:

Fishing for Luck

by Murray Richter

The 2023=2 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards winners will be announced at CAC23 on April 29, 2023. Save the date for CAC23, scheduled April 27-30, 2023, our 11-year Conference Anniversary!

Submissions for the 2023 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards are open until the end of August. Enter here!

Don’t delay! Enter today!

IN-Person – April 27-30, 2023! Register Today!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our 11th annual conference and discover why!
December 2, 2022
Word Nerd – Using the Best Word – the PERFECT Word by Kiffer Brown
Learning another language has always been my portal to understanding the nuances of my own language, American English. Currently, I am trying to learn European Portuguese to add to my faltering French and German. It is a very slow process but still appeals to my word nerdiness that I attribute to my Latin classes in high school.

In reviewing books and many other types of media, my most frequent complaint is when the writers are lazy with their word usage. Not punctuation. Not verb agreement. Not even when the writers are being pedantic. What makes me twitch the most is Lazy Word CHOICE!

Not that the words must be sesquipedalian. (Definition at the end of the post.)

For example, the word PERFECT.

Would any of these words below be a better fit than “perfect” for conveying your thoughts with a more exact meaning?
- impeccable
- without fault
- flawless
- faultless (slightly different than flawless)
- incomparable
- sublime
- ideal
- the best
- shiny new
- perfection
- absolutely
None of the words above are sesquipedalian (ahem), but they do have slightly different connotations to convey your thoughts more exactly, don’t they?

And now, as promised, the definition of sesquipedalia: very long words.

Sesquipedalian: a person who uses big words to sound smart.

Even though Diane Garland and I are lexicomanes, I hope that we do not come across as sesquipedalian. However, no one would accuse me of being pauciloquent.

Lexicomane: lover of dictionaries

Pauciloquent: using few words in speech or conversation

The main point is that as a writer, you do not want to bumfuzzle your readers or listeners.

Bumfuzzle: confuse, perplex, fluster

To bring this diverting (aka fun, I hope) post to a close, I would like to share some words that I read in a business journal that are supposed to make you sound smarter. However, their synonyms might work better in your works. It depends. Right? Right! Or as my friend with whom English is a second language admonishes me to say, “Correct? Correct!” instead of right—especially when giving directions.
- articulate (well-spoken)
- accolades (kudos)
- brevity (concise)
- adulation (excessive flattery)
- anomaly (odd)
- pithy (brief, clever remark)
- lucid (clear and intelligible)
- bespoke (custom-made)
- diatribe (rant)
- vitriolic (nasty, scathing comment or action)
- aplomb (confidence)
- resplendent (shining brilliantly)
Do you have some words that you would love to share or ones that you think should be abolished (scrapped) from the English language? Let me know!

REMINDER to WRITE FAST and EDIT SLOW

And remember to not worry about word choice when you are creating your first or second draft.

WRITE FAST!

Edit Slow!

Handy link to our Write Fast, Edit Slow post with a practice exercise.

Word choice editing comes after you get your story’s first or second draft draft down in words from the “mindfilm” that you experience when you are creating a work.

I do hope that you have enjoyed reading this post at least half as much as I enjoyed writing it. Until next time,

Keep on Writing! Kiffer

Chanticleer Editorial Services – when you are ready

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

Tools of the Editing Trade

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

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

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

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

A great way to get started is with our manuscript evaluation service. Here are some handy links about this tried and true service: https://test.chantireviews.com/manuscript-reviews/
September 20, 2022
Stuck in the Middle with You – Defining the Middle-Grade Books Genre | The Gertrude Warner Awards
Just What Makes a Middle-Grade Book Middle-Grade?

While we aren’t actually “Stuck in the Middle” as the Stealers Wheel might say, we can always stand to learn a little more about the genres we write in.

The Stealers Wheel: Decent band? Sure! Middle Grade Authors? Not quite…

As many authors of literature meant for youth know, Middle Grade sits in that small spot between Children’s Literature and Young Adult – quite literally in the middle of these two genres. The target age for this work is 8-12 years old.

We have a couple of key recommendations for creating excellent work that will hold the attention of this tenacious age group.

The Middle Grade Basics

There are guidelines for every genre, and, while they can bend, if you find yourself breaking them regularly, you might need to double-check if you’re actually writing in the genre that’s best for you.

These suggestions will let people know your book fits in the Middle Grade Genre:
- Length of 30,000-50,000 words
- Content is clean with no profanity or sexual activity (crushes and first kisses are okay)
- The age of the main character is close in age to the reader, about 10-14 years old
- The story is immediate; characters may have minor interiority, but reactions to the world at large is the most important
- The story should feature experiences that the pre-teen and tween has experienced in their own lives even if the story is fantasy (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone or Percy Jackson and the Olympians) or real-life (Diary of a Wimpy Kid). Examples are: friendships lost and made, school experiences, family circumstances, and learning about the “wide world outside of oneself.”
- Is it a story that the reader (even if older) can place him/her self in? Total immersion.
There are some exceptions to these rules, especially in different genres, like Science Fiction and Fantasy, which both tend to have longer word requirements. However, following the convention of a genre doesn’t just show agents and editors that your work fits with what they can sell, it meets reader expectations.

If you have ever tried to find clothing and or gifts for this “tween” age, you know just how hard it is and how limited the selections are. And how hard it is to find something the tween will like as this is the age when they start to develop their own tastes and preferences.

Treat Your Readers with Respect

No one can spot someone talking down to them better than a Middle Grade Reader. They have a foolproof radar and can tell when authors are overexplaining or, worse, condescending to them.

Don’t put your readers to sleep!

Children ages 8-12 are smart and hungry for excellent writing! They are thoughtful, clever, and it’s worth it to tell them good stories.

This comes to having good beta readers and a solid Manuscript Overview to ensure you have a working plot before you move onto Line Editing and then the final polishing. Respecting your Reader and their time is the golden rule of any writing.

The Story Must Move

Stanley Yelnats in the movie adaptation of Holes is told he must either choose reform camp or jail for a crime he didn’t commit

That last bullet point in the basics section says the story is immediate.

Younger readers love action – your characters need to react and act in response to the world around them. Publisher’s Weekly quotes Scholastic associate publisher Abby McAden on the topic:

“Middle grade is for truly independent, confident readers, whereas chapter books are all about building that confidence. Stories that often revolve around friendship and deeper exploration of themes and emotions. Kids’ abilities to articulate their inner lives develop over time and are at least somewhat built on experiences they have had or are having. There’s a frame of reference a 10-year-old has that a seven-year-old doesn’t yet. Year over year, kids become ready to look around and explore alternate experiences, and I think middle grade is a giant leap forward in that process.”

And good authors will leap with them as those young readers dive into the larger world.

Read from the Best

The best way to begin and continue to excel in a genre is to read, read, read. Several attendees at the Chanticleer Authors Conference mentioned they had started reading the entire Finalist List for their Division, not just for the pure sake of pleasure, but to better understand what their peers where doing and what the competition really looked like.

Our 2021 Gertrude Warner Grand Prize Winner for Middle Grade Readers was Murray Richter’s book Fishing For Luck.

Read it Here!

Kevin’s awesome life consisted of three things: fantastic fishing, hanging out with his ever-pranking friends, and having fun with the coolest mentor ever. But when the scariest piece of his past resurfaces, his world changes. Will Kevin be able to find his voice and the courage to overcome things too evil to speak of, or will he lose his friends, family, and everything else important to him?

What Chanticleer has to say! Review is forthcoming!

A fast-paced novel of amazing sorts! A great book for young readers that will keep your head spinning and guessing what will happen next!

Need even more reads? See the full list of Gertrude Warner Winners here!

Got a Great Middle Grade Read?

Middle Grade Books
September 30, 2022
Enter Here

The Gertrude Warner Awards are open through the end of September! Submit today!
September 13, 2022