Tag: Best Books

  • The 2025 Ozma Short List for Fantasy Fiction

    The 2025 Ozma Short List for Fantasy Fiction

    The Ozma Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Magic, Steampunk and Fantasy Fiction. The Ozma Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

    Chanticleer International Book Awards discovers the best books in the Ozma Awards featuring magic, the supernatural, imaginary worlds, fantastical creatures, legendary beasts, mythical beings, or inventions of fancy that author imaginations dream up without a basis in science as we know it. Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Dragons, Unicorns, Steampunk, Dieselpunk, Gaslight Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, or other out-of-this-world fiction. Our judges from across North America and the U.K. will put them to the test and choose the best among them.

    Each of these authors is already winning with their books are now featured on our high-traffic website, shared across our social media, and promoted to our newsletter subscribers. But this is just the beginning of their CIBA journey.

    These titles have moved forward from the 2025 OZMA Fantasy Fiction Long List to the 2025 Ozma Book Awards Short List. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Ozma Semi-Finalists. Finalists will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC26.

    We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA. 

    These titles are in the running for the Semi-Finalists of the 2025 Ozma Book Awards novel competition for Fantasy Fiction!

    Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!

    • A.T. Balsara – The Great and the Small
    • Abigail O’bryan – Iron Rose
    • Anton Anderson – The Seekers Perrin Peters
    • Anya Rousselle – The King’s Blade
    • B.L. Mostyn – Heroes of Another Age
    • David Nos – The Final War of Wizards and Dragons
    • C.R. Ware – All We Have to Remember: Volume One of the Seventh Layer Saga
    • C.V. Vobh – Somnus Palace
    • Catharina Steel – Vanishings
    • Clifton Wilcox – The Immortal Witness
    • Crystal D. Grant – Lightshed
    • D. Dalton – Heartstealer
    • David Waugh – The Will of the Wayfarer the Forgotten Legacy Part One
    • Evette Davis – The Campaign
    • Evette Davis – The Gift
    • Helen Garraway – Sentinals Origins Part One
    • J Prakash – Sedna of Hanaway
    • J.A. Nielsen – The Winter Heir (Fractured Kingdoms, Book 2)
    • J.C. Wade – Summer’s Reaping
    • Jason P. Crawford – The Trials of Poseidon
    • Jeffrey L. Kohanek – The First Wizard
    • Kristin Wahlne – When the Tree Calls
    • Michael a Wexler – Jatora
    • Michele L. Sayre – Darke Realms: One Tough Temporary She Alpha (Arcana 2)
    • Molly M. Hammond – Daughter of Starlight
    • Nicholas Varner – Warriors of the Red Wolf
    • Nikhil Prabala – The Duchess of Kokora
    • Nikki Mccormack – Child of Vanris (The Warden’s Son Book 1)
    • Oleg Veretskiy – Tales of the Wandering Mists a Ukrainian Fairy Tale
    • Palmer Pickering – Dark Town
    • Philip Carlisle – Surviving Eros
    • R. M. Krogman – Sundering
    • Richard M Wagner – The Chronicles of Amerista: Griefold
    • S.E. Reed – The Darkness of Dying in the Light
    • S.G. Blaise – Eldryan Elders
    • Samantha Schinder – The Drowners
    • Sean M. Tirman – Dreamweavers LLC
    • Simran Sadana – Itehas
    • T.A. Styles – Shift: An Urban Supernatural Fantasy (The Shift Series Book 1)
    • Tamar Anolic – The Keepers
    • Ted Neill – Lost Elawn
    • William H. Johnston – Shards of Unbroken Will

    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, LinkedIn, and Bluesky pages. We try to tag all authors listed here on Facebook and LinkedIn. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed @ChantiReviews on these platforms.

    Please LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE on these platforms!

    We will also be promoting this list in our Newsletter, which you can sign up for here!

    Congratulations once more to the 2024 Ozma Grand Prize Winner

    A Circle of Stars

    By Erin Lark Maples

    Ozma Grand Prize Badge for A Circle of Stars by Erin Lark Maples

    Circle of Stars

    Click here to see the full list of 2024 Ozma Book Award Winners for Fantasy Fiction.

    Got your own Fantasy?

    Submissions for the 2026 Ozma Awards and other Speculative Fiction Divisions are open now! For other genres, we still have 25 divisions open for the 2025 CIBAs! Whether you write mystery, romance, historical fiction, or something entirely different, there’s likely a perfect fit for your work.

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest

    Winners will be announced at the 2025 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

    April 17-19, 2026! Save the Date for Registration!

    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 14th annual conference and discover why!

    Chanticleer Authors Conference, people, CAC2025

  • The 2025 Little Peeps Hall of Fame for Early Readers and Children’s Books

    Need a book for your Little Peep?

    a baby chick sitting in the grass with purple flowers.

    ***The CIBAs wants your Children’s Literature Today!***

    You have until September 30th to share your children’s story and enter the 2o25 CIBAs

    Two little chicks, fresh from their egg
    Enter Here

    The Little Peeps Book Awards features the best of the books that we read to our children and the young people who matter so much in our lives! Love of literature starts right away, and we’re proud to support these books for kids!

    Cheering on the past Grand Prize Winners for the Little Peep Awards!

    Island Moon
    Written and Illustrated by Ruth Amanda

    Ruth Amanda’s Island Moon is a magical moment captured in a poem.

    The narrator lives on an island where the moon sings of fairies and the magic of the night. While out on a nighttime walk, the narrator breathes in the island scents and hears the waves kissing the shore. In the froth of the waves, and in the moon’s magical light reflecting on the water, the narrator sees the fairies dancing.

    While describing all the animals active during nighttime, the narrator sees a tired sea turtle coming ashore to lay eggs. The moon blesses the creature, calling in the tide to aid the exhausted turtle back home to the sea. The songs of the night birds and the rays of the moon’s light follow the narrator back to bed and into their dreams.

    The rhyming of the poem and illustrations are truly beautiful. In a few short lines and pages, you are transported to a tranquil night on the island of Barbados.

    Read More Here

    The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans
    By Shaziya M. Jaffer, Brad W. Rudover and Jessica Alexanderson
    Illustrated by Adam Trask

    The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans, by Shaziya M. Jaffer, Brad W. Rudover, & Jessica Alexanderson, is perfectly written for children between three and eight years old.

    Eye-catching colorful graphics by Adam Trask, fun characters, and a wonderfully lighthearted storyline uphold this book’s message of protecting the environment. Both children and adults will feel empowered to help our planet one can at a time.

    An adventurous young girl named Ellie wants to buy a Unicorn. To earn the money she needs, Ellie plans to collect and recycle one million cans. But she soon realizes that her plans may need to take a different track. Together with her community of friends, who show great teamwork and perseverance, environmental lessons continue on with fantastic results.

    Read More Here

    Raven's Roost Cover

    Ravens Roost
    Written & Illustrated by Maggie Bates

    Maggie Bates’s Ravens Roost is a Children’s book that explores the illustrated nighttime adventures of a woman with her friend, a small frog.

    This story teaches children how to be curious about forest animals, even in the middle of a wind storm. Bates is new to writing Children’s books, and cares deeply for the natural world. Her rapport with animals likely inspired her debut tale.

    Ravens Roost begins with a frog sitting on a roof, wondering where ravens go at night. The woman who lives in the house decides to help the frog follow his curiosity on an adventure. First, she climbs up a tree to watch ravens soar overhead. She admires the moon and notices the birds perching in her favorite tree. She climbs down and starts her trek along a forest path as night falls and the wind picks up. The woman tucks her frog friend into her pocket for safety. Along their journey, the frog and the woman share a special friendship.

    Read More Here

    Victoria and the Big Brave Breath

    Victoria and The Big, Brave Breath
    By Andrea Vaughan
    Illustrated by Ryan Feltman

    Andrea Vaughan’s Victoria and the Big Brave Breath is a beautifully illustrated children’s book, written to ease conversations about anxiety and worry with a child.

    This story teaches children how to calm their nerves by focusing on their breath, using a clever onomatopoeia to help. Vaughn’s book is a timely must-read!

    Victoria and the Big, Brave Breath starts with a little girl named Victoria recognizing that she is often worried. She lists examples (trying new foods, going to the doctor, playing in the park) of her anxieties. Physically-speaking, Victoria’s hands sweat, her knees shake and her tummy hurts when her feelings appear. Her teddy bear best friend Baxter has a suggestion for her to ease these unfamiliar (and uncomfortable) feelings.

    Read More Here

    Great as a Button Cover

    Great as a Button
    By Masoud Malekyari
    Illustrated by Sebastiao Peixoto

    Masoud Malekyari’s Great As a Button is a delightful children’s book that places a soulful little plastic adornment at center stage in a thought-provoking story that offers up a positive lesson about self-worth.

    This tale unfolds from a first person POV as a lonely, black plastic button falls off a shirt. The button ruminates over its plight of feeling too plain to be noticed, and wishes perhaps to be a sock, a key, or a pair of glasses, i.e., a more important item that the button surmises someone would go out of their way to look for.

    Read More Here


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

    The Chanticleer Int'l Book Awards Overall Grand Prize sticker for the CIBAs

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

  • The 2025 Cygnus Short List for Science Fiction

    The 2025 Cygnus Short List for Science Fiction

    Cygnus Award for Science FictionThe Cygnus Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Science Fiction, Steampunk, Alternative History, and Speculative Fiction. The Cygnus Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

    Science fiction is having a moment, and these incredible books prove it. From climate catastrophes to galactic adventures, from AI consciousness to time-bending mysteries, this year’s Cygnus Long List showcases the full spectrum of speculative imagination that authors are bringing to life.

    Each of these authors is already winning with their books are now featured on our high-traffic website, shared across our social media, and promoted to our newsletter subscribers. But this is just the beginning of their CIBA journey.

    These titles have moved forward from the 2025 CYGNUS Science Fiction Long List to the 2025 Cygnus Book Awards Short List. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Cygnus Semi-Finalists. Finalists will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC26.

    We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA. 

    These titles are in the running for the Semi-Finalists of the 2025 Cygnus Book Awards novel competition for Science Fiction!

    Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!

    • A.T. Balsara – The Great and the Small
    • AA Dasilva – The Bleed-Through Effect
    • Aspry Jones – Protectors of the Light Crown
    • Augustus Cileone – Galloper’s Quests
    • B. Lynn Carter – The Eyes Have It
    • Carrie Kwiatkowski – The Bindery Guild
    • Celia Seupel – Girl with the Silver Hair
    • Charles Weindorf – Comets of Omen the Presser Arc
    • Chris Coward – Perpendicular Women: Adventures in the Multiverse
    • Claudia Leboeuf – Fields of Prosperis
    • Corey Frazier – Orion Heavenfall
    • David M. Pearce – The Holovid Hero
    • Deborah Mistina – Imber
    • James Azinheira – Alphamind the Collective Consciousness
    • James R Wells – The Eternal Moment
    • Joanne Hatfield – Ghost of Nostalgia
    • Joshua A.H. Harris – Eyes of Iris
    • Joshua Dyer – Avitron Ephemeris
    • Kevin D. Miller – Taquoma
    • L. Galuppo – Eco Reign Warning the Barriers Burn
    • L.R. O’Brien – Tomorrow Is the Day
    • Lawrence Brown – Black Phantom Dogs Book 1 Unrestricted Climb
    • Lloyd Jeffries – Embers of Shadow Ages of Malice Book III
    • Lou Dischler – In the Time of False Gods
    • Lynn Yvonne Moon – Journey’s Travels – Mirrors
    • M. E. Schuman – The Catalyst
    • Maxime Trencavel – The Matriarch Messiah
    • Michael Gorton – Tachyon Tunnel 2: The Daklin Empire
    • Michael W Hickman – Richard War Erupts
    • Mickey Dubrow – Always Agnes
    • Noah Kaplan – The Last Book. the Diary of the Last Earthling
    • Pa Vasey – Homo Machina
    • Philip Carlisle – Mellisya
    • Q Turner – Blood Sacrifice
    • Robert C Littlewood – Equilibrium (The Balance Wars Book 3)
    • Russ Colson – A People Joined Asunder
    • Russ Colson – Future’s Soul
    • Russ Colson – The Vast Empty
    • S. W. Lawrence Md – Cloud Dragon
    • S.G. Blaise – Eldryan Elders
    • Sarena Straus – DeInception
    • Sean Kennedy – The Fire Within
    • Spaulding Taylor – Last Star Standing
    • Stephen A Salaka – Elysium Rising
    • Stephen Eric Johnson – The Man From Rock Bottom
    • Tak Salmastyan – The Accelerates Forty Days To Dust
    • Thomas Lapham – Beyond the Signal
    • Thomas Sundberg – Bending Light
    • Tim Rees – Tim Rees Original Earth
    • Wilson Kincaid – The Murder Algorithm
    • Y S Pascal – The Zygan Emprise

    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, LinkedIn, and Bluesky pages. We try to tag all authors listed here on Facebook. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed @ChantiReviews.

    Please click here to visit our page to LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE! We are @ChantiReviews everywhere!

    We will also be promoting this list in our Newsletter, which you can sign up for here!

    Congratulations once more to the 2024 Cygnus Grand Prize Winner

    Ares

    By Jayson Adams

    Click here to see the full list of 2024 CYGNUS Book Award Winners for Science Fiction.

    Ready to Submit?

    Submissions for the 2026 Cygnus Awards and other Speculative Fiction Divisions are open now! For other genres, we still have 25 divisions open for the 2025 CIBAs! Whether you write mystery, romance, historical fiction, or something entirely different, there’s likely a perfect fit for your work.

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest

    Winners will be announced at the 2025 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

    April 17-19, 2026! Save the Date for Registration!

    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 14th annual conference and discover why!

    Chanticleer Authors Conference, people, CAC2025

  • 10 Days Left: Nellie Bly, Hearten, Journey, and Military & Front Line Book Awards close soon!

    The First set of Non-Fiction Divisions closes soon!

    Nellie Bly, Hearten, Journey, and Military & Front Line Awards

    Don’t let your book miss out!

    Only 10 days left to submit your books to these prestigious CIBA Divisions and embark on an extraordinary journey to success. With over $30,000 in prizes awarded annually, now is the time to make your mark!

    The Journey, Hearten, Military and Front Line and The Nellie Bly Awards are still open!

    Best Book Grand Prize for the Chanticleer Int'l Book Awards

    Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Journey Awards for Overcoming Adversity!

    • Kirsten Throneberry – Guided: Lost Love, Hidden Realms, and the Open Road

    • Jennifer Gasner – My Unexpected Life: Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis

    • Anne Gately – Sunburnt: A Memoir of Sun, Surf and Skin Cancer

    • Rachael Siddoway and Sonja Wasden – An Impossible Life: A True Story of Hope and Mental Illness

    • Lindsey Henke – When Skies Are Gray

    • Claudia Marseille – But You Look So Normal: Lost and Found in a Hearing World

    And a huge round of applause to our 2024 Journey Grand Prize Winner:

    Unfollow Me

    By Kathryn Caraway

    Red, Black, White, book, cover

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Hearten Award for Uplifting Non-Fiction!

    • Genét Simone – Teaching in the Dark

    • David Hutton – Drums of a Distant Tribe

    • Etsuko Diamond Miyagi – Diamond: The Memoir of a Lost Daughter of Japan

    • Rachael Siddoway and Sonja Wasden – An Impossible Life: A True Story of Hope and Mental Illness
    • Susan Cole – Holding Fast: A Memoir of Sailing, Love, and Loss

    • Tony Jeton Selimi – The Unfakeable Code®

    And a huge round of applause for our 2024 Hearten Grand Prize Winner:

    Elk Love: A Montana Memoir

    By Lynne Spriggs O’Connor

    Elk Love cover by Lynne Spriggs O'Connor

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Nellie Bly Award for Long Form Journalism!

    • Carla Conti – Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir

    • Kori Reed – Men-in-the-Middle Conversations to Gain Momentum with Gender Equity’s Silent Majority

    • Bonnie Bley – Stolen Voices: Missing and Murdered in Big Horn County

    • Sarah Towle – Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands

    And a huge round of applause to our 2024 Nellie Bly Grand Prize Winner:

    The Sing Sing Files:

    One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice

    By Dan Slepian

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Congratulations to our 2024 Winners of the Military and Front Line Award for Service to Others!

    • Roderick S. Haynes – Unauthorized Disclosures a Navy Memoir of the 1980s

    • David Huntley – The B-17 Tomahawk Warrior: a WWII Final Honor

    • Patrick Hogan – Coincidence, You Say?

    • Shari Biery – It’s Your Turn How To Rediscover Yourself Prioritize Your Well-Being Thrive with Purpose

    • Max Lauker & Antonio Garcia – Number 788: My Experiences in Swedish Special Operations – Preparing for NATO and the War on Terror

    • Bibi LeBlanc – Wings of Freedom – The Story of the Berlin Airlift | Flugel der Freiheit – Die Geschichte der Berliner Luftbrucke

    And a huge round of applause to the 2024 Military and Front Line Grand Prize Winner!

    Memoirs From The Front Lines:

    Four states, Two years, One pandemic

    By Kim Sloan

    Memoirs from the Frontlines cover by Kim Sloan

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    The CIBAs offer more than just recognition — they provide a ladder to success with a range of achievement tiers and expert long tail marketing strategies. From the highly anticipated Long List to the prestigious Overall Grand Prize Winner, the CIBA lists energize both authors and readers, maximizing your digital footprint and expanding your fan base.

     

    We are always eager to support the Best Books through the CIBAs. Join the ranks of celebrated authors who have already taken this critical step in their publishing.

    Your book deserves to be discovered, celebrated, and shared with the world. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your talent and gain valuable exposure at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (April 3-6, 2025) where Winners from all 25 Book Award Divisions will be announced and honored.

    In a world hungry for good books, your story deserves to be heard. Submit now and leave a lasting impression.

    Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest

    Your book deserves to be discovered

    Don’t Delay! Enter Today!

  • The 2024 Little Peeps First Place Round Up for Early Readers!

    Two little chicks, fresh from their eggThe Little Peeps Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Children’s Books and Early Readers. The Grand Prize Winner, Ruth Amanda’s book, Island Moon will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Little Peeps contest page year ’round!

    The best part about being a Chanticleer Int’l Book Award Winner is the love and attention you get all year ‘round!

    The 2024 Little Peeps Winners were announced at the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference in April, and you can see the official winners post here!

    Join us in celebrating the 2024 First Place Little Peeps Winners!

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Kristen J Anderson – Lorelei the Lorelei: The First of Many Firsts

    Illustrated by Audrey Suau

    Lorelei the Lorelei Cover

    Seven-year-old Lorelei doesn’t know what she is more excited about for her upcoming first day of first grade, making a new best friend or finding her “uniquely special thing” that Mee-maw says every child has that makes them stand out. It’s hard to leave her parents, three-year-old brother, and their sasquatch-hunting behind, but after donning the perfect outfit (brightly colored leggings, a tie-dyed tutu, sparkly gold Mary Janes and the perfect headband), she is all bubbly inside with anticipation.

    Things at school start off great when Lorelei enters Miss Grim’s room which is as bright and cheery as the teacher herself, and Lorelei is asked by a girl named Adeline to play at recess. Could this be her new best friend? But her optimism is soon darkened by a confrontation with the braggy “superstar” of the classroom, Emily, a.k.a. “Hands,” who always needs to be the center of attention. As the day closes, Lorelei isn’t sure that she’s found this “uniquely special thing,” but she is buoyed by her budding new friendships and all she’s learned about herself.


    Lovable, mischievous, and imaginative, Lorelei brings a refreshing twist of kindness and emotional intelligence to the page. Her witty humor, hilarious honesty, and upbeat mindset of life are sure to engage even the most reluctant of young readers.

    From Chanticleer:

    Lorelei the Lorelei seeks a best friend and to figure out what makes her truly special, all on her first day of public school. In Lorelei the Lorelei: The First of Many Firsts by Kristen J. Anderson, young Lorelei finds that not everything is as she expected.

    After anxiously waiting for her dad and baby brother J.J. to get ready, and armed with the wisdom of her Mee-maw, Lorelei strides into Hillside Elementary School. She shows off her eclectic fashion and discovers that even a teacher named ‘Miss Grim’ can be welcoming. At first, Lorelei’s plans are coming together. She’s certain that Adeline, a girl who shares her exuberant nature, will be her best friend.

    But Lorelei butts heads with Emily, aka “Hands” given her impatience to be called on. As a student of ballet and future sugary-cereal-advertisement star, Emily has little patience for Lorelei taking the spotlight.

    As a newcomer to public school, Lorelei has to navigate this conflict while learning new schedules, rules, and terms. But she keeps her heart and mind open, even when she doesn’t quite understand all of her new classmates.

    Read More Here

    Find it on Amazon!

    Raven Howell – Keep Trucking

    Illustrated by Carina Povarchik

    Share the joy of the truck community as children awaken their curiosity about how transportation works. Learn where things belong, various modes of truck use, and the concept of distance as playful animals demonstrate cooperation in our cities and countries.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

    Julie Lomax (JuJu) – Melissa Moo Moo’s Special Lesson

    Melissa Moo Moo is a little cow with big brown eyes and a bigger heart. One day when she overhears the other cows gossiping about why she doesn’t have a lot of milk, Moo Moo feels sad. While crying herself to sleep, Moo Moo worries about what the other cows think of her.

    The next morning, Moo Moo hides behind a berry bush and watches the other cows. She thinks that if she is special, then Farmer Jack will love her and the other cows will not talk mean about her. But when Moo Moo eats a few of the berries that have fallen onto the ground, she has no idea that everything is about to change as she learns to love herself and be confident.

    Melissa Moo Moo’s Special Lesson is the charming tale of a little cow who learns the importance of just being herself.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

    Dr. Gerry Haller – Will’s Adventure to Candy Mountain

    Illustrated by YM Cho

     

    Will’s Grandmother has told Will about the Candy Mountain since he was a small child. One night Will is awakened by the Conductor of a train. He is told to hurry to catch the train. “What train?” “The train to the Candy Mountain, of course.” On the train, he meets a boy named Quinn and they decide to go on the adventure together. He can hardly believe he is going to the Candy Mountain. Together there are many decisions they have to make, each more mysterious than the other. What will they find?

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

    Shaziya M. Jaffer, Jessica Alexanderson and Brad W. Rudover – A Recycling Adventure to the Scrapyard!

    Illustrated by Adam Trask

    In this new adventure, Ellie and her friends have already accomplished the incredible feat of recycling 1 million cans. But their quest for a cleaner environment doesn’t end there! Now, they have set their sights on tackling the problem of other metal items being needlessly thrown in the trash.

    Determined to make a difference, they embark on a journey to collect everyone’s wires, Christmas lights, pots and pans, unicorn shoes and other metal items. They then take these treasures to their local scrapyard, turning them into valuable resources through recycling as metal can be recycled forever!

    They also learn about the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals. With the help of Mr. Ferrous Magglio and Gallium the Unicorn, they set off on an unforgettable journey to the scrapyard. Get ready for a thrilling and educational experience!

    We believe that your kids will not only enjoy this book but also discover that they can earn some extra cash for their piggy bank by participating in neighborhood clean-up efforts. It’s a fun and rewarding way to make a positive impact!

    From Chanticleer:

    See our review for Book 1 of this series, The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans, the 2023 Little Peeps Grand Prize Winner, here!

    The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans, by Shaziya M. Jaffer, Brad W. Rudover, & Jessica Alexanderson, is perfectly written for children between three and eight years old.

    Eye-catching colorful graphics by Adam Trask, fun characters, and a wonderfully lighthearted storyline uphold this book’s message of protecting the environment. Both children and adults will feel empowered to help our planet one can at a time.

    An adventurous young girl named Ellie wants to buy a Unicorn. To earn the money she needs, Ellie plans to collect and recycle one million cans. But she soon realizes that her plans may need to take a different track. Together with her community of friends, who show great teamwork and perseverance, environmental lessons continue on with fantastic results.

    Few books do such a fine job of combining so many life lessons while still keeping the learning lighthearted and fun.

    Read More Here

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

    Mike Mirabella and Lenny Lipton – I Used to Be Shy

    Illustrated by Amy O’Hanlon

    Meet Carla, our self-appointed social committee of one, who makes everyone at summer camp feel welcome. Carla spots a shy new boy who hides from others in his cabin, closing his curtain. Carla follows her heart and gathers a small group of fellow campers to coax him out to play games. With Carla’s encouragement, our new camper builds up his self-confidence, loses his fear, and learns to enjoy his new friends.

    About the authors: Mike Mirabella, an established musician and publisher of children’s books—and Lenny Lipton, who wrote the folk song “Puff the Magic Dragon”—sat in their living rooms writing songs as they babysat their disabled daughters. The bonus song “Little Brown Pony” includes the lyrics and music notations as does “I Used to Be Shy.”

    The outstanding illustrations were done by Amy O’Hanlon, an inspired artist in a family of musicians who does stage projection design for several San Francisco musicals, one of which was the Bay Area Children’s Theatre’s She Persisted, based on the book by Chelsea Clinton.

    From Chanticleer:

    In I Used to Be Shy, from the Carla Stories by Mike Mirabella and Lenny Lipton, Carla meets a nervous boy with physical disabilities at Camp Allbelong. Through their friendship, Carla helps him become confident enough to join in the camp games in this compassionate illustrated story about inclusion told through song.

    We begin with Carla’s bright yellow light contrasting with the boy’s deep, lonely blue representation. As their friendship grows, those two colors begin to mix, becoming a vibrant green that paints the heartwarming, pastoral scenes of Camp Allbelong. When the boy joins his peers in the center of these illustrations, his blue color takes on a new tone that reflects the expansive sky in the background.

    Amy O’Hanlon’s delightful illustrations show how one friendship can bloom to become a garden full of many relationships.

    Read More Here

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!


    Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2024 Little Peeps First Place Winners!

    Two little chicks, fresh from their egg

    Your book can join the Tiers of Achievement, but only if you submit to the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards!

     

    The 2025 Little Peeps Book Awards are open through the end of September!

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest
    Submit to the Little Peeps Awards Today!
  • The 2025 Little Peeps Spotlight for Children’s Books

    Books for Kids Make Lifelong Readers!

    Two little chicks, fresh from their egg

    The Little Peeps Awards Nurture Tomorrow’s Bookworms

    The submissions for the 2025 Awards are underway, and Little Peeps closes on September 30, 2025!

    There’s something magical about watching a child discover the joy of reading – the moment when pictures and words combine to transport young minds to new worlds, teach important lessons, or simply bring smiles and wonder to bedtime routines. The Little Peeps Awards celebrate this magic, recognizing the authors and illustrators who understand that creating exceptional children’s literature is both an art and a responsibility.

    The best children’s books plant seeds of imagination, teach valuable lessons without preaching, and create positive associations with reading that can last a lifetime. From board books that introduce babies to the rhythm of language to chapter books that help young readers take their first independent literary steps, these works serve as gateways to a world of lifelong learning and discovery.

    The Art of Writing for Young Hearts and Minds

    Creating outstanding children’s literature requires a unique blend of skills: the ability to see the world through young eyes, the talent to craft stories that captivate short attention spans, and the wisdom to address important themes in age-appropriate ways. The best children’s books achieve something remarkable: they speak to children on their level while offering layers of meaning that adults can appreciate too.

    Whether it’s teaching self-esteem through relatable characters, exploring different cultures and experiences, or simply creating beautiful bedtime stories that soothe and inspire, children’s literature serves crucial developmental purposes. These books help young readers understand emotions, navigate new experiences, and develop the empathy and curiosity that will serve them throughout their lives.

    The Little Peeps Awards recognize that children’s literature encompasses a range of genres, including educational books that make learning fun, interactive experiences that engage multiple senses, and beautifully illustrated works that demonstrate how art and words can work together to create something truly special.

    Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!

    We’re delighted to honor Ruth Amanda, whose enchanting picture book Island Moon claimed the 2024 Little Peeps Grand Prize with a work that perfectly embodies the magic of children’s literature. Set in a Caribbean paradise where “warm night airs fill your heart with magic,” this gorgeously illustrated book captures the sweet sounds and sights of a tropical night—from cooing doves and whistling frogs to fairies dancing on waves of froth.

    We love Island Moon as a perfect bedtime story for little ones or a simply peaceful moment for readers during a busy day. Ruth Amanda’s vibrant illustrations, tinted with Caribbean blues and moonbeam silver, transport readers to an island paradise while her gentle, rhyming text creates the kind of soothing rhythm that makes for perfect bedtime reading. The book demonstrates how the finest children’s literature creates experiences that families can share and treasure together. In addition to ongoing promotional features, Island Moon will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Ruth Amanda will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview.

    See our Review of Island Moon Here

    Categories That Nurture Every Stage of Development

    The Little Peeps Awards welcome children’s books across every format and developmental stage:

    • Chapter Books for Grades K & 1 – Early independent reading books that help young readers take their first literary steps
    • Story Books – Narrative-driven books perfect for reading aloud and sharing family time
    • Picture Books – The beloved format where illustrations and text work together to create magical experiences
    • Self-Esteem – Books that help children build confidence and understand their unique worth
    • Educational Books – Learning-focused works that make education engaging and fun
    • Experiences – Books that prepare children for new situations or introduce them to different cultures and ways of life
    • Holidays/Traditions – Seasonal and cultural celebration books that help children understand special occasions
    • Exploring – Adventure and discovery books that encourage curiosity about the world around us
    • Interactive & Board Books – Hands-on experiences designed for the youngest readers to touch, manipulate, and explore
    • Bedtime Stories – Gentle, soothing tales crafted to create peaceful transitions to sleep

    Each category serves a different developmental purpose while maintaining the core mission of fostering a love of reading and learning.

    Celebrating Record-Breaking Excellence

    Last year’s Little Peeps Awards celebrated nearly 100 exceptional books – a testament to the incredible creativity and dedication of today’s children’s book creators. This record turnout wasn’t just about quantity; the quality of submissions demonstrated that children’s literature continues to evolve and flourish, with authors and illustrators pushing creative boundaries while never losing sight of their young audience’s needs.

    This tremendous response reflects the growing recognition that children’s literature plays a crucial role in early development and education. Publishers, librarians, educators, and families all understand that investing in quality children’s books means investing in the next generation of readers, thinkers, and dreamers.

    Looking at Children’s Literature Excellence

    Check out some of these wonderful children’s books we’ve celebrated recently!

    Lorelei the Lorelei 2 Cover

    Lorelei the Lorelei: The Problem with Science Fairs, Cicadas and Sewers
    By Kristen J. Anderson; Illustrations by Audrey Suau

    Lorelei, the charismatic and outspoken seven-year-old, leaps at the chance to save her school’s science fair from disaster in Lorelei the Lorelei: The Problem with Science Fairs, Cicadas, and Sewers, second book in Kristen J Anderson’s Lorelei the Lorelei series.

    Beyond excited for the science fair, Lorelei prepares a project with a mission. She hopes to change people’s perception about cicadas, which most consider a gross nuisance of a bug. On the day of the science fair, during a trip to the restroom, Lorelei encounters a plumbing catastrophe.

    With the help of her family and friends, Lorelei put a plan in motion to protect the school fair, while learning valuable lessons about sportsmanship, classroom behavior, and empathy. She may be silly and likeable, but some of her quirks can get her into trouble too!

    Even when she gets into trouble, Lorelei is always and unapologetically herself.

    Read More Here

    Littlest Mano at Bedtime

    Littlest Mano at Bedtime
    By Anita Dromey; Illustrations by Taranggana

    In Littlest Mano at Bedtime by Anita Dromey, illustrated by Taranggana, Mano wants to keep grazing and playing in the hills when his mamma calls him to come down to the shore.

    The rest of the goats wait for Mano, who only comes when his mamma asks him to lead the group. But Mano trips in the evening darkness and loses his chance to lead the procession. Once he and all the other goats reach the ocean, he promises not to make them wait so long next time.

    Littlest Mano at Bedtime is a great evening book for children learning to read.

    Dromey writes in a consistent rhyming scheme, making the rhythm easy to grasp and read along with.

    This story teaches the importance of listening and cooperating with others, and does so with a soft hand fitting for very young readers.

    Read More Here

    Valley of the Giant Snakes

    Valley of the Giant Snakes
    By Mac Bell; Illustrations by Andy Vanderbilt

    After crash-landing his jet, young Ace must embark on an epic adventure through the treacherous Valley of Giant Snakes in this fun tale about imagination by Mac Bell and illustrated by Andrew Vanderbilt.

    Valley of the Giant Snakes, the first installment of the Adventure Ace series, takes readers journeying with Ace through a vast and fantastical wilderness.

    Ace encounters a humongous moth gliding overhead, casting an ominous shadow on this unknown world. He weaves his way through a forest of colossal mushrooms as he walks to a mountain in the distance.

    A pair of mysterious eyes glow inside a tunnel, and a giant snake blocks Ace’s path when he backs away. Ace has only his ingenuity to make it past the beast.

    Andy Vanderbilt’s illustrations hearken back to the adventure cartoons of the 70s and 80s, with a fresh look for the modern day.

    Read More Here

    Tail of Twirls, Terrel Lefferts

    A Tail of Twirls: Kittina and the Starlight Ballerina
    By Once Upon A Dance; Illustrations by Stella Maris

    Once Upon a Dance’s captivating children’s picture book A Tail of Twirls: Kittina and the Starlight Ballerina follows an inquisitive cat as she makes a mysterious discovery.

    In Pirouette Pines, small cat Kit peers through the dirty window of an abandoned dance studio. After a desperate initial attempt to enter, Kit spots an opening. The dance photos on the walls fascinate her as soon as she walks in. Curiosity gets the best of her, and she attempts to mimic some of the dance positions.

    Her entire world changes in an instant when a voice—coming from a very unexpected source behind her—asks why she has been there every night. Kit has a cordial conversation with the animated mirror, which concludes with a pledge from the mirror to assist Kit in finding her dance.

    Kit gains proficiency quickly and is keen to learn more. But as she considers what she has learned and what she still wishes to, she is split between gratitude and despair. To complicate her learning further, Kit is taken aback by yet another startling discovery, which is swiftly followed by a directive that will have an impact on Pirouette Pines as a whole.

    Read More Here

    These works demonstrate how the best children’s literature combines entertainment with education, creating experiences that delight young readers while supporting their growth and development.


    See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!

    We’re excited about all the exceptional children’s books we receive every year for both the CIBAs and for our Editorial Reviews. The Chanticleer International Book Awards offers an incredible $30,000 in cash, prizes, and promotion across all divisions!

    The Little Peeps Awards provide recognition for the often-undervalued but incredibly important work of creating literature for our youngest readers. Whether you’re an author crafting your first picture book, an illustrator bringing stories to vivid life, or a publisher committed to quality children’s literature, these awards celebrate the dedication required to nurture young minds and foster lifelong love of reading.

    Plant Seeds of Literary Love

    Creating children’s literature means accepting a beautiful responsibility—the chance to introduce young minds to the joy of reading and the power of imagination. Your book could be a child’s first favorite story, the bedtime book that creates cherished family memories, or the educational adventure that sparks a lifelong interest in learning.

    Two little chicks, fresh from their egg

    Help us nurture tomorrow’s readers—the deadline is September 30, 2025!

    You know you want it…

    Submit to the Little Peeps Awards today and help us celebrate the magic of children’s literature!

  • The 2025 Military and Front Line Hall of Fame for Service for Others

    Honor and Courage: Stories That Matter

    The Military and Front Line Awards celebrate the best Non-Fiction

    Submit by August 31st, 2025!

    The Military and Front Line Awards recognize the extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and dedication of those who serve on the front lines—whether in military combat, medical emergencies, or other critical service roles. These powerful narratives capture the human experience behind the uniform, revealing stories of heroism, resilience, and the profound impact of service on individuals, families, and communities. From military memoirs to frontline healthcare experiences, these works honor those who answer the call to serve others, often at great personal cost.

    Truth and authentic experience matter now more than ever. The Military and Front Line Awards seek exceptional non-fiction that illuminates the realities of service, the bonds forged under pressure, and the lasting effects of dedicating one’s life to protecting and serving others.

    Let’s celebrate the Grand Prize Winners of the Military and Front Line Awards!

    Memoirs from the Frontlines cover by Kim Sloan

    Memoirs From the Frontlines: Four States, Two Years, One Pandemic
    By Kim Sloan, RSN and Travel ICU RN

    From Amazon:

    2020, the year the world shut down. My husband and I had been living our best lives. John had been a nurse since 2001 and I’d also been a nurse since 2008. We’d been traveling the country as Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/Emergency Room (ER) travel Registered Nurses (RNs) since 2017. We arrived in Southern Georgia for our ninth assignment in the fall of 2019. We had no idea what we had signed up for when we accepted this extension for our placement there—that this small town was about to become a major epicenter for COVID—that we would see more death in those few months than in all our prior years of nursing combined. We had no idea that the world was about to completely shut down because of a virus, or that we were about to become front-line heroes!

    We also worked in Tennessee, Washington state, and Las Vegas, Nevada during those years, losing patients to the Coronavirus in all three states. COVID never changed no matter what state we were working in.

    While writing this memoir has been very therapeutic, my true intentions are to provide a look at my experience so others can begin their own healing process. I also want others to understand by reading this memoir that it’s ok to make mistakes, and it’s ok to apologize for those mistakes. But most of all, even throughout a pandemic and even through a mental breakdown, it’s ok to lose your “voice,” but it’s not ok to give up finding that voice once again. Dark times are ok for a short time; however, to live in the dark is not living. You need to find your light and adjust to the world that surrounds you, COVID and all!

    Order the book here!

     

     

    Chasing the Daylight Cover

    Chasing The Daylight: One Woman’s Journey to Becoming a US Army Intelligence Officer
    By Joanna Rakowski

    Chasing The Daylight by Joanna Rakowski is a revealing memoir that captures the rigor, intensity, and ferocity of military training in a salient style.

    Ever wondered what it takes to become a soldier in one of the most powerful armies in the world?

    Joanna Rakowski was born in Poland and grew up practicing dance from a young age, eventually becoming a professional classical ballet dancer and teacher. Upon her migration to the US in 1995 and the painful fallout with her friend and mentor, Chris, Joanna knew she needed to make a drastic change in her life. Her great awakening came when she decided to transform from a fragile and sensitive ballerina into a steadfast U.S. Army soldier, a goal that many close to her doubted she could accomplish.

    With arresting insights, the text builds from Rakowski’s striking introduction as it describes her first day of enlistment, which was filled with uncertainties.

    Read More Here

    Lost in Beirut Cover

    Lost in Beirut: A True Story of Love, Loss and War
    By Ashe and Magdalena Stevens

    Seeking to “fill his vessel with the truth,” young Ashe Stevens joins his friends on a thrilling adventure beyond the safety of his comfortable American life to chase stardom in Beirut, Lebanon.

    Leaving behind a raucous life of plenty in Hollywood – complete with hot dates, popularity, and financial success – to the unknown of the Middle East teaches Ashe to prioritize his values and beliefs. But nothing could prepare him for what’s coming next.

    Journey with Ashe and his friends as they bring the rapper 50 Cent to Beirut, the “Paris of the Middle East.” Along the way, Ashe dates not one, but two drop-dead gorgeous billionaires and falls head over heels for a blonde beauty to whom he promises to devote his life. But just as business is booming and true love reaches the height of bliss, the Israeli military bombs their beautiful city, “weaving a tapestry of death all over the night sky.” The team barely makes it out with their lives in a harrowing escape, leaving their love and livelihoods behind.

    Read More Here

     

    Dear Bob Cover

    Dear Bob: Bob Hope’s Wartime Correspondence with the G.I.s of World War 2
    By Martha Bolton with Linda Hope

    During World War II, Bob Hope traveled almost ceaselessly to outposts large and small, entertaining US troops – and inspiring them; Martha Bolton brings the extent of this work to light in Dear Bob.

    Writer Martha Bolton worked with and for comedian Bob Hope. Now, with Hope’s daughter Linda, she has gathered and organized the letters written to Bob by the soldiers he helped.

    Hope, English born, and born to entertain, once said he could not retire and go fishing because “Fish don’t applaud.” Among his sizzling lines – and there are hundreds recorded here – he told one audience that he’d gotten a wonderful welcome when he arrived at their camp: “I received a 10-gun salute… They told me on the operating table.”

    His performances could have been forgotten were it not for the letters from soldiers of every stripe, and those soldiers’ families – who did not forget him.

    Read More Here


    Thank you for celebrating our Military and Front Line Hall of Fame Winners with us!

    Now that you’re set on your next reads, what are you waiting for? The only way to join this amazing list of Military and Front Line 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!

     

    Be Part of the Legacy: Join the Illustrious Roster of Winners

    As the deadline for the 2025 Military and Front Line Awards arrives, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the exceptional achievers.

    Seeking avenues for your non-fiction prowess? Explore all our Non-Fiction Divisions that provide platforms for various genres and styles.

    With over $30,000 in rewards and prizes given away every year, what are you waiting for? Submit today!

  • The 2024 Military and Front Line First Place Roundup for Service to Others

    The Military and Front Line Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Narrative Non-Fiction and Memoirs exploring the lives of those who serve their country and others. The Grand Prize Winner, Kim Sloan’s book, Memoirs from the Frontlines: Four States, Two Years, One Pandemic, will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Military and Front line contest page year ’round!

    The best part about being a Chanticleer Int’l Book Award Winner is the love and attention you get all year ‘round!

    The 2024 Military and Front Line Winners were announced at the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference in April, and you can see the official winners post here!

    Join us in celebrating the 2024 First Place Military and Front Line Winners!

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Roderick S. Haynes – Unauthorized Disclosures: A Navy Memoir of the 1980’s

    military, navy, man

    Rod Haynes’s memoir Unauthorized Disclosures: A Navy Memoir of the 1980s portrays military life without filter, transcending glamorous and heroic images to explore the daily struggles, leadership challenges, emotional battles, and personal growth during his decade of military service.

    We first meet Rod as a young man trying to navigate a directionless civilian life. The burdens of unemployment, fractured family relationships, and an identity crisis lead him to a chance encounter in Seattle with ‘Space Case’, an eccentric, troubled, yet honest character. The relationship offers a glimpse at rock bottom—which Rod fears most.

    Rod decides to join the Navy because he needs employment.

    We follow Rod to Officer Candidate School (OCS), a mentally and physically grueling journey toward adapting to a new leadership role. He tells of the essence of leadership taught in the school, which emerges not through the wearing of a uniform, but through sacrifice, battling doubt, and a drive to look out for others. Marching in sleeting rain, performing relentless drills, and encounters with hard-nosed instructors, Rod ultimately survives the intense pressure of military training with the assistance of a fellow Officer Candidate, a prior enlisted sailor willing to show Rod survival techniques in a high stress military training environment.

    Read More Here!

     David Huntley – The B-17 Tomahawk Warrior: A WWII Final Honor

     

    The Tomahawk Warriors, a crew of nine who perished in a 1944 B-17 Flying Fortress crash in England, was a mystery of WWII until explained in this book. It would have lain in partial obscurity if it were not for the author’s initial involuntary involvement. As a child, he witnessed what would become a dogged determination in his lifetime later to tell this story. As the faint light of dawn was breaking the morning of August 12, 1944, a crippled American B-17 bomber flew perilously close over the roof of the author’s house in Southern England. Around 30 seconds later, it crashed and exploded. In 2016, the author, David E. Huntley, after almost a lifetime, came across the story of the crew known as the ‘Tomahawk Warriors’ and recognized it as the accident he had witnessed as a child.

    He started his own research and began asking himself many questions about the disaster. How did this plane crash and why, particularly in that location? For what reason was the plane misnamed ‘The Tomahawk Warrior’ through all those years? What strange circumstance led the author to come into possession of the navigator’s diary that no one knew even existed? Why did one airman not take his place on board that day and become a part of the ‘missing airman’ legend?

    Despite the coincidence that the plane of the ‘Tomahawk Warriors’ and the plane of Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. crashed on the same day; Huntley revealed a further significant link between them. This incident adds a further little-known aspect about the Kennedy’s in American history.

    Based on Declassified Secret Operational Records, analysis of other official and unofficial records, the author’s personal observations on the day of the accident, and his pursuit of other facts, those mysteries became fully resolved. This story provides a distinct understanding of the immense courage those young 20 to 26-year-old American airmen displayed. Mission after mission, they climbed aboard their craft and carried out their respective duties at 28,000 ft in sub-zero temperatures, hoping their electric-heated protective clothing would not short out during the 9 to 10-hour flight. They prayed that flak and enemy fighters would give them that 70 percent chance of getting back home.

    The book offers vivid descriptions of those who got shot down, bailed out, and died or got captured to spend the rest of the war as POWs. The narrative places its emphasis on the lives of the heroes who served in WWII and their loved ones who have grown up in their shadows. He obtained a posthumous honor to the deceased crew, as well as a Permanent Commemorative Marker, and brought relief and closure to the descendants’ relatives. This is not a post-mortem of wartime machinery, but a window into the lives of some heroes who sacrificed themselves for a cause, as well as a personal insight into the familial relationships with their loved ones at home.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

    Patrick Hogan – Coincidence, You Say? 

    Coincidence, you say, is a book about the folks we call soldiers and police officers. The people who choose to stand guard over us by day and by night. In good weather and bad. The guardians who stand in the lurch between peace and chaos—good and evil.

    It’s a tale of youthful rebellion, love, courage, resilience, and resolve not to give up despite seemingly insurmountable challenges.

    The work is much more than an autobiography. It is an exploration of the various conditions the author faced throughout his life. From his earliest childhood memories right up through his retirement years.

    When he was eighteen, the Vietnam War was just ramping up, so instead of waiting to be drafted, he decided to join the Army. As providence would have it, he ended up in Vietnam for three years.

    After returning from Vietnam in ’69, he started having minor health difficulties, which he shrugged off. Then, in 1975, thanks to a twist of fate that changed New Jersey State law, he was appointed as a police officer for a small municipality. It is this occupational skill set and his investigative and analytical abilities that bring a truly high influence on his books.

    As you read through the volumes of information, you will be absolutely stunned at what the US government had willingly dumped on Vietnam and its own troops. You will be amazed at what being a police officer really demands.

    Some of the coincidental events he experienced seemed to challenge all human logic and have no rational explanation by our natural laws and standards. However, they did have meaning to him, and they profoundly changed the course of his life more than once.

    ​​​​​​​It was difficult for him to put into words the emotions and energy he sensed firsthand after experiencing many strange life events. For him, they came with a deeper feeling of mysterious actions, along with a feeling of profound wonder and surprise. He couldn’t help but wonder if there was some deeper meaning behind all the twists and unexpected turns of my life.

    Find it on Amazon!

    Shari Biery – It’s Your Turn: How to Rediscover Yourself and Thrive With Purpose

    Also a 2024 Mind and Spirit First Place Winner!

    Are you feeling buried under the demands of supporting your spouse, family, and the chaos of daily life while your own needs fall to the bottom of the list?

    As a midlife woman, it’s easy to always put others first, leaving little time or energy for yourself. But now, It’s YOUR Turn to break free from the overwhelm and reclaim your life.

    In It’s Your Turn, Shari Biery—a National Board Certified Purpose and Well-Being Coach and former military spouse—shares her personal journey from self-neglect to self-empowerment.

    The moment she received the American Flag at her husband’s retirement ceremony marked not just the end of his career but the start of her own new chapter. After years of putting everyone else first, Shari made a powerful shift, and now she’s here to guide you in doing the same.

    Through relatable stories and actionable steps, Shari shows how common it is for midlife women, especially those supporting a spouse and family, to feel overwhelmed and disconnected—and how to overcome these challenges.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

    Max Lauker with Antonio Garcia – Number 788: My Experiences in Swedish Special Operations- Preparing for NATO and the War on Terror

     How a reluctant soldier and ranger, excelling in reconnaissance, intelligence, and covert operations, details his journey post-Cold War training to the War on Terror.

    I am a soldier and a ranger – a specialist in reconnaissance, intelligence, and covert operations. I never wanted to be a soldier, but I found that I excelled at it. I have fired my weapons in anger, infiltrated terrorist groups, and made and burnt sources. Number 788 is my story.

    Being good at doing bad things is not always a blessing. You can’t be the judge, only the executioner. The concept of ‘for the greater good’ always has a flip side. You are moving and living in the shadows. The ones in control grant you the ultimate power of life, but a life lived in the shadows is never your own.

    My development was slow and meticulous; it was improvised and innovative. Now, I write about what it was like to be pushed past the brink of what I thought was humanly possible. I aim to share my flawed path, lessons learned, relationships forged, revelations of self and the workings of others, with the very small hope of inspiring a few new generation warriors.

    I was trained at a unique time, as I joined the forces after the Cold War but just before the attacks of 9-11. During my formation, the lack of controls and regulation came with tremendous risks but also significant opportunities – I seized them. I am the product of brave officers who took action with great personal risk to save a regiment without permission and by asking for forgiveness later. Officers who believed in the saying, ‘Who Dares Wins’. I share my small place as a silent mediator between the light and shadows in the long and flawed history of Western and Nordic fighters.

    The end of the Cold War and subsequent peacekeeping missions caught the Swedish military flatfooted when the War on Terror came around. The need for special operations forces was in high demand, but for the most part, Sweden lacked this niche capability. While still in its conceptual form, the International Ranger Platoon, an elite force that became a Special Purpose Unit within the Ranger Battalion, was used to fill the gap. Newly recruited, I was drawn to the challenge and adventure of it all; I took on the tough selection course – the reward was to be part of something new – the Special Purpose Units.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

    Bibi LeBlanc – Wings of Freedom – The Story of The Berlin Airlift

    Explore the epic story of the Berlin Airlift in Wings of Freedom. This vividly illustrated book takes you on a gripping journey through one of history’s most daring operations-a humanitarian and logistical effort that defied all odds. From iconic aircraft to courageous pilots, this book pays tribute to the remarkable people who orchestrated this historic feat.

    The story of the city of Berlin, its citizens, and the Western Allies – and the unyielding courage they displayed – resonates through time, illuminating how unity can overcome even the darkest hours of history.

    Join us in paying tribute to unwavering heroes who transformed adversity into triumph. Immerse yourself in the spirit of unity and determination that saved Berlin and changed the course of history.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!


    Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2024 Military and Front Line First Place Winners!

    Your book can join the Tiers of Achievement, but only if you enter to the Military and Front Line Awards!

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

    Got a great Non-Fiction Book? The 2025 Military and Front Line Book Awards are open through the end of August!

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest
    Submit to the Military and Front Line Awards Today!
  • The 2025 Military & Front Line Spotlight for Narrative Non-Fiction Service to Others

    Honoring Those Who Answer the Call

    Military & Front Line Awards Celebrate Stories of Service and Sacrifice

    The submissions for the 2025 Awards are underway, and Military & Front Line closes on August 31, 2025!

    Some people run toward danger when others run away. They stand at the ready when crisis strikes, put others’ needs before their own safety, and carry the weight of protecting communities, nations, and strangers who will never know their names. The Military & Front Line Awards honor these everyday heroes and the authors brave enough to share their stories of service, sacrifice, and the profound impact of answering the call to serve.

    Whether it’s military personnel defending freedom on foreign shores, healthcare workers battling a global pandemic, first responders racing toward emergencies, or service organization volunteers working in the world’s most challenging places, these stories matter. They preserve the experiences of those who serve, honor their sacrifices, and help civilians understand the true cost and meaning of service to others.

    The Sacred Trust of Service Stories

    Sharing stories of military and front-line service requires a special kind of courage, not just the bravery demonstrated in the field, but the vulnerability needed to transform difficult experiences into meaningful narrative. These authors understand that their stories serve a dual purpose: honoring those who served alongside them and helping others understand the realities of service life.

    The best military and front-line memoirs preserve the dignity of service while honestly exploring both the pride and the pain that comes with putting others first. They bridge the gap between those who serve and those who benefit from that service, creating understanding, respect, and sometimes healing for all involved.

    These stories also serve families and support systems, showing that service extends far beyond the individual, they encompass spouses, children, parents, and communities who support and sacrifice alongside their loved ones in uniform or on the front lines.

    Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!

    Memoirs from the Frontlines cover by Kim Sloan

    We’re honored to recognize Kim Sloan, whose powerful memoir Memoirs from the Frontlines: Four States, Two Years, One Pandemic claimed the 2024 Military & Front Line Grand Prize with a story that captures the extraordinary service of healthcare workers during humanity’s greatest recent crisis. As traveling ICU/ER nurses, Kim and her husband John found themselves on the COVID front lines across four states, witnessing unprecedented loss while serving as literal lifelines for their communities.

    Sloan’s memoir honestly chronicles the journey from their “best life” as traveling nurses to becoming reluctant heroes in a global pandemic. Her story spans Georgia, Tennessee, Washington, and Nevada and shows how “COVID never changed no matter what state we were working in”—while exploring both the professional calling and personal cost of front-line service. Most importantly, her memoir serves others by demonstrating that healing is possible, that it’s okay to struggle, and that finding your voice again after trauma is part of the service journey.

    In addition to ongoing promotional features, Memoirs from the Frontlines will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Kim Sloan will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview, and Memoirs from the Frontlines will receive a Chanticleer Editorial Review.

    Categories That Honor Every Form of Service

    The Military & Front Line Awards recognize the full spectrum of service to others:

    • Military and Armed Forces Service – Stories from those who serve in uniform, defending freedom and protecting others
    • Medical Service – Focused on nurses, doctors, healthcare workers, and other essential medical personnel
    • Community Service Workers and First Responders – Firefighters, police, SWAT teams, and emergency responders who run toward danger
    • Service Organizations – Stories from CARE, Peace Corps, Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, and similar humanitarian groups
    • Agency Workers – Those serving in child protection, social services, and other community-support agencies
    • Families and Support Systems – The stories of those who support front-line workers and military personnel
    • Service Life – The broader experience of choosing a life dedicated to serving others

    Each category represents not just different forms of service, but different perspectives on what it means to put others first.

    Other August Non-Fiction Opportunities

    The Military & Front Line Awards are part of Chanticleer’s comprehensive celebration of narrative non-fiction, all closing at the end of August:

    • Journey Awards: Courageous stories of overcoming adversity and transforming trauma into purpose
    • Hearten Awards: Uplifting non-fiction that inspires hope and positive transformation
    • Nellie Bly Awards: Investigative journalism and exposé works that uncover important truths

    September non-fiction divisions include Instruction and Insight (I&I), Harvey Chute, and Mind & Spirit Awards.

    Looking at Stories of Service

    Check out some of these powerful service narratives we’ve celebrated recently!

    Unauthorized Disclosures cover

    Unauthorized Disclosures
    By Rod Haynes

    A Military and Front Line First Place Winner!

    Rod Haynes’s memoir Unauthorized Disclosures: A Navy Memoir of the 1980s portrays military life without filter, transcending glamorous and heroic images to explore the daily struggles, leadership challenges, emotional battles, and personal growth during his decade of military service.

    We first meet Rod as a young man trying to navigate a directionless civilian life. The burdens of unemployment, fractured family relationships, and an identity crisis lead him to a chance encounter in Seattle with ‘Space Case’, an eccentric, troubled, yet honest character. The relationship offers a glimpse at rock bottom—which Rod fears most.

    Rod decides to join the Navy because he needs employment.

    We follow Rod to Officer Candidate School (OCS), a mentally and physically grueling journey toward adapting to a new leadership role. He tells of the essence of leadership taught in the school, which emerges not through the wearing of a uniform, but through sacrifice, battling doubt, and a drive to look out for others. Marching in sleeting rain, performing relentless drills, and encounters with hard-nosed instructors, Rod ultimately survives the intense pressure of military training with the assistance of a fellow Officer Candidate, a prior enlisted sailor willing to show Rod survival techniques in a high stress military training environment.

    Read More Here

    Combat Missions
    By Burl Harmon

    A Military and Front Line First Place Winner!

    Sometimes, a close and personal story can reveal the true weight of major historical events. Combat Missions, a memoir from WWII veteran Burl D. Harmon, achieves this by detailing how Europe’s vicious aerial battles shape a young boy’s entry to manhood.

     On December 7, 1941, Harmon is summoned to his high school’s auditorium to hear President Roosevelt proclaim it as, “a day which will live in infamy…” Soon after, his draft notice arrives. Harmon’s junior college studies and work at the local Rexall drug store are put on hold as he joins the vast flood of young American men and women conscripted into military service. Leaving his small Iowa town and a family mostly sheltered from the grim realities of the outside world, he travels to New York City with people from every imaginable background.

     With no prior mechanical experience, he works diligently to become a flight engineer, training to master a lexicon of manual tasks and learn the intricacies of air-to-air combat amidst bombing runs. His training takes him even farther from home, to Detroit, Lorado, Texas, Puerto Rico, and even Cuba.

    Read More Here

    Chasing the Daylight Cover

    Chasing The Daylight
    By Joanna Rakowski

    The 2023 Military and Frontline Grand Prize Winner!

    Chasing The Daylight by Joanna Rakowski is a revealing memoir that captures the rigor, intensity, and ferocity of military training in a salient style.

    Ever wondered what it takes to become a soldier in one of the most powerful armies in the world?

    Joanna Rakowski was born in Poland and grew up practicing dance from a young age, eventually becoming a professional classical ballet dancer and teacher. Upon her migration to the US in 1995 and the painful fallout with her friend and mentor, Chris, Joanna knew she needed to make a drastic change in her life. Her great awakening came when she decided to transform from a fragile and sensitive ballerina into a steadfast U.S. Army soldier, a goal that many close to her doubted she could accomplish.

    With arresting insights, the text builds from Rakowski’s striking introduction as it describes her first day of enlistment, which was filled with uncertainties.

    Read More Here

    Chop That Sh*t Up!
    By CSM Daniel L. Pinion

    A Military and Front Line First Place Winner!

    In Chop That Sh*t Up: Leadership and Life Lessons Learned While in the Military, Daniel L. Pinion reminisces about his experiences in the US Army, both good and bad, before he retired as a Command Sergeant Major.

    Some of the stories and lessons he offers are heartbreaking, some are horrifying, and some are insightful. As it turns out, some are even heartwarming.

    The author explains his origins: a quiet and uneventful childhood that did not give him much idea of what he should do with his life. Some counseling and a few incidents led Pinion, after high school, to the National Guard and eventually the US Army, where he found his life’s calling.

    He learned life lessons through a series of supervisors (noncommissioned officers for the most part) and fellow soldiers, from whom he discovered what to do and when (and predictably, what not to do and when). As Pinion comments, occasionally, one of his supervisors “was tough but fair, and I modeled a lot of my leadership style on what I learned from him.” But occasionally the soldier “rocked the boat and got in trouble.” Despite this, the author tells us, he would “still smile every time” he remembers those events.

    Read More Here

    The Doctor’s Voice
    By Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli

    A Harvey Chute First Place Winner!

    Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli speaks out on serious professional issues faced by modern healthcare workers, in The Doctor’s Voice.

    Doctors deal with overwhelming stress, leading to burnout, illness, many of them leaving the profession, and even a higher-than-average rate of suicide. The Covid19 pandemic both heightened and helped illuminate some of the causes of this stress, prompting author Garbelli to write this book as a set of advice for his colleagues and as advocacy for broader changes in hospitals and other healthcare systems.

    Garbelli highlights a common disconnect in communication—administrators and higher-ups telling doctors what to do while those doctors don’t have much opportunity to bring up the problems they encounter day-to-day.

    Read More Here

    These works demonstrate how stories of service honor both those who serve and those who support them, creating bridges of understanding and respect.


    See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!

    We’re deeply honored to receive the service stories that authors trust us with each year. The Chanticleer International Book Awards offers an incredible $30,000 in cash, prizes, and promotion across all divisions!

    The Military & Front Line Awards provide recognition for stories that might otherwise remain untold—preserving experiences that deserve to be remembered, honored, and understood. Whether you’re sharing your own service journey or honoring the service of others, these awards celebrate the courage required both to serve and to share these vital stories.

    Your Service Story Matters

    To every veteran, active service member, healthcare worker, first responder, and family member who has lived the reality of service: your story matters. Your experiences deserve to be preserved, your sacrifices deserve recognition, and your perspective can help others understand the true meaning of service to community and country.

    Honor your service and the service of othersthe deadline is August 31, 2025!

    You know you want it…

    Submit to the Military & Front Line Awards today and help us preserve the stories of those who answer the call!

  • One week left to enter 3 Mystery Divisions and more!

    One week left to enter 3 Mystery Divisions and more!

    Three excellent divisions close at the end of July! Don’t let your book miss out!

    Only 1 week left to submit your books to these prestigious CIBA Divisions and embark on an extraordinary journey to success. With over $30,000 in prizes awarded annually, now is the time to make your mark!

    The Clue Awards, The Global Thriller Awards, and the Mystery and Mayhem Awards are still open!

    Best Book Grand Prize for the Chanticleer Int'l Book AwardsCongratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Clue Award for Suspense/Thrillers!

    Thriller Suspense Fiction Award

    • Pamela Beason – If Only
    • Jeff Nania – Musky Run
    • Sean Hagerty – Jones Point
    • Kathryn Caraway – Unfollow Me
    • Carl Vonderau – Saving Myles
    • Shanessa Gluhm – A River of Crows
    • Michael Pronko – Shitamachi Scam

    And a huge round of applause for the 2024 Clue Grand Prize Winner:

    Enemies Domestic by John DeDakis

    Enemies Domestic Cover by John DeDakis

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Congratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Global Thriller Awards!

    Global Thriller

    • T.O. Paine – The Delusion
    • Charlie Robinson – Heavy Hysteria: A Novel of Corporate Intrigue Involving the Minerals of this Sacred Earth
    • Tony Ollivier – The Tokyo Diversion
    • Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke – Change of Mission: A Jake Fortina Series Novel
    • Ron Singerton – Ruptured
    • Sheri T. Joseph – Edge of the Known World
    • Carla Seyler – A Place Unmade
    • Randall Krzak – Frozen Conquest

    And a huge round of applause for the 2024 Global Thriller Awards Grand Prize Winner:

    A Blanket of Steel by Timothy S. Johnston

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Mystery & Mayhem Awards!

    Cozy Mystery Fiction Award

    • Patrick E. Craig – The Boy In Blue Denim
    • Lori Roberts Herbst – Graven Images
    • Gail Noble-Sanderson – A Cup of Revenge – A Drew Davies Railway Mystery – Book 2
    • M. K. Graff – Death in the Orchard: A Trudy Genova Mystery
    • Miriam Verbeek – The Forest
    • Kari Bovee – The Pryce of Conceit

    And a huge round of applause for the 2024 M&M Grand Prize Winner:

    If Two Are Dead by Jeanne Matthews

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    At Chanticleer, we see your success as our success. The CIBAs provide dedicated promotion at every advancement tier, from our highly anticipated Long Lists to our prestigious Grand Prize Winners. We work tirelessly to maximize your digital footprint through our high-traffic website, social media campaigns, and newsletter features that energize both authors and readers.

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs (Chanticleer Int'l Book Awards)

    We are always eager to support the Best Books through the CIBAs. Join the ranks of celebrated authors who have already taken this critical step in their publishing.

    Your book deserves to be discovered, celebrated, and shared with the world. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your talent and gain valuable exposure at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (April, 2026) where Winners from all 28 Book Award Divisions will be announced and honored.

    Readers are always searching for their next great thriller, and your story deserves to be heard. Submit now and leave a lasting impression.

    Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

      The Global Thriller Awards, Clue Awards, and M&M Awards await! 

    Below are all the divisions scheduled to close at the end of July. We accept both manuscripts and published work!

    Your book deserves to be discovered