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 Series Awards, The SEA Shorts Awards, and the Collections and Anthologies Awards are still open!
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Series Award for Fiction and Non-Fiction!
And a huge round of applause for the 2024 Series Grand Prize Winner:
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. Enter 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.
In a world hungry for good books, your story deserves to be heard. Submit now and leave a lasting impression.
In a world that often feels overwhelming, there’s profound power in stories that remind us of human goodness, resilience, and the possibility of transformation. The Hearten Awards—a wonderful offshoot of our Journey Awards—celebrate the uplifting and inspiring non-fiction narratives that restore faith, spark hope, and illuminate the bright threads woven through even the most challenging experiences.
While our Journey Awards honor the courage to transform pain into purpose, the Hearten Awards recognize stories that already shine with light—memoirs of healing, guides to personal growth, family chronicles that celebrate love, and adventures that remind us why life is worth living fully. These are the books that leave readers feeling more hopeful about the world and their place in it.
The Healing Power of Hopeful Stories
Inspirational non-fiction serves a vital role in our literary landscape, offering readers not just entertainment but genuine nourishment for the spirit. These stories matter because they show us what’s possible when we choose hope over despair, connection over isolation, and growth over stagnation.
Whether it’s a memoir of someone finding love later in life, a humorous look at family dynamics that celebrates rather than criticizes, or practical wisdom delivered with warmth and encouragement, Hearten Award submissions share a common thread: they make the world feel a little brighter. In times when positive news feels rare, these stories become beacons of possibility.
The best uplifting non-fiction doesn’t ignore life’s challenges—it shows how those challenges can become catalysts for joy, connection, and personal transformation. These authors understand that hope is not naive optimism, but rather the hard-won wisdom that comes from choosing to see possibility even in difficult circumstances.
Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!
We’re delighted to honor Lynne Spriggs O’Connor, whose beautiful memoir Elk Love: A Montana Memoir claimed the 2024 Hearten Grand Prize with a story that perfectly embodies the transformative power of following your heart toward healing. At forty-two, Lynne left her East Coast life behind to pursue her dream of deeper connection with nature in Montana’s Big Sky Country, finding unexpected love with Harrison, a rancher thirteen years her senior.
Elk Love chronicles how loneliness can give way to wonder when we’re brave enough to listen—to nature, to others, and to our own hearts. With her dog Willow as companion, Lynne discovers “a wild language that moves beyond words” in the seasonal rhythms of ranch life. In addition to ongoing promotional features, Elk Love will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Lynne Spriggs O’Connor will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview, and Elk Love will receive a coveted Chanticleer Editorial Review.
Categories That Celebrate Every Path to Inspiration
The Hearten Awards welcome uplifting stories across a diverse range of approaches and themes:
Humorous – Stories that find joy and laughter in life’s absurdities, proving that humor can be profoundly healing
Motivational – Narratives that inspire readers to pursue their dreams, overcome obstacles, and believe in their potential
Advice/Inspiration – Wisdom-filled works that offer practical guidance delivered with warmth and encouragement
Family and Chosen Family – Celebrations of the relationships that sustain us, whether biological or built through choice and love
Self-Discovery/Coming-of-Age – Journeys of personal growth that inspire readers to embrace their own transformation
Each category represents a different pathway to inspiration, united by the belief that our stories have the power to encourage, heal, and uplift others.
Other August Non-Fiction Opportunities
The Hearten 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
Nellie Bly Awards – Investigative journalism and exposé works that uncover important truths
Check out some of these uplifting works we’ve celebrated recently that showcase the power of hopeful storytelling!
A Path to Excellence
By Tony Jeton Selimi
A Hearten First Place Winner!
On the belief that life isn’t just the random cards one is dealt,A Path to Excellenceby Tony Jeton Selimi offers a blueprint—the octagon of excellence—to succeed personally, professionally, and spiritually.
Transcending the pitfalls and spontaneous stumbling blocks along the path of life can open the door to self-actualization and progression. As someone who experienced bullying, sexual abuse, early disability, and homelessness, Selimi sets on to become a beacon of light to the hopeless and marginalized.
Within each soul lies a bud of genius waiting to blossom. This book focuses on purpose, vision, and persistence to clear the way to that fullest potential. Affirming challenges as immutable truths of life, Selimi employs Buddhist teaching and personal anecdotes to encourage a head-on confrontation with one’s struggles and promotes a feeling of gratitude. As a blend of philosophical wisdom and practical experience, the initial chapters help readers acknowledge their current life situation, perceiving challenges as epochs of potential.
Debut author Nove Meyers breathes life into the big tent of human aspirations and desperations, from his birth into a raucous circus atmosphere to his diligent study for Catholic priesthood.
Running Away from the Circus is avibrant chronicle that opens with a vignette of his grandmother, clad in sequins and flying on a trapeze. She spun like a top to enthusiastic applause under the circus tent, until the fateful day when she included her young child in the act, dropping her thirty feet to the sawdust-covered floor below. But this did not prevent Nove Meyers from being born and having a story to tell.
The boyhood described was as wild as the circus acts. He was encouraged to smoke cigarettes like his father and watched in astonishment as his mother burned up paper money, possibly to protect his uncle, a counterfeiter. Yet despite his unusual upbringing as one of the family’s third generation of circus owners, Meyers was taken regularly to Catholic church services. There, he discovered God, an entity as mysterious as the traveling circus and carnie crowds he was raised among.
Cheryl Landes’sThe Best I Can Do: A True Story of Navigating the Complexities of Mental Illness and Homelessness, follows the devastation of a happy marriage as mental illness slowly takes over the mind of her husband. Landes must then make the journey back to peace.
Cheryl and her husband, Tom, had known each other since their college days. A classic love story, Landes does a beautiful job with the set up, and then delivers the tragedy of Tom’s spiral into paranoia as their plans for the future begin to fall apart.
The Best I Can Dotells the story of what happens when Tom insists someone is trailing him, believing a car passes by his and Cheryl’s home every day even though no one else sees it. He claims someone installed listening devices in their house and refuses to speak unless his white-noise devices are on. As his paranoia increases he locks the refrigerator with a chain and a padlock to protect himself from the certainty someone—perhaps Cheryl—wants to poison him.
A Hearten First Place Winner and Cover Design Grand Prize Winner!
How does place shape who we are—and who we’ll become? In this memoir,Teaching in the Dark, Genét Simone puts that question to the test by recounting her first year as a teacher.
The initial year of teaching is never an easy feat, but for Simone it was especially challenging, and transformative. She spent it with Native students in the remote island village of Shishmaref, on the Arctic edge of Alaska—no small wonder the school year became an unforgettable one.
Today, Simone has decades of teaching experience to draw upon. Yet, in this memoir she rarely employs her present voice to reflect on the past. Instead, the narrator remains in the moment: a young and inexperienced Simone, who only knows that she feels destined to be a teacher. When she signs up for the Shishmaref teaching job, she doesn’t even realize that it’s on an island.
Equipped with snow boots and passion, she arrives on the island only to realize just how unprepared she is.
Theresa Mathews’ memoir,Fishing with Hyenas, is filled with adventure, love, and the spirit of an explorer, all on the high seas. In the audio version, the author herself tells this gripping story of love and death, grief and recovery.
Mathews begins the book in a place most difficult for her. She takes us through her emotional devastation at the news of her husband’s death. We see all the stages of her grief from the initial call: denial, disbelief, bargaining, and finally acceptance. Readers will be hooked in the first chapter.
She then deftly fills in the gaps with the backstory of how she met her husband Bart, their first date, their decision to commit to one another,and her first time she went for a ride on his Harley. These are often hilarious recaps of her anger and frustration, and her examination of what this relationship with a man who loved the sea would mean for her city-girl life.
Mathews alternates between the present and past with perfect pacing, giving readers a balance between the immersion in and relief from the intense emotion of her husband’s unexpected death.
These stories demonstrate how the best inspirational non-fiction creates genuine connection between author and reader, offering both comfort and motivation for life’s journey.
See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!
We’re honored to receive the hopeful 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 Hearten Awards provide recognition for the often-undervalued but deeply important work of creating hope through storytelling. Whether you’re sharing your own journey of transformation, offering wisdom gained through experience, or simply celebrating the beauty you’ve found in life, these awards honor the courage it takes to choose optimism and share light with the world.
Your Story of Hope Matters
In a time when the world needs more hope, your uplifting story could be exactly what someone needs to hear. Whether it’s a memoir of healing, a humorous look at family life, or practical wisdom delivered with warmth, your positive narrative has the power to encourage, inspire, and heal.
Some stories demand to be told, not because they’re easy to share, but because silence serves no one. The Journey Awards, Chanticleer’s oldest non-fiction division, honor the extraordinary courage it takes to transform personal trauma into powerful narrative, giving voice to experiences that too often remain hidden in shadows.
These are the memoirs that refuse to let suffering be meaningless, the true stories that illuminate paths forward for others walking similar roads, and the brave testimonies that demand society confront uncomfortable truths. When authors choose to share their most difficult journeys, they create lifelines for readers who need to know they’re not alone.
The Power of Survival Stories
Every Journey Award submission represents an act of tremendous courage. To transform trauma into narrative requires not just writing skill, but the strength to revisit painful experiences, the wisdom to find meaning in suffering, and the generosity to share hard-won insights with the world.
These stories matter because they break silence around experiences that too often remain hidden. They provide validation for survivors, education for supporters, and hope for those still struggling. When authors transform their most difficult experiences into compelling narrative, they perform a profound service—proving that healing is possible and that survival can become a form of advocacy.
Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!
We’re honored to recognize Kathryn Caraway, whose brave memoir Unfollow Me claimed the 2024 Journey Grand Prize by shining necessary light on the devastating crime of stalking. Writing under a pseudonym to protect her identity, Caraway documented three years of terror as she fought for survival against a stalker whose escalating crimes systematically destroyed her sense of safety. As she writes, “Each day is a fight to stay alive. Even while sleeping, you must be ready.”
Despite having her concerns dismissed by law enforcement and friends, Caraway refused to remain silent. She documented hundreds of incidents and ultimately transformed her nightmare into a powerful story that brings much-needed awareness to stalking as a serious crime. Unfollow Me demonstrates how the most difficult stories can become the most important ones—transforming one person’s fight for survival into practical guidance and hope for others. In addition to ongoing promotional features, Unfollow Me will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Kathryn Caraway will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview and receive continued recognition across our promotional platforms.
See Our Review here:
When you’re a target of stalking, “Each day is a fight to stay alive. Even while sleeping, you must be ready.” So reveals Kathryn Caraway inUnfollow Me,a spine-tingling true crime novel tracing a life shattered by severe stalking.
Although the author uses the pseudonym “Kathryn Caraway” throughout this novel to protect her identity, her harrowing tales of being the target of a stalker and fighting for her rights to freedom and safety are a testament to the real danger she was exposed to. Caraway’s experience creates a compelling story of one woman’s brave quest for justice against her torturer.
Kathryn emotionally, mentally, and physically falls apart at the hands of a violent, ubiquitous presence. Despite the severity of the crimes committed against her, Kathryn’s concerns are routinely dismissed as irrational and hysterical by law enforcement officials, lawyers, and even long-time friends.
Before a malicious intruder targets her, Kathryn is a beloved mother, a wonderful friend, and a confident employee. But after she is introduced to Todd, he begins to slowly strip her life from her control.
The Journey Awards recognize that trauma takes many forms, and healing happens through many different paths:
Overcoming Adversity – Personal Journey – Individual stories of resilience against overwhelming odds
Dysfunctional Family/Siblings – Narratives exploring complex family dynamics and their lasting impact
Societal/Class/Race Issues – Personal accounts of confronting systemic injustice and discrimination
Personal Journeys/Experiences/PTSD – Stories of living with and healing from post-traumatic stress
Drug Addiction – Memoirs of addiction, recovery, and the ongoing journey of sobriety
Sexual Abuse – Brave testimonies of survival and healing from sexual trauma
Childhood Trauma – Stories that give voice to experiences from our most vulnerable years
Each category represents not just a literary classification, but a community of survivors whose stories deserve recognition and readers who need to hear them.
Other August Non-Fiction Opportunities
The Journey Awards are part of Chanticleer’s comprehensive celebration of narrative non-fiction, all closing at the end of August:
Hearten Awards – Uplifting non-fiction that inspires hope and positive action
Nellie Bly Awards – Investigative journalism and exposé works that uncover truth
Check out some of these powerful stories we’ve celebrated recently!
Guided
By Kirsten Throneberry
A 2024 Journey First Place Winner!
In her stunning memoir, Guided: Lost Love, Hidden Realms, and the Open Road,Kirsten Throneberry weaves together the highs and lows of a road trip packed with life wisdom, where she explores grief, spirituality, and rekindled hope.
Throneberry’s achingly vulnerable memoir splits its readers’ hearts and tenderly sews them back together.
In the aftermath of the devastating loss of her husband, Kirsten sells her home and takes her two small sons, two elderly pups, and eccentric mother on a year-long road trip around the United States in their new-to-them Bigfoot RV.
Encouraged by the same spirit guides whose earlier advice for her husband’s health left her broken and untrusting, Kirsten must learn to face the open road with an equally open heart and mind.
In this powerful and heart wrenching memoir Dumb Girl, Heidi Yewman confronts her past to turn the pain and shame of an abusive childhood into resilience and purposeful action. She connects with readers through her transformation and triumphantly advocates for change.
During the #MeToo Movement, Yewman attended a stage production of the well-known “Vagina Monologues.” When audience members were asked to stand if they’d been abused, Yewman felt ashamed about her past but also obligated to rise. It was there that she decided to write her story as a release from that lingering sense of guilt.
Yewman’s narrative takes us on an inspiring journey between her adulthood passion to advocate for gun control, and a traumatic childhood attempting to escape from a cycle of abuse.
Freeing Teresa
By Franke James, Teresa Heartchild and Billiam James
“Let me speak. Let me speak,” says Teresa Heartchild, a self-talk poet, writer, and disability activist with Down Syndrome in the epigraph of the memoir,Freeing Teresa: A True Story About My Sister and Meby Franke James.
And speak she does, freeing herself from the boundaries set by other family members and the healthcare system.“In this heart-wrenching audiobook, a cast of thirteen actors recountthe journey of Teresa’s unfortunately common experience. She wasa victim of unjust medical treatment and nonconsensual housing placement—both by the Ontario government and her immediate family members.Actor Jackie Blackmore plays Franke James, the author and environmental activist. Teresa is played by the U.S. star Lauren Potter, and Dayleigh Nelson plays James’s husband, Bill.
By elevating Teresa’s activist voice as a prominent feature in the story,Freeing Teresareveals how injustice and ableism can tear a family apart—but also how courageous love and the decision to listen to those who have been marginalized serves to build unbreakable bonds.
Franke James writes, “It all began with the question, ‘Where will Teresa live?’” In Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2013, six siblings wondered how to care for their youngest sister with Down Syndrome following their father’s anticipated death. Unfortunately, as is too often the case, these conversations took place without the knowledge and input of those directly involved: Teresa and her caretaker father.
Some stories are impossible to look away from, and from its very first sentence,Finding the Light, Navigating Dementia with My Sonby Kasey J. Claytor proves itself one of them. “…when my 49-year-old son, Justin, was first diagnosed with a form of early-onset dementia, I was stunned.” Without hesitation, the book draws readers into a saga of family, illness, and resilience.
Although a memoir,Finding the Lightis in many ways an instructional text, too. Readers don’t need similar medical situations to draw from Claytor’s lessons of improvement. The conversational, approachable writing style serves this purpose well.
Although it’s in chronological order, this is an unconventional, modern text.
Traditional scene-based paragraphs are offset by poetry, informative sidebars, and even the full text of letters sent throughout Justin’s illness. Claytor deftly shifts between these sections, building a cohesive narrative from which readers can easily learn.
The past is vibrant and immediate: Claytor chronicles events in rich yet simple prose as Justin falls deeper into frontotemporal dementia, or FTD.
These works demonstrate how personal narrative can transform individual suffering into universal understanding and hope.
See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!
We’re honored to receive the courageous 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 Journey Awards provide more than literary recognition—they offer validation that your story matters, that your survival has meaning, and that your courage to speak deserves to be heard. Whether you’re sharing your own journey or amplifying the voices of others, these awards celebrate the transformative power of truth-telling.
Your Story Matters
To every author considering sharing their journey: your courage to transform pain into purpose serves a vital function in our world. Your story may be the one that helps another survivor realize they’re not alone, that shows a supporter how to help, or that opens society’s eyes to injustices that must be addressed.
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 in the first look rounds from all 2025 OZMA Fantasy Fiction entries to the 2025 Ozma Book Awards Long List. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Ozma Short List. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalists positions. 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 SHORT LIST of the 2025 Ozma Book Awards novel competition for Fantasy Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
A. Keith Carreiro – The Penitent Part II
A.T. Balsara – The Great and the Small
Abigail O’bryan – Iron Rose
Andrew D.H. Moore – Children of Solo
Andy Brooks – Love and Fire
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
Gracie Dix – Vork Chronicles Welcome To Superhero School
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 Farrell & Michael De Weever – Secret of the Emerald Star
Jason P. Crawford – The Trials of Poseidon
Jeffrey L. Kohanek – The First Wizard
John Nassari – The Dream Traveller Dark Rising
Kristin Wahlne – When the Tree Calls
Michael a Wexler – Jatora
Michele L. Sayre – Darke Realms: One Tough Temporary She Alpha (Arcana 2)
Misty J Thurmond – Saku Binder of Voids
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
T. V Holiday – T.V. Holiday’s Cataclysm: Legend of The Iron Warrior Vol. 2
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!
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.
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!
The Shelley Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Paranormal Fiction. The Shelley Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
The Shelley Awards were formerly known as the Paranormal Awards. We are delighted to be able to honor the mother of science fiction with this award!
Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring magic, the supernatural, weird other-worldly stories, super humans (ex. Jessica Jones, Wonder Woman), magical beings & supernatural entities (ex. Dresden Files), vampires & werewolves (ex. Twilight), angels & demons, fairies & mythological beings, magical systems and elements. We will put them to the test and discover the best among them for the 2025 Paranormal Book Awards!
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 in the first look rounds from all 2025 SHELLEY Paranormal Fiction entries to the 2025 Shelley Book Awards Long List. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Shelley Short List. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalists positions. 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 SHORT LIST of the 2025 Shelley Book Awards novel competition for Paranormal Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
AJ Humphreys – Trip: A Psychological Horror Novel
Alexandra Pugachevsky – Lilou the Shadyside Chronicles
Amy S Cutler – A Shadow of Love
Amy S Cutler – To Have and To Hold To Love and To Kill an Agreement of Souls
Antoinette Chalmers – Midnight Stone
Bryan Alaspa – The Given
C.V. Vobh – Somnus Palace
Charlie Robinson – Bow Tie Sex
D.D. Franklin – Silver Lake Awakening
Dan Morris-Young – The Music Building
Derek Wachter – While We Wait
Diane Corso – Broken Things
E.L. Deards – The Lavender Blade
Evette Davis – The Campaign
George Petersen – The Summer of Haight
Gina Detwiler – Forever
H.J. Ramsay – Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead
Heather Murphy – Bring Out Your Dead
Isaac Thorne – Tab’s Terrible Third Eye
Jared Tlc – Destiny Lane
Jonathan Fossler – Where the Children Play
Katy Nyquist – A Holy Maiden’s Guide To Getting Kidnapped
Keith Steinbaum – The Poe Consequence
Kevin S. Moul – Lander’s Gate
L. J. Aldon – Riddle of the Jeweled Cipher
Lloyd Jeffries – Embers of Shadow Ages of Malice Book III
Logan D. Irons – City of Wolves
Lou Pugliese – Blame It on the Moon
Louisa West – Kiss of Death
M. Flagg – Memories of a Hunter’s Moon
Mark Mustian – Boy with Wings
Matt Ozanich – Priestess: The Tears of Promises Book One
Matthew Minson – The Lupin Gene
Melanie Forde – Guardian of the Crossroads
Raquel Y. Levitt – The Seer
Rebekah L Webb – Burrows of Blood and Shadow
Sheila English – The Deadly Pieces
Sherri L Dodd – Moonset on Desert Sands
T.V. Holiday – Cataclysm Legend of the Iron Warrior Vol. 2
Tom Dolan – Boba Wars Zero
Tracy Shew – Book Group
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 on these platforms.
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 Shelley Grand Prize Winner
Submissions for the 2026 Shelley 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.
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!
The SEA Shorts Awards is one of the newest divisions at Chanticleer, but it didn’t take long to become one of the biggest powerhouses in our Book Awards! If you want to put your work to the test, submit it to the Shorts Awards today!
The Shorts Awards has recently been renamed the SEA Short Story Awards, in honor of Sharon Anderson, one of the first winners of the Shorts Award, our Chief Editor of Reviews and a beloved member of the Chanticleer Family. We are grateful for the opportunity to remember her with this Award.
Something About Lizzy
By Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi
Our Review for the SEA Short Story Grand Prize Winner (Novellas and Collections) for this Pride and Prejudice Sequel is forthcoming. In the meantime you can find more from this author at her page here.
Here’s what GoodReads readers have been saying-
“I normally do not like first person narratives (and those by sixteen-year-olds none the less!) but this is an exception. Sofia is a delight, insightful, old beyond her years, and yet very much a 16 y/o in impulsivity and sometimes judging too quickly on too little information (but oh so certain that she has the right of it).” -Jen
“Against her father’s wishes, Sofia forges a strong friendship with Elizabeth Darcy (Lizzy) and discovers all is not as it seems in the idyllic Darcy marriage. Will Sofia stand by Lizzy after all the family secrets are revealed? Something About Lizzy is an imaginative story with characters from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice like you have never seen them before. The immersive nature of the writing draws you in and keeps you invested in what’s going on. The style of writing is very much Austenesque which makes for enjoyable reading, especially if you love Pride and Prejudice. The pacing is slow and easy. Something About Lizzy is a book worth savoring.”- Nancy
Dream Rut: Navigating Your Path Forward
By Dr. Yumiko Shimabukuro
Illustrated by Jieyu Deng
Our review for the SEA Short Story Awards Grand Prize Winner (Short Stories and Essays) is forthcoming, in the meantime you can find more about this book from their website, dreamrut.com or see more from the artist at her website jieyudeng.com
Here’s what GoodReads readers have been saying-
““Trust grows when we recommit to reinvigorating our dreams.” Above all, Dr. Shimabukuro’s work calls on us to trust — in ourselves, and in the dreams deep within us. Through insightful prose, thought-provoking illustrations, and wisdom that can only be gained through mentoring hundreds of people through their dream ruts, as she has, she offers readers a path out of the wilderness, and back onto the path toward their dreams. Highly recommend for anybody who is, or has ever been, lost, and is looking for a way back towards accomplishing their deepest dreams.” -Jas
“Dream Rut brings new life to “it’s about the journey, not the destination.” It’s both a meditation and a motivational essay on connecting with your inner desires and dreams and choosing to foster a relationship with that dream instead of treating it as a distant, unreachable burden. Dr. Yumi Shimabukuro, a former professor of mine, writes with compassion and wisdom and Jieyu Deng’s incredibly beautiful, dreamy illustrations bring the mantra to life.” -Aastha
Shelter in A Hostile World By Mack Little
Shelter in a Hostile World, second installment in Mack Little’s Love and Peace series, is an epic tale of resistance, desire, and tragedy, saturating readers in the complexity of Igbo culture.
Little paints a character-rich portrait of the horrors of enslavement and the unthinkable violence against women in the Caribbean, locking people together in relationships molded by adversity.
Set in 17th century Igboland—the invaded region of Nigeria — and on the island of Barbados, Shelter in a Hostile World is a searingly brief novel packed with mesmerizing prose. It blends genres to create a literary language entirely its own.
Throughout Little’s story, readers follow the life and loves of Badu Obosi, a haunted revolutionary escaping enslavement to protect his daughter from sexual violence.
The Heart of Kublai Khans Menagerie Keeper By Catherine Brown
A Manuscript
God, The Mafia, My Dad and Me By Lori Lee Peters
God, the Mafia, My Dad, and Me by Lori Lee Peters begins in the voice of a child, compelling not just for its narrative honestly, but for the fact that it might not be reliable. As the book opens, we learn that this narrator firmly believes she will be killed.
Readers can easily see through the childlike hyperbole, but that doesn’t detract from the intrigue. How did a kid come to such an extreme conclusion? Is there any seed of truth to it? These questions will hook readers from the start.
Author Peters set out to write a book about her dad. God, the Mafia, My Dad, and Me tells the true story of her father, and his fascinating work helping the FBI tackle Mafia activity in Lodi, California. Yet in the end, this is a memoir in which the compelling lead character – young Lori – overshadows her father in many ways.
New York: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst By Elizabeth Crowens
Prepare to be carried away to bustling, vivacious streets as you read Elizabeth Crowens’ New York: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst.
This captivating literary anthology is a love letter to the great city from a group of brilliant artists and authors, which delves into the multifaceted lives of New Yorkers.
Short fiction and a few poems describe the ins and outs of New York living. Murder mysteries, revenge, family struggles, family sagas, and, of course, the most important questions regarding real estate. Finding the perfect place to live in the city may be difficult, but this story brings into vivid relief the heart of what makes New York special: the people.
Homegoing by Toni Ann Johnson is an intimate portrait of a middle-aged African-American woman dragging herself hand over hand out of grief and despair.
This story begins with her aching, echoing pain after the one-two punch of a miscarriage and the dissolution of her marriage. Her journey takes her back to the upper-middle-class white suburb where she grew up, through childhood memories that refuse to be denied and to, of all times and places, a funeral.
Something and someone is supposed to be buried. Certainly the deceased. But quite possibly the woman who has held on to her losses and her grudges long enough to poison her own future.
Now is your chance to touch the hearts of readers everywhere. Your short prose deserves to be discovered, and you can submit to thesubmit today!by the end of the month. Don’t miss this chance to give your book the recognition it deserves.
Only 2 weeks 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 Cover Design Awards are still open!
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Cover Design Award for Fiction!
Ann Phillipp –Grand Theft Death
C.L. Olsen –Old Crabby Turtle
Deborah Swenson –Till My Last Breath
Laura C. Rader –Hatfield 1677
Gail Noble-Sanderson–The Book of Rules
Margaret Porter –A Change of Location
Mark A. Gibson –A Song That Never Ends
Travis Davis- One of Four
R.W. Meek- The Dream Collector Book 1; Sabine and Sigmund Freud
And a huge round of applause for the 2024 Cover Design Fiction Grand Prize Winner:
Luna, Rhone and Stone Book 2 by Strider S.R. Klusman
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Cover Design Awards for Non-Fiction!
Anne Gately – Sunburnt: A Memoir of Sun, Surf and Skin Cancer
Kasey J. Claytor–Finding The Light: Navigating Dementia with My Son
Kathryn Caraway –Unfollow Me
Linda M. Lockwood –Sky Ranch: Reared in the High Country
Marianna Marlowe –Portrait of a Feminist: A Memoir in Essays
And a huge round of applause for the 2024 Cover Design Awards Non-Fiction Grand Prize Winner:
Teaching in the Dark by Genet Simone
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 2026) where Winners from all 28 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.
The SEA Short Story Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Short Stories, Collections and Novellas. The Grand Prize Winners, Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi’s book, Something About Lizzy and Dr. Yumiko Shimabukuro’s story Dream Rut: Navigating Your Path Forward will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Shorts 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!
Join us in celebrating the 2024 First Place SEA Shorts Winners!
Barry Robbins – Voices of the Civil War
Voices of the Civil War offers a revolutionary approach to experiencing America’s defining conflict. This groundbreaking work brings the Civil War to life through meticulously crafted first-person narratives, imagining the thoughts and words of those who lived through this tumultuous era.
From the highest halls of power to the bloodiest battlefields, readers witness the war unfold through the eyes of presidents and generals, soldiers and civilians. Each chapter presents a unique voice, offering intimate perspectives on key moments and decisions that shaped the course of history. Feel the agonizing weight of command, the terror of battle, the hope of emancipation, and the anguish of a nation torn apart. Voices of the Civil War goes beyond mere facts and dates, plunging readers into the raw emotions and moral complexities of America’s bloodiest conflict.
This isn’t just a retelling of history-it’s an immersive journey into a nation at war with itself. Prepare to experience the Civil War in a whole new way, through voices that bring the past vividly to life.
What mystery, romance, and adventure lie Beneath the Midwinter Moon?
It may be cold outside, but inside this anthology, the Paper Lantern Writers bring you warm and engaging reflections of holiday celebrations across seven centuries. From the United States to India and Europe, eleven stories of courage, fortitude and love are illuminated by the midwinter moon.
Boiling Point: A young mother weighs her future with her pro-colonial husband and their children in 1930s India. Will her children’s bravery and their love help her reach the right decision?
Star Lantern: A downcast woman in 17th century Amsterdam gets a surprise at the Twelfth Night celebrations. Will she regain her faith in her family?
Hand-in-Hand Pies: A young girl learns a new skill and meets a lifelong friend when she visits the 1789 Frost Fair in London. Will her life take an unexpected turn?
Long Winter: Can two educated young misses find their purpose—and the romance of a lifetime—across the backdrop of the Western Expansion?
X Marks the Spot: In 1918 New York, a vaudeville knife thrower’s wife knows she must take the ultimate risk to protect her own life and that of her unborn baby. Has she got the nerve to see it through?
A Wicked Turn at Christmas: The return of an old enemy threatens to tear an Elizabethan family apart. Can the wife stop this attack before it’s too late?
Frontier Christmas: The rules of courtship are changing in the 1830s US West. An 18 year-old girl sets her sights on her ideal man, but a rival wants to steal him away. Can she reset the rules in her favour?
Dear Santa: An aspiring businesswoman gets a job in Santa’s Photo Shop in 1969 California. When Santa goes off sick, she has no-one to play the part. Can she really stand in as the great man herself?
The Greatest Love: Belgium 1944 – A mixed-race nurse meets an American soldier in WW2 Belgium and they develop feelings for each other. Can they ever find happiness together? Based on a true story.
Phillipe’s Epiphany: A young husband has doubts about his new wife’s fidelity in 15th century London. Will he let it destroy his marriage before it’s even begun, or will true love shine through?
Stitchwork: Christmas celebrations in 1860s Switzerland involve a parade of mythical characters. A woman is wronged by a powerful man. When she disguises herself as a dark counterpart to St. Nicholas, will she get justice?
Welcome to the hilarious world of Catfish Corner where church secretaries spike their bottles of Diet Coke and fine Southern ladies gossip at the beauty shop and finger their pearls.
This light-hearted look at Southern living uses funerals, baptisms, romance and marriages to create a place where humor kisses sarcasm and likes it so much that it does it again and again.
So, head south, y’all and find out why Lily Mae had that funny hump on her back and learn how Althea finally got rid of Floyd.
And for goodness sake, steer clear of Reverend Handy’s tent revival. You’ll lose your beer and maybe your religion if you get too close to that particular Big Top!
Untethered tells the story of growing up with a mentally ill, alcoholic father and the experience of raising a mentally ill daughter. It follows the author’s journey through multiple miscarriages and the “untethering” of minds, relationships, and pregnancies. Untethered is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit through the author’s unravelling world.
What do we, as parents, really mean when we say we want the best for our children?
Irena Smith tackles this question from a unique vantage point: as a former Stanford admissions officer, a private Palo Alto college counselor, and a mother of three children who struggle to find their place in the long shadow of Stanford University.
Written as a series of responses to actual college essay prompts, this witty, raw memoir takes the reader from the smoke-filled lobby of the Hebrew Aid Society in Rome, where Irena and her parents await asylum with other Soviet refugees in 1977, to the overpriced house she and her husband buy in Palo Alto in 1999, to the hushed inner sanctum of the Stanford admissions office. Irena grows a successful college counseling practice but struggles to reconcile the lofty aspirations of tightly wound, competitive high school seniors (and their anxious parents) with her own attempts to keep her family from unraveling as, one by one, her children are diagnosed with autism, learning differences, depression, and anxiety. And although she doesn’t initially understand her children—or how to help them—she will not stop stumbling and learning until she figures it out.
The Golden Ticket opens a much-needed conversation about extreme parenting, the weight of generational expectations, and what happens when Gen-X dreams meet unexpected realities. It’s a sharp-eyed depiction of hard-won triumphs and of the messy, challenging parts of parenting you won’t see on Facebook or Instagram. Above all, it’s an invitation to embrace a broader, more generous definition of success.
This work is a manuscript. Gail also won First Place Ribbons this year in Chatelaine and Mystery & Mayhem for her book A Cup of Revenge, and a Cover Design Fiction First Place for The Book of Rules.
Gail and husband Terry love to travel the world including two trips to France during the research and writing of her first three books, The Lavender House in Meuse, The Passage Home to Meuse, and The Lavender Bees of Meuse. A trip to Wales is certainly on their agenda as she completes her first novel in the new cozy mystery series, The Book of Rules. The book’s protagonist, a young woman named Drew Davies, lives in the village of Mumbles, Wales, and works in the railway depot in Swansea, Wales. She, along with her Granda, her Nonna and a colorful cast of friends, become involved in Drew’s sleuthing as she attempts to solve the mysteries in this new series of novels.
Burl Harmon – Being 100 Years Old
This work is a Manuscript. Burl has previously won a Military and Front Line First Place Ribbon for his book Combat Missions, a memoir about his time as a pilot during WWII. You can see our review of Combat Missions here:
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.
What will the Saporis find under the tree this year—Christmas presents, or family skeletons?
In the spirit of the holiday and a wish for familial harmony, Irene Adler persuades her detective husband to invite his brother Mycroft to Christmas luncheon. Holmes had cut ties with his brother when he discovered the machinations Mycroft employed that drove Sherlock and Adler apart for four years. He isn’t really sure this reunion is a great idea, but he can deny his wife nothing.
Of course, they can’t tell the children what Mycroft is to them, as that would entail learning that their father is the celebrated detective when they know him simply as Lucca Sapori. And just when they think things may be going better than expected, ghosts of the past crop up in unexpected ways and threaten to ruin the holidays for everyone.
This work is a Manuscript. Mike has previously won the 2022 Shorts Grand Prize for his work, Old Man Baseball. This year he also won a First Place Ribbon for his series, Tales of Physics, Lust and Greed. You can see an interview we did with Mike Murphey here!
Lisa Spicer has worked in television, film, and video production for over 30 years as producer, writer, and editor. Starting in the documentary unit at KCTS/PBS Seattle, she worked there later on the Bill Nye the
Science Guy show, earning 3 Emmys. As an independent documentary producer, she has worked in Kenya, Mexico’s Lacandon rainforest, Northern Cheyenne and Lummi Indian reservations, Boulder, Seattle, and Bellingham.
Lisa has a BA in Broadcast Journalism and certificates in Filmmaking and Screenwriting (UW). Mid-career she earned an MA in Anthropology (WWU). Integrating anthropology into documentary, she
co-produced Homeless in Bellingham, an award-winning web series and documentary, and served as Consulting Anthropologist for the feature documentary, Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie.
Recently finishing an historical novel, Radio Smokva, she’s now writing about her back-to-the-land childhood and publishing a weekly series on Substack, Collective Effervescence: Research About the Counterculture.
Glen also won a First Place in Series for The Chronicles of Chaos, the series this story ties into, and book 3, Realm of Gods, won a First Place in Ozma and is the 2024 Dante Rossetti Grand Prize Winner.
When destiny calls, will you answer—or roll the dice?
After resisting for years, a young mother finally succumbs to the Longing. The pull drags her away from her family, but chance lands her in a mysterious swamp. There, an ancient tree offers magic that could change her fate in ways she never dreamed—or desired.
This standalone story is the perfect entry point into the award-winning YA fantasy series, but for longtime fans it provides the backstory behind Lorre’s incredible and dangerous dice, this bite-sized adventure reveals all!
Readers new and old, prepare to unveil the secrets of the dice and witness the spark that ignites a legendary saga, where mortals and gods clash in an epic battle over a world unlike any other.
PJ has previously won a First Place in Ozma for her book The Chamber, a First Place in Goethe for Wissahickon Souls, a First Place in Dante Rossetti for Becoming Jonika, and a First Place in Somerset for Wishes, Sins, and the Wissahickon Creek. You can see our review for Wishes, Sins and the Wissahickon Creek here:
Wishes, Sins, and the Wissahickon Creek by PJ Devlin emulates the lives of fictional characters brimming with hope and promise yet living a truthful life of existence in the gorgeous setting of Pennsylvania’s Wissahickon Creek.
The book encompasses ten short stories making it a complete work of fiction. Devlin creates characters which are rich in both experience and struggle. Not only do they live in a real world created by Devlin, but her characters, a mix of children and adults, both struggle with daily, real-world issues most Americans deal with. The stories are all relatable in this sense, which makes the text come alive, page after page.
This work is a Manuscript. Catherine has previously won the 2023 Shorts Grand Prize Winner for The Heart of Kublai Khan’s Menagerie Keeper and also won a First Place in Dante Rossetti this year for her book The Appearance of Power.
Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2024 Shorts First Place Winners!
Your book can join the Tiers of Achievement, but only if you submit to the Shorts Awards!
The submissions for our newest division are underway, and The Collection & Anthology Awards close on July 31, 2025!
There’s something magical that happens when individual pieces are thoughtfully assembled into a unified whole—whether it’s a poet’s lifetime of work, a themed anthology exploring social justice, or a collection of short stories that illuminate the human condition. The Collection & Anthology Awards celebrate this unique art form, recognizing the literary excellence that emerges when curation meets creativity.
Branching off from our established SEA Shorts Awards, this exciting new division honors the publishers, authors, and editors who understand that the whole can indeed be greater than the sum of its parts. From single-author poetry collections to multi-voice thematic anthologies, we celebrate works where exceptional writing combines with masterful organization and thematic coherence.
The Power of Thoughtful Assembly
What transforms a simple gathering of pieces into a truly compelling collection or anthology? It’s the invisible architecture that connects each work to the next, the thematic threads that weave individual voices into a larger conversation, and the careful curation that ensures every piece earns its place.
Whether you’re a poet who has spent years crafting a cohesive collection, an editor assembling diverse voices around a central theme, or a publisher investing in the literary community’s best collaborative works, the Collection & Anthology Awards recognize that quality writing is just the beginning. The real artistry lies in creating thematic coherence that resonates across every page.
Categories That Span the Literary Landscape
Our categories intentionally align with Chanticleer’s established award divisions, ensuring that collections and anthologies across every genre find their perfect home:
Narrative Non-Fiction Collections/Anthologies – Memoir collections, essay compilations, and themed non-fiction that tells powerful true stories
Essay Collections – Whether personal reflection, cultural criticism, or literary exploration, celebrating the essay as an art form
Poetry Collections – From debut collections to lifetime retrospectives, honoring the unique voice of poetry in all its forms
Speculative Fiction – Fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal collections that transport readers to other worlds
Celebrating Our Founding Excellence: Dr. Yumiko Shimabukuro
We’re honored to highlight Dr. Yumiko Shimabukuro, whose inspiring collection Dream Rut: Navigating Your Path Forward exemplifies the literary excellence we seek to recognize in this new division. This beautifully crafted work combines meditative prompts, poetic writing, and full-color illustrations to guide readers through transforming their relationship with their dreams—from dealing with estranged dreams to discovering unknown ones.
Shimabukuro’s achievement showcases how thoughtful curation creates something greater than individual pieces, offering readers both comfort and actionable insights for moving forward. In addition to ongoing promotional features, Dream Rut will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Dr. Shimabukuro will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview and receive continued recognition across our promotional platforms.
A Home for Every Voice, Every Vision
The Collection & Anthology Awards welcome submissions from diverse creators across the literary community:
Publishers showcasing their finest anthologies and themed collections
Individual Authors who have assembled their short fiction, essays, or poetry into cohesive collections
Anthology Editors who curate multi-author works around compelling themes
Literary Organizations producing collections that advance important conversations
Whether your collection features a single powerful voice or weaves together multiple perspectives, we celebrate the editorial vision that transforms individual works into something greater.
Check out some of these outstanding collections and anthologies we’ve celebrated recently!
Portrait of a Feminist: A Memoir in Essays
By Mariana Marlowe
Marianne Marlowe’s memoir, Portrait of a Feminist, reveals the evolution of her feminism through a collection of thought-provoking essays.
“I would say, if it were possible, I was born a feminist” is at the heart of Marlowe’s story. She relates to this defining identity throughout years spent in Peru, California, and Ecuador, where she navigates childhood, marriage, motherhood, and a professional career.
The section titles reflect periods in Marlowe’s life that correspond to nature’s rhythms— “Seeds Planted”, “The Growing Years”, “Maturation”, and “Harvesting”—and maintain strong connections between her thematically-linked experiences.
As a Peruvian American woman, Marlowe navigates the concepts of gender, race, and culture from a personal and critical point of view.
A Good Day and Other Mostly Humorous Stories and Lists
By Radu Guiasu
Through the thirty-six diverse writing efforts of A Good Day and Other Mostly Humorous Stories and Lists, Radu Guiasu masterfully combines wit, whimsy, satire, and personal contemplation.
These vignettes cover a wide range of topics, styles, and techniques. While they often seem to be typical “slice-of-life” moments, Guiasu clearly has a knack for finding humor in even the most absurd situations.
As a native Romanian now residing and teaching in Canada, Guiasu writes from his own knowledge and experience. He often broaches serious and meaningful topics, such as the world of academia, growing up under a dictatorship, and a love of nature.
A Wild Region: Tales and Stories from the Heartland
By Robin Lee Lovelace
Includes a Chanticleer Short Stories Awards Grand Prize Winner!
A Wild Region: Tales and Stories from the Heartlandby Robin Lee Lovelace is a wonderful collection of Weird fiction (emphasis on Weird), showcasing the oddities and fantastic adventures which hide among the everyday people of the midwestern United States.
Lovelace opens with ‘Virgie’s Headless Chicken’, setting the tone for the full collection as Virgie attempts to reproduce a circus sideshow act. Lovelace shares her familial inspiration for this story in a fascinating preface.
From there she gifts readers with the award-winning novella,Savonne, Not Vonny, a coming-of-age story of a little girl involving brothels, voodoo, and displaced gods. Savonne faces trial after trial as she grows up in different environments, all while she tries to understand her place in the world. This setting is particularly well-developed, leaving readers wanting more from even the secondary characters. Readers who lovedAmerican Godswill enjoy every page of Savonne’s adventures.
Varying in emotion and impact, all of these tales will grab a reader’s attention. In every story ofA Wild Region, fully-realized characters deal with important problems, approaching them with their own strange solutions.
Tax MythBusters: Don’t Fall Prey to the Tax Misconceptions,compiled by tax professional Lily Tran with essays by other financial, tax, and accounting professionals, gives valuable insight into the myths of what can and cannot be claimed as a deduction for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
This work provides tips and strategies to optimize tax planning and make the most of available deductions. As the foreword reminds the reader, “Knowledge is power when it comes to taxes,” adding that gaining a better understanding of the tax rules and regulations will allow you to “make smart financial decisions and protect yourself from unnecessary risks.”
The essays that make up this work are short, succinct, and to the point about the pitfalls and challenges that face small business owners, framing these dangers as “myths.”
These works demonstrate the range and power of well-curated collections across every genre and format.
See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!
We’re excited about all the exceptional collections and anthologies we’ll receive in this inaugural year. The Chanticleer International Book Awards offers an incredible $30,000 in cash, prizes, and promotion across all divisions!
This new division represents an unprecedented opportunity to gain recognition for the often-overlooked art of literary curation. From debut poetry collections to landmark anthologies, we’re committed to celebrating the publishers, authors, and editors who understand that bringing the right pieces together creates literary magic.
Be Among the First to Claim this Honor!
As our newest division, the Collection & Anthology Awards offer a unique opportunity to be among the first winners in this exciting category. Whether you’ve spent years perfecting a poetry collection, assembled a groundbreaking anthology, or published a thematic collection that deserves wider recognition, this is your moment.
The SEA Shorts Awards Honor Excellence in Shorter Works
The submissions for the 2025 Awards are underway, and SEA Shorts closes on July 31, 2025!
In a world of sprawling epics and multi-volume series, there’s something uniquely powerful about a story that delivers maximum impact in minimal space. The SEA Shorts Awards celebrate this concentrated artistry. Recognizing novellas, short stories, and essays that prove great literature doesn’t require great length, just great skill.
Whether it’s a novella that captures a lifetime of emotion in 100 pages or a short story that delivers a profound revelation in just a few thousand words, the SEA Shorts Awards honor authors who understand that when space is limited, every sentence must earn its place.
Honoring Sharon E. Anderson: From Winner to Champion
The SEA Shorts Awards carry special meaning as they honor Sharon E. Anderson, whose own literary journey exemplified the transformative power of the Chanticleer community. Sharon first came to our attention as a contest winner herself for her dark fantasy short story “Stone God’s Wife” which won the Grand Prize in an earlier iteration of this award.
As our judges noted: “This short story is an exceptional example of the dark fantasy genre. Desperate to save her sister, Cilla does the unthinkable…and the unforgivable. ‘The Stone God’s Wife’ is compellingly written, well characterized, fast-paced, and engaging.”
But Sharon’s story with Chanticleer was just beginning. She joined our team as Chief Reviews Editor, where for years she created and edited content, wrote reviews, and championed authors with unwavering dedication. An SPU graduate in Clothing Textiles & Design, Sharon brought design principles to every aspect of her work, understanding that presentation and content must work in harmony.
Sharon served on the board of the Skagit Valley Writers League and delighted when authors achieved success. Her core belief that authors deserve support and good books deserve recognition became the foundation of everything she did at Chanticleer. She believed in authors, worked tirelessly to promote their work, and championed literary excellence in all its forms.
When Sharon passed away, we lost not just a dear friend but a true advocate for the writing community. The SEA Shorts Awards, named in her honor, continue her legacy of discovering and celebrating exceptional writing. Every submission, every advancement through our tiers, every celebration of literary achievement carries forward Sharon’s unwavering commitment to supporting authors and promoting the books that deserve to be discovered.
Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!
We’re thrilled to honor Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi, whose novella Something About Lizzy claimed the 2024 SEA Shorts Grand Prize with a masterful adaptation that brings fresh life to beloved classic literature. This Pride and Prejudice spin-off demonstrates the exceptional skill required to honor original characters while creating an entirely new and compelling story.
Set in 1826 Derbyshire, Kobayashi’s work follows sixteen-year-old Sofia-Elisabete as she discovers the complexities of adult relationships and family secrets through her friendship with Elizabeth Darcy. Our judges praised the work’s “lively and meaningful” character dynamics, noting how “the blend of drama and love feels appropriate for a spin-off of Pride and Prejudice” while maintaining “well-done writing” and “consistent tone.”
The novella showcases what makes the short form so powerful—concentrated storytelling that captures the essence of complex relationships and family secrets within a focused narrative. In addition to ongoing promotional features, Something About Lizzy will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview and receive continued recognition across our promotional platforms.
Categories That Embrace Every Genre
The SEA Shorts Awards welcome shorter works across the entire literary spectrum:
Cygnus – SciFi, Speculative, Fantasy
Ozma – Fantasy Fiction
Paranormal – All types of Paranormal Fiction
Global Thriller – High Stakes
Clue – Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Mystery & Mayhem – Cozy and Not So Cozy Mystery
Rossetti – Young Adult & New Adult
Laramie – Americana, Western, Pioneer, & Civil War
From science fiction novellas to historical short stories, from personal essays to satirical pieces, every genre finds its home in the SEA Shorts Awards. With the recent creation of our Collection & Anthology Awards, SEA Shorts now provides focused attention on individual shorter works that stand powerfully on their own.
See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!
We’re excited about all the exceptional shorter works we receive every year. The Chanticleer International Book Awards offers an incredible $30,000 in cash, prizes, and promotion across all divisions!
The SEA Shorts Awards carry forward Sharon Anderson’s legacy of believing in authors and championing exceptional writing. Whether you’ve crafted a novella that captures a lifetime of experience, a short story that delivers a perfect moment of revelation, or an essay that illuminates truth through personal narrative, these awards provide the recognition that Sharon believed every excellent work deserves.
It is our honor to promote short works!
We continue to believe that great writing deserves great recognition, regardless of length. The SEA Shorts Awards honor her commitment to supporting authors and celebrating the books that deserve to be discovered.
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Series Award for Fiction and Non-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).
The Shelley Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Paranormal Fiction. The Shelley Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
