Carol M. Cram is the author of three novels of historical literary fiction. Her first novel, The Towers of Tuscany (Lake Union Publishing, 2014) and her second novel, A Woman of Note (Lake Union Publishing, 2015), were both designated Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society in the UK, and both won First in Category for the Chaucer and Goethe awards (Chanticleer Book Awards), with The Towers of Tuscany also winning the Grand Prize Chaucer Award for best historical novel pre-1750. Her third novel, The Muse of Fire, published in January 2018 by Kindle Press (e-book) and New Arcadia Publishing (print), won the Bronze for Best Historical Fiction from the Independent Publishers’ Book Awards and is currently short-listed for the Goethe award.
Carol has also written over fifty best-selling college textbooks in computer applications and communications for major US publisher Cengage Learning and was on faculty at Capilano University in North Vancouver for over two decades. In addition, she was Vice President of Clear Communications Consultants and facilitated communications workshops for corporate and government clients.
Carol holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Reading in England, an MA in Drama from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Carol and her husband, painter Gregg Simpson, live on beautiful Bowen Island near Vancouver, BC.
SESSIONS & PANELS
Tapping into the Experts for Researching Your Work in Progress
Whether or not you write Thrillers, Science Fiction, Mysteries, Contemporary Social Themes, YA, Historical, or any genre, Carol’s guidelines and Tips for connecting with sources and tapping experts will come in handy.
NaNoWriMo Panel – Or Why I Broke Up with NaNoWriMo OR Why Am I Obsessed with NaNoWriMo
There is no doubt that this will be a lively panel discussion!
Historical Authors Panel
Carol M. Cram will announce the new CHAUCER Book Awards winners on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at the Chanticleer International Book Awards ceremony.
And she adores cookbooks and traveling! Check out Carol’s blog –it is like going on a mini-vacay!
STATUS of the Judging Rounds for all Sixteen Divisions of the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Awards – the 2018 CIBAs – Official Notification to the CIBA 2018 Semi-Finalists
We have just completed the final sweep of all of the 2018 Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards submissions. All of the divisions have announced the authors and titles that have moved forward to the SEMI-FINALIST positions.
We always check for stragglers, the inevitable stray, and late ratings coming in from judges (they do this as a labor of love for books and authors), and other anomalies that are just the nature of tracking the thousands of entries that we receive despite our state of the art integrated software program for tracking, DRM, and interaction with the judges.
The works that made it to the 2018 SEMI-FINALIST are currently in the final rounds of judging to discover which ones will move forward to the limited First Place Categories and the coveted grand prize position for each division. The Overall Grand Prize for Best Book will be determined from the 16 divisions’ grand prize winners.
Here are the links to the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Awards SEMI-FINALISTS for All 16 Divisions. The CIBA ceremony and banquet will take place on Saturday evening of the 2019 Chanticleer Authors Conference that will take place April 25 – 28, 2019 in Bellingham, Wash.
These are the OFFICIAL and FINAL LISTINGS for the 2018 CIBAs SEMI-FINALISTS. The next notification will announce the First Place Category Winners and the Grand Prize Winners and will go out on April 30, 2019.
Each of the Semi-Finalists has been notified individual by email from the president of Chanticleer Reviews, Kathryn “Kiffer” Brown at KBrown@ChantiReviews.com We will send the second and final round of email notifications to the 2018 Semi-Finalists starting on Monday, March 25, 2019.
The email includes links to Semi-Finalists Digital Badges, Semi-Finalists Book Stickers, a discount code for CAC19, and other information along with a significant discount code for CAC19 registration packets.
The Master Classes taught by J.D. Barker and Jessica Morrell will take place on Thursday, April 25, 2019. Registration is required.
The Books By the Bay Book Room will be managed by Village Books and will be open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday will be the Book Fair day with author signings.
The 2018 CIBA Banquet and Ceremony will take place on the evening of April 27, 2019. For more information, please visit the latest web post for the latest information, status, and updates about timing, photo opportunities, etc. Registration is required to attend the CAC19 and the CIBA Banquet and Awards Ceremony* and tickets are required for admittance.
Good luck to all of the 2018 CIBA Semi-Finalists as their works compete in the final rounds of judging.
Each of the authors whose works made it into the CIBA Semi-Finalists should be very proud! Congratulations! You definitely have something to crow about!
*And, finally, you do not have to be present at the conference or the awards ceremony to win, but it sure is a lot more fun!
Btw, the Submissions Deadline for the 2019 CYGNUS, JOURNEY, and M&M Book Awards is April 30, 2019! Don’t delay. Enter today!
STATUS of the Judging Rounds for all Sixteen Divisions of the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Awards – the 2018 CIBAs
We have just completed the final sweep of all of the 2018 Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards submissions. All of the divisions have announced the authors and titles that have moved forward to the SEMI-FINALIST positions.
We always check for stragglers, the inevitable stray, and late ratings coming in from judges (they do this as a labor of love for books and authors), and other anomalies that are just the nature of tracking the thousands of entries that we receive despite our state of the art integrated software program for tracking, DRM, and interaction with the judges.
To see the Official CIBA SEMI-FINALISTS post for each division, please click on the link at the end of this posting.
The works that made it to the 2018 SEMI-FINALIST are currently in the final rounds of judging to discover which ones will move forward to the limited First Place Categories and the coveted grand prize position for each division. The Overall Grand Prize for Best Book will be determined from the 16 divisions’ grand prize winners.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the 2018 CIBA 1st Place Award Winners and the Grand Prize winners be announced?
The 2018 CIBA First Place Award Winners and the Grand Prize Winners for Divisions along with the Overall Grand Prize will be announced on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC) and CIBA Banquet and Ceremony at the Hotel Bellwether’s Ballroom, Bellingham, Wash. The official announcements will be posted on the website by Tuesday, April 30th, midnight PST.
The CIBA Awards Ceremony will kick off with the cocktail hour starting at 6 o’clock. The bar and the photography area will open at half-past five o’clock.
Some people have their own cheering section.
Jesikah Sundin when her book, LEGACY, was announced the Dante Rossetti Grand Prize Award Winner for Young Adult Fiction
Photography Opportunities
Dwayne Rogge is the professional photographer who will be on hand to take photos before, during, and after the CIBA ceremony. All digital photographs taken by Dwayne at the CIBA ceremony will be made available at no charge after the event. An email will be mailed out to all conference attendees with access codes and the website where the photos will be made available before May 8th. There will be a “step and repeat” backdrop sign that will be used for the award winners photos and group shots.
We advise all SemiFinalists to have their photos taken prior to the ceremony during the cocktail hour.
Janet Shawgo overjoyed with her Chatelaine Book Awards Grand Prize! We love this photo!
What to Wear?
We have seen quite the range of dress from black-tie and formal wear, suits, cocktail attire, and since we do live in the Pacific Northwest, very casual attire. Please keep in mind that CIBA ceremony will have some awesome photo opportunities. And there will be a lot of Tweeting, Instagramming, and Facebook postings going on throughout the evening.
CIBA Overall Grand Prize Winner and Laramie Grand Prize Winner Michelle Rene
Timing
The ceremony begins at seven o’clock in the evening with recognition of all the Semi-Finalists who are in attendance with dinner immediately following. Past award winners will announce this year’s First Place Award Winners for each division after recognizing the respective Semi-Finalists in each division. Representatives from the CIBA sponsors will award their prize packages to the winners. Presenters and Keynote speakers will also take part in the ceremony.
The Banquet
The distinguished Hotel Bellwether’s Executive Chef Peter Birk will bring his Pacific Northwest classically based preparations with a modern twist to the CIBA banquet table. A buffet service is employed to accommodate the many food preferences of such an eclectic gathering of authors from around the globe.
No-Host Bar
A no-host bar will be available in the Hotel Bellwether’s ballroom that will offer quite a range of wines, PNW beers, cocktails, and soft drinks.
Ceremony Program
All attendees to the 2018 CIBA ceremony and awards banquet will receive a souvenir ceremony program listing all the Semi-Finalists, Sponsors, and Presenters. Many attendees use this guide to mark the winners, get autographs and contact information from those they have met at CAC.
Post Ceremony
The Book Room at the CIBA Banquet and Ceremony will be open shortly after the ceremony for book purchases.
After Party Gathering
By ten o’clock in the evening, most attendees will head over to the Fireplace Lounge at the Hotel Bellwether and the party continues on there.
PRIZES – Yes, there will be Blue Ribbons and Prizes and some author will take home a $1,000 check for Overall Best Book!
You know you want one!
Exciting News for the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Awards winners! Publish Drive will award these prizes to the Award Winners!
1 Overall Grand Prize for Best Book – One-year free subscription option ($1,200 USD)
16 Division Grand Prize winners – a $240 USD gift certificate for the PublishDrive Subscription
1st Place Category Division Winners – A metadata health-check consultation ($100 USD/each)
All Semi-Finalists in attendance – one-month free use of our services- A code will be given to you when you pick up your registration packet at CAC19.
The total for the Prize Package from PublishDrive is valued at more than $40,000 USD. Whoa! Thanks, PublishDrive!
AND NOW FOR THE LINK to the 2018 CIBA SEMI-FINALISTS. Good luck to all in the final judging rounds. If your work made it to the SemiFinalists position, it is a WINNER! – No matter what.
The GLOBAL THRILLERS Book Awards recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Lab Lit and Global Thrillers. The GLOBAL THRILLERS Book Awards is a division of Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).
Chanticleer International Book Awards is searching for today’s best books featuring suspense, thrilling stories that put the balance of world power or that will end the world as we know it. We include with Global Thrillers the Lab Lit genre. Lab Lit is when Fiction Meets Real Science and Research or stories that are based on real science and research up to a certain “what if” point.
These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from SLUSH pile to the 2018 Long List (aka the Slush Pile Survivors) to the SHORTLIST and have competed for the 2018 GLOBAL THRILLER SEMIFINALISTS positions.
All Semi-Finalists will receive official notification by email and will be tagged in a Facebook Announcement and promotion—if they are following Chanticleer Reviews on Facebook. Facebook will only allow us to tag those who follow CR on FB. Click on this Semi-Finalist badge linkto the downloadable digital badge and for information about Semi-Finalists book stickers.
Congratulations to the 2018 Global Thriller Book Awards Semi-Finalists, a division of the CIBAs:
Richard Garis –Magenta is Missing
Randall Krzak – Dangerous Alliance
Timothy S. Johnston – The War Beneath
R. Barber Anderson – The Sunken Forest
John W. Howell & Gwen M. Plano – The Contract Between Heaven and Earth
These titles are in the running for the First Place Category Winner positions of the 2018 Global Thriller Book Awards novel competition. Good Luck to All!
Grand Prize Ribbons!
The First Place Category Winners will be announced at the Chanticleer Awards Banquet and Ceremony. The First Place Category winners will automatically be entered into the GLOBAL THRILLER GRAND PRIZE AWARD competition. The 16 CBR Grand Prize Divisions Winners will compete for the CBR Overall Grand Prize for Best Book and its $1,000 purse. First Place Category and Grand Prize Awards will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Awards Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 27th, 2019, Bellingham, Washington.
We are now accepting submissions into the 2019 GLOBAL THRILLER Book Awards writing competition. The deadline for submissions is October 31st, 2019. Please click here for more information.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions at Info@ChantiReviews.com.
The I & I Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in non-fiction that are self-help, how-to, guides, or instructional. In non-fiction works, the author assumes responsibility (in good faith) for the truth, accuracy, people, places, or information presented. The I & I Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).
These titles have moved forward in the judging slush rounds to the 2018 I & I Book Awards SHORT LIST. These entries are now in competition for the limited 2018 I & I Semi-Finalists from which the First Place Category Positions will be chosen. The I & I Book Awards Semi-Finalists and First Place Positions along with I & I Grand Prize Award Winner will be announced at the Awards Gala on Saturday, April 27th, 2019.
Good luck to the 2018 I & I Short Listers as they compete for the Semi-Finalists positions.
The 2018 Instruction & Insight Book Awards Shortlist:
Andrew Safer – Anxiety, Stress & Mindfulness: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Wellness
Eleanor K. Smith and Margaret Pastor – One School’s Journey
Gustavo J. Gomez, Ph.D. – HAIR LOSS: Options for Restoration & Reversal
Liana Goffman – How to Let it Go: An Inspirational Journey to Eliminate Negative Emotions and Limiting Beliefs
Cassandra Overby – Explore Europe on Foot
Sheree K. Nielsen – Ocean Rhythms, Kindred Spirits
Samantha Bowick – Living with Endometriosis: The Complete Guide to Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Amy Stross – The Suburban Micro-Farm: Modern Solutions for Busy People
R. Scott Decker – Recounting the Anthrax Attacks – Terror, the Amerithrax Task Force, and the Evolution of Forensics in the FBI
Gary W. Driver – God Answers Science
Donna LeClair – Inch by Inch
Nancy J. Cohen – Writing the Cozy Mystery
Barb Drozdowich – How to Self-Publish a Book: For the Technology Challenged Author
Julie Jason – Retire Securely: Insights on Money Management from an Award-Winning Financial Columnist
Robert W Lucas – The Survivor’s Family Guide: A Resource for Loved Ones After Your Passing
Jennie Lee – Breathing Love: Meditation in Action
Rajeev Kurapati – Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine
Kathleen Kaska – Do You Have a Catharsis Handy? Five-Minute Writing Tips
Reanne Hemingway-Douglass – Baidarka Diaries: Voyages and Explorations: British Columbia and Alaska, 1992 – 2003
Rachel Thompson – The BadRedhead Media 30-Day Book Marketing Challenge
Karen A. Anderson – The Amazing Afterlife of Animals; Messages and Signs From Our Pets on the Other Side
Kevin Howard – The Evolution of a Man
Cheryl Aguiar – Great Horned Owlets Rescue: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way…
Carolyn Porter – Marcel’s Letters: A Font and the Search for One Man’s Fate
Jacqui Olliver – Doing This ONE Thing Will Change Your Life Forever! — The Self Help Guide to Personal Growth & Healthy Relationships
Nick Delmedico – Memoir (manuscript)
Lou McKee – Klee wyck Journal
Congratulations to these authors for their works moving up to the Short List from the slush pile. These novels will now compete for the (Semi-Finalists) Positions!
The I & I Short Listers will compete for the SemiFinalists positions that will compete for the I & I First-In-Category Positions. First Place Category Award winners will automatically be entered into the Dante Rossetti GRAND PRIZE AWARD competition. The CBR Grand Prize Genre Winners will compete for the CIBA Overall Grand Prize for Best Book and its $1,000 purse.
The OZMA Book Awards recognize emerging talent and outstanding works in the genre of Fantasy Fiction. The OZMA Book Awards is a genre division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The #CIBAs).
Chanticleer International Book Awards is seeking today’s best books 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, we will put them to the test and choose the best among them.
These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from SLUSH pile to the 2018 Long List (aka the Slush Pile Survivors) to the SHORTLIST and have competed for the 2018 OZMA SEMIFINALISTS positions.
All Semi-Finalists will receive official notification by email and will be tagged in a Facebook Announcement and promotion—if they are following Chanticleer Reviews on Facebook. Facebook will only allow us to tag those who follow CR on FB. Click on this Semi-Finalist badge linkto the downloadable digital badge and for information about Semi-Finalists book stickers.
The 2018 OZMA SEMIFINALISTs – CIBA
Pamela LePage –Virtuous Souls
J.V. Rutz –The Illusion Killer
Ea Bishop – RAGNAROK: Demon Seed
Kim Gjersoe – Rogue’s Law
Paul E. Vaughn – Luminess Legends: Dragon Ascendants
Kathleen Neeley – Master None
Jennifer Allis Provost – Gallowglass
Allan Batchelder – Steel, Blood & Fire
T.K. Riggins – Money Jane
Susan Faw – Heart Of Shadra
Nancy Guild Bendall – Nethermost Regained
M. K. Wiseman – The Kithseeker
Anthony Nordvik-Nash –Hedda Stein-Sun’s UnRemembered Islands
Elana A. Mugdan – Dragon Speaker
Lindsay Schopfer – Into the North: A Keltin Moore Adventure
These titles are in the running for the First Place Category Winner positions of the 2018 OZMA Book Awards novel competition for Fantasy Fiction. Good Luck to All!
The First Place Category Winners will be announced at the Chanticleer Awards Banquet and Ceremony. The First Place Category winners will automatically be entered into the OZMA GRAND PRIZE AWARD competition. The 16 CBR Grand Prize Genre Winners will compete for the CBR Overall Grand Prize for Best Book and its $1,000 purse. First Place Category and Grand Prize Awards will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Awards Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 27th, 2019, Bellingham, Washington.
We are now accepting submissions into the 2019 OZMA Book Awards writing competition. The deadline for submissions is October 31st, 2019. Please click here for more information.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions at Info@ChantiReviews.com.
The Little Peeps Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works of Early Readers. The Little Peeps Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer Reviews International Book Awards – the CIBAs.
Chanticleer Book Reviews is looking for the best books featuring stories of all shapes and sizes written to an audience for Early Readers. Storybooks, Beginning Chapter Books, Picture Books, Activity Books & Educational Books we will put them to the test and choose the best Children’s Books among them.
Good Luck to the Semi-Finalists as Your Works Compete for the 2018 First Place Category Positions!
Please click here for the awarded digital badge and for more information on book stickers.
The 2018 Little Peeps Book Awards Semi-Finalists:
Carolyn Watkins – The Knock...a collection of childhood memories
Pamela Tomlin – My Truly Most Favorite Fluffy Friend
Ashley Davidson-Fisher – La Petite Josette en Provence Going To Les Baux-de-Provence (Voyage aux Baux-de-Provence)
A. & C. Kruspe –I’m Car 55, But I Want to Be Number 1
Leea Baltes –Goodnight Wishes!
Sylva Fae – Yoga Fox
Sylva Fae – Mindful Monsters
Carolyn Leeper – My Stars!
Lauren Mosback – Braving the Bully
Eva Newermann –The Universe: A Work of Art
Denise Ditto – The Tooth Collector Fairies: Home from Decay Valley
Stephanie Warner – Mopsey and the Diverse Dog Show
Stacy Einfalt – Go Team!
Peggy Sullivan – Tevye the Magical Theater Cat
Sheree K. Nielsen & Pat Wahler – Midnight The One-Eyed Cat
Lauren Mosback –My Sister’s Super Skills
Veronica Ruth Fischer – Oscar’s Christmas Wish
The 2018 Little Peeps Shortlisters will compete for the Semi-finalists positions. First-In-Category Positions will be selected from the Semi-Finalists. First Place Category Award winners will automatically be entered into the Little Peeps GRAND PRIZE AWARD competition. The CBR Grand Prize Genre Winners will compete for the CBR Overall Grand Prize for Best Book.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions at Info@ChantiReviews.com.
The Little Peeps Grand Prize Winner and the First Place Category Position award winners along with all Semi-Finalists in attendance will be announced at theApril 27th, 2019 Chanticleer Book Awards Annual Awards Gala,which takes place at the Chanticleer Authors Conference that will be held in Bellingham, Wash.
To compete in the 2019 Little Peeps Book Awards or for more information, pleaseclick here.
The Dante Rossetti Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Young Adult Fiction. The Dante Rossetti Book Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards (#CIBAs).
Chanticleer Book Reviews is looking for the best books featuring stories of all shapes and sizes written to an audience between the ages of about twelve to eighteen. Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, Mystery, Paranormal, Historical, Romance, Literary, we will put them to the test and choose the best Young Adult Books among them.
These Semi-Finalists will compete for the coveted limited positions of the First Place Category Winners of the 2018 Dante Rossetti Book Awards in the final rounds of judging. The First Place Category winners will automatically be entered into the Dante Rossetti GRAND PRIZE AWARD competition. The 16 CBR Grand Prize Genre Winners will compete for the CBR Overall Grand Prize for Best Book and its $1,000 purse. First Place Category and Grand Prize Awards will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Awards Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 27th, 2019, Bellingham, Washington.
These titles are in the running for the limited First Place positions of the 2018 Dante Rossetti Book Awards novel competition for Young Adult Fiction.
All Semi-Finalists will be recognized at the 2019 Chanticleer Authors Conference and CIBA Banquet & Ceremony.
Good luck to all in these next final rounds of judging to see which titles will move forward.
CONGRATULATIONS to SEMI-FINALISTS for the 2018 DANTE ROSSETTI Book Awards:
Mara Gan – Joined
Dan Morales – The Scouts of St. Michael Operation Archangel
Robert Wright Jr – Unwanted
Alexander Edlund– Keelic and the Pathfinders
KB Shaw –From the Shadows
Tom Edwards – The Honourable Catherine
Carmela A. Martino –Playing by Heart
Gina Detwiler – Forlorn
Cheryl G. Bostrom – Climb, Run, Drown
Alex Paul – Tookan Attack
Lynn Yvonne Moon – Whispers
Tiffany Brooks – Reality Gold
Andrea and William Vaughan – 2nd Gen
Molly Lazer – Owl Eyes: A Fairy Tale
Jacinta Jade – Change of Chaos
Chuck Vance – Sneaking Out
Andrea Murray –Something New
Susan Faw – Soul Sacrifice
Sarah Mendivel – Sam’s Theory
Christy Nicholas – The Enchanted Swans
Jennifer Alsever – Ember Burning: Trinity Forest Book 1
All Short Listers and SemiFinalists will receive high visibility along with special badges to wear during the Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Gala.
Grand Prize Ribbons!
Good Luck to each of you as your works competes for the 2018 Dante Rossetti Book Awards First Place category positions and the Dante Rossetti 2018 Grand Prize.
The Dante Rossetti Grand Prize Winner and the seven First Place Category Position award winners will be announced at theApril 27th, 2019 Chanticleer Book Awards Annual Awards Gala,which takes place at the Chanticleer Authors Conference that will be held in Bellingham, Wash.
We are now accepting submissions into the 2019 Dante Rossetti Book Awards writing competition. The deadline for submissions is May 30th, 2019. Please click here for more information.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions at Info@ChantiReviews.com.
The Somerset Book Awards are named for the prolific writer W. Somerset Maugham
A quote from the Irish Times
Permeated with cynicism from a blighted childhood onwards, Maugham had few illusions about himself or his work. In his 1938 memoir, The Summing Up, he acknowledged: “I am a made writer. I do not write as I want to; I write as I can . . . I have had small power of imagination . . . no lyrical quality . . . little gift of metaphor I had an acute power of observation, and it seemed to me that I could see a great many things that other people missed.” W. Somerset Maugham
Have you seen the films inspired by his books?
Some of Kiffer’s collection of Somerset Maugham’s booksWith Bette Davis 1934
Of Human Bondage
with Kim Novak 1964
Of Human Bondage
A young medical student finds himself attracted to a beautiful but ambitious unfeeling waitress who ultimately may destroy them both.
The Razor’s Edge
with Bill Murray 1984
The Razor’s Edge
An adventuresome young man goes off to find himself and loses his socialite fiancée in the process. But when he returns 10 years later, she will stop at nothing to get him back, even though she is already married.
He had everything and wanted nothing. He learned that he had nothing and wanted everything. He saved the world and then it shattered. The path to enlightenment is as sharp and narrow as a razor’s edge.
The Moon and Sixpence debuting Lawrence Olivier 1959 Written 1919 at the end of WWI
“The Moon and Sixpence is not, of course, a life of Paul Gauguin in the form of fiction. It is founded on what I had heard about him, but I used only the main facts of his story and for the rest trusted to such gifts of invention as I was fortunate enough to possess.” W. Somerset Maugham
Maugham describes the idea for the book arising during a year that he spent living in Paris in 1904: “…I met men who had known him and worked with him at Pont-Aven. I heard much about him. It occurred to me that there was in what I was told the subject of a novel.” The idea remained in his mind for ten years, until a visit to Tahiti in 1914, where Maugham was able to meet people who had known Gauguin, inspired him to start writing.
The film adaptions of W. Somerset Maugham’s works are too lengthy to list here. However, you can find them on the IMBD and on Wikipedia.
Writing advice from Somerset Maugham
Every writer hits now and then upon a thought that seems to him so happy, a repartee that amuses him so much, that to cut it is worse than having a tooth out. It is then that it is well to have engraved on his heart the maxim: If you can cut, cut.
William Somerset Maugham, better known as W. Somerset Maugham was a British author who wrote plays and short stories and novels. He was a dashing and daring man who did not wish to follow the other men in his family to practice law. Imagine, an individual in the Victorian Era… He was born January 25, 1874, in Paris (at the British Embassy) and died on December 16th, 1965, Nice, France.
During the First World War, our Somerset proved his valor by serving with the Red Cross in the ambulance corps (remember his earlier medical training) and was recruited by the British Secret Intelligence Service right before the October Revolution in 1917.
Somerset dove into medicine and was fairly good at it until he wrote his first novel, Liza of Lambeth (1897) and all bets were off. The book flew off the shelves and people were reportedly wrestling in the streets for copies to gift their loved ones as gifts. (*Creative license at work – however, you don’t know that this did not happen…) He was known to say, “I took to it (writing) as a duck takes to water.”
At the age of sixty-six, he had to flee with only a suitcase from the encroaching Nazis as they advanced across Europe. He escaped to England and then on to South Carolina, in the U.S. where he continued to work on the screenplay for Razor’s Edge. He moved to Hollywood and then eventually back to France.
Did we mention that W. Somerset Maugham was repudiated to be the highest paid author of the 1930s?
Is it any wonder why we chose Somerset to represent our Literary & Contemporary Fiction Awards?
Oak Ridge High School Cheer Leaders 1946
Somerset, Somerset,
He’s our man!
If you didn’t know him
Now you can!
Somerset Cheer by Sharon Anderson
Welcome to the Somerset Awards where we comb through entries dealing with contemporary stories, literary themes, adventure, satire, humor, magic realism, women and family themes. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them.
You might notice that the connection between the works below is that they are commentaries on society. Time frames may differ, but the human condition is central to the story.
Here is a listing of the Somerset Book Awards Hall of Fame Grand Prize winners!
Babylonian astrology and Jewish mysticism combine with Roman history to create a timeless story of passion and fate in Chuck Gould’s The Rabbi’s Gift. Babylonian astrology and Jewish mysticism combine with Roman history to create a timeless story of passion and fate in Chuck Gould’s The Rabbi’s Gift.
Words thrown as hard as boulders are easy to catch – if you’ve had practice. Just ask our hero, Muzhduk the Ugli the Fourth…In the great tradition of existentialism, Boldizar brings us a book that is hard to classify. It has aspects of the existential with a fair amount of satirical wordplay and a bit of theater of the absurd thrown in.
With a fast-paced storyline and a rich cast of characters, this award-winning winning novel offers a uniquely hilarious, but scary, perspective on the how the businesses of public relations and marketing can take technology to its precipice to take advantage of a media addicted public.
Individually Wrapped tells us the bizarre tale of Sam Gregory’s descent over the condensed course of a couple of days. Set in a 21st-century futuristic city, technology has permeated every aspect of the city dwellers’ lives… Self-delusion is an interesting state of mind because everyone can see it except yourself, as it propels you ever deeper into oblivion, where not even technology can save you.
We would be amiss by not featuring and recognizing Judith Kirscht, our very own Pacific Northwest Somerset inspired author. Judith specializes in family sagas and societal issues.
Judith was born and educated in Chicago during the Great Depression and then WWII. She taught school during the upheavals of the Vietnam protests and the Civil Rights movement. Later in life, she found herself in California, divorced and with two daughters. Judith taught creative writing at universities of very different cultures: University of Michigan and U of California, Santa Monica. Her novels continuously are awarded CIBA First Place Category ribbons for the Somerset Book Awards for Literary and Contemporary Fiction.
In a world where too many rocks are thrown at those who represent anything other than the norm in middle-class white America, two friends decide to take matters into their own hands and stand up to the hatred with which they are targeted in order to save their home and ultimately their lives.
Hawkins Lane is excellent and, ultimately, a redemptive story about the heart-wrenching tragedies a family can survive, and about the healing powers of nature and friendship. The characters and the story will linger long after the last page is read and you will be captivated from the first page.
“The Inheritors” by Judith Kirscht is a novel of one woman grappling to find her cultural and personal identity. Tolerance of others and the need for communication is required from each of us is an overriding theme in this latest work of Kirscht that explores the complexities of human nature and family bonds.
“Home Fires” is an intelligently written, fast-paced family drama that unfolds into a suspenseful page-turner. Although this novel masterfully renders the emotional hardships and tragedies that are sometimes part of dysfunctional relationships, it is not a depressing read.
The last day to submit your work is November 30, 2018. We invite you to join us, to tell us your stories, and to find out who will take home the prize at CAC19 on April 27th.
As our deadline draws near, don’t miss this opportunity to earn the distinction your literary novel deserves! Enter today!
The SOMERSET Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards – the CIBAs.
The winners will be announced at the CIBA Awards Ceremony on April 27, 2019, that will take place during the 2019 Chanticleer Authors Conference. All Semi-Finalists and First Place category winners will be recognized, the first place winners will be whisked up on stage to receive their custom ribbon and wait to see who among them will take home the Grand Prize. It’s an exciting evening of dinner, networking, and celebrations!
First Place category winners and Grand Prize winners will each receive an awards package. Whose works will be chosen? The excitement builds for the 2018 SOMERSET Book Awards competitions.
October Spotlight on the OZMA Awards – All things Fantasy, Magical Realms, Fantastical Creatures, Mythical Beings… you get the picture…
In October there’s a bit of a nip in the morning air, the days begin with mist clinging to the grass, and the sun peeks out in the afternoons. We add an extra layer – sweaters, warm socks, down vests. Late crops are set in and some are ready for harvest, pumpkins in all shapes and colors, broccoli, cabbage. Gone are our vine-ripened tomatoes and sweet peppers. Coffee shops around town offer up all-things pumpkin. October is the month our family pulls out J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy and immerse ourselves in another world because, in October, anything can happen.
A portion of Tiepolo Giambattista, Die Unbefleckte Empfängnis, 1767-1768-Drachen
You may ask yourself, what is OZMA? Simply put, OZMA refers to L. Frank Baum’s book Ozma of Oz, the third book in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz series, in which Dorothy and her uncle travel to Australia. On the way, poor Dorothy is swept overboard with her chicken and are rescued by Princess Ozma of the land of Ev. The story goes on and adventure abounds and at long last Dorothy is returned safely with her chicken to Oz. Fascinating story.
But, this is only the origin of the OZMA Awards.
Chanticleer Book Reviews is looking for the best books 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, we will put them to the test and choose the best among them.
The last day to submit your work is October 31, 2018. We invite you to join us, to tell us your stories, and to find out who will take home the prize at CAC19 on April 27th.
As our deadline draws near, don’t pull a disappearing act and forget to enter your fantasy novel! We accept completed manuscripts and published works. Enter today!
We encourage everyone to attend our Awards Ceremony on April 27, 2019, that will take place during the 2019 Chanticleer Authors Conference. First Place category winners will be whisked up on stage to receive their custom ribbon and wait to see who among them will take home the Grand Prize. It’s an exciting evening of dinner, networking, and celebrations!
First Place category winners and Grand Prize winners will each receive a stunning awards package well worth the price of entry into the OZMA Awards competition(VJ) Lakshman grew up in Bangkok, Thailand, where he first discovered his love of the martial arts, mythological heroes, and exotic lands, all of which influenced the development of characters and the world in his debut fantasy series, Mythborn – Fate of the Sovereign.s.
The OZMA Hall of Fame
2017 Grand Prize Winner:
How to Set the World on Fire by T.K. Riggins is a coming-of-age school of magic novel that readers will find hard to put down.
“T.K. Riggins started writing because of a dare. His friend was searching for something new to read, and after coming up empty-handed, challenged Riggins to take action. Instead of recommending a book, he decided to pen a story of his own.”
“Set against the epic backdrop of myths and legends brought to life, Mythborn II continues the sweeping saga of Arek Winterthorn, wayward apprentice of the eldritch Way, as he struggles to survive in the demon realm of Arcadia.” Mythborn Media/Mythborn Books
Vijay Lakshman
“(VJ) Lakshman grew up in Bangkok, Thailand, where he first discovered his love of the martial arts, mythological heroes, and exotic lands, all of which influenced the development of characters and the world in his debut fantasy series, Mythborn – Fate of the Sovereign.”
Carol M. Cram is the author of three novels of historical literary fiction. Her first novel, The Towers of Tuscany (Lake Union Publishing, 2014) and her second novel, A Woman of Note (Lake Union Publishing, 2015), were both designated Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society in the UK, and both won First in Category for the Chaucer and Goethe awards (Chanticleer Book Awards), with The Towers of Tuscany also winning the Grand Prize Chaucer Award for best historical novel pre-1750. Her third novel, The Muse of Fire, published in January 2018 by Kindle Press (e-book) and New Arcadia Publishing (print), won the Bronze for Best Historical Fiction from the Independent Publishers’ Book Awards and is currently short-listed for the Goethe award.
STATUS of the Judging Rounds for all Sixteen Divisions of the 2018 Chanticleer International Book Awards – the 2018 CIBAs – Official Notification to the CIBA 2018 Semi-Finalists
The Rabbi’s Gift by Chuck Gould 
The Ugly by Alexander Boldizar 
The Alexandrite by Rick Lenz
The Manipulator by Steve Lundin
The Camera’s Eye by 
The Inheritors by J
OZMA Awards – All things Fantasy, Magical Realms, Fantastical Creatures, Mythical Beings… you get the picture…
