Tag: CAC25

  • The 2025 Chaucer Spotlight for Early Historical Fiction

    Tales from the Distant Past

    A picture of Geoffery Chaucer as a white man with a gray goatee with the words "Chaucer Awards" across the bottom

    The Chaucer Awards Honor Early Historical Fiction Excellence

    The submissions for the 2025 Awards are underway, and Chaucer closes on August 31, 2025!

    In an age when stories spread by firelight and traveling minstrels, when legends were born from whispered tales and historical truth blended seamlessly with mythic storytelling, Geoffrey Chaucer understood the power of narrative to capture both the spirit of an age and the eternal human condition. The Chaucer Awards, inspired by the great poet whose “Prior’s Tale” gave Chanticleer its very name, celebrate this same tradition and honoring authors who bring the distant past to vivid life through masterful storytelling.

    As Chanticleer’s first historical fiction division, the Chaucer Awards represent our foundational commitment to discovering exceptional historical narratives. From the mists of pre-history through the grandeur of the Renaissance, these awards recognize the unique artistry required to transform ancient civilizations, legendary figures, and distant eras into compelling contemporary fiction.

    The Art of Ancient Storytelling

    book, glasses, old, buckles

    Writing early historical fiction demands extraordinary imagination and research skills. Authors must recreate worlds where written records are scarce, daily life was vastly different from our own, and the very foundations of modern society were still being formed. These storytellers serve as literary archaeologists, piecing together fragments of history, legend, and human nature to create authentic worlds that feel both historically grounded and emotionally true.

    The best early historical fiction doesn’t just transport readers to distant times—it reveals the timeless aspects of human experience that connect us across millennia. Whether exploring the political intrigue of Tudor courts, the epic journeys of Celtic heroes, or the daily struggles of medieval peasants, these stories illuminate how courage, love, ambition, and family loyalty have remained constant throughout human history.

    The challenge of early historical fiction lies in making ancient worlds accessible to modern readers while respecting the fundamental differences in how people thought, believed, and lived in earlier eras. The most successful works achieve this delicate balance, creating stories that feel authentically historical yet emotionally immediate.

    Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!

    We’re delighted to honor Rozsa Gaston, whose meticulously researched novel Maid of Honour: Anne Boleyn at Margaret of Austria’s Court claimed the 2024 Chaucer Grand Prize with a fresh perspective on one of history’s most infamous queens. Set in 1513 Europe, the novel follows young Anne Boleyn during her formative time as one of eighteen maids of honor at the court of Margaret of Austria, Europe’s most powerful woman, before her fateful journey to France and eventually to Henry VIII’s court.

    Gaston’s work exemplifies the scholarly depth and narrative skill that defines exceptional early historical fiction, exploring how Anne’s ambitious character was shaped by her early experiences with political intrigue, intellectual reform, and the complex dynamics of European court life. As one reviewer noted, this is “a young Anne in whom I absolutely believe, and who does much to explain the woman she’d become.” In addition to ongoing promotional features, Maid of Honour will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Rozsa Gaston will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview, and Maid of Honour will receive a coveted Chanticleer Editorial Review.

    Categories That Span the Ancient World

    The Chaucer Awards welcome early historical fiction across the full spectrum of pre-1750s history:

    • Pre-Historical Fiction – Stories from before recorded history, exploring humanity’s earliest experiences
    • Ancient Historical Fiction – Classical civilizations of Greece, Rome, Egypt, and other ancient empires
    • Dark Ages, Medieval, Renaissance – The transformative periods that bridged ancient and modern worlds
    • Elizabethan/Tudor – The golden age of English history and literature
    • 1600s – The century of exploration, scientific revolution, and political upheaval
    • World/International History Pre-1750s – Global perspectives on early historical periods
    • Americas – Historical Fiction Pre-1750s – Stories from the indigenous and colonial Americas
    • Legend Based pre-1750s Historical Fiction – Arthurian tales, Beowulf, and other mythic narratives
    • Norse/Celtic – Stories from the rich traditions of northern European cultures

    Each category represents a different window into humanity’s distant past, from intimate personal stories to epic tales of kingdoms and empires.

    Explore All of Our Historical Fiction Divisions

    The Chaucer Awards anchor Chanticleer’s comprehensive celebration of historical fiction across all time periods:

    Whether your historical fiction explores recent decades or the distant past, Chanticleer offers recognition for every period and perspective.

    Looking at Early Historical Excellence

    Check out some of these outstanding early historical fiction works we’ve celebrated recently!

    The Tale of the English Templar Cover

    The Tale of the English Templar
    By Helena P. Schrader

    Far from the romantic legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Helena P. Schrader’s The Tale of the English Templar faithfully captures the harsh decimation of the Knights Templar. Schrader offers a sobering, immersive look at one of history’s darkest betrayals. This is historical fiction worthy of legend with its feet planted firmly in research—not myth.

    Set in the early 14th century, the novel captures the downfall of the Knights Templar at the hands of French King Philip IV. With the Pope’s reluctant cooperation, the Templars are accused of heresy and tortured until they confess to crimes they didn’t commit. The king’s true motive? Their immense wealth.

    Among those captured is Sir Percy de Lacy, an English Templar who is swept up in a raid by local French soldiers and caught in a mass arrest on Friday, October 13th, 1307. What follows is a harrowing account of imprisonment, torture, and unlikely survival.

    Read More Here

    Diomedes in Kyprios Cover

    Diomedes in Kyprios
    By Gregory Michael Nixon

    Gregory Michael Nixon’s Diomedes in Kyprios, book 2 in the Diomedeia Series,continues the adventures of the godlike yet all too human hero, Diomedes of Tiryns, as he seeks to discover a meaningful destiny in the chaos of the Bronze Age Collapse.

    We begin after the fall of the Hittite Empire, four years after the destruction of Troy. He emerges from the dark river that runs through the underworld where the sacrifice of the Hittite Great King has just occurred, and he has rescued the Hittite Queen from certain death. Nearly drowned but still alive, he recalls only that he had vowed to reunite with the former Queen of the Hittites, the woman he loves named Lieia, at Paphos on the island of Kyprios (ancient Cyprus).

    Lieia must undergo her own “odyssey” to get to Paphos to meet Diomedes. She depends on her band of protectors, but they pay for fare aboard a ship with evil men who cannot be trusted.

    Read More Here

    Elodia’s Knife
    By Robert S. Phillips

    A Chaucer First Place Winner!

    Elodia is a young woman driven by dreadful circumstances to act with deadly force in the Robert S. Phillips novel Elodia’s Knife.

    What Elodia hoped would be her leap away from danger instead left her surrounded by perilous threats that now threaten to consume her. Armed with her courage, determination, instincts, and a trusty knife, Elodia faces a hostile world in foreign territory.

    Not all are against her though. Allies– even a friend– can be found, if Elodia can summon the bravery to listen to her feelings and own deep wishes.

    Young Elodia is unhappily married to an abusive husband. But when he tries to attack her again, she strikes back and kills him.

    Read More Here

    See our Review of Book 2 Here

    See our Review of Book 3 Here

    Shelter in a Hostile World Cover

    Shelter in a Hostile World
    By Mack Little

    Chanticleers 2023 Shorts Grand Prize Winner!

    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.

    Read More Here

    See our Review of Book 1, the 2022 Chaucer Grand Prize Winner Here

    Mistress of Legend Cover

    Mistress of Legend
    By Nicole Evelina

    Chanticleers 2021 Series Grand Prize Winner!

    In Mistress of Legend, the enticing finale of Nicole Evelina’s Guinevere’s Tale trilogy, matters are life-and-death by the second sentence, pulling readers deep into Guinevere’s fate in this retelling of Arthurian legend.

    We come upon heroine Guinevere in the midst of an ill-fated romance with Lancelot. It’s far from her first troubled entanglement, but the stakes rise as she’s severely injured and faces even more threats, pursued by possible enemies. The novel’s beginning is woven with backstory, which adds suspense to the drama unfolding in Guinevere’s present. This summarizing might be slow for readers familiar with the series, but makes the story accessible for those who haven’t picked up the first two books.

    Many more characters appear, waving the web of intrigue Guinevere finds herself caught in.

    Read More Here

    See our Review of Book 1 Here

    See our Review of Book 2 Here

    These works demonstrate how the best early historical fiction combines rigorous research with compelling storytelling to bring ancient worlds to vivid life.

    See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!

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

    The Chaucer Awards recognize the extraordinary scholarship and imagination required to recreate distant worlds and ancient civilizations. Whether you’ve spent years researching medieval manuscripts, exploring archaeological evidence, or reimagining legendary tales, these awards celebrate both your historical dedication and narrative artistry.

    Your Ancient Tale Awaits

    Great early historical fiction serves as a bridge between past and present, helping modern readers understand both how much the world has changed and how much human nature remains constant. Whether your story unfolds in a medieval castle, an ancient marketplace, or the legendary courts of Arthurian Britain, the Chaucer Awards celebrate the authors who keep the distant past alive through the power of exceptional storytelling.

    A picture of Geoffery Chaucer as a white man with a gray goatee with the words "Chaucer Awards" across the bottom

    Honor the literary tradition that inspired our name—the deadline is August 31, 2025!

    You know you want it…

    Submit to the Chaucer Awards today and help us celebrate the foundations of historical fiction!

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

    Honor and Courage: Stories That Matter

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

    Submit by August 31st, 2025!

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

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

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

    Memoirs from the Frontlines cover by Kim Sloan

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

    From Amazon:

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

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

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

    Order the book here!

     

     

    Chasing the Daylight Cover

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

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

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

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

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

    Read More Here

    Lost in Beirut Cover

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

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

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

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

    Read More Here

     

    Dear Bob Cover

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

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

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

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

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

    Read More Here


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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

  • The 2024 Nellie Bly First Place Roundup for Longform Journalism

    Nellie Bly AwardsThe Nellie Bly Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Journalistic Non-Fiction. The Grand Prize Winner, Dan Slepian’s book, The Sing Sing Files: One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice, will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Nellie Bly contest page year ’round!

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

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

    Join us in celebrating the 2024 First Place Nellie Bly Winners!

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Carla Conti – Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir

    After three years in Europe, former journalist Carla Conti* just wanted to settle her family into the suburbs of Philadelphia. But her high school friend Scott Powell, a lawyer handling a brutal prison stabbing case, needed a favor. Before she knew it, Carla became part of the defense team and mired in the terrifying world of federal prison gangs, penal abuse, and corruption.

    Then, when she agreed to write a tell-all book on the violent machinations behind the court case — with Scott’s client as an inside source — the stakes turned deadly. Two different prison gangs issued “hit orders” against the prisoner she and Scott now considered a friend, and the journalist and defense attorney were imperiled by association.

    Chained Birds is a true crime memoir of Carla’s 10-year journey to advocate for federal inmate Kevin Sanders and help him re-enter society after prison. But the mission came at a cost as Carla struggled to balance her own, Scott’s, and Kevin’s safety while writing an exposé on the horrific conditions that led to the shutdown of an experimental prison program in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

    This thrilling, frightening book depicts a journey filled with unlikely friendships, invisible victims of prison abuse, failings in our criminal justice system, and redemption through storytelling.

    *Carla Conti is a pen name used by the author to protect her real identity for fear of retribution.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

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

    In Men-in-the-Middle, author Kori Reed interviews men across corporate America about gender equity in the workplace. This is a topic men can influence, as they hold nearly 75 percent of C-suite positions, but they don’t talk about it at the office. As it turns out, men have a lot to say! They are aware of the issues and the impacts and, at the same time, unsure of what to do. This uncertainty renders Men-in-the-Middle, even though they may be supporters, on the silent sidelines of gender equity.

    Combining interviews with insights from secondary research, Reed seeks to provide a framework to understand this “silent majority” and shine the light on new perspectives and topics that often go undiscussed.

    Men-in-the-Middle: Conversations to Gain Momentum with Gender Equity’s Silent Majority invites men and women to cultivate conversations by providing an orientation on perspective-taking and laying a foundation to move gender equity forward in a new inclusive way.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

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

    Murder may seem easy, and getting away with it even easier, particularly in Indian Country. Big Horn County, MT, where Ms. Bley grew up, bears the unfortunate distinction of having the highest rate of missing and murdered women and girls. Selena Not Afraid fell victim to this hidden epidemic on New Year’s Day 2020, disappearing without a trace under mysterious circumstances. Her body was discovered 20 days later in an open field, previously intensively searched. The county sheriff hastily labeled her death as “accidental hypothermia” before she could undergo a thorough examination by a coroner, a cause of death that appears all too common in Crow Indian country.

    The lack of answers surrounding Selena’s disappearance and the questionable cause of her death sparked outrage in the community. Stolen Voices: Missing and Murdered in Big Horn County compellingly recounts the stories of several young Native American Indians who have gone missing or been brutally murdered in Big Horn County. This book not only raises awareness but also sheds light on first-hand perspectives from the family members of Crow and Cheyenne tribal members who were killed. Additionally, it highlights the efforts of those working to make a difference in Indian Country, aiming to reduce instances of violence against Native women. Stolen Voices a multi-award winning book delves into the deeper issues at the heart of this hidden epidemic, whose awareness is gaining momentum.

    Bonnie Bley, a native of Wyoming, spent her formative years in the border reservation town of Hardin, MT, situated in the southeastern corner of Montana. Her educational journey took her to Aberdeen, SD, and Bloomington, MN, where she honed her skills and knowledge. In the late 1980s, she made Minnesota her home, and to this day, it remains the backdrop to her life.

    Although Minnesota has become her primary residence, Bonnie remains deeply connected to her roots in Montana and Wyoming, considering them the bedrock of her identity. It is within this intricate tapestry of her experiences that Bonnie Bley has woven the compelling narrative of Stolen Voices: Missing and Murdered in Big Horn County. This poignant work sheds light on the stories of Indigenous People who have tragically gone missing or been murdered in the very county where she spent her upbringing, offering BONNIE BLEY a heartfelt exploration of a community’s struggles and losses.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

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

    It was family separation and “kids in cages” that drove Sarah Towle to the U.S. southern border. On discovering the many-headed hydra that is the U.S. immigration system—and the heroic determination of those caught under its knee—she could never look away again. Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands charts Sarah’s journey from outrage to activism to abolition as she exposes, layer by “broken” layer, the global deterrence to detention to deportation complex that is failing everyone—save the profiteers and demagogues who benefit from it.

    Deftly weaving together oral storytelling, history, and memoir, Sarah illustrates how the U.S. has led the retreat from post-WWII commitments to protecting human rights. Yet within the web of normalized cruelty, she finds hope and inspiration in the extraordinary acts of ordinary people who prove, every day, there is a better way. By amplifying their voices and celebrating their efforts, Sarah reveals that we can welcome with dignity those most in need of safety and compassion. In unmasking the real root causes of the so-called “crisis” in human migration, she urges us to act before we travel much farther down our current course—one which history will not soon forgive, or forget.

    Find it Locally or on Amazon!


    Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2024 Nellie Bly First Place Winners!

    Your book can join the Tiers of Achievement, but only if you submit to the Nellie Bly Awards!

     

    Got a great Non-Fiction Book? The 2025 Nellie Bly Book Awards are open through the end of August!

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest
    Submit to the Nellie Bly Awards Today!
  • The 2024 Military and Front Line First Place Roundup for Service to Others

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

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

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

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

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

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

    military, navy, man

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

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

    Rod decides to join the Navy because he needs employment.

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

    Read More Here!

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

    Patrick Hogan – Coincidence, You Say? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Find it on Amazon!

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

    Also a 2024 Mind and Spirit First Place Winner!

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

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

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

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

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

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

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

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

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

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

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!


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

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

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

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

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

    Honoring Those Who Answer the Call

    Military & Front Line Awards Celebrate Stories of Service and Sacrifice

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

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

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

    The Sacred Trust of Service Stories

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

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

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

    Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!

    Memoirs from the Frontlines cover by Kim Sloan

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

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

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

    Categories That Honor Every Form of Service

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

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

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

    Other August Non-Fiction Opportunities

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

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

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

    Looking at Stories of Service

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

    Unauthorized Disclosures cover

    Unauthorized Disclosures
    By Rod Haynes

    A Military and Front Line First Place Winner!

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

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

    Rod decides to join the Navy because he needs employment.

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

    Read More Here

    Combat Missions
    By Burl Harmon

    A Military and Front Line First Place Winner!

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

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

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

    Read More Here

    Chasing the Daylight Cover

    Chasing The Daylight
    By Joanna Rakowski

    The 2023 Military and Frontline Grand Prize Winner!

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

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

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

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

    Read More Here

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

    A Military and Front Line First Place Winner!

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

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

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

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

    Read More Here

    The Doctor’s Voice
    By Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli

    A Harvey Chute First Place Winner!

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

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

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

    Read More Here

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


    See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!

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

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

    Your Service Story Matters

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

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

    You know you want it…

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

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

    One week left to enter 3 Mystery Divisions and more!

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

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

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

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

    Thriller Suspense Fiction Award

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

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

    Enemies Domestic by John DeDakis

    Enemies Domestic Cover by John DeDakis

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Congratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Global Thriller Awards!

    Global Thriller

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

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

    A Blanket of Steel by Timothy S. Johnston

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

    Cozy Mystery Fiction Award

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

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

    If Two Are Dead by Jeanne Matthews

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

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

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

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

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

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

    Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

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

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

    Your book deserves to be discovered

  • Ten days remain! The countdown continues with Series, Shorts, and Collections

    Three Divisions Close at the end of July

    Three excellent divisions close at the end of July!

    Discovery is just a click away!

    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!

    Best Book Grand Prize for the Chanticleer Int'l Book AwardsCongratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Series Award for Fiction and Non-Fiction!

    A stack of books flying into the blue sky for the Book Series Awards

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

    A Vengeful Realm by Tim Facciola

    See the full list of 2024 Book Series Winners here!

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Congratulations to the Winners of the 2024 SEA Shorts Awards!

    And a huge round of applause for the 2024 SEA Shorts Awards Grand Prize Winners:

    Something About Lizzy by Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi

    Something About Lizzy cover by Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi

    Dream Rut: Navigating Your Path Forward by Dr. Yumiko Shimabukuro

    Illustrated by Jieyu Deng

    Dream Rut Navigating Your Path Forward cover by Yumiko Shimabukuro

    See the SEA Shorts Winners for shorter work here and for longer work here!

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

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

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

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

    Your book deserves to be discovered, celebrated, and shared with the world. 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.

    Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

     

    The Series Awards, The SEA Shorts Awards, and The Collections and Anthologies Awards

    Your book deserves to be discovered

  • The 2025 Ozma Long List For Fantasy Fiction

    The 2025 Ozma Long List For Fantasy Fiction

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

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

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

    These titles have moved forward 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!

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

    Congratulations once more to the 2024 Ozma Grand Prize Winner

    A Circle of Stars

    By Erin Lark Maples

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

    Circle of Stars

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

    Ready to Submit?

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

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest

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

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

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

    Join us for our 14th annual conference and discover why!

    Chanticleer Authors Conference, people, CAC2025

  • The 2025 SEA Shorts Hall of Fame for Short Stories, Essays, and Novellas

    Short Work? No problem

    We’ve got winners!

    The CIBA Badge for the SEA Shorts Awards has a small pencil on a blue background

    **Got a Short to Share?**

    Submissions for the 2025 Shorts Awards are open through July 31st!

    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.

    See our newest addition, the Collections and Anthologies Award here!

    Something About Lizzy
    By Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi

    Something About Lizzy cover 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

    Dream Rut Navigating Your Path Forward cover by Yumiko Shimabukuro

    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

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    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.

    Read More Here

    The Heart of Kublai Khans Menagerie Keeper
    By Catherine Brown

    A Manuscript

    Blue and Gold Badge Recognizing The Heart of Kublai Khan's Menagerie Keeper by Catherine Brown for winning the 2023 Shorts- Short Prose Grand Prize

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    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.

    Read More Here

    Old Man Baseball
    By Mike Murphey

    The Grand Prize for Short Stories and Essays in the Shorts Awards for Old Man Baseball by Mike Murphey

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    New York: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst
    By Elizabeth Crowens

    New York Cover

    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.

    Read More Here

    Homegoing
    By Toni Ann Johnson

    Homegoing Cover

    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.

    Read More Here


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

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

    Submit to the CIBAs Today!

    Now is your chance to touch the hearts of readers everywhere. Your short prose deserves to be discovered, and you can submit to the submit today! by the end of the month. Don’t miss this chance to give your book the recognition it deserves.

    The Global Thriller Awards is your chance to shine!

    The 2025 CIBA Grand Prize Winners at CAC25

  • Two Weeks left to submit to the Chanticleer Cover Design Awards (CCDAs!)

    Two Divisions Close at the end of July

    The Cover Design Book Awards for Fiction and Non-Fiction

    Two excellent divisions close at the end of July!

    Don’t let your cover miss out!

    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!

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

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    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

    Teaching in the Dark Cover

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

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

     

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

    Your book deserves to be discovered, celebrated, and shared with the world. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your talent and gain valuable exposure at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (April 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.

    Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

    The Cover Design Book Awards for Fiction and Non-Fiction

    The Chanticleer Cover Design Awards for Fiction and Non-Fiction

    Your book deserves to be discovered