Tag: Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards

  • The 2024 Clue Long List for Suspense/Thriller Fiction

    The 2024 Clue Long List for Suspense/Thriller Fiction

    The Clue Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Suspense and Thriller Mysteries. The Clue Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

    Chanticleer International Book Awards is seeking the best books featuring suspense, thrilling adventure, detective work, private eye, police procedural, and crime-solving, we will put them to the test to discover the best! (For lighter-hearted Mystery and Classic Cozy Mysteries please check out our Mystery & Mayhem Awards, and for High Stakes Suspense Novels please check out our Global Thriller Awards).

    These titles have moved forward in the first look rounds from all 2024 CLUE entries to the 2024 Clue Book Awards LONG LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2024 Clue 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, CAC25.

    We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 in beautiful Bellingham, WA at the Bellingham Yacht Club sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference

    A Wreath with the words "CAC 2025" on it to celebrate the Chanticleer Author's Conference!

    These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2024 Clue Book Awards novel competition for Suspense and Thriller!

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

    • Christopher Mele – Goodwill’s Secrets
    • Pamela Beason – If Only
    • Jeff Nania – Musky Run
    • John DeDakis – Enemies Domestic
    • George St. Georges – AI: Opening
    • Charlotte Stuart & Don Stuart – Midnight for Justice
    • Hannah D Sharpe – Between Lies and Revenge
    • Susan Rogers and John Roosen – Tree Pose
    • Meredith Forde – The Protectee
    • M.K. Tod – That Was Then
    • Cathi Stoler – Out of Time: A Nick Donahue Adventure
    • Tony Ollivier – The Tokyo Diversion
    • D.W. Layton – Otello’s Oil: A Saga of Blood and Oil
    • Lisa Towles – Codex
    • T.O. Paine – The Delusion
    • M.M. Cochran – The Button Collector
    • Peter Berk – First Line of Defense
    • Allison McKenzie – The Unexpected Hostage
    • Sandra J. Jackson – Letting Go of September
    • Charlotte Stuart – Raven’s Legacy
    • Lisa Malice – Lest She Forget
    • Corey Lynn Fayman – The Esmeralda Goodbye
    • Marie Still – My Darlings
    • Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke – Change of Mission: A Jake Fortina Series Novel
    • Jeannee Sacken – The Rule of Thirds
    • Steven Walker – Gunny Mac Private Detective Trouble in Chinatown
    • Patrick Greenwood – Shores of Okinawa
    • Chad Boudreaux – Homecoming Queen: A Small Town Political Thriller
    • Betsy Hartmann – Last Place Called Home
    • J T Owens – The Fisherman Returns
    • Ron Singerton – Ruptured
    • Michael Grigsby – Forecasting Error
    • Jeffrey Jay Levin – Deep Cover, The Unknowing Agent
    • Dr. Sandra Tanner – Spirited Unraveling
    • Saralyn Richard – Murder Outside the Box
    • Sean Hagerty – Jones Point
    • Kathryn Caraway – Unfollow Me
    • Nannette Potter – Pierce the Darkness
    • TJ Stecker – The Moth
    • Mike Van Horn – The Fireteam
    • Amy Morris-Young – Doolittle 2
    • Dana J. Summers – Hell’s Heart
    • AG Flitcher – Black Rose Cocoon
    • Dave Lager – Revelations
    • Carl Vonderau – Saving Myles
    • Robert Allen Stowe – The Fires of Rubicon
    • Chris Chan – She Ruined Our Lives
    • Ray Collins – The General’s Briefcase
    • Ray Collins – Motive for Murder
    • Lo Monaco – Fallen In A Dark Uneven Way
    • Lisa Towles – Terror Bay
    • Sharon Michalove – Dead in the Alley
    • Colleen Coyne – Bewept
    • Shanessa Gluhm – A River of Crows
    • Miriam Verbeek – The Forest
    • Michael Pronko – Shitamachi Scam
    • Wendy Bayne – Dark Entity
    • Steve Lazarus – Call Me Sonny
    • Sharon Lynn – IoT Gaslight

    PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS! 

    This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed us on Facebook.

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

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    Congratulations once more to the 2023 Clue Grand Prize Winner

    The Other Murder

    By Kevin G. Chapman

    The Other Murder Cover

     

    blue and gold badge recognizing The Other Murder by Kevin G Chapman for winning the 2023 Clue grand prize

     

    Click here to see the full list of 2023 Clue Book Award Winners for Suspense and Thriller Mysteries.

    We are now accepting submissions into the 2025 Clue Book Awards for Suspense and Thriller Mysteries.

    Please click here for more information.

    Winners will be announced at the 2024 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

    April 3 – 6, 2025! 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 annual conference as we enter our second decade and discover why!

     

  • The 2023 First Place Global Thriller Roundup for High Stakes Suspense!

    Global ThrillerThe Global Thriller Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of High Stakes Thrillers. The Grand Prize Winner, Ralph R. ‘Rick’ Steinke’s book, Jake Fortina and the Roman Conspiracy, will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Global Thriller contest page year ’round!

    The best part about being a Chanticleer Int’l Book Award Winner is the continued love and promotion for your book!

    The 2023 Global Thriller Winners were announced at the 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference in April, and you can see the official winners post here!

    Join us in celebrating the 2023 First Place Global Thriller Winners!

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    D.L. Wilburn Jr. – The God Protocol: Dragon

     

    In the simmering summer of 2023, as the United States and China silently battle for supremacy in Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence, the world teeters on the brink of a technological singularity. Amidst this high-stakes arena, George Isaacson, a seemingly inconsequential social media conspiracy theorist, stumbles upon a trail of secrets. He spins a tale weaving together NASA’s clandestine findings, whispers of First Contact with extraterrestrial beings, and a shadowy global cover-up. Skepticism meets his claims, yet as the veil of deception lifts, George’s narrative reveals startling truths, thrusting him into the spotlight as an unlikely hero.

    ‘The God Protocol’ is not just a novel; it’s a technothriller odyssey that interlaces the enigmatic lore of the Anunnaki with the cutting-edge realms of AI Sentience and Nanotechnology. It’s a story of international conspiracy and cover-ups, set in a near future where advanced technology blurs the lines between myth and reality. Prepare for a journey that escalates into an awe-inspiring finale, challenging the very fabric of existence and leaving readers gasping for air.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Glenn Dyer – Trust No One

     

    Algiers. Winter 1943. Conor Thorn is devastated. He’s been fired from the OSS. His wife, Emily, has been fired from MI6. They allowed their morals to bend certain truths concerning the outcome of their last mission. Forever dedicated to defeating Axis powers, these skilled operatives jump at the chance to secretly help General Eisenhower deal with a political time bomb threatening Allied harmony and to redeem their honorable standing. To recover a rumored archive holding the truth about an assassination plot, they must travel deep into perilous Axis territory.

    In the crosshairs of those determined to keep the information out of Allied hands, Conor and Emily fall victim to a violent assault. Though the resulting injuries leave him severely concussed and confused, Conor refuses to stand down while his beloved ventures deeper into danger.

    Can Conor and Emily piece together a political puzzle in time to keep Allied unity from fracturing?

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Mark James – Friendship Games

    An American aircraft carrier blows up and sinks in the Persian Gulf. Was it an accident? A terrorist attack? Does it matter?

    Maybe not.

    Not after decades of hostility and brinkmanship between the United States and Iran. And certainly not after a known Iranian-funded and supported terrorist organization launches an attack on an American naval facility in the middle of rescue operations.
    Iran is convinced that the United States is about to embark on a full-scale war and seek nothing short of regime change. They aren’t wrong. Iran strikes first. And they have some tricks up their sleeve. But nothing ever goes to plan.

    This book is a warning.

    The next war may be like no other in American history.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Randall Krzak – Ultimate Escalation

     

    Punjabi militants seek to distance themselves from Indian and Pakistani dominance and interference. With the dissolution of British India in 1947, families were ripped apart as the Punjabi region was split between the two countries. Limited attacks within each country caused further persecution and heartache. The militants have no idea how to achieve their desires–until the appearance of Vladimir Aleksandrovich Nikolaev, a disgraced Spetsnaz colonel. He offers the militants a means to spark a conflict between the two nuclear powers. Russian subs sold on the black market and manned by Iranian and Russian sailors will surface off the coasts of the two countries and destroy Karachi and Mumbai. Propaganda machines will levy accusations against each country, leading to escalation of hostilities, pushing the countries to the brink of nuclear war. The Bedlam organization fields their three teams to counter the violence and seek to restore calm before it’s too late. Will they be successful, or will South Asia become a smoking ruin?

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Susan Rogers and John Roosen – Cobra Pose

    Australia is a surfers’ paradise … but this nefarious surfing on the ‘net’ … will destroy the global financial system. It’s not just a rippling ‘scam’ job. Has Australia been infiltrated at levels they’ve never known?

    Elaina Williams uses a Cobra Pose in her Yoga studio to boost her energy – she will need it! Elaina’s father, Edward, is in trouble. He’s disappeared.

    As a solicitor and now yoga instructor, Elaina drags Ric, a man she’s fallen for, into the bursting web of techno-thrilling intrigue.

    Ric Peters has just returned from a disastrous trip to Indonesia. Ric bills himself as a photojournalist. Elaina suspects he shoots more than just photographs. Ric has insight into the journey he and Elaina must take. He knows Elaina isn’t ready for what’s going to happen. There are too many moving parts for him to control.

    Time is running out before The Cobra and The Wolf strike with their heist. They are extending their fangs towards Australia’s ‘golden coastline’ to bite into and destabilise financial institutions worldwide.

    Find it on Amazon


    Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2023 Global Thrillers First Place Winners!

    Global Thriller

    You can see our Spotlight on the Global Thriller Grand Prize Winners, including Ralph R ‘Rick’ Steinke’s incredible book Jake Fortina and the Roman Conspiracy here.

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

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

    Got a great High Stakes Suspense Thriller? The 2024 Global Thriller Book Awards are open through the end of October!

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest
    Submit to the Global Thriller Awards Today!
  • The 2023 Shelley Book Awards First Place Roundup for Paranormal Fiction!

    The Shelley Awards for Paranormal Fiction features an image of Mary Shelley at her writing deskThe Shelley Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Supernatural Fiction. The Grand Prize Winner, Lydia M Hawke’s book, Becoming Crone will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Shelley 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 2023 Shelley/Paranormal Winners were announced at the 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference in April, and you can see the official winners post here!

    Join us in celebrating the 2023 Shelley (formerly Paranormal) First Place Paranormal Winners!

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Joe Lyon – The Molossus of Old Man Moyer

    Former convict Jimmy Myer finds himself in a precarious situation, transporting the corpse of a well-known psychic, when an unexpected detour brings him face-to-face with the Molossus. This mythical creature is rumored to grant its keeper immense wealth, albeit at a harrowing price—the inevitable violent demise of its host. Currently, the beast is in the possession of Old Man Moyer, a billionaire with a sinister reputation, who is hell-bent on escaping this fatal fate.

    As Jimmy becomes entangled in this eerie narrative, he navigates a world filled with mysterious mediums, determined detectives, and ghostly onlookers. The journey is fraught with danger and intrigue, leading to a gripping climax that forces readers to ponder a disturbing question: Can any treasure justify the cost of one’s life?
    The Molossus of Old Man Moyer unfolds as a mesmerizing tale of greed, destiny, and the supernatural, challenging the boundaries between the material and the mystical.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Jo Deniau – Hologram

    Ever since holographer David Leone turned forty, he’s feasted on spicy memories of his lost love, “Lu,” who’s now a famous movie star. When the ghost image of a child appears in a holographic portrait of a bride and groom, David’s determined to capture clues to Lu’s traumatic childhood. But he must first invent a device to pre-screen space for holographic traces. Funded by the bride’s millionaire father, David goes back to Lu’s old home. But he’s ill-prepared to survive the hazards of this staging ground, including the home’s mercenary owners, a lapse in his tree-climbing prowess, and Lu’s return to Circleville.

    A threat less obvious to David is that his discoveries might make him famous-for all the wrong reasons.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Nola Nash – House of Mirrors

     

    Sometimes the only ones who see us for who we truly are, are the mirrors.

    The small historic town of Franklin, Tennessee, hides a grisly past behind its pristine Hallmark movie façade. While the glories of the town’s history and its architecture are meticulously preserved, the hauntings left behind by the darker side of that history are kept tucked away in the local ghost tours. When a new couple moves into the Bennett House, the town is brought face-to-face with the spirits of their past that have been trapped for a century and a half in mirror prisons that now reside on the Bennett House walls. Can Ruby Baxter, local tour guide, historian, and reluctant medium help the lost souls find the homes they belong in and peace with their own pasts so they can finally rest? Or will town prejudices against the spirits hold them hostage? Will the mirrors help Ruby find her purpose and finally see herself as others do?

    Woven through the modern quest for helping the souls of the past find their voices and peace, are the Five Bloodiest Hours of the American Civil War – The Battle of Franklin. Mirroring events in the modern tale, the story of humanity, fear, and sacrifice of the soldiers and citizens whose experiences and names were left out of the history books is finally told so that they, too, can be seen for who they truly were.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Claire Fraise – They Stay

    There’s no way she’s going to believe in ghosts. But when her sibling is kidnapped, the only clues she has come from the other side…

    Shiloh Oleson loves her six-year-old brother more than life. So the headstrong teen’s world shatters when he goes missing after tee-ball practice and her abusive father gives up the search. But the devastated girl doesn’t know what to think when a weirdo classmate claims a dead spirit told her his location.

    Outright rejecting any paranormal garbage, Shiloh and her friends frantically investigate a similar disappearance in the hope of uncovering the truth. But all the desperate teenager unearths are disturbing secrets about her family, the school… and a sinister force on her tail.

    Can the determined young woman bring the little boy home before all hell breaks loose?

    They Stay is the first book in the bone-chilling They Stay YA supernatural thriller series. If you like relatable characters, unearthly mayhem, and endings that leave you wanting more, then you’ll love Claire Fraise’s spine-tingling story.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Fionn Mac Meldrum – The Shadow of Banshee Hill

    In 1818, Cillian Valour, an Irish rebel’s son with limited prospects, is determined to marry his longtime love, Martha Ashworth, daughter of a local landlord. When her father forbids their engagement, Cillian turns to the heavens for help in an act of desperation-but it is a mysterious stranger that answers his call. After accepting an offer too good to refuse, Cillian and Martha are forever changed. Together, the star-crossed lovers turn away from the light and cut a swath of horror and misery across the land-until one night in Rome, the unthinkable happens.

    Emily Corvo’s life in modern-day Boston is upended by the murder of her mother and the disappearance of her father. Learning that her mother was callously slaughtered by something not of this world, Emily vows to rescue her father and avenge her mother by hunting down those responsible. But she may find that only by trusting the enemy can she quench her thirst for vengeance.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    James McKenna- An October’s Journey: Poe’s Final Gift

    In this elegant work of literary fantasy, a young, 19th century attorney receives a strange birthday gift from his friend, Edgar Allan Poe, who convinces him to defend a woman and her two grown children who have been arrested for practicing witchcraft. The trial is to be held in an old Puritan town that has somehow “fallen out of time,” and the verdict of the case will determine the fate of many more than just the three souls on trial. Navigating as a stranger in an even stranger land, he must piece together the truth of the most bizarre case of his career.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon


    Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2023 Paranormal First Place Winners!

    The Shelley Awards for Paranormal Fiction features an image of Mary Shelley at her writing desk

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

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

    Got a great Fiction Book? The 2024 Shelley Book Awards are open through the end of October!

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest
    Submit to the Shelley Awards Today!
  • Ten Days Remain! The Somerset Awards and the Humor and Satire Awards!

    The Final Fiction Divisions of this years Award cycle close in less than 2 weeks!

    10 days left to submit!

    Don’t let your book miss out!

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

    The Humor and Satire Award for Allegorical Fiction , The Somerset Awards for Contemporary and Literary Fiction and are still open!

    Best Book Grand Prize for the Chanticleer Int'l Book AwardsCongratulations to the Winners of the 2023 Humor & Satire Awards for Allegorical Fiction!

    • Eileen O’Finlan – All the Furs and Feathers
    • Allyson Rice – The Key to Circus-Mom Highway
    • Marco Ocram – The Awful Truth About The Herbert Quarry Affair
    • Lou Dischler – The Rising
    • Steven Mayfield – The Penny Mansions
    • Tom Strelich – Water Memory

    And a huge round of applause for the 2023 Humor & Satire Awards Grand Prize Winner:

    Quantum Consequence

    by Mike Murphey

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Congratulations to the Winners of the 2023 Somerset Awards for Contemporary and Literary Fiction!

    • David Fitz-Gerald – If It’s the Last Thing I Do
    • J.A. Wright – Eat and Get Gas
    • B. Lynn Carter – Jus Breathe
    • Leslie Liautaud – Black Bear Lake
    • James Gish, Jr. – When Blackbirds Dream
    • Jennifer Gold – Halfway to You
    • Donna Norman-Carbone – All That is Sacred
    • Nova Garcia – Not That Kind of Call Girl

    And a huge round of applause for the 2023 Somerset Awards Grand Prize Winner:

    You Can’t Fool A Mermaid

    By Judy Keeslar Santamaria

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

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

    Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest

    Your book deserves to be discovered

    Don’t Delay! Enter Today!

    The Humor and Satire Awards and The Somerset Awards 

     

  • The 2024 Book Series Awards Spotlight for Fiction and Non-Fiction Series

    Books!

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

    Betcha can’t have just one!

    We’re ready. Is your series?

    We are Delighted to Celebrate the 2023 Winners of the Series Award!

    • John J. Spearman – FitzDuncan
    • James Hutson-Wiley – The Sugar Merchant
    • Alice McVeigh – Warleigh Hall Press Jane Austen Series
    • Tom Burkhalter – No Merciful War
    • Dave Lager – The Ro Delahanty Novels
    • Jode Millman – The Queen City Crimes Series
    • Mark A. Gibson – Hamilton Place

    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2023 SERIES Awards is:

    Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail

    by David Fitz-Gerald

    Blue and Gold Badge recognizing Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail by David Fitz-Gerald for winning the 2023 Series Grand Prize

    We are so looking forward to celebrating these incredible book series!

    First though, let’s celebrate some recent books in a series that have come our way for review!

    SUMMER CYCLONE: Magic at Myers Beach Book 4
    By Alan B. Gibson

    Summer Cyclone Cover

    The citizens of the three fairy kingdoms clash, forced to live shoulder-to-shoulder alongside ungoverned Outliers. In Summer Cyclone, fourth book of Alan B. Gibson’s Magic at Myers Beach series, unassuming tea-shop manager Stefán tries to find love while keeping all of fairy society from fracturing.

    The three fairy kings, Theos, Zsombor, and Christophe, evacuate their people to Myers Beach. It’s only here that they have any chance of recreating fairy dust after their old sources had been poisoned, and saving every fairy life. They take in the Outliers, remnants of a fallen kingdom, and at first find good will between the groups. But with thousands of fairies moving in, they have to keep everyone on a short leash or else risk humans catching wind of their new neighbors. Resentment of these strange Outliers builds.

    Stefán, a close confidant to Theos, struggles to keep anti-Outlier sentiment at bay with the help of some enigmatic and knowledgeable new friends. Rumors of him giving the Outliers special treatment grow stronger as some fairies begin to suspect that he’s actually one of them.

    Read more here!

    SEA TIGERS And MERCHANTS: Salem Stories Book 2
    By Sandra Wagner-Wright

    Sea Tigers & Merchants

    Two families vie for power in mercantile 18th-century Salem. Sea Tigers and Merchants, the second book in Sandra Wagner-Wright’s Salem Stories series, returns to a world of treacherous storms, tantalizing wealth, and the demands of high society on its children.

    Elias Hasket Derby, Sr. has kept his promise to his wife Eliza—they rule Salem. Hasket’s merchant ships bring in great fortune, while Eliza holds court as the most influential woman in the city’s social spheres. And their ambitions have grown to meet their station. Hasket launches his riskiest endeavor—the Grand Turk, a ship so massive she’s nearly too heavy to be pulled out of the docks. Meanwhile Eliza, snubbed by George Washington’s stay at another family’s mansion, insists they build a house so grand it will put all others to shame.

    Such success, of course, draws the envious eye of Hasket’s competitor.

    Read more here!

    MAYDAY: Land, Sea, and Air Series Book 2
    By Sue C. Dugan

    plane, jungle, girl, mayday, sue c dugan, path

    In Sue C. Dugan’s middle grade adventure, Mayday: Land, Sea, and Air Series Book 2, thirteen-year-old Jessie and her father, Adam, take an unexpected detour when their plane crashes on a secluded island.

    On their final vacation before Adam begins chemotherapy for thyroid cancer, Jessie and her father take off in their Cessna aircraft over the boundless, azure Atlantic Ocean. Jessie’s anxiety about her father’s health is on high-alert during the trip, especially when she remembers her mother’s cancerous death.

    Twenty minutes into their flight, the sky grows gloomy, and the wind picks up speed from all sides.

    Read more here!

    DREAMS And ILLUSIONS: Gabrielle Dorian Mysteries Book 1
    By Rebecca Olmstead

    Dreams and Illusions by Rebecca Olmstead is a delicate interplay of mysteries balanced on an emotional undercurrent, exploring the immutable ebb and flow of life to find resilience in the shadow of misfortunes.

    In the bustling town of Whitman, Gabrielle co-owns the boutique Belle Femme with her best friend, Kate. Radiating the tranquil aura of an empowered business owner, Gabrielle is a caring woman, but burdened with  a secret she hides from everyone. Gabrielle is blessed—or perhaps cursed—with prophetic dreams.

    Almost as if they are a glimpse into the future, Gabrielle wrestles with dreams that foretell an ominous fate. Soon she is confronted with a series of distressing events that thrust her into a mystery.

    Read more here!


    We can’t stop reading books, so please send us more!

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

    Enter the Book Series Awards by the end of October!

    This is the journey from beginning to end for the CIBAs Levels of Achievement is so worthwhile! Every list you make means more promotion for you and your work as each list is posted right here on our website, on our social media, and also out in our newsletter!

    Your Book Deserves to be Discovered!

  • The 2023 Humor and Satire First Place Winners Roundup!

    The Humor and Satire Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Humorous, Satirical and Allegorical Fiction. The Grand Prize Winner, Mike Murphey’s book, Quantum Consequence, will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article to come, as well as be featured on the Humor and Satire 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!

    The 2023 Humor and Satire Winners were announced at the 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference in April, and you can see the official winners post here!

    Join us in celebrating the 2023 First Place Humor and Satire Winners!

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Eileen O’Finlan – All the Furs and Feathers

    Smokey, an architect employed by Fluffington ArCATecture, lands the account of her dreams — designing the first ever cat park in Faunaburg. Her boss, Abigail Fluffington, says that if Smokey is successful, she’ll become a partner and inherit the business.

    A dream come true? There’s one problem. The proposed park is adjacent to Rodent Way. Activist Jerome J. Ratley, quickly forms R.A.T. (Rodent Action Taskforce) and stages a protest.

    Meanwhile, Smokey’s lovable but quirky sister and cooking savant, Autumn Amelia, is busy dishing up meals too delicious for any fur or feather to resist. And wandering uninvited into the kitchens of local restaurants to improve their recipes.

    Together with their furred and feathered friends, Smokey and Autumn Amelia must find a way to make the proposed park a reality. But how to abolish the long-standing animosity between felines and rodents?

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Allyson Rice – The Key to Circus-Mom Highway

    In an attempt to secure an unexpected inheritance–and hopefully find a few answers–two estranged sisters and their newly discovered brother embark on a comically surreal trip through the Deep South to retrace the life of the mother who abandoned them.

    On a Tuesday afternoon, sisters Jesse Chasen and Jennifer McMahon receive a phone call notifying them that the birth mother they had no knowledge of has died, leaving behind a significant inheritance. But in order to obtain it, they must follow a detailed road trip she designed for them to get to know her–and that includes finding a brother they never knew existed.

    For the next week, this ill-assorted trio treks across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia to meet their mother’s old friends, from circus-performers to a juke joint owner, each of whom delivers a shocking vignette into the life of a young mother traumatized by loss and abuse. Along the way, these three siblings–Jesse, whose fiery exterior disguises a drifting musician stuck in a rut; Jennifer, whose carefully curated family life is threatened by her husband’s infidelity; and Jack, whose enigmatic Jackie, Oh! persona in the New Orleans drag queen scene helps him escape the nightmares of Afghanistan that haunt him–must confront their own demons (and at least one alligator). But in chasing the truth about their real mother, they may all just find their second chance.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Marco Ocram – The Awful Truth About the Herbert Quarry Affair

    TV personality Marco Ocram is the world’s only self-penned character, writing his life in real time as you read it. Marco’s celebrity mentor, Herbert Quarry, grooms him to be the Jackson Pollock of literature, teaching him to splatter words on a page without thought or revision.

    Quarry’s plan backfires when imbecilic Marco begins to type his first thought-free book: it’s a murder mystery-and Herbert’s caught red-handed by the butchered body of his lover.

    Now Marco must write himself into a crusade to clear his friend’s name. Typing the first words that come into his head, Marco unleashes a phantasmagorical catalogue of twists in his pursuit of justice, writing the world’s fastest-selling book to reveal the awful truth about the Herbert Quarry affair.

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Lou Dischler – The Rising

    While The Rising is a Manuscript, we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing his book My Only Sunshine, and we’ll include that here in celebration of his writing.

    Lou Dischler delivers an intricately woven story about one well-meaning boy who tries to make sense of the crazy he’s been born into. Get ready for one belly laugh of an adventure in My Only Sunshine.

    Welcome to the Louisiana low country, home of 9-year-old Charlie Boone, a kid growing up in 1962. Charlie, a most unreliable narrator, concerns himself with giant wingless wasps and biting red velvet ants. Combine his critter-concerns with the legend of the giant slugs, the story of his mother taken up by a hurricane, and the episode of the puddle he and his brother dug that grew into a pond, then turned into a lake, and we have one wildly imaginative ride well-worth taking.

    Dischler delivers an epic tale that shifts from Charlie’s first-person point-of-view with his youthful ignorance coloring his observations to his Uncle Dan’s and “Aunt” Lola’s in third-person point-of-view. While Charlie ages and grows in wisdom as the story progresses, his uncle never seems to gain a lick of sense. Dischler skillfully applies the laws of magic realism to Charlie’s wonderful way of viewing his world. Uncle Dan’s story, on the other hand, derives from an inept conman’s rap-sheet – from failed grifts to bank robbery bungles that succeed only by accident. Dischler guides us, normalizing the ridiculous to the point that the characters jump off the page and set up camp in your living room.

    Read more here!

    Steven Mayfield – The Penny Mansions

    With the Spanish flu pandemic on the rise, a former gold rush town— once the largest city in the Pacific Northwest— is threatened with extinction via eminent domain should their population fall below 125 citizens. To save their homes, former madam Maude Dollarhyde, her mixed-race grand-daughter, Bountiful, and their fellow council members agree to sell four abandoned mansions for a penny apiece if the buyers will stay in town long enough to be counted in the 1920 census. Soon, an eclectic cast of newcomers arrives, including a New York actor and his questionably-familial family; a lawyer with an agoraphobic wife, mute son, and austere nanny; six excommunicated Mormons; and the great-nephew of the town’ s hated former boss. As real estate developer and politician Gerald Dredd plots to foil the council’ s plan, the new families move in and knock over the first domino in a row that includes three romances, twelve sticks of dynamite, an unintentionally hilarious community theater production, an investigation by a Chicago insurance detective, and last of all, murder!

    Find it Locally and on Amazon

    Tom Strelich – Water Memory

    The earth’s magnetic poles have reversed and civilization has just had its clock reset to the great cosmic flashing 12:00am from almost a million years ago, and humanity, and everybody in it, is pretty much forgetting everything it learned since the last time.

    Everybody except Hertell Daggett, who remembers pretty much everything because he’d once been shot in the head — the doctors got the bullet out, but missed a few tiny specks of copper that remained, floating inside his brain, connecting him to the things everybody else on earth is slowly forgetting. Hertell sees an opportunity to start civilization all over again, and maybe even get it right this time. What could possibly go wrong?

    Find it Locally and on Amazon


    Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2023 Humor and Satire First Place Winners!

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

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

    Got a great Fiction Book? The 2024 Humor and Satire Book Awards are open through the end of October!

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest
    Submit to the Humor and Satire Awards Today!

     

  • 14 Days Left: Shelley, Global Thriller, and Hemingway Book Awards close soon!

    The final 11 Divisions of this years Award cycle close in 2 weeks!

    14 days left to submit!

    Don’t let your book miss out!

    Only 14 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 Shelley Award for Supernatural Fiction , The Global Thriller Awards for High Stakes Thrillers  and Hemingway Awards for 20th Century Wartime Fiction are still open!

    Best Book Grand Prize for the Chanticleer Int'l Book AwardsCongratulations to the Winners of the 2023 Paranormal Awards for Supernatural Fiction!

    The Shelley Awards for Paranormal Fiction features an image of Mary Shelley at her writing desk

    • Joe Lyon – The Molossus of Old Man Moyer: An Original Horror Novel
    • Jo Deniau – Hologram
    • Nola Nash – House of Mirrors
    • Claire Fraise – They Stay
    • Fionn Mac Meldrum – The Shadow of Banshee Hill
    • James McKenna – An October’s Journey: Poe’s Final Gift

    And a huge round of applause for the 2023 Paranormal Awards Grand Prize Winner:

    Becoming Crone

    by Lydia M Hawke

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Congratulations to the Winners of the 2023 Global Thriller Awards for High Stakes Thrillers!

    Global Thriller

    • D. L. Wilburn Jr. – The God Protocol: Dragon
    • Glenn Dyer – Trust No One
    • Mark James – Friendship Games
    • Randall Krzak – Ultimate Escalation
    • Susan Rogers and John Roosen – Cobra Pose

    And a huge round of applause for the 2023 Global Thriller Awards Grand Prize Winner:

    Jake Fortina and The Roman Conspiracy

    By Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke

    Roman Conspiracy cover

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Congratulations to the Winners of the 2023 Hemingway Awards for 20th Century Wartime Fiction!

    Ernest Hemingway looking off to the right

    • J.L. Oakley – The Brisling Code
    • Kathryn Gauci – In the Shadow of the Pyrenees
    • Michael J Cooper – Crossroads of Empire
    • Ivan Luiz Hernandez – Isla Vulnerable
    • Linda Stewart Henley – Kate’s War
    • Jerena Tobiasen – Tsarina’s Crown
    • William McClain – Alice’s War

    And a huge round of applause for the 2023 Hemingway Awards Grand Prize Winner:

    The Silver Waterfall

    A Novel of The Battle of Midway

    by Kevin Miller

    The Silver Waterfall 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.

    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 3-6, 2025) where Winners from all 25 Book Award Divisions will be announced and honored.

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

    Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest

    Your book deserves to be discovered

    Don’t Delay! Enter Today!

    The Shelley Awards, and The Global Thriller Awards and The Hemingway Awards

  • The 2024 Short Story Awards Long List for Short Stories and Essays

    The Shorts Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Short Form Fiction. The Shorts Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

    The Chanticleer International Book Awards program discovers today’s best works. The Short Stories Awards discovers the Best New Shorts in Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction. These books have advanced to the next judging rounds. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them.

    These titles have moved forward in the first look rounds from all 2024 SHORTS entries to the 2024 Shorts Book Awards LONG LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2024 Shorts Award 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, CAC25.

    Please Note: There are 2 Shorts Awards Lists. This is for Short Form Content, singular short stories, essays and shorter Collections. The Long form Shorts (over 100 pages) Long List will be posted separately.

    We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 in beautiful Bellingham, WA at the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference

    A Wreath with the words "CAC 2025" on it to celebrate the Chanticleer Author's Conference!

    These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2024 Shorts Book Awards novel competition for Short Stories!

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

    • Sophia M. – Synthetica The Dystopian Future of Digital Existence
    • Ron Singerton – Whispers in Time
    • Betty Codd – The King’s Wife
    • Susannah Dawn – To Label or Not to Label the Box… That is the Question
    • Susannah Dawn – It’s in the Grey Zone We Find The Colors
    • Susannah Dawn – On The Run With Meagan Wise
    • Gail Noble-Sanderson – The Soldier Jacob
    • Trudy Wells-Meyer – Regifting with a Twist
    • Burl Harmon – Being 100 Years Old
    • Jessica Russell – Worthy of Tears
    • KD Sherrinford – Meet Me in Milan
    • KD Sherrinford – Christmas at The Saporis
    • Mike Murphey – The Claunch Ness Monster
    • Brian Feutz – Take a Peek Into the Minds, Lives, and Fears… of Queers
    • Lisa G. Spicer – Letters From Tacoma
    • Catherine Brown – Finding Namaste
    • Deborah L. King – Attention Accepted
    • Barbara Rein – The Wrenbows
    • Tessa Floreano – Shadows of the Adriatic
    • J.J. Clarke – Deadly Ambition
    • Susan Lynn Solomon – A Circle of Sabbaths
    • Glen Dahlgren – The Dice of Chaos
    • PJ Devlin – Sleeping Out
    • PJ Devlin – Running
    • TK Sheffield – The Infinity Thieves
    • Tyrone Burnett – The Believer within You
    • Glendall C. Jackson III – Naked Came the Detective
    • Carol L. Wright – Apple, Table, Penny… Murder
    • Hannah Stone – The Weight of Bone and Feather
    • L. Burton Brender – Stories from the War
    • Don Jacobson – The Gamekeeper’s Cabin
    • Dr. Yumiko Shimabukuro – Dream Rut: Navigating Your Path Forward
    • Tosca Lee – The Cancun Game

    Congratulations once more to the 2023 Shorts Grand Prize Winner for Short Prose

    The Heart of Kublai Khan’s 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

    Click here to see the full list of 2023 Shorts Book Award Winners for Short Stories and Essays.

    We are now accepting submissions into the 2025 Shorts Book Awards for Short Stories, Collections, Essays, and Novellas.

    Please click here for more information.

    Winners will be announced at the 2024 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

    April 3 – 6, 2025! 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 annual conference as we enter our second decade and discover why!

  • Little Peeps and Gertrude Warner Submissions Extended! October Deadline for Children’s Books and Middle Grade

    We’re Listening!

    This spooky little guy has big ears just for listening!

    Your books like to Trick or Treat as much as kids!

    New Deadline for the Little Peeps Awards and Gertrude Warner Awards is October 31st!

    Badges for the Little Peeps and Gertrude Warner Awards featuring little chicks and the Boxcar Children respectively.

    We’ve heard that the beginning of the school year has been busier than expected! With that in mind, both Little Peeps and the Gertrude Warner Awards have had their submission dates extended until the end of October! Just remember to submit before you take anyone out to Trick or Treat!

    There’s still time!

    Thank you to all who have submitted to the Little Peeps and Gertrude Warner Awards so far, and thank you to those who let us know they needed more time!

    To Celebrate Spooky Season, here are some of our favorite books with spooky stories or themes of bravery!

    Victoria and the Big Brave Breath

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

    Little Peeps Grand Prize Winner

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

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

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

    The friendship that the bear and the girl share is sweet and endearing, as if the bear is an allegory for a friend or family member.

    Read More Here

    A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes
    By Kizzie Jones and Illustrated by Scott Ward

    A unique fairytale by author Kizzie Jones, A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to Be adds the third book her series that began with How Dachshunds Came to Be: A Tall Tale about a Short Long Dog, followed by the award-winning title, A Tall Tale about a Dachshund and a Pelican: How a Friendship Came to Be.

    This tall tale begins on the beach one autumn day where a big storm is fast approaching a girl and her dogs, stopping their play and forcing them to retreat indoors. The next day the girl and the dogs decide to go clean up the debris left by the storm, and it is not long before they see what sort of costumes they can create with the various kinds of debris scattered along the beach.

    The dressed-up dogs ask the girl if she would be upset if they stayed dressed up.  The girl wonders if the dogs would change on the inside as well. they reply,

     “We’d be changed and transformed—we’d be diff’rent outside. Yet, inside, our hearts are still caring and kind.”

    That night the girl sends her wish to the ocean for the dogs to become the dogs they costumed themselves to be and goes to sleep hoping her wish will be granted.

    Read More Here

    Henry Castlewaite and the Portrait of Doom
    By Richard Groseclose

    When 11-year-old orphan Henry Castlewaite is delivered to his new foster family in tiny, rural Terwilliger Tennessee, the only sure thing is he is back in the town where he grew up, but that’s about it. After a terrible accident, Henry is suffering from amnesia and doesn’t remember that he’s a wizard, no matter how many times his chaperone from the Castle Family Trust tells him that this is so.

    But Henry is a wizard who doesn’t remember anything about his powers or his past, only that he will see his best friend Gwendolyn on the school bus in the morning. It is also clear that while Henry may not remember much about Terwilliger, the residents of the little town remember a lot about him. Especially his new family, where the other boys tease him unmercifully and the local gossip girls haven’t decided whether they have crushes on him or want to vilify him at every turn.

    He even has mortal enemies he does not recall. But he also has another friend, Ben, who seems to come from an even stranger background than Henry. And who appears to have amnesia as well.

    Read More Here

    Vampire Boy
    By Aric Cushing
    Gertrude Warner 1st Place Winner

    Full of fun and quirky characters, author Aric Cushing invites readers to join him in a world where Halloween never ends. The tale begins with the prophesied birth of the white-haired Alex Vambarey, who draws the attention of a darkling vampire named The Deleter.

    After being saved by all the citizens of Hillock Green, the plot then shoots forward to the eve of Alex’s departure to school. He is an adventurous boy who takes this new chapter in his life in stride, and after saying goodbye to his parents, Alex begins the rather long journey to school. There he meets a whole cast of absurd characters and makes fast friends who help him solve the school riddle.

    Creative influences such as any of the Tim Burton films show up strongly in the book’s visual imagery, most notably when Alex travels through a tree and descends a terrifying staircase. Even though the inspiration of Tim Burton is strong, Cushing still creates a unique land of Halloween.

    Read More Here

    The Supernatural Pet Sitter
    By Diane Moat
    Gertrude Warner 1st Place Winner

    A talented and creative author, Diane Moat, presents a magical world hidden within a New England town where Witches, Warlocks, and Gnomes live together peacefully. That is until one day, something strange happens to the Familiars in the neighborhood. Someone or something had taken the magic from Frank the parrot a month previously, and now the same thing has happened to the tortoise King Arthur.

    This is where Pepper Neely, pet sitter of the supernatural, comes in. Gnomes are magical people who can connect with supernatural creatures. Pepper has a unique aptness with her connection to animals, and she quickly became the neighborhood pet-sitter. With the help of her best friend and witch-in-training Luna, the two go against the well-meaning wishes of their parents to get to the bottom of what is happening to the Familiars. As usual, that is easier said than done when the Witches and Gnomes start to clash over the danger at hand. Pepper also discovers an ability that will change the meaning of what it is to be a Gnome.

    Read More Here


    Even with this extension, remember…

    Don’t let your book miss out on the CIBAs!
    Enter Today!

  • The 2024 Shelley Awards Spotlight for Paranormal Fiction

    Looking for some Spooky reads this Halloween?

    The Shelley Awards for Paranormal Fiction features an image of Mary Shelley at her writing desk

    The Paranormal Awards for Supernatural Fiction has a new look

    We are delighted to have renamed the Paranormal Awards in honor of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the mother of Science Fiction. While Frankenstein is her most famous work, that’s not all she wrote, and Shelley didn’t just write gothic horror! Her works include Romance, Historical Fiction, Apocalyptic/Dystopian, Travel, Children’s Stories, Biographies, Poetry, and Short Stories.

    However, Frankenstein is the story that lives on the strongest, capturing hearts and minds every day.

    The year is 1816. Also known as the Year without a Summer. During a storm, the group staying in Lord Byron’s rented villa proposed a ‘Ghost Story’ writing contest. Byron, Mary Shelley, her soon to be husband Percy Shelley, her sister Claire, and Byron’s doctor John Polidori (Who was also Dante Rossetti’s Uncle) all set to writing their spooky stories. Polidori later wrote The Vampyre based on Byron’s Fragment of a Novel written during this storm. Byron himself ended up the protagonist of more than one book, as he is the inspiration behind both Victor Frankenstein and Lord Ruthven in Polidoris The Vampyre.

    Mary Shelley wasn’t the only writer in her family.

    Both of her parents were writers. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women, one of the founding works of Feminist Philosophy. And her father, William Godwin, wrote political philosophy and mystery novels, and one of the first modern advocates of Anarchism.

    The Categories of the Shelley Awards are:

    • Adventure/Mystery/Thriller
    • Paranormal Romance
    • Magical Beings and Creatures
    • Strange and Unexplained
    • Supernatural Powers

    Whether your book is Werewolves, Ghosts, Witches, or other Unexplainable things, we want to see it! Submit to the Shelley Awards Today! If your just looking for a new book to read this Halloween season, then continue onward!

    We are delighted to celebrate the 2023 Winners of the Paranormal Awards!

    • Joe Lyon – The Molossus of Old Man Moyer: An Original Horror Novel
    • Jo Deniau – Hologram
    • Nola Nash – House of Mirrors
    • Claire Fraise – They Stay
    • Fionn Mac Meldrum – The Shadow of Banshee Hill
    • James McKenna – An October’s Journey: Poe’s Final Gift

    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2023 PARANORMAL Awards is:

    Becoming Crone

    by Lydia M Hawke

    Blue and Gold Badge recognizing Becoming Crone by Lydia M Hawke for the 2023 Paranormal Grand Prize

    We will have dedicated articles featuring both the First Place and Grand Prize Winners in the weeks to come! For now, here are some of the best spooky and spine-tingling reads that have come our way recently!

    DREAMS And ILLUSIONS: Gabrielle Dorian Mysteries Book 1
    By Rebecca Olmstead

    Dreams and Illusions by Rebecca Olmstead is a delicate interplay of mysteries balanced on an emotional undercurrent, exploring the immutable ebb and flow of life to find resilience in the shadow of misfortunes.

    In the bustling town of Whitman, Gabrielle co-owns the boutique Belle Femme with her best friend, Kate. Radiating the tranquil aura of an empowered business owner, Gabrielle is a caring woman, but burdened with  a secret she hides from everyone. Gabrielle is blessed—or perhaps cursed—with prophetic dreams.

    Almost as if they are a glimpse into the future, Gabrielle wrestles with dreams that foretell an ominous fate. Soon she is confronted with a series of distressing events that thrust her into a mystery.

    Read more here!

    SUMMER STORM: Magic at Myers Beach Book 2
    By Alan B. Gibson

    Summer Storm Cover

    In Summer Storm, the second book of Alan B. Gibson’s Magic at Myers Beach series, local business owner Greta the Witch has a chance at fame, fortune, and fairytale love—if she can keep it all from being stolen first.

    Picking up cleanly after Summer Thunder (Book 1 in the series), this story opens with Greta worrying about her social life. Her best friend Lily has left on an extended honeymoon with her husband Theos the King. Fortunately, her acquaintance, Julie, moves back to town, and while they soon develop a close friendship, things get awkward when she learns that Julia received a massive financial gift from Lily and Theos, and she was left with nothing.

    Greta can at least focus on her business, the Witch’s Cauldron, and being the star of a reality show that’s planning to film her daily life. And when Greta meets a mysterious and charming man—Zsombor, or “Dos” to his friends—she finds herself rocketed to a level of stardom she couldn’t have imagined. She attends an opening gala for the renovated Fairy Kingdom tea house, and after a mixture of disastrous and fabulous public appearances she becomes Myers Beach’s rising influencer star.

    Read more here!

    ROLLING HOME, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail Book 5
    By David Fitz-Gerald

    Rolling Home Cover

    David Fitz-Gerald concludes the Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail series with a grand finale for an eclectic cast of characters, as the long wagon train is finally Rolling Home to their new lives in the wild west of Oregon.

    With the end of the trail just out of reach, however, their hopes dwindle and their hunger rages. The rigor of the western environment continues to test their determination and threaten vows of heartfelt romance. These weary people ache and mourn losses, while seeking new ways to survive and pull each other forward in the face of impending winter.

    This wagon train of travelers will also face venomous villains who have been lurking in the shadows, outlaws waiting for their best opportunity to pounce.

    Read more here!

    A CIRCLE Of STARS: Four Crowns Series Book 1
    By Erin Lark Maples

    Circle of Stars

    If you’re looking for a beach read with supernatural intrigue, A Circle of Stars by Erin Lark Maples will draw you in from page one. Ember “EJ” James, a newly-arrived stranger in the strange land of Prescott, AZ, immediately begins navigating unfamiliar territory, both physically and metaphysically.

    Forty-something EJ doesn’t know it yet, but when she agreed to take over her deceased uncle Hollis’s shop in Prescott, she stumbled into a world of magical realism. The plant shop, as it turns out, is more than just that—it hides secret access to other realms, which supernatural beings will go to great lengths to access. Much like the plants in the shop, this tale is dark, tangled, and intriguing beyond belief.

    Anyone else may have felt helpless. But EJ remains upbeat, charmingly self-deprecating, and resourceful to the end. There’s a great joy in seeing how she works through her new surroundings, unfazed by (almost) everything they throw her way.

    Read more here!


    We loved reading these Paranormal books, and we can’t wait to see more!

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

    Enter the Shelley Awards for Paranormal Fiction by the end of October!

    This is the journey from beginning to end for the CIBAs Levels of Achievement is so worthwhile! Every list you make means more promotion for you and your work as each list is posted right here on our website, on our social media, and also out in our newsletter!

    Your Book Deserves to be Discovered!