Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: Steampunk

CYGNUS BOOK AWARDS for Science Fiction 2017 – Slush Pile Survivors
The Cygnus Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Science Fiction, Steampunk, and Speculative Fiction. The Cygnus Book Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

The following titles and their authors have made it past the initial “Slush-Pile Rounds” and will compete in the next rounds to see which titles will make it to the 2017 CYGNUS Book Awards Short-List.
- Lou Dischler – Meet Me Under the Comet
- Jim Cronin – Hegira
- Elizabeth Crowens – A Pocketful of Lodestones
- Michelle Bryan – Strain of Resistance
- Sara Stamey – Wild Card Run
- Andrew P. Blaber – Fallow
- MWAnderson – Breaching The Parallel
- John Yarrow – The Future’s Dark Past
- Pamela LePage – Virtuous Souls
- Darrell Lee – The Gravitational Leap
- Victoria Vass – Eleven: 1
- David Neuner – Fear Factory
- Chris Rasmussen – The Cat & The Fiddle
- Rhett Bruno – From Ice to Ashes
- Elizabeth Crowens – Silent Meridian
- Magnus Victor – Oort Rising
- Brian Cohn – The Last Detective
- Julian North – Age of Order
- Wende Dikec – Starr Valentine
- Jerry Amernic – The Last Witness
- Candace Sams – Galaxy Man
- Leonard S. Tate – Journey to Nirvana
- Cathy Parker – The Power of Three: The Novel of a Whale a Woman, and an Alien Child
- Matthew Buscemi – Schrodinger’s City
- Darren D. Beyer – Casimir Bridge
- Marcus Julian Carbo – The Path to Arcadia: The Great Crisis
- KB Shaw – Neworld Papers: The Warrior’s Tale
- Andrew Craven – Moshiah
- Alexander Weinstein – Children of the New World
- Carl S. Plumer – Demon Days
- Sencer Turun- Requiem for Ignorance
- Andrew Craven – Wintercity Crossing
- Michael Simon – First Command
- Michele Fogal – Root of the Spark
- Sydney M. Cooper – Forsaken Lands Book II: Sacrifice
- Dayna Ingram – All Good Children
Good Luck to each of these Science Fiction writers!

We are accepting entries into the 2018 Cygnus Awards Novel Competition for Science Fiction Works.

To compete in the 2018 CYGNUS Awards or for more information, please click here.

THE DEADLINE TO ENTER THE 2017 CYGNUS Novel Writing Competitions was April 30, 2017.

Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media, L.L.C. retains the right to not declare “default winners.” Winning works are decided upon merit only. Please visit our Contest Details page for more information about our writing contest guidelines.

CBR’s rigorous writing competition standards are why literary agencies seek out our winning manuscripts and self-published novels. Our high standards are also why our reviews are trusted among booksellers and book distributors.

Please do not hesitate to contact Info@ChantiReviews.com about any questions, concerns, or suggestions about CBR writing competitions. Your input and suggestions are important to us.

Thank you for your interest in Chanticleer Book Reviews International Writing Competitions.
June 23, 2017
The GIRL and the CLOCKWORK CAT by Nikki McCormack – Captivating YA Steampunk

It’s Victorian England and Maeko is a young street kid with a talent for pick-pocketing and a drive to figure out where she belongs. When she comes across a little cat with an unusual enhancement on its leg, she follows it – right onto a murder scene.

The Girl and the Clockwork Cat by Nikki McCormack is a charming Young Adult novel that offers up an intriguing mystery while adding a fun Steampunk twist. Set in Victorian London, the book leads the reader through a murder investigation and introduces the puzzling, quirky Clockwork Cat. But more than that, the novel deals with the struggles of growing up through the eyes of a scrappy girl who must deal with more crap than the average teenager.

Maeko, separated from her mother at the tender age of seven, has lived on the streets with the notorious band of ruffians known to the police and upper-crust society as the “street rats.” Maeko is valued for her pick-pocketing and lock-picking skills in this group. In this dangerous world, she resigns herself to trusting no one but her mentor, Chaff. When she and Chaff are pursued by police during a robbery, they get separated. She hides in an alleyway and comes face-to-face with a friendly cat with an intriguing clockwork leg.

As she seeks a better source of shelter for herself and the cat, Maeko meets a family of musicians who seem harmless enough, but when Maeko winds up in police custody again, she fears for the fate of the cat and its valuable leg. Luckily she escapes and tracks the cat right onto the scene of a double murder. It’s then she pairs up with the musicians’ son, Ash, to once again escape police custody to prove their innocence.

McCormack’s writing is clear and captivating as she creates in Maeko a likable, empathetic character who is learning the art of growing up: who to trust, how to care for others without hurting herself, and how to handle more than one romantic urge. In Ash and Chaff, McCormack gives us two extremely charismatic characters who are vying for Maeko’s attention and caring for her safety. It’s so much fun!

Though the novel is Y/A, the endearing characters, engaging mystery, and insightful writing moves us to recommend this novel to all audiences.

December 6, 2016
CYGNUS Awards for Science Fiction & Speculative Fiction FIRST PLACE Category Winners 2015
Chanticleer Book Reviews is honored to announce the First Place Category Winners for the Cygnus Awards 2015, the science fiction, speculative fiction, and steampunk fiction genre division of the Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Award Writing Competitions.

The Cygnus Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Science Fiction, Steampunk, and Speculative Fiction. The Cygnus Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

Please note that Fantasy, Myth & Legend, & Magical Systems entries were moved to the newly offered OZMA Awards for Fantasy Fiction. This contest will be awarded for the first time in 2016.

These First Place Category Winners will be recognized on stage at the Chanticleer Authors Conference on April 30, 2016 Awards Banquet. Good luck to them as they compete for the CYGNUS 2015 Grand Prize.

First Place Category Winners for the Cygnus Awards are:
- John Yarrow for The Time Forward Project
- James Wells for The Great Symmetry
- C. A. Knutsen for Janus Unfolding: Emergence
- Janine A. Southard for Cracked! A Magic iPhone Story
- Jessica Schaub for Gateways
- L.S. Kilroy for The Vitruvian Heir
- Tommy Partl for Mechanized
- Timothy S. Johnston for The Furnace
*This list is now complete 3/16/16

CONGRATULATIONS!

The 1st Place Category Winners compete for the CYGNUS AWARDS 2015 GRAND PRIZE position. The 2015 CYGNUS category winners will be recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Gala on April 30, 2016. See the Grand Prize Winners from 2014.

The submission deadline for the 2016 CYGNUS Awards is now closed. We are accepting entries into the 2017 Cygnus Awards Novel Competition.

To compete in the 2017 CYGNUS Awards or for more information, please click here.

THE DEADLINE TO ENTER THE 2016 CYGNUS Novel Writing Competitions was January 31st, 2016.

ENTER NOW

Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media, L.L.C. retains the right to not declare “default winners.” Winning works are decided upon merit only. Please visit our Contest Details page for more information about our writing contest guidelines.

CBR’s rigorous writing competition standards are why literary agencies seek out our winning manuscripts and self-published novels. Our high standards are also why our reviews are trusted among booksellers and book distributors.

Please do not hesitate to contact Info@ChantiReviews.com about any questions, concerns, or suggestions about CBR writing competitions. Your input and suggestions are important to us.

Thank you for your interest in Chanticleer Book Reviews International Writing Competitions.
February 26, 2016
First Place Category Winners for the Cygnus Awards for Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Steampunk 2013
Chanticleer Book Reviews is honored to announce the First Place Category Winners for the Cygnus Awards 2013, a genre division of the Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Award Writing Competitions.

The Cygnus Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Mythological, and Steampunk fiction. The Cygnus Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

First Place Overall Genre Winner for the Cygnus Awards 2013 is:

Bennett R. Coles, Virtues of War

First Place Category Winners for the Cygnus Awards are:

Science Fiction: Citadel 7, Earth’s Secret by Yuan Jur

Military Sci-fiction: Virtues of War by Bennett R. Coles

Young Adult/Steampunk: The Lotus Effect by Bridget Ladd

Paranormal: Celia’s Heaven by Nancy Canyon

Mythological: Artemis Rising by Cheri Lasota

Women’s Fantasy/SciFi: The Maiden Voyage of the Mary Ann by Linda Reed

Fantasy: Ragnarok: Demon Seed by E. Bishop
- All First Place Category winners of the Cygnus Awards 2013 competed for Overall 1st Place for the Cygnus Awards.
- 1st Place Overall Genre winners went on to compete for the position of Chanticleer Book Reviews Grand Prize Blue Ribbon 2013.
- The deadline for submitting entries to the Cygnus Awards 2013 was Jan. 31, 2013, midnight.
- The deadline for The Cygnus Awards 2014 was Jan. 31, 2014.
- The deadline for The Cygnus Awards 2015 is Jan. 31, 2015.
Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media retains the right to not declare “default winners.” Winning works are decided upon merit only. Please visit our Contest Details page for more information about our writing contest guidelines.

CBR’s rigorous writing competition standards are why literary agencies seek out our winning manuscripts and self-published novels. Our high standards are also why our reviews are trusted among booksellers and book distributors.

Please do not hesitate to contact Info@ChantiReviews.com about any questions, concerns, or suggestions about CBR writing competitions. Your input is important to us.

Thank you for your interest in Chanticleer Book Reviews writing competitions.
June 8, 2013
The Cygnus Awards – Finalists 2013 Finalists for SciFi, Steampunk, Paranormal, Mythological, & Fantasy
It is our pleasure to announce the FINALISTS of Rounds One and Two of The Cygnus Awards for Sci-fi, Speculative, & Fantasy Fiction 2013.

The Cygnus Awards recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of SciFi & Fantasy Fiction. It is a division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

Finalists for the Cygnus Awards 2013 are:
- Ragnarok: Demon Seed by E. Bishop
- Celia’s Heaven by Nancy Canyon
- Virtues of War by Bennett R. Coles
- Effectuation by Julie Greenwald
- The Lotus Effect by Bridget Ladd
- Artemis Rising by Cheri Lasota
- Citadel 7, Earth’s Secret by Yuan Jur
- Arawn’s Quest by Edward Larel
- Bayview by Penny Page
- The Banshee Screamed by MaryAnn Doty Rizzo
- The Maiden Voyage by Linda Reed
First Place Category Winners; The Cygnus Awards will be announced shortly. First Place Category Winners will compete for the Overall 1st Place Prize for The Cygnus Awards 2013.

The deadline for submitting entries for The Cygnus Awards 2013 was Jan. 31, 2013 midnight.

The deadline to entry The Cygnus Awards 2014 will be Jan. 31, 2014.

Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media retains the right to not declare “default winners.” Winning works are decided upon merit only. Please visit our Contest Details page for more information.

Please do not hesitate to contact info@ChantiReviews.com about any concerns, questions, or suggestions about CBR writing competitions. Your input is important to us.
April 24, 2013