I’ll say it until my dying day—Authors are the best people to hang out with! – Dena Weigel
This past November, the Chanticleer team attended Author Nation in Las Vegas—and once again, we were reminded why authors are the best people to spend time with.
Author Nation 2025 drew hundreds more attendees than the previous year, filling ballrooms with writers eager to learn, connect, and grow their careers. Over 120 classes, workshops, and panels covered every aspect of the writing life: craft development, the publishing process, advertising and marketing, the business side of authorship, and emerging trends shaping the industry’s future.
For Chanticleer, the week offered valuable opportunities to reconnect with established members of our community and welcome new authors into the fold.
Familiar Faces and New Connections
We kicked off the week at the Vendor Expo. We loved having the chance to catch up with authors who have become valuable members of our Roost community. Authors such as D.D. Black, T.K. Conklin, David Fitz-Gerald, and Terrel of the Once Upon A Dance children books all stopped by to say hello and give us an update on their current projects and writing life.
We also met dozens of new authors curious about Chanticleer’s services and what makes our community different. Many arrived seeking practical support—editorial reviews, award recognition, editing services—but discovered something equally important: a place to ask questions, share milestones, and find encouragement from fellow writers navigating similar paths.
Here are some highlights from Author Nation 2025
Learning From Industry Leaders
Between booth shifts, the Chanticleer team attended sessions led by publishing professionals with decades of experience. The presentations covered essential topics for author-entrepreneurs: building effective marketing strategies, assembling professional support teams (legal, financial, editorial), and establishing sustainable business foundations.
One recurring message stood out: successful authors don’t work in isolation. They build teams of advisors and professionals who help them reach their goals of getting stories into readers’ hands.
The Value of Industry Connections
Author Nation brings together some of the best service providers working with authors today, and being part of that group means more than just visibility. Connecting with other industry professionals offered insights into current publishing trends and emerging challenges facing authors. These conversations help Chanticleer stay sharp and responsive to what writers actually need.
Looking Ahead
Another Author Nation conference is in the books! We’re already looking forward to working with the many authors we met who see value in Chanticleer’s approach to author support. We expect to see many of them again, whether at next year’s Author Nation or at our own gathering in Bellingham this spring.
Viva Las Vegas!
Join us at the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference & the 2025 Chanticleer International Book Awards Ceremony
Thursday – Sunday, April 16 – 19, 2026
Master Classes, Conference Sessions & Panels, Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards Ceremony and Banquet, and the BOOKS BY THE BAY BOOKFAIR at Village Books Bookstore, Fairhaven, Bellingham, Wash.
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.
Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas with Chanticleer!
“But Jiminy Crickets, it is the 26th of December! Is it not too late for the 12 Days of Christmas?” you say.
Not to fear, Chanticleerians! The 12 Days of Christmas begins on December 26th! And it continues to the 6th of January – Three Kings Day. The four weeks leading up to Christmas is known as the Advent.
Although, we will note that some say the first day of the 12 Days of Christmas starts on Christmas Day and continues through January 5th with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th.
So if you haven’t finished wrapping presents, sending out those cards, and baking cookies—don’t worry—you’ve got an extra 12 days!
Some say the Twelve Days tradition is wishing good luck and cheer for each of the following months in the new year.
Others say the first six of the days are to pay homage to the previous year and six of the days that are in the new year bringing hope and glad tidings for coming times.
The Twelve Days of Christmas would be a welcome break for those who worked the land.
December 26th is also called Boxing Day in the Commonwealth Countries of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand where it also a bank holiday.
The tradition of boxing day (according to the Encyclopedia Britannica) originated in the Victorian era and late Georgian era. The servants worked on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so they were given the 26th off to be with their own families. The upper class would take leftover food, goods, or money and put them in boxes to give out to those less fortunate. It also said that the church would hand out alms boxes to the poor on St. Stephen’s Day, Dec. 26th, who was known for helping the poor.
In modern times, Boxing Day is the day of football (soccer), cricket, and boxing matches.
Singing the 12 Days of Christmas
If you are singing the song, and you miss or mess up a verse, you owe your opponent (the person singing the round before you a kiss or a sweet treat or grant a favor).
We at Chanticleer have our own way of celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas with our fellow Chanticleerians.
Yuletide
Yule (or Germanic Jol or Anglo-Saxon Geol) refers to the Winter Solstice.
Celebrating Yule-Tide, pen-and-pencil drawing by Richard Lovett in Norwegian Pictures (1885), based on the 1846 oil-on-canvas painting Juleskikk by Adolph Tidemand.
Yule is one of the oldest winter solstice festivals, with origins among the ancient Norse thousands of years ago. Its roots are complicated and difficult to trace, although there are several theories about how and why the festival was celebrated. It is generally agreed that Yule celebrations began as a Norse festival called jol, although assessments of the purpose and traditions vary. Like most winter solstice festivals, themes of light, fire, and feasting are common threads.
“Yule” became a name for Christmas about the 9th century, and in many languages yule and its cognates are still used to describe that holiday—jul in Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish; joulud in Estonian; joulu in Finnish; and jol in Icelandic. The Christmas holiday is still referred to as Yule in the Scots language. According to the saga of King Haakon Haraldsson (also known as Haakon I Adalsteinsfostre or Haakon the Good) of Norway, who ruled in the 10th century, the Norse Yule celebration and Christian Christmas celebration were merged during his reign. Haakon became Christian after a visit to England, and after his return to Norway he put into law that Yule should be celebrated at the same time as Christmas. Everyone was required to have ale from a measure of grain and keep the holiday while the ale lasted or else be subject to a fine.[Encyclopedia Britannica]
Get ready for 12 days of ideas for your new year of writing, along with lots of good cheer!
Happy Holidays to You from the Chanticleer Team!
On the First Day of Christmas, my true love sent to me—a Rooster in a pear tree!
What are the 12 Days of Christmas?
The 12 Days of Christmas historically mark the time from the birth of Christ until the day the Three Magi (or the Three Wise Men) arrived in Bethlehem with their gifts for the Epiphany, (also known as Three Kings’ Day). According to the Western calendar, the 12 days start with Christmas on December 26th and end with the Epiphany on January 6th. However, there are numerous other ways of celebrating from around the world.
But what do rings, geese, and drummers have to do with Christmas?
“The 12 Days of Christmas” song uses Christian lore as guidelines but is considered to be a secular song. Instead, the song is historically thought to be a cumulative group memory game as the verses build on each other and the catchy tune make it easy to join in. Imagine a family-friendly version of “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” and you’ve got the right idea.
The 12 Days of Christmas are traditionally associated with gifting and generosity starting with St. Stephen’s Day, or Boxing Day, where historically servants or help in households were gifted bonuses, trinkets, and modest feasts by their employers. Some people hold fast to the Twelve Nights celebrations gift something to friends and family each day of the holiday period rather than all on Christmas Day. This is where the pear tree comes in.
“The 12 Days of Christmas” harks the piles of gifts received from “a true love” daily during the long holiday. The lyrics and melody can differ with country and church but the well-known version of today is thought to be popularized in 1909 by English composer Frederic Austin.
On the 1st Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.
The meaning of the lyrics have long been debated with theories ranging from a betrothal tune illuminating courting gifts to being coded lessons on the tenants of Christianity.
The partridge represents the ultimate love, a true love. The pear tree is where the partridge perches to protect its loved one.
A modern examination however, has revealed the possibility that all the “gifts” are actually types of fowl commonly eaten and served during feasts in the High Middle Ages in Europe. Partridges, birds in the pigeon family like doves, and geese are more commonly known to be eaten both then and now, but the other gifted birds are harder to figure out.
More details about how the birds of the 12 Days of Christmas were possibly identified, cooked, and eaten can be found here.
On the 1st Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me…
An invitation to join our curated online community The Roost!
We are so proud of the community we have on The Roost! It is great perch for writers and publishers to hang out in and connect.
We host weekly write-ins, discussions of writing craft books, genre specific writing groups, and advice on the author’s journey. With authors in all stages of the writing process joining us, there is always something to learn on this independent PRIVATE social media site. You will find your community on The Roost!
Writing may seem like a solitary activity, but stories are told in community. Whether you find that on The Roost or elsewhere, we’re happy that you are a part of our community here at Chanticleer.
Stay tuned for the 2nd Day of Christmas!
Our favorite part about having the 12 Days of Christmas is that we get the time we need to celebrate BIG with our loved ones. We have time for wrapping our presents, meeting with friends for hot cocoa, and setting ourselves up for success with the Chanticleer Authors Conference (April 3-6, 2025 in Bellingham, WA) As always, please email us at Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com with any questions!
Wishing you Happy Holidays from Team Chanticleer: Kiffer, David, Dena, Scott, Anya, and Argus!
The Red Carpet is rolled out for authors looking to take the next step in getting their book Discovered!
As the leaves start to turn and the air begins to crisp, it’s not just kids who are buckling down. We’re here to support you and your writing ambitions!
[Don't forget that PayPal offers 6 months - same as cash - no interest]
Why Join the Roost?
Writing can be a solitary activity, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. The Roost provides Community and Connection, a space where writers meet, share, and support each other’s journeys. It’s your new creative home where the coffee’s always hot and the conversation never ends.
One of the early Roost Happy Hours!
With monthly workshops and discussion led by our staff and expert authors, it’s more than a club: It’s a master class in writing and publishing that runs all year.
Ready for the Roost, but not sure about the rest?
All these benefits are on your time. If your manuscript isn’t quite ready, your Editorial Review and CIBA entries don’t expire. Redeem them at your convenience when your book is ready to be discovered!
If you’re just dipping your toes in. reach out to AuthorOutreach@ChantiReviews.com, and we will send you a special deal to join the Roost for just $10/month. We will honor the discounted rate for as long as you are a Roost Member and you can cancel anytime. Come find out what the crowing is all about!
Don’t Let This Offer Fly the Coop!
The Rooster stops for no one!
Sale Ends September 15, 2024!
Whether you’re on page one of your next bestseller, or ready to start marketing your debut book, The Roost is where the journey to greatness begins. Don’t’ wait – the clock is ticking and this deal won’t last!
As summer comes to a close, we’re excited to offer a bundle that includes a year’s worth of access to our online platform filled with goodies and discounts for authors: The Roost!
The Roost is our exclusive membership platform where we perch together to share knowledge and connect with our community of expert authors.
Every year after Labor Day the publishing industry comes back to life, and we’re happy to crow with the dawn and welcome it back!
The Roost is our Favorite Spot to Perch!
Don’t Miss Out on These Upcoming Events:
Weekly Tuesday Morning Write-Ins with David Beaumier
Weekly Wednesday Evening Write-Ins with Phoebe Walker and Janet Oakley
Monthly Thriller Craft Discussions with Dena Weigel
Monthly Writing Craft Discussions with David Beaumier
Monthly Recorded Workshops
Upcoming is Kickstarting Your Book with Kiffer Brown and David Beaumier, 9/13 at 1pm PST
Virtual Happy Hour (9/16 at 5pm PST) with Kiffer Brown
We’re available for virtual Office Hours on the Roost!
Plus Perpetual Discounts and Early Bird Deals on our Annual Authors Conference, Editorial Reviews, and the CIBAs!
The Roost is a space driven by community! We build and add to it based on what our members ask for and want. Join us, and help transform the space into whatever you want it to be!
Roost sign-ups are typically available only in-person at Conferences or for our First Place Winners. We’ve worked hard to cultivate this community of professionals. And it’s open now to you, but only through September 15th!
Two entries to the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards ($198)
And a Full Year as Chanticleer Members on the Roost (priceless)
All for $645
What does that include?
The Objective Editorial Review
Every book that receives a Chanticleer Editorial Review written by one of our professional reviewers receives the following:
Published online on the Chanticleer Reviews website for easy linking
Each online published review comes with a built-in All IN One Search Engine Optimization package (AIOSEO) to maximize the review and the book title/author’s digital footprint.
AIOSEO interfaces with Google, Bing, Firefox, and Explorer search engines.
We carefully apply AIOSEO techniques to increase higher search rankings for each review.
AIOSEO allows for easier integration into Google Analytics.
Each posted review comes with SEO metadata to optimize Google searches and Amazon crawlers.
Digital links to Amazon, Independent Bookstores, and the Author or Publisher’s website.
Each review is posted to our social media for easy sharing and commenting by the author/publisher.
All our reviews are promoted and highlighted in our Newsletter.
We continue to periodically post the review to social media and in blogposts with links to the review on our website for long-term marketing and to refresh digital footprints.
You do not have to use the Chanticleer Book Review package now. You can use it in the future when you are ready!
The Coveted Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards (CIBAs)
You know you want it.
The CIBAs run year round with promotions always popping up on our website to celebrate the incredible authors who advance. Starting at the Long List, we begin promoting work on our high-traffic website, on social media, and in our newsletter.
From that point we add in digital badges, promotional stickers. By the time we reach the $1000 cash prize for the Overall Grand Prize Winner, we’ve given away over $30,000 worth of prizes!
With all that plus our under the hood marketing technology, it’s no surprise that the CIBAs are the most popular of all our offerings at Chanticleer.
When You’re Ready, We’re Here
Signing up for this bundle doesn’t mean you have to immediately submit your work to the CIBAs or for Review. We’re happy to hold your spot and check in with you on your terms, when your work is at its best. The same with the two CIBA entries!
You might write your book alone, but authors live in community.
Join The Roost today. We’re here, and we can’t wait to support you in your author’s journey and help your book be discovered!
Can’t do the bundle but still want to join?
Reach out to AuthorOutreach@ChantiReviews.com for a discount code and sign up today!
One of our favorite Writing Communities meets annually at the Chanticleer Authors Conference!
How to Form a Writing Community
No matter where you are in the writing journey, it’s never too late to join a Writing Community or form a Critique Group. We’ve talked to people who have ran book groups at our own local Village Books, those who ran the Skagit Valley Writers League, and those who have gone through graduate-level writing classes to bring you the best tips and tricks for your community needs.
Writing Communities and Critique Groups are often a wonderful and necessary step on the journey to becoming a professional author, not just someone scribbling into the void.
So my Writing Community will fulfill all of my authorly needs?
Commander Tuvok and Ensign Kim of the USS Voyager. Kim is usually wrong.
Probably not. Just like one person can’t fulfill all our needs for friendship, writing communities are diverse and can include your local bookstore to the writing group you found online during quarantine. It isn’t just one thing, but here we’ll talk about how to build one if you notice your needs aren’t getting met as well as they could be.
First, we’ll focus on where to begin, then we’ll dive into actually running a critique group.
Starting your Group
Pick who you want to be in your Writing Community
When putting together a group it can be important to consider both experience and demographic. If you’re hoping to publish by the end of the year, it’s important to work with like-minded people as opposed to writers who are just discovering their voice. Of course, even a writer who is still working through their craft may be an excellent reader, so don’t be afraid to take a chance on someone!
Likewise, while it’s helpful to have a variety of readers, ask yourself who the audience for your book is. Lee Child’s The Killing Floor has a pretty different audience from The City of Glass by Cassandra Clare. The best feedback will come from the people who would be interested in grabbing your work at the bookstore.
If you’re looking for more on connecting with readers, and less on connecting with other writers, check out this article on reader engagement from Kiffer Brown here.
Decisions in a Critique Group
There are plenty of ways to run a writing group, but knowing if it’s open or closed and whether people come prepared to give feedback or if they’re expected to give feedback in the moment is key
For a critique group though, startby asking if it’s going to be a closed or an open group. Even with an open group, it helps to recruit people to join it initially, so you set the tone and hopefully create something that will really serve your needs.
For an open group, you’ll have the great pleasure of extraordinary writers coming into your sphere, though on the other hand, you will also find writers whose work needs desperate help beyond what you can give to the work just being plain offensive. Despite that, the rewards of working in an open group are innumerable, as are the connections that will help expand your circle of influence.
In a closed group you don’t have the same level of variety in the people you work with, but the consistency can make up for that. Of course, if the people you invite in end up feeling hurt, this can negatively affect friendships that have been brought into the group.
Regardless of who you have in a group, it’s worth remembering that writing is a sensitive art, and it does well to treat people kindly, even when giving direct feedback.
When is Feedback done?
Whether or not you choose to do an open or closed group, you also need to pick whether or not work will be read in advanced so feedback can be ready to present at group. The other natural option is that the author will present their work at the group and receive feedback immediately after.
I ran a group for 7 years that sent work in advance, and I found the extra time to comment and think about a book really helped! That said, the maximum word count suggestions and number of members we had meant we critiqued approximately 40,000 words a month! That’s a lot of novels!
In contrast, Janet Oakley, a Chanticleer Overall Grand Prize Winner, is still in a group where the author reads the work aloud and then receives feedback in the moment. That group saves a lot of time and effort by keeping the focus on just what can be shared in the time that they meet. Both have great merits! – David
Regardless of the choice you make, writers will be able to get a huge benefit from however feedback is delivered!
Community is something we make at Chanticleer
Here at Chanticleer we have our usual (or unusual) suspects in terms of people who live near us and are guaranteed to show up at our local events ready to cheer us on.
To facilitate this, we’ve created The Roost, a private online community for serious authors looking for support. Not only does The Roost offer steep discounts on many Chanticleer services, there are weekly write ins, monthly workshops, author promotion projects, NaNoWriMo support, and of course pictures of our beloved pets (always a must).
If you’re interested in joining the Roost, please reach out to AuthorOutreach@ChantiReviews.com
One of Kiffer’s adorable kitty cats
The Roost is a social community where authors can share their expertise and knowledge with fellow writers who take the craft and business of being an author seriously. Make posts and share photos just like any other social media, but better since the community is intentionally curated for writers!
Thank you for joining us for this Writer Toolbox Article
There is so much to learn and do with Chanticleer!
From our Book Award Program that has Discovered the Best Books since the early 2010s to our Editorial Book Reviews recognizing and promoting indie and traditional authors, Chanticleer knows your books are worth the effort to market professionally!
When you’re ready,did you know that Chanticleer offers editorial services?We do and have been doing so since 2011.
Our professional editors are top-notch and are experts in the Chicago Manual of Style. They have and are working for the top publishing houses (TOR, McMillian, Thomas Mercer, Penguin Random House, Simon Schuster, etc.).
If you would like more information, we invite you to email us at info@ChantiReviews.com for more information, testimonials, and fees.
We work with a small number of exclusive clients who want to collaborate with our team of top-editors on an on-going basis.Contact us today!
Chanticleer Editorial Services also offers writing craft sessions and masterclasses. Sign up to find out where, when, and how sessions being held.
A great way to get started is with our manuscript evaluation service, with more information availablehere.
And we do editorial consultations for $75. Learn morehere.
Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas – One Day at a Time
The 12th Day of Christmas
The 12th Day of Christmas, also the last day of Christmas, is known as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. Traditionally, gift giving was centered around Epiphany but commercialization of Christmas and a cultural desire to shorten celebrations has changed this to center around Christmas Day. In many European and Slavic countries, children open their presents from ‘Santa Claus’ on Christmas Day, then families and friends open presents to each other on Three Kings’ Day. Three Kings’ Day, or the Epiphany, is a feast day observed by many Christians.
Below is a photo of an parade that takes place throughout Poland on Three Kings’ Day.
The Epiphany is often celebrated by the sharing of a King’s Cake, something also associated with Mardi Gras in the American south and in France. Baked into the cake was a coin, a bean, or a small toy and the person who found the trinket in their slice was named king for the day! Chew carefully!
A New Orleans’ style King Cake. Try the recipe here!
Elsewhere children are encouraged to place their shoes by the door and, if they are sleeping soundly through the night, the Three Wise Men might leave them three small gifts by the morning.
On the 12th Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me…
12 Social Media Tips!
These days everyone is instantly reachable via the internet. This means, besides using Facebook or Instagram or Twitter to catch up on what your high school sweetheart is doing, social media has become a useful tool for anyone who has a product they want to market or a community they want to cultivate.
But where do I start? Not to worry! Check out our top tips for growing your audience and maintaining your community.
1. Make sure you & social media will be friends.
Not everyone needs to have social media. Not everyone is cut out for using social media as the tool it can be. Before you commit to making that profile, buying a website domain, or getting someone to help you make a trending TikTok, as yourself these questions.
Would spending time doing this bring me joy? Does it feel exciting to me?
Can I do this consistently or do I feel like I will burn myself out trying to keep up?
Are there examples of authors I respect and admire who use social media like this?
Is this something I think my readers would find inspiring, informative, entertaining, or valuable?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, then maybe social media is for you!
2. Pick the right platform for YOU!
Most social media platforms have a preferred content format. Twitter has a character limit, Instagram is designed for photos and short-form videos, Facebook has great group options as well as photo, video, and text options, and websites and blogs can be anything you can imagine these days.
Take a look at all your platform options and pick two you think you can manage. Don’t push yourself to make content that doesn’t feel like you.
Some of the most common combinations are: Blogging & Twitter, Facebook & Newsletters, Facebook & Instagram, or Instagram & Pinterest.
3. Post at the right frequency and time.
Each social media platform is going to have an optimal frequency and time to post to maximize traffic to your posts. When creating your social media, try and take these factors into account.
Post Daily: Instagram and Twitter
Post Weekly: Facebook and LinkedIn
Post Monthly: YouTube, Blog, and Newsletters
Post Seasonally: Pinterest
Now think about when you yourself spend time surfing the web or generally look at your devices. THOSE are the times you want your content to be findable by your audience.
A good rule of thumb is to maximize new content being available between 6am-7:30am, 1pm-3pm, and 5:30pm-8pm on weekdays, and between 9am-1pm and 5pm-8pm on weekends. Fridays are good for visual mediums such as Instagram and TikTok but bad for everything else.
4. Weigh your newsletter options.
Not all newsletter providers are created equal so be sure you find one that has all the features you desire. Some commonly used platforms are Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Substack. All of these are free to start but require paid plans once you’ve reached a certain number of subscribers or sent a maximum number of email blasts.
If you don’t want to worry about managing an email list, having a blog that you can funnel interested parties to is another great way to build a faithful audience.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of starting your social media footprints off on the right foot, let’s look at some ways to give your content an extra kick!
5. Always use high quality images for your content!
It really does make a difference in how your audience will look at what you post. If you need to add some pzazz or polish some images there are plenty of free online options like Canva or Pixlr.
6. Don’t be afraid to recycle or double post content.
Not everything you put up everywhere needs to be unique. It’s perfectly acceptable to post the same thing on Facebook and your blog. Or even to repost a similar graphic several times if it’s applicable to everything.
7. Post things you are excited about! Share the new cover for you book, show off a new hobby you’ve picked up, or post a picture from the last time you met some fans.
Don’t worry about limiting yourself to writing related things! You want your fans to enjoy the entirety of you – odd interests, failed attempts, and cozy, lazy days included.
8. Push a preorder promotion.
Is your newest book coming out soon? Consider pushing a pre-order program or just a simple promotion of the work.
9. Invite your fans to events happening nearby! Maybe they’ll show up to say hello and the other writers and businesses will thank you.
Let’s face it, social media can be connective but it still pales in comparison with real human connection. Give folks the opportunity to run in to you at literary events or learn about writers you admire.
10. Show your workspace and favorite writing tools.
Everyone has their own “perfect” creative space. Show your audience what makes yours special!
11. Let fans know what you as an author like to read! There’s always new books to discover.
Top ten lists of your favorite reads of the year or books you wouldn’t be the same person without are a great way to offer some insight into your inspiration and growth as a writer.
12. Don’t just promote, participate.
Share other author’s work you enjoy. Comment on other related posts. Respond to your audience. Creating connection with your audience will provide longevity, community, and other avenues for people to hear about your work.
Here is a list of Chanticleer’s 12 Days Posts with Links
On the 1st Day, Chanticleer brought an invitation to join The Roost, Chanticleer’s Writers Community, with a special holiday offering!
On the 2nd Day, Chanticleer discusses two types of reviews needed by authors and publishers.
On the 3rd Day, Chanticleer honors Three Pillars of our Writing Community: Laurel Leigh and Joan Airoldi in memory, and honors Poet Laureate Rena Priest.
On the 4th Day, Chanticleer discusses ISBNs (and four calling birds).
On the 5th Day, Chanticleer shows off the CIBAs’ (Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards) coveted Blue Ribbons.
On the 6th Day, Chanticleer shares Six Rituals and Routines of Famous Authors.
On the 7th Day, Chanticleer brings the CIBAs Levels of Achievement for all works (manuscript and published) entered in this prestigious book awards program.
On the 8th Day, Chanticleer shares eight SEO Boosts and the AISEO boosting that accompanies each Chanticleer Review.
On the 9th Day, Chanticleer shares the Daily Routines of Nine Famous Authors.
On the 10th Day, Chanticleer shares Ten Publishing Trends for 2024.
On the 12th Day, Chanticleer shares 12 Social Media Tips and 12 Links to this series of blog posts.
We would like to invite you to join our curated online community The Roost!
We are so proud the community we have on The Roost! It is great perch to hang out on for writers and publishers to hang out in and connect.
We host weekly write-ins, discussions of writing craft books, and advice on the author’s journey. With authors in all stages of the writing process joining us, there is always something to learn on this independent PRIVATE social media site.
Writing may seem like a solitary activity, but stories are told in community.
Whether you find that on The Roost or elsewhere, we’re happy that you are a part of our community here at Chanticleer.
Limited Time Only! Join The Roost during the 12 Days at a discounted holiday price.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Twelve Days of Christmas series of blogposts! While the Yuletide holidays might be over, we never stop celebrating the wonderful work you put out. We’re honored to be chosen by authors every day, without whom we couldn’t Discover Today’s Best Books! We’ll see you at the Chanticleer Authors Conference in April!
Wishing you a Happy New Year from Chanticleer from Kiffer, Sharon, David, Dena, Vilina, Scott, Anya, and Argus!
Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas – One Day at a Time
And the Seventh Day of Christmas brings us a New Year!
“But Jiminy Crickets, it’s after December 25th! Is it not too late for the 12 Days of Christmas?” you say.
Not to fear, Chanticleerians! The 12 Days of Christmas begins on December 26th! And it continues to the 6th of January – Three Kings Day. The four weeks leading up to Christmas is known as the Advent.
So if you haven’t finished wrapping presents, sending out those cards, and baking cookies—don’t worry—you’ve got an extra six days!
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Seven Swans-a-Swimming
Six Geese-a-Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens (Chanticleer’s favorite #justsaying)
Two Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
The 7th Day of Christmas is January 1st! A new year means new beginnings, new habits, new routines, and new hopes and dreams for the future.
The Seven Swans symbolize Seven Graces: Service, Teaching, Encouraging, Giving and Sharing, Planning, Leadership, and Reaching Out to Others
What are your favorite ways to mark the new year? Resolutions? Thorough cleaning? A polar plunge?
On the 7th Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me….
The 7 Tiers of Achievement!
The Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards (CIBAs) has 25 Divisions, including, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Short Stories, Collections, and Series! You can learn more about these here and submit your work for 2024! While winning a Chanticleer International Book Award (or CIBA) feels great! The best part for authors is the digital marketing that comes with it.
But what is this digital marketing we’re talking about?
Every time a book you enter advances in our Awards, we post about it on our website, social media, and in our newsletter. This makes sure that your name and book are in front of the eyes of thousands of people and it tells search engines that you are doing something right. Being discoverable and searchable is more critical than ever as more and more books are published each year. If you want the benefits of being an award winner and touted on the internet, be sure to submit to the CIBAs today!
Nevertheless, though, are all the bells and whistles. OR should we say RIBBONS and BADGES? And cash prizes! And awards from sponsors!
And even more promotion opportunities!
And book stickers!
Grand Prize Ribbons!CIBA Grand Prize Division Winners
An invitation to join our curated online communityThe Roost!
We are so proud the community we have on The Roost! It is great perch to hang out on for writers and publishers to hang out in and connect.
We host weekly write-ins, discussions of writing craft books, and advice on the author’s journey. With authors in all stages of the writing process joining us, there is always something to learn on this independent PRIVATE social media site.
Writing may seem like a solitary activity, but stories are told in community. Whether you find that on The Roost or elsewhere, we’re happy that you are a part of our community here at Chanticleer.
Limited Time Only! Join The Roost during the 12 Days at a discounted holiday price.
Our favorite part about having the 12 Days of Christmas is that we can have the time we need to celebrate with our loved ones. We have time for wrapping presents, meeting with friends for hot cocoa, and continuing to prepare the Chanticleer Authors Conference and the 2023 CIBA Banquet and Ceremony.
Wishing you Happy New Year from Chanticleer! from Kiffer, Sharon, David, Dena, Vilina, Scott, Anya, and Argus!
Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas with Chanticleer!
“But Jiminy Crickets, it is the 26th of December! Is it not too late for the 12 Days of Christmas?” you say.
Not to fear, Chanticleerians! The 12 Days of Christmas begins on December 26th! And it continues to the 6th of January – Three Kings Day. The four weeks leading up to Christmas is known as the Advent.
So if you haven’t finished wrapping presents, sending out those cards, and baking cookies—don’t worry—you’ve got an extra 12 days!
Some say the Twelve Days tradition is wishing good luck and cheer for each of the following months in the new year.
Others say the first six of the days are to pay homage to the previous year and six of the days that are in the new year bringing hope and glad tidings for coming times.
The Twelve Days of Christmas would be a welcome break for those who worked the land.
The twelve days of Christmas run from December 26th until January 6th (Three Kings Day).
If you are singing the song, and you miss or mess up a verse, you owe your opponent (the person singing the round before you a kiss or a sweet treat or grant a favor).
We at Chanticleer have our own way of celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas with our fellow Chanticleerians.
Get ready for 12 days of ideas for your new year of writing along with good cheer!
Happy Holidays to You from the Chanticleer Team!
On the First Day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
a partridge in a pear tree
What are the 12 Days of Christmas?
The 12 Days of Christmas historically mark the time from the birth of Christ until the day the Three Magi (or the Three Wise Men) arrived in Bethlehem with their gifts for the Epiphany, (also known as Three Kings’ Day). According to the Western calendar, the 12 days start with Christmas on December 26th and end with the Epiphany on January 6th. However, there are numerous other ways of celebrating from around the world.
But what do rings, geese, and drummers have to do with Christmas?
“The 12 Days of Christmas” song uses Christian lore as guidelines but is considered to be a secular song. Instead, the song is historically thought to be a cumulative group memory game as the verses build on each other and the catchy tune make it easy to join in. Imagine a family-friendly version of “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” and you’ve got the right idea.
The 12 Days of Christmas are traditionally associated with gifting and generosity starting with St. Stephen’s Day, or Boxing Day, where historically servants or help in households were gifted bonuses, trinkets, and modest feasts by their employers. Some people hold fast to the Twelve Nights celebrations gift something to friends and family each day of the holiday period rather than all on Christmas Day. This is where the pear tree comes in.
“The 12 Days of Christmas” harks the piles of gifts received from “a true love” daily during the long holiday. The lyrics and melody can differ with country and church but the well-known version of today is thought to be popularized in 1909 by English composer Frederic Austin.
On the 1st Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.
The meaning of the lyrics have long been debated with theories ranging from a betrothal tune illuminating courting gifts to being coded lessons on the tenants of Christianity.
The partridge represents the ultimate love, a true love. The pear tree is where the partridge perches to protect its loved one.
A modern examination however, has revealed the possibility that all the “gifts” are actually types of fowl commonly eaten and served during feasts in the High Middle Ages in Europe. Partridges, birds in the pigeon family like doves, and geese are more commonly known to be eaten both them and now but some of the other gift birds are harder to figure out.
More details about how the birds of the 12 Days of Christmas were possibly identified, cooked, and eaten can be found here.
On the 1st Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me…
An invitation to join our curated online community The Roost!
We are so proud the community we have on The Roost! It is great perch to hang out on for writers and publishers to hang out in and connect.
We host weekly write-ins, discussions of writing craft books, and advice on the author’s journey. With authors in all stages of the writing process joining us, there is always something to learn on this independent PRIVATE social media site.
Writing may seem like a solitary activity, but stories are told in community. Whether you find that on The Roost or elsewhere, we’re happy that you are a part of our community here at Chanticleer.
Limited Time Only! Join The Roost during the 12 Days at a discounted holiday price.
Our favorite part about having the 12 Days of Christmas is that we can have the time we need to celebrate with our loved ones. We have time for wrapping our presents, meeting with friends for hot cocoa, and setting ourselves up for success with the Chanticleer Authors Conference.
Wishing you Happy Holidays from Team Chanticleer: Kiffer, Sharon, David, Dena, Vilina, Scott, Anya, and Argus!
Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas – One Day at a Time
“But Jiminy Crickets, it’s after December 25th! Is it not too late for the 12 Days of Christmas?” you say.
Not to fear, Chanticleerians! The 12 Days of Christmas begins on December 26th! And it continues to the 6th of January – Three Kings Day. The four weeks leading up to Christmas are known as Advent.
Some say that December 25th is the first day of Christmas, but we are going with the medieval date of the 26th because revelry could not take place on the 25th as it was a holy day. And the Twelve Days of Christmas is about revelry!
So if you haven’t finished wrapping presents, sending out those cards, and baking cookies—don’t worry—you’ve got an extra 12 days!
Happy Holidays to You from the Chanticleer Team!
On the Eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Eight Maids A-Milking
Seven Swans A-Swimming
Six Geese A-Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French hens (Chanticleer’s favorite #justsaying)
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the Eighth Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me…
Eight Writing Craft Books
On The Roost we’ve started a Writing Craft Book Group that reads and discusses books specifically on writing craft. While the information from book to book can repeat a little bit, the conversation is always excellent.
A rough estimate of the number of writing craft books available
Let us know if you have a book group that helps inform your writing life!
Yes, just like the well-known Christmas Carol, we have our own version! For these twelve days, we’ll share a bit of our Chanticleer wisdom and cheer with you!
“But Jiminy Crickets, it is the 26th of December! Is it not too late for the 12 Days of Christmas?” you say.
Not to fear, Chanticleerians! The 12 Days of Christmas begins on December 26th! And it continues to the 6th of January – Three Kings Day. The four weeks leading up to Christmas is known as the Advent.
So if you haven’t finished wrapping presents, sending out those cards, and baking cookies—don’t worry—you’ve got an extra 12 days!
Some say the Twelve Days tradition is wishing good luck and cheer for each of the following months in the new year.
Others say the first six of the days are to pay homage to the previous year and six of the days that are in the new year bringing hope and glad tidings for coming times.
The Twelve Days of Christmas would be a welcome break for those who worked the land.
The twelve days of Christmas run from December 26th until January 6th (Three Kings Day).
If you are singing the song, and you miss or mess up a verse, you owe your opponent (the person singing the round before you a kiss or a sweet treat or grant a favor).
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me a partridge in a pear tree.
Happy Holidays to You from the Chanticleer Team!
On the First Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me…
One Curated Online Community!
We’re immensely proud of The Roost, a place where any Partridge in a Pear Tree would be happy to make its nest. In thinking about our authors, we have The Roost set up for weekly write-ins, discussions of Writing Craft Books, as well as advice on the Author’s Journey.
Couple this with access to authors at all stages of the writing journey, and you have a powerhouse community that isn’t dependent on an outside social media site that might suddenly take a downward turn.
Writing might seem like a solitary activity, but it is truly done in community. Whether you find that in The Roost or elsewhere, we’re happy to share some space in your life!
Stay Tuned for the Second Day of Christmas, and Happy Holidays to all!
And for our weekly informative posts on writing craft, marketing, book promotion, and more.
