Tag: Writing Community

  • Chanticleer Book Reviews at the Author Nation 2025

    Chanticleer at Author Nation 2025: Connection, Community, and Craft

    Conference, tables, ballroom, Chanticleer Book Reviews

    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.

    Author Nation

    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.

    Author Nation, conference, room, ballroom, people

    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.

    Las Vegas 4k Wallpapers - Top Free Las Vegas 4k Backgrounds - WallpaperAccess

    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. 

     Register Today!

    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.

  • The 2025 Gertrude Warner Long List for Middle Grade Fiction

    The 2025 Gertrude Warner Long List for Middle Grade Fiction

    The Boxcar Children from the famed series by Gertrude WarnerThe Gertrude Warner Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Middle Grade Fiction. The Gertrude Warner Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

    The Gertrude Warner Book Awards competition is named for Gertrude Chandler Warner, the wonderful author of The Boxcar Children.

    Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring Contemporary Middle Grade, SFF & Paranormal Middle Grade, Mystery Middle Grade, Historical Middle Grade, Adventure Middle Grade, and Graphic Novels. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them. For Young Adult Fiction see our Dante Rossetti Awards here and for Children’s Literature see our Little Peeps Awards here.

    These titles have moved forward in the first look rounds from all 2025 GERTRUDE WARNER Middle Grade entries to the 2025 Gertrude Warner Book Awards LONG LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Gertrude Warner Short List. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalists positions. FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC26.

    We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference

    These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2025 Gertrude Warner Book Awards novel competition for Middle Grade Fiction!

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

    • Alex Paul – Arken Freeth and the Adventure of the Neanderthals Book 8 the Slave Rebellion
    • Almendra Vila – Mission Red Beetle
    • Ann Huchingson – The Watchwood Inheritance
    • Assaf Becker – Three Quarters of a Bucket of Milk
    • Brent Golembiewski – The Boy the Cube and the Elf
    • Carolyn Armstrong – Make Way for Monarchs Eco Warriors Book 3
    • Daniel Wolfman – The Forest Cat and the Fire Monster
    • Debbie Noble Black – The Old Secret at Hotel Oregon
    • Diana Davis – Liv Forever Never Say Zombie
    • Diana Schaffter – Armando and the Amazing Animal Race
    • Donna Galanti – Loon Cove Summer
    • Dorothea N Buckingham – Forgotten Oath
    • Eli Kern – Brother of Chaos
    • Eliza Kelley and Debra Whiting Alexander – Eliza Jane Finds Her Dog Squad
    • Faisal Mirza – Porsche the Frog Adventures Porsche Goes Hiking
    • Gary Gabel – The Constitution Kids
    • Hans Ness – Rolo on the Planet of the Cats
    • J.F. Mccarney – A Not So Misfit Odyssey
    • Jason Colpitts – Miss Adventures Misadventures
    • Jeffrey Hope – Real Spies Don’t Use Rowboats
    • Joseph J. Ridgway – Ava’s Dream
    • Julie A. Swanson – North of Tomboy
    • Kira Bruner – Nora and the Nightmare King
    • Lawrey Goodrick – Half-Life the AA Battery Adventure
    • Lee Y. Miao – Take a Shot Kipp
    • Lynne Howard – Dylan Dover Orion’s Quest
    • N. Degen – Ray Taylor and the Torn and Tattered Treasure Map
    • Nancy F. Goodfellow – Special
    • Nina Wachsman – Battery Boy
    • P. Lynn Halliday – Disaster Around the Bend
    • Paul Cicchini – The Central Park Irregulars
    • Ruth Amanda – Cried the Raven
    • Silvia Acevedo – Mail-Order Monsters Crash Course
    • Steven Joseph – Snoodles in Space Escape From Zoodletraz
    • Sue C. Dugan – Morse Code
    • Tim Chapman – Outcasts
    • Tim Chapman – The Song of the Bees
    • Trevor Pacelli – Summer of the Fruit Virus
    • V.N. Mcirvin – The Story of Small Things

    Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

    PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS! 

    This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook 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.

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

    Congratulations once more to the 2024 Gertrude Warner Grand Prize Winner

    Back to Bainbridge

    By Norah Lally

    Back to Bainbridge Cover

    Click here to see the full list of 2024 Gertrude Warner Book Award Winners for Middle Grade Fiction.

    We are now accepting submissions into the 2026 OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction.

    Please click here for more information.

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

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

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

    Join us for our annual conference  and discover why!

  • Five Days Remain: The Series, Collections, Nellie Bly, and Military and Front Line Awards call!

    The 2025 CIBAs Close Soon!

    Don’t let your book miss out!

    Only 5 days left to submit your books to these prestigious CIBA Divisions and embark on an extraordinary journey to success.

    The Chanticleer International Book Awards provide ongoing recognition that amplifies authors’ digital footprints through high-traffic website features, social media promotion, newsletter spotlights, and long-tail marketing that continues promoting winners throughout the year and beyond!

    The Series, Collections and Anthologies, Nellie Bly and Military and Front Line Awards are still open!

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

    Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Series Awards!

    • Karen Inglis – Secret Lake Mystery Adventures
    • Glen Dahlgren – The Chronicles of Chaos
    • Sandra Wagner-Wright – Salem Stories
    • Taryn R. Hutchison – A Cold War Trilogy
    • Kari Bovee – The Pryce of Murder
    • J.L. Oakley – The Jossing series
    • Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke – Jake Fortina Series
    • Mike Murphey – Tales of Physics, Lust and Greed
    • Rose Prendeville – Brides of Chattan

    And a huge round of applause to our 2024 Series Grand Prize Winner:

    A Vengeful Realms

    By Tim Facciola

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Collections and Anthologies is our Newest Division, recently split off of the SEA Shorts Award!

    SEA Shorts now covers Short Stories, Essays and Novellas together, and Collections and Anthologies is for exactly that, Multi-Story Collections and Multi-Author Anthologies!

      A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

      The Nellie Bly Award for Journalistic and Research-Based Non-Fiction

      • Carla Conti – Chained Birds: A True Crime Memoir
      • Kori Reed – Men-in-the-Middle Conversations to Gain Momentum with Gender Equity’s Silent Majority
      • Bonnie Bley – Stolen Voices: Missing and Murdered in Big Horn County
      • Sarah Towle – Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands

      And a huge round of applause to our 2024 Nellie Bly Grand Prize Winner:

      The Sing Sing Files

      One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and A 20 Year Fight For Justice

      By Dan Slepian

      A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

      Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Military and Front Line Awards for Service to Others Non-Fiction!

      • Roderick S. Haynes – Unauthorized Disclosures a Navy Memoir of the 1980s
      • David Huntley – The B-17 Tomahawk Warrior: a WWII Final Honor
      • Patrick Hogan – Coincidence, You Say?
      • Shari Biery – It’s Your Turn How To Rediscover Yourself Prioritize Your Well-Being Thrive with Purpose
      • Max Lauker & Antonio Garcia – Number 788: My Experiences in Swedish Special Operations – Preparing for NATO and the War on Terror
      • Bibi LeBlanc – Wings of Freedom – The Story of the Berlin Airlift | Flugel der Freiheit – Die Geschichte der Berliner Luftbrucke

      And a huge round of applause to our 2024 Military and Front Line Grand Prize Winner:

      Memoirs From The Front Lines

      Four States, Two Years, One Pandemic

      By Kim Sloan

      Memoirs from the Frontlines cover by Kim Sloan

      A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

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

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

      Your book deserves to be discovered, celebrated, and shared with the world. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your talent and gain valuable exposure at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (April 17-19, 2025) where Winners from all 28 Book Award Divisions will be announced and honored.

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

      Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

      Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest

      Your book deserves to be discovered

      Enter Today!

    • 7 days Left! Book Awards for Young Readers Close at the End of September!

      Time is almost up for these Back-to-School reads!

      Don’t let your book miss out!

      Only 7 days remain to enter your books to these CIBA Divisions and embark on an extraordinary journey to success!

      The Chanticleer International Book Awards provide ongoing recognition that amplifies authors’ digital footprints through high-traffic website features, social media promotion, newsletter spotlights, and long-tail marketing that continues promoting winners throughout the year and beyond!

      The Dante Rossetti, Gertrude Warner and The Little Peeps Awards are still open!Best Book Grand Prize for the Chanticleer Int'l Book Awards

      Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Little Peeps Awards for Early Readers!

      • Kristen J Anderson – Lorelei the Lorelei: The First of Many Firsts
      • Raven Howell – Keep Trucking
      • Julie Lomax – Melissa Moo Moo’s Special Lesson
      • Dr. Gerry Haller – Will’s Adventure to the Candy Mountain
      • Shaziya M. Jaffer, Jessica Alexanderson and Brad W. Rudover – A Recycling Adventure to The Scrapyard!
      • Mike Mirabella and Lenny Lipton – I Used to Be Shy

      And a huge round of applause to our 2024 Early Peeps Grand Prize Winner:

      Island Moon

      By Ruth Amanda

      A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

      Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Gertrude Warner Award for Middle Grade Fiction!

      • Thomas Kuhn – Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol
      • Debbie Noble Black – Deetjen’s Closet
      • M.J. Evans – Coal Dust and Dreams
      • M.C. Dingman – Samantha Smee: A Pirate’s Life
      • Maggie Lynch – The Power of S.A.D.
      • Sue C. Dugan – Mayday
      • Carolyn Armstrong – No Time To Waste
      • Sandy Grubb – Just Like Click

      And a huge round of applause for our 2024 Gertrude Warner Grand Prize Winner:

      Back to Bainbridge

      By Norah Lally

      Back to Bainbridge Cover

      A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

      Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Dante Rossetti Award for Young Adult Fiction!

      • Mark Kraver – The Willow
      • C.H. Brown – The Appearance of Power
      • Eileen Charbonneau and Jude Pittman – Spectral Evidence
      • J.A. Nielsen – The Winter Heir (Fractured Kingdoms, Book 2)
      • John Middleton – The Pool of Initiation
      • E. L. Werbitsky – The Marsh Keeper

      And a huge round of applause for our 2024 Dante Rossetti Grand Prize Winner:

      The Realm of Gods

      By Glen Dahlgren

      The Realm of the Gods cover by Glen Dahlgren

      A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

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

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

      Your book deserves to be discovered, celebrated, and shared with the world. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your talent and gain valuable exposure at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (April 17-19, 2026) where Winners from all 28 Book Award Divisions will be announced and honored.

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

      Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

      Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest

      Your book deserves to be discovered

      Don’t Delay! Enter Today!

    • 10 Days left for September Non-Fiction that Guides

      Non-Fiction Closes Soon!

       

      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.

      The Chanticleer International Book Awards provide ongoing recognition that amplifies authors’ digital footprints through high-traffic website features, social media promotion, newsletter spotlights, and long-tail marketing that continues promoting winners throughout the year and beyond!

      The I&I, Harvey Chute and The Mind and Spirit Awards are still open!

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

      Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Mind & Spirit Awards for Spirituality and Enlightenment!

      • Shari Biery – It’s Your Turn How To Rediscover Yourself Prioritize Your Well-Being Thrive with Purpose
      • Damian Fozard – Disbelief
      • Eileen Marlowe – The Call to Connect With Spirit
      • Anne Kiehl Friedman – Higher Love: A Psychedelic Travel Memoir of Heartbreak and Healing
      • Jane Kim Yu – Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness

      And a huge round of applause to our 2024 Mind & Spirit Grand Prize Winner:

      Naked in the Now

      By Marijke McCandless

      Naked in the Now Cover

      A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

      Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the I&I Award for Guides and How-tos!

      • Margaret C Beeler – Tropetails: A Cocktail and Mocktail Book for Bookworms
      • Tania Israel – Facing the Fracture How To Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation
      • Katherine Fabrizio – The Good Daughter Syndrome: Help For Empathic Daughters of Narcissistic, Borderline, or Difficult Mothers Trapped in the Role of the Good Daughter
      • Bob Dahms, MBA, CPA, CMA – Let’s Talk About This: 50 Things You Need to Know About Starting and Managing a Small Business
      • Douglas A. Burton – The Heroine’s Labyrinth: Archetypal Designs in Heroine-Led Fiction
      • Jacqui Clarke – Stop Worrying about Money

      And a huge round of applause for our 2024 I&I Grand Prize Winner:

      Success with Hydrangeas: A Gardener’s Guide

      By Lorraine Ballato

      Success with Hydrangeas cover by Lorraine Ballato

      A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

      Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Harvey Chute Award for Business and Enterprise!

      • Roger Spitz – Disrupt With Impact: Achieve Business Success in an Unpredictable World
      • Jenny Li Fowler – Organic Social Media: How to Build Flourishing Online Communities
      • Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel – Cultural Intelligence for Marketers: Building an Inclusive Marketing Strategy
      • Neal Schaffer – Digital Threads: The Small Business and Entrepreneur Digital First Marketing Playbook
      • Melina Palmer – The Truth About Pricing  

      And a huge round of applause to our 2024 Harvey Chute Grand Prize Winner:

      Stop Worrying About Money

      By Jacqui Clarke

      Stop Worrying About Money Cover

      A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

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

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

      Your book deserves to be discovered, celebrated, and shared with the world. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your talent and gain valuable exposure at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (April 17-19, 2025) where Winners from all 28 Book Award Divisions will be announced and honored.

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

      Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

      Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest

      Your book deserves to be discovered

      Enter Today!

    • The 2025 I&I Spotlight for Self-Help and How-To

      Mastering Life’s Skills

      I&I or Instruction & Insight Awards CIBA Badge

      The I&I Awards can show you how!

      In an era where knowledge is power and practical skills unlock new possibilities, readers are seeking guides that deliver real results. From mastering specific crafts and hobbies to developing personal growth strategies and exploring the world through informed travel, the best instructional works combine expert knowledge with clear, actionable guidance. The Instruction & Insight Awards for How-To and Self-Help celebrate the exceptional authors who transform complex subjects into accessible learning experiences, empowering readers to expand their capabilities and enrich their lives.

      Celebrating Our Grand Prize Winner!

      Success with Hydrangeas cover by Lorraine Ballato

      We’re proud to celebrate our 2024 I&I Division Grand Prize Winner, Lorraine Ballato for her comprehensive guide Success with Hydrangeas: A Gardener’s Guide. This expertly crafted work addresses one of gardening’s most beloved yet challenging plants, providing gardeners with the scientific insights and practical techniques needed to achieve reliable blooms and healthy growth. Ballato, who serves as the resident hydrangea expert at the New York Botanical Garden and has been teaching hydrangea classes for over a decade, brings both professional expertise and real-world teaching experience to this thorough guide.

      What makes Success with Hydrangeas exemplary is its comprehensive approach to solving common gardening challenges. The book features over 150 photos and illustrations across thirteen color-coded chapters that cover everything from propagation and fertilizing to pruning techniques, pest management, and achieving desired flower colors. Ballato addresses the most frequent gardener concerns like proper pruning timing, optimal watering practices, and transplanting strategies paired with clear scientific explanations and practical solutions. The inclusion of garden design applications and a detailed index ensures readers can quickly find answers when they need them most. Ballato will receive a Chanticleer Editorial Review and be invited to participate in an Author Interview, offering deeper insights into her expertise and approach to hydrangea cultivation.

      The I&I Awards recognize the remarkable breadth of instructional and self-improvement literature, encompassing categories from Travel Guides and Culinary arts to Health & Fitness, Writing Guides, and Home & Garden expertise. This comprehensive scope reflects our understanding that learning takes many forms, whether through Arts & Crafts tutorials, Nature & Environment education, Psychology insights, or Business & Money strategies that enhance personal and professional development.

      Explore All Business & Self-Help Divisions

      The I&I Awards are part of Chanticleer’s comprehensive celebration of transformative non-fiction:

      We’d love for you to join us in reading about some of our favorite guides that we’ve reviwed!

      Eating Together, Being Together Cover

      Eating Together, Being Together
      By Julian C.E. Clauss- Ehlers and Caroline S. Clauss-Ehlers

      Chanticleers 2023 I&I Grand Prize Winner!

      Eating Together, Being Together is a rare, enlightening book that teaches the importance of family dining, both on the culinary side and in its benefits for childhood and young adult development beyond the kitchen walls.

      Co-authored by master Chef and Dad, Julian C.E. Clauss-Ehlers, and Ph.D. Psychologist and Mom, Caroline S. Clauss-Ehlers, Eating Together, Being Together offers up their parental wisdom and expertise from the heart of the home—the kitchen.

      With informative but relaxed conversations about food choices, preparation, and related activities, the two provide great insight into how family mealtime promotes well-being in a child’s life. As involved adults, they incorporate thoughtful discussions about spending quality time with their children, sharing and mitigating bad feelings, and making wonderful memories. Ultimately, they showcase family meals as nourishment for both the body and soul.

      Within the pages of the book readers will find ways food can serve as a message of care and support, as well as a way to model kindness in the face of questions and concerns.

      Read More Here

      What's Your Name Cover

      What’s Your Name?
      By Albert Jung

      Albert Jung’s What’s Your Name?, subtitled How to Write Your Name in Han’gŭl Without Learning the Korean Language, is more than a primer for learning how to write in the Han’gŭl script — it’s a study of the evolution of the Korean writing system and, through it, the history of Korea itself.

      What’s Your Name? offers a crash course in how to write your name in Han’gŭl for anyone who attends international conferences, hosts Korean exchange students, or simply has Korean speakers in their social sphere. Although the reader quickly plunges into the components of the Han’gŭl alphabet, Jung suggests a light read for the basics, and a comprehensive read for those seeking a deeper understanding of Han’gŭl and its evolution.

      From absolute beginners to linguistics scholars and students, readers will find valuable reference material and guidance for practice in this extensive text.

      Read More Here

      Disability is Human Cover

      Disability is Human
      By Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD

      In Disability is Human: The Vital Power of Accessibility in Everyday Life, Dr. Stephanie W. Cawthon advocates for the rights and needs of a group that is often underrepresented, ignored, or misunderstood.

      Disability is Human offers a broad scope of examples and advice that has proven to enhance lives through accessibility, whether implemented in programs, institutional practice, or daily life. The book also has a companion workbook for those interested in incorporating its ideas into programs, institutional practice, or daily life.

      Cawthon contrasts ableism against accessibility, including her own experiences as a person born deaf who uses hearing aids and sign language to communicate. She tells of a time before anti-discrimination laws were enacted to protect disabled peoples’ rights and make the world available to everyone.

      Cawthon comes to this conversation with deep, personal knowledge of the issues faced by disabled people.

      Read More Here

      Dementia Home Care
      By Tracy Cram Perkins

      An I&I First Place Winner!

      Dementia Home Care: How to Prepare Before, During, and After, by Tracy Cram Perkins, offers the lived experience of a caregiver, sharing the experiences that impressed upon her the enormity of the physical, emotional, and psychological task she undertook.

      These same experiences made Perkins aware of the dearth of practical resources for the novice embarking on this journey. She hopes to fill that gap with this comprehensive, “user-friendly” guide that goes well beyond the limits of a self-help book, impersonal how-to manual, or clinical tome. From Dementia Home Care, readers will gain new insights into human behavior and how to become an effective caregiver without sacrificing their own well-being.

      Perkins’ written voice captivates from the beginning. Her first-person accounts of caring for afflicted loved ones are both relatable and authentic. The reader will find themself laughing aloud, or filled with dread, as the author recounts actual experiences that are otherwise hard to imagine happening to oneself.

      Read More Here

      These reviews represent just a glimpse of the practical expertise and transformative guidance waiting to be discovered in today’s instructional and self-help literature.


      See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!

      We’re excited about all the outstanding instructional and self-help works we receive every year for both the CIBAs and for our Editorial Reviews. Throughout this year’s I&I Book Awards, we had the pleasure of promoting numerous valuable guides as they advanced through our competition tiers. The Chanticleer International Book Awards provide ongoing recognition that amplifies authors’ digital footprints through high-traffic website features, social media promotion, newsletter spotlights reaching thousands of industry professionals, and long-tail marketing that continues promoting winners throughout the year and beyond!

      This is the journey from beginning to end for the CIBAs! Every list you make means more promotion for you and your work as each advancement tier is posted right here on our website, on our social media, and also out in our newsletter! Your book deserves to be discovered.

      Don’t Let Your Expertise Go Unrecognized!

      The instructional and self-help market continues to thrive as readers seek trusted guidance for improving their skills, expanding their knowledge, and enhancing their quality of life. Whether your work provides step-by-step craft tutorials, transformative self-help strategies, comprehensive travel insights, or specialized knowledge in areas from cooking to psychology, the I&I Awards provide the recognition and promotional platform your expertise deserves.

      Instructional literature has the unique power to unlock human potential, solving problems and opening new worlds of possibility. From practical guides that help readers master tangible skills to self-help works that facilitate personal transformation, every well-crafted instructional book has the potential to become an indispensable resource. Don’t let your knowledge remain untapped—submit to the I&I Awards today and join the skilled authors who’ve found their eager audience through Chanticleer!

      I&I or Instruction & Insight Awards CIBA Badge

      Enter the I&I Awards today! Deadline: September 30th

      You know you want it…
    • The 2025 Mind and Spirit Spotlight for Spirituality and Enlightenment!

      Finding Peace in a Busy World

      Mind and Spirit Non-Fiction Awards CIBA Badge

      The Mind & Spirit Awards Are Looking to Unplug

      In our increasingly fast-paced world, the search for inner peace and authentic connection has become more vital than ever. From mindfulness practices that ground us in the present moment to spiritual frameworks that illuminate our deeper purpose, readers are seeking guidance that nurtures both mind and spirit. The Mind & Spirit Awards for Spirituality and Enlightenment celebrate the exceptional works that provide this essential wisdom, recognizing authors who offer transformative insights and practical tools for living with greater awareness, compassion, and joy.

      Celebrating Our Grand Prize Winner!

      We’re delighted to celebrate our 2024 Mind & Spirit Division Grand Prize Winner, Marijke McCandless for her inspiring guide Naked in the Now: Juicy Practices for Getting Present. This accessible and warmhearted work offers a refreshing approach to mindfulness, providing simple yet powerful practices that help readers reconnect with themselves and find peace in everyday moments. McCandless understands that many people crave more presence in their lives but feel overwhelmed by complex spiritual practices, so she offers “tiny practices” that deliver “real relief” without requiring major life overhauls.

      What makes Naked in the Now truly special is its blend of practical wisdom with gentle encouragement. The book helps readers spark insight and authenticity while quieting their inner critic through practices that can be integrated into busy schedules. McCandless shows the reader that even just five minutes a day can open doorways to the peace, vitality, and joy that already exist within us. She will receive a Chanticleer Editorial Review and has already completed her Awarded Author Interview, allowing readers to explore her insights on mindful living and practical spirituality.

      Sand ripples with a rock in the center

      The Mind & Spirit Awards honor the full spectrum of spiritual and wellness literature, encompassing categories from Enlightenment and Spirituality to Mindfulness, Meditation, Well-Being, and Energy work. This comprehensive approach reflects our understanding that spiritual growth takes many forms, whether through Motivational frameworks that inspire transformation or specialized practices that cultivate specific aspects of consciousness and healing.

      Explore All Business & Self-Help Divisions

      The Mind & Spirit Awards are part of Chanticleer’s comprehensive celebration of transformative non-fiction:

       

      One Kiss Cover

      One Kiss
      By Michelle Ashton

      One Kiss by Michelle Ashton is a poignant and emotionally unvarnished memoir of life through loss, healing, and the grim, lovely battle of being human.

      One Kiss feels like a private journal—vulnerable, scattered at times, terribly real and sympathetic. Readers walk beside someone who’s still dealing with life’s challenges—working through heartbreak, trying to heal, stumbling, getting back up, and asking big questions she hasn’t yet found the answers to.

      Much of this book circles around Ashton’s deep, complicated attachment to Noah, the man she calls “Adonis” and her “Twin Flame.” She relates with painful but relatable honesty how it feels like to wait, to hope, to wonder if you should hold on or walk away. Who hasn’t sat there refreshing their messages or praying for a sign that maybe this time things will turn out differently?

      Read More Here

      Guided, book cover, rv, cactus, monument valley

      Guided: Lost Love, Hidden Realms, and the Open Road
      By Kirsten Throneberry

      A Journey First Place Winner!

      In her stunning memoir, Guided: Lost Love, Hidden Realms, and the Open Road, Kirsten Throneberry weaves together the highs and lows of a road trip packed with life wisdom, where she explores grief, spirituality, and rekindled hope.

      Throneberry’s achingly vulnerable memoir splits its readers’ hearts and tenderly sews them back together.

      In the aftermath of the devastating loss of her husband, Kirsten sells her home and takes her two small sons, two elderly pups, and eccentric mother on a year-long road trip around the United States in their new-to-them Bigfoot RV.

      Encouraged by the same spirit guides whose earlier advice for her husband’s health left her broken and untrusting, Kirsten must learn to face the open road with an equally open heart and mind.

      Read More Here

      Ask Biella
      By Syl Sabastian

      Syl Sabastian’s Ask Biella is unlike today’s typical self-help books—ones that are quickly read, interpreted, and forgotten. Instead, Ask Biella is a thoughtful and thought-through self-help reference work featuring a fictional guide from Syl Sabastian’s core series fielding deep questions from real readers. It asks its audience for a different kind of commitment to its deep sharing: a raw, self-exploratory approach in which one creates a realistic-ideal world for themselves through the process of positivity and emphasis.

      Ask Biella invites readers to turn inward for enlightenment, satisfying their questions with lasting internal empowerment rather than external compromises. Biella reveals the harmful mental habits to which we are all prone and points to the rope that can save us from ourselves. After all, according to Biella, “We, and we alone, are the creators of meaning.”

      Biella’s world is rooted in real-world wisdom with an easy-to-follow candor, and pulls from Biella’s “Dictionary-of-Power,” hyphenating and capitalizing particular words and phrases for emphasis to change how the reader engages with the text. For example, Biella hyphenates and capitalizes the phrase “Thinking-Things-Through-TO-THE-END” to capture readers’ attention, changing the way readers’ brains respond to the words via emphasis. These specific words and phrases, or “tools-of-living,” cover a wide variety of topics.

      Read More Here

      Staying Married is the Hardest Part Cover

       

      Coming Out of the Metaphysical Closet
      By Lisa Rhyne

      In her stunning and intimate memoir Staying Married is the Hardest Part: A Memoir of Passion, Secrets and Sacrifice, Bonnie Comfort takes readers on a decades-long journey of deep love, laughter, and the challenges of a long-term marriage, from first meeting her husband Bob in the late 1970s until his death in 2010.

      Throughout their life together, Bonnie and Bob have their fair share of disagreements—including where to live—but the main conflict within their marriage centers around their conflicting sexual needs and preferences.

      As a professional psychologist, Bonnie shows the highs and lows of her marriage to Bob, contrasted by her job of helping others with their emotional and relationship problems. Bonnie and Bob’s committed love for one another makes staying married both the hardest and easiest part of their lives regardless of what challenges come their way.

      Read More Here

      These reviews represent just a glimpse of the transformative wisdom and practical guidance waiting to be discovered in today’s spiritual and wellness literature.


      See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!

      We’re excited about all the inspiring spiritual and wellness works we receive every year for both the CIBAs and for our Editorial Reviews. Throughout this year’s Mind & Spirit Book Awards, we had the pleasure of promoting numerous enlightening titles as they advanced through our competition tiers. The Chanticleer International Book Awards provide ongoing recognition that amplifies authors’ digital footprints through high-traffic website features, social media promotion, newsletter spotlights reaching thousands of industry professionals, and long-tail marketing that continues promoting winners throughout the year and beyond!

      This is the journey from beginning to end for the CIBAs! Every list you make means more promotion for you and your work as each advancement tier is posted right here on our website, on our social media, and also out in our newsletter! Your book deserves to be discovered.

      Don’t Let Your Wisdom Remain Unshared!

      The spiritual and wellness market continues to flourish as readers seek authentic guidance for navigating life’s challenges with greater peace and purpose. Whether your work offers ancient wisdom adapted for modern life, innovative meditation techniques, energy healing practices, or motivational frameworks for personal transformation, the Mind & Spirit Awards provide the recognition and promotional platform your insights deserve.

      Spiritual and wellness literature has the unique power to heal, inspire, and awaken readers to their highest potential. From mindfulness practices that bring immediate relief to profound teachings that shift entire worldviews, every thoughtfully crafted work has the potential to become a treasured guide on someone’s spiritual journey. Don’t let your wisdom remain hidden—submit to the Mind & Spirit Awards today and join the visionary authors who’ve found their spiritual community through Chanticleer!

      Mind and Spirit Non-Fiction Awards CIBA Badge

      Submit to the Mind & Spirit Awards today! Deadline: September 30th

      You know you want it…
    • The 2025 Harvey Chute Spotlight for Business & Finance

      Mastering Financial Success!

      Three Black stripes on a yellow badge CIBA Badge

      The Harvey Chute Awards for Business & Finance

      In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, financial literacy and strategic thinking have never been more crucial. From navigating investment complexities to building sustainable business models, professionals and entrepreneurs need reliable guidance to thrive. The Harvey Chute Awards for Business & Finance celebrate the exceptional works that provide this essential knowledge, recognizing authors who translate complex financial concepts into actionable insights that empower readers to take control of their economic futures.

      Celebrating Our Grand Prize Winner!

      Stop Worrying About Money Cover

      We’re proud to celebrate our 2024 Harvey Chute Division Grand Prize Winner, Jacqui Clarke for her transformative guide Stop Worrying about Money. This comprehensive work goes beyond traditional financial advice to address the psychological and practical aspects of money management. Clarke, described as “Australia’s best-kept money secret,” delivers a holistic approach that helps readers clarify their values, set realistic goals, and build genuine financial security. Her book tackles everything from combating expense creep and avoiding common money traps to overcoming setbacks and mastering long-term planning, all while maintaining an accessible and encouraging tone.

      What sets Stop Worrying about Money apart is its emphasis on financial literacy as a journey of self-awareness rather than merely a destination of wealth accumulation. As our review noted, Clarke “blends theoretical financial advice with pragmatic applications, incorporating real-life examples, case studies, and interactive exercises” that transform potentially dry subject matter into engaging and digestible content. The book addresses critical issues from building a trusted “finance village” of advisors to understanding the impact of financial decisions on personal relationships. Clarke will be invited to participate in a Chanticleer Author Interview, offering readers deeper insights into her expertise and approach to financial empowerment.

      The Harvey Chute Awards recognize the full spectrum of business and finance literature, encompassing categories from traditional Finance and Investing & Money to contemporary essentials like Social Media, Technology Guides, and Communications. This comprehensive approach reflects the reality that modern business success requires mastery across multiple disciplines, whether you’re developing a Motivational framework, crafting Business Strategy, understanding Economics, or building Marketing expertise.

      Explore All Business & Self-Help Divisions

      The Harvey Chute Awards are part of Chanticleer’s comprehensive celebration of transformative non-fiction:

      The Doctor’s Voice
      By Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli

      A Harvey Chute First Place Winner!

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

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

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

      Read More Here

      The Money Map
      By Kasey J. Claytor

      A Mind and Spirit First Place Winner!

      “There is something magical about money—the way it appears and disappears, grows and shrinks, and, in a similar way of taming a hesitant wild horse, with calm assuredness and confidence, not only will you learn to control it, but you will find you can joyfully master it.” -Author Kasey J. Claytor

      Claytor insists that every successful endeavor starts with an individual’s thinking and beliefs. She details this concept – and how to live with it in mind – in her new book, The Money Map: A Spiritual Guide for Financial Success.

      From the onset of her business-oriented career, Claytor has drawn from her beliefs as she upholds financial success as a spiritual goal. In this volume, she takes the mystery out of money to show it as an extension of the mind, body, and spirit. Claytor ensures the beginning of an endearing journey toward clearer financial decision-making, investments, and goals by asking readers to identify the worries of their own ego and to eliminate unproductive ideas and actions. 

      Read More Here

      Tax MythBusters
      By Lily Tran

      Tax MythBusters: Don’t Fall Prey to the Tax Misconceptions, compiled by tax professional Lily Tran with essays by other financial, tax, and accounting professionals, gives valuable insight into the myths of what can and cannot be claimed as a deduction for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

      This work provides tips and strategies to optimize tax planning and make the most of available deductions. As the foreword reminds the reader, “Knowledge is power when it comes to taxes,” adding that gaining a better understanding of the tax rules and regulations will allow you to “make smart financial decisions and protect yourself from unnecessary risks.”

      The essays that make up this work are short, succinct, and to the point about the pitfalls and challenges that face small business owners, framing these dangers as “myths.”

      Read More Here

      Reconfigurement Cover

      Reconfigurement
      By E. Alan Fleischauer

      Chanticleers 2022 Harvey Chute Grand Prize Winner!

      A guide to achieving financial freedom in retirement, E. Alan Fleischauer’s bestseller Reconfigurement™ reveals a roadmap guided by the Mantra, “Navigate, Customize, and Thrive.”

      Advances in medicine, nutrition, and longevity planning now offer unparalleled possibilities to live longer, higher-quality lives. However, looming over this rosy image is a genuine concern: the financial ramifications of a longer retirement term. More alarming is that a sizable portion of the American populace is not harnessing their 401(k) retirement plans.

      In light of this scenario, can traditional investment programs with fraying safety nets, such as pensions, remain viable? Reconfigurement combines the emotional fulfillment of making retirement dreams a reality with practical guidance that rejects the notion of a set retirement age of 65. This work’s personal tales and sound financial guidance entice readers away from the constraints of traditional retirement approaches.

      Read More Here

      These reviews represent just a glimpse of the strategic insights and practical wisdom waiting to be discovered in today’s business and finance literature.


      See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!

      We’re excited about all the exceptional business and finance works we receive every year for both the CIBAs and for our Editorial Reviews. Throughout this year’s Harvey Chute Book Awards, we had the pleasure of promoting numerous outstanding titles as they advanced through our competition tiers. In a market flooded with millions of books, professional recognition cuts through the noise. The CIBAs provide ongoing promotion that maximizes your digital footprint and expands your readership through:

      • High-traffic website features
      • Social media promotion across established platforms
      • Newsletter spotlights like this reaching thousands of industry professionals
      • Long-tail marketing that continues promoting winners throughout the year

      This is the journey from beginning to end for the CIBAs! Every list you make means more promotion for you and your work as each advancement tier is posted right here on our website, on our social media, and also out in our newsletter! Your book deserves to be discovered.

      You wouldn’t hide a business! Don’t hide your book!

      The business and finance market continues to demand fresh perspectives and proven strategies, with professionals, entrepreneurs, and individuals seeking guidance they can trust and implement. Whether your work provides innovative investment strategies, practical business solutions, cutting-edge technology insights, or foundational financial education, the Harvey Chute Awards provide the recognition and promotional platform your expertise deserves.

      Three Black stripes on a yellow badge CIBA Badge

      Business and finance literature has the unique power to transform lives, build wealth, and create sustainable success. From comprehensive guides that help readers master complex financial concepts to targeted strategies that solve specific business challenges, every expertly crafted work has the potential to become an essential resource. Don’t let your knowledge remain untapped! Enter the Harvey Chute Awards today and join the distinguished authors who’ve found their professional audience through Chanticleer!

      Submit to the Harvey Chute Awards today! Deadline: September 30th

      You know you want it…
    • The 2025 Gertrude Warner Hall of Fame for Middle Grade Fiction

      Know a kid looking for that Middle Grade winner?

      The Boxcar Children from the famed series by Gertrude WarnerEveryone likes a good book, and kids are no different.

      The Gertrude Warner Awards celebrate Middle Grade Fiction, which means books aimed for kids of ages 8-13. This isn’t our only Division aimed for younger readers! For Young Adult (14-18), see Dante Rossetti, and for Children’s see Little Peeps.

      Lets take a look at and celebrate the Past Grand Prize Winners of the Gertrude Warner Awards for Middle Grade Fiction!

      Back to Bainbridge
      By Norah Lally

      Back to Bainbridge cover by Norah Lally

      Our review of the newest Gertrude Warner Grand Prize Winner is still upcoming. In the meantime, here is what GoodReads readers have been saying:

      From the opening moments, this book grabs your attention and does not let go!

      Vicki’s family suddenly faces eviction after her single mother is unable to pay the bills. The story opens as she, her mom, and her two younger siblings scramble out of the house, on the sheriff’s orders, lost with nowhere to go. We slowly learn more about Vicki’s character and past- her father had left the, six years earlier and her mother struggled ever since. Vicki is a determined, fierce, but confused young lady. Full of energy and personality, but lacking direction. This coming of age novel takes us on her journey of self-discovery. Its personal, touching, and heartfelt.

      But the lessons of this book aren’t solely for teens. Its a story about family and love, and its morals apply to all ages. Everyone, regardless of age group, should read this book at least once.” -Phin

      Back to Bainbridge was a delight to read from the breezy beginning to the satisfying and endearing end. Told in the first person, the reader is immediately intrigued by fourteen-year-old Vicki’s voice: leery, weary, and wise beyond her years, or so she thinks. Vicki’s impatience with her single mother and two younger siblings is in full throttle when their family has to move (yet again!) and this time she’ll be forced to share a room with a needy 10-year-old brother and a sarcastic 12-year-old sister.” -M.C.

      Excellent, unique coming of age story set in the vibrant environment of the Bronx, NY. The story includes many interesting, diverse characters and vivid depictions of the city that really bring the whole scene to life. The prose is well-written and engaging — youth and adults alike should enjoy this book!” -R.

      Buy it here!

      EXOSTAR
      By Rae Knightly

      A piece-of-scrap. That’s how the townsfolk on Trinket’s planet label her. The twelve-year-old is determined to prove that she’s more than just a discarded android, but her prosthetic leg and blue veins in her hands make her wonder about her true identity. Trinket knows that she must get off-world before the cruel and powerful Remnants send her to the scrap yard, but things take a turn for the worse when the Remnant Supreme Leader discovers her existence.

      Trinket could be the key to a lost spaceship that is rumored to hold the greatest hoard of gems in the galaxy, and the Supreme Leader wants it. As the alien civilizations of the Magnus Star Cluster wake up to the possibility that the legendary treasure exists, a frantic hunt for the lost spaceship – and its key – pits Trinket against an enemy that will stop at nothing to get what they want.

      To uncover the truth about her identity, Trinket must confront the evil Supreme Leader or get to the treasure first. But what if the truth is too shocking to bear?

      Award-winning author Rae Knightly presents EXOSTAR, Book 1 in The Lost Space Treasure Series, which thrusts a young girl into a universe full of alien civilizations and an epic hunt to uncover the greatest treasure of all. This witty upper middle-grade science fiction story with a cast of unforgettable characters is perfect for the space explorers of tomorrow and fans of Alita, The Prometheus Project, Hana Hsu, and Dragon Pearl. Ideal for readers aged 10+.

      Find it here!

      Mystery Force: Volume 1
      By Ted Neill and Suzi Spooner

      Mystery Force - Volume One Cover

      Set in a world where magical talking creatures are a normal part of society, the Mystery Force series by Ted Neill is a must-read for any animal-loving kid.

      Book One, Mystery Force, Assemble!, begins with warehouses of previously unheard-of magical creatures being discovered and freed. Out of fear, these new creatures continue to hide, and a group of curious kids – Rasheed, Jonathan, and Jojo – decide to get to the bottom of the mystery!

      In book two, The Case of the Stolen Horn, Rasheed, Jonathan, and Jojo are on the case after their unicorn drama teacher, Mr. Twinkles, is attacked, with their pegasus geometry teacher Ms. Weymont being arrested for the crime. The Mystery Force kids are determined to clear Ms. Weymont’s name by finding the real culprit.

      Read More Here

      Fishing For Luck
      By Murray Richter

      Fishing for Luck Cover

      During the pre-internet era of 1980, Kevin and his friends just want to enjoy a good fishing adventure, but troubles from the past come back to complicate their carefree boyhood in Murray Richter’s novel, Fishing for Luck.

      As the group prepares their fishing raft for its maiden voyage, Kevin tries to solve these problems himself before anyone else knows of them, but no matter what he tries, the situation only gets worse. His parents seem on the verge of a divorce, his mentor struggles to find his long-lost love, and his sister just wants her bike back already. As Kevin takes on more and more responsibility to avoid what seem to be inevitable consequences, will he be able to see that this is all too much for one kid to handle and ask those he trusts for help?

      Fishing For Luck is a wild ride of pre-teen hijinks reminiscent of the golden age of coming-of-age comedies and sitcoms we all know and love. Our young main character gets into a situation where everything goes wrong, and scrambles to fix it before anyone notices. Kevin’s predicament becomes engrossing with an extra dose of danger.

      Read More Here

      Kassy O’Roarke Cub Reporter
      By Kelly Oliver

      Cover of Kassy O'Roarke Cub Reporter by Kelly Oliver

      In this first installment from the new Kassy O’Roarke Pet Detective Series, award-winning author Kelly Oliver delivers a fun and engaging kid-friendly literary experience. Here is a story intended for middle-graders, Cub Reporter proves a quality blend of adventure and mystery involving a smart, inquisitive 12-year old with aspirations of becoming a spy.

      As a reporter for her school paper, Kassy’s hoping to nab a front-page scoop and win the honorable Thompson Award for Journalism. Unfortunately, help from her pesky, but the well-intentioned younger brother, sets in motion a roller coaster of calamities she never expected. From animal-nappings and a mixed-bag of clues to car chases and rescues from entrapment, ultimately the constant reinforcement from family, friends, and a menagerie of furry companions bring positive lessons to the forefront of this likable tale.

      Amidst popular classics like Emil and the Detectives and the resurgence of the Nancy Drew mysteries, Oliver has hit the mark with this bright and entertaining series opener. Though geared toward a younger audience, readers of all ages can look forward to more investigative capers on the horizon featuring the creative escapades of Kassy and company. Highly recommended!

      Read More Here


      Remember to add your next reads to your StoryGraph or Goodreads account! Now that you’re set on your next five reads, what are you waiting for? The only way to join this amazing list of Chatelaine Winners is to submit today! 

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

      The Boxcar Children from the famed series by Gertrude Warner is the background badge for these Middle Grade Fiction Awards
      Enter Here!
    • The 2024 Gertrude Warner First Place Round Up for Middle Grade Fiction!

      The Boxcar Children from the famed series by Gertrude WarnerThe Gertrude Warner Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Middle Grade Fiction. The Grand Prize Winner, Norah Lally’s book, Back to Bainbridge will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Gertrude Warner contest page year ’round!

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

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

      Join us in celebrating the 2024 First Place Gertrude Warner Winners!

      A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

      Thomas Kuhn – Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol

      Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol Cover

      When Nate Turner, a more or less average well-intentioned 10-year-old, receives via robot-helicopter an encoded invitation from the secluded, anti-social, and enigmatic child prodigy, Tommy Rocket, promising free Doritos, Twinkies, and adventure, he can’t resist. Tommy’s gift for making gadgets and robots further fascinates Nate, most especially Tommy’s Goober Patrol, a small group of robots possessing the Prometheus Chip, the sentience-granting, epic invention of Tommy’s father. However, when someone—or something—begins spying and hunting the boys, something capable of murder, they join forces to discover the identity of their mysterious stalker. Who, or what, is it, and why is he so interested in Tommy’s father and his fabulous Prometheus Chip? Together, the boys must join forces, along with Tommy’s marvelous robots, to solve the mystery of their unknown adversary, a mystery whose outcome holds the key to the continued survival of the human race itself.

      From Chanticleer:

      Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol by Thomas R. Kuhn follows Nate, a young boy growing up in the 1970s, whose friendship with the kid genius robot builder, Tommy Rocket, leads him into mysterious adventures.

      Tommy’s father invented the Prometheus chip that gives sentience to robots, and from a young age Tommy started creating a gang of robots called the Goober Patrol. Eccentric and wheelchair-bound, Tommy prefers to tinker with his robots at home. But he befriends Nate after he saves Tommy from bullies.

      When Tommy’s aptly named ‘Monster-bot’ gets loose, Nate is tasked with finding and securing the rogue bot before anyone finds out. But the two boys soon find out there is more at work than one missing robot. There’s another tinkerer in town and they’re building their own special group of robots—which look just like one of Tommy’s creations. Nate and Tommy have to find out who has gotten their hands on the Prometheus chip before it’s too late.

      Filled with 1970s nostalgia, Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol explores the best parts of childhood.

      Read More Here

      Find it on Amazon!

      Debbie Noble Black – Deetjen’s Closet

      It’s bad enough being the new kid in class, but Sara’s secret belief in magic is about to go viral all over school, thanks to the Terrible Twins.

      How on earth can she prove magic exists? And fast!

      Help comes from some ghostly allies she literally stumbles into in a most unexpected place. Hidden deep in an old hotel closet, Sara discovers Silas (an abandoned Civil War coat). He introduces her to six ghosts of clothes worn by real-life people in history whose stories the clothes are eager to tell.

      But that’s not all they have to share. Together, the ghost clothes help Sara come up with a plan to save her own skin and even magic itself. It just might work! Now, whether Sara has the courage to carry it out…that’s another matter. But what really does matter? Being right, or being a friend?

      Deetjen’s Closet is a captivating historical fantasy with splashes of magic for readers 8-12. At the end of the book, they’ll find bonus material from the story—including how to bake fortune cookies, tie a Bowline knot and fold a dollar-bill into a heart.

      Find it Locally and on Amazon!

      M.J. Evans – Coal Dust and Dreams

      Young Bethan is living a peaceful life in a coal mining town in South Wales. But her world crumbles when her father is badly injured after a section of the mine collapses. Setting her dreams aside for the time being, Bethan must help support her family. Defying the laws forbidding it, she goes to work 2,000 feet underground in the dark, damp, and terrifying coal mine. Her only source of comfort comes in the form of Dobbin, the very pit pony who saved her father’s life.

      Through this gripping historical fiction novel for pre-teens and teens, you will experience the grueling work, ever-present dangers, and rampant sexism faced by Bethan as Dobbin becomes her strength and guiding light.

      Find it Locally and on Amazon!

      M.C. Dingman – Samantha Smee: A Pirates Life

      Before Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, there was Samantha Smee and her philosopher fairy, Florafauna. Growing up on Captain Hook’s pirate ship in the 1800s, Samantha Smee, daughter of Mr. Smee, doesn’t face the usual challenges for young girls. Disguised since infancy, Sammi embarks on hilarious, action-packed adventures on the high seas where she develops the skills to navigate Neverland and save her family. This funny tale celebrates inclusivity, girl power, and the importance of friendship, as Sammi discovers her true self. This award-winning book is a fantastic addition to any middle grade kid’s reading list. Through Samantha Smee’s journey, young readers will be inspired to imagine their own dreams and forge their own futures.

      Find it on Amazon!

      Maggie Lynch – The Power of S.A.D.

      Akna Sales has used her smarts, planning, strength and determination to keep her family together since her beloved grandparents died two years ago. The day the social worker takes Akna and her two sisters to a foster home, all her plans for helping Mama get well and saving her family are upended. It seems that calling on her ancestors to help her use the power of S.A.D. (strength and determination) are not working any more.

      Although every foster kid living with the Bohns at Mariposa Lane has problems, they’ve somehow created a resilient, loving family life Akna never could have imagined. But the more secure her situation becomes, the more she fears her real family will be lost.

      Despite her resistance, Akna discovers how to weave the complex legacy of her past into opportunities for a promising future. With the help of a caring teacher, a new friend at school, Akna’s own determination, and the love of her foster family, she learns how to once again welcome the goodness in life, even when some things will always feel broken.

      Find it Locally and on Amazon!

      Sue C. Dugan – Mayday

      THERE IS NO DISTRESS CALL FOR TIME TRAVEL!

      Jessica “Jessie” Holbrook and her father, Adam, are flying to a favorite vacation spot in Bermuda in her father’s Cessna for spring break. During a rouge storm, Jessie’s father bangs his head and sees double. Jessie will have to fly the plane and safely land if and when they see an airport.

      Jessie spots land, but it doesn’t look like Bermuda. Have they blown off course to someplace in Central America or Mexico? Jessie thinks they have traveled through a time warp because they find themselves back in Mayan times without knowing how they got there!

      The clock is ticking for them to leave and get home, but they need fuel, and with the language barrier, it’s hard to convey their needs to the inhabitants of this island. They enlist the help of a WWII pilot who has been guarding his fuel supply for many years.

      There is no compass to show the way back from time travel! Their situation seems all but hopeless. Or is it?

      From Chanticleer:

      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.

      The storm rocks their plane, and her father hits his head, giving him a concussion and vision problems. With her father incapacitated, Jessie quickly realizes she needs to find a makeshift landing strip and get the plane safely to the ground.

      Read More Here

      Find it on Amazon!

      Carolyn Armstrong – No Time To Waste

      Fresh from their Arctic adventure of saving polar bears, eleven-year-old twins Sydney and Sierra visit a sea kelp habitat off the coast of California. While scuba diving, Sydney meets her animal contact, a sea otter named Sunny, who enlists Sydney’s help. Ocean plastic pollution has entangled another otter, and it needs to be rescued. Even if the girls are able to release the otter from its plastic prison, there’s a much greater threat in the ocean.

      Together, they’ll have to use all of their wits, ingenuity, and determination to somehow help their animal friends. But as they try and fail again and again, Sydney has a sinking feeling that she’s in over her head. One thing is clear: there’s literally no time to waste.

      Find it Locally and on Amazon!

      Sandy Grubb – Just Like Click

      Nick Townley has lived his entire life— all eleven years— at Black Butte Ranch, nestled in the foothills of the snow-capped Cascade Mountains. While his parents push him to study, practice sports, and make friends, Nick prefers to retreat into his superhero universe and create exciting Adventures of Click comics. When a string of robberies threatens Dad’ s job, forcing them to move across the country, Nick’ s world implodes. He loves his home, and what will he do about the 237,000 dollars in cash under his bed that Great Gramp gave him before he died?
       
      Desperate to stop the move, Nick steps off his comic book pages and ventures into the night as Click, an undercover superhero. Catching thieves would be a lot easier if he had actual superpowers. When three new kids discover his identity and want to join him, Nick vows to stay undercover… until he realizes even a superhero needs friends. But can he ask them to put their lives in danger to save his home?
       Find it Locally and on Amazon!


      Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2024 Gertrude Warner First Place Winners!

      The Boxcar Children from the famed series by Gertrude Warner

       

      Watch for our Spotlight and Hall of Fame Articles that will feature incredible books, including Norah Lally’s amazing Back To Bainbridge!

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

       

      Got a great Middle Grade Book?

      The 2024 Gertrude Warner Book Awards are open through the end of September!

      Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest
      Submit to the Gertrude Warner Awards Today!