Tag: Writing Community

  • The 2025 Gertrude Warner Spotlight for Middle Grade Fiction

    Adventures Await Between Childhood and Adolescence

    The Boxcar Children from the famed series by Gertrude Warner

    The Gertrude Warner Awards Celebrate Middle Grade Excellence

    The submissions for the 2025 Awards are underway, and Gertrude Warner closes on September 30, 2025!

    Middle grade readers occupy a unique space in the literary world where they are no longer content with picture books, but not quite ready for the intense emotional landscapes of young adult fiction. Typically ages 8-12, these readers are navigating friendships, family dynamics, school challenges, and the growing awareness that the world is both more complex and more wonderful than they previously understood. The Gertrude Warner Awards celebrate the authors who craft stories for this special audience with the perfect blend of adventure, authenticity, and age-appropriate depth.

    Named for the creator of the beloved Boxcar Children series, these awards honor books that capture the curiosity, resilience, and growing independence that define the middle grade experience. The best middle grade fiction respects young readers’ intelligence while acknowledging their developmental needs, creating stories that entertain, educate, and empower without overwhelming or talking down to their audience.

    The Art of Speaking to Growing Minds

    Writing exceptional middle grade fiction requires a delicate balance that addresses real-world challenges that resonate with young readers while maintaining the hope and possibility that characterize the best children’s literature. Middle Grade Readers are sophisticated enough to handle complex emotions and situations, but they still need stories that ultimately affirm their ability to navigate challenges and find their place in the world.

    The most successful middle grade books feature protagonists who face genuine problems such as friendship conflicts, family struggles, identity questions, or external adventures, all while demonstrating the problem-solving skills, courage, and resilience that young readers can admire and emulate. These stories often explore themes of belonging, self-discovery, friendship loyalty, and family relationships in ways that feel authentic to the middle grade experience.

    Whether set in contemporary schools, fantastical realms, historical periods, or mystery-filled neighborhoods, the best middle grade fiction helps young readers see themselves as capable protagonists in their own life stories while providing the escapism and entertainment that makes reading a joy rather than a chore.

    Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!

    Back to Bainbridge cover by Norah Lally

    We’re thrilled to honor Norah Lally, whose emotionally rich novel Back to Bainbridge claimed the 2024 Gertrude Warner Grand Prize with a story that Publishers Weekly’s BookLife called “a moving, empathetic must-read about growing up and discovering what matters.” The novel follows fourteen-year-old Vicki as she navigates life in a cramped apartment shared with siblings, worries about her struggling mother, and dreams about an absent father while searching for her place in the world.

    What makes Back to Bainbridge exemplary middle grade fiction is its authentic portrayal of real challenges many young readers face – housing insecurity, family stress, and the universal desire to belong – while maintaining hope and discovering that sometimes the treasures we seek are already within reach. When Vicki meets Rosa from Apartment 1A and discovers the building’s basement full of forgotten stories and secrets, the novel beautifully demonstrates how friendship and imagination can transform difficult circumstances into opportunities for growth and connection. In addition to ongoing promotional features, Back to Bainbridge will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame posts. Norah Lally will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview, and Back to Bainbridge will receive a coveted Chanticleer Editorial Review.

    Categories That Capture Every Middle Grade Adventure

    The Gertrude Warner Awards welcome middle grade fiction across every genre and format:

    • Contemporary Middle Grade – Stories set in today’s world that explore the real challenges and joys of growing up
    • Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Paranormal Middle Grade – Imaginative tales that transport readers to other worlds while exploring universal themes
    • Mystery Middle Grade – Puzzle-solving adventures that engage young readers’ problem-solving skills and curiosity
    • Historical Middle Grade – Stories from the past that help young readers understand different times and cultures
    • Adventure Middle Grade – Action-packed tales that showcase courage, friendship, and personal growth
    • Graphic Novels for Middle Grade – Visual storytelling that combines compelling narratives with engaging artwork
    • First-Third Grade Readers (10,000-20,000 words) – Longer works for beginning independent readers making the transition to chapter books

    Each category serves the diverse interests and reading levels within the middle grade spectrum, ensuring that every young reader can find stories that speak to their experiences and interests.

    Complete Youth Literature Recognition

    The Gertrude Warner Awards bridge the gap in Chanticleer’s comprehensive youth literature celebration:

    Little Peeps Awards – Picture books and early readers that introduce children to the joy of reading

    Dante Rossetti Awards – Young adult fiction for teen readers navigating the transition to adulthood

    Together, these three divisions ensure that exceptional youth literature receives recognition at every developmental stage, supporting readers from their first picture books through their teenage years.

    Looking at Middle Grade Excellence

    Check out some of these outstanding middle grade books we’ve celebrated recently!

    The Ghost in the Garden Cover

    The Ghost in the Garden
    By Alisse Lee Goldenberg

    In Alisse Goldberg’s engaging young adult mystery, The Ghost in the Garden, a curious 11-year-old must face the challenges of moving to a new city, losing old friends, making new ones, and encountering historic specters in her new home.

    Sophie Madison seems none too happy about her recent move from the bustling city of Calgary, Ablerta to the smaller, quieter landscape of Stratford, Ontario. But upon arrival with her parents, she begins noticing the charm of the place, appearing like a step back in time. Their new house in particular catches her interest, with its tall turret topped by stained glass window panes where Sophie’s bedroom will be. In addition, the wild beauty of the backyard garden draws her in.

    Soon, a mysterious blonde-headed girl named Tabitha appears in the garden.

    Read More Here

    Book of Leprechauns Cover

    Book of Leprechauns: The Lore Gatherers
    By Jonathan Uffelman

    An Ozma First Place Winner!

    Three leprechauns, Molly, Shaun, and Dorker, have their lives turned upside down when a sinister figure returns to their peaceful village with greed and revenge on his mind. In Jonathan Uffelman’s middle-grade fantasy, Book of Leprechauns: The Lore Gatherers, they embark on a treacherous journey to recover their lost home.

    Shaun McClanahan struggles to support his daughter Molly as she fails a crucial test for young Lore Gatherers—a subculture of Leprechauns who respect the power of stories. Though he’s weighed down by his responsibilities as the protector of his village’s communal gold stash, Shaun tries to overcome his worrying nature by trusting Molly to check on the gold by herself, hopeful that she can prove her worth to the village.

    But when Molly follows her father’s magical instructions to the letter, she discovers with horror that the treasure is missing, save one ancient Roman coin.

    The theft means exile for both Molly and Shaun, as gold is the catalyst for Leprechaun magic. A dangerous and unwelcoming world awaits them beyond the village’s protection.

    Read More Here

    The Greatest Matchmaker in Space Cover

    The Greatest Matchmaker in Space: Eudora Space Kid Book 4
    By David Horn

    David Horn’s Eudora Space Kid series continues with another fabulous middle-grade Sci-fi novel, The Greatest Matchmaker in Space.

    Horn takes us back to the decks of the Athena, an AstroLiner and the flagship for the Astrofleet of the planetary Republic. The intrepid Eudora is ready to fly into another adventure, this time as a matchmaker for Captain Jax.

    Eudora loves math and science, and even though she’s only in third grade, she dreams of becoming a chief engineer on an AstroLiner. But, she would settle for Captain if that’s what they offered her. When she visits Cafeteria 1 for dessert, she finds Captain Jax, who, per usual, yells, “Get off my bridge.” He’s used to kicking Eudora off the bridge while he’s working, but he must be deeply distracted to confuse it with the cafeteria.

    She notices his sad eyes and dejected manner and asks what’s wrong. To her surprise, he invites her to sit with him, and she excitedly realizes the Captain of the Athena is going to confide in her.

    Read More Here

    Mystery Force - Volume One Cover

    Mystery Force: Volume One
    By Ted Neill; Illustrated by Suzi Spooner

    2022 Gertrude Warner Grand Prize Winner!

    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.

    Book three, Blazing Blizzards, confronts the Mystery Force gang with an unusual May blizzard. They waste no time in investigating the cause, trying to save their town and a newly discovered magical creature from the forces behind the terrible weather.

    Read More Here

    These works demonstrate how the best middle grade fiction combines age-appropriate storytelling with genuine respect for young readers’ intelligence and emotional capacity.


    See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!

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

    The Gertrude Warner Awards recognize the special skill required to write for middle grade readers, the ability to create stories that acknowledge young people’s growing sophistication while providing the adventure and engagement that make reading a treasured activity. Whether you’re exploring contemporary challenges, historical adventures, or fantastical quests, these awards celebrate books that respect and nurture growing minds.

    Your Middle Grade Adventure Awaits

    Middle grade readers are some of the most enthusiastic and loyal book lovers, and, when they discover a story that speaks to them, they become passionate advocates, sharing their favorites with friends and rereading beloved books until the covers fall off. Your middle grade novel could be the book that transforms a reluctant reader into a book lover or provides comfort and understanding to a young person navigating their own challenges.

    The Boxcar Children from the famed series by Gertrude Warner

    Help us celebrate the bridge between childhood and adolescence—the deadline is September 30, 2025!

    You know you want it…

    Submit to the Gertrude Warner Awards today and join the tradition of exceptional middle grade literature!

  • 10 Days Left: Nellie Bly, Hearten, Journey, and Military & Front Line Book Awards close soon!

    The First set of Non-Fiction Divisions closes soon!

    Nellie Bly, Hearten, Journey, and Military & Front Line Awards

    Don’t let your book miss out!

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

    The Journey, Hearten, Military and Front Line and The Nellie Bly Awards are still open!

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

    Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Journey Awards for Overcoming Adversity!

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

    • Jennifer Gasner – My Unexpected Life: Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis

    • Anne Gately – Sunburnt: A Memoir of Sun, Surf and Skin Cancer

    • Rachael Siddoway and Sonja Wasden – An Impossible Life: A True Story of Hope and Mental Illness

    • Lindsey Henke – When Skies Are Gray

    • Claudia Marseille – But You Look So Normal: Lost and Found in a Hearing World

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

    Unfollow Me

    By Kathryn Caraway

    Red, Black, White, book, cover

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    Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Hearten Award for Uplifting Non-Fiction!

    • Genét Simone – Teaching in the Dark

    • David Hutton – Drums of a Distant Tribe

    • Etsuko Diamond Miyagi – Diamond: The Memoir of a Lost Daughter of Japan

    • Rachael Siddoway and Sonja Wasden – An Impossible Life: A True Story of Hope and Mental Illness
    • Susan Cole – Holding Fast: A Memoir of Sailing, Love, and Loss

    • Tony Jeton Selimi – The Unfakeable Code®

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

    Elk Love: A Montana Memoir

    By Lynne Spriggs O’Connor

    Elk Love cover by Lynne Spriggs O'Connor

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    Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Nellie Bly Award for Long Form Journalism!

    • 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 Twenty-Year Fight for Justice

    By Dan Slepian

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    Congratulations to our 2024 Winners of the Military and Front Line Award for Service to Others!

    • 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 the 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

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

     

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

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

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

    Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest

    Your book deserves to be discovered

    Don’t Delay! Enter Today!

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

    Honor and Courage: Stories That Matter

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

    Submit by August 31st, 2025!

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

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

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

    Memoirs from the Frontlines cover by Kim Sloan

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

    From Amazon:

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

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

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

    Order the book here!

     

     

    Chasing the Daylight Cover

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

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

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

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

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

    Read More Here

    Lost in Beirut Cover

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

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

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

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

    Read More Here

     

    Dear Bob Cover

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

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

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

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

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

    Read More Here


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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

  • The 2024 Military and Front Line First Place Roundup for Service to Others

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

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

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

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

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

    military, navy, man

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

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

    Rod decides to join the Navy because he needs employment.

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

    Read More Here!

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

    Patrick Hogan – Coincidence, You Say? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Find it on Amazon!

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

    Also a 2024 Mind and Spirit First Place Winner!

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

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

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

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

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

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!

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

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

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

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

    Find it Locally and on Amazon!


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

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

    The tiers of achievement for the CIBAs

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

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

    Honoring Those Who Answer the Call

    Military & Front Line Awards Celebrate Stories of Service and Sacrifice

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

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

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

    The Sacred Trust of Service Stories

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

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

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

    Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!

    Memoirs from the Frontlines cover by Kim Sloan

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

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

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

    Categories That Honor Every Form of Service

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

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

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

    Other August Non-Fiction Opportunities

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

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

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

    Looking at Stories of Service

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

    Unauthorized Disclosures cover

    Unauthorized Disclosures
    By Rod Haynes

    A Military and Front Line First Place Winner!

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

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

    Rod decides to join the Navy because he needs employment.

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

    Read More Here

    Combat Missions
    By Burl Harmon

    A Military and Front Line First Place Winner!

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

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

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

    Read More Here

    Chasing the Daylight Cover

    Chasing The Daylight
    By Joanna Rakowski

    The 2023 Military and Frontline Grand Prize Winner!

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

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

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

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

    Read More Here

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

    A Military and Front Line First Place Winner!

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

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

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

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

    Read More Here

    The Doctor’s Voice
    By Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli

    A Harvey Chute First Place Winner!

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

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

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

    Read More Here

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


    See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!

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

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

    Your Service Story Matters

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

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

    You know you want it…

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

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

    Two Divisions Close at the end of July

    The Cover Design Book Awards for Fiction and Non-Fiction

    Two excellent divisions close at the end of July!

    Don’t let your cover miss out!

    Only 2 weeks left to submit your books to these prestigious CIBA Divisions and embark on an extraordinary journey to success. With over $30,000 in prizes awarded annually, now is the time to make your mark!

    The Cover Design Awards are still open!

    Best Book Grand Prize for the Chanticleer Int'l Book AwardsCongratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Cover Design Award for Fiction!

    • Ann Phillipp – Grand Theft Death
    • C.L. Olsen – Old Crabby Turtle
    • Deborah Swenson – Till My Last Breath
    • Laura C. Rader – Hatfield 1677
    • Gail Noble-Sanderson– The Book of Rules
    • Margaret Porter – A Change of Location
    • Mark A. Gibson – A Song That Never Ends
    • Travis Davis- One of Four
    • R.W. Meek- The Dream Collector Book 1; Sabine and Sigmund Freud

     

    And a huge round of applause for the 2024 Cover Design Fiction Grand Prize Winner:

    Luna, Rhone and Stone Book 2 by Strider S.R. Klusman

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Congratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Cover Design Awards for Non-Fiction!

    • Anne Gately – Sunburnt: A Memoir of Sun, Surf and Skin Cancer
    • Kasey J. Claytor– Finding The Light: Navigating Dementia with My Son
    • Kathryn Caraway – Unfollow Me
    • Linda M. Lockwood – Sky Ranch: Reared in the High Country
    • Marianna Marlowe – Portrait of a Feminist: A Memoir in Essays

    And a huge round of applause for the 2024 Cover Design Awards Non-Fiction Grand Prize Winner:

    Teaching in the Dark by Genet Simone

    Teaching in the Dark Cover

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

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

     

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

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

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

    Let’s celebrate exceptional storytelling together!

    The Cover Design Book Awards for Fiction and Non-Fiction

    The Chanticleer Cover Design Awards for Fiction and Non-Fiction

    Your book deserves to be discovered

  • Chanticleer 10 Question Author Interview Series with Steven Mayfield – Grand Prize Award-winning Author of Delphic Oracle

    CHANTICLEER 10 QUESTION AUTHOR INTERVIEW SERIES
    with Award-Winning Author, Steven Mayfield

    Happy Summer Chanticleerians! We’re thrilled to bring you another fantastic interview with Humor & Satire Grand Prize Winner Steven Mayfield!

    From writing “bad poetry” at age nine to authoring award-winning novels, Steven Mayfield has taken quite the journey—including a two-decade detour through medical school and scientific writing. Here, he shares how that medical training actually made his fiction stronger, where he finds his story ideas (hint: be careful what you say around him!), and why he believes readers should give stories more than just one page to capture their attention.

    While Mayfield won the Humor & Satire Grand Prize for his book Delphic Oracle, he also received Chanticleer recognition for his book The Penny Mansions, and his new book Sixty Seconds is available now!

    Chanti: Steven, let’s start at the very beginning. Can you tell us a little about yourself and how your writing journey first began?

    Mayfield: I began writing bad poetry when I was nine years old and started a novel at twelve. I drew from that history to create the protagonist of my next book. He also starts a novel at a tender age, which he describes it as “plagiarism by paraphrase.” That pretty much nails my early efforts, as well. In college and for a couple of years afterward, I wrote more poetry and short stories, began another novel, and wrote sketch comedy. I then gave up creative writing and went to medical school. Over the next two decades I authored or co-authored a number of medical and scientific pieces, and as a result, when I resumed writing fiction in the early ’90s, my work was tighter and more disciplined. I’ve been solely a writer for the last twenty years.

    Chanti: That’s such an interesting path from medicine back to creative writing! There’s often a moment when writers truly believe they can do this professionally. When did that realization hit for you—when did you truly believe you were an author?

    Mayfield: For me, the question is “When did I believe I could write?” After completing a sophomore college assignment to write a book review, the professor asked me if I’d ever thought about writing as a profession. I had but didn’t think it realistic until that moment. A year later, one of my short stories won the Mari Sandoz competition. After that, I always thought of myself as a writer, regardless of what I did to make a living.

    Chanti: The support from our educators can truly be all it takes to have that pivotal moment. Your background in medical writing is fascinating. Do you find that scientific training makes you more of a rule-follower, or do you like to break the conventional writing rules?

    Mayfield: Writing for the scientific and medical literature forced me to strictly adhere to rules of grammar and syntax. As a result I think it’s important to know those rules so that when you break them, it’s for a reason; e.g. using sentence fragments for emphasis or rhythm.

    red, pen, paper

    Chanti: That’s such a smart approach—knowing the rules so you can break them intentionally. I’m curious about your creative process. Where do your story ideas come from? How do you find those sparks of inspiration?

    Mayfield: I shamelessly exploit things people say or do. I’m being flippant but not entirely inaccurate. I wrote Treasure of the Blue Whale (Regal House 2020) after some friends told me an apochryphal story over dinner about the alleged discovery of whale ambergris on a beach in Northern California back in the 1920s; The Penny Mansions (Regal House 2023) was inspired by the Italian towns that are trying to stabilize their populations by offering one Euro houses for renovation; and Sixty Seconds (Regal House, July 2025) was prompted after I saw the movie, A Royal Night Out. My current work-in-progress, “The Bank House, was born from a conversation with a neighbor in my old Portland neighborhood who grew up in an Irish village where the bank was part of a residence provided to the bank manager. So…people should be careful about what they say when I’m within earshot. They might end up in a book.

    Chanti: I love that you’re constantly mining conversations and experiences for material! When it comes to the actual writing process, how structured are you? Do you have a daily routine or specific approach?

    Mayfield: I think I’m fairly structured. When I begin a book, I set up a log to track my daily word counts. I aim for a minimum of 250 words/day, a modest goal, but one that keeps me going on days when I don’t feel inspired. I then try to write every day, beginning by revising what I wrote the previous day and then adding new material. As the story builds, the daily word count builds with it, and once the first draft is done, I have typically averaged about 750 useable words/day.

    Chanti: That’s a strong and sustainable approach. Every writer has their literary heroes. Can you share five authors who have really shaped your work and tell us how they’ve influenced your writing?

    Mayfield: Muriel Spark: Does more with the simple declarative sentence than anyone I’ve read.

    Sinclair Lewis: Unmasks puffery, hypocrisy, and injustice.

    Kurt Vonnegut: Gives other writers permission to stray off-point as long as the reader is kept beside you and you don’t waste their time.

    Jean Shepherd: Like me, a yarn-spinner.

    From left to right we have Muriel Spark, Sinclair Lewis, Kurt Vonnegut, and Jean Shepherd

    A cumulative fifth choice comprised of several writers who share my publisher, Regal House: 1. Barbara Quick, whose elegant prose blends history and fiction, 2. Michael Strelow, whose command of language awes me, 3. Richard Martin, whose prose is inimitable, wise, and hilarious, 4. Michael Bourne, who has the ability to make unlikeable protagonists likeable, 5. Mimi Herman who is funny and understands how to mine small towns for literary gold.

    Chanti: What a diverse and thoughtful group of influences! I love the shoutout to your follow authors! Writing is definitely a craft that requires constant development. Beyond reading great authors, what do you do to keep growing and sharpening your skills?

    Mayfield: I listen when someone gives me feedback. If a reader is lost or bored, it’s my job to fix my work, not their job to guess what I was thinking when I wrote it. It’s also important to read work by other people and to workshop material in progress. I’ve been in the same workshop group for thirty-one years and their input is invaluable.

    Chanti: Thirty-one years with the same workshop group is incredible dedication! What exciting projects are you working on now? What can your readers look forward to seeing from you next?

    Mayfield: I’ve been engaged in final editing and pre-release marketing for Sixty Seconds (Regal House, July 2025) and I’ve just finished a sixth draft of a new novel, The Bank House. It follows a few months in the life of a thirteen-year-old boy who moves to a new town where his family will live in a former mansion that now has a bank in its living room. It’s a coming-of-age novel with my usual brand: heart, humor, and a dash of crime. I’m hoping for a spring/summer 2027 release.

    Chanti: The Bank House sounds absolutely intriguing, and I’m looking forward to reading Sixty Seconds now that it’s come out. You mentioned earlier that it’s the writer’s job to make things clear to the reader, but what is the most important thing a reader can do to support a writer they enjoy?

    Mayfield: Give us a chance. Agents would have us believe that a reader must be captured in the first page, but that’s marketing advice and doesn’t necessarily relate to good story-telling. It took me 100 pages to get into A Soldier in the Great War by Mark Helprin, one of my favorite books.

    Chanti: That’s such wise advice about patience with storytelling! Finally, on a more personal note—what excites you most about the actual process of writing?

    Mayfield: I can create a world where everyone does exactly what I want. Such power has always been restorative, but in our present climate of political chaos and heartlessness, it’s better and far cheaper than psychotherapy.


    Steven Mayfield is a past recipient of the Mari Sandoz Prize for Fiction and the author of over fifty scientific and literary publications. After a short stint as a sketch writer in Los Angeles, he attended medical school at the University of Nebraska followed by post-doctoral training and teaching/research appointments at the University of Iowa, Brown University Program in Medicine, and the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. After a hiatus away from creative writing that lasted almost twenty years—during which he published forty-two scientific articles, abstracts, chapters, and reviews—Steven began to again write fiction in 1993 with short stories appearing in literary journals and anthologies since 1994. He retired from medicine in 2004 and spent several years working as a free-lance editor before publishing Howling at the Moon in 2010 (Mount Parnassus Press). Regal House has been his publishing home since 2020 for three novels: Treasure of the Blue Whale (2020), Delphic Oracle, U.S.A. (2022), and The Penny Mansions (2023). A fourth novel, Sixty Seconds, is out now from Regal House!.

    Steven’s books have been honored with numerous awards, including an IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Medal, a CIBA Mark Twain Book Awards Grand Prize ribbon, and an Independent Publishers Group Gold Medal. His last three novels were all Foreword Indies Finalists.

    Steven currently resides in Oregon with his wife, Pam. He can order beer in four languages. His wife can say, “Pay no attention to this man” in five.

  • Next Level Strategies New Genres with an Established Author Platform

    Is your Author Platform Ready for the Next Level?

    In publishing, your author platform is your most valuable marketing asset. When writing across genres, it needs strategic adjustment to keep your audience, not reconstruction.

    How high does the sound board go? 11!

    The publishing industry rewards specialization, but creative writers rarely stay in a single lane. You’ve invested years building your author platform—your website, social media presence, and newsletter subscribers. Now, as you venture into a new genre, you face critical marketing decisions that will determine whether your existing audience follows you or falls away.

    Plans, hammer, house

    Grab your tool belt, writers, because we’re going to build onto that already established Author Platform with 5 great tools to help you hold onto your audience!

    The Multi-Genre Marketing Challenge: Industry Reality

     Professional authors understand that genre-switching creates specific marketing challenges. Industry experience suggests that without intentional platform adaptation, many readers don’t automatically follow authors to new genres—your thriller fans won’t necessarily pick up your romance novel simply because they enjoyed your previous work. This isn’t merely about announcing a new book—it requires strategic repositioning of your entire author brand within the publishing ecosystem.

    Under, construction, man, stairs, yellow

    Your Author Platform Blueprint

    1. Conduct a Platform Audit (Foundation Check)

     For this essential marketing exercise, systematically evaluate your website, email list, social media presence, media coverage, and author branding through two critical lenses: current effectiveness and genre flexibility.

    Your website might excel at showcasing your historical fiction but may lack architecture for your new romance titles. Your email marketing strategy might need to be targeted to these specific, and different, readers rather than general broadcasts. Possibly your author branding is overly tethered to your original genre, creating invisible barriers for potential readers of your new work.

    Authors who endure recognize that platform development isn’t just about growth—it’s about strategic alignment with your full creative range. This audit forms the foundation for all subsequent marketing decisions.

    2. Author-Centered Rebranding

    Your most valuable marketing asset transcends genre boundaries—it’s your unique authorial identity and worldview.

    Strategic Implementation: Create an “About the Author” narrative that emphasizes your creative journey across genres. Thriller author Gillian Flynn exemplifies this approach by positioning herself as exploring “the dark side of human psychology” rather than simply identifying as “a thriller writer,” maintaining brand consistency while writing across multiple market categories.

    Update your website architecture to showcase YOU as the central brand rather than a specific genre. Consider repositioning language: “Author of dark fiction and young adult romance exploring how we form profound connections in our lives.” This represents two genres while maintaining thematic continuity.

    3. Content Bridge Marketing

     Develop strategic content that connects your established genre with your new direction, facilitating reader transition.

    When shifting from romance to mystery, professional authors don’t simply announce the genre change—they create deliberate content bridges. This might include analyzing romantic subplots in classic mysteries, exploring detective-character relationships, or highlighting mystery elements in romance novels.

    This content marketing approach creates intellectual and emotional pathways for existing readers to follow you into new creative territory. Industry professionals recognize that reader migration requires scaffolding, not cold transitions.

    4. Strategic Collaboration Marketing

     Form tactical partnerships with established authors in your target genre to access their reader communities.

    hands, people

    Professional authors implement specific cross-promotion strategies:

    • Organize genre-blending anthologies featuring 3-5 authors from your target market
    • Host “Genre Crossroads” interview series on your blog, podcast, or live at literary events
    • Develop co-marketed reading bundles with complementary titles

    Industry Example: Kim Hornsby has masterfully expanded her readership by strategically participating in anthologies where authors rotate as featured contributors. This collaboration marketing approach has allowed her to extend her platform across multiple genres while maintaining audience continuity.

    5. Email Segmentation Marketing for your Audience

     Transform your email list from a basic announcement channel into a sophisticated marketing instrument with targeted audience segmentation.

    Begin with a strategic Reader Preference Survey distributed to your subscriber base:

    The focus: delivering precisely targeted content to each reader segment. Essential data points include:

    1. Which of your titles have resonated most strongly with each reader
    2. What genres comprise their overall reading diet
    3. Their specific interest level in your upcoming work in new categories

    Use these insights to implement segmented email marketing campaigns, allowing for differentiated communication with readers based on their genre preferences and relationship to your body of work.

    Measuring Your Multi-Genre Marketing Effectiveness

     Professional authors evaluate cross-genre success beyond simple sales metrics. Track these sophisticated performance indicators:

    • Cross-genre reader migration percentage (what proportion of existing readers follow you into new territory)
    • New audience acquisition rates by source
    • Platform growth velocity across distribution channels
    • Engagement metrics by reader segment

    Publishers and agents increasingly evaluate authors based on these metrics, as they demonstrate platform resilience and audience development capabilities—key factors in multi-book contract decisions.

     

    Construction, workers, house

    The most successful author platforms aren’t rigid constructions but flexible ecosystems designed to showcase your entire creative range. With strategic platform development and deliberate marketing approaches, you can build a sustainable readership that follows your work regardless of genre boundaries.


    Thank you for joining us for this Writer Toolbox Article

    A red toolbox with the words "What's in your toolbox

    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!

    Helpful Toolbox Articles:

    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 available here.

    And we do editorial consultations for $75. Learn more here.

  • The 2024 CIBAs Grand Prize Winners for Non-Fiction, Shorts, Series, and the Brand New CCDAs!

    A Huge Congratulations to all of the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards (CIBAs) Division Non-Fiction, Book Series, SEA Shorts, and CCDAs Grand Prize Winners!

    Every tier of the CIBAs is an important one, though few rise to be one of the coveted Division Grand Prize Winners!

    All First Place and Grand Prize winners were announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference at the CIBAs Ceremonies on Saturday, April 5th at the Chanticleer Banquet.

    Let’s take a step back and look at where we came from to make this happen.

    A pyramid showing the different levels of CIBA Achievement

    Want to join in the fun? Submit to the 2025 CIBAs today!

    Now, presenting the Non-Fiction Awards Grand Prize Winners!

    I&I or Instruction & Insight Awards CIBA Badge

    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 I&I Awards is:

    Success with Hydrangeas

    A Gardeners Guide

    Lorraine Ballato

    Success with Hydrangeas cover by Lorraine Ballato

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    Nellie Bly Awards

    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 NELLIE BLY Awards is:

    The Sing Sing Files

    One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a 20 Year Fight for Justice

    Dan Slepian

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 HARVEY CHUTE Awards is:

    Stop Worrying about Money

    by Jacqui Clarke

    Stop Worrying About Money Cover

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    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 MIND & SPIRIT Awards is:

    Naked in the Now

    Juicy Practices for Getting Present

    By Marijke McCandless

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    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 HEARTEN Awards is:

    Elk Love

    A Montana Memoir

    By Lynne Spriggs O’Connor
    Elk Love cover by Lynne Spriggs O'Connor

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    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 MILITARY & FRONT LINE Awards is:

    Memoirs From The Frontlines

    Four States, Two Years, One Pandemic

    by Kim Sloan
    Memoirs from the Frontlines cover by Kim Sloan

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    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 JOURNEY Awards is:

    Unfollow Me

    by Kathryn Caraway

    Red, Black, White, book, cover

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    Now, presenting the Shorts & Series Awards Grand Prize Winners!

    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 SHORTS Awards for Novellas and Long Prose:

    Something About Lizzy

    by Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi

    Something About Lizzy cover by Robin Elizabeth Kobayashi

     

    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 SHORTS Awards for Short Stories and Essays is:

    Dream Rut

    Navigating Your Path Forward

    by Dr Yumiko Shimabukuro
    illustrated by Jieyu Deng

    Dream Rut Navigating Your Path Forward cover by Yumiko Shimabukuro

    A Gold Ribbon dividing this section from the next

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

    The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 SERIES Awards is:

    A Vengeful Realm

    by Tim Facciola

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    Last, but certainly not least! The DEBUT Chanticleer Cover Design Award Winners for Fiction and Non-Fiction!

    Our First ever Grand Prize Cover Design Award Winner for Fiction is

    Luna

    By Strider S.R. Klusman

    Our First ever Grand Prize Cover Design Award Winner for Non-Fiction is

    Teaching in the Dark

    By Genét Simone


    We have badges available starting with the Short List. If you need a digital badge reflecting your tier level, please email info@ChantiReviews.com with your division and rank, and we will send you one as soon as possible.

    The 2024 CIBA Grand Prize Winners at CAC25
    The 2024 CIBA Grand Prize Winners!

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    Make sure your Award gets the attention it deserves on Goodreads.com 

    In the Librarian Manual on Goodreads, you can go to your Book Edit Page — Literary Awards.

    You want to list the Award for Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) Winners, and be sure to include the year and what place you received. For example:

    The year Long List, Short List, Semi-Finalist, Finalist, First Place, Division Grand Prize, or Overall Grand Prize Winner

    Note from Goodreads: “To add a new award or edit an existing award, you’ll need help from one of our volunteer librarians or a staff member.” For assistance, post in the Goodreads Librarians Group.

    Always double check that you’ve written everything correctly before posting it. The search function for Awards on Goodreads is both case and punctuation sensitive.


    The Overall Grand Prize Winner for the 2024 CIBAs was Reenita Malhotra Hora‘s Book Vermilion Harvest: Playtime at the Bagh

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

    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.

    Chanticleer Authors Conference, people, CAC2025

    • See Non-Fiction, Series, and Shorts Grand Prize Winners here!
    • See the Official Overall Grand Prize winner Post here!

    You can see all our Amazing Finalists below:

    Well done climbing the CIBA Levels of Achievement!

    PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS! 

    Attn CIBA Winners: More goodies and prizes will be coming your way along with promotion in our magazine, website, and advertisements in Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards long-tail marketing strategy. Welcome to the CIBA Hall of Fame for Award Winners!

    This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, for Facebook to allow us to tag an author, that author must LIKE our page and Follow Chanticleer Reviews.

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

    A Note to ALL the WINNERS: The coveted CIBA Blue Ribbons will be mailed out starting in May. We will contact you with an email to verify your mailing address and other items. You will receive an OFFICIAL EMAIL NOTIFICATION with Digital Badges and more information.

    Thank you for participating in the 2024 CIBAs! We are looking forward to reading your future entries.

    The Chanticleer Team