Chanticleer Book Reviews

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November is for Non-Fiction! Non-Fiction division deadlines extended

November is For Non-Fiction!

We tend to be a little more high tech at Chanticleer

New Deadline for 5 of our Nonfiction Divisions: the Instruction and Insight Awards, Nellie Bly Awards, Harvey Chute Awards, Mind and Spirit Awards and Military and Front Line Awards : November 30, 2024

At the request of both our Authors and our Readers we have moved the closing date of some of our Awards to November 30, 2024!

If you have an Instructional, Journalistic, Business, Enlightening, or Military and Community Service worker Non-Fiction Work, you still have time to submit!

As we settle into this new schedule, we’re hearing great feedback from authors regarding the best times for them to submit their work. This depends on conferences and workshops (many of which are genre specific) where they can regularly receive feedback and writing retreats that allow them to finish their manuscripts.

Thank you to everyone who reaches out and makes our Awards a success every year!

To celebrate the deadline change, lets take a look at some recently reviewed Non-Fiction Works!

A Path To Excellence
By Tony Jeton Selimi
Hearten 1st Place Winner

On the belief that life isn’t just the random cards one is dealt, A Path to Excellence by Tony Jeton Selimi offers a blueprint—the octagon of excellence—to succeed personally, professionally, and spiritually.

Transcending the pitfalls and spontaneous stumbling blocks along the path of life can open the door to self-actualization and progression. As someone who experienced bullying, sexual abuse, early disability, and homelessness, Selimi sets on to become a beacon of light to the hopeless and marginalized.

Within each soul lies a bud of genius waiting to blossom. This book focuses on purpose, vision, and persistence to clear the way to that fullest potential. Affirming challenges as immutable truths of life, Selimi employs Buddhist teaching and personal anecdotes to encourage a head-on confrontation with one’s struggles and promotes a feeling of gratitude. As a blend of philosophical wisdom and practical experience, the initial chapters help readers acknowledge their current life situation, perceiving challenges as epochs of potential.

Read More Here

The Doctor’s Voice
By Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli
Harvey Chute 1st 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

Finding The Light
By Kasey J. Claytor

Some stories are impossible to look away from, and from its very first sentence, Finding the Light, Navigating Dementia with My Son by Kasey J. Claytor proves itself one of them. “…when my 49-year-old son, Justin, was first diagnosed with a form of early-onset dementia, I was stunned.” Without hesitation, the book draws readers into a saga of family, illness, and resilience.

Although a memoir, Finding the Light is in many ways an instructional text, too. Readers don’t need similar medical situations to draw from Claytor’s lessons of improvement. The conversational, approachable writing style serves this purpose well.

Although it’s in chronological order, this is an unconventional, modern text.

Traditional scene-based paragraphs are offset by poetry, informative sidebars, and even the full text of letters sent throughout Justin’s illness. Claytor deftly shifts between these sections, building a cohesive narrative from which readers can easily learn.

Read More Here

Combat Missions
By Burl Harmon
Military and Front Line 1st 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
By Joanna Rakowski
Military and Front Line 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

A big thank you to all these authors for sharing their lives and wisdom with us! Your books matter!

Got a great Non-Fiction Book to Share?

Enter the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards today!

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

Your book deserves to be discovered

November 21, 2024
The 2024 I&I Book Awards Spotlight for Instruction & Insight Non-Fiction
How-To Market your How-To Book?

The I&I Awards are the first step!

Whether self-help, how-to, or just plain good advice, your great book won’t sell unless readers discover it!

Submit Your Work Today!

We are Delighted to Celebrate the 2023 Winners of the Instruction and Insight Award!
- Wendela Whitcomb Marsh – Relating While Autistic: Fixed Signals for Neurodivergent Couples
- Andy Chaleff – The Connection Playbook: A Practical Guide to Building Deep, Meaningful, Harmonious Relationships
- Dr. Kelly Rabenstein – Psychological Secrets for Emotional Success
- Jennifer M Sukalo – Claim Your SWAGGER: Stop Surviving and Start Thriving
The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2023 I&I Awards is:

Eating Together Being Together:
Recipes, Activities, and Advice from a Chef Dad and Psychologist Mom

by Julian C.E. Clauss-Ehlers and Caroline S. Clauss-Ehlers

These know-how smarty authors will be celebrated in their own posts soon enough! In the meantime, we’re here to cheer on some of our favorite books that have come in for review!

THE DOCTOR’S VOICE
By Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli

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!

RECONFIGUREMENT™
By E. Alan Fleischauer

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!

ABOVE THE DIN (Diary of the HepC Wonder Drugs)
By Labar Laskie

Labar Laskie closely explores the experience of chronic HepC in her unique memoir, Above the Din.

These days, Hepatitis C infection is curable with a simple treatment that lasts only a few months. In 1999, when author Labar Laskie receives her diagnosis, she sees no good option. The only possibility for a cure lies in a treatment with dismally low success rates and poses a significant danger. Not wanting to jeopardize her life, Labar embarks on a fifteen-year-long search for an alternative cure, hoping to find a wonder drug. Her waiting ends in 2014 when she begins her three-month-long treatment of two pills daily while keeping a journal of each day’s progress.

She goes through a string of doctors, many urging her to do the toxic treatment.

Read more here!

THE SOUND Of The FUTURE: The Coming Age of Voice Technology
By Tobias Dengel with Karl Weber

The Sound of the Future: The Coming Age of Voice Technology by Tobias Dengel with Karl Weber presents elaborate insight into the evolution of voice technology, showing it to be the next big innovation in the tech world.

Dengel begins by stating that long-distance vocal communication was unattainable for a long time, and now can seamlessly liberate humans from familiar but ‘clumsy’ tools such as keyboards, knobs, pedals, buttons, and levers. It has been well articulated by various news quarters that voice recognition is gaining a reputation and growing usage with the rise of artificial intelligence and intelligent aids, such as Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri. This technology has for the first time allowed consumers to interact with technology simply by conversing with it, facilitating hands-free propositions, reminders, and other simple duties.

This technology is presently in a major shift, as numerous industries worldwide are incorporating it into their daily routines and procedures.

Read more here!

A PATH To EXCELLENCE
By Tony Jeton Selimi

On the belief that life isn’t just the random cards one is dealt, A Path to Excellence by Tony Jeton Selimi offers a blueprint—the octagon of excellence—to succeed personally, professionally, and spiritually.

Transcending the pitfalls and spontaneous stumbling blocks along the path of life can open the door to self-actualization and progression. As someone who experienced bullying, sexual abuse, early disability, and homelessness, Selimi sets on to become a beacon of light to the hopeless and marginalized.

Within each soul lies a bud of genius waiting to blossom. This book focuses on purpose, vision, and persistence to clear the way to that fullest potential. Affirming challenges as immutable truths of life, Selimi employs Buddhist teaching and personal anecdotes to encourage a head-on confrontation with one’s struggles and promotes a feeling of gratitude. As a blend of philosophical wisdom and practical experience, the initial chapters help readers acknowledge their current life situation, perceiving challenges as epochs of potential.

Read more here!

A big thank you to all these authors for sharing their lives and wisdom with us! Your books matter!

Got your own knowledge to share?

Enter the I&I Awards today!

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

Your book deserves to be discovered
November 12, 2024
Celebrating the Beauty and Genius of Oscar Wilde’s Writing on His 170th Birthday

Happy birthday Oscar Wilde!

A celebrated playwright, poet, novelist, and journalist, Oscar Wilde was famous for his superior intellect, wry sense of humor, and profound insights into human nature. He relied on these traits to bring levity to the deeper themes within the story—a tactic that made the his darker points more palatable and made his stories resonate as strongly today as they did in his time. The themes he wrote about are still part of our world today, and writers look to his writing to find inspiration and lessons in storytelling.

In celebration of his 170th birthday, let’s take a look at how his life shaped his views and what lessons writers can learn from him today.

Drawn to Beauty and Art

Born Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde in Dublin, Ireland on October 16, 1854, Wilde’s life was a colorful and complicated as his name. As a member of the city’s elite, he lived a privileged life. He studied the classics at Trinity College in Dublin, then studied at Madgalen College in Oxford, England where he became enamored with the aesthetic movement, which emphasized an appreciation of beauty in all things and the creation of art for the sake of art alone. This set the course for him to challenge the austere societal norms of the Victorian Age. With his armor of witty commentary, eloquence, and pointed irony, Wilde created a way to speak to the truth of what he was experiencing as an observer and a talented artist through the themes of identity, morality, and the complexity of human relationships.

You can find so many of Wilde’s books at your local bookstore!

Wilde’s works, including The Picture of Dorian Gray, A Woman of No Importance, The Importance of Being Earnest, and numerous poems and essays continue to influence writers and challenge readers to this day. His work and their characters have opened the door to a reinterpretation of what it means to be human, as seen in the case of The Picture of Dorian Gray. The “monster” that his main character changes into has been compared to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in that the authors see a monster in the people around them when they recognize the true fear of determining one’s own identity. The lesson: If the creator can not handle the responsibilities of the creation process, then the creation will fail. If the creation fails, then ultimately the creator fails and the true colors of mankind are revealed.

Stuart Townsend as Dorian Gray in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Oscar Wilde’s birthday is not just a celebration of his life but an invitation for writers to embrace their own creativity, challenge the norms of the day, and explore the intricacies of human nature. As you reflect on his contributions, consider how his legacy can inspire your own writing journey. Dive into the wit, beauty, and complexity that Wilde championed, and let it be your guide as you pick up your pen!

Join in the laughter with the authors of humor and satire Chanticleer has worked with over the years!

Dared to Return: A Kate Anderson Mystery (Book 2)
By J.J. Clarke

Kate Anderson has an exciting new life in Tampa Bay, Florida. An aspiring writer with a new book recently released, she’s left behind her old life as a court investigator in Kingseat, Missouri. But when she receives a frantic call from her ninety-two-year-old grandfather, Theodore, she hops on a plane back home.

Just five weeks earlier, Kate’s step-grandmother, Helen, died. Not long after Helen’s death, Kate’s grandfather was thrown out of his house and sent to the Squaw Valley Nursing Home, a place where old people go to die. Unbeknownst to Kate, most of Helen’s two-million-dollar estate has been left in trust – and not to her husband of twenty-five years. The trustee is a corrupt secret society known as HOGG, a group of important town officials who con elderly citizens out of their money, distribute it to charities and take a considerable percentage for themselves.

Continue reading here…

Drunk Talk
By Mike Davis, TL Banks

The essential message of this satiric volume is that most people tend to nurse false notions about their lives and the universe in general – notions that the authors rapidly and thoroughly debunk. They take the stance of a drunk hanging out at a bar, hearing about everything that goes on in people’s minds. In forty-eight segments, various human problems are examined, derided, and substituted for what many readers will consider far more rational viewpoints.

Some issues raised seem trivial – “Celebrities” who do not, as might be supposed, get to enjoy their fame since the general attitude toward them is “shut up and entertain us or else.” Other matters are significant. One of the longer treatises focuses on “Gods,” with the authors asserting that God is merely an imaginary projection, and religion only a means of seeing and believing what people want, “even if it’s not real or makes no sense.” A true, non-superstition-based belief system would impel people to help others more and take full responsibility for their actions.

Continue reading here…

Insynnium
By Tim Cole
Winner of the Cygnus CIBA Award

The dramatic premise explored in a new novel,Insynnium, is a wild, immersive leap into a world-changing (but fictional) drug. In other hands, what could be a dystopian thriller goes one step further in author Tim Cole’s capable hands. He focuses on the humans who first discover and use the drug and weaves his story with a devilish charm.

This is somewhat Bill Murray/“Groundhog Day” territory, a film exploring one man’s reliving a day in his life over and over until he learned new behaviors, new skills, and came out of it a better man. Unlike “Groundhog,” Max McVista takes multiple doses of the drug against all advice, then somehow expands time itself in what he calls an “AUE” or “Alternative Universe Experience,” enabling him to spend months and sometimes years becoming or experiencing whatever he wishes. When returning to real-time, he’s only missed a day or two. (For E=MC squared fans, it’s basically reverse engineering of Einsteinian physics.)

Continue reading here…

Eudora Space Kid: The Lobster Tale
By David Horn

In Eudora Space Kid: The Lobster Tale, author David Horn continues the spell-binding adventures of a third-grade girl living on a massive spaceship in the year 4021. Eudora Jenkins enjoys using her very sharp mind to play tricks on the grown-ups – but her latest one may backfire and cause an interplanetary crisis.

As The Lobster Taleopens, Eudora, the narrator and mastermind of her sometimes disastrous but always hilarious gambits, is in a tunnel on the AstroLiner Athena. The plan? Just a few minorcomputer alterations. She is aided in this naughty but essentially harmless prank by her sometimes nervous buddy Arnold. Her changes will be revealed later when she and Arnold visit the ship’s bridge. Both are excited to watch the regularly scheduled battle training exercises they will view on the main computer.

Continue reading here…

Hot Air: An Arnold Falls Novel
By Charlie Suisman

Arnold Falls bristles with zany events, quirky locals, and colorful newbies. Above all, this memorable enclave buoys its people through heart, soul, wit, and a true sense of collective spirit.

Jeebie Walker returns as the story’s central narrator.

The successful voice-over artist stands as a solid fixture in the town, now in a loving relationship with his partner Will. A volunteer fireman, illustrator, and candidate for an MA in Conservation Biology, Will jokingly claims that Jeebie makes “bossing others around” a superpower.

In the midst of a mid-life crisis, Jeebie takes on a project of implementing little library cabinets throughout the town. Due to some unscrupulous financial administrators, he also worries about the sudden lack of funding for arts programs at the local hospital.

Continue reading here…

Thank you for joining us in celebrating the genius of Oscar Wilde!

Do you have a book that deserves to be discovered? You can always submit your book for an Editorial Review with Chanticleer!Chanticleer Editorial Review Packages are optimized to maximize your digital footprint. Reviews are one of the most powerful tools available to authors to help sell and market their books. Find out what all the buzz is about here.

Is your book an Award Winner?

Submitting to Book Awards is a great way to get your book discovered! Anytime you advance in the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards, your name and book are promoted right here on our website, through our newsletter, and across social media. One of the best ways to engage in long tail marketing!

The 2024 Humor & Satire Awards are open until Oct 31, 2024!

Thank you again to the authors who wrote these wonderful books,
and to Oscar Wilde and his lessons on the beauty of art itself!

October 16, 2024
The 2024 Hearten Book Awards Long List for Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction
The Hearten Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Inspiring and Uplifting Non-Fiction and Memoirs. The Hearten Book Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (CIBAs).

Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring true stories about adventures, life events, unique experiences, travel, personal journeys, global enlightenment, and more. We will put books about true and inspiring stories to the test and choose the best among them. See our full list of Non-Fiction Divisions here.

These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2024 Hearten Non-Fiction entries to the 2024 Hearten Book Awards LONG LIST. Entries below are now in competition for 2024 Hearten Short List. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalist positions. Finalists will be selected from the Semi-Finalists. All FINALISTS will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC25).

The First Place Category Winners, along with the CIBA Division Grand Prize winners, will be selected from the 25 CIBA divisions’ Finalists.

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

These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2024 Hearten Book Awards novel competition for Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction!

Join us in celebrating the Long List authors and their works in the 2024 CIBAs.
- Elizabeth Fulgaro – Learning to Love (Not Loathe) Me
- Dr. Maheshika Halbeisen – The Job Well Done – The Queen’s Way To Successful Leadership
- Linda M. Lockwood – Sky Ranch: Reared in the High Country
- Genét Simone – Teaching in the Dark
- Wendy B. Correa – My Pretty Baby: A Memoir of Seeking Truth and Finding Healing
- Jenell M. Jones M.Ed. – Shattered
- David Hutton – Drums of a Distant Tribe
- Alicia M. Rodriguez – The Shaman’s Wife: A Mystical Journey of Surrender and Self-Discovery
- Hilary Giovale – Becoming a Good Relative: Calling White Settlers Toward Truth, Healing, and Repair
- Douglas Green – The Teachings of Shirelle: Life Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead
- Dr George Ackerman – A Son’s Journey from Parkinson’s Disease Caregiver to Advocate
- Kimberly Harms – Are You Ready?: How to Build a Legacy to Die For
- Ingrid McCarthy – I Stood Among the Ruins and Cried
- Kasey Claytor – Finding the Light
- Jia Apple – The Tell
- Anna Brooke and Vindy Teja – WRITE! Your Guide to Revealing the Writer Within
- Olivia Goodreau – But She Looks Fine
- Etsuko Diamond Miyagi – DIAMOND: The Memoir of a Lost Daughter of Japan
- Lynne Spriggs O’Connor – Elk Love: A Montana Memoir
- Jane Kim Yu – Journey of Awakening and Higher Consciousness
- L.A. Witt – I Changed My Mind: My Journey from Infertile to Childfree
- Mimi Zieman – Tap Dancing on Everest
- Liz Alterman – Sad Sacked
- Rachael Siddoway and Sonja Wasden – An Impossible Life: A True Story of Hope and Mental Illness
- Christina Ford – In Search of Mr Darcy: Lessons Learnt In The Pursuit of Happily Ever After
- Glenda Goodrich – Solo Passage: 13 Quests, 13 Questions
- Ginelle Testa – Make a Home Out of You
- Jennifer Cramer-Miller – Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope
- Susan Bloch – Travels with my Grief
- Mark Steven Porro – A Cup of Tea on the Commode: My Multi-Tasking Adventures of Caring for Mom. And How I Survived to Tell the Tale
- Laura Hall – Affliction: Growing Up With A Closeted Gay Dad
- Susan Cole – Holding Fast: A Memoir of Sailing, Love, and Loss
- Louise Privette and Tristan Peigné – Dancing Through Life: A Memoir
- Ben LeBoutillier – Practical Advice for a Better World
- Kathleen Watt – REARRANGED: An Opera Singer’s Facial Cancer and Life Transposed
- Josh McConkey – Be the Weight Behind the Spear
- Tony Jeton Selimi – The Unfakeable Code®
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!

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

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

Running Away From The Circus

By Nove Meyers

See the full list of 2023 First Place Hearten Winners here!

We are now accepting submissions into the 2025 Hearten Book Awards for Inspiring and Uplifting Narrative Non-Fiction.

Please click here for more information.

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

April 3 – 6, 2025! Save the Date for Registration!

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

Join us for our annual conference as we enter our second decade and discover why!
October 14, 2024
The 2023 Hearten First Place Winners for Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction

The Hearten Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction. The Grand Prize Winner, Nove Meyers’ book, Running Away From The Circus will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Clue contest page year ’round!

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

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

Join us in celebrating the 2023 First Place Hearten Winners!

Lisa Niver – Brave-ish

Newlywed Niver was on the adventure of a lifetime. She had quit her job, rented out her condo, and was traveling around Asia. To the outside world, Niver was a woman living out her dreams of exploring ancient ruins in Cambodia and seeing orangutans in Borneo. In private, she was keeping a dark secret. But, when she found herself lying on a sidewalk in Thailand, looking up at the sky in severe pain, she knew things had to change. At age forty-seven, Niver found the courage to set course on a new life.

Feeling like a failure, pushing fifty, and moving home to her parents’ house to start again from scratch, Niver started taking one tiny “brave-ish” step at a time to take her life far away from the old one and into the adventurous world of travel writing. These small hurdles led to the challenge of trying fifty new things before turning fifty. From diving into shipwrecks, swimming with sharks, bobsledding at 3 Gs, to indulging in wild escapades, Niver found herself traversing the world on a journey of reinvention, personal growth, and discovering what it actually means to be “brave.”

While Brave-ish chronicles Niver’s inspiring expeditions to distant corners of the world including Myanmar, Cuba, Morocco, Kenya and Mongolia this is more than a travelogue. Niver’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance. Brave-ish inspires readers to dream big, take risks, and embrace the unknown to create a life filled with wonder and excitement, even when courage seems elusive.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Lally Pia – The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy

When a military coup in Ghana leads to the abrupt closure of Lally Pia’s medical school, she is left stranded there, thousands of miles away from her family in California, with no educational prospects or money. Adding to her turmoil is her discovery that her American Green Card has been botched, which means she has no country to call home. But a Sri Lankan priest told Lally that she would one day become a “Doctor of Doctors” —and she is intent on proving him right.

This sizzling multicultural roller coaster illustrates the power of self-determination as Lally, a young immigrant with a drive to succeed, takes on obstacle after obstacle—an abusive relationship, the welfare state, and a gruesome job where she has to dismember human bodies—in order to fulfill her dreams. A story that will resonate with anyone who has faced cultural and immigration hardships, The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy is a nail-biting journey across continents, through hardships, and into ultimate triumph.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Tony Jeton Selimi – A Path to Excellence

Become the master of your destiny with this proven blueprint for achieving your true potential.

Are you tired of settling for mediocrity? Do you want to become the high-achieving person you know you can be? Are you ready to let go of your limiting beliefs and step into the prosperous, successful, and fulfilled life you know you are meant to have?

If so, A Path to Excellence™ is for you.

Thoroughly researched with authentic advice and ground breaking strategies, this illuminating blueprint for self-mastery invites you on a journey to realize your full potential, clarify your vision, and dare to achieve your dreams.

Inside, you’ll join #1 bestselling, award-winning author, Tony Jeton Selimi as he reveals a proven path to achieving the highest levels of personal and professional excellence. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Tony went from living homeless and penniless as a victim of civil war, to becoming a self-made millionaire and internationally recognised authority on emotional intelligence and maximising human potential.

Built on his critically acclaimed The Octagon of Excellence Method, this book breaks down Tony’s 30 years of experience into an easy-to-digest blueprint, challenging you to step beyond your limits and become the master of your destiny.

From Chanticleer:

On the belief that life isn’t just the random cards one is dealt, A Path to Excellence by Tony Jeton Selimi offers a blueprint—the octagon of excellence—to succeed personally, professionally, and spiritually.

Transcending the pitfalls and spontaneous stumbling blocks along the path of life can open the door to self-actualization and progression. As someone who experienced bullying, sexual abuse, early disability, and homelessness, Selimi sets on to become a beacon of light to the hopeless and marginalized.

Within each soul lies a bud of genius waiting to blossom. This book focuses on purpose, vision, and persistence to clear the way to that fullest potential. Affirming challenges as immutable truths of life, Selimi employs Buddhist teaching and personal anecdotes to encourage a head-on confrontation with one’s struggles and promotes a feeling of gratitude. As a blend of philosophical wisdom and practical experience, the initial chapters help readers acknowledge their current life situation, perceiving challenges as epochs of potential.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Trudy Wells-Meyer – Some Things Are Simply Meant To Be

A teenager’s dream, the immigrant — Coming to America. . .

A belief something extraordinary is possible. Starry-eyed she arrives in New York on a massive ocean liner from England, the first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty in the distance, her extended arm — like a welcome — what a goose-bump-moment. Alone, with 2 small suitcases, she steps onto American soil, speaking little English. A life unknown, fear a constant companion. She is 23.

Her trust in faith and fate guides her life, believing in the power of possibilities as far back as growing up in a tiny Swiss village, where even dreaming had its limits. Living above her parents’ hair salon, a stranger’s phone call, an American, with a German accent . . . visits her humble home, a one-hour taxi ride from Zürich, to offer her a job in Atlanta or Houston. As the handsome out of the ordinary mystery man leaves, Mom, and her Swiss stare embarrassing Trudy, holding her hands he says, “See you in America”. In the dark cold hallway, rooted to the floor with a broken leg, a cast to her knee, she utters words: “This . . . has something to do with later.”

Find it Locally and on Amazon

Aurita Maldonado – The Zen of Dancing in the Rain

Society has become a place where combat veterans would rather commit suicide than live. Many who “have it all” are discovering that they still feel miserable but can’t figure out why. They feel powerless under the boredom of what society deems necessary.

Aurita Maldonado is a Puerto Rican woman warrior and Afro Latin dance instructor who chose a different path before and after her two combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

She received a Purple Heart for wounds received in Afghanistan before leaving the Army to align her thoughts, words, and actions. She adopted a new mission: cultivate peace, happiness, and learn to become her own best friend. All while learning to live as one with Mother Earth.

Aurita rejected lucrative government jobs, sold her possessions, and moved to Haines, Alaska, in 2010 to begin her journey with PTSD and self-acceptance. An extreme athlete, she used movement to help her navigate the storms with a grin until she was suddenly paralyzed from the waist down in a fight against a deadly rat lungworm infection.

The perspective shifts she adopted to continue to enjoy life while learning to use her body again will make you reassess your choices to settle for the status quo.

This is an inspirational memoir of a remarkable woman’s journey to stumble in style as she navigates seemingly insurmountable tragedies early in life. It is a story of triumph and discipline. Joy and sorrow. A portrait of a Lady Hurricane dancing, both literally and figuratively as one with the storms of life.

Find it Locally and on Amazon

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

You can see our Hall of Fame on the Hearten Grand Prize Winners, including Nove Meyers’s incredible book Running Away From The Circus here.

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

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

Submit to the Hearten Awards Today!

October 7, 2024
Finding Your Writing Voice: A Journey to Authenticity from the desk of Dena Weigel

Finding your writing voice can feel like a quest for the Holy Grail of self-expression.

And hopefully no one will smell of elderberries by the time you find your writing voice!

Your writing voice is the unique blend of style, tone, and personality that makes your writing distinct and yours. Whether penning a novel, crafting an essay, or composing a blog post, discovering and honing your voice is crucial for resonating with your audience and truly connecting through your words.

Here’s a guide to help you on your journey to finding your authentic writing voice:

Write Regularly and Freely

The first step in uncovering your writing voice is to write regularly. Set aside time each day or week to write without worrying about perfection. Free writing, journaling, or even experimenting with different genres can help you explore various styles and tones. The more you write, the more you’ll start to notice patterns and preferences that signal your natural voice, and this will define your voice.

Even committing to five minutes a day can work wonders. Many find setting either a time or a word count goal to keep themselves accountable leads to the best results.

Experiment and Iterate

Finding your voice is an iterative process. Experiment with different styles, tones, and formats. Don’t be afraid to take risks and push boundaries. Through trial and error, you’ll refine your voice and discover what works best for you. And, remember, your voice may evolve over time, and that’s a natural part of growth as a writer. Just go with it and trust your instincts.

Prompt books like Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones can help you delve even deeper into different styles until you find the one that fits you best.

With insight, humor, and practicality, Natalie Goldberg inspires writers and would-be writers to take the leap into writing skillfully and creatively. She offers suggestions, encouragement, and solid advice on many aspects of the writer’s craft: on writing from “first thoughts” (keep your hand moving, don’t cross out, just get it on paper), on listening (writing is ninety percent listening; the deeper you listen, the better you write), on using verbs (verbs provide the energy of the sentence), on overcoming doubts (doubt is torture; don’t listen to it)—even on choosing a restaurant in which to write. Find it here.

Read Widely and Deeply

Expose yourself to a range of voices by reading diverse authors and genres. Try different methods, from reading one author and analyzing their language, structure, and tone, to reading a selection of books in different genres from a variety of authors to see what standards exist in each different genre, and how that might impact your own writing. Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel can be a great starting point to understanding genre, while George Saunders A Swim in a Pond in the Rain offers a masterclass in a book for how to analyze literature (at least Russian literature).

Pay attention to what resonates with you and why. Analyze how different writers use language, structure, and tone to convey their message. This not only broadens your understanding of different styles but also helps you identify elements you want to incorporate into your own writing.

Reflect on Your Influences

You know about the canon of literature you had to study in school. What is your own personal canon? Daniel Handler, AKA Lemony Snicket of the Series of Unfortunate Events fame details his own personal literary canon in his memoir And then? And then? What else? Consider what would be put into your own canon of reading to build up to your style of writing and inspiration. How does your relationship with those books change when you think of htem as your own personal canon. Understanding these influences can help you pinpoint the qualities you wish to integrate into your own voice while still making it uniquely yours.

Write for Yourself

Ultimately, writing for yourself is the most crucial step. Write what you’re passionate about and in a way that feels natural to you. When you focus on expressing your own ideas and emotions honestly, your voice will emerge naturally. Remember, writing is a personal journey, and your voice is a reflection of your unique perspective.

Embrace Your Authentic Self

Your writing voice is a reflection of who you are. Embrace your quirks, perspectives, and experiences. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through your writing. Authenticity resonates with readers more than a polished, but impersonal, style. Write from your heart and trust that your genuine voice will come through.

Seek Feedback

While we are often told writing is a solitary activity, you being here reading these words just shows how much community is needed for writing and writers to succeed! Writing groups can often be found at your local bookstore or through your local library. You can also join online communities like The Roost, which feature regular write-ins, online workshops, and so much more!

Email AuthorOutreach@Chantireviews.com to learn more about The Roost, where Authors like to Perch!

You can learn about all sorts of writing groups here.

Once you get feedback from those in community, the next step is to hire a professional to look at your work. In the Big Five Traditional Publishing Houses over 40 pairs of eyes will look at your work. If indie publishing or publishing through a small press, hiring a professional for a Manuscript Overview, or other Editorial Services like Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Copy Editing, or Proofreading is crucial to standing out from the millions of books that are published every year!

Trust in Yourself and Let Your Voice Be Heard!

Finding your writing voice is a rewarding journey of self-discovery and creative expression. By writing regularly, exploring various influences, and staying true to your authentic self, you’ll gradually uncover a voice that’s uniquely yours. Embrace the process with patience and curiosity, and remember that your voice is an evolving aspect of your writing. Happy writing!

Chanticleer Editorial Services – when you are ready

Did you know that Chanticleer offers editorial services? We do and have been doing so since 2011.

Tools of the Editing Trade

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 Kiffer or David at KBrown@ChantiReviews.com or DBeaumier@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. Here are some handy links about this tried and true service: https://test.chantireviews.com/manuscript-reviews/

And we do editorial consultations. for $75. https://test.chantireviews.com/services/Editorial-Services-p85337185

Writer’s Toolbox

Thank you for reading this Chanticleer Writer’s Toolbox article.

Writers Toolbox a few more Helpful Links:

The INCITING INCIDENT: STORY, SETBACKS and SURPRISES for the PROTAGONIST – A Writer’s Toolbox Series from Jessica Morrell’s Editor’s Desk

ESSENCE of CHARACTERS – Part One – From the Jessica Morrell’s Editor’s Desk – Writer’s Toolbox Series

September 30, 2024
The 2024 Hearten Book Awards Hall of Fame for Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction

Take a deep breathe and smile

The Hearten Awards are here to bring you joy, and maybe a few tears with some of these excellent books

**Your Story is Worth Sharing**

You have until September 30th to share your uplifting memoir with us and enter the 2024 CIBAs!

Enter by September 30, 2024

Uplifting and heartwarming work is a vanishingly rare thing these days, and we love having an Awards Division that can inspire readers and writers alike. The Hearten Awards seeks true stories about adventures, life events, unique experiences, travel, personal journeys, global enlightenment, and more.

Join us in celebrating the Hall of Fame for Grand Prize Winners of the Hearten Awards

Running Away From the Circus
By Nove Meyers

Debut author Nove Meyers breathes life into the big tent of human aspirations and desperations, from his birth into a raucous circus atmosphere to his diligent study for Catholic priesthood.

Running Away from the Circus is a vibrant chronicle that opens with a vignette of his grandmother, clad in sequins and flying on a trapeze. She spun like a top to enthusiastic applause under the circus tent, until the fateful day when she included her young child in the act, dropping her thirty feet to the sawdust-covered floor below. But this did not prevent Nove Meyers from being born and having a story to tell.

The boyhood described was as wild as the circus acts. He was encouraged to smoke cigarettes like his father and watched in astonishment as his mother burned up paper money, possibly to protect his uncle, a counterfeiter. Yet despite his unusual upbringing as one of the family’s third generation of circus owners, Meyers was taken regularly to Catholic church services. There, he discovered God, an entity as mysterious as the traveling circus and carnie crowds he was raised among.

Read more here!

INNER TREK – a reluctant pilgrim to the Himalayas
By Mohan Ranga Rao

A disinclined traveler journeys into the heartland of the revered Mount Kalash Parikarma in Tibet. Inner Trek by Mohan Ranga Rao follows a voyage that culminates in self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment.

Mohan Ranga Rao, a retired Indian businessman, finds himself between a rock and a hard place when a ruthless Bangalore mob boss threatens him to sell his land at a throwaway price. The situation escalates when he discovers that his trusted lawyer has joined forces with the enemy. He can only turn to his wife for solace.

With nothing for him to do about his land, Rao vows to trek around Mount Kailash, a holy Tibetan Mountain. This travel memoir traces his and his wife’s journey to the deified Himalayas, the land of Lord Shiva. Rao shares intimate details of his experience, including the spiritual transformation that he went through during his challenging high-altitude trek.

Read more here!

DAWGS: A True Story of Lost Animals and the Kids Who Rescued Them
by Diane Trull & Meredith Wargo

We love our dogs. We love our cats. But what do we do when people no longer want them, use them for cruel purposes, or release them into the streets with no thought for what will happen to them? Diane Trull’s memoir with Meredith Wargo, DAWGS, shines a light on these questions.

Trull begins the story as a fourth-grade teacher in Dalhart, Texas. One of her young students asks about an article in a local paper showing photos of adorable dogs at a shelter who were up for adoption, wondering what happened to those who weren’t adopted.

Instead of dodging the question, and with great trepidation, she answered it with the truth: those who weren’t adopted would be put to sleep. Her tiny students were understandably shocked. Then one of them said, “I don’t want any of those dogs to die. Isn’t there something we can do to save them?”

Read more here!

Love, Life, and Lucille
By Judy Gaman

Award-winning author, motivational speaker, and podcast host Judy Gaman befriends a fun-loving and feisty centenarian in her CIBA Grand Prize-winning novel, Love, Life, and Lucille.

The list of titles and accolades Judy Gaman has accrued begin to pale when she encounters Lucille Fleming for the very first time. The whole reason for the meet-up with the centenarian was specifically to get her opinions on “aging gracefully,” the featured topic of a new book Judy planned to write. What was scheduled as an hour-long interview turned into an absolutely delightful, near three-hour visit. Lucille turned the tables and began asking questions about Judy’s life with compelling earnestness—something Judy rarely experienced. She was unprepared yet exhilarated.

Judy couldn’t stop thinking about this “dressed to the nines” woman with an ear-to-ear smile and a sturdy, affectionate hug. Her contact with this larger-than-life woman was so infectious, Judy made up an excuse—so that she could see her again. During that second meeting, the two became fast friends as they set Fridays aside as their day to get together. Before their next planned meeting, Judy learned that Lucille had gone into cardiac arrest. She was dead for three minutes before she came back full of vim and vigor as if nothing had happened. Five months later, Lucille was more than ready for TV interviews. With that, Judy made plans to write a second book about Lucille and their relationship.

Read more here!

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

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

You know you want it…

Are you a Chanticleer Author who has some good news to share? Let us know! We’re always looking for a reason to crow about Chanticleerians! Reach out with your news to info@ChantiReviews.com

September 26, 2024
“It was a Dark and Stormy Night:” How Atmosphere Enhances the Plot and Crafts Immersive Narratives

Shakespeare knew what he was doing…

Creating a tangible atmosphere in your storytelling is often a subtle force that plays a critical role in shaping a narrative and enveloping your reader in the story.

A good atmosphere – created through setting, tone, and sensory details – can transform a simple plot into a rich, immersive experience filled with bright skies, stormy weather, and everything in between. Here we’ll explore how atmosphere enhances the plot and why it’s essential for crafting stories that draws readers into their characters’ world and lets them experience it (nearly) first-hand.

Setting the Scene

Atmosphere begins with setting. The world in which a story unfolds is more than just a backdrop. it influences mood, behavior, and narrative flow. Imagine a thriller set in a foggy, empty street at night versus one set in a bright, bustling city. The atmosphere created by each setting will evoke different emotional responses and drive the plot in unique ways.

In Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist, for example, the dark, oppressive atmosphere of a decaying mansion reflects the internal turmoil of Miss Havisham’s deteriorated mental state. By adding depth to the setting, it actually becomes a character in itself, influencing the actions and decisions of the protagonists. This synergy between setting and plot helps readers immerse themselves more fully in the story.

Enhancing Tension and Suspense

Atmosphere is crucial in creating tension and suspense. A story’s mood can build anticipation and keep readers on edge. For example, a tense atmosphere can heighten the stakes and make moments of danger feel more immediate and pressing.

Consider a suspenseful scene set on a foggy, deserted street. The shadows and lack of other people can amplify the sense of danger and unpredictability. The atmosphere makes the plot twists more gripping because it engages the readers’ senses and emotions, making the narrative’s tension more palpable.

Reflecting Internal States

Atmosphere can also mirror a character’s internal state, providing insight into their emotions and motivations. For example, in the opening scene of Jack London’s White Fang we find two men traveling alone across the snowy Yukon Territory. Their lives are under constant threat from the world around them. This mirrors the theme of the story and the torment its protagonist experiences as a wolf left to constantly fight for his survival.

This mirroring helps readers connect more deeply with the characters, as the external atmosphere echoes their internal struggles and triumphs. It adds a layer of emotional resonance to the plot, making characters’ experiences feel more authentic and impactful.

Creating Symbolism and Themes

Atmosphere can enhance themes and symbolism within a narrative. By weaving certain atmospheric elements into the story, authors can subtly reinforce thematic undertones and symbols. For instance, a recurring motif of decay and deterioration in a story can symbolize the moral or societal decline of the characters or setting.

In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the opulent but hollow atmosphere of Gatsby’s parties to highlight themes of disillusionment and the emptiness of the American Dream. The atmosphere becomes a glittery vehicle for thematic exploration, enriching the plot’s complexity.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby in The Great Gatsby 2013 film

Guiding Reader Expectations

The atmosphere can guide readers’ expectations and shape their interpretation of the plot. A story that opens with a cheerful, light-hearted atmosphere might lead readers to anticipate a light, humorous tale. Conversely, a dark, foreboding atmosphere might set the stage for a more serious or tragic narrative.

By manipulating atmosphere, authors can subtly influence how readers engage with the plot, leading them to anticipate certain outcomes or questions about the narrative’s direction. This is seen in Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games, where the shanty town world her heroine, Katniss Everdeen, is born into is used as a comparison to the opulent wealth of Capitol City. This adds layers of complexity and surprise to the story as she must use the smarts she gained in her original environment to survive in a new and unusual place.

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen volunteering as tribute in place of her sister at the barbaric Reaping for the Capitol.

Deepening Immersion

Finally, atmosphere plays a crucial role in deepening reader immersion. A well-crafted atmosphere can transport readers to another world, making the plot more engaging and compelling. The sensory details, emotional undertones, and overall mood create a rich tapestry that draws readers in and holds their attention.

Whether it’s the cozy warmth of a small-town bakery or the cold, sterile environment of a high-tech laboratory, the atmosphere creates a sensory experience that enhances the plot and makes the story come alive. It helps readers visualize and feel the world of the story, making the plot more vivid and impactful.

Brick by Brick You Build A World Your Readers Can Feel

Atmosphere is a powerful tool in storytelling, enhancing the plot in ways that go beyond mere setting. By influencing mood, creating tension, reflecting internal states, and deepening thematic elements, atmosphere enriches the narrative and captivates readers. When done effectively, it turns a simple story into an immersive experience, making every plot twist and character development resonate more deeply.

So, the next time you’re crafting a story, remember that the atmosphere you create is as integral to the plot as the characters and events. It’s the subtle force that breathes life into your narrative and keeps readers’ attention until the very last clap of thunder!

Chanticleer Editorial Services – We’re ready when you are ready!

Did you know that Chanticleer offers editorial services?We do and have been doing so since 2011!

Tools of the Editing Trade

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 Kiffer or Sharon at KBrown@ChantiReviews.com or SAnderson@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. Here are some handy links about this tried and true service: https://test.chantireviews.com/manuscript-reviews/

September 17, 2024
Five Days Left to Join the Roost!
The Perch is Still Open!

Take advantage of our biggest bundle ever and join The Roost!

The Red Carpet is rolled out for authors looking to take the next step in getting their book Discovered!

As the leaves start to turn and the air begins to crisp, it’s not just kids who are buckling down. We’re here to support you and your writing ambitions!

How do we jump start your journey?

A Chanticleer Editorial Review

Two Entries into the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards (CIBAs)

One Full Year in the Chanticleer Membership Program: The Roost

Over $1000 in value!

All for $645*
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[Don't forget that PayPal offers 6 months - same as cash - no interest]
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Why Join the Roost?

Writing can be a solitary activity, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. The Roost provides Community and Connection, a space where writers meet, share, and support each other’s journeys. It’s your new creative home where the coffee’s always hot and the conversation never ends.

One of the early Roost Happy Hours!

With monthly workshops and discussion led by our staff and expert authors, it’s more than a club: It’s a master class in writing and publishing that runs all year.

Ready for the Roost, but not sure about the rest?

All these benefits are on your time. If your manuscript isn’t quite ready, your Editorial Review and CIBA entries don’t expire. Redeem them at your convenience when your book is ready to be discovered!

If you’re just dipping your toes in. reach out to AuthorOutreach@ChantiReviews.com, and we will send you a special deal to join the Roost for just $10/month. We will honor the discounted rate for as long as you are a Roost Member and you can cancel anytime. Come find out what the crowing is all about!

Don’t Let This Offer Fly the Coop!

The Rooster stops for no one!

Sale Ends September 15, 2024!

Whether you’re on page one of your next bestseller, or ready to start marketing your debut book, The Roost is where the journey to greatness begins. Don’t’ wait – the clock is ticking and this deal won’t last!

Click here to join The Roost and grab your Bundle Today!

Can’t make the bundle, but still want to be part of the action? Email AuthorOutreach@ChantiReveiws.com for a special discount code to join today!
September 10, 2024
The 2024 Hearten Award Spotlight for Uplifting & Inspiring Non-Fiction
Tell Us Your Story!

The Hearten Awards are here for your Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction!

The Hearten Awards is one of our 6 Non-Fiction Divisions. Specifically, it covers Uplifting and Inspiring Memoirs. If you have written a book about yours, or someone else’s life story that can inspire others, Submit it to us!

The Categories for the Hearten Awards are:
- Humorous
- Motivational
- Advice/Inspiration
- Family and Chosen Family
- Self Discovery/Coming of Age
We are happy to Celebrate the 2023 Hearten Award Winners!
- Lisa Niver – Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty
- Lally Pia – The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy: A Memoir of an Unlikely Doctor
- Tony Jeton Selimi – A Path to Excellence
- Trudy Wells-Meyer – Some Things Are Simply Meant to Be
- Aurita Maldonado – The Zen of Dancing in the Rain: Becoming One with the Storm
The Grand Prize Winner of The 2023 Hearten Award is:

Running Away From the Circus

by Nove Meyers

Submit today to join this list of winners!

The Hearten Awards are open until the end of September! We’ll leave you with some of our favorite uplifting reads that have come through lately!

DIAMOND: The Memoir of a Lost Daughter of Japan
By Etsuko Diamond Miyagi

In a world ravaged by conflict and loss, Etsuko Diamond Miyagi’s memoir, Diamond: The Memoir of a Lost Daughter of Japan is a shining testament to the beauty of love and the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity.

Etsuko enjoys a peaceful childhood on the Philippine island of Mindanao, where her father owns an abacá plantation. But they are not safe when guerilla forces destroy her village murdering everyone and leaving her as the sole survivor. This deeply personal narrative of grief chronicles Etsuko’s harrowing journey to find solace and joy after the death of her parents.

At first, passed from house to house, Etsuko is forced to work as a domestic servant until a kind family takes her in. However, her safety and survival is once again in danger when she’s forced to leave her adopted family and take a position at Chief Doming Apostol’s estate in Magpet. It is there Etsuko receives the name ‘Diamond.’

Read more here!

A PATH To EXCELLENCE
By Tony Jeton Selimi
Hearten First Place Winner

On the belief that life isn’t just the random cards one is dealt, A Path to Excellence by Tony Jeton Selimi offers a blueprint—the octagon of excellence—to succeed personally, professionally, and spiritually.

Transcending the pitfalls and spontaneous stumbling blocks along the path of life can open the door to self-actualization and progression. As someone who experienced bullying, sexual abuse, early disability, and homelessness, Selimi sets on to become a beacon of light to the hopeless and marginalized.

Within each soul lies a bud of genius waiting to blossom. This book focuses on purpose, vision, and persistence to clear the way to that fullest potential. Affirming challenges as immutable truths of life, Selimi employs Buddhist teaching and personal anecdotes to encourage a head-on confrontation with one’s struggles and promotes a feeling of gratitude. As a blend of philosophical wisdom and practical experience, the initial chapters help readers acknowledge their current life situation, perceiving challenges as epochs of potential.

Read more here!

DAWGS
By Diane Trull & Meredith Wargo
Hearten Grand Prize Winner

We love our dogs. We love our cats. But what do we do when people no longer want them, use them for cruel purposes, or release them into the streets with no thought for what will happen to them? Diane Trull’s memoir with Meredith Wargo, DAWGS, shines a light on these questions.

Trull begins the story as a fourth-grade teacher in Dalhart, Texas. One of her young students asks about an article in a local paper showing photos of adorable dogs at a shelter who were up for adoption, wondering what happened to those who weren’t adopted.

Instead of dodging the question, and with great trepidation, she answered it with the truth: those who weren’t adopted would be put to sleep. Her tiny students were understandably shocked. Then one of them said, “I don’t want any of those dogs to die. Isn’t there something we can do to save them?”

Read more here!

LOVE, LIFE and LUCILLE
By Judy Gaman
Hearten First Place Winner

Award-winning author, motivational speaker, and podcast host Judy Gaman befriends a fun-loving and feisty centenarian in her CIBA Grand Prize-winning novel, Love, Life, and Lucille.

The list of titles and accolades Judy Gaman has accrued begin to pale when she encounters Lucille Fleming for the very first time. The whole reason for the meet-up with the centenarian was specifically to get her opinions on “aging gracefully,” the featured topic of a new book Judy planned to write. What was scheduled as an hour-long interview turned into an absolutely delightful, near three-hour visit. Lucille turned the tables and began asking questions about Judy’s life with compelling earnestness—something Judy rarely experienced. She was unprepared yet exhilarated.

Judy couldn’t stop thinking about this “dressed to the nines” woman with an ear-to-ear smile and a sturdy, affectionate hug. Her contact with this larger-than-life woman was so infectious, Judy made up an excuse—so that she could see her again. During that second meeting, the two became fast friends as they set Fridays aside as their day to get together. Before their next planned meeting, Judy learned that Lucille had gone into cardiac arrest. She was dead for three minutes before she came back full of vim and vigor as if nothing had happened. Five months later, Lucille was more than ready for TV interviews. With that, Judy made plans to write a second book about Lucille and their relationship.

Read more here!

Thank you for cheering on these Uplifting and Inspiring Non-Fiction Books!

We hope to see your work in the 2024 Hearten Awards!

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

Your book deserves to be discovered.
September 8, 2024