The 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference &
the 2024 Chanticleer International Book Awards Ceremony
Thursday – Sunday, April 3 – 6, 2025
Master Classes on Thursday, April 3rd
- Advance Writing Craft with Christine Fairchild
- Digital Marketing Master Class with Expert Presenters
Conference Sessions & Panels on Friday and Saturday, April 4th and 5th
- Includes Luncheons with Keynote Presenters
- Sessions, Panels, Kaffeeklatsches, and Workshops
- Friday Mixer with Beaucoup Hors d’oeuvres and Cash Bar
Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards Ceremony and Banquet
- Photo Session and Author Photos starting at 5:30
- Cash Bar Opens at 5:30 Mixer & Networking
- Appetizers served at 6 o’clock
- Seated Banquet at 7 o’clock
- Awards Presentation starts approximately 8 o’clock
- Village Books will host Book Sales at the event
- Dessert & Coffee Bar during Awards Ceremony
- Cash Bar moves to BYC Lounge after the Awards Ceremony
BOOKS BY THE BAY BOOKFEST will be at Village Books Bookstore, Fairhaven, Bellingham, Wash.
- All day Sunday, April 6th, at the Village Books Bookstore
- Author Readings
- Author Events and Signings going on throughout the two-story bookstore
- Door Prizes
- Free Parking on Sunday
The Chanticleer Authors Conference, Master Classes, and the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards Ceremony will be held at the
Bellingham Yacht Club Event Center
located at beautiful Squalicum Harbor, Bellingham, Wash.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY!
Space is Limited!
Lodging, Travel Info, and More
HEADLINERS for CAC 25
J. D. BARKER – New York Times and internationally best-selling author of numerous thrillers
J.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and the wildly popular 4MK series. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
CHRISTINE FAIRCHILD – Author & Book Doctor
Christine Fairchild offers 35+ years experience as a writer, editor, and book doctor. She’s conducted celebrity interviews (XFiles, SciFiMall.com), edited for technical giants (Microsoft, Hitachi), and served as a marketing/readability specialist for consumer products (DHL, Cingular, AT&T). She now specializes in Suspense fiction and helps authors take their work, and their career, to the next level through her online workshops, classes at conferences and one-on-one book-doctoring of clients’ novels. She also writes suspense and historical fiction, so she understands the challenges authors face in their craft and the publishing industry.
BROOKE WARNER – CEO of She Writes Press and Writing Coach
Brooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press and SparkPress, president of Warner Coaching Inc., and author of Write On, Sisters!, Green-light Your Book, What’s Your Book?, and three books on memoir. Brooke is a TEDx speaker, weekly podcaster (of “Write-minded” with co-host Grant Faulkner of NaNoWriMo), and publishes a weekly newsletter, Writerly Things, on Substack at brookewarner.substack.com. Brooke is the former Executive Editor of Seal Press and writes a regular column for Publishers Weekly.
STRIDER KLUSMAN – Award Winning Author and Host of the Author in the Headlights Podcast
An award winning, first place author of the Chanticleer International Book Awards, Strider began his writing career after twenty-five years as a fire fighter/EMT. The emotions and experiences of those calls carry themselves through every story, bringing true ‘been-there’ reality to the scenes.
With additional years as a business owner, general contractor, designer, wildland firefighter, big game guide, ski instructor, back packer and sword fighter, his wide range of knowledge is intricately woven throughout his stories.
To date, Strider has written YA (young adult), NA (New adult), and general fiction in the realm of: sci-fi western, light steampunk, dystopian (post apocalyptic), gaslight (early mechanism era) and just good fun reading.
DIANE GARLAND – Your WorldKeeper – Continuity Senior Editor
Diane Garland and her editorial company Your WorldKeeper, specializes in the world of continuity. Multiple USA Today best-selling and award-winning authors in various genres rely on her system of cataloging and organizing the minutiae and rules of their story worlds. Growing up as an AF Brat, Diane traveled extensively as a child, which has fueled her passion for travel and reading. She graduated from Florida State University and is a life-long learner. She, along with her husband and two cats, have recently relocated to Columbus, Ohio from the Seattle, Washington area.
Join Diane at her sessions about the necessity, creation, and organization of a story bible along with pointers on maintaining and using it to take your author career to the next level.
LISA SPICER – Producer, Editor, Writer
Lisa Spicer has worked in television, film, and video production for over 30 years as producer, writer, and editor. Starting in the documentary unit at KCTS/PBS Seattle, she worked there later on the Bill Nye the
Science Guy show, earning 3 Emmys. As an independent documentary producer, she has worked in Kenya, Mexico’s Lacandon rainforest, Northern Cheyenne and Lummi Indian reservations, Boulder, Seattle,
and Bellingham. Lisa has a BA in Broadcast Journalism and certificates in Filmmaking and Screenwriting (UW). Mid-career she earned an MA in Anthropology (WWU). Integrating anthropology into documentary, she
co-produced Homeless in Bellingham, an award-winning web series and documentary, and served as Consulting Anthropologist for the feature documentary, Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie. Recently
finishing an historical novel, Radio Smokva, she’s now writing about her back-to-the-land childhood and publishing a weekly series on Substack, Collective Effervescence: Research About the Counterculture.
Lisa will lead a workshop called How to Read a Film, with a focus to enhance your fluency in the language of film. Rooted in the practice of mise-en-scene, learn how meaning is conveyed through elements such as camera angle, set design, motif (shapes), lighting, actors, sound, all of which work together in support of the narrative.
Check back often for updated info for CAC25
See Masterclass here!
KIM HORNSBY – Author, Producer, and Screenwriter
REENITA MALHOTRA HORA – Podcaster & Broadcast Journalist & Contributor
Reenita Malhotra Hora is the CEO of Chapter by Episode Productions. She has years of experience growing organizations from startups to medium-sized businesses through storytelling, creative marketing and business strategy. Hora has also written seven books.
She has contributed to Reuters, the South China Morning Post family section, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Asian Investor, Times of India, Business Line, Bloomberg on-air news reporter, writer, and producer, Rolling Stone, and the Economic Times.
Sessions and Panels:
- Narrative Fiction Podcasts vs Audiobooks
- Sparking Interesting IP to expand story audiences
- Writing for Magazines & Journals to Expand Your Readership
- Marketing Tips and Tools for Authors
- Podcasting
See our full list of presenters here!
What makes the Chanticleer Author Conferences so special?
- Most importantly, the attendees! You are what makes this conference so special.
- Learning from the experts – Learn from the Best!
- Learning from each other
- Networking and making new friends and connections
- Our Keynote Speakers
Below are further SESSIONS on the Business and Marketing Side of Being an Author with the latest in Technology and Trends planned for CAC 24
- Book to Film Workshop – What Every Author Needs to Know
- Podcasting for Authors
- Narrative Fiction Podcasts vs Audiobooks
- Decoding the Amazon Algorithm
- Outlining Your Books, Pacing & Plotting, Genre Specific Editing
- Kickstarter Publishing – Primer and How-To
- Exercising and Building Good Movement Habits for the Writing Life
- BookBub and Book Funnel Selling Platforms
- Increasing Your Email List and Expanding Your Readership
- Book Covers that Sell
- ChatGPT – What is it and What does it mean for authors and content creators
- Multi-Channel Marketing for Authors
- How to be Your Own Book Publicist
- Alphabet Soup – SEO, ISBNs, BISAC, Meta-Data for Book Distribution and Discovery
- and more to come!
Please check back often for updates
about the 2025 CIBA Ceremonies
The 2024 Chanticleer International Book Awards Announcements
and the
Chanticleer Authors Conference 2025
Book Fair managed by Village Books
Here is what past attendees say about the Chanticleer Authors Conference – just a few of the many kudos shared with us.
“Thank you for the marvelous event Chanticleer put on. I’ve been touting Chanticleer and the awards given to me on all the sights on which Abigail’s Window is being promoted.” – Susan Lynn Solomon, author of Abigail’s Window and 1st place category winner Mystery & Mayhem Awards and GRAND PRIZE winner of the Paranormal Awards
“I am so proud to be awarded First in Place in Little Peeps for A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes! Thanks to ALL involved to make the Chanticleer Conference and Awards top notch!” – Kizzie Jones, author of A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes and 1st place category winner Little Peeps Awards
“I’m so excited to have this award. The conference was very informative, well-executed and worth every penny.” – Carolyn Watkins, author of The Knock and 1st place category winner Little Peeps and Gertrude Warner Awards
“Now THAT was an incredible conference. Can’t wait to take part in another one (in person) at the Hotel Bellwether in the future. Thanks so much for all the hard work that must have gone into it.” – Nancy Thorne, author of Victorian Town and 1st place category winner Dante Rossetti Awards
“Thank you! Fantastic! It was great meeting everyone virtually in the Zoom conference. I really enjoyed it and appreciate all your incredibly hard work and dedication. It’s invaluable to indie authors that organization like yours support us.” – Palmer Pickering, author of Moon Deeds and 1st place category Paranormal Awards
“Thanks again for the positive experience during the virtual conference; you and your team put on a wiz-bang, professional show and I learned a lot.” – JI Rogers, author of The Korpes Agenda and 1st place category Cygnus Awards
“Thank you again and again for a wonderful two weeks! Tremendous range of content and presentation. I enjoyed everything and learned much that I can apply now.” – Judy Santamaria, author of Jetty Cat Palace Cafe
“Your workshops have been incredibly instructive, and I’m greatly looking forward to the next one with Donald Maass.” – John Middleton Simpson
“Thank you again for all your hard work on this year’s conference. Truly you three are on the cutting edge and allowing us to all see into the future of publishing. And thank you for including such an excellent array of presentations – broad-based and informative on so many levels.” – Gail Noble-Sanderson, author of The Lavender Meuse Trilogy
“I’m writing to say how much I enjoyed the conference this year.” – John W. Feist, author of Blind Trust
“Amazing job you did on presenting a VCAC!” – JP Kenna, author of Joel Emmanuel
“Hi Kiffer, Well, you guys did it! In my opinion, you pulled off a really good awards ceremony and I enjoyed attending by Zoom. I look forward to next year, in-person, fingers crossed.” – Tim Cole, science fiction author
“Hi Kiffer, I’m really enjoying my first (V)CAC! Thanx for a great conference! Very much appreciate all the work you and Sharon have done getting this conference and classes set up for everyone!” – Susannah Dawn, author of Search for the Armor of God
“How wonderful that the virtual conference was such a roaring success! You should be so very proud – and you are probably relieved as well! Thank you so much for all your hard work and making it wonderful for all the attendees!” – Alex Paul, author of the Middle-Grade series — Arkeen Freeth
“We had a blast at the Chanticleer Authors Conference—held in our living room…Since in-person conferences are on an indefinite hold, Chanticleer moved everything to Zoom and did a wonderful job at that…a good time was had by all. We missed the scenery and human connection, but were grateful Chanticleer was able to pull off such a great virtual conference. Hopefully, we can toast in person next year.” – V & D Povall, authors of Jackal in the Mirror
Please check back often as we continue to add presenters on a weekly basis. We will have more information about the presenters on the faculty page.
- * Speakers and schedules are subject to change. Please check back for most current listing.
No refunds are available after Jan 30, 2024. However, credit for Chanticleer Services may be arranged. Please email KBrown@ChantiReviews.com for more information.