Chanticleer Book Reviews is pleased to announce that New Smyrna Swing by D.D. Queens  has won 1st place in the INDIE Manuscript Awards,  Cozy Mystery Category (INDIE is a division of Chanticleer Book Reviews Blue Ribbon Writing Contests).

[Editor’s Note: Meet Jenna, the newest and quirkiest  P.I. in Florida. New Smyrna Swing is the first of the Jenna Palmer  mystery series.  Join Jenna and her sidekicks on their many misadventures as she pursues the bad guys along with the ones who attract her–for better or for worse.]

Chanticleer Book Review Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Contests recognize outstanding books and manuscripts.

We are honored to announce the INDIE Awards First Place Blue Ribbon winning manuscripts and their authors, Mystery/Thriller/Suspense category.

Each winning INDIE  manuscript was judged for the following qualities:

  • Is the story compelling
  • Professionalism of editing & formatting
  • Characterization
  • Continuity of story-line
  • Satisfying ending (not necessarily “happy”)
  • Intriguing opening
  • Uniqueness of story
  • Writing craft
  • Red herrings
  • Sidekicks
  • Suspense building

The INDIE  Writing Competition Prizes – Unpublished & Manuscripts Division

First Place Winners in each category will win a Chanticleer Manuscript Overview Package (valued at $ 325.00) .  All first place winners will be automatically entered into the CBR Grand Prize Writing Competition for CBR’s Best Manuscripts of 2013.   All winners’ works will be considered by Cloudberry Press (with author’s approval, of course) for publication.

Or winning authors may elect to have their works reviewed when it is published in galley form (pre-press) or after publication. Published manuscripts winners are welcome to enter any CBR Published Novels Division contests upon publication.

For a full list of winners, visit Chanticleer Book Reviews website at chantireviews.com.