The Shelley Awards ~ for Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction Novels Chanticleer Book Awards Progam
~2025
The search for 2025's Best Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction Books
Deadline Oct 31, 2025
Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring magic, the supernatural, weird other- worldly stories, super humans (ex. Jessica Jones, Wonder Woman), magical beings & supernatural entities (ex. Harry Potter), vampires & werewolves (ex. Twilight), angels & demons, fairies & mythological beings, magical systems and elements. We will put them to the test and discover the best among them for the 2025 Paranormal Book Awards!
Prizes to be won:
Prizes to be won:
ENTER TO WIN the 2025 CIBA Overall Grand Prize of $1,000 USD for Best Book
or the 2025 Shelley Book Awards for Paranormal Fiction Division Exclusive Chanticleer Book Review Package and Author Interview
Enter to WIN the 2025 SHELLEY BOOK AWARDS for PARANORMAL and SUPERNATURAL FICTION Awards Grand Prize of an Exclusive Chanticleer Book Review Package and Author Interview along with e-newsletter and social media promotion (Valued at $795) Exclusive for only CIBA Grand Prize Winners!
Or the more than $30,000 in prizes, services, and awards for Finalists, 1st Place Category Winners and Division Grand Prize Winners!
Enter to WIN the SHELLEY BOOK AWARDS Grand Prize!
Five 1st Place Category Positions will take home blue ribbons and prize packages, digital badges, & more!
The Finalists will be recognized on stage at the CIBA ceremony and will be eligible for prize packages & services, digital badges, etc.
- The SHELLEY Grand Prize Winner is named Chanticleer Reviews Best Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction Book of the Year, and goes on to compete for the Chanticleer Overall Grand Prize Best Book of the Year
- The Overall Grand Prize Winner is named Chanticleer Reviews Best Book of the Year, and awarded the $1000 prize
- All Winners receive a Chanticleer Prize Package which includes a digital badge, a ribbon and a whole assortment of goodies detailed below (winners outside the US pay a shipping & handling fee)
The entry fee is $99 for Non-Members and $75 for The Roost at Chanticleer members per entry per category.
Email Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com for membership information or click here for more info about this exciting new Members-Only Community:
- The SHELLEY Grand Prize Winner is named Chanticleer Reviews Best Shelley Book Awards Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction Book of the Year, and goes on to compete for the Chanticleer Overall Grand Prize Best Book of the Year
- The Overall Grand Prize Winner is named Chanticleer Reviews Best Book of the Year, and awarded the $1000 prize
- All Winners receive a Chanticleer Prize Package which includes a digital badge, a ribbon and a whole assortment of goodies detailed below (winners outside the US pay a shipping & handling fee)
Approximately $30,000.00 worth of cash, prizes, and promotions! The Fine Print.
~$1000 for one lucky Overall Grand Prize Winner
Enter to WIN the 2025 SHELLEY Book Awards Grand Prize of an Exclusive Chanticleer Book Review Package and Author Interview along with e-newsletter and social media promotion (Valued at $795) Exclusive for only CIBA Grand Prize Winners!
~$28,980 in reviews, prizes, and promotional opportunities awarded to Category Winners
Currently accepting entries. Deadline: October 31, 2025.
What are you waiting for? Enter today!
The 2023 PARANORMAL Grand Prize Winner is Lydia M. Hawke
Click here to see the Full List of 2023 Paranormal Winners
The Chanticleer Prize Package includes:
- A Prize Ribbon to use in promotion at book signings and book festivals
- Digital Badges for display on your website or incorporation into book covers
- Book stickers to identify your print books to book store shoppers as they browse
In addition to all the ribbons and badges and cash awards we will be showering you with, you will also receive a powerful promotional boost from Chanticleer Reviews, with:
- Your name and book title announced on our high traffic website at the finalist stage, the category winner stage, the genre grand prize stage, and the overall grand prize stage, depending on how far you go in the competition
- Corresponding social media announcements of your contest advancements
- Corresponding newsletter announcements to our sizable email list
- Your winning title's review published in our Chanticleer Reviews Magazine
- Your book may also receive trade show representation as we show off our winners at conferences and trade shows across the US and Internationally. We like to show off our winners in as many ways as we can.
- Your book may also be seen and noticed by agents, publishers, Hollywood producers, and others within the publishing and entertainment industry who see our contests as a way to spot new and upcoming talent and original story ideas
The Paranormal Awards Categories are:
- Paranormal Romance
- Urban/Edgy
- Magical Beings & Creatures
- Supernatural Powers
- Adventure/Mystery/Thriller
Each work submitted will be judged on the following criteria:
- Is the story compelling?
- Professionalism of editing and formatting
- Characterization
- Continuity of storyline
- Satisfying ending (not necessarily “happy”)
- Intriguing opening
- Uniqueness of story
- Writing craft
- World construct
- Premise
Eligibility Requirements:
- Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published.
- E-pub accepted.
- All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission.
- Entries must be in the English language.
- No erotica. No graphic violence, please.
- Published works before Dec. 31, 2021 will be disqualified.
- Novels must be 50,000 plus words.
- You may enter in more than one category. However, each entry must be accompanied by the entry fee.
- You may enter more than one novel into a given contest.
- Default winners will not be declared. Contests are based on merit and writing craft.
- Digital Files must be submitted in PDF or Word DOC format.
- Fees and Digital File must be received before Oct 31, 2025 midnight.
- Please read our Terms and Conditions page aka The Fine Print. Prizes and Award Packages may change without notice.
The Update
We long have wanted a person to name the Paranormal Awards after, but it’s difficult to make the decision. However, two years ago, we floated the idea of Mary Shelley, and since then we’ve been waiting for the stars to align. And now they are! August 30, 2024.
What to know
If you have received a Paranormal Award in the past, that is still good! You can reach out to us for new graphics that say “Shelley Awards” instead for Finalists, First Place, and Grand Prize Winners. You are also welcome to keep using the “Paranormal Awards” branded promotions you have won! Those are still good, and we will continue including information about the change in name for years to come to help alleviate confusion.
Helpful Links
Click here for a list of ALL previous CIBA winners organized by year
If you have any questions or concerns, please email: info@ChantiReviews.com
Note: You will receive a confirmation email after you have uploaded your work and paid entrance fees through PayPal. PayPal also sends us your contact information. If we have any questions or concerns, we will contact you within 72 business hours of receiving entry(ies).
You should receive a confirmation emails from PayPal and from Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media. If you have any questions or concerns about your submission, please contact us at info@ChantiReviews.com.
If you are having problems seeing the order page, try a different browser or contact us a chanticleer<at>chantireviews.com.
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