science fiction – Dena Weigel

Shami Stovall – An Award-Winning Author Inspired by the Stars

Step into the world of urban fantasy as we welcome award-winning author Shami Stovall!

A person smiling while holding the book 'Time-Marked Warlock' by Shami Stovall in front of a bookshelf.

Shami’s novel Time-Marked Warlock—a thrilling blend of mystery, magic, and time-bending adventure—took home the 2024 Chanticleer Shelley Grand Prize for its imaginative storytelling and unforgettable characters. In this insightful conversation, she shares her journey from tabletop games to award-winning author, her creative process, and the inspirations behind her storytelling. Get ready to discover how life, gaming, and magic collide on the page.

Creating New Worlds—An interview with Jayson Adams, author of the award-winning science fiction novel, Ares

Just like his character in Ares, Jayson Adams is just beginning his amazing journey!

I recently interviewed a new up-and-coming author, Jayson Adams. His science fiction book, Ares won the CIBA Overall Grand Prize for Best Book and in the interview we discussed his writing journey from being an IT professional to becoming an award-winning novelist. He has some great insights into overcoming writers block and tells us more about his other creative pursuits (Hint: Adams is a terrific artist!)

Click here to Read the Full Interview

A smiling man holding a book titled 'Ares' and an award ribbon, posing in front of a Chanticleer Reviews backdrop.

CIBA Award Winner Rae Knightly on Writing Science Fiction

Rae Knightly, author of the CIBA award-winning young adult science fiction novel, Exostar, spent her childhood in Africa staring up at the night sky, wondering what mysteries are hidden within the millions of stars. Her imagination ran wild. New species, alien worlds, time travel, and everything else she could dream up.

Knightly has captured those memories and put them into an CIBA award-winning story in the Dante Rossetti division called, Exostar.

Click here to find what inspires her writing today, and what she plans on writing next.

Author Mike Murphey’s Love of Humor and Baseball

“I am not a slave to genre, and my background as a journalist left me interested in a variety of topics to write about.” -Mike Murphey, author of Old Man Baseball.

“Know your principal characters as well as you know your best friend or your worst enemy.”

-Mike Murphey, author of Quantum Consequences, CIBA Grand Prize Winner in the Mark Twain Division for Humor.

I recently had the honor of interviewing the versatile author, Mike Murphey. He’s writing spans several genres as vast as science fiction, humor, thriller, and nonfiction examining the 1960s music scene.

Find out more about how he found his writing talent, how his hobbies influence his work, and his experience moving from being a Plotter to a Panster when writing his novels.

Click here to read the article.