My first four Ro Delahanty titles won a First Place Prize for a Novel Series in the Thriller / Suspense Category at the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) ceremony held in Bellingham, Washington, last weekend.
Nan was there with me to share the moment they announced, “Dave Lager for the Ro Delahanty Series.”

I have to say I stared at the slide accompanying the announcement for a second or two, dumbfounded, finally realizing, “That’s me!” My face hurt from smiling so hard as I made my way up to the stage to receive my ribbon.

It now hangs on the wall of my writer’s studio. Every time I look at it, which, humility notwithstanding, is often, I still think, “Wow! I can now say I’m an award-winning author.”

And can’t help wondering what that eighth grader I recall who got hooked on the Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Tarzan” series, reading books long into the night in his room, fantasizing about someday being “a real writer,” would think now.

The four novels in the series that won are: “Ro’s Handle,” book one; “Hear Evil,” book two; “Losses,” book three; and “Secrets Never End,” book four.

Bellingham, Washington, based Chanticleer Book Reviews and Media is an authors’ membership organization offering reviews, editorial assistance, workshops, a clearinghouse of writer services, and an online writers’ community. Their major event is the annual Chanticleer Authors Conference and International Awards competition, held each spring. Entries must pass through a series of rigorous reader cuts, Long List, Short List, Semi-Finalist, and Finalist in their category. First Place winners are then selected from the list of Finalists.

“The competition is fierce,” says Kathryn “Kiffer” Brown, founder, and CEO of Chanticleer. “We receive thousands of entries. Even reaching the Finalist stage means you are among the most elite writers.”