Awards
Grand Prize Winner in 2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards
4.20.2024
Military & Front Lines, Service to Others category.
Nothing is better than being called up on stage to accept you blue ribbon for winning first place in a genre category while a sea of authors applauds your achievement–except perhaps being in the audience when your name is announced as a Grand Prize Winner. Authors from around the worldwere honored at the gala and awards banquet. And I was one of them.
Second Place winner in the BookFest 2024 Spring Awards, Memoirs - Portrait
4.7.2024
The BookFest is the leader in virtual literary events and produces vital conversations on the world’s stage for those who love to read, and those who love to write. Free to attend, the biannual event happens in the spring and fall, and streams panel discussions, conversations, and live interactive sessions. As an award winner, The BookFest has recognitions from the Webby Awards, a gold award from the Muse Creative Awards, and a silver award from the w3 Awards. Awards Spring 2024
Winner in 2024 International Impact Book Awards, Military Memoir
3.11.2024
At the International Impact Book Awards, we’re not just recognizing books; we’re celebrating impactful stories that resonate with excellence. Winning an International Impact Book Award elevates a book to a new level of success, signaling to readers and media professionals alike that your work stands out in terms of quality and significance. We believe every book should have the opportunity to be recognized on criteria such as content, quality, writing style, presentation, and cover design.
Finalist in 2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards
3.4.2024
The Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs) Banquet & Ceremony is on Saturday evening of the 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference 4/18/24 – 4/21/24. Authors from all over the globe will be there to celebrate the best books of the year! The 2023 CIBA Finalists will be honored on Friday Evening, April 19th. The First Place and Grand Prize Winners will be Announced at the CIBA Banquet and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 20th, 2024.
Pacific Book Awards 2023 Winner in Best Memoir category
2.7.2024
Founded in 2005, Pacific Book Review is a recognizable name in the business for publishers, authors, literary agents and the media.
The Pacific Book Award judges recognize winning books that demonstrate a wide scope of criteria that makes for an excellent overall presentation.
Shortlisted in 2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards
12.7.2023
The Military & Front Lines Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Narrative Non-Fiction and Memoir exploring the lives of those who serve their country and others. The Military & Front Lines Service Book Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (CIBAs).
Military & Frontlines Shortlist 2023
Upcoming Events 2024
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Past Events
April 20-21, 2024| Bellingham, WA
The 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference & the 2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards Ceremony
Nothing is better than being called up on stage to accept your blue ribbon for winning first place in a genre category while a sea of authors applauds your achievement–except perhaps being in the audience when your name is announced as a Grand Prize Winner in the Military and Front Lines category.
April 20-21, 2024| Los Angeles, CA
2024 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
University of Southern California campus
Now in their 27th year, the LA Times Festival of Books has become the largest literary and cultural event of its kind in the northern hemisphere and has been bringing together authors, poets, musicians, artists, filmmakers, and emerging storytellers since its inception in 1996. LATFOB is a feast and entertainment, highlights community and local talent, and features expert panels, conversations, author signings.
March 17, 2024 | Niles-Maine District Library
6960 Oakton Street, Niles, Illinois 60714
P 847-663-1234
2:00-3:30 p.m.
The program will be held in our Commons Room. The room will be available to you 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start
time. The doors will open to the public at 1:45 p.m. Please arrive by 1:45 p.m., at the latest. The library opens at 12:00 p.m.
March 9 & 10, 2024| Tucson, AZ
2024 Tucson Festival of Books
University of Arizona campus
On March 9 and 10:
Presented by Author Solutions
Booth #207
March 10:
Presented by author: Indie Authors - Adult Fiction and Nonfiction, Pavillion 254
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
America's third-largest book festival, annually attracting more than 130,000 visitors to the University of Arizona campus during spring break, the Tucson Festival of Books is second to none in terms of public accessibility and the quality of its author panels.
February 1, 2024| La Grange, IL
Polish American Cultural Club
Guest Speaker
900 S. La Grange Rd, La Grange, IL
7pm
The Polish American Cultural Club was founded in 1975 by Bea and Bill Niemiec and has 3.8K followers
November 12-19, 2023 | Miami, FL
Miami Book Fair 2023
Wolfson Campus of Miami Dade College in Downtown Miami
For eight days in November, Miami Book Fair transforms downtown into a literary wonderland, hosting hundreds of critically acclaimed authors in three languages talking politics, pop culture, and all manner of impactful prose. Get smart, buy books, meet authors! My book will be in the Authors Solutions booth. See you there!
November 18, 2023 | Highland Park Public Library
Local Authors' Book Festival
494 Laurel AvenueHighland Park, IL, 60035
1 - 4PM
Once again East on Central will be co-sponsoring a Book Festival for local authors. If you have written a book, whether conventionally or self-published, you may take part in this event.
October 10, 2023 | Book Bin Bookstore
Book Release Event
1151 Church St, Northbrook, IL
5 - 6:30PM
Friends and Neighbors, please join us for the evening to meet the author, Joanna Rakowski, learn about the book "Chasing the Daylight. One Woman's Journey to Becoming a US Army Intelligence Officer", and for a chance to win Chasing the Daylight eBook. Bring friends and enjoy Polish treats!
September 30, 2023 | Barbara's Bookstore
Book Launch Event
Hawthorn Mall, 102 Hawthorn Ctr. Vernon Hills, IL
2PM
Please join us for the afternoon to meet the author, Joanna Rakowski, learn about the book "Chasing the Daylight. One Woman's Journey to Becoming a US Army Intelligence Officer", and for a chance to win Chasing the Daylight eBook. Bring firends and enjoy Polish treats!
A New Identity Found Through the Military Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NORTHBROOK, IL September 14, 2023—
With her first book, Chasing the Daylight: One Woman’s Journey to Becoming a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, author Joanna Rakowski delivers a powerful story of personal transformation from a fragile ballerina to a hard-core soldier.
In the summer of 1991, Joanna, a young Polish woman travels through Germany. At a refueling stop she encounters two American soldiers and has her photo taken with the heroes she looks up to. A decade later, she’s one of them, a soldier in the United States Army, living her dream.
On the surface, Chasing the Daylight chronicles Joanna’s four-year journey to transformation into a U.S. Army intelligence officer, her grueling training, and her evolution as a soldier. Throughout the story ,she battles her physical shortcomings, insecurities, and fears. She also faces two major obstacles: she is an immigrant and English is not her native language. She’s already 31 years old, surrounded by a much younger, physically stronger soldier population. Conquering loneliness, and lingering isolation is Joanna’s way of finding herself in her new country. The book offers a unique perspective on the process of transformation through selfless service and learning how to fit in the most powerful armed forces in the world.
Chasing the Daylight helps the readers recognize that it’s possible to achieve a fundamental, personal transformation through hardships, failures, and challenges and to ultimately find one’s new place in life, stronger than ever before.
The memoir is 412 pages and is now available in e-book, paperback, and hard cover in online bookstores worldwide.
