“This afternoon, I found out how it would feel to win gold for Canada at the Olympics,” laughs Williams. “I shrieked and cried victory tears, and my hands shook so hard that it took me a couple of minutes to text my family the wonderful news. As an independent author writing a multi-book fantasy series set in Canada, this recognition means more to me than I can say.”

Williams self-published the first volume in her fantasy action series in 2022. “I’m grateful to the Canadian Book Club Awards for this recognition,” she says. “I started The Xenthian Cycle twelve years ago on a hope and a dream. I wrote standing up on the subway using my phone, I carved precious minutes out of my day job and duties as a parent, and I found supportive champions in my readers.”

What are the Canadian Book Club Awards?

The Canadian Book Club Awards highlights the best titles in 13 genres, as chosen by Canadian readers. Now in its eighth year of operation the awards have seen eye-opening growth in both the number of submitted books for consideration and readers participating in the awards.

“As Mark Carney recently highlighted in his address in Davos, Canada has THE most educated population in the world,” reflects Megan Williams, CBCA’s Board Chair. “Education begins and continues with literacy. The year-over-year growth of a reader’s choice award series indicates just how willing and open Canadians are to expand their literacy and support of the literary arts.”

Key facts:

• Finalists and winners are voted on by readers; not a literary panel or committee.
• The awards are publishing agnostic, which means books can be submitted by authors, publishers or independent presses, including self-published authors.
• Eighteen books were long-listed in the SCI-FI/Fantasy category, from which three finalists were selected.

“I’m so excited that my story resonated with their audience,” says Williams. “With Book II of the series in production, it’s the perfect time for new readers to catch up on The Xenthian Cycle.“

Fantasy finalists for 2025

The SCI-FI/Fantasy category was highly competitive. The finalists included:

• Chaos Calling — E.M. Williams (Circle Star Publishing)
• The Lightning Child: The Wolves of Orkerion — Quinn Lamothe (FriesenPress)
• Shadow of the Yew Tree — Kate Gateley (Fogberry Press)

For the full list of winners across categories, see the Canadian Book Club Awards website or Instagram account.

~

About E. M. Williams

E. M. Williams is a Canadian fantasy author whose stories are informed by sibling bonds, parenthood, her marketing career in tech, and the perils of being a super-heroic woman trying to ‘have it all’. Chaos Calling, which received a strong review from Kirkus, is her first published novel in The Xenthian Cycle. Elizabeth lives and works in Toronto.

Media Inquiries

E. M. Williams, Independent Author and Publisher, Circle Star Publishing
inquiries at emwilliams dot ca | emwilliams.ca

The Canadian Book Club Awards Kristain Camps, Program Director
marketing at thecanadianbookclubawards dot ca | thecanadianbookclubawards.ca

The post Chaos Calling wins 2025 Canadian Book Club Award appeared first on E.M. Williams - Fantasy Author.

Eighteen books competed in the fantasy category this year. Chaos Calling: Book I of The Xenthian Cycle, by E. M. Williams, is among the three fantasy finalists advancing to the final voting round.

“Chaos Calling is the book I wanted to read,” says Williams, who self-published the kickoff to her fantasy action series in 2022. “I’m grateful to the Canadian Book Club Awards for this recognition. I’m so excited that the story resonated with their audience. With Book II of the series now in production, it’s the perfect time for new readers to catch up on The Xenthian Cycle.”

An exciting year for Canadian books

This announcement arrives amid a lively and celebrated awards season across the literary world,
reflecting the diversity present in Canadian publishing.

Monday’s Giller prize announcement highlighted Canada’s best fiction as chosen by a jury. In contrast, the Canadian Book Club Awards highlights the best titles in 13 genres, as chosen by Canadian readers.

“Each year we watch the awards evolve, not only in quantity, but in depth,” says Kristain Camps,
Program Director for the CBCA. “The range of stories submitted this year speaks to Canada’s
literary scene as one that is thriving in every corner.”

What should readers know about this year’s Canadian Book Club Awards?

Some facts:

• Independently published books make up 50% of the finalist titles
• Canadians comprise 82% of the finalists. Authors worldwide are welcome to participate. Canadian readers exclusively judge the winner.
• Registered Avid Readers evaluate all submissions and select the finalists in each of the 13 genre categories.
• Registered, verified Canadian readers select the winners, provided they vote by January 2026

Fantasy finalists for 2025

The fantasy finalists for the 2025 Canadian Book Club Awards are:

• The Lightning Child: The Wolves of Orkerion — Quinn Lamothe (FriesenPress)
• Shadow of the Yew Tree — Kate Gateley (Fogberry Press)
• Chaos Calling — E.M. Williams (Circle Star Publishing)

Winners will be announced in February 2026. For the full list across categories, see the Canadian Book Club Awards website or Instagram account.

~

About E. M. Williams

E. M. Williams is a Canadian fantasy author whose stories are informed by parenthood, her marketing career in tech, and the perils of being a super-heroic woman trying to ‘have it all’. Chaos Calling, which received a strong review from Kirkus, is her first published novel in The Xenthian Cycle. Elizabeth lives and works in Toronto.

Media Inquiries

E. M. Williams, Independent Author and Publisher, Circle Star Publishing
inquiries at emwilliams dot ca | emwilliams.ca

The Canadian Book Club Awards Kristain Camps, Program Director
marketing at thecanadianbookclubawards dot ca | thecanadianbookclubawards.ca

The post Chaos Calling named Fantasy Finalist in 2025 Canadian Book Club Awards appeared first on E.M. Williams - Fantasy Author.

TORONTO (June 27, 2022) — E. M. Williams has published Chaos Calling: Book I of The Xenthian Cycle on Amazon as a paperback.

Set in contemporary Toronto, the series juxtaposes modern-day careers and parenthood demands with the dynamic action of a superhero film. In keeping with that choice, Chaos Calling‘s diverse cast also features adults in their mid-30s with superhero-like powers.

“I’m a long-time fan of superhero stories,” says Williams. “Toronto is a popular place to film all kinds of movies and TV shows. But, few fantasy and science fiction stories are set here. I was excited to tell a story where Toronto could be itself.”

Chaos Calling features many recognizable Toronto locations, including the SkyDome, Queen’s Park, the Stockyards, MaRS Discovery District, and Montecito Restaurant.

“My characters’ careers reflect my experiences working in healthcare and startups,” says Williams. “I’ve lived in Toronto all of my adult life, and it was important to me to create a cast of characters who reflect the wonderful people I’ve met here.”

Chaos Calling‘s paperback edition named a #1 Hot New Release

Like the Chaos Calling ebook edition, the paperback edition also charted on Amazon’s Hot New Release list. It held the #1 position in Contemporary Fantasy on June 29 and 30, 2022. The book continues to rank strongly in the category.

Chaos Calling’s paperback edition also climbed the bestseller list in contemporary fantasy, achieving a #12 ranking alongside genre classics such as Harry Potter and newer releases, such as Holly Black’s Book of Night, Naomi Novik’s Scholomance Series, and Olivie Blake’s The Atlas Six.

“I’ve been reading authors like Naomi Novik, N. K. Jemisin and Margaret Atwood for years,” says Williams. “It’s a thrill to see my book listed alongside work of theirs and other peers in this genre every time it happens.”

Read more about the novel’s early sales success.

Balancing work and writing life

Beginning in 2014, Williams wrote three drafts of Chaos Calling using the Wattpad app while riding the TTC. She finished the novel during the Covid-19 pandemic. Across the project, she worked with 26 beta readers, two sensitivity readers, an editor, a copywriter, and a proofreader.

Williams also collaborated with several Toronto designers to create a strong reading experience. For example, she worked with illustrator Helen He to visualize the series villains. Designer Wesley Lyn used He’s sketches to create the book cover for Chaos Calling and design the series brand.

“So many people encouraged me along this journey,” says Williams. “I’m excited to share this novel and help it find readers while I work on the sequels.”

The post E. M. Williams publishes Chaos Calling paperback appeared first on E.M. Williams - Fantasy Author.

TORONTO (May 31, 2022) — Today, E. M. Williams publishes Chaos Calling: Book I of The Xenthian Cycle on Amazon as an ebook.

Set in contemporary Toronto, the series juxtaposes modern-day careers and parenthood demands with the dynamic action of a superhero film. 

Consequently, Chaos Calling‘s diverse cast also features adults in their mid-30s with superhero-like powers.

“I’m a long-time fan of superhero stories,” says Williams. “Toronto is a popular place to film all kinds of movies and TV shows. But, few fantasy and science fiction stories are set here. I was excited to tell a story where Toronto could be itself.”

Chaos Calling features many recognizable Toronto locations, including the SkyDome, Queen’s Park, the Stockyards, MaRS Discovery District, and Montecito Restaurant.

“My characters’ careers reflect my experiences working in healthcare and startups,” says Williams. “I’ve lived in Toronto all of my adult life, and it was important to me to create a cast of characters who reflect the wonderful people I’ve met here.”

Chaos Calling named a Hot New Release in contemporary fantasy

In April 2022, preorders for the Chaos Calling ebook launched on Amazon. It was named a Hot New Release in contemporary fantasy, and remained in the Top 80 until launch.

Readers can also experience the ebook through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Program. It allows subscribers to read an unlimited number of books for a set fee. The trade paperback edition is forthcoming in June.  

Beginning in 2014, Williams wrote three drafts of Chaos Calling using the Wattpad app while riding the TTC. She finished the novel during the Covid-19 pandemic. Across the project, she worked with 26 beta readers, two sensitivity readers, an editor, a copywriter, and a proofreader.

Williams collaborated with several Toronto designers to create a strong reading experience. For example, she worked with illustrator Helen He to visualize the series villains. Designer Wesley Lyn used He’s sketches to create the book cover for Chaos Calling and design the series brand.

“So many people encouraged me along this journey,” says Williams. “I’m excited to share this novel and help it find readers.”

The post E. M. Williams publishes Chaos Calling ebook appeared first on E.M. Williams - Fantasy Author.