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Anytime something amazing happens for Stephen Burckhardt or Dianne Burkhardt, we will post it here. This includes book publications, new additions or formats become available, author events or interviews, awards, or possibly even when I teach my adorable, crazy dog, Shaggy, a new trick (if it is a slow news month). Keep coming back to stay informed of all the latest news for Burckhardt Books!
Hot off the Presses!
Stephen Burckhardt is finally getting noticed!
Into the West: Family Ties made it on the Amazon top 100 Bestsellers in two categories the day after it published, Sept. 19, 2023. While the book did not make it past #70 (that we are aware of), we are still thrilled with this debut.
Below you will find links to the interviews and more. Please feel free to share the interview links and leave feedback.
menu
Print Interviews
Romona Portelli
Scott Harris
Podcast Interviews
Wichita Life ICT
Living the Next Chapter
#AnsweringTheCallToWrite
How to Podcast Series
Industry Insiders
Awards
SheInspires SHEro Global Winner
Into the West: The Orphan Train
Best Seller Lists
Book Sales:
Into the West: Family Ties
Free Books:
Into the West: A New Home S.E.
Into the West: The Orphan Train
Current Events
Sept. 2023
October 2023
Current Events
Available Now
Awards
Author Dianne Burckhardt
Wins Prestigious Global Award
(Bolton, UK, Nov. 24, 2022) Award-winning, indie author, Dianne Burckhardt, has won a SheInspires Award for 2022 against strong international competition.
Dianne, who became an award-winning indie author after surviving numerous brain surgeries in 2004, won the SHEro Award, global category, for her perseverance against tremendous odds to rebuild her life, language skills, and career.
“I was absolutely shocked when they called my name,” explained Dianne. “The competition was incredible this year and the other finalists are just amazing women. I was a finalist in 2020 for the HER-Abilities award but didn’t win that year. I was so surprised when I was nominated this year. I still don’t know who nominated me, but I’m so grateful to them for this. I plan to use this award to build my advocacy program, The Mutant Chronicles on TikTok, to bring more attention to those of us living with neurological conditions and brain damage.”
This is the eighth year the SheInspires Awards have been held and only the third year going international. Entries have come in from countries including Denmark, India, South Africa, the Unites States, the UAE, Australia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Spain, Doha, Germany, and Turkey as well as from across the UK.
Awards’ organizer Gulnaz Brennan commented: “The quality of the nominations has been outstanding. We have had 187 finalists in 17 categories and the job of the judges was particularly difficult. Opening up the awards internationally offers a special way of recognizing truly amazing women from around the world today including Dianne Burckhardt and I’m very proud of their success.”
Dianne currently resides in Düsseldorf, Germany with her husband, Pedro, and their rescue dog, Shaggy, where she writes and self-publishes books, hosts a book podcast, and creates The Mutant Chronicles video series.
From the SheInspires website:
"This special SHEro Award is to celebrate and shine a light on women who are an inspiration everyday. This award will celebrate one woman whose kindness and dedication inspires us. This award will also recognise women who despite disabilities (physical or mental) inspire by their positive contribution to the community, workplace, family or just her own life. Her everyday selfless acts of compassion make our homes, our neighbourhoods and our world a better place.
Open to all women from all walks of life."
Congratulations to all the incredible
women in this category:
Lebogang Mashigo, South Africa
Marianne Agolia, Nigeria
Moanaro Imchen, India
Swati Garg, USA
Ulyana Kyrychuk, Ukraine
Into the West: The Orphan Train
was a finalist in the
2019 TopShelf Indie Book Awards and is a 2020 TopShelf Indie Book Awards Nominee
I received word from TopShelf Magazine the first book I wrote, Into the West: The Orphan Train, was a finalist in the 2019 TopShelf Indie Book Awards. This is extra special to me as this is not only my first book but it is also the first contest I have ever entered my writing. To have my first book become a finalist in the first contest I entered is beyond thrilling!
The panel of judges was impressed enough with my work that they nominated it to compete again in this years awards as they felt it deserved another chance to take first place.
Interview Menu
Want to set up meeting to interview our authors?
Contact Stephen at S.Burckhardt@BurckhardtBooks.com and
Dianne at D.Burckhardt@BurckhardtBooks.com.
Interview with, Stephen
Burckhardt, Stephen
Interview TBA
The Print Interviews
Interview with American western author, Stephen Burckhardt
by Ramona Portelli
Stephen Burckhardt is an American author who is currently living in Düsseldorf, Germany. Born in Wichita, Kansas, Stephen’s family moved around quite a bit when he was young but always stayed in or around the Wichita area.
Stephen spent a few a years living on a ranch near Benton, KS. This is where he developed a deep love for all things western. It was on the ranch where Stephen learned to ride and care for horses, tend to chickens and cattle, drive a tractor, and shoot various types of firearms. Being a proud member of the Cherokee nation only deepened his interest in history, animals, and native traditions.
After earning a degree in journalism from Wichita State University, Stephen spent years writing for various publications and eventually worked for a news service as an anchor for their east coast news feed. The job was depressing. Read more
Born on August 10, 1979, RAMONA PORTELLI has been a freelance writer for these last past years, during which she has interviewed various local and foreign personalities. Ramona started her career by interviewing local Maltese personalities such as television presenters and producers, singers and artists, as well as other important figure heads such as the Archbishop of Malta. Read more.
Ramona Portelli
Friday's Forum Featuring Stephen Burckhardt
by Scott Harris
When — and why — did you first fall in love with Westerns?
I have to admit I didn’t really start reading Westerns until recently, but I have been a Western movie fan for as long as I can remember. I used to stay up late with my mom watching movies on the “Late Late Show.” Our favorites were “Bowery Boys” movies and Westerns with stars like John Wayne, Gabby Hayes, Roy Rogers and Randolph Scott.
We also watched serials together. I was fascinated with the cliffhanger serials they used to play in movie theaters before the main features (this was before my time, but they
eventually showed them on TV). I loved those shorts. I used to tape as many as I could on VHS tapes and then bought DVDs of them whenever I could find them. I’m sure that is why I modeled my book series after the cliffhanger movie shorts. They were such a big part of my childhood. I don’t even know how many times I watched the Lone Ranger shorts. I still love them.
My mom was a big influence in this area. She actually dated a few men when she was young who were stunt men in Wild West shows. One even went on to be in numerous movies as an actor and a stunt man. Later, she married my dad, who is a member of the Cherokee Nation. I always tease her that her life is just one big game of Cowboys and Indians. Read more.
Award-winning and best-selling Western author Scott Harris is a lifelong Western enthusiast who traces his love of Western fiction back to his childhood days of reading Louis L'Amour novels. Harris has published four novels this year, along with a collection of short stories, and variety of other fiction and non-fiction Westerns. Harris has created a Western world filled with fascinating and exciting characters. Read More
Scott Harris
The Podcast Interviews
Living the Next Chapter
Episode 273
Dianne Burckhardt joined The How To Podcast Series Dave Campbell for an interview on another of his podcasts, Living the Next Chapter. The two discussed Dianne's books and her writing journey. Including her pen names, and future projects.
The Power of Trial and Error in Marketing Your Book #answeringthecalltowrite
Dianne Burckhardt was a featured guest on Meliza Farndell's live Facebook chat on September 12th. The two discussed their journeys as indie authors ad focus on the trial and error of finding your best advertising markets as indie authors.
The How To Podcast Series
Dianne Burckhardt was a featured guest Co-Host on The How To Podcast Series with Dave Campbell. The two had a lot of fun discussing what it was like starting a podcast and share tips on topics they wish they had known before the started their podcasts and their plans for the future of their shows.
Did you Miss Dianne's Interview on Outcasts Creative YouTube Channel?
Industry Interviews on The Outcasts Creative Web Show: Dianne's Interview
March 1st, 2023
Recently Dianne was interviewed on The Outcasts Creative YouTube channel (<- Link) for their Industry Interviews web show. The show was hosted by author/playwright/ director, Lance Steen Anthony Nielsen. Dianne appeared on the
show with bestselling, psychological thriller author, Val Collins.
You might remember Val from when she was a guest on Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt episode 54 (<-- link to listen now). Lance will be a guest on Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt this month, episodes 56 & 57. We will talk about his books and the scripts he has begun to publish in books formats. If you love books like we do, you really should check out these interviews!
Wichita Life Podcast #8
Dianne (Shari) Burckhardt, Author and Proud Host of a Malformed Brain
by Wichita Life - Podcast
Interview with American western author: Stephen Burckhardt (a.k.a. Shari Dianne Burckhardt)
Shari sat down to chat via Skype with Wichita Life host Landon Huslig.
Shari confessed her secret, she is Stephen Burckhardt and Dianne Burckhardt. Shari is currently writing under both pen names and had been keeping this from her followers but opened up for this podcast to discusses her life, career, health, the time she died, and so much more.
Wichita Life ICT
We love Wichita. We started the @WichitaLifeICT Instagram account to highlight all of the talented and creative people in the Wichita area and now want to expand that mission. Wichita thrives on it’s small businesses, art, and people – all of which deserve to reach as many people in the Wichita area as possible. That’s where we come in. We help promote small business, local charities, and people from around our city. Shoot us a message and let us know how we can help you.. Read more.
Amazon Best Seller's Lists
New Release Week (released 9.19.23) September 20th, 2023 First Paid bestseller
(that I know of, I never check the previous books release weeks)
Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers
#70 in Biblical Fiction
(Don't ask me why it's in this category, I think it is supposed to be Christian Fiction)
Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers
#78 in Old West History of the U.S.
Free Book Weekend July 4, 2021
Free Book Weekend September 26, 2021
Free Book Weekend November 2, 2019
Into the West: The Orphan Train Made it onto Two Free Best Sellers Lists on Amazon
I wanted to do something to celebrate Halloween online. I thought the best thing to do was to give away a "treat" to everyone who was interested in my work. On October 26th & 27th, I gave away free downloads of the eBook version of Into the West: The Orphan Train on Amazon.com. My book quickly made it onto the Best Sellers lists in not just one but in two categories. When the free download weekend was over, the book had topped out at #41 in American Literature downloads and actually cracked the top 20 making it all the way to #16 in Westerns. Into the West the Orphan Train even made it to #1,023 in all free eBooks in the Kindle Store. Considering how many eBooks are available everyday in the Kindle Store, that is an incredible achievement and I would never have been able to do it without the support of my followers. I will never be able to thank you enough!
I Made the Amazon Best Seller List
I decided to give away the ebook edition of Into the West: A New Home - Special Edition for Valentine's Day. It began the day ranked in the 2,668,815th position in all books on Amazon and quickly rose to 2,287th place. That brought it to the 41st place in all free westerns on Amazon's free Best Sellers list. Not only did this book make the Best Sellers list but it made it into the top 50. I had never thought about my books being on the Best Sellers lists before. I just enjoy writing my stories. Now that I realise that this well within reach for my books, the next goal is to break the top 25 paid westerns on Amazon's Best Sellers.
2023
Oct. 1
Book Banter Magazine Debuted
Out podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt - Book Talk Podcast, has been doing so well we started to think about all the book lovers we were missing who do not like podcasts or cannot listen to podcasts. To serve those individuals better, we decided to create Book Banter Magazine. It is an online flip book with live links to authors social media, their publicists or other representation should they have them, and most importantly buy links for their books. For now. it will be a monthly publication. We will reassess after the new year as to whether or not we can keep up with the podcast , a monthly magazine, and still publish our own books. The magazine may need to transition to every other month.
Read the first issue HERE
Sept. 25
Shaggy Turns Eight!!
Our rescue puppy, Shaggy, arrived in Dusseldorf, Germany from Moscow, Russia on Valentine's Day 2016. He is a Border Collie/Chinese Crested mix. He is so adorable. He has been the best writing mascot we could have ever hoped to find. Last spring we almost lost him due to severe gastroenteritis, so to still have him with us to celebrate his eighth birthday is a true gift. He recovered well and is doing fantastic now. He is on a duck only protein with less than 12% fat in his diet to make sure he stays healthy and is with us for a good, long time!
Sept. 19
Into the West: Family Ties is Published
We managed to finally complete the Into the West Saga Serial with the publication of the seventh and final installment, Into the West: Family Ties. The book debuted at #70 & #73 on the Amazon top 100 Bestsellers in two categories.
2022
July 20
Dianne Has a New Logo
Dianne finally got around to designing a circle logo like the one we have to Stephen. It might still need a bit of tweaking on the font sizes, but this is the basics of the new logo. The calligraphy swirl forms a B for Burckhardt in the inner circle. The colors are in keeping with the color scheme of Dianne's webpages.
July 19
Dianne is a Winner, SheInspires SHEro Global Award
Dianne had been nominated for the HER-Abilities Award but the judges thought she would be a better fit for the SHEro Award so they made her a finalist in this category instead. At the live event in Bolton, UK on November 24, 2022 Diane was awarded the SheInspires SHEro Award in the Global category. She was joined in this category by amazing women from across the globe. It was a true honor and a priviledge to be placed in the same circle with all of these women.
July 19
Dianne is a Finalist for the Inspire HER-Abilites Award
Dianne had been nominated for the HER-Abilities Award but the judges thought she would be a better fit for the SHEro Award so they made her a finalist in this category instead. From the She Inspires website, "This special SHEro Award is to celebrate and shine a light on women who are an inspiration everyday. This award will celebrate one woman whose kindness and dedication inspires us. This award will also recognise women who despite disabilities (physical or mental) inspire by their positive contribution to the community, workplace, family or just her own life.Her everyday selfless acts of compassion make our homes, our neighbourhoods and our world a better place. Open to all women from all walks of life."
May 17
Dianne is Nominated for the Inspire HER-Abilites Award
This award is for women who, despite their disabilities, inspire others by their positive contribution to the community, workplace, family, or just her own life. For me, it is a sincere and surprising honor just to have my nomination accepted for this award in this category again! I have no idea who nominated me this year, but they have my gratitude
May 11
Whatever Wednesdays with Burckhardt Books Podcast Becomes Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt.
Whatever Wednesdays with Burckhardt Books hosted by Dianne Burckhardt, changed to Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt as part of an overall site change to move away from the historical fiction/western genre theme the original website had to appeal to a wider genre appeal as we move forward to branch out into other areas of writing. The monday Movie Madness blog has also been changed to Manic Mondays where the focus will move from western movies to books.
Feb. 2
Whatever Wednesdays with Burckhardt Books the Podcast is Live!
The first episode of our podcast, Whatever Wednesdays with Burckhardt Books hosted by Dianne Burckhardt, broadcasts it's first episode, Who am I? In this inaugural episode, Dianne shares why she chose to write under the pen name Stephen Burckhardt to publish her Into the West Saga Serial.
Jan. 22
BurckhardtBooks.com is Born!
StephenBurckhardt.com and DianneBurckhardt.com merged to become BurckhardtBooks.com.
2021
Oct. 14
The Entire Into the West Saga Serial is Published in Hardcover!
The current books available in the Into the West Saga Serial are now available in eBook, paperback, and hardcover on Amazon!
Sept. 19
Sixth Book Published!
The fifth book in the Into the West Saga Serial, Into the West: Last Showdown is published on Amazon!
2020
June 30
Fifth Book Published!
The fifth book in the Into the West Saga Serial, Into the West: To Save Them All is published on Amazon!
Oct.
Featured in SheInspires Newsletter for the 2020 Awards
My personal story which has placed me among the group of incredible women who are finalists for the 2020 HER-Abilites Award, will be featured in the SheInspires October Newsletter. This award is for women who, despite their disabilities, inspire others by their positive contribution to the community, workplace, family, or just her own life. For me, it is a sincere honor just to have my nomination accepted for this award and to find myself a finalist with the amazing women in this category!
Oct. 12
Virtual Booth as the FrankFurt Buchmesse, Germany
This is the largest trade fair for books in the world. Publishers, agents, authors, and more come from all over the world to network at this event. Due to Covid19, this year the fair has added a virtual component to allow more people to participate while staying safe at home. You can visit my booth at the virtual fair be clicking here. Please note: the booth will disappear after October 18, 2020.
Oct. 5
PBS American Portrait - A National Storytelling Project
I submitted a video and text for entry in the PBS American Portrait - A National Storytelling Project and it was accepted. I was surprised because the clearly state that you cannot advertise anything in the entries. I was sure they would make me reshoot the video because I talk about writing as Stephen Burckhardt and my books are clearly displayed behind me in the video. However, I to not promote the books, I just talk about what it is like to try to rebuild a writing career after having had so much brain trauma having survived six brain surgeries in six months. It is such an honor to be a part of this project. If you have a unique story to tell, you should check it out. You can see my entry by clicking here.
Aug. 28
Inspired Writer Show: Deep dive with Dianne Burckhardt
Chris Moss interviewed me as part of his Deep Dive interview series. You can find my interview on his YouTube channel, Chris Helping your anxiety, by clicking here.
June 10
Fourth Book Published!
The fourth book in the Into the West Saga Serial, Into the West: Most Wanted is published on Amazon!
Feb.3
Nominated for the 2020 Inspire HER-Abilites Award
This award is for women who, despite their disabilities, inspire others by their positive contribution to the community, workplace, family, or just her own life. For me, it is a sincere honor just to have my nomination accepted for this award and to find myself a finalist with the amazing women in this category!
Jan.8
TopShelf Indie Book Award Nominee
My first book, Into the West: The Orphan Train, was nominated for the 2020 TopShelf Indie Book Awards. From the letter I received, the judges from the 2019 awards felt m book was good enough to earn a second chance to be awarded first place so they nominated it for the 2020 awards.
2019
Oct.27
Two Best Sellers Lists
My book, Into the West: The Orphan Train, made it to #46 on the free book Best Sellers list in literature on Amazon and to number #16 in westerns. It was amazing to not only break the top 100 to make the best sellers lists but to get into the top 50 in literature and the top 20 in westerns was an amazing surprise.
Oct.10
TopShelf Indie Book Award Finalist
My first book, Into the West: The Orphan Train, became a finalist in the 2019 TopShelf Indie Book Awards.
Apr.13
Third Book is Published
I self-published my third book, Into the West: Sharon Springs, as Stephen Burckhardt.
Feb.13
Best Sellers List
My book, Into the West: A New Home - Special Edition, made it to #41 on the free book Best Sellers list in westerns on Amazon.
2018
Jan-Dec
Contributing Author In Western Anthologies
Most of this year was spent dealing with personal health issues and writing micro-short stories under my pen name, Stephen Burckhardt, for four western anthologies. The collections were published under Scott Harris & 51 Friends. I "Stephen Burckhardt" was one of the friends.
There were four books published in this collection. Scott gave us all the same writing prompt and all 52 authors would write our own take on the prompt. I earn no money from these books and participated in hopes of gaining more exposure for my Stephen Burckhardt books. I have not seen any indication that this exercise has been helpful to my writing career but at east it was fun.
2016
Jun.06
Special Edition is Published
I self-published my third book, Into the West: A New Home - Special Edition, writing under the pen name, Stephen Burckhardt. This volume contains both books one, Into the West: The Orphan train, and two, Into the West: A New Home, in a single volume.
May 15
Second Book is Published
I self-published my second book, Into the West: A New Home, writing under the pen name, Stephen Burckhardt.
Oct.08
I have my own domain!
I now have DianneBurckhardt.com, check me out!
Feb.14
Shaggy Arrives!!
Our rescue puppy, Shaggy, arrived today in Dusseldorf, Germany from Moscow, Russia. He is a Border Collie/Chinese Crested mix. He is so adorable. He's black and white with brown and red highlights. He looks like a shaggy Border Collie, hence the name. It took us eight months to finally get a rescue dog over here. The process was amazing. This little guy was well worth the wait!
2015
Nov.06
I am a Published Author!
I self-published my first book, Into the West: The Orphan Train, writing under the pen name, Stephen Burckhardt.