The Road to The Jacklighter: A Look Back at a Milestone Year
BOOK AWARDS GALORE
One year ago (in December 2024), Chained Birds had just been released by my original publisher, WildBlue Press. And I had already picked up three book prizes: Finalist for BestThrillers.com’s Best Thriller of the Year, listed by Independent Book Review as one of their “Best Books We Read in 2024,” and a December Silver Award by Literary Titan.
Little did I know that Chained Birds would go on to win eight other book awards this year:
🏆 Feb 2025 – 1st Place for Debut Author by Feathered Quill Book Awards
🏆 April 2025 – A 1st Place Nellie Bly Journalism ribbon by Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs)
🏆 May 2025 – 1st Place in True Crime by Next Generation Indie Book Awards
🏆 May 2025 – Silver in True Crime by Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY)
🏆 May 2025 – Winner in True Crime by Indie Reader Discovery Awards
🏆 June 2025 – Finalist in True Crime by National Indie Excellence Awards
🏆 August 2025 – Finalist in Book Adaptation Needed category by Page Turner Awards
🏆 December 2025 – Best Crimemoir in AudioBookReviewer.com’s Memoir category for my author-narrated performance
This last award from AudioBookReviewer.com for my author-narrated performance was a complete thrill and utter surprise. Capping off the year with recognition for the audio version of my story was the perfect way to validate the emotional labor that went into narrating my own memoir. 🎙️
REGAINING MY RIGHTS & RELAUNCHING THE CHAINED BIRDS “AUTHOR’S CUT”
The most pivotal moment of 2025 was the decision to take full control of my work. I successfully negotiated the return of my publishing rights and officially re-launched Chained Birds as an “Author’s Cut” edition.
This wasn’t just a re-release; it was a restoration. I added 20+ new images, including never-before-seen sketches and prison artwork, adding a visceral layer to the narrative. Since going independent, I’ve found that my direct connection to readers is stronger than ever, resulting in more books sold and in more places as an indie author than during my time with a traditional publisher.
I BECAME A #1 AMAZON BEST SELLER IN 3 CATEGORIES
Taking the reins of my marketing led to a massive milestone: In November 2025, Chained Birds hit the #1 spot on Amazon in three distinct Kindle categories: Penology, Criminal Procedure, and True Crime/Organized Crime. Seeing my work sit at the top of these lists alongside powerhouse authors like John Grisham, Bryan Stevenson, and Anthony Ray Hinton was immensely gratifying and confirmed there’s a deep hunger for true crime stories told with raw honesty and systemic insight.
CRIME, CAMERA, ACTION: PODCASTS & THE “AUTHOR VOICE”
I spent much of 2025 behind the microphone. I appeared on over a dozen podcasts, sharing the investigative journey of Chained Birds with true-crime communities across the globe. These conversations allowed me to dive deeper into the “why” behind the headlines and connect with listeners who value victim-centric storytelling.
BEYOND THE PAGE: BUILDING A BRAND IN TRUE CRIME AUTHORITY
This year, I transitioned from “writer” to “speaker and panelist.” I had the honor of appearing on author panels at Killer Nashville and moderating discussions for my local Sisters in Crime chapter.
I’m thrilled to announce that this momentum is carrying into 2026 … In May, I’ll be presenting a workshop on “True Crime Uncovered” for the 39th Annual Pennwriters Conference in Lancaster, PA. For me, this is not about selling books; it’s about building a brand in true-crime storytelling, indie authoring, and sharing my passion for victim-centric stories and justice reform. It’s also my favorite way to connect with true-crime story fans and aspiring authors.
CRIMEMOIR CONFIDENTIAL: 3,000+ SUBSTACK FOLLOWERS
I launched my free Substack newsletter, Crimemoir Confidential, to give my readers a “behind the crime scenes” look at my research, writing, and indie publishing journey. The response has been overwhelming—I’ve grown to over 3,000 followers who join me monthly for true crime stories and true grit.
My Friends of the Flock, as I call them, receive first exclusives and special bonuses, including free previews of Chained Birds and the first two chapters of The Jacklighter (set for release later this year.) If you’re curious about that sneak peek of my next true crime book, you can sign up for my newsletter here. Easy download instructions will come in your welcome email. 📩
YOUTUBE MINI-VIRALITY: THE NEW DIGITAL GATEWAY
I recently launched a YouTube channel to host my growing library of investigative footage. To my surprise, two of my first “Shorts” went mini-viral! 📈
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“Burn After Reading“ and “Thunderdomes“ hit hundreds of views within hours of posting. (And here’s the fascinating backstory to that “Burn After Reading” Short.)
While these videos aren’t “internet-famous” yet, they are a vital gateway for new viewers to discover the deeper research behind my books.
The whole reason I started a YouTube channel (and created more work for myself) is that the video files I’m creating for my next book are too large to be hosted on this WordPress blog … so, enter, YouTube.
LOOKING AHEAD: THE JACKLIGHTER KICKSTARTER
Which brings us to 2026. All the work this year—the awards, the videos, the community-building—has been leading to one thing: THE JACKLIGHTER.
This project is my most ambitious yet, and recounts a 40-year tale of murder, betrayal, and justice in Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains. Because I am committed to maintaining my independence and producing the highest-quality investigative work and product, I will be launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund The Jacklighter this winter.
Stay tuned here for all the details of The Jacklighter pre-launch and live Kickstarter campaign … or better yet, be the first to see the Kickstarter page as a Crimemoir Confidential subscriber. If you become a Friend of the Flock and read those first two chapters of The Jacklighter, consider letting me know your thoughts by replying directly to my newsletter. 😊
I can’t say it enough: Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way 💕 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 🎄✨
Carla Conti is a former journalist and the award-winning author of Chained Birds: A Crimemoir. Her true crime debut won multiple 2025 national book awards, including 1st Place in True Crime from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Winner in True Crime from the Indie Reader Discovery Awards, Silver in True Crime from the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), Finalist in True Crime from the National Indie Excellence Awards, and a 1st Place Nellie Bly Journalism award from the Chanticleer International Book Awards. Carla is at work on her next true crime book, The Jacklighter, scheduled for release in 2026. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, who supports her true crime habit.
