Rock Island author receives first place prize at national contest

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — A Rock Island author’s mystery novel series landed him first-place recognition at a national writing contest in his respective category. 

82-year-old Dave Ramacitti, who writes under the pen name Dave Lager, recently won a first-place prize in the Thriller/Suspense category at the Chanticleer International Book Awards ceremony held on April 20 in Bellingham, Washington. The first four books of his “Ro Delahanty” series won first place. His series follows the adventures of young deputy sheriff Ro Delahanty and takes place in the fictional, semi-rural county of Fort Armstrong, Iowa. 

The first four books that won first place are “Ro’s Handle,” “Hear Evil,” “Losses” and “Secrets Never End,” listed in their respective order. His fifth book in the series, “Sniper’s Day,” was a finalist in the category, and the sixth book was published earlier this year. 

According to a press release, Ramacitti/Lager has spent most of his life in the Quad Cities area. He worked at the Quad City Times before becoming a freelance marketing and public relations consultant. He has also been an adjunct teacher at multiple QCA and suburban Chicago colleges. 

“I was in eighth grade when the writing bug hit me,” he said in a press release. “I wrote short stories, poems, even tried a screenplay – they weren’t very good. But there was always the dream of someday writing a novel. Over the years I’d start one, maybe get a couple dozen chapters done, but then life would get in the way and the book was shelved and forgotten…It wasn’t until I retired about ten years ago that I committed to getting that novel written…It took two years – plus more than half a century – to get my first full-length novel, Ro’s Handle, written and published.” 

The series dominantly fits in the police procedural genre but also includes romance and a touch of supernatural storytelling, Ramacitti/Lager said. All six books are available on Amazon, with more information available on the author’s website. 

Chanticleer Book Reviews and Media is a membership organization for authors that provides reviews, editorial assistance, workshops and other services to create an online writer community. In addition, the group will also host award ceremonies to recognize standout writing. 

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