Veil of Shadows-Want an ARC? Tell me why you should have one

Shiloh Walker 21 June, 2010

UTA: Contest is now closed.  Winners to be posted on 7/10.  Please check back to see if you have won.

Look what I have…

Excerpt

From an author known for her “romantic spine tinglers” comes the thrilling follow-up to Through the Veil, featuring a beautiful captain who’s lost her magic—and the stranger who will either be her great love, or her greatest enemy…

With demons running amok throughout the forests and mountains, a rebel army has been established to win back the land—and a new soldier has appeared out of nowhere to join them.

His name is Xan, and his past is a mystery to everyone, including Laisyn Caar—a beautiful captain in the rebel army—who is shocked by the powerful, all-consuming desire she feels in his presence.

But now isn’t the time for distraction. The future of her land—and of her people—is in her hands. On top of that, she’s been stripped of her magic—and without it she feels like part of her soul has been stolen away.

But when she discovers the dark secrets of Xan’s agenda, it will be up to her to determine whether the man she’s starting to love is a friend of her people—or a dreaded enemy…

due out in September.  Read an excerpt from the first book, Through the Veil

Want one?  Tell me why you should get one… above anybody else. Please note-this is the second in a series-I do try to write my books to work on their own, but I know some people prefer to read series in order.  If you’re not likely to read this because you haven’t read the first?  Please don’t enter.

Okay, onto the contest.  Now, I suggest you be creative and remember…these ARCs are basically an author’s promo tool…when I have contests like this, I often get a lot of sad little stories or I never win… um. Okay, let me be straight.  I’m a mom, I’m a pediatric nurse (well not often these days, but still) and before that, I did geriatric nursing.  Nobody has heard the kind of sob stories that nurses hear.

In other words…be creative…don’t try to tug on my heartstrings. Wow me, dazzle me, blow me away.  Everybody can come up with a sad story, but sad stories don’t help me utilize these ARCs to their best potential and that’s what the ARCs are intended to be used for…promotional stuff.

Leave your entry here at the blog…(although if your entry is in the form of some clever online ploy…just leave a link to it in comments-be creative, REMEMBER!) convince me that you can do mad things for me (ie: help spread the word about the book) if you get one of these ARCs.  In lieu of that, amuse me or entertain me.  Sometimes that’s even better.  But either make me laugh/smile, or convince me you do awesome promo/word of mouth, etc, etc.  And if you get a jump on that and show me awesome word-of-mouth love, hey…I’ve got no problem with that.  Just make sure you link to it so I can find it.

So why the contest?  Well, it’s simple.  Yes.  I am fickle.  Yes, I love contests and praise and flattery.   But I only get a very limited amount of ARCs.  Very. Limited. As in 15.  Which is why booksellers ask me to added my list for ARCs, I cringe, because I get those requests too often and I can’t add everybody.  It’s easier (and more fair) to do it this.  A lotto of sorts.  And I feel less guilty when I’m not able to say yes to one person-because I’ve told everybody the same thing.

(FYI, I do have one ARC I’m setting aside solely for a random giveaway, so if you’re not overly creative or inclined to amuse/promote, I will have a contest for just that)

Depending on the amount of clever/intriguing/wow me entries, I may be giving away several ARCs-we shall have to see.

Rules:

Please do read the rules…all of them, including the part about my spam filter being very aggressive-it does catch comments with two or more links, but I will fish out all entries, so please do not email, comment, tweet, ask about why comments aren’t showing because that is why:

  • Please note-my spam filter is aggressive.  It’s going to catch and hold a lot of comments.  I’ll clear these out.  Please do not email/tweet/comment/otherwise ask why they don’t show-that is why.
  • entries must be either left here in the form of a comment, or if you’re feeling creative (take that as you may), leave a link to where on the WWW I can find your entry-(although I do ask you to remember…um…I’ve got kids-don’t go linking me to anything that’s going to cause problems if my 8 year old is standing behind my shoulder.  Since I’m judging these, I’m less likely to pick something that did or might cause me such issues… O.o
  • You must check back to see if you win.  The contest will go for about a week or so and entries will be posted in early July.  If you do not claim the prize within a week, you are out of luck.  The contest rules have been changed and you might want to read them-I no longer redraw names.
  • Do not post this to sweepstakes sites.  If that happens, I reserve the right to end the contest without awarding the prizes (and I likely will do this)
  • For the rest of the rules… READ THE DISCLAIMER.  Not to be harsh, but that’s why it’s there-if you enter my contests, that means you are stating you’ve read the disclaimer.

50 Replies to “Veil of Shadows-Want an ARC? Tell me why you should have one”

  1. Arrgh! You got me feeling like I’m in High School all over again. I’ll be sweating my hair out in a second. I’m not witty, clever, and most likely I wasn’t born with the ‘wow’ gene. I am OCD with books though. Almost to the point of needing help (but please don’t say this to my face. It might hurt my feelings…or not). I have so many books (as seen on my Facebook page) I’ll probably be reading books until the day I die, but at least I’ll be happy until then. So, I think I should get an ARC because of all of the above and the fact that reading brings me PEACE. I will gladly recommend you to my friends on Facebook, Goodreads and to everyone else that I know, even if they don’t read.
    Thanks for giving your readers a chance to participate in your success.
    Wishing you many sales,
    Nikki

  2. I run a review website. An Arc in my hands means a pre-release review. Seeing our current comp is a Kobo we’re getting a fairly high level of traffic. All reviews are announced via twitter, myspace and facebook.

    If that doesn’t work I have access to tim tams!

  3. Hi, Shiloh! This weekend I read “Fragile” and “Broken” back to back. You blew me away! I’d love to read more of your work!!! If I win a copy of “Veil of Shadows”, then I’ll have to purchase a copy of “Through the Veil”. I like to read series books in order : ) I wish you much success!

  5. Well, I don’t know about creative, but you should send me a copy because:

    1. We live near each other and therefore postage would be cheap.
    2. I review everything (that’s published) that I read.
    3. I post all my reviews (save for ones where the rights are pre-purchased) to the following sites: My book journal BookLove, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Borders.com (where I’m a Top 100 reviewer), Facebook’s Living Social Bookshelf, Shelfari, LibraryThing, GoodReads, and *new* the Louisville Free Public Library website.
    4. Because you love me and find me utterly irresistible.
    5. Because I’m not a demon sheep.

  6. I have all of your books. Including The Missing, which I will be buying again, because I damn near broke the spine on my other copy. 🙂

    I run a review blog and I do pre-release reviews. I also am a boatload of illegal immigrant fun (even though I’m actually a US citizen). I post to Goodreads, announce reviews on twitter and my blog’s facebook fan page via networkedblogs.

    Plus, I promise to not blow up your toilet. Being a Hispanic Arab is no fun when one has refried bean breath (WARNING) and a bathroom handy. I do try to take a Beano before every instance of refried frijoles. Heh, :p

  9. Hi there I came across your writing through twitter. I read your books and tweets! I got rather confused when you put your location as Teheran- as I went to school there and you never responded to my tweet!?
    I would love your ARC although in your T&Cs you did not mention it is a USA only give away. I am in the UK with 380 friends on Facebook and over 100o followers on twitter. I would tweet about your book
    Happy to borrow it from the library when it comes over in the near future!
    @kohsamui14 on twitter

  10. Hi Shiloh. I think I should get an arc because I will post it all over FaceBook, my sister and I swap books and I got her hooked on your books, plus my friend is also in our lending library and she will spread the word as well as she travels around the bay area more than I do. But I need something to distract me from staring out at the rolling hills of the Sonoma wine country and I know you’ll end my trance.

  11. Hi Shiloh!
    1. you love me.
    2. I love to promote books on my blog!
    3. You love me.
    4. I have a new tour site for even more exposure for your book!
    5. You love me.
    6. I love you!
    7. you love me.
    Enough said! LOL
    Amy J

  13. Shiloh I think is hould win one for a few reasons you were a new to me author up untill a few months ago since then i have read everyone you have that i could find even had my libary purchase your print books as well

    Have had my book group read your work and have purchased some of urbooks for them as well

    Im a lazy b logger but i do post reviews on b&n and amazon and good reads

    would love achance to read this one because well your awesome and raisen 5 kids makes my book fundage very very small so if i dont win will be months and months untill the libarary purchases new books for me tor ead it

    you rock and your books rock

    and if i win

    i will post areview on my blog

    amazon good reads and b&n where ever i can splash ur name i will

  14. I would love to review one. I would also love to tell you all the ways you are awesome and bestow upon you my undying admiration. I wish I could write a passionate desperate plea for the ARC. Beg on my knees in the hot scalding sun for a chance to pimp your work. If only I had the time and energy to endear you to my need to read your books. Alas, I am a mother, business owner, wife and last but not least tired. So here I am, crawling with my last breath, on wounded knees with a parched throat. Have you heard my whispered desperation?

  15. I have to agree with Nikki about the book addiction – my therapist tells me the official diagnosis is OCPD. But I am not sure she is right, after all I have the compulsion to read and read and read and read and . . . And no the library will not do – I must own and cherish the books – think I am up to about 10,000, but my therapist is making me get rid of at least half – sob – whine – (yes I will have some cheese with that very fine whine)!

    And besides – we are facebook “family”!!!!

  16. Hi Shiloh

    No I haven’t read any of your books previously, mainly because I tend to sample authors…..then once I found one I enjoy I am a “glommer” – can’t help myself have to have everything.

    So why should you send me an ARC? I will put them down below:

    I’m Australian, I write for the Australian Romance Readers Association, an online magazine, I review, tweet and facebook and to top it off I use my newsletter – agressively to market books to my customers.

    I promise the read it cover to cover, to enjoy it, devour it, savour it and then tell everyone who will listen to me about it.

    I will put the win on the front page of my website 🙂 to make people envious of the win, to promote the book.

    I will stock and sell the book (not the ARC though ’cause that will be mine!!)

    And I will say thank you when I receive it….

    So thank you for the opportunity to enter the contest….

    Nicola

  17. Hi Shiloh,
    I’d love to win an ARC of Veil of Shadows. I’m not a reviewer, I read for the pure pleasure of reading. When I do happen to win an ARC in a contest, it stays with me for life, it is not sold or auctioned, it becomes a treasures. I do let my sister read them & she lets me read hers. That’s what sisters are for.

  18. Hi Shiloh
    Ok here’s my pitch:
    -Even though I don’t have a blog, I still manage to sell/support your books everywhere I visit in blogland.
    -I travelled over 1100 miles (return trip) from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    just to meet YOU. Okay Beth Kery was part of the attraction (& I met more awesome people)but still…
    -Even though I was tired from my trip there I managed to sell someone on your books. I know because I was there when she asked you to sign one.
    -It will go with my signed Through The Veil. Got to have a matched set.
    That’s all I can think of for now but
    that’s pretty darn good.
    Your fave Canadian book pusher.

  19. I wish I could be funny or witty or somewhat crazy, but alas; I’m not cool enough. =(

    However, I’ve loved every thing I’ve ever read of yours, I love to help you promote, and I post all my reviews on my blog, goodreads, and where ever else you request.

    Plus, I really just want to brag (rub some noses) in being able to read your book early!! 😀

  20. First, let me mention that I’m very excited that you’ve done a sequel to Through the Veil- I squeed so loudly my roommate spilled her coffee. : P

    Nextly, allow me to dazzle you with my mad poetic skillz.

    A book! A book! I want to read it!
    I scheme and plot- this wait- I must beat it!
    Not out for over a month or two?
    I bite on my nails, I chew and chew
    My bookshelves are full, I read nonstop
    But another book calls and up I hop
    To buy and buy (or sometimes barter)
    To all the good bookstores, my map is chartered,
    My friends and I, we swap and steal
    But it’s the new books out that make me squeal.
    An author publishes a long wanted sequel?
    Oh god, I must have! Will there be a prequel?!?!
    Then author benelovant, she offers hope!
    A contest! An arc! Such a tricky slope…
    I think and I ponder,
    I wonder and scheme.
    Then the thought strikes me!
    Poetry!
    What woman would scorn the artistic word?
    And I remember, she’s an author! Such a thing is unheard!
    So here is my entry,
    I hope you’ve enjoyed it,
    It doesn’t matter if I lose when the contest is fin-
    As long as this rambled mess made you smile, I win!

    Thanks so much for posting a sequel to my favorite book!

  21. I was told that this wasn’t totally lame as an entry, so here it is.

    *crossing fingers* (which makes typing difficult)

    *crossing toes* (which makes walking painful)

  22. This book rivals your hunters imo and that’s saying something. I’ve loved your hunter books for a lot of years. We want go into how many lol.
    I think I should win the arc cause I would so review it on my blog, amazon, B&N, and goodreads.
    I can babysit if needed.
    I bake great brownies, cakes and pies.
    I am trustworthy and wouldn’t sale it on ebay and you know this cause you let me take a picture of you at a conference with the condition that it not show up on the net and it still tucked safely away in the authors i’ve met photo album. And have I said this is one of my favorite series by you and have beening waiting a long long time for this book.

  23. My entry was going to revolve around one post, two books and tag line I made up all by my wee self. A button was to be made to showcase it all and circulate it around the blogsphere. A creative, enticing-to-the-eye approach that hopefully would spread like wildfire. Genius, I know. But alas I do not have Photoshop. The light at the end of the tunnel? I’m investing in it at the end of the month. I’ll be forging ahead with said plan and dazzle the readers of my blog with my artistic self.

    Other reasons I should have the shiny? I’ll review. I’ve read Through the Veil – awesome doesn’t even begin to describe it – (before my blog existed) and will do a post about that one too. I’ll promote via Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.

    Deal? ;D

  24. Hmmmm… INCiDeNT (Kayleigh), so if you get a shiny, you make me a shiny, nifty button we can post around blogland? Is that what you’re saying?

  27. Well what would I do for an arc? 🙂 As you know I am not above the giving of fantabulous gifties…. (ahem not bribes…. never no really…. cough, cough) I have never been quiet about how much I love this series and can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be another 5/5 IMO….. I can do a multiple twitter blast (now that I have regular internet access back…. first construction problems and then modem malfunctions) As for word on the street ideas…. I have no problem following through with visits to all the local book stores to ask them (with force if necessary) to bring in the book and keep it stocked….. Oh yeah…. can I add that I Lurve you@!!! 🙂 Anything that works….

  31. Shiloh, did I mention I also build websites AND I love Illustrator/InDesign/Photoshop/Dreamweaver?!?! 😀

  33. hi shiloh, im not going to glam it up or give you a sob story i am the middle child of three sisters i dont get understood i get picked on and teased and i asorb myself in books because its the only thing that puts a smile on my face these days so getting books from you would be a stone winner 🙂

  34. Okay…going for amusing here. 😉 For some reason this is what popped into my head from a Looney Tunes cartoon – paraphrased of course. Huh, that doesn’t say a lot for what’s going on in my head does it? LOL

    Just what I always wanted! My own little Shiloh Walker ARC. I will name it George, and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him and pat him him and rub him and caress him and love him forever and ever.

    Also, it will have a place of honor in my home where all of my book friends may gaze it with envy. 😉

  35. OK. This is pathetic but completely true. A few weeks ago at the Lori Foster event, I spotted you and wanted to come and ask for your autograph and to tell you that I adore you writing. Well, about fifteen minutes later and about 10 circles around the room, I was too chicken to approach you. I’m not shy by any means but I just didn’t want to interrupt the obvious fun you were having. Well, to make up for my stupid shyness, I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, to win a copy of Veil of Shadows. And next time I go to a signing, I will walk right up to you and say “Hey!” Thanks!

  36. Oh, Gayle… you should have come up! 🙂 That’s why I’m there…and I even make myself behave when I’m out in public. Well…mostly behave. Gee, did you see me make a complete fool of myself when I won one of the prizes? O.o

  37. I did! And I loved it! Were you in the room when Tanya Kappes sister won the Naked Hero basket?? If so, I was the one that belly bumped her when she picked the basket up. We both were itchin for it!!

  39. Shiloh,
    I’m a single parent of twin teenagers who will soon be driving. My insurance will skyrocket, so I need all the freebies I can get. Also i can let everyone in carpool read a few lines and snatch it away. the result, they will be hooked and your sales will skyrocket!Choose me and everyone wins!

  40. while I sit here making shiny things it occurs to me that someone with a shiny fascination could appreciate the purty silver necklace I just made with loverly sparkly amethysts….and if the silver and amethyst doesn’t do it for you the jeweler down the road is having a gold and diamond sale!

  41. Are you bribing me with shiny things Megan? That’s bad…and brilliant… hmmm. And you have a review site. You realize I’d hold you to the shiny…damn it. Can I see pics of the shiny?

    (relax peoples, I do have multiple copies…)

  42. Just to give people a ‘state of the union’ here in Shi land..

    So far, I’m leaning toward posts like Aztec & Amy S… because they already showed pre-win love. And then possibly Incident/Kayleigh, because she has promised me shiny buttons stuff if she wins.

    And maybe the poem. Not sure. there’s still time. And um…yes, I’m also drawn to the suggestion of the shiny…*G*

    But that might give people an idea what I’m looking for. There ARE a few others who might get one because I love them, but that will give you an idea…

  43. I would love to read Veil of Shadows.
    I will review it and post it everywhere that will give me an outlet.

  44. I have been a fan since the beginning. I have really enjoyed your recent work like Fragile, Broken, Chains, etc, but Her Best Friend’s Lover is still one of my all-time favorites. In fact, it is probably second only to Her Wildest Dreams because as much as I love Lauren and Dale, I simply cannot get enough of Allie and Alex. In fact, a few years ago, I had to perform emergency scotch tape surgery on my copy of Cops and Cowboys because the plastic on the cover was almost completely peeled off.

    Even though e-books have their advantages, I still prefer a traditional book, which is actually a good thing from a promotional standpoint because real books have the authors’ names printed on them in big, bold letters for everyone to see. Additionally, I NEVER leave the house without a book, which can make shopping for a handbag difficult, but I digress. As a schoolteacher who frequently reads during her breaks, I often get asked about the books I am reading so I know for a fact that I have turned some of my colleagues onto your work. Plus, when people see me with a book like Cops and Cowboys that is so clearly well loved they are usually interested in hearing more about an author who writes characters and stories that you can enjoy over and over again.

    As I said, I have been a fan since the beginning; if you include the anthologies that I have purchased because you had a story featured in them, I have 25 of your books. I have every Hunters story that has been traditionally published. I even bought The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance because it had a Hunters story in it. Actually, I might deserve the ARC for that reason alone because while your story was a welcome addition to the world of the Hunters, the rest of that book was so awful that I actually cut your story out and recycled the rest of the book.

    Finally, I really enjoyed Through The Veil. I read it in one day and was instantly ready for another book in the Ishtan world so technically, I have been waiting two years for Veil of Shadows. While I loved Lee and Kalen, I am really hoping that Morne will be featured again in Veil of Shadows. Since I read your blog consistently, I know how much you hate waiting for your favorite authors’ books so I think you should take pity on a fellow impatient reader and award me one of the ARCs.

  45. I should win this because it’s an ARC. My parents live with me and the only ARC my father has seen is the one that he rode in with Noah. I’d love to see the look on his face when I show him a modern ARC!

  46. I’ve just discovered your books. I read Beautiful Girl in less than 2 hours.I’m not witty or brilliant but i am a Chicago Cubs fan & you know that we have suffered for over 100 years & continue to suffer daily. I may not live to see them win a world series so i’m asking you to brighten my soul & let me win an arc of your book.

  47. Well, and this could be the opposite of a good reason, and your fans might think I’m horrible, but I’ve never read one of your books. I know, LAME! You are however one of the authors my friend has told me about time and time again that I MUST read! (I’m one of those people that has a stack of 50+ to be reads at any given time).

    I have a blog, and I’d definitely review it. Again, maybe NOT what you’re looking for, but maybe? Good luck to all, and thanks for the opportunity to enter!

  48. I love your books you write in fact they are the only ones I read which I read pretty often up to four books a week or more I take my books where ever we go so as my husband drives you will see me with my head down; no not sleeping like many imagine; but reading the book in my lap. After I read my books I go to bookreporter.com and click on word of mouth as Kathy V. and there many many people review the books they have read and score it to tell others a score from 5( the highest) to 1 (the lowest) stars. It’s a wonderful site and I find great authors and wondeful worlds in thier books to read.

  49. I can’t do much more then read for next month or so,and I would love to read and own your ARC of Veil of Shadows!!!It would be my first and I can’t think of a better one to have…plus it would be greatly treasured and read by myself and my father-in-law who also loves your books.(always asking me when the next is coming, I hooked him on them)..Thaaks for considering us…I can’t wait to be reading your story by the pool w/ my 4yr old son playing.
    Have a great summer….
    Heidi

  50. My wife is a big fan. I would love to give this ARC to her for our 14th Anniversary on July 3.
    Thank you

    Jeffrey

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