Shiloh Walker's Blog, page 144
July 31, 2011
Reading ebooks on #Apple toys, iPod, iPad, etc
So Apple has gone and screwed things for etailers, and if you aren't aware of how things are running, you might think you can't buy ebooks for your iPod or iPad unless you use iBooks. Personally, I hate the iBooks app, anyway. They also aren't letting the app stores tell you why the buy links suddenly disappeared. I'm not an app store. You're not an app store. So we can tell each other and spread the word, right?
Apple has forced the apps like Kobo, BN, Kindle, etc to change things and remove all buy links from the apps. No more in app purchases. This is an Apple thing and the etailers had no choice.
But don't worry. You can still buy your books outside of the iBooks, which is cool if you hate the iBooks app like I do…and if you hate having a mega-giant try to control how you buy things (like I do). And you also have tech-savvy people at Dear Author who will tell you how. Info can be found here!
So how the heck do you get books onto the app itself? This procedure is called sideloading and it's fairly easy… (read on for more)
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July 29, 2011
Friday 56 and last week's winner
It's Friday again, YAY! This week, I managed to luck out and find a copy of Thea Harrison's Storm's Heart on shelf early. It's the second book in her Elder Races series. I LOVED Dragon Bound and am devouring this one *G*.
"You would feel pretty weak and exhausted for a couple days afterward."
To participate, find the closest (doesn't have to be your current read, just whatever is handy), flip to page 56 and give us the 5th sentence. You're welcome to post a few others around it to give some context if you'd like 
.
Also, winner of last week's Friday 56 giveaway is: Bethany C who gave us this fun quote:
How exciting- "We were shaking hands when a woman came out of the ladies bathroom down the hall." -Frostbitten, Kelley Armstrong
Bethany, please email me your shipping information at grimmhunter.shilohwalker(at) gmail (dot) com. Per the disclaimer, I'm only announcing the winner here and you have 2 weeks to email me or the prize if forfeited. Thanks.
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July 27, 2011
Writer Wednesdays…Luann McLane #WW
Today's Writer Wednesday is with Luann McLane, one of my Vamps & Scamps buddies.
What's the one thing that remains unchanged during your writing process, from one book to another? (ie: Intensive plotting? Music?)
A: I always think that I know where the story is going and the characters always take over and take me places I didn't know I was headed.
What's the one piece of advice you'd give a new writer?
A: Discover your voice… what makes your writing unique. And then *never* give up!
What's the one piece of advice you wish was wiped from the minds of writers everywhere?
A:I am not a fan of critique groups… do not let anyone tell you how to write your story.
What's the one book you think everybody, writer or not, should read?
A: The Rhythm of Life by Matthew Kelly
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July 26, 2011
SocialGood 2011…
Limecello is doing another social good whirlwind on her blog. She's now pushing for 400 comments and the money is going to Africa.
If she hits it, I'm bumping up the amount I'm giving her. And…if you help her hit it, I'll post a nice long excerpt from IF YOU HEAR HER.
Go forth! Comment…here…(Lime's blog, not mine)
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July 25, 2011
"It's a Shiloh Walker…I expected sex…"
There probably aren't as many things that will irritate a writer as somebody 'suggesting' how the writer should tell their stories.
I'm kind of torn between irritation and the desire to laugh over a complaint I've received regarding A FOREVER KIND OF LOVE.
"I expected sex."
Um. Well, nobody promised you'd get it. Not with this book, not with any of my books, really. Yes, some are very erotic. Some, not so much. But I don't care to get pigeon-holed and expected to have hot sex in every story. Basically what that tells me is that I am 'expected' to write a certain type of story, which means apparently 'all' of my stories have to fit a certain type-or I'm supposed to make them fit.
Nooooooo. Sorry, but no. I don't always write hot sex. There may even come times when I don't write straight-on romance. I've got plans and ideas to explore urban fantasy, possibly even fantasy. If I do that, the romance is only going to be a thread, if it's there at all. And sex? Who knows.
As to the sex in my romances, the plain and simple fact is that not every story needs it. And if I go forcing sex into a story just because some people 'expect sex'…well, then I'm doing myself a disservice and I'm doing my readers a disservice, IMO. Forcing sex in where it doesn't belong is short-changing the story. That's gratuitous, plot-less sex and I'm not interested in it.
What's really ironic is the fact this book was straight-out classified as 'sweet contemporary'…it's not listed in the erotic section on the publisher's site, not is it classified as erotic on any of the book seller sites that I know of. So even though I've had more than a few stories that aren't erotic, and even though nothing in the blurb indicates the story was going to be erotic, apparently some people think "a Shiloh Walker will have sex."
No. I'll try to make sure the story is the best I can make it, and I'll try to write a good, solid romance. But there's no guarantee that every 'Shiloh Walker book' is going to have sex. It has what the story calls for.
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July 22, 2011
Friday 56 and a giveaway
Woo hoo, we made it to another Friday!! So, now it's time for some fun and that means Friday 56 
. This week, I have something extra, too…a giveaway, so read to the end *G*.
I glared. "I am not. And you can't possibly know that." –Mac in Faefever by Karen Marie Moning.
**Note this is the 3rd book in the series. Read order is: Darkfever, Bloodfever, Faefever, Dreamfever and Shadowfever
I'll admit, I'm a huge Fever series (helllo JZB!!!) fan. I was lucky enough to come by not one, but 2, HARDBACK copies of Faefever. So, I'm sharing the wealth…and that's what's up for grabs. Entering is easy, just leave me your Friday 56 in the comments. Haven't done it before? Grab the closest (doesn't have to be your current #Fridayreads) book, turn to page 56 and give us the 5th sentence. You can give a few around it, too if you'd like. By entering, you've read the rules and disclaimers for any of mine or Shiloh's contests and agree to abide by the terms. I'll draw a comment at random and post the winner by next Friday here on the blog. Happy reading!
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July 20, 2011
Helping out…Soldier Birthday…
Got this name from Kelly while I was on my trip with my guy…if you have any questions, please check out the soldier FAQ page!
PV2 Seth Adkins
Alpha Company, 3-21 IN, 1-25 SBCT
FOB Zangabad
APO AE 09355
His birthday is August 10th if you do send him a card it should be sent no later than August 1st, its taking about 7 – 10 days to get to the men.
this is one of my sons best friends…he will be turning 20 and is Afghanistan, anyone wanting to send a card or a package would be wonderful!)
Again, if you have questions, please check out the link to the FAQ page. This is all the info I have, and these names come from Kelly, a friend out of Ohio who works directly with a SOS unit there. Names are shared with her permission and if you include an email, don't be surprised if you get a THANK YOU note back!
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Writer Wednesdays…Amy Ruttan (don't mention gorillas)
Today's WW is from my twitter pal, Amy Ruttan. Don't mention gorillas…oh, never mind. I will.
She was asking what would scare a swan (I think it was swans). I told her a gorilla would do the trick. But she said she didn't think gorillas roamed around regency England.
Well. She shoulda been more specific. ;) A gorilla WOULD do it, I bet. Now we tease each about gorillas. I even referenced a gorilla in If You Know Her while thinking of her.
What's the one thing that remains unchanged during your writing process, from one book to another? (ie: Intensive plotting? Music?)
A: Background noise, mostly music playing. I can't write without music. If it's dead silence, I don't write. I need some kind of background clutter to help me focus. I have playlists, lots and lots of playlists for different moods and different manuscripts, so I'm glad MP3s were invented or my house would be filled with CDs.
What's the one piece of advice you'd give a new writer?
A: Always strive to learn new aspects about your craft. It helps keep the Muse, and your writing fresh.
What's the one piece of advice you wish was wiped from the minds of writers everywhere?
A: I think I have to agree with Lynn Viehl about erasing that old saying of write what you know from writer's minds, if I did that my books would be pretty damn boring recitations about the legal system in Canada from a Law Clerk's POV. Don't be afraid to create new worlds, write what excites you. If you love what you write it will shine through.
What's the one book you think everybody, writer or not, should read?
A: The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. He was a master, as was his books.
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July 18, 2011
Conversations with Writer People
Apparently the taunting is just a writer thing.
This was an email discussion with with Nalini…
Me:
okay, so I was saving this for my vacation. I wanted a treat on the drive.
OH MAN. This was AWESOME. I loved it. If you are bribed with chocolate, wine, roses, and books, will you please write Ilium's story? I want Bluebell to have one soooo bad.
Nalini:
Yay, so glad you loved! As for Illium, we shall see
Me:
aaarrrgghhhhh…. Ilium needs happiness. he needs it. and so do we.
cruel, Nalini. So very cruel. I admire that.
Nalini:
She's tormenting me. And she smiles. Sigh.
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