Shiloh Walker's Blog, page 175

Cover teasing… and an excerpt this time…

Another little piece of the cover from Hunter's Fall…

"Have you lost your mind?"

She glanced behind her and the wind whipped her hair into her eyes, blinding her.  She caught it in her hand, holding it back from her face as she stared at Malachi.

Lifting a brow, she said, "Where the bloody hell did you come from?"

"What in the bloody hell are you doing?" he fired back.   "Damn it, you have gone insane."

Malachi didn't look too impressed with the view from the top of the skyscraper.  "I thought we had already decided on that particular subject, Mal."

Although he didn't age, Nessa decided he looked older now than he had a year before.  Something akin to guilt tried to stir within her, but she simply didn't care enough.

She'd tried.  Well and truly, she'd tried to settle back into this life that had been thrust upon her, tried to view it as the gift everybody else made it out to be.  But then the one thing she had viewed as a gift—Mei-Lin—had been torn from her.  That girl…Nessa had loved that girl like a daughter.  More than.

She'd loved her and just like Elias, Mei-Lin had been taken away from her.

It was just too much.  That precious girl, all of her friends, all dead.

If this was the sort of gift life offered, Nessa wanted none of it.

Malachi, the poor fool, he worried.  All of her friends did.  Nessa wished she could care.

But she just didn't.

Looking from Malachi, she cocked her head and stared down at the street.  "They are all in such a hurry," she murmured.  She slid Malachi a glance and asked, "Why do you think mortals always rush to and fro, Mal?  Don't they know that all that rushing accomplishes nothing?  They'll still get sick. They'll still suffer.  They'll still die."

"Lovely, morbid thoughts there, love." He blew out a disgusted sigh and edged a little closer.  Stretching out his hand, Malachi quietly said, "Come down, Nessa."

"Hmmmm…"  A gust of wind picked up and as she held out her arms, it slapped against her with an intensity that made her clothes flap around her and had her swaying near the edge of one of the tallest buildings in the world.

In the middle of the fucking day.  Malachi stared at her and then made the fool mistake of glancing down.  While he tried to pretend he wasn't dizzy, Nessa giggled like a loon and murmured, "It almost makes me feel as though I could fly, Malachi.  Truly fly, like a bird."

Hunter's Fall-I have the cover…Pssst, contest

Although I dunno if I'm okay to post it.

At least not all of it.  And since I'm in dire need of cheering myself up… I'm going to torment people.

Here's a tiny peek.

What is it? And because I figure I haven't done a contest in a while… whoever guesses get a prize.  I'm not sure what… I think I've still got a goody bag laying around here from one of the cons, with books and stuff.  Maybe that-maybe something else.  If more than one person guesses, we'll just do a draw.  *FYI, if it's an international reader, I'm going to sub in a gift certificate (amazon or Samhain/My Bookstore and More)-mailing that bag would cost my left kidney and I'm not up to any more surgeries, especially not to cover postage. O.o  It's scary, and that's one heavy bag.

So… what is it?

Normal rules apply-no sharing to sweepstakes sites/twitter sweeps, one entry per household, yadda yadda, read the disclaimer for other rules and i you aren't familiar, check out my disclaimer before you enter.  Entering means you've read it and agree to my rules.  If you don't want to miss winning, you might want to sign up for my RSS feed, right over there on the left.

Winner of Haunted by Your Touch

Sorry I'm so late doing this… we had a rough week here on the home front and I let things slide.

Anyway, the winner of Haunted by Your Touch is Estella, email starting with kissinoak, who commented:

I am reading an old Harlequin American Romance, An Unlikely Mommy by Tanya Michaels.

Estella, I need you to email me @ shilohwalker@gmail.com with your contact info… thank you!

Oh… bad, bad… James Frey & contracts & works for hire. A heads-up to writers…

I've said this before, I'll say it again-

Never be so desperate to sign a contract that you sign a bad contract

Okay?

Okay, then.

Apparently James Frey-remember him?  Of A Million Little Pieces (or whatever the title was) fame?  He was the writer who wrote a memoir that wasn't really a memoir?  Anyway, he's apparently come up with brilliant nasty idea that will have him owning a million little pieces of newby writer souls, if they are naive enough to sign the contracts.  And it's one lousy, sucky contract, IMO.

Full of various nastiness*IMO* from what I can tell, although one particular nasty piece?  No auditing provisions, which is standard-so no way to prove they are actually paying what they truly owe.

If I'm reading the language right, it would appear they can also force you to write more books… not give you the option, but make the writer write more.

Um… excuse me?  Make?

Choke. Sputter.

Okay, admittedly, I haven't seen many work for hire contracts.  I don't know what's standard.  But it can't be this.

And yeah, yeah, I know some are going to argue, but nobody is making anybody sign it…

Well, that's true.  But you put somebody who is really, really good at selling snake-oil in a room full of young adults who don't quite understand how the publishing world works.  And honestly, there are plenty of educated, intelligent adults who don't understand how publishing works.  It's easy to dazzle and daze and befuddle-very easy.  These young adults also don't have anybody really educating them on how publishing really works, from what I understand.

So, are they being made to sign?  No.  They aren't being made to sign, but they also aren't being educated on just how bad an idea it is to sign.

These young adults need to be educated and hey, maybe that's why so many writers are speaking out.  An attempt to do just that-educate.

Just a little public service announcement…

A hard few months

Not just the past few weeks-it started before that, but then it got worse, losing one friend, then another.  Many of you have offered kind words and support.  It's hard losing one friend, but losing two so close together is brutal.  Thanks for the kindness, guys.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Saturday Snippets… Beg Me

Yes… there is a theme here. *G* I'm getting closer to being done with this, which means I want you all nuts for it.  Am I close to that yet?  ** also… I know a lot of people seem to be really excited about this, and that thrills me…if you want to have up to date info on it, it will all be posted to the blog, so the best way to stay informed is probably going to be through signing up for the RSS feed over there.  It's just a daily email-it says feedburner-all it is…the blog gets emailed.

"Why you?"  Then she glanced away, licking her lips. Taking a deep, slow breath, she looked back at him and said, "Because I had a feeling you'd get it. You didn't look freaked out by what you saw five years ago."

She squirmed a little because this next part was embarrassing. "And…well.  Hell, you're gorgeous, Drake.  I know I can trust you.  I like being around you…and..um, well, there are times when I see you looking at me and I see something—kind of like the way you're looking at me now."

His hands flexed on her thighs. "And how am I looking at you?" he asked roughly. Slowly, he used his hands to lightly tug her thighs apart.

It never occurred to her not to let him.

"Like you want to eat me alive. Like you want me—so much."  Her voice shuddered out of her and she jerked her gaze from his face. "Sometimes it scares me, when I'm out and I noticed a man who notices me, you know? But not with you. You've never scared me. And…well, like I said—you're gorgeous."

She licked her lips and shrugged, going for casual, but failing. "I figured if you already found me attractive, and I know I find you attractive. So if you weren't opposed to the kind of games I like, maybe you'd be okay with this."  She met his gaze and held it. "Was I wrong?"

"No."

Still looking at a 12/1 release date, roughly.  Also, as I explained yesterday, I'm down for the count for a few more days due to personal upheaval and the loss of a friend, on top of a surgery yesterday.   I do appreciate the good thoughts and prayers, very much.  But please don't email.  I always feel like I should respond, even when I'm told I don't need to.  Logically, I know I should rest but when there's work to be….I have a harder time, so please don't email.  All thoughts and prayers are appreciated, though.  Appreciated and welcome.

On Amazon… 'banning' books, etc.

Pretty please, take note… this isn't a call for a debate… normally I like debates.  But I'm tired and I hurt, and my head's loopy from drugs.  Soooo…don't think I'm ignoring if I'm not responding to questions.  I just know how easy it is to go from… question to debate.  And I'm not doing it.

Now, onto my post, and my opinions, and the reasons behind my post.  With a particular book being removed from Amazon, people are now worried that Amazon will start censoring books based on public outcry.

FYI, I don't think it's censoring to refuse to sell a book.  It's a business call.  It's the same reason a Christian bookstore probably isn't going to sell books on magical realism and the same reason stores on the occult aren't likely to be selling books by Christian fiction writers.  And these books aren't advocating or talking about things they 'may help to lessen the sentence if they are convicted'.

That bit right there was probably a huge part of the problem-telling potential predators how they might be able to lessen their sentence if they get caught doing something that heinous.  (FYI, if you dont' know the story, I'm sorry but I'm not going into detail, and PLEASE NOBODY LIST THE GUY'S NAME or WHAT the fricking book was, or linking anything, because I refuse to give him any hits-any posts that do so, I will delete.)

So there was a major problem with public outcry. Some say Amazon shouldn't have given in, that they censored this writer.  Amazon published this through the digital platform-they were the publisher, and as such, they held certain rights.    They had the right to make a business call.  They had the right to refuse to publish this work, and to remove it if they deemed it necessary.

Per their content guidelines: (Quoting from their site)

Offensive Material

What we deem offensive is probably about what you would expect. Amazon Digital Services, Inc. reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of Titles sold on our site.

Amazon has the right to decide what to publish, what to sell.  Do I want them giving into public outcry blatantly?  Nope.  Individuals like Fred Phelps would have a field day.  It's possible those who are absolutely adamant that I shouldn't eat meat might try to have all non-vegan cookbooks removed.

But common sense can and should step in.

Books that tell somebody how to commit a murder? Do I think those should be on sale?   Of course not.

Does this mean I think Lolita should be banned-um, no.   Yes, I saw that question on twitter, and yes, I ignored it. Again, it's not banning on Amazon's part to make a business decision to decide not to sell a book, especially when it's already part of their content guidelines.  Target can decide not to carry a certain style of purse because it doesn't suit their clientele-that's not banning.  It's business.  As Amazon already had the right to make the decision as the publisher, they didn't need to justify anything.

And I'm sorry, but I think it's a foolish question-Lolita is fiction, right?  Now I personally think it's disturbing (and disgusting) fiction, but it's fiction and it's also not fiction that was telling people how to get lighter sentences if they offend.  Do you see the theme here?  This is a problem.

Do this mean I think history books with children marrying  should be banned? I'll be blunt-another foolish question.  One-they are history books and they aren't exactly telling people it's okay, and again, they also aren't telling people how to get lighter sentences.

Amazon, in the end, is a business, and yes, they are in business to make money.  But they are also going to have to be aware that public outcry can get nasty.  They shouldn't cater and give in blindly.  It's stupid.  You'll have extreme conservative religious groups saying anything with the word S E X is evil.  Never mind that God created sex, but that's another rant.

But Amazon can find a way to handle this without worrying about the extremism that's going to come at them.

How?  Through common sense.

If I was in charge, and I so thank God I'm not, but if I was?

I'd form an unbiased, internal group and I'd specifically look for people with a variety of outlooks on life, probably even a variety of religions and upbringing, parents, non-parents, single, married, etc.  I'd investigate them–hard.   Question them like nothing you've ever seen, because what I want to know is: Are you capable of taking objective looks at things and putting your own feelings aside? Although I'm asking for an eclectic mix of people, I'd be doing this more to as a public example-saying See…?  It's not just a Christian** group/Conservative Group/Athiest Group/Liberal Group/People with Kids/Without Kids. It's the objectivity that matters.

**Before anybody freaks at the Christian thing… FYI, I'm Christian.  I write romance.  I write erotic romance.  I don't view sex as a sin and I'm not going to blink twice at the books that will make the extremists groups go… you'll burn in hell if you touch that.  Having a wide variety represented means you'll get a better representation of what their customers really think anyway.

Back to my imaginary committee.

This group will be chosen on based on displayed objectivity.  They'd use that objectivity to look at books that are hit with hard public outcry.

They'd look at specific criteria.

Does the book involve material that is abusive to certain religious groups/minorities/'special interest' groups (namely children, disabled, animals, etc)
Does the book advocate or push legal limits, telling people how to skirt the law or 'lessen their sentencing' if caught, or how to commit illegal acts-ie: safe sex with a child?
Does the book advocate violence/hate crimes-a how-to book on stalking and raping a woman, how to murder, dog fights, etc.
Does the book have anything 'constructive' besides 'money' to offer society

They'd look at these things.  If there are more negative aspects to the book than positives, then the publisher shouldn't sell it.

I might even consider doing this in a survey type thing, anonymous, rather than in a committee, that way it doesn't turn into a bureaucratic thing.  Each person can answer freely without worrying about what others would say, submit their viewpoints-perhaps a small head committee of 3-5 people would gather the info and look at the final info and based on that, not on their own personal viewpoints, make the call.

If there is more negative impact than positive, don't sell it-money shouldn't be the deciding factor, and freedom of speech isn't even a factor because nobody is saying people can't put their stuff out there for people to read.

This isn't censorship.  This is business.

We aren't granted the inalienable right to publish for profit, ya know.  If people want that, then they work to sell to the masses, which means not selling things that are going to turn the stomachs of the masses.

Now…I dunno if this post is going to garner many comments.  I'm just posting my opinion on it, and honestly, that's all I want to do it.  I don't want to debate.  I'm loopy on pain meds from a surgery today and while normally I enjoy debates, I'm too loopy for them right now.  Plus, I'm tired.  Please don't try to drag me into a debate-not going to happen.

But I don't care one way or the other if I get many comments.  If you're new?  Howdy & welcome. People are welcome to comment.  But considering how heated this topic has gotten around the web, I feel the need to point this out, you might want to keep this in mind, I'm very, very careful to keep my blog a friendly place for my readers.  Keep your tone civil, regardless of your opinion, because if you don't, I will delete and I'll do it with a smile.  Because I'm a bit of a snot that way.  If you can't voice your opinion with respect, you can do it elsewhere.

Again, I'm not getting into debates about this-I had a few people try to drag me into debates on it on twitter when I stated my opinion.  Stating an opinion isn't an open call for a debate.  Just as blogging about it isn't an open call for debate.

The Friday 56…Beg Me edition…

Why Beg Me?  Well… it's closest cuz I'm editing it.

It was humbling, even as it awed her. He'd felt something for her for a long time, even when she'd been married. All these years, and it hadn't faded.

This was Drake, and it should have weirded her out.

The fact that it didn't was why, in the end, she didn't back out of the date.

About the Friday 56

Grab the book nearest you. Right now
Turn to page 56.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

BTW…please don't expect me around much for the next few days-all posts were written in advance, as is  my normal.  I'm having surgery on Friday, 11/12-nothing major, just necessary and I expect to be down for a few days.  And while I appreciate the good wishes and the intent, please don't send me emails… I always feel like I should respond and I know logically it's the last thing I should be doing when I'm trying to rest.  Thanks in advance for understanding.

The funny thing about sunsets, sunrises

There is a strange thing about sunsets, sunrises-somebody else mentioned this, but I can't remember who…maybe PBW? Anyway… Unless you are the photographer, it's not always easy to tell if a photo is depicting a sunset, or a sunrise.

I took this more than two years ago in Alaska, and it's depicting a sunset.  Fitting I suppose, as a dear, beloved friend of mine from church passed away on Monday.

A dear friend.   I'm 34.  I've known her since I was probably 8.  One of my happiest childhood memories is forever tied to her and her family.  Now she's gone and that selfish part of me looks at a picture like this one and I can't help but see the setting sun.  Even though I'm Christian and I don't just think there is a life beyond this one-for me, it's a knowledge and I know something better awaits her.  I know that her body, weak since before we were in high school, no longer plagues her and she can run, jump and fish, things she hasn't done easily in more than 20 years.

Still, my heart breaks.

One consolation I have is in knowing that she no longer suffers.  That broken body that gave up on her far before her heart did is no longer broken.  She won't look at a picture like this and see a sun setting on a life, but a sun rising on a new one.  It's a small comfort.  Not a big one.  But hey, I'm only human and I'm allowed to take a while to grief.  I'm ready, though, to look at a picture like this and see the rising of the sun…seeing the strength, the warmth and the comfort that awaits.

I'd like to say I'm ready to stop hurting–I've got some friends who are telling me just remember, this is a blessing…you don't need to cry for her. I know they mean well.   But I'm not crying for her…I'm crying for me, and the loss of her.  She was a near, dear, beloved friend and if she isn't worth my pain and my grief, then I have to wonder…who is?

Don't be afraid to indulge in your misery.  In the end, we're only human.

In a few months, I know I'll be able to look back and think of her sunrise.  But I need the time to mourn first.

and again, I'm turning off comments…not because I don't appreciate the well wishes, but I need some time.  Also, while I appreciate the intent, please don't email with prayers and condolences, well wishes at this time.  I do appreciate the good thoughts, but I'm cutting back on email and stuff for a few days.

ETA: Totally forgot I had a Writes & Wrongs blog going up yesterday…it was on author presence.

November's Spotlight Title…

Down there on the sidebar…Hunter's Choice…

This was originally (and still is) in the Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance, which has some awesome stories in it.  You can also download the ebook, Amazon, Smashwords, Nook…and I just updated the cover, too.  It's prettier now.

One year ago, Sara's twin brother and his wife were brutally murdered. By vampires, creatures that can't exist. But Sara knows better and she's on a mission to kill as many as she can…until she comes across a man from her past.

Print

Borders | BAMM | B & N | Book Depository | IndieBound | Amazon | Powell's

Hunter's Choice can also be purchased on its own in ebook

Kindle| Nook | Smashwords

**BTW, a friend of mine passed away on Monday and I'm not going to be online as much for a few days.  Am also having surgery-nothing major, just necessary, on Friday. If you have questions or anything, you might want to wait until next week.  I don't know if I'll be up to much for a few days and I don't want anybody to think I'm ignoring them-I promise, I'm not.  I just doubt I'll be up to anything.