Character Encounters - May 2014

May's here with all of its flowers! Next month we get pilgrims!

Anyways, you're not here to talk about pilgrims. We're here to talk about where you'll meet your next character (who may or may not be a pilgrim - probably won't be, though).

Since I have a really nice giveaway that I'm also revealing in this post, I'll be short and sweet and cut to the chase.

The Attic

May is the last month of Spring, and therefore the last month of spring cleaning. And what room needs spring cleaning more than the attic? Of course, if you're like me, and you don't have a attic, the roof is a viable option. You don't have to be on the roof, but you know how characters are.








Okay, and now to tell you about the giveaway. As most of you know, I released The Ankulen back in September, about eight months ago now. But I'd like you to click through to this link. Now click through to this one. Notice anything interesting? The Ankulen doesn't have any reviews.

And the closest thing to a blog review that it has gotten has been what Jack wrote with her post in the cover reveal.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The presence of reviews is what sells books, especially reviews from people that the potential buyer trusts. Everyone who has read the book has told me that they loved it, but no one has told the world how much they loved it.

Is it really that much to ask you to write a review?

I don't want to stoop to the level of buying reviews (though the thought has crossed my mind) but I'm getting desperate. I've contacted a few people about reviewing it, and some of them have agreed to - but like myself, have a massive TBR list, and haven't gotten to it yet.

So, the other day I had an idea. Not exactly buying reviews, but I'm going to give you some incentive.

I'm going to host a giveaway. Entry - review The Ankulen. Every place you post a review (Amazon, Goodreads, Shelfari) is worth an entry. If you post a review on your blog, it's worth a entry. If your blog review mentions this giveaway asking for others to review this book, you get an extra entry. (Although, if your blog is dedicated to reviews, I ask that you don't mention it. Just share the fact that there's a giveaway on all your social feeds and I'll give you that extra point.

The prize? A $5 Amazon Gift Card. However. if I can get to twenty reviews by unique people, I'll make it two $5 cards. If I can get to thirty, there will be three cards. Forty reviews, and I'll give away 4 cards. Fifty reviews, and I'll add a $10 card. If I get to sixty, I'll toss in a surprise. Each card will go to a unique winner.

The deadline for this giveaway? The end of May. Sure, I know that fifty or sixty reviews is a pie in the sky number, but I have faith in you my readers. I know that a good number of you have read it already - you need only to actually sit down and write the review. I know that another good number of you already own it, and you only need to read it (and write the review). And for those of you who don't already own it - it will be free on kindle from the sixth through to the tenth (so if you post a blog review before or during the free spree, do mention this fact!)

I'm not asking for five star reviews (unless, of course, you feel like it deserves one). I'm asking for honest reviews that will tell potential buyers what the book is about, confess the bad with the good, and tell them why they should shell out their hard-earned money to buy it.

Also I do ask that you send me an email or comment on my blog somewhere with a list of everywhere you posted your review. Sure, I'll keep on eye on them, but I don't want to give the prize to someone who doesn't know about the contest (how awkward would that be?) so I need confirmation that your review is an entry to the giveaway.

Thank-you in advance, and may the odds be ever in your favor.