So…I have a cover for BROKEN BLADE…
I kinda love it. I hope you do.
The scheduled release date is January 2014.
At this time, I think I have all the beta readers I need. I’ve reached out to the ones I plan to use, so if you haven’t heard personally from me, thanks for the offer, but it’s unlikely I’ll need you this time around. Doesn’t mean I won’t at a future date. I can only use so many,t though, otherwise, my head would explode.
I need a couple of beta readers. I’m wrapping up my first round of edits BROKEN BLADE and I need some feedback, looking for plot holes, inconsistencies, if Kit is wearing a vest in the beginning of this scene and does a quick change in the middle… that sort of thing, plus just the overall feel of the story line. If you’re excellent at spotting typos, that’s a plus and please feel free to mention that. If you do a really good job, I may use you for future projects.
If you’re chosen, I do ask that you keep all details of the book to yourself. No reviews, no discussion of the book, etc.
FYI, if you haven’t read BLADE SONG and NIGHT BLADE, please do not offer to beta read. I’m sorry, but you’re not going to be able to do as thorough of a job as somebody who has read the other two books and I need a fairly fast turn around time.
If you’re interested, please email me at shilohwalker2011 at gmail.com (you’ll get an auto-reply… I’ve got a lot of stuff going on between now and July and it’s just to give me some breathing room on email. I’ll get the email, promise. Please put beta reader in the subject line.)
FYI, the tentative release date is early January 2014. There’s no real way to do it sooner. It still needs another couple of rounds of edits, there’s promo and I’ve got a lot of traveling and other projects on my plate. Plus, my family likes seeing me some. I hope you understand.
FYI, if you haven’t read NIGHT BLADE, be warned. This will have some info that is spoiler-rific.
~*~
You saw the warning right?
Okay.
You didn’t let anything else take you down…
Hard words.
Harsh words.
And as I made myself walk into the bathroom the next morning, I realized TJ wasn’t really wrong.
My grandmother’s voice, never far from my mind, rose up to haunt me. Useless waste. I’ll make a warrior out of you if it kills me…
Sometimes, I think she’d meant if it killed me.
And damn if she didn’t try. Try hard. But I’d run away from her, managed to build a life.
You face down everything that scares you.
But right now, everything scared me. Life. Leaving the safety of TJ’s bar. And facing the woman in the mirror. It was a damned hard thing to do and for the four months, I’d avoided it as much as I possibly could. As often as I could, because looking at myself was just too hard.
But today, I made myself look anyway.
It was almost a shock, the woman I saw staring back at me.
Leaner. Harder. Sadder.
The scars had paled. My neck was a mess of them. The ones on the left side of my neck were neat, a small circle of them, placed there back when I’d still mattered to somebody. When I’d still mattered, period.
No, we don’t think about that… Immediately my brain started to skitter away even as memories danced closer.
Did you really think I wasn’t coming for you? Damon’s voice, raw and broken.
Tears burned inside me, but I swallowed them back. I couldn’t handle that and this. Not now. So instead of looking at the mark he’d given me, I looked at the uglier scars. The ones that marked my ruin. My destruction.
The mess on the right side of my neck was what bothered me, the ones that told the awful, sickening story of what had been done to me.
The vampire’s voice was a nasty mockery in the back of my mind. Every time one of my kind sees the marks on you, they will think, and wonder.
They’d see me as a toy.
It pissed me off because that was what I’d been.
I touched them, made myself do it even though I flinched. I memorized the feel of them.
Jude could have healed them after he’d fed, but he’d chosen not to. He’d wanted to mark me and he hadn’t been neat about it. I’d fought, long and hard. Sometimes he’d almost let me get away, so there weren’t just puncture wounds. Some of them were long slices down my neck from where his fangs had torn me. They started just below my ear and disappeared under the collar of my shirt. There was no hiding them, not unless I just started walking around in hooded cloaks.
I needed to make them part of me, somehow.
Blurb…
Kit Colbana: assassin, thief, investigator extraordinaire. Now broken. She always expected her past to catch up with her but never like this. Haunted by nightmares and stripped of her identity, she’s retreated to Wolf Haven, the no-man’s land where she found refuge years before. But while she might want to hide away from the rest of the world, the rest of the world isn’t taking the hint.
Dragged kicking and screaming back into life, Kit is thrust head-first into an investigation surrounding the theft of an ancient relic…one that she wants nothing to do with. Her instincts tell her it’s a bad idea to just leave the relic lying about, but finding it might be just as bad.
Forced to face her nightmares, she uncovers hidden strength and comes face to face with one of the world’s original monsters.
If she survives the job, she won’t be the same…and neither will those closest to her.
Cover still hasn’t been done. For the excerpt, you can go here.
Just a note… the release date is still 2014. Keep in mind, I have to do this project around a lot of other projects. I’m juggling. :) I can’t take shortcuts on this because if I do, you all won’t get the best story I can give you. I can’t ignore the other responsibilities I have, either. Some people have other Qs, about Justin, whether Kit works things out, etc. You can go here (my SW blog) for some of those Qs.
Thanks for the support and feedback… it means a lot. 
Your Mission:
Help me win.
The Obstacle:
MELJEAN BROOK… she’s a tough opponent. The good news… she’s in her writing cave and we can do a sneak attack.
(1) Riveted v. (16) Blade Song
The Prize:
More Damon POVs…maybe even an excerpt from BROKEN BLADE.
and just to give you an incentive…an unplanned POV.
This is from in Kit’s office…right before things went to hell. Don’t worry… this isn’t too spoiler-rific.
She flipped the lock and I felt that low level burn I’d come to associate with magic. The wards were up. Good enough.
She turned to face me and I did the one thing I had to do…I gave into the urge and I tore that fucking shirt off her. She smelled of another man and I knew it was from work–I knew her job, knew the kind of shit she had to do, but the smell of another man on her skin had the animal inside me snarling.
And it made me ache. I wanted to be the one who was there for her, helping her do whatever she needed done and I couldn’t be.
But I could do this. Could touch her now, could have her with me. Brushing the shreds of the shirt off her, I reached for her and pulled her against me. She was pale and soft and she sighed under my hands.
“Baby girl,” I whispered, mindless and desperate. She shivered against me as I pressed my mouth to the mark on her neck.
She felt small but so incredibly strong, soft but steel ran through her core and she drove me out of my mind. I lifted her up and braced her against the door at her back. She arched against me and I could feel the heat of her, all wet and sweet and that alone had me ready to come. She moved again and my dick pulsed. ”Be still,” I muttered against her mouth. Be still or I’m going to embarrass myself… The soft, subtle scent of her flooded my head, but there was also something else. The cloying, dark thread of a male. Magic. Fowled. Wrong. It clung to her, pissed me off. Tearing the sturdy, solid material of her pants away helped. Getting her naked help even more. Feeling her wrapped around my dick would be the best thing yet.
“I don’t ever want you wearing those clothes again.” Not that it was an issue. The clothes were trashed.
I watched her eyes, that sharp, cunning green, soft now with want…
Damon (yeah, yeah, I know it looks like Dwayne Johnson)
Want more? I’ll write more! If you help me advance to the next round of the #dabwaha! Go! Vote! Voting here… open 3.21.2013 at 12:00 pm – 11:59 pm CST.
Image from Dwayne Johnson’s Instagram account.
WARNING.
DO.
NOT.
READ.
Until you’ve read NIGHT BLADE. I’m not kidding! (Yes, it was BLADE SONG that finaled, but people are asking about this particular part of book 2…so…promise kept!)
And it’s fixed. And it’s everywhere…if you can’t access it via your devices, please go here and find the links for contacting customer service.
By the time those gray clouds cleared, it was like the whole world was burning. Even though everything looked normal to my eyes, it didn’t feel that way. I could feel the heat slamming against my shields and I could feel the air as it was being squeezed out of my lungs and I was certain that if I didn’t move, didn’t get away, I was going to die.
Rolling onto my belly, determined to do just that—get away—I went to shove onto my hands and knees.
Somebody forced me back onto my face in the dirt.
“You move, you die.”
The voice. I knew that voice. Didn’t like the owner of it. Didn’t know why, but after a few seconds…
Oh. Yeah. Sleazy son-of-a-bitch witch.
Evil witches were bad.
This guy had wrong written all over him. Bad news.
In my pain-driven state, I think maybe I saw a little more clearly than I had earlier and that spell Colleen had cast on him now made more sense. I flexed my hand, ready to call my sword but his voice stopped me.
“Marlowe and your cat are at each other’s throats—son of a bitch is throwing magics out like he doesn’t care who lives or dies and I’m not strong enough to do anything more than buckle down and wait it out.” Xavier’s voice was a disgusted mutter just a few inches away from my ear. “If you leave the circle I’ve got down, you aren’t going to live and I am not responsible for your stupidity. You hear me?”
I tried to think past the roaring in my ears.
The air was thick with magic and it was the angry kind. Careless. Careless didn’t fit the image I had of Marlowe but if Marlowe thought he was about ready to go down in a blaze of glory? Behind my eyes, I thought I caught flickers of something virulent and red, ricocheting through the air.
All the oxygen seemed to disappear from the world and Xavier muttered, “Aw, fuck—”
I forced myself into a crouch. I could see past the circle Xavier had cast and just a few dozen yards away, there was a dead hawk lying there. “What happened to it?”
“Marlowe,” he said thinly. “He’s got an affinity for death magic. It’s forbidden but he doesn’t care.”
Beneath us, the ground shuddered and then he looked at me. “Your cat isn’t going to make it if this keeps up. I’m barely holding the shields and I’m not in the thick of it. If he—”
Despite the wild magic rippling all around us, a surreal quiet had fallen but the sound of a weapon firing through the night had suddenly shattered it. Yeah, no mistaking that sound.
Ammo.
My brain kicked into gear and I started processing. No. I didn’t like modern weapons, although some of the weapons manufactured back in the 1800 and 1900s weren’t bad. They usually needed work when I got a hold of them, like my Desert Eagle—they were in bad need of repair, some TLC and I usually had to have my ammo specially made.
Weapons, though, regardless of their craftsmanship, or lack of, were my stock and trade and I knew them.
The one being fired now wasn’t new—the typical gun of today was quieter and operated with either a laser or an electric discharge. Most. Not all.
There were still plenty that fired ammo like the old school weapons, but my ears told me this was an older one. The kind that would cut through a tank. The kind soldiers had carried when they walked through deserts back in the wars fought in the earlier part of the century, right before our presence had been brought into the open.
They were rare these days, but I knew what it was: an old-school assault rifle with armor piercing capabilities. Loaded with the right kind of ammo—magically charged ammo, a weapon like that could take down just about anything…an elephant, a tank, a homicidal vampire. Or an enraged witch with a knack for death spells.
Magic ripped through the air—fuck. That was the right kind of ammo. I gasped as I felt in it the pit of my gut. The screaming started almost instantly.
“Something charged in that weapon,” Xavier whispered. “Where in the hell did he get that idea?”
I swallowed, staring at the ground. The weapon fired again and each time, the power built in the air. Higher and higher.
“He’s going to bring down the fucking ward. Son of a bitch…” Xavier’s voice was full of shock, amazement and a little bit of horror.
I clamped my hands over my ears, because I knew what was coming. I could hear something shrieking—the wards, maybe. I could hear somebody screaming off in the distance, even though I knew the firefight was easily a mile away.
The magic built and built, and built—
When it broke, it was like a tsunami and I swayed under it. Blood trickled from my nose and I huddled there, convinced that somehow, the dying magic would get in and grab me.
Links!
iBookstore | Amazon | BN | Kobo | Smashwords | ARe
It’s also in print now at Amazon…will be live at other outlets, and orderable (is that a word?) through your local bookstores in a few more weeks.
Tomorrow…I’m doing a giveaway at my blog. With prizes. Since my release day SUCKED big rotten hairy nasty things, I’m having a do-over. Because I can. It will be at http://shilohwalker.com/website. Hope to see you there.
Again, thanks for being so patient. I can’t undo this or make up for this mess, but I’ve marked the book down $3.99 for the next month… hopefully it helps a little.
After people have had a chance to read Night Blade, I plan to post a nice long except of Broken Blade, but not yet. It’s got too much that will be spoiler territory, so in a while, I’ll post it and I’ll post more than I normally would to thank you all for being so patient.
Here’s where we stand so far…
These are the messages I’ve been given and hopefully, everything is correct and all the timeframes will be met.
B&N update…file will be live tonight.
B&N is looking into an email to notify the readers who purchased it about the update, but I don’t know if this will happen.
The amazon listing keeps going up and down, but they do have the correct file. I was told:
It was due to a database refresh, and they were expecting it to complete in 4 hours
That time is pretty much lapsed so hopefully everything will be finished on that end soon. I have no idea what that means, but I know it’s computer/tech related.
Other misc info:
Apple: file up yesterday, price up immediately
Overdrive: file up, price upSony: file up, price in processKobo: file up, price in processBaker & Taylor: file being checked, price in processAmazon: file and price both showing in the back end, still under pursuit
Price up just means they are in the process of getting the price adjusted. It’s never as easy as pushing a button, right?
Those who already HAVE Night Blade… (or bought it and the file is wrong, actually) email customer service for your respective device/reading apps. ALL of them now have the correct files. Amazon & Kobo are been providing the right files. Kindle can push it to your device. Reader Emma said…>>> “Ok it didn’t work just removing and redownloading but when I contacted amazon via chat they pushed the correct version to me and all good.”
To contact Amazon… go here… (You’ll have to be signed in or this will lead you to a sign-in screen)
To contact BN… go here (offers live chat, email, etc)
Kobo… this page, down on the very bottom right, look for the contact customer care, will offer you three options, pick your poison.
For the various fixes on devices, see below…
Okay, so as of now, if you haven’t bought NIGHT BLADE, it’s available on Kindle and the file is fine.
ETA: okay, the file comes up and goes down. I’m told this is related to database issues. Whatever that means… ??? It should be resolved soon.
The problem is those who’ve preordered… I had it preordered and it looks like the ‘updated’ file isn’t available yet. I’ve tried doing the archive thing, removing it from my device, etc, etc…and it’s not doing any good.
If you want to request a refund and buy again, that might be your best bet.
Amazon, Kobo, iBookstores, ARe & Smashwords all have the correct files and BN should have it up by tonight.
iBookstore | Amazon | BN | Kobo | Smashwords | ARe
I was told the process for getting the corrected file is as follows…but I’m still checking for the correct file myself. If anybody has any luck, let me know.
From what I was told, if you have the book and read via one of the apps (iPad/iPhone)…
Nook: archive, go to archived items, and redownloadKindle: Remove from device, then redownloadKobo: archive the book, and then redownloadApple: delete this copy, go to purchased books bookshelf, redownload
On various readers other than Nook, this should be the process…
all they have to do is delete the book and redownload when the update is live. They don’t need to ask for a refund, or do anything other than redownload the book.
With the Nook:
For B&N, you have to archive, then go into your archive, and redownload.
I’m staying in contact with the distributor and I’ve let them know how frustrating this has been for everybody.
I wish I could fix it but at this point, but even if I attempted to take over and upload the file myself, it would cause problems in the system–the platforms would detect two ‘identical’ files and they’d be flagged and it would slow things down even more as they clarified copyright, etc.
Thanks to all you who have been so patient. I appreciate it.
There are two days left too enter the contest for Kit’s Very Bad Job.
Well, that’s progress… I guess. :(
I’d hoped we’d have this resolved tonight, but no such luck.
I still haven’t heard anything new about other retailers, though… the distributor was contacting Amazon, BN, etc again… we haven’t heard back, so I can’t get you an update.
The new files HAVE been sent out, so it’s a matter of the retailers getting them into the system and out to you all at this point.
Currently, you can get NIGHT BLADE from Smashwords, iBookstore & All Romance Ebooks.
iBookstore | Smashwords | ARe
Also, the print file has been finalized. You can buy it from createspace now and it will be at other channels once it gets through the system. That’s such a vague term… the system. In this day and age, it seems like we should be able to push a button and BAM! It’s done. But it’s not that easy. That’s annoying.
Thanks to everybody who has been so understanding. I do appreciate it.
I’ve been told this book requires chocolate and wine and kleenex. I should have included that as a warning.
I’m also told it’s worth it, though. :) Does that help?
Silence swelled up, one of those deafening silences where you’re painfully aware of the ticking of the clock, of every breath you take, of the slightest, smallest sound.
“I’m told one of them got away. Which one?”
I closed my eyes, tried to think. “I don’t know…there was a third, weaker wolf in the background. Nobody I know. I think Bonner was the one Justin killed. Not sure of that guy’s name, but he was strong.”
Damon nodded. Then he sat up slowly, his eyes narrowing. “Justin. I know that name.”
Oh. Shit.
“He’s the Banner cop I’m working with.”
“No. That’s not why I know it, Kit.”
I stared at his back. The black ink from his tattoo spilled over the top edge of his left shoulder and I could see it shifting, rippling. Muscles flexed under the smooth surface of his skin and I could see the wild heat of his energy hovering above him. Mad. He was mad. Oh, yes.
“Who is Justin, Kit?”
I leaned back against the headboard and drew my knees to my chest. “I used to see him for a while.”
The muscles in his back knotted tighter. “Find another Banner cop to work with.”
“Not an option, Damon.” I blew out a careful breath and swallowed past the knot that had decided to lodge itself in my throat. “This isn’t a thing for you to worry about—”
He went from sitting on the edge of the bed to crouched over my knees so fast, I never even saw it coming. I was good. I was fast. I thought I knew how fast he was…and I was wrong.
“Don’t tell me what’s a thing for me to worry about,” he whispered, his voice just barely human now. “I told you that I’d try harder, but I never said I’d hold it together while you worked with some guy you used to fuck.”
“Stop it,” I warned him softly even as a forgotten fear tried to wing itself to life inside. I wasn’t going to be afraid and I wasn’t going to do this. Lifting a hand, I touched his cheek. He tensed like he might move away and if he had, I might have shattered. He didn’t though and I managed to keep that part of me from dying. “If I had a choice in this, I wouldn’t work with him. I don’t want this job and if I had my way, I’d bury my blade so far up his ass, I’d see the end of it out his throat.”
“Then do it,” he snarled. “I’ll help you bury the body.”
“I can’t.” If I do, they’re going to kill you…
iBookstore | Amazon | BN | Kobo | Smashwords | ARe
HEADS UP… there is a problem with the files uploaded to Amazon, Ibookstore and BN (probably Kobo as well). The files at Smashwords and ARe are correct-I handled those myself over the weekend.
I am very sorry about this… as soon as I know it’s fixed, I’ll let you know.
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