Susan K. Hamilton · Author · added over 8 years ago · 4 likes

Hello Everyone,

The Launchpad Competition wrapped up today and -- unfortunately -- Shadow King did not make it into the top three. We missed by about 45 readers.

Before I go any further, I’d like to say congrats to Robert, Leslie, and Chase for winning the top three spots and making it a very, VERY exciting final 24 hours.

But there is some GOOD NEWS. Although I did not reach the top three, the support I have received from all of my readers has helped me reach the 250 copy mark. And that means I’ve qualified for Inkshare’s Quill publication level.

My funding window continues into January, and I’ve sent some questions to Inkshares about Quill, which I hope to have answers for early next week.

Thank you all for your help and support -- and I’m looking forward to having you all along on this journey with me.

And I have not forgotten the raffle -- I will be downloading my reader list this weekend and doing the drawing for the two winners. I’ll send the results of that early next week!

Best,

Susan

Susan K. Hamilton · Author · added over 8 years ago · 3 likes

Hello!

It is 1:00 pm here in Boston so only two hours left in the Launchpad Competition. For those following, there has been quite the explosion of activity over the past 24 - 36 hours!

I am closing in on meeting my Quill goal, which is wonderful! Thank you to everyone who has ordered -- you have helped get me to this point. I do, however, have some ground to cover if I’m going to get to the top three in Launchpad.

Even though there is not much time left, there is still time -- best early holiday gift I could get this year is some more people to officially join my "readers" list: www.inkshares.com/books/shadow-king

Thank you for all of your support throughout the Launchpad Competition!

All the best,

Susan

Susan K. Hamilton · Author · added almost 9 years ago · 1 like

Hello, everyone!

We’re down to that nail-biting, Pepto-drinking, sweaty-palms final 48 hours before the conclusion of the 2016 Launchpad competition.

And I’m hopeful that I’ll have good news to share once everything is wrapped up, but I’ve said all along: I can’t do it alone. Reaching the top three means adding new readers... I’ve sent individual notes to all of my prospects, and I hope to see more new names on my readers list before the Friday deadline.

To all the readers rooting for Aohdan and "Shadow King" -- thank you. I won’t ever be able to say that enough.

Take care,

Susan

PS. As always, please share my link liberally: www.inkshares.com/books/shadow-king and don’t forget the $25 Amazon gift card raffle for new readers who pre-order by December 16!

Susan K. Hamilton · Author · added almost 9 years ago · 4 likes

Hello and happy Friday, my good and excellent friends.

We’re coming into the home stretch for the Launchpad competition. By this time next Friday, the proof will be in the pudding, the die will be cast, and the Fat Lady will have finished her solo.

"Shadow King" has made progress, and I know we can still make our goal of the Top Three -- but readers really matter, and I can’t turn this dream into a reality without your help. If you’ve been waiting to place your pre-order, now would be an outstanding time!

So here are five reasons you should invest in a pre-order of "Shadow King":

1) You’re an awesome human being.

2) You’re dying to know what happens to Aohdan and Seireada.

3) It would be the greatest holiday gift EVER -- I’d be deliriously happy.

4) Do you really want Aohdan showing up at your door asking why you didn’t order?

5) I really believe it is a great story with lots of potential (and so do the Launchpad judges).

And as an added incentive, don’t forget -- all new readers in December could win one of two $25 Amazon gift cards. Great way to defray a little of your holiday shopping bill!

Hoping to see all of you on the "official readers" list before next Friday!

All the best,

Susan

Susan K. Hamilton · Author · added almost 9 years ago · 2 likes

Good morning from a snowy Boston!

There are JUST 11 DAYS LEFT in the 2016 Launchpad Competition. We’ve made some good progress and as of this morning, "Shadow King" is in 4th place on the leaderboard (about 30 readers behind the #3 spot).

I’ll continue to make my best efforts to reach the top three in the coming days, but my success really rests with all of you. I can’t make this goal alone.

As always, I wish all of my current readers could truly understand how appreciative I am for your support. You are all rock stars. If you’re still interested in helping move "Shadow King" higher in the rankings, get just one person that you know to pre-order a copy of "Shadow King" -- your brother, sister, best friend, college buddy, co-worker, Starbuck’s barista, hairdresser, anyone! Those readers alone would make a tremendous difference! (the link to order is: https://www.inkshares.com/books/shadow-king )

To all of the intrepid souls who are following my Launchpad adventures, please pre-order before the December 16 deadline. Your order could make ALL THE DIFFERENCE at the end of the competition.

I know many people in the Inkshares community have always dreamed of getting published -- some of you have realized that dream, others are still working towards it -- so I know it is a familiar story when I say publishing this book is a dearly-held dream of mine. I also know that many of you have more than one author asking for your support and that no one has a bottomless wallet -- but I hope that "Shadow King" will be one of the stories that catches your attention and earns your support. (BTW, the Launchpad judges praised it for having a unique and original concept that they hadn’t really seen before!)

And don’t forget -- every new reader who pre-orders a copy between Dec. 1 and the Dec. 16 deadline will be put in a drawing to win a $25 Amazon gift card!

Which brings me to my final note before I sign off: Congratulations to DOUG WOODARD who was the winner of the November drawing. After contacting Doug, he was kind enough to tell me that he wanted to decline his win and donate the gift card back to the cause -- so thanks to Doug’s generosity, there will be two $25 Amazon gift cards raffled off a the end of the Launchpad effort.

Until next time -- have a wonderful week!

All the best,

Susan

Susan K. Hamilton · Author · added almost 9 years ago · 2 likes

Good morning, everyone. I hope you’re all well.

Last night winners for some of the Launchpad prizes were announced and, unfortunately, "Shadow King" was not one of them. However, I did make the Top Ten out of over 1,000 entries from 24 countries, and that is something to be proud of.

But the competition is not over yet!

I am still actively working to add "official readers" and move up the Inkshares leaderboard (and -- as always -- a giant "thank you" to everyone who has pre-ordered a copy already. You rock!).

If you haven’t pre-ordered a copy of "Shadow King" yet, don’t forget: all new orders that come in between November 16 and TODAY (November 30) will be put into a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card. Orders slowed a bit over the holiday, so if you purchase today, you have a pretty darn good shot at that gift card! I’ll let you know who won in my next update.

Thank you all for your support!

Best,
Susan

PS. As always, in case the embedded link doesn’t take, here’s the full link: https://inkshares.com/books/shadow-king

Susan K. Hamilton · Author · added almost 9 years ago · 2 likes

Hello everyone!

First, I’d like to wish all of you who live in the U.S. a very happy Thanksgiving. Hope you all had a wonderful day.

A lot of exciting things going on -- I’m thrilled to let you all know that "Shadow King" was included in The Launchpad’s "Top Ten" finalists list. I’m excited and honored to be there and looking forward to finding out who the final winners are.

For the Inkshares prize, you’ve all helped me make some great progress this past week or so, and I saw "Shadow King" go from 6th to 4th and back a little again. Now that the holiday is behind me, I’m hoping to get some more pre-orders into the queue.

I mentioned in my last update that as a thank you to everyone who ordered before November 16, I was going to hold a drawing for two different $25 Amazon gift cards. The lucky winners are JANET CHIASSON and SUE TIBBETTS FINDLEY. Congrats -- your gift cards are in the mail and you should have them soon.

If you haven’t yet pre-ordered your copy of "Shadow King," you still have time before the competition ends on December 16! I will be holding drawings for two more $25 Amazon gift cards for NEW readers... one will be for new readers who order between November 16 and November 30, and the other will be for new readers who order between December 1 and December 16.

Thank you all again for your support and interest in "Shadow King."

All the best,

Susan

Susan K. Hamilton · Author · added almost 9 years ago

Hello, Shadow King Fans & Followers!

This update is a little sooner than expected, but I wanted to share some great news: we’ve officially reached 100 readers, and Shadow King is less than 10 readers away from moving into 4th place on the leaderboard!

As a "thank you" for everyone who has supported Shadow King from the start, we’ll be holding a special raffle. Everyone who pre-ordered an e-book or paperback before November 16 will have his or her name entered in this raffle and be eligible to win one of two $25 Amazon gift cards.

I will announce the winners in my next update.

In addition, two more $25 Amazon gift cards will be raffled off to NEW readers who pre-order copies before the end of the competition on December 16.

One gift card will be awarded to a lucky reader who places his or her order between November 16 and November 30. The second gift card will be awarded to a reader who orders between December 1 and December 16. Every new reader will receive one raffle entry for every advance order of "Shadow King" that is ordered (so, a reader who orders one copy will get one raffle entry; a reader who purchases three advance copies will receive three raffle entries). I’ll announce the winners at the conclusion of each raffle window.

Good luck!

Best, Susan

P.S. I seem to be having a bit of trouble getting my page link embedded in my message tonight, so just to be safe, here it is in long form: https://www.inkshares.com/books/shadow-king?referral_code036449cb

Susan K. Hamilton · Author · added almost 9 years ago

Alexander, no they are not. They are the result of a google search for b/w photos of dark eyes.

Alexander Barnes · Author · added almost 9 years ago

Are those the Former living Artist, formerly known as Prince’s eyes on the cover? :P