EARLY READER & LISTENER CONTESTS

1. Sponsor

Crowley Clark LLC, 8101 College Ave, Ste 130, Overland Park, KS 66210, info@crowleyclark.com ("Sponsor").

 

2. Two contests covered by these rules

• ARC Contest (Round 1 and Round 2), promoted on Instagram at @crowleyclarkbooks.

• Audio ARC Contest, promoted on Instagram at @crowleyclarkbooks.

These rules do not cover the Reader Launch Sweepstakes or the Indie Author Scholarship, which have their own rules at crowleyclark.com/contest.

 

3. No purchase necessary

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Buying a book, preordering, or requesting a library copy will not improve your chances.

 

4. Contest periods and key dates

• ARC Contest Round 1 entry period: July 17, 2026 to October 20, 2026

• ARC application deadline: October 20, 2026

• Audio ARC Contest period: August 21, 2026 to October 21, 2026

• ARC Contest Round 2 completion confirmation deadline: October 25, 2026 (11:59 PM Central Time)

• Audio ARC Contest completion confirmation deadline: October 21, 2026 (11:59 PM Central Time). The book is released October 20, 2026.

• Winners drawn and announced: October 26, 2026

• Book release date: October 20, 2026 

 

5. Eligibility

• Age. Participants must be at least 18 years old and at least the age of majority where they live.

• ARC Contest. Open to legal residents of any country, except as stated below.

• Audio ARC Contest. Open to legal residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (excluding Quebec), except as stated below.

• Excluded locations. The contests are void in Quebec and in any country or region where applicable law prohibits the contest or the delivery of the prize, including locations subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions. 

• Not eligible. Sponsor, its employees and contractors, anyone involved in running the contests, and the immediate family and household members of any of them.

• Prize delivery by location. Physical prizes are available only to winners with a U.S. address. Winners outside the U.S. receive e-gift cards (Round 1) and either audiobooks or e-gift cards (Round 2). Where a physical prize would otherwise be won, Sponsor will substitute an e-gift card or audiobook of approximately equal retail value. Gift cards are subject to availability in the winner's country.

• Void where prohibited by law.

 

6. Complimentary copies and reviews

• Advance reader copies (ARCs) and advance audiobook copies are provided free. They are not given in exchange for a review, and no one is required to post a review for any reason.

• Reviews are optional. Whether you post a review, where you post it, when you post it, and what it says has no effect on your eligibility, your entries, or your chances of winning.

• Sponsor will not ask for, collect, or count review links as part of any contest.

• If you choose to post a review, you are encouraged to say that you received a free advance copy.

 

7. ARC Contest

Round 1 (participation drawing)

How to enter: On the Round 1 Instagram post, (a) follow @crowleyclarkbooks, (b) like and save the post, and (c) tag two friends in a comment and tell Sponsor what you are most excited about with the SHADOWS OF THE FATHERS release. Sending a DM with your email address to join the newsletter and receive the first two chapters is a separate, optional bonus. It is not required to enter Round 1 and does not affect your chances of winning.

Prizes: Five (5) digital gift cards, each valued at $25 USD, redeemable at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or the winner's choice of retailer, subject to availability in the winner's country.

Selection: Five winners will be drawn at random on October 26, 2026, from all eligible entrants.

 

Round 2 (completion drawing)

Step 1, apply: Apply to be an ARC reader at Story Origin or request a print copy (subject to availability) at any time up to October 20, 2026.

Step 2, approval: Fifty initial applicants who requested the ARC were approved. Applicants who apply close to October 20 will have limited time to finish before the October 25 confirmation deadline.

Step 3, finish and confirm: To be eligible for the Round 2 drawing, selected ARC readers must finish reading SHADOWS OF THE FATHERS and confirm completion by October 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time by sending an Instagram DM to @crowleyclarkbooks or an email to info@crowleyclark.com, with your name and Instagram handle or the email address you applied with, stating that you finished the book. Confirmation is based on that short statement alone. No review is required, and no review link or proof will be requested.

Prizes (10 winners): Winners are drawn at random on October 26, 2026 from all eligible ARC readers who confirmed completion. Ten (10) winners are drawn, and each winner receives one of the following prizes:

• Kindle Paperwhite 12th Generation, Signature Edition (1 winner).Approximate retail value: $249.99.

• Swag bag (6 winners). Each bag contains books and a T-shirt or hat. Contents vary. Approximate retail value: $75 per bag.

• Signed book bundle (3 winners). Each bundle contains a signed copy of SHADOWS OF THE FATHERS with one of three limited-run bookplates, a free SHADOWS OF THE FATHERS audiobook narrated by Eric G. Dove, and a $50 e-gift card. Approximate retail value: $76 to $78 per bundle ($17.99 signed paperback, audiobook valued at $7.99 to $9.99, and $50 e-gift card).

• Prize order: Ten names are drawn in sequence. The first name drawn receives the Kindle, the next three names drawn receive the signed book bundles, and the remaining six names drawn receive swag bags. If a winner is disqualified or does not respond within seven (7) days, the next name drawn in sequence is used as an alternate.

 

8. Audio ARC Contest

How to join: On the Audio ARC Instagram post, (a) follow @crowleyclarkbooks, (b) like and save the post, (c) tag two friends in a comment and tell Sponsor about one of your favorite audiobook narration performances, and (d) DM Sponsor your email address to join the Audio ARC Team, set up through BookFunnel.

Approval of listeners: Every eligible person who asked to join the Audio ARC Team was approved. Approved listeners received access to their advance audiobook copy by BookFunnel using the email address they provided.

Eligibility for the drawing: To be eligible, selected listeners must finish listening to the audiobook and confirm completion by October 21, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Time by sending an Instagram DM to @crowleyclarkbooks or an email to info@crowleyclark.com, with your name and the email address you joined with, stating that you finished the audiobook. No review is required, and no review link or proof will be requested.

Prizes (3 winners): Three winners are drawn at random on October 26, 2026, from all eligible listeners who confirmed completion:

1. The Agent Pack: Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. Approximate retail value: $179.

2. The Safehouse Speaker: Apple HomePod mini. Approximate retail value: $129.

3. The Operational Fund: $50 Apple gift card. Approximate retail value: $50.

Automatic entry in the ARC Contest: Audio ARC Team members are automatically entered in Round 1 of the ARC Contest. Audio ARC Team members who finish the audiobook and confirm completion by October 21, 2026 are also entered in the Round 2 drawing using that same confirmation. No separate confirmation and no review is required. 

Prize values summary

Approximate retail values in US dollars, based on retailer list prices in 2026.

• ARC Round 1: five $25 digital gift cards, $125.00 total

• ARC Round 2: one Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, $249.99

• ARC Round 2: six swag bags at $75.00 each, $450.00 total

• ARC Round 2: three signed book bundles (signed paperback, audiobook, $50 e-gift card) at $75.98 to $77.98 each, $227.94 to $233.94 total

• Audio ARC: AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, $179.00

• Audio ARC: HomePod mini, $129.00

• Audio ARC: $50 Apple gift card, $50.00

• Total: about $1,411 to $1,417

 

9. Winner selection and odds

• All winners are selected by random drawing using Random.org.

• One entry per person per round. Duplicate, fraudulent, or automated entries, and multiple accounts, are disqualified.

• Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entrants and, for Round 2 and the Audio ARC Contest, on the number of people who confirm completion.

 

10. Notification and claiming prizes

• Winners are announced on the relevant Instagram post on October 26, 2026 and contacted by Instagram DM or email using the contact details they provided.

• Winners must respond within seven (7) days with required information, including a shipping address (U.S. only for physical prizes) or an email address for digital prizes. If a winner does not respond, Sponsor may draw an alternate winner.

• Prizes are non-transferable. Sponsor may substitute a prize of equal or greater value if a prize is unavailable.

• Taxes. Winners are responsible for any taxes on prizes. Sponsor will ask winners only for the name and delivery details needed to send the prize.

• Winners in Canada. Winners who reside in Canada may be required to correctly answer a time-limited, unaided mathematical skill-testing question before the prize is awarded.

 

11. Amendment notice

These Official Rules supersede any other versions, including those on Instagram or posted elsewhere, including those under which eligibility for Round 2 of the ARC Contest and for the Audio ARC Contest depended on posting a review. Eligibility is based only on finishing the book and confirming completion. Reviews are optional and have no effect on eligibility, entries, or chances of winning.

• Everyone who entered at any time from the start of these contests remains entered unless they withdraw. No one has to resubmit anything.

• Anyone who has submitted a review link or posted a review does not receive any additional entries or credit, and anyone who does not review is not disadvantaged.

 

12. Data and privacy

• Sponsor collects names, Instagram handles, email addresses, and delivery details only as needed to run the contests, send advance copies, contact winners, and deliver prizes.

• Sponsor does not sell this information. It is shared only with service providers needed to carry out the contests (for example, BookFunnel to deliver advance copies, and gift card or shipping providers to deliver prizes).

• To ask about, correct, or delete your information, email info@crowleyclark.com.

• Crowley Clark privacy policy: https://www.crowleyclark.com/privacy-policy

 

13. General conditions

• These contests are in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, BookFunnel, or any other third party.

• Sponsor may cancel, suspend, or modify a contest if fraud, technical failure, or another cause beyond its control prevents it from running as intended.

• By entering, participants agree to these rules and to Sponsor's decisions on all matters relating to the contests, which are final.

• Governing law and disputes. These rules are governed by the laws of the State of Kansas, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Johnson County, Kansas, except where local law gives a participant the right to bring a claim where they live.

• Questions: email info@crowleyclark.com or DM @crowleyclarkbooks.