Offered: Critique of the Law in Your Manuscript by Melinda Skye

What You Are Bidding On:

A critique of the legal jibber-jabber in your manuscript.

Description:

You are bidding on the chance to have a real life lawyer read any legalese or legal scenarios you've written and be told how plausible and/or realistic they are. When not killing terrorists with ink or drafting epic fantasy prose, Skye slaves away as a lawyer in the real world. Her three years of torture in law school have to be good for something, so here's your chance. If you have a legal scenario, lawyers shouting "Objection!" or a convoluted plot that hinges on a legal idea, I'll read it and tell you just how crappy it is. Or shower praise upon you for being more realistic than Law and Order. Trust me, efficient and effective legalese is harder than it seems. Just adding a bunch of heretoafters and forthwiths does not a good legal argument make. I'll shape up your lawyers or die trying.

Bio:

Skye became the black sheep of her university's literature department when she announced that what she really wanted to do for her senior thesis, instead of writing a thought-provoking essay on the deeper meanings of James Joyce, was to write a romance novel. They gave in, however, and the rest is history. As a result, Skye learned more than she ever thought possible about the inner workings of the publishing industry and off and on, given her schedule, pursued publication of both her senior thesis and other novels she's written along the way. Skye has many names and almost as many personalities to go with them. As Melinda Skye, she writes Romantic Suspense. As Skye Forbes, she writes Urban Fantasy. In her real life, under yet another different name, Skye is a lawyer. And yes, if you ask nicely, she might help keep you out of jail. Or put you in it. It depends on her mood.

Minimum Bid: 

$30

Geographical Restrictions: 

None

How to Bid:

In the comment section, leave a message with the amount you are bidding. We ask that you pledge in whole dollar increments ($1, $5, etc), and in US funds. Remember to only bid what you'll be able to commit to.

Bidding is open until February 15, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. PST (8:00 p.m. EST) so check back on your favorite auctions and bid often!

When the auction has closed, we'll email you about your winning status. We ask that you donate directly to Crestline Elementary (payment options will be forwarded) and send us the receipt as verification. If we haven't heard back from you within forty-eight hours, we'll send one more email (check your spam folders) and if nothing is heard twenty-four hours after that, we'll move to the next highest bidder.

Offered: Critique of the Law in Your Manuscript by Melinda Skye

What You Are Bidding On:

A critique of the legal jibber-jabber in your manuscript.

Description:

You are bidding on the chance to have a real life lawyer read any legalese or legal scenarios you've written and be told how plausible and/or realistic they are. When not killing terrorists with ink or drafting epic fantasy prose, Skye slaves away as a lawyer in the real world. Her three years of torture in law school have to be good for something, so here's your chance. If you have a legal scenario, lawyers shouting "Objection!" or a convoluted plot that hinges on a legal idea, I'll read it and tell you just how crappy it is. Or shower praise upon you for being more realistic than Law and Order. Trust me, efficient and effective legalese is harder than it seems. Just adding a bunch of heretoafters and forthwiths does not a good legal argument make. I'll shape up your lawyers or die trying.

Bio:

Skye became the black sheep of her university's literature department when she announced that what she really wanted to do for her senior thesis, instead of writing a thought-provoking essay on the deeper meanings of James Joyce, was to write a romance novel. They gave in, however, and the rest is history. As a result, Skye learned more than she ever thought possible about the inner workings of the publishing industry and off and on, given her schedule, pursued publication of both her senior thesis and other novels she's written along the way. Skye has many names and almost as many personalities to go with them. As Melinda Skye, she writes Romantic Suspense. As Skye Forbes, she writes Urban Fantasy. In her real life, under yet another different name, Skye is a lawyer. And yes, if you ask nicely, she might help keep you out of jail. Or put you in it. It depends on her mood.

Minimum Bid: 

$30

Geographical Restrictions: 

None

How to Bid:

In the comment section, leave a message with the amount you are bidding. We ask that you pledge in whole dollar increments ($1, $5, etc), and in US funds. Remember to only bid what you'll be able to commit to.

Bidding is open until February 15, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. PST (8:00 p.m. EST) so check back on your favorite auctions and bid often!

When the auction has closed, we'll email you about your winning status. We ask that you donate directly to Crestline Elementary (payment options will be forwarded) and send us the receipt as verification. If we haven't heard back from you within forty-eight hours, we'll send one more email (check your spam folders) and if nothing is heard twenty-four hours after that, we'll move to the next highest bidder.

Offered: First Chapter Critique from Melinda Skye

What You Are Bidding On:

A critique of your first chapter by Melinda Skye.

Description:

You are bidding on the right to have your first chapter chewed up and spit out, covered in red ink (literally or figuratively) and edited to within an inch of its life. We can rebuild it! A first chapter needs to hook in your readers and Skye has been known to spend weeks considering the perfect first sentence of her books. If your poor, flabby first chapter needs to be taken to the gym and beefed up, she's your girl. Note: she does not guarantee polite, namby pamby criticism, so don't come crying to her if she hurts your feelings. Besides, after your editor/agent blesses you with glowing praise about your brilliant first chapter, you won't want to cry at all.

Bio:

Skye became the black sheep of her university's literature department when she announced that what she really wanted to do for her senior thesis, instead of writing a thought-provoking essay on the deeper meanings of James Joyce, was to write a romance novel. They gave in, however, and the rest is history. As a result, Skye learned more than she ever thought possible about the inner workings of the publishing industry and off and on, given her schedule, pursued publication of both her senior thesis and other novels she's written along the way. Skye has many names and almost as many personalities to go with them. As Melinda Skye, she writes Romantic Suspense. As Skye Forbes, she writes Urban Fantasy. In her real life, under yet another different name, Skye is a lawyer. And yes, if you ask nicely, she might help keep you out of jail. Or put you in it. It depends on her mood.

Minimum Bid: 

$20

Geographical Restrictions: 

None

How to Bid:

In the comment section, leave a message with the amount you are bidding. We ask that you pledge in whole dollar increments ($1, $5, etc), and in US funds. Remember to only bid what you'll be able to commit to.

Bidding is open until February 15, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. PST (8:00 p.m. EST) so check back on your favorite auctions and bid often!

When the auction has closed, we'll email you about your winning status. We ask that you donate directly to Crestline Elementary (payment options will be forwarded) and send us the receipt as verification. If we haven't heard back from you within forty-eight hours, we'll send one more email (check your spam folders) and if nothing is heard twenty-four hours after that, we'll move to the next highest bidder.

Offered: Signed Copy of Misdirection by Melinda Skye

What You Are Bidding On:

A personalized, signed copy of Misdirection (Awe-Struck, 2011) by Melinda Skye.

Description:

You are bidding on a personalized, signed copy of the romantic suspense novel Misdirection, by Lieutenant Quillstabber herself. A novel of terrorists and the government agents who bring them down. If you aren't bidding on this book, you're letting the terrorists win! Made out to any person, place, creature you wish, signed with great flourish by the delightfully evil author.

Bio:

Skye became the black sheep of her university's literature department when she announced that what she really wanted to do for her senior thesis, instead of writing a thought-provoking essay on the deeper meanings of James Joyce, was to write a romance novel. They gave in, however, and the rest is history. As a result, Skye learned more than she ever thought possible about the inner workings of the publishing industry and off and on, given her schedule, pursued publication of both her senior thesis and other novels she's written along the way. Skye has many names and almost as many personalities to go with them. As Melinda Skye, she writes Romantic Suspense. As Skye Forbes, she writes Urban Fantasy. In her real life, under yet another different name, Skye is a lawyer. And yes, if you ask nicely, she might help keep you out of jail. Or put you in it. It depends on her mood.

Minimum Bid: 

$5

Geographical Restrictions: 

None

How to Bid:

In the comment section, leave a message with the amount you are bidding. We ask that you pledge in whole dollar increments ($1, $5, etc), and in US funds. Remember to only bid what you'll be able to commit to.

Bidding is open until February 15, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. PST (8:00 p.m. EST) so check back on your favorite auctions and bid often!

When the auction has closed, we'll email you about your winning status. We ask that you donate directly to Crestline Elementary (payment options will be forwarded) and send us the receipt as verification. If we haven't heard back from you within forty-eight hours, we'll send one more email (check your spam folders) and if nothing is heard twenty-four hours after that, we'll move to the next highest bidder.

Offered: Query Letter Critique by Melinda Skye

What You Are Bidding On:

A query letter critique by author Melinda Skye.

Description:

You are bidding on the right to have your query letter red-lined, torn apart, and put back together again better, faster, stronger. Known for her ability to draft a query letter that gets the attention of the editors and agents, she's a great guide in helping make your feeble query letter much stronger. Note: she does not guarantee polite, namby pamby criticism, so don't come crying to her if she hurts your feelings. Besides, after your editor/agent asks you for a partial, you won't want to cry at all.

Bio:

Skye became the black sheep of her university's literature department when she announced that what she really wanted to do for her senior thesis, instead of writing a thought-provoking essay on the deeper meanings of James Joyce, was to write a romance novel. They gave in, however, and the rest is history. As a result, Skye learned more than she ever thought possible about the inner workings of the publishing industry and off and on, given her schedule, pursued publication of both her senior thesis and other novels she's written along the way. Skye has many names and almost as many personalities to go with them. As Melinda Skye, she writes Romantic Suspense. As Skye Forbes, she writes Urban Fantasy. In her real life, under yet another different name, Skye is a lawyer. And yes, if you ask nicely, she might help keep you out of jail. Or put you in it. It depends on her mood.

Minimum Bid: 

$10

Geographical Restrictions: 

None

How to Bid:

In the comment section, leave a message with the amount you are bidding. We ask that you pledge in whole dollar increments ($1, $5, etc), and in US funds. Remember to only bid what you'll be able to commit to.

Bidding is open until February 15, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. PST (8:00 p.m. EST) so check back on your favorite auctions and bid often!

When the auction has closed, we'll email you about your winning status. We ask that you donate directly to Crestline Elementary (payment options will be forwarded) and send us the receipt as verification. If we haven't heard back from you within forty-eight hours, we'll send one more email (check your spam folders) and if nothing is heard twenty-four hours after that, we'll move to the next highest bidder.