Old Friends and Good Times!

Thanks to all of you who stopped by the blog last week and got your download of Dead to the Max. I hope you all enjoy. If you asked for it and didn't receive it, email me at skully[at]skullybuzz[dot]com, as I did send to all who asked. Heck, it you missed Max last week, feel free to post on the October 20th blog (include your email please) and say “I want Max, I want Max!” I’ll send you a download, too! Everyone gets one! Let’s keep this going!!!!

This week I’ve got a very special offering. The book I’m giving away is Flower of Passion by my great friend Rose Lerma. I love this story. I read it way back in its infancy when Rose and I were in a critique group together. I also read Seducing Annie, another wonderful book. So, you know the rules by now, post a comment along with your email address, and I’ll enter you in the drawing for Rose’s book. I’ll announce the winner next Monday! Now you all must go over to Rose’s Site and read the tag line Flower of Passion. It’s wonderful!

And that’s what this week’s blog is all about, wonderful friends, wonderful critique groups. Rose Lerma, Pamela Britton, Cherry Adair, and I met over 10 years ago and finally had our first signing on October 18th, all now published. See, it can happen, where there’s determination and hard work. It was a long haul with lots of rejection and disappointment, but we all made it! I think our experiences toughened us up, made us more resolved to succeed, no matter what. I’ve attached a couple of photos for your enjoyment.

Now I’m going to have Rose say a word or two.

“OMG, Jen, I'm still flying high from our reunion. The 4 of us hadn't been together since we all moved away from the San Francisco east bay. And the icing on the cake was that we all had published books to sign! You're so right, determination & hard work paid off, but I'd also add encouragement from your critique partners to that success recipe. Love ya all!”

We’d love to hear about your experiences with a group of friends who stood by you and helped you succeed. Please do share with us.

And for those of you who are writers, the Silicon Valley chapter of RWA is having the Gotcha Contest. Finalists go to editors! Dead to the Max won the Gotcha way back when! You have until November 12th to enter.

Jasmine, Jennifer and JB!
http://www.skullybuzz.com/
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A free download of Dead to the Max to EVERYONE!

The winner of a download of Burning Bridges from my wonderful friend Anne Krist is Phyllis. You’ve got a real prize here, Phyllis, you’re going to love Burning Bridges. So please email me at skully [at] skullybuzz [dot] com to claim your download. Since I don’t have your email address, please let me know within 24 hours.

This week, as promised, I’m doing something a little different. I’m giving away a pdf download of Dead to the Max by JB Skully. In case you didn’t know, that’s me! Yet another multiple. This is the first Max Starr book, and there’s five total in the series which you can get through LiquidSilverBooks. Look under "Titles by Author". You’ll find an excerpt over there, too. Now here’s the thing. I’m going to give a download to ANYONE who posts on the blog this week. All you must do is put your email address in the comment. I’ll add you to my newsletter if you’re not already a member, but also, this is the only way I can send Dead to the Max to you, by email, so if you don’t leave your address, I won’t be sending that free copy. If you’re worried about those web crawlie thingies that get your address, just type it in like I did my address in the first paragraph.

I love the Max Starr series, and I would love to introduce a new generation of e-book readers to Max and Witt and Cameron. As I was writing the series, I fell deeply in love with Witt. Max gets involved in a series of killings and Witt’s the detective who investigates her, tries to protect her, and falls for her. Okay, I fell in love with Witt’s mom, too. You know how I always talk about my mom, well, she’s a lot like Witt’s mom. Of course, there’s Cameron, too, Max’s husband. Cameron is the man of Max’s dreams, but there’s one small problem, he was murdered a couple of years ago. Max still talks to him. And he talks back. He’s the ghost that just can’t go to his final rest. And really, how can Max choose between the love of her life and the man of her dreams?

So, leave a comment and your email and give Max a try!

I also promised some news about Show and Tell! My local radio station is going to read Show and Tell aloud on the air! Yes, the whole thing!!!! Okay, they’re going to have to do some bleeping, but every day at 6:35 am, they’re going to read a minute of it. Every day for about 3 months! Wow.

And for those of you who are writers, the Silicon Valley chapter of RWA is having the GotchaContest. Finalists go to editors! Dead to the Max won the Gotcha way back when!

Jasmine, Jennifer and JB!
http://www.skullybuzz.com/
Newsletter: skullybuzz-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Gremlins in the Machine

The winner of Carrie’s Answer from the wonderful duo, Violet Summers is Kim Sutton! Congratulations, Kim. I’ll be having the Violets get in touch with you for the transfer. You’re going to love it. This weekend I did get to start Daniel’s Surrender, the third book in the Worthington Group series. Wow! I’m 3/4s through, and...WOW! I’m loving it.

This week as our prize for commenting on the blog, we have Burning Bridges by AnneKrist. Burning Bridges is a wonderful book that I had the pleasure reading in its infancy. Anne also writes as Dee S. Knight. On being a winner, remember, if I don’t hear from you within 24 hours of my posting the winner on the blog, I’ll have to choose another, so be sure to check back next Monday. If you put your email in your blog comment (hint, hint!), then you’re set! Plus you’ll get my newsletter telling you about new releases and contests, and I know you want that!!

I think I have ghosts in the house. I was doing my hair in the bathroom, and suddenly I heard water running in the pipes. I searched all over the house, listened to the toilets, and I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. Then I stepped out into the garage, and the washing machine had turned on all by itself and was filling with water. There weren’t any clothes in it. And it was on the rinse cycle! How did it do that?! The garage door was open so I’m thinking some stalker sneaked in and turned it on. But the dog didn’t bark. And really, what stalker is going to start my washing machine? I’m confounded. Of course, so I didn’t waste the water, I filled the tub with clothes and washed them. I still can’t figure it out. But, I know exactly the book I can use it in! I’m working on a Jennifer Skully WIP where my heroine’s house actually has a life of its own. So see, everything can be used in a book, absolutely everything!

But really, how do you think my washing machine turned on all by itself?

Jasmine and Jennifer
http://www.skullybuzz.com/
Newsletter: skullybuzz-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

PS Next week I’ll have some news about Show and Tell to share! At least I hope I will. And don't forget! The week of the 20th, I'll be giving away a download of Dead to the Max to everyone who leaves me their email on their comment!

Sneak Peek! Fair Game Cover!

Congratulations! The winner of a Leigh Wyndfield download is Rita Hogan. Rita, you’re in for a great treat if you haven’t already tried one of Leigh’s books. I’ll be having Leigh get in touch with you for the transfer.

This week as our prize for commenting on the blog, we have Carrie’s Answer from the wonderful duo, Violet Summers. You can check out all their books on their site. I adored the hot, hot Carrie’s Answer and the second in the trilogy, Meredith’s Awakening. I’m saving Daniel’s Surrender as my reward for finishing the first story in my Courtesans trilogy. And don’t miss the Violets’ upcoming Sinful Treats. Originally due out today, it’ll be coming to LiquidSilver in the next couple of weeks. On being a winner, remember, if I don’t hear from you within 24 hours of my posting the winner on the blog, I’ll have to choose another, so be sure to check back next Monday. If you put your email in your blog comment (hint, hint!), then you’re set! Plus you’ll get my newsletter telling you about new releases and contests, and I know you want that!!

I’ve got good news and bad news. First, I got the cover for Fair Game. First there was Faith in The Fortune Hunter, then Trinity in Show and Tell and finally, Josie’s story in Fair Game. And she is a wild one, let me tell you. Fair Game will be a Berkley Heat release, meaning it’s going to be hot, hotter, hottest. I really don’t think I can let Mom read this one! And Berkley has given me a wonderful new cover look. I haven’t posted it on the site yet, so this is the first time you all get to see it. I love it. Now for the bad news. The original release date was April 2009, but I just heard it won’t be out until June 2009. Boohoo.

So, what do you all think of the cover!? If you love it, feel free to say so. If you hate it, feel free to lie and say you love it! I’m all for telling little white lies to save my feelings!

Jasmine and Jennifer
http://www.skullybuzz.com/
Newsletter: skullybuzz-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

PS I’m preparing you now. The giveaway the week of October 20th will be a download of Dead to the Max, the first book in the Max Starr series. Don’t miss that blog! Because I’ll be giving it to ANYONE who posts (but you MUST leave your email address).