I'm not surprised. As Jessica said, there's always 'new blood' coming in that is not aware of how things work. I was more surprised (though I shouldn't be) by the post earlier in the week when she detailed her auto-reply's 'conversation' with an equally-clueless (and increasingly-angry) 'author.'
Even reputable self-publishers (and there are some) will get every penny out of a writer they can. One of the biggest wastes is to hire one of their "publicists."
I read that. Scammers just piss me off. You should crawl in a tub and stay there all day...not in hiding...just a bath. Hope you return from the dead soon and look like a hot vampire. Have a good one! :)
I saw that - makes you really want to pay attention and get the correct information about some of these publishing groups. I hope that author ran the other way rather than signing that contract!
Thanks for the link. SO important to be careful. It's sad and infuriating when new authors run into scammers who take advantage of their hopes and dreams.
Thanks for the link. It's horrible that there are people out there trying to take advantage, but such is life, right? Thank goodness there are sites that alert people to the scammers out in the world.
Ha! Donna, I got really confused for a minute. Jessica had updated her blog with a new post since you originally linked, and I ended up reading a query critique wondering what the heck?
Then i scrolled down and saw what you were referring to. Yeah, my heart breaks for naive writers who get caught in these scams. Especially when a Google search is just a click away. Very disturbing that these scammers still get away with this.
I love the Bookends blog! That was a good post, too, although I admit posts like that always scare me a little. Still, it's better to be informed, isn't it?
I never add an agent or editor to my to-query list until I've checked them out on P&E first. And I wouldn't dream of letting a professional see my MS until it's been rewritten to death and then given the okay by several beta-readers I trust. Poor lady, hope she learned eventually...
I love Predators and Editors. I live by that website. It's like a writer's bible...
ReplyDeleteMust visit there sometime.
ReplyDeleteHave a good day.
Yvonne.
I'm not surprised. As Jessica said, there's always 'new blood' coming in that is not aware of how things work. I was more surprised (though I shouldn't be) by the post earlier in the week when she detailed her auto-reply's 'conversation' with an equally-clueless (and increasingly-angry) 'author.'
ReplyDeleteYikes, I hate stories like that. Thanks for spreading the word... There are definitely murky waters here...
ReplyDeleteEven reputable self-publishers (and there are some) will get every penny out of a writer they can. One of the biggest wastes is to hire one of their "publicists."
ReplyDeleteI read that. Scammers just piss me off. You should crawl in a tub and stay there all day...not in hiding...just a bath. Hope you return from the dead soon and look like a hot vampire. Have a good one! :)
ReplyDeleteI saw that - makes you really want to pay attention and get the correct information about some of these publishing groups. I hope that author ran the other way rather than signing that contract!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. SO important to be careful. It's sad and infuriating when new authors run into scammers who take advantage of their hopes and dreams.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. It's horrible that there are people out there trying to take advantage, but such is life, right? Thank goodness there are sites that alert people to the scammers out in the world.
ReplyDeleteHi, Donna, good warning. I always check Preds & Eds for that reason.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, I left you an award on my blog -- The Versatile Blogger Award. Stop by and pick it up.
I think we're going to have to more and more aware of small presses and really looking at the contracts. I'm not that surprised.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I appreciate our information-sharing networks so much. :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. I hope you got some rest!
Tell them you're not quite dead yet!
ReplyDeleteHa! Donna, I got really confused for a minute. Jessica had updated her blog with a new post since you originally linked, and I ended up reading a query critique wondering what the heck?
ReplyDeleteThen i scrolled down and saw what you were referring to. Yeah, my heart breaks for naive writers who get caught in these scams. Especially when a Google search is just a click away. Very disturbing that these scammers still get away with this.
I love the Bookends blog! That was a good post, too, although I admit posts like that always scare me a little. Still, it's better to be informed, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteYou meant yesterday post, right? Today's was a critque of a query for a YA novel.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked when I saw the naive writer's comment. I feel sorry for her for not seeing the publisher for what it was.
I hope you've recovered from your 'death' ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised that there are people out there preying on the poor writer who so desperately wants to get published. Pays to be aware.
Sad, but not surprising. I have P&E bookmarked, and it is one of my obligatory steps in checking out anyone before I consider querying them.
ReplyDeleteOh, this is an excellent post. thank you for the shout out! :)
ReplyDelete♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
Can Alex save Winter from the darkness that hunts her?
YA Paranormal Romance, Darkspell coming fall of 2011!
I have Editors and Predators bookmarked. So many scamming people posing as agents and publishers out there.
ReplyDeleteI never add an agent or editor to my to-query list until I've checked them out on P&E first. And I wouldn't dream of letting a professional see my MS until it's been rewritten to death and then given the okay by several beta-readers I trust. Poor lady, hope she learned eventually...
ReplyDeleteYikes. This is akin to a 419 scam: just prey on the desperate if you really want to make money. Geez.
ReplyDeleteI read it and thanks for the scam alert! You're the best. Hope you're back alive soon!
ReplyDelete