tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post8904970363373500910..comments2024-03-28T12:01:31.049-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Jackals, Hyenas, and Sharks, Oh My!Jim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-526457110357991622013-05-29T21:16:06.915-04:002013-05-29T21:16:06.915-04:00Thank you, Linda. This is very good information. I...Thank you, Linda. This is very good information. I'm not ready to submit my WIP yet, so the timing is right. I've already joined SinC and have learned quite a lot from my local groups, but this information is something I hadn't yet put into perspective.<br /><br />I am so very sorry about what happened to your friend.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-50539674350563171442013-05-27T21:55:20.828-04:002013-05-27T21:55:20.828-04:00Kara, I think she will. She's a strong woman. ...Kara, I think she will. She's a strong woman. But I'd just as soon see it never happen to another writer out there.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-9405105722999442402013-05-27T18:29:14.647-04:002013-05-27T18:29:14.647-04:00Thank you for the information and links, Linda. I&...Thank you for the information and links, Linda. I'm sorry this happened to your friend and hope she continues to write despite this horrible experience.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-68586264274638290132013-05-27T15:30:41.365-04:002013-05-27T15:30:41.365-04:00Gloria, when scamming companies are willing to lie...Gloria, when scamming companies are willing to lie and cheat, honest writers have a hard time. That's why it's important to belong to organizations like SinC and check with them and with Writer Beware. They'll keep the writer from losing lots of money and self-esteem by steering them away from con operations.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-49752173040628485922013-05-27T15:03:22.781-04:002013-05-27T15:03:22.781-04:00Linda, a young woman in my local writing group was...Linda, a young woman in my local writing group was excited when she got a publisher for her fantasy book. When she mentioned Publish America, bells went off. I checked the website and found lots of complaints. Then I asked the Guppies about it and found out my feelings were valid. They, in fact, changed their name regularly. I contacted the young woman, and she said the complaints were from writers who didn't sell well so they blamed Publish America. She was wrong. Her book had so many errors and was extremely high priced, even for her as an author, and she had to pay to have it published. She told me later she wished she had listened to me.<br /><br />Fast forward to a library author signing event I recently attended. The woman sitting next to me when on and on about her publisher - I forget the name, but then she admitted her books were a little overpriced. She said it was the same publisher who published J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. No way was that true, but she fell for it. A friend of mine had attended another book signing of hers and bought the book. It was so full of errors, that my friend tossed the book before getting half way through it. This woman had at least a half dozen books published through this publisher. The man sitting on the other side of me had a Publish America book, too, but at least he admitted it was not only over priced, but he was ashamed of the errors in it.<br /><br />You are so right, Linda, how vulnerable writers are to the scammers, and it's need more than greed. After spending so much time and love in writing, one wants to see their books in print. They need to do more research. I know I used get offers all the time in the mail from publishers looking for writers - offers I pitched. They probably got my name because I subscribe to Writers Digest. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-3649949493000646252013-05-27T12:18:40.903-04:002013-05-27T12:18:40.903-04:00Warren, you're so right! As Jim said, they pre...Warren, you're so right! As Jim said, they prey on our need or greed, and I think with most writers it's need.<br /><br />Writing is a lonely business, and most of society doesn't value any of what we do until we have a book published with a big publisher and/or get our names in the papers, etc. (Actually, I've had that and find that most of society still doesn't value what I do. :-( ) <br /><br />So we're always fighting that voice inside that says, "You're just fooling yourself." When a scammer comes around with what seems like a genuine opportunity sent from above, it's natural for people to jump at it. One thing to note is that legit publishers do not charge you money--they pay you money (maybe a tiny bit but still that's the direction it goes, from them to you).Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-11280114322367370412013-05-27T11:37:00.481-04:002013-05-27T11:37:00.481-04:00Unfortunately the scammers are skilled at developi...Unfortunately the scammers are skilled at developing new cons and changing their business names to entrap new victims. It is necessary to read contracts carefully before you sign them and if it sounds too good to be true, if probably is not true.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-76881940765919711682013-05-27T11:12:49.953-04:002013-05-27T11:12:49.953-04:00Jim, you're so right! That's why I love wh...Jim, you're so right! That's why I love what Writer Beware does for all the writers out there. Even though it comes out of SFWA, you don't have to be a member of any organization to ask them to check out a publisher, agent, editing service, publicist, etc. And they put their findings about the bad ones out there for everyone to access. A lot of work and hassle (they have been threatened and harassed by some of these bad guys) for the sake of other writers!Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-51814379611066578142013-05-27T10:47:20.765-04:002013-05-27T10:47:20.765-04:00Scammers always prey on either our sense of need o...Scammers always prey on either our sense of need or sense of greed. For writers, it is almost always our perceived needs the choose to exploit. <br /><br />I do invest in my writing career, attending conferences and master classes. However, I will not line someone’s pockets simply to see my words in print. My attitude is that if someone is not willing to pay me (albeit a pittance) to publish my works, then whatever I have written does not deserve to see the light of day.<br /><br />The best way to limit the damage these people do is shine a bright light on their practices and name names.<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-14237684244111688382013-05-27T10:44:02.584-04:002013-05-27T10:44:02.584-04:00Thanks, Shari. Hope it was helpful.Thanks, Shari. Hope it was helpful.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-77053674422241733342013-05-27T10:42:55.959-04:002013-05-27T10:42:55.959-04:00EB, I don't think she's joined a national ...EB, I don't think she's joined a national writers' group. I'm going to recommend that. The trouble was that the freelance editor she had hired to get professional feedback so she could make her book really good told her this publisher was the #3 publisher in the country and totally reputable! I imagine there were kickbacks involved there. :-(Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-32373242167392673232013-05-27T09:38:56.424-04:002013-05-27T09:38:56.424-04:00Linda, I am so sorry this happened to your friend....Linda, I am so sorry this happened to your friend. Thank you for sharing her story and this information.Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-48451196234740337032013-05-27T07:25:05.320-04:002013-05-27T07:25:05.320-04:00Writers are so desperate to get published it's...Writers are so desperate to get published it's easy for predators to take advantage of them. I'm sorry for your friend. Has she joined writers' groups that could provide her with the knowledge to arm herself?<br /><br />There are so many sharks out there ready to rip-off new writers. Sorry she had to find out the hard way. Beware of flatterers!E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.com