Check received with contract?

Mel · Sep 22, 2008

Truth or Fiction?

Can't swallow this as truth. And she spent an "entire week on research." Wow. Also, doesn't see anything deceitful in what she did. Umm, okay.

Oh, and does anyone get their mail at 9:30 at night? I suppose if they have a P.O. box and the husband worked, picked it up earlier and didn't get home until then. Maybe. Then again, would a publisher send that kind of stuff to a P.O. box?

Everything seems too far off the wall to me.

Bubastes · Sep 22, 2008

Eh, I suppose anything's possible. I get my mail late at night because I always forget to stop by the mailbox after work. Getting the check with the contract sounds strange. Why would a publisher give out money before the deal's sealed?

I personally wouldn't have used her tactics. I thought she was unprofessional and showed a lack of respect of everyone's time. But then, it seemed to have worked for her, so what the heck do I know?

Deccydiva · Sep 22, 2008

It sounds like complete fiction to me, but stranger things have happened. :Shrug:

I wonder when (if) we're ever going to learn who the publisher is...
Guts? Maybe. Arrogance. Yes. It's put me off her work, if the story's true.

ChaosTitan · Sep 22, 2008

Sounds fishy to me.

One of the first things my agent and I talked about once we accepted the book deal was money (because I had no idea how this stuff worked at the time). Publishers pay once the contract is signed and returned, and payment can take from three weeks to three months to process the check. I can't imagine a reputable publisher cold mailing a check and contract to an unknown writer with whom they were tricked (read: deceived) into meeting for lunch.

Sheryl Nantus · Sep 22, 2008

it looks rather rancid to this old broad's eyes...

I'm curious as to WHO the publisher is. Can't find that info anywhere...

could we be looking at another PA victim?

caromora · Sep 22, 2008

Fiction. No publisher is going to mail out a check before the contracts are even signed. Most of the time, advances are parceled out in two or three chunks, depending on how the contract is negotiated (on signing, on delivery of manuscript, and at publication is common). No publisher is just going to mail out a contract without speaking to the author or agent--at least not in my experience as a former editor.

Also? Her story of conning editors into having lunch with her is just damned creepy, whether it's true or not. I hate to think of some gullible person reading that and thinking it is in any way acceptable.

Bubastes · Sep 22, 2008

Judging from the glowing congratulatory comments on her blog, I'm afraid that others think she's admirable. No wonder agents and publishers are wary of unknown writers. I'd be creeped out myself.

ChaosTitan · Sep 22, 2008

caromora said:
I hate to think of some gullible person reading that and thinking it is in any way acceptable.

A lot of her blog readers seem to think it is, and have applauded for her deception. *sigh*

And after reading a couple of other posts related to this one, she never states flatly that the check she received was from the same editor in which she shared that dubious lunch date. See this post. Everything she writes is so vague (my friend, the publishing house), never naming names, that I just can't bring myself to believe it's true.

Bubastes · Sep 22, 2008

OMG, she is NOT planning to agree to write a second book and have her blog readers help her write it. She is not. I didn't read it.

BUT (isn’t there always a “but?”) the way the contract reads, if I sell a certain number of books, they have the option on the next one. The only two problems are: I don’t have a next one and I don’t PLAN on writing another book. So I won’t. WE WILL. I have created a scenario for a new mystery. And I need AUTHORS! And this IS being done with the blessing of MY editor – my new friend. So come back tomorrow and I’ll explain how it’s going to work. So many of you have not only been supportive, but you are EXCELLENT WRITERS. And I need help. And I’m calling on my friends to help me – so that WE can get published as a group - when my book sells!

OMG, she is. :facepalm:

Yeah, I'm sure an editor for a legitimate house would be A-OK with this. [/sarcasm] This is starting to smell more and more fishy.

Phaeal · Sep 22, 2008

A check sent before the contract was signed or even discussed with agent and author? I doubt it.

Hmm, and openly calling for ghostwriters? My guess is that this, um, highly imaginative individual is hoping to rope some gullible person into writing her "second" book for her.

Oh, and editors don't bother to keep calendars of their appointments? Big house editors who won't look at an unagented MS are so easily tricked into having lunch with an unknown person? Gosh, I'd really hesitate to so insult the intelligence of this powerful group of professionals. Maybe that's just silly little me.

My scam detector's going off. Excuse me while I go shut it down, so annoying.

caromora · Sep 22, 2008

I've been reading through the comments. She also says, "I handed off some papers to a stranger, and the next time I see them, they are going to look a bit different (I imagine galleys?)."

That supposedly happened the day after she received her contract and check. Sorry, but that's just not the way publishing works. The editing process can take months. You don't just "hand something over" and get galleys back.

I call shenanigans. No way will I believe a thing she's saying, unless she publicly states the name of her editor, or at the very least the publisher.

ChaosTitan · Sep 22, 2008

Sheryl Nantus said:
could we be looking at another PA victim?

Doubtful. Even PA won't pay that dollar until contracts are signed.

TerraDawn · Sep 22, 2008

Gees Batman!! This publishing thing sounds so easy!!! Maybe we should write a book!!! Joker? Catwoman? Would you like to help?

Sheryl Nantus · Sep 22, 2008

caromora said:
Also? Her story of conning editors into having lunch with her is just damned creepy, whether it's true or not. I hate to think of some gullible person reading that and thinking it is in any way acceptable.

and she claims that this isn't the first time she's done something along those lines.

at the least, it's deplorable behaviour. At the most, mentally ill.

I'm thinking scam.

anyone want to invite her here to defend herself?

Bubastes · Sep 22, 2008

Sheryl Nantus said:
anyone want to invite her here to defend herself?

Nah, leave her be. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear and all that.

Sheryl Nantus · Sep 22, 2008

MeowGirl said:
Nah, leave her be. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear and all that.

*pouts*

I'm actually more concerned about the replies she's getting that's applauding this silliness. And links to other blogs and so forth.

If people really think that it's THAT easy to get published, well...

five bucks says that it never appears on the shelves due to an "unforseen set of circumstances" that prevent it from being published.

Bubastes · Sep 22, 2008

Hey, if they think publishing is easy, it will make them more likely to give up early when reality hits. That means more room in the slush pile for me.

Mel · Sep 22, 2008

The joint effort to write the next novel seems to be off and running. Skimmed a couple and can't say I'm impressed, although that may just be me.

caromora · Sep 22, 2008

I just worry that the whole thing is a big con. She's having all these other people write a novel...what's to stop her from stealing their work? After all, she's already admitted to conning editors; conning writers isn't so huge a stretch.

I hate to see anyone get ripped off, and I fear that's what is happening. I'd love to be proved wrong about this.

aka eraser · Sep 22, 2008

Smells like the stuff I wrap in newspaper after a day at the lake.

Didn't read the comments but if nobody is calling her on it - there really is a sucker born every minute. And apparently they read blogs.

CACTUSWENDY · Sep 22, 2008

FWIW.....
I think this is a joke. I think she is a joke.

If the ones that left comments are stupid enough to believe this then I feel real sorry for them. They are as bad as she is if they think congratz are in order for this kind of junk.

(This is only my two cents.)

Mel · Sep 22, 2008

Not one did call her on it. If anyone did she could have deleted their comments.

Jersey Chick · Sep 22, 2008

If this is true, then I'll eat my laptop.

No real publisher is going to mail out a check for an advance along with a contract to be signed. Could you imagine the mess if an author cashed said check and just never bothered with the contract? That alone makes it totally unbelievable.

Either this woman's delusional, or toying with people. Either way, I don't believe her story for a second. She's full of something, but I don't think it's success...

willietheshakes · Sep 22, 2008

I call bullshit.

Williebee · Sep 22, 2008

"Scriptor Caveo"

Check received with contract?

Never be completely back to normal.

bananaed

Back from the dead

Around

Holding out for a Superhero...

Still alive. Kind of.

bananaed

Around

bananaed

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Still alive. Kind of.

Around

Holding out for a Superhero...

bananaed

Holding out for a Superhero...

bananaed

Never be completely back to normal.

Still alive. Kind of.

Fish Whisperer

An old, sappy, and happy one.

Never be completely back to normal.

Up all night to get Loki

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.