Clark, Mendelson, and Scott (formerly Capital L.A., Washington L.A., et al.)

[markmac28]

Hi,
New member here. My compliments on a great service.
Anyone dealt with either of these agencies:
1. American Literary Agents of Washington Inc
2. The Fox Chase Agency Inc

Thanks. Mark

[vstrauss]

American Literary Agents of Washington charges an up-front marketing fee of $250, and its contract, at 4 months, is one of the shortest I've ever run across. Theoretically its clients would have to re-up every quarter, to the tune of $1,000 per year. I'm not aware that ALA has any record of book sales, and according to documentation Writer Beware hasreceived, it appears to send submissions in a haphazard manner to publishers that aren't appropriate for the subject/genre of the book. Agencies that consistently send inappropriate material to publishers tend to be ignored by editors.

ALA owns a vanity publisher called Washington House (a.k.a. Trident Media Inc.), which solicits ALA clients without acknowledgment of the connection.

I know very little about the Fox Chase Agency, other than that it appears to have a number of sales.

- Victoria

[David]

Does anyone have info about this agency? They want a 250 dollar fee for sending work to publishers which they promise to reimburse if you get published.

[lastr]

Seems to me the only safe bet would be if they reimbursed you when you didn't get published. I don't know about the agency but no reputable agent charges the author, they make their money off of selling the book to the publisher. Sounds like this one makes their money off of not selling the book to a publisher. Sell, give you 250.00, don't sell keep 250.00.

[vstrauss]

Writer Beware has gotten dozens of reports and complaints about this agency.

In addition to the fees (the $250 is for a 4-month contract--you'd have to re-up every quarter for a grand yearly total of $1,000), they submit to inappropriate publishers and to my knowledge have never sold a book. They also own a vanity publisher--Washington House, a.k.a. Trident Media--which charges several thousand dollars for editing. I've gotten reports from clients or ex-clients of the agency who've been solicited by the publisher without acknowledgment of the connection.

- Victoria

[bashfulLV]

Has anyone ever heard of these folks? I ran them through the "search" at Writer Beware and it came back with no entries so I thought I was good to go and sent them my first two books - a romance novel and a non-fiction book. Today I got a letter from them telling me they want to represent me for the romance novel. And then the kicker - a $250 submission fee due with the signed contract (enclosed). Crap.

So, I guess they're schysters like all the others I've tried. Back to square one.

So consider this a warning - they charge upfront fees. If you know anything about them that might be helpful, let me know. I'm new at this - so far I'm on my fourth book but haven't published a word.

Thanks for listening.

[victoriastrauss]

Writer Beware doesn't have a search function, nor do we list agencies' names. We do maintain a database of writer complaints and documentation, though, and answer questions in private e-mail.

Can this be moved to the Bewares forum? Thanks...

- Victoria

[Andrew Zack]

What is the stated purpose of this $250 "fee?" Is it to cover photocopying and shipping? Or is it simply a fee?

[victoriastrauss]

The fee is supposedly to cover photocopying and postage. The contract is for just four months, so the author would have to re-up with a new $250 every quarter.

Writer Beware has collected a lot of documentation on this agency, which has been in business since 1998 or 1999 and as far as we're aware has never made a sale. We've seen some of its submissions lists, which frequently include publishers that are totally inappropriate for the subject/genre of the manuscript. On the other hand, there's no evidence that it ever actually submits anything, so it hardly matters.

The owner of the agency also owns a vanity publisher, Trident Media a.k.a. Washington House/Mandrill, which charges clients around $3,000 for editing services and employs a standard POD publishing model (minimal selectivity, no marketing or distribution apart from Amazon, etc.). Clients of the agency receive solicitations from the publisher, without acknowledgment of the connection. I recently heard from a writer who successfully took the publisher to small claims court for non-performance.

- Victoria

[AC Crispin]

You can search on Preditors and Editors and get a bit of information, but to get detailed information on an agent, publisher, etc., from Writer Beware, you must write us a note or an email. The addresses are on the site, and it states this quite clearly.

The email for Writer Beware is beware@sfwa.org

Generally, you'll get a response within 48 hours, sometimes a bit more. Remember, we're volunteers.

Yes, American Literary Agents of Washington, Inc., is on our list. They fee-chargers who have never made a single sale to an advance and royalty paying publisher.

Avoid.

-Ann C. Crispin
Writer Beware
www.writerbeware.com (http://www.writerbeware.com)
Author: STORMS OF DESTINY/HarperEos
www.accrispin.com (http://www.accrispin.com)

[DaveKuzminski]

They have changed their name to Capital Literary Agency. They're still using the old American Literary Agents' web site and email addresses.

[CaoPaux]

They have changed their name to Capital Literary Agency. They're still using the old American Literary Agents' web site and email addresses.Egad, thanks for the update!

[CaoPaux]

FYI: American Literary Agency of Washington is now Capital Literary Agency, and has been named one of Writer Beware's 20 Worst Agents/Agencies (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=525972#post525972).

[CaoPaux]

FYI: This agency has been named one of Writer Beware's 20 Worst Agents/Agencies (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=525972#post525972).

[SonoranWriter]

Is Trident Media Inc. being discussed here the same as Trident Media Group?

http://www.tridentmediagroup.com/

While the photos on their site make the agency office look like a Scientology Mission, I had them on my "genuine" list and now I'm wondering...

[rugcat]

Is Trident Media Inc. being discussed here the same as Trident Media Group?

No. Different Agencies.

Trident Media Inc. = bad
Trident Media Group =good

[Jaws]

No. Different Agencies.

Trident Media Inc. = bad
Trident Media Group =good

May I suggest that even this is could be misleading? What we should really be saying is: Trident Media (and affiliated companies) in Washington, DC area, key word "Asinugo", is a fee-charging agency and front for a vanity press, and is therefore inappropriate for authors who have any self respect Trident Media in New York, key word "Gottleib", is a multi-form agency with an extensive track record of actually placing works for authors with commercial publishers, and is therefore appropriate for authors who have some self-respect
One of the reasons that this can't simply be phrased as "Inc. = bad, Group = good" is that there is an Trident Media Group of questionable value to a US-based (or, indeed, non-Australia-based) writer in Australia, while there are also a Trident Media Ltd., a Trident Media Group Ltd., and a TridentMedia PLC that one might run across.

[rugcat]

May I suggest that even this is could be misleading?
Yes, I should have been more specific.

However, I was replying to a question about a) the specific agency referred to in the thread, and b) the specific agency for which the poster provided a link. There's plenty of info about both in AW threads; I was just trying to be succinct.

[James D. Macdonald]

Capital Literary Agency is listed on the IILAA / International Independent Literary Agents Association (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45020) site.

[underthecity]

It's interesting to note that on the ALA/Capital webpage, they have seven titles listed in their "successes." All of them are published by Mandrill, a subsidiary of ALA, or Washington House, which has no web presence but one can gather that it too is a subsidiary of ALA.

They have 35 more under consideration. I wonder who will publish them?

allen

[James D. Macdonald]

Mandrill, of course, is a pay-to-play vanity press with no distribution.

[JennaGlatzer]

They're now advertising in AW's Google Ads. And I'm about to show Mac how to make sure they no longer can advertise in AW's Google Ads.

Ugh.

Spread the word far and wide: Writers, you do NOT want any agent who advertises in Google Ads. Real agents don't need to pay to advertise to writers. They're flooded with submissions, and they make their money selling the work to publishers, not charging writers up-front fees.

[CaoPaux]

Re: New World Media aka American Book Press, Washington House, Trident Media, and Mandrill

FYI - This publisher has received "two thumbs down" from Writer Beware:

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2007/02/happy-valentines-day-from-writer-beware.html

[Sparkle]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone had any information concerning Capital Literary Agency located in Washington,DC. I was going to get in contact with them, but something is making me question the agency.

Sparkle

[waylander]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone had any information concerning Capital Literary Agency located in Washington,DC. I was going to get in contact with them, but something is making me question the agency.

Sparkle

RUN AWAY NOW!
These people are scammers and will take you for as much as they can and will doing nothing to advance your career.

[JulieB]

Glad you're asking questions before signing on the dotted line. They're on the Writer Beware (http://www.sfwa.org/beware/twentyworst.html) "Thumbs Down Agency" list. They're also listed as not recommended (http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pealc.htm) at P&E.

[Sparkle]

Thank you for the information. My gut was talking to me and telling me beware. I guess you should always follow your inner voice.

Sparkle

[CaoPaux]

Captial Literary Agency (formerly American Literary Agents of Washington, Inc.) - http://www.americanliteraryagents.com/

New World Media, Inc. / American Book Press (formerly Trident Media, Inc. / Trident Publishing / Washington House / Mandrill) - http://www.americanbookpress.com/

[victoriastrauss]

Also Washington Literary Agency: http://www.usbookagents.com/. Their contracts are identical to Capital Literary Agency's.

- Victoria

[pilot27407]

I am a previously unpublished author of fiction.
Trying to find an agent to represent my Two novels, I’ve sent a number of e-mail queries. As expected, there were a lot of the standard “thank you but not interested”, but, also have received two offers to submit the manuscript.
Arthur B. Greene
Richard Knapp
Could anyone, please, tell me anything about these agents?

Pilot27407

PS. Just got a letter and contract from Washington Literary, but they’re asking for $ 250 (to defray submission costs).

[Giant Baby]

Um, if your mean this (http://www.agentquery.com/search.aspx) Arthur B. Greene, he's small potatoes. Mostly just represents some horror writer from Maine!

Richard Knapp is with William Morris.

Both agents state in their bios that they're not accepting unsolicited queries. Congrats on the requests! Huge on both counts!

PS. Just got a letter and contract from Washington Literary, but they’re asking for $ 250 (to defray submission costs).

Walk away. Don't know anything about them, but you don't pay money to agents. An agent might ask you to help defray costs down the line, but the costs should exist first and be documented.

[waylander]

Nothing on their website suggests that Washington Literary are worthwhile. They name no authors or books that they've successfully agented, they ask you to send the whole manuscript and they recommend you get a paid edit (preferably theirs). There are no references to staff members and their qualifiactions or experience (being an agent is not an entry level job).

[pilot27407]

Well, thanks guys. Talked on the phone with 'someone' at Washington Agency. Claimed that the've red the whole book... No suggestions as to editing, actually I asked if they'll help and got "that's something that's done by the publisher". Is THIS Washingtom Agency one and the same with the famousely infamous Literary Agency of Washington?

[DaveKuzminski]

If they want money to defray costs, then you want nothing to do with them.

[victoriastrauss]

Writer Beware believes that Washington Literary Agency is a clone of Capital Literary Agency (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=886&page=2) (formerly American Literary Agents of Washington Inc.). Their contracts are identical, as are their upfront fees.

Writer Beware has been getting complaints and advisories about Capital for years, and we've gotten a number about Washington as well. As far as we know, neither agency has ever sold a book to a publisher of any kind.

Additionally, a vanity publisher (New World Media, a.k.a. American Book Press, formerly Trident Media/Washington House) is associated with the agencies. It charges about $3,000 for editing. Writers who've signed with either agency report getting solicitations from the publisher, without disclosure of the connection.

Pilot, we try to stick to one thread per agent/agency or publisher here, so please feel free to post your questions about the otehr agents in separate threads (but check the Index first to be sure there isn't already a discussion about them).

- Victoria

[pilot27407]

THANK YOU MRS. STRAUSS

[CaoPaux]

The latest incarnation is now Clark, Mendelson, and Scott (http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2011/06/clark-mendelson-and-scott-new-name-for.html).

[prince hoover]

Clark, Mendleson & Scott information.

Silly me, I was jumping for joy when I got a contract from these creeps, then I did the research.

Check this out.. I asked them to give me a few books they have sold...

Thank you for your letter, I am in receipt of several offers and I am considering yours.
To help me make a good decision would you please let me know a little about your agency.
I see on your site that you have 650 books, would you let me know of about a half dozen or so that you obtained recent contracts for with some of the big publishers.
Would you also give me an idea of what extra's I might be asked to approve such as mail etc.


This is their reply:

We are not applying for a job, you are. You may decide to use our agency or reject us outright. We are a very busy agency, and unpublished authors don't request resume from us.


By definition when you pay someone a fee for a service don't they work for you?

Steer clear of these jerks.

[D.M.Drake]

Franklin-Madison Literary Agency

No luck on P&E,
Didn't find them on this forum,
No record on ripoffreport.com

I don't know where else to look, but I did check the page.
http://www.franklin-madison.com/index.html

I didn't find any 'reading fees' or anything, but I am very nervous of any agency that is not on P&E. If anyone has worked with them, please let me know!

~Thank you!

[Parametric]

No sales listed on their website. No sales listed on Publishers Marketplace. No google footprint. They do say on their website to contact them for a list of recent sales, but I think if they had any, they'd shout it from the rooftops. I'd pass.

[D.M.Drake]

No sales listed on their website. No sales listed on Publishers Marketplace. No google footprint. They do say on their website to contact them for a list of recent sales, but I think if they had any, they'd shout it from the rooftops. I'd pass.

My thoughts exactly, thank you very much!

[Unimportant]

No agent name(s)? No info about the books they've sold? Seems....odd.

Their "resources" page starts with
Resources for Writters

All of the text on their website, in fact -- e.g., "we do not accept works on hardcopy", "the highest amount of royalty" and "propel my work into a bestseller" -- suggests "non native English speaker", which again seems odd for an agent acquiring works written in English.

The website was created in July 2011, so they must be very new indeed. My guess is that they have zero sales and zero experience, but I could be wrong.
Adding: Which makes their claim of "For many years, The Franklin-Madison Literary Agency has been guiding authors to publishing success" even odder.

[DaveKuzminski]

Franklin-Madison Literary Agency

No luck on P&E,
Didn't find them on this forum,
No record on ripoffreport.com

I don't know where else to look, but I did check the page.
http://www.franklin-madison.com/index.html

I didn't find any 'reading fees' or anything, but I am very nervous of any agency that is not on P&E. If anyone has worked with them, please let me know!

~Thank you!
The P&E site at http://pred-ed.com/ is not accepting updates so be sure to check the mirror site at in Virtuo because it is still fully functional and up to date.

[Giant Baby]

The P&E site at http://pred-ed.com/ is not accepting updates so be sure to check the mirror site at in Virtuo because it is still fully functional and up to date.

Dave, if this is the case, a couple of things. I had to google that and scroll down a bit to find the site you're referring to. The link (I hope) is: http://invirtuo.cc/prededitors/pubagent.htm (Yes, on my address bar, it's coming up ".htm" and not ".html". It works.) Your site is bookmarked on countless writers' computers. If an out-of-date version is live, it's disseminating out-of-date material. Can't you take the old version down and set up a re-direct to the up-dated site?

People (like me) trust your pred-ed site. If it's no longer valid, why is it still live?

[victoriastrauss]

I haven't gotten any complaints about this agency--yet. I'm expecting them, because I have a hunch this is a new or additional name for an already-existing fee-charging agency. I'll post again when I find out more.

- Victoria

[DaveKuzminski]

I'm still trying to get it back into operation. Only limited success so far. Is anyone interested in hosting that site?

[Unimportant]

I haven't gotten any complaints about this agency--yet. I'm expecting them, because I have a hunch this is a new or additional name for an already-existing fee-charging agency. I'll post again when I find out more.

- Victoria

Dunno if this helps, V, but they seem to have two websites: one at http://ideaandsolutions.com/Franklin-Madison/submission.html and one at http://www.franklin-madison.com/contact_us.html

And to my eye their website seems to be reminiscent of this one: http://www.newyorkbookagent.com/?q=node/2 (Clark, Mendleson and Scott).

[Giant Baby]

I'm still trying to get it back into operation. Only limited success so far. Is anyone interested in hosting that site?

I know *nothing* about web hosting, but what's needed? My website is in my own domain name, but created by wordpress (through bluhost, which has been fairly do-able for a techno-twerp like me).

Have you asked on the tech help (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=81) forums here? I'm pretty sure you'd get many a quick and smart response. PredEd has helped many. I'm sure many would love to help keep it consistent. Dude, yours is one site that doesn't want to be inconsistent on the interwebs.

Sorry for the derail.

[Unimportant]

Weirdly, the Franklin Madison website has this on their "resources" page:
Some more Tips:
All writers seeking agent representation, story, poetry, and/or novel publication rely on resources from which they gather information about the publishing industry. As a writer in the all-of-the-above category (sans poetry), I generally return to the resources that have served me well regarding information about agents, publishers, literary magazines, online magazines, and contests.

I wondered who the "I" was in that. My friend Google shows that the above text was in fact copied and pasted from an article by Dell Smith on the "Beyond the Margins (http://beyondthemargins.com/2010/03/resources-for-writers/)" website:

By Dell Smith (http://beyondthemargins.com/about-us/#dell)
All writers seeking agent representation, story, poetry, and/or novel publication rely on resources from which they gather information about the publishing industry. As a writer in the all-of-the-above category (sans poetry), I generally return to the resources that have served me well regarding information about agents, publishers, literary magazines, online magazines, and contests.

Since Mr Smith's list includes Writer Beware, I'm guessing Mr Smith is not associated with this agency -- and doesn't know he's been plagiarised.

[Unimportant]

Oh, dear. The next section of their "resources" page says:
Resources for Writters
Authors often have a lot of questions such as “What do agents and editors look for?” “How can I improve my writing?” “What’s considered ‘good writing’ that may propel my work into a bestseller” We suggest the following books as potential tools, resources and references that may help, inform and inspire the would-be (bestselling?) author.
followed by a list of reference books.

They seem to have, er, borrowed the list (http://www.waxmanagency.com/submission.html)from Scott Waxman's agency. They tried to borrow his opening text, too:

Resources for Writers
We understand that writers who submit or want to submit their work may have a lot of questions (i.e.: “What do agents and editors look for?” “What’s considered ‘good’ writing, anyway?” “How can I improve my writing?” “What does a query letter involve?”). Therefore, we suggest the following books as potential tools, resources and references that may help, inform and inspire the would-be (bestselling?) author.

Which just goes to show why you shouldn't "improve" on someone else's work when they are far more literate than you.

[gmdc]

Actual email correspondence with Franklin-Madison Agency

Me: Hi - What are your submission requirements?

Franklin-Madison: please submit the entire manuscript

Me: I noticed on your website you can provide a list of recent publications and agents who work for you. Can you please provide a sample of each?

Franklin-Madison: We will provide that information after contract.

Me: I'm sorry - I don't feel comfortable sending you my entire manuscript without more valid information about your company.

Them: NO REPLY

I then realized her email address is spelled wrong. Franklin-Madsion Agency

BEWARE...........

[CaoPaux]

Writer Beware believes Franklin-Madison Agency is yet another Asinugo operation. http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2011/11/beware-zombies-franklin-madison.html

Merging into existing thread.