Writers Literary Agency / The Literary Agency Group / LAG /TLAG

DaveKuzminski · May 15, 2007

Remember folks, no matter how often Fletcher and his cronies change the name of his agency, the smell of dead or dying manuscripts continues to linger around it.

Faro Jack · May 24, 2007

Email Reply

The contact page of Writers Literary Agency "Children's Division" carries the following notice:

"Our mailing address and phone numbers are available on request."

Just for tricks, I emailed them and asked for a mailing address. This, verbatim, is the reply I received:

"Why? We don't accept mailed submissions."

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Bo Sullivan · May 24, 2007

LloydBrown said:
Barbara, let me see if I have this right.

At some point in the past, you have not one but two books published through Publish America.

Last year, you asked about EZ Publishing, a paid editing outfit that offers copy editing and spews the usual drivel about books that need editing not being picked up by publishers.

In January, you submitted to American-book.com, a scam outfit with a Strongly Not Recommended rating on Preditors & Editors.

In April, you mentioned that you had subscribed to Rosedog, another scam outfit with copious warnings all over the Internet.

Today you’re asking about Writers Literary Agency.

You might want to start checking the Index at http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=792
and Preditors & Editors here http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/ before you send your manuscript anywhere.

Better yet, you might want to reconsider how you find publishers and agents. If they advertise for authors—anywhere—avoid them. If you're in the US, do you have a copy of the Writer's Market or subscribe online?

Lloyd, I am in the UK which is how I have made these mistakes. Rosedog was where I found PublishAmerica; first and biggest mistake and second mistake all rolled into one. I did not know about this Board at that time and now that I do, I always check before submitting.

Thanks for your comments.

Barbara

ScreenGal · Jun 3, 2007

I just wanted to state my thanks to this board from dealing with this company any further. I was one of the lucky ones, only submited a WGA registered synopsis.

My first red flag was the absence of a mailing address or phone number in their form response so I googled the company and found this board.

So big thanks to keeping this newbie screenplay writer from becoming yet another victim to this scam.

James D. Macdonald · Jun 9, 2007

Originally posted here: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1393662&postcount=197

===================

I'm so sorry that you find yourself in a conundrum.

What conundrum? Go with someone who's never sold anything in their pathetic life, or continue to seek real representation? How hard is that choice?

As a writer, you really don't know who to turn to, and there is conflicting information everywhere.

Nor is there conflicting information. Everyone agrees that Bobby Fletcher's collection of scams ... is a collection of scams.

Before you lose a real chance to move your career forward, please consider the additional information below.

Yes, please do consider the additional information below before you lose a chance to move your career forward. Signing with WL Screenplay Agency, of course, would put a real roadblock in your way.

Interestingly, we had a publisher make this comment the other day (remember, it's the publisher we care most about).

Which publisher would that be? And what do publishers have to do with screenplays anyway?

The publisher said, "the more they scream, the more we know you are doing the right things and forcing discipline and business reality on these writers".

I would really really like to know which publisher that is. While you're at it, could you mention one publisher who's actually bought something from you? (I don't mean something that the author sold him/herself -- something that you sold.)

What the publisher was telling us, was basically, "thanks, you're doing your job", which is weeding out the writers that won't get their work edited or brought to professional standards.

Publishers have been rejecting books since just about forever. But since WL Screenplay Agency (under any of its incarnations, all the way back to Sydra Techniques), has been sending in agented slush (when they could be bothered to send in anything at all), their stuff is put in the Automatic Reject pile. Did you see where one of their "agents" couldn't get anyone to take their calls or return their messages? I could point to the link, and I probably will one of these days Real Soon Now.

We get a lot of comments about how good a job we do, but of course, real writers and real publishers don't hang out on message boards.

On the contrary, my friend, real writers and real publishers and real editors and real agents do hang out on message boards. They're people, they talk with their friends. What I seriously doubt is that you know any of the real folks.

Please, you owe it to yourself to take this one step further!

Indeed, research Sydra Techniques, the Stylus Literary Agency, The Literary Agency Group, and WL Writers Literary Agency. See if you can find any record of sales that they've made. Anything at all!

Why would you want to go with proven losers?

That data is so old, and so distorted by writers with an axe to grind, that I cringe when I hear a writer making a career decision from it.

True, the record of Robert Fletcher's scams goes back years. But the lack of sales is current as of this morning. Want to make a career decision? Ask "Sherry" for the titles, authors, and publishers of five books that "she" has sold in the past twelve months.

You've been with us this far, and I think you will agree that we have treated you professionally and in a timely fashion.

The form letters from the auto-responder have been sent!

Read what I say below and tell me if it doesn't make sense, and that it is worth your time to gather a little bit more info.

It doesn't make sense, but that's okay. Gather the info: What sales has "Sherry" actually made?

Let me tell you where that stuff comes from.

It comes from experience, and from the expertise of working professionals inside the industry.

First, we insist on working only with edited work.

A worthless requirement.

The "editing" is the source of WL Writers Literary's income. They don't make money off of selling books. They make their money off of selling editing and critiques. That the edits are bad is proved by their sales record.

There is an entire camp of people that believe that we should pay for the writers' editing.

No, fools. There's an entire camp of people who believe that the "professional editor" scam is a scam. That a book that can be made publishable with editing will be edited by a publisher (at the publisher's expense!) while a book that isn't publishable can't be made publishable by any amount of "editing," professional or otherwise.

If the writer's name is Hillary Clinton, we'll pay for the editing, but for a new author, we just can't afford it.

This herring is very red. Hillary Clinton has a real agent, and a real publisher.

Also, because the value of editing and critiquing stays with the owner/writer of the script, even if we were fired, then it would make logical sense that the author would pay for editing.

No, fool. Agents don't edit. That isn't part of their job. Nor do authors pay for editing. Not in the real world, the world that actual published authors inhabit.

The next group is basically just upset that they can't make it as a writer and they are spiteful and generally upset with the way the world treats them.

Not that going with the WL Writers Literary Agency will help them. Nor are they the main class of people who warn newbies against WL Writers Literary.

And to add to their angst, telling a writer their story isn't good enough to sell is like telling a parent that their kid is ugly.

Real agents, and real editors, do it every day. Repeat after me: "Dear Contributor: Your work does not meet our current needs."

And, when a writer is upset, they write hateful things.

When a writer is scammed -- induced to pay money for a worthless service by people who know that they are unable to sell a book if their lives depended on it -- they write truthful things.

We just toughen up and ignore them.

Is that a fact, "Sherry"? Do you really ignore them? I have reason to believe that you're lying -- again.

I suggest you do the same.

I suggest you seek real representation by a real agent.

We used to try to set them straight, but it was a useless task.

Really? Give it a shot.

We've tried to get these people into a dialogue.

Oh, yeah, really. I've seen you refuse to answer legitimate questions. Repeatedly. Like, every time they're asked.

They just keep dragging old information around.

Like the fact that Robert Fletcher is an adjudged scammer? That information?

They talk about people and processes that are at least 5 years removed from what we do now.

You mean that you aren't using the "aggressive agent" program? That you've dropped the "Looking For Now" database? That you aren't trying to set up worthless web pages (at $125 bucks a pop!) for people right now today?

Please read this and you will see what I mean. http://www.writersliterary.com/acquiretlag.html

Already the subject of a line-by-line.

Here is what I would do if I were you.

Here's what I would do if I were you:

Go out of business.
Make restitution to the authors you've defrauded.
Turn state's evidence against your co-conspirators.

1) Please spend a minute or two asking them for concrete proof of their allegations or what they say.

It's all over the Internet.

See if they will give you anything substantial.

WL Writers Literary Agency has a bogus "system" that doesn't result in sales to legitimate publishers/studios.

We have asked and never received an answer.

Liar.

I don't think they will either answer you or give you anything concrete either.

Try me.

I've seen their answers, there is nothing concrete, just allegations of more complaints from internidiots.

So, "Sherry," what have you sold, ever, to anyone?

Then, once you've weighed all the facts and done your diligence, please feel free to return to us.

Or, better, seek real representation by someone who's actually sold something to someone. (Selling stuff to a vanity press doesn't count.)

We are willing to work with new authors and that's what everyone holds against us (and unfortunately, new authors know less about the business than anyone.)

What possible motive could anyone have for holding a willingness to work with new authors against these (or any) folks?

This is purest BS. What people hold against you is that you're a scammer who couldn't sell a book if someone held a gun to your head. Real agents pick up previously-unpublished authors all the time. Real publishers publish first-time authors all the time. Somehow those first-timers are never WL Writers Literary clients. Care to explain that, "Sherry"?

The fact that new authors don't know much about the business is something that "Sherry" banks on: If it weren't for that "Sherry" wouldn't get any marks at all.

Good luck to you, really!

The same, and mutually!

I hope you will give us a chance to prove ourselves.

You've been in business (under one name or another) for half-a-decade. Here's your chance to prove yourselves: List your sales.

(We won't waive our quality standards though).

What quality standards would those be?

And, one final thought. The people on the boards, even the moderators ARE NOT AGENTS. THEY CANNOT KNOW WHAT OUR BUSINESS IS REALLY LIKE.

Those of us who are long-time professional authors know what an author needs, and what an author needs isn't one more scammer with a fancy story. The folks who make their livings from their writing know a heck of a lot about what an agent's business is, and selling "critiques" and "edits" isn't any part of that business. Nor is selling web pages. Nor an "aggressive agent" program.

They are writers who think they know, but they don't know, they can't, because they have never agented someone elses work.

But we've been agented, and we know what an author needs from an agent. Not that real agents have anything good to say about WL Writers Literary Agency, under whatever name it's using at the time.

Do you understand that if someone hasn't gone through the tribulations of being an agent, they really can't comment accurately on what being an agent is like?

Awwww.... Boo hoo hoo! How about you list your sales?

John Kennedy said it best....

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood,
who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions,
and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, if he wins,
knows the thrills of high achievement, and, if he fails,
at least fails daring greatly, so that his place shall never be
with those cold and timid souls
who know neither victory nor defeat."
John Fitzgerald Kennedy

So, tell me, "Sherry," what victories have you won? What have you actually sold, to anyone, ever? Is there any reason for anyone to think that you're "in the arena" at all?

EriRae · Jun 12, 2007

OMG!!!

Thank you so much for this web site. I submitted my synopsis to WL Writers Literary Agency last Tuesday and at 2:14AM Thursday I received an e-mail from Sherry Fine, requesting my ms. For some reason, that didn't trip my normally paranoid spider sense, so I submitted the ENTIRE ms.

I knew well enough to tell them to shove it when they asked me for money (which they have not yet done), but I feel so dumb for being duped like this.

I had a whole list of agencies to query from my WD Guide to Literary Agents, but I was greedy and wanted to submit online because it would be quicker. I am going back to my list now.

Thank you for watching out for newbies like me.

Erin

Popeyesays · Jun 12, 2007

Dear Ellrin,
There are dozens of very reputable agencies who accept e-queries, in fact prefer them.

Check oput Agentquery.com. They do an admirable job of vetting agencies. They also provide in the listing info their preference as to e or snailmail queries quite clearly.

The agent puts up hoops to see who can "read for comprehension" because probably they cna write for comprehension better.

Regards,
Scott

James D. Macdonald · Jun 18, 2007

WL Writers' Literary has a new address in New York:

845 Third Ave, 6th Floor, #6016
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 888-808-6195
www.writersliterary.com

This is, as you might expect, another mail-forwarding "virtual offices" place:

http://virtualoffices.regus.com/solutions/default.htm#home

http://offices.regus.com/locations/US/NY/NewYorkCity/NewYorkManhattanMidtown845ThirdAvenue.htm

James D. Macdonald · Jun 18, 2007

WL Writers' Literary has a new address in New York:

845 Third Ave, 6th Floor, #6016
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 888-808-6195
www.writersliterary.com

This is, as you might expect, another mail-forwarding "virtual offices" place:

http://virtualoffices.regus.com/solutions/default.htm#home

http://offices.regus.com/locations/US/NY/NewYorkCity/NewYorkManhattanMidtown845ThirdAvenue.htm

xhouseboy · Jun 19, 2007

A Milestone

This has to be a first.

I was turned down for representation by the Children's Literary Agency.

Sherry must actually be reading the stuff now, although she did say it might make an adult book, but it wasn't for kids.

Maybe an adult book, not kids.

-----Original Message-----
From: ************
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 9:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Children's Lit Form Submission

Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by
**********on Monday, June 18, 2007 at 21:37:11
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

FormSource: CLA

FormDate: 6/19/2007

Name: Clubber Lang

How Did You Hear of Us: Internet

Title of Work: Mikey the Booze Hound

Grade Focus: 3-6

Synopsis: Mikey, a mischievous three year old, drinks like a fish and is
rarely sober. His parents can't control him, and so place him in the custody of his uncle Charlie, an ex con who's just been released on parole after serving 10 years for armed robbery. Together Mikey and his psychotic uncle cruise bars, get into knife fights, and generally cause total mayhem.

Eventually, Mikey and his uncle are arrested for the murder of a candy shop owner, and they are both sentenced to the electric chair. In a first in American history, both nephew and uncle are fried together, Mikey sitting on his uncle's knee. But before he goes, Mikey proclaims that had he been spared he would have kicked the booze and the wild living for good. There are tears in his parents' eyes as they realise that if they'd perhaps invested in their own electrified chair, Mikey might not have turned out the way he did.

NYP-Work Been Edited: No

NYP-Sample Illustrations: Yes.

By a fellow con.

NYP-Bio: I'm on anti-psychotic medication.

James D. Macdonald · Jun 20, 2007

I bet they have their auto-responder set to flag the string "ex con" for human review.

Robert Fletcher is sensitive about that part of his life.

PVish · Jun 23, 2007

My copy of the July/August 2007 Poets & Writers came today. In the classifieds on page 109, is an ad for "Writers Literary Services—All Services for writers. Editing, ghostwriting, talent scout, distribution, marketing and more. Web site: www.writersliterary.com."

That should snare in a bunch of the unsuspecting who aren't especially Internet-savvy but who do read writers' magazine they find at the big box bookstores. While a lot of people know not to trust the ads in a couple of other writers' magazines (that now seem to cater to the self-published), Poets & Writers seemed to aim for a higher audience.

I used to think that Poets & Writers was legit. But they have several dubious ads in this issue. (Yeah, they have a caveat emptor at the beginning of their classifieds, but still. . . .)

luckygyrl1005 · Jul 4, 2007

WL agency

I also sent my request to WL, not knowing... but I did research and saw what they do, so two days later when Sherry states she wants to promote my work, but I need to send $90.00 for a critique, I told her "thanks but no thanks." I have learned my lesson!

DaveKuzminski · Jul 5, 2007

Recently, someone posted in a topic the following request:

Please only reply to the email links in the text below.

FAO Publishers & Literary Agents - I have a fully completed and critiqued
non-fiction manuscript together with graphically designed cards available
for publishing.

For more information, please read this email or email me at
[email protected] to request the synopsis, some sample
chapters, the card graphics and the promotional website.

This book and card set will help you to discover a new way to heal yourself.
It is a unique, revolutionary, easy to use system; this set has also been
designed to show you a clear and simple way by which you can remove past and
present health issues aiding the healing of yourself from within.

Each set of cards has been ingeniously and carefully structured allowing the
user to discover which mental, emotional and physical impediment prevents
their progress forward in life.

This book teaches a revolutionary new way to heal yourself easily today!

My Critique company commented:

This is an amazing manuscript. Many, many readers will benefit from this
material. Thank you for writing this manuscript. This will be a huge
success! I do wish you luck with this endeavor. However, you will not need
luck. You have an awesome manuscript, and a special gift with words.

For more information, please email me at [email protected] to
request the synopsis, some sample chapters and the promotional website.

If don't want to receive email from me, I apologise for any inconvenience
caused and ask that you simply email
[email protected] putting remove as the subject.

If you are sending from another email address, please include the email
address that you want removed.

I followed up on this and learned the following:

Dear David,

This manuscript has been critiqued by our in house copywriting dept and by the NewÂ YorkÂ Literary Services. It is a non fiction new age book, mind, body and spirit genre.Â I have looked through your website http://home.att.net/~d.l.kuzminski/Â and you publish mostly science fiction and fantasy, do you independently publish or are you print on demand or vanity publisher ?

I look forward to your reply.

Now you can see why I'm posting this here. It's bad when companies cause writers to believe they're completely ready for publication and will have a bestseller, particularly when the companies are clueless and gormless (and that's being nice in saying anything about them).

JulesJones · Jul 6, 2007

Further gormlessness on the part of the would-be writer: I received the spam Dave quotes above at the gmail address given on my website. The spam was a generic "Dear Agent or Editor" as shown, obviously cced to addresses that appear to be associated with the publishing industry.

I am not an agent or an editor, and there is nothing on my website that would lead anyone who know anything about publishing to believe that I am. And my reaction to the paragraph about the critique company was, "Oh dear, someone's found a scam book doctor as well as spending money on a CD of guaranteed publishing industry email addresses."

(And yes, I forwarded it to Writer Beware for their collection.)

victoriastrauss · Jul 12, 2007

That email Sherry sends out to writers who ask questions about sales or who mention the many warnings online keeps evolving. Here's the newest twist[FONT=tahoma,verdana,arial,helvetica] (the rest is pretty much the same as what has already been posted and responded to here)[/FONT]:

[FONT=tahoma,verdana,arial,helvetica] Our lawyers are on this... in the meanwhile, would you do me a favor.. email them this.. and read below... we've seen all this before and we keep trying to get them to come out of their hiding and address the real issues, but they won't. Eventually our lawyers will take care of them but for now, would you send this to them please (if you can even find a contact point over there).

=========================================================
"Dear Moderator - Once again I ask you to engage us in a public debate about these issues. I'll answer any question you want and we can both post the answers on our websites so there will be no "spin doctoring" of the answers. If your message board is all about helping writers, then why won't you debate us? The innuendo and wrong data you are promulgating are hurting writers and we think a nice public debate would help everyone.
========================================================== [/FONT]

[FONT=tahoma,verdana,arial,helvetica]Dear Sherry--

I'd be thrilled to engage in a public debate about these issues. In fact, I and others have tried several times over the past couple of years to do so--see the links above--but you never seem to show up to respond. If your agency is all about helping writers, then why won't you answer our questions? A nice public debate certainly would help everyone.

Here are a couple of things I'd love to know:

- A list of your commercial sales since 2001, when you started in business as Sydra-Techniques (author, title, publisher). Please only list sales you initiated--not sales initiated by the author.

- An estimate of the percentage of your total agency income that comes from authors' fees--critique/editing fees, website fees, Aggressive Agent Program fees, or any others.

- The total number of writers you currently represent. Please include ALL clients, no matter what the agency name.

That'll do for starters. I'm sure others will have more questions. Thanks, Sherry!

- Victoria

[/FONT]

James D. Macdonald · Jul 12, 2007

"Sherry Fine" today:

I'll answer any question you want....

"Sherry Fine" last time "she" appeared (posting as "Georgina Orr"):

Response from Georgina Orr
In response to the reactions that my posting ofl ast week has generated.....

LAG is a privately owned company and our business model is working for our authors. We are more concerned about the authors that we are currently representing than we are about people who choose to make defamatory statements about us and so I am not prepared to waste time replying to any of these posts which do no more than nit pick. It is unlikely that I will attempt to carry on a meaningful discussion with people who have already made up their mind.

My time, and my company's time is better spent selling and pitching for our authors.

Sincerely yours,
Georgina Orr, VP Corporate Affairs
Literary Agency Group

Bring it on, "Sherry."

My question is very similar to Victoria's:

What are the titles, authors, dates, and publishers of every book you and your agency (under whatever name) has ever sold?

List 'em.

Go ahead.

I'm waiting.

JennySays · Jul 17, 2007

Thanks!!!

I'll add my thanks to the ones above...Just sent off my manuscript to the WL Writers Agency, but something just smelled bad about it. I'm so glad I checked, so glad I found this forum.

I'll let you know what they say they want from me next. But they're not getting one penny.

Cheers,

Jen

SkyWorthy · Jul 18, 2007

I love this message board. I feel completely stupid for this but I was almost one of the victims for WL writers agency. Is there anyone that could suggest a legit agency?

Tilly · Jul 18, 2007

Agents vary too much in what they represent for that, but these are good articles on finding one:

http://www.sff.net/people/victoriastrauss/agentsearch.html

http://www.sff.net/people/victoriastrauss/trackrecord.html

victoriastrauss · Jul 19, 2007

Still no reply from Sherry. Hey Sherry, cat got your tongue?

- Victoria

DaveKuzminski · Jul 19, 2007

From: Sherry - VP Acquisitions <[email protected]>
Reply-To: <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:44:43 -0400
To: "Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx" <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: WL Childrens Agency

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. We've seen it before (sigh), and we've researched it pretty thoroughly. Basically, there are 3 main sites, run by Ann Crispin, Victoria Strauss, and Dave Kuminsky[sic], and they purport to be the watchdogs of the industry. Ann Crispin has sold two books in 10 years, Victoria maybe one, and Dave, I don't think any.. .. (hmmmm, can you see a trend here?)

These 3 people haven't made enough money to support themselves as writers and they are bitter and negative about companies that are successful but don't match their outmoded views. They also have way too much time on their hands. Time better spent improving their writing if you ask me, ha ha. If you want them to be the advisors for your career please don't let me stop you. But, I would be very wary about listening to anyone with that kind of sales record and that kind of negaive bias. They are writer-wannabes, not agents. They don't have a clue about agenting because they've never made a living at it.

Ask them if they've ever sold someone elses work? I think you get my drift. We have sent them copies of contracts of recent sales, and we have tried to engage them in a spirited dialogue about what does constitute agenting in the new world of publishing. They don't reply and they seem to enjoy creating dissension and hurting our business. We used to try to set them straight, but it was a useless task. We've tried to get these people into a dialogue. They just keep dragging old information around. They talk about people and processes that are at least 5 years removed from what we do now. Please read this and you will see what I mean. http://www.writersliterary.com/acquiretlag.html

Mainly we feel sorry for those writers such as yourself that are caught in the crossfire. Luckily our clients laugh with us at their foibles. So, in general, we ignore them, and just keep working on behalf of our clients. Our lawyers are on this and we'll get it all straight and out in the open one day, but until them... in the meanwhile, would you do me a favor.. email them this.. and read below... we've seen all this before and we keep trying to get them to come out of their hiding and address the real issues, but they won't. Eventually our lawyers will take care of them but for now, would you send this to them please.

=========================================================
"Dear Moderator - Once again I ask you to engage us in a public debate about these issues. I'll answer any question you want and we can both post the answers on our websites so there will be no "spin doctoring" of the answers. If your message board is all about helping writers, then why won't you debate us? The innuendo and wrong data you are promulgating are hurting writers and we think a nice public debate would help everyone.

Sheriff Sherry (grin)
"It's time to clean up dogtown"
==========================================================

This author said it well.
-------------------------------
"Having been with the FBI and a homicide detective, I take this type of derogatory information with a grain of salt, as anyone can say anything about anyone on the Internet".

Yes, we have clients that are FBI agents, lawyers, policemen, etc. Believe me, if there was any actual truth to the lies and innuendo out there, they would know it.

Here's another author (I like his use of the word unemployed).
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Sherry,

I am dually impressed by your company's speedy response time and professional mannerisms. There are many writers all over the internet claiming that your agency is not legitimate and that your company falls under an umbrella co-oporation owned by a convicted internet fraud. I must admit after reading this I was quite rattled, but eventually I came to realize that in your emails you never once concealed any obvious or ominous information from me. You were concise and dare I say very polite. It was my choice to divert the rumors and take the risk and I stand by my choice to this very day. I look forward to working with your agency, because everyone should know that nothing comes without sacrifices and that things are difficult because we do not dare to endeavour their limits. I thank you for your kindness, "professionalism" and prolix emails (because they help a lot.) Let those unemployed writers talk, when I get my book published, I'll take your agency for the ride, because I know you stood by me all the way.

Thank You. Tyson

Interestingly, we had a publisher make this comment
-----------------------------------------------------
The publisher said, "the more they scream, the more we know you are doing the right things and forcing discipline and business reality on these writers". What the publisher was telling us, was basically, "thanks, you're doing your job", which is weeding out the writers that won't get their work edited or brought to professional standards. We get a lot of comments about how good a job we do, but of course, real writers and real publishers don't hang out on message boards.

Please, you owe it to yourself to take this one step further!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That data is so old, and so distorted by writers with an axe to grind, that I cringe when I hear a writer making a career decision from it. You've been with us this far, and I think you will agree that we have treated you professionally and in a timely fashion. Read what I say below and tell me if it doesn't make sense, and that it is worth your time to gather a little bit more info.

Let me tell you where that stuff comes from. First, we insist on working only with edited work. There is an entire camp of people that believe that we should pay for the writers' editing. If the writer's name is Hillary Clinton, we'll pay for the editing, but for a new author, we just can't afford it. Also, because the value of editing and critiquing stays with the owner/writer of the script, even if we were fired, then it would make logical sense that the author would pay for editing.

The next group is basically just upset that they can't make it as a writer and they are spiteful and generally upset with the way the world treats them. And to add to their angst, telling a writer their story isn't good enough to sell is like telling a parent that their kid is ugly. And, when a writer is upset, they write hateful things. We just toughen up and ignore them. I suggest you do the same.

Here is what I would do if I were you.
----------------------------------------------------------
1) Please spend a minute or two asking them for concrete proof of their allegations or what they say. See if they will give you anything substantial. We have asked and never received an answer. I don't think they will either answer you or give you anything concrete either. I've seen their answers, there is nothing concrete, just allegations of more complaints from internidiots.

Then, once you've weighed all the facts and done your diligence, please feel free to return to us. We are willing to work with new authors and that's what everyone holds against us (and unfortunately, new authors know less about the business than anyone.)

Good luck to you, really! I hope you will give us a chance to prove ourselves. (We won't waive our quality standards though).

And, one final thought. The people on the boards, even the moderators ARE NOT AGENTS. THEY CANNOT KNOW WHAT OUR BUSINESS IS REALLY LIKE. They are writers who think they know, but they don't know, they can't, because they have never agented someone elses work.

Do you understand that if someone hasn't gone through the tribulations of being an agent, they really can't comment accurately on what being an agent is like? John Kennedy said it best....
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"It is not the critic that counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, if he wins, knows the thrills of high achievement, and, if he fails, at least fails daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Oh yes, one final ps... email this to them for us if you don't mind...

"Dear Moderator - Once again I ask you to engage us in a public debate about these issues. I'll answer any question you want and we can both post the answers on our websites so there will be no "spin doctoring" of the answers.

If your message board is all about helping writers, then why won't you debate us? The innuendo and wrong data you are promulgating are hurting writers and we think a nice public debate would help everyone.

Help us help the industry, those boards are running amok and they need a good dose of reality. They won't come out of their dark little holes and debate us, but we keep trying.

Tell 'em I said, "high noon at the OK corral" (grin).

Sheriff Sherry

Best regards,
Sherry - VP Acquisitions

Our Pledge To You:
==================
* We respect what you have accomplished thus far as a writer.
* We believe that great authors are made, not born. We are willing to develop talent.
* We pledge straight talk in a confusing and old-school industry.
* We can't promise a sale. We can promise a professional relationship.
p.s. Missed Emails, Spam, Whitelists, and other reasons for lapses in communications. There's an old joke in showbiz that asks the question, "What do you get if you cross an agent with a turnip?" The answer is "A turnip that doesn't return your phone calls." That won't happen with us. We are very, very diligent about returning every email that we receive within a couple of days. The same is true for our vendors and suppliers. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A COMMUNICATION AND YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE, PLEASE, CHECK WITH US AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENED. Please don't jump to negative conclusions. The Internet is not 100% foolproof and we are very sensitive to our clients' expectations and our promises about timely communications.

Why does everyone who doesn't like P&E think that I'm bitter? Oh, I get it. I leave a bitter taste in their mouth because I don't say sweet things about them. Well, I'm glad that's cleared up now.

JulieB · Jul 19, 2007

DaveKuzminski said:
Why does everyone who doesn't like P&E think that I'm bitter? Oh, I get it. I leave a bitter taste in their mouth because I don't say sweet things about them. Well, I'm glad that's cleared up now.

There went another keyboard. Good thing I keep extra stock. ;-)

James D. Macdonald · Jul 19, 2007

Oh my goodness gracious.

You know something, "Sherry"? I'm hurt. Really, I am. Here I thought you were my number one fan and you don't even mention me.

DaveKuzminski said:
From: Sherry - VP Acquisitions <[email protected]>
Reply-To: <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:44:43 -0400
To: "Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx" <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: WL Childrens Agency

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. We've seen it before (sigh), and we've researched it pretty thoroughly. Basically, there are 3 main sites, run by Ann Crispin, Victoria Strauss, and Dave Kuminsky, and they purport to be the watchdogs of the industry. Ann Crispin has sold two books in 10 years, Victoria maybe one, and Dave, I don't think any.. .. (hmmmm, can you see a trend here?)

That's New York Times Bestselling Ann Crispin to you, sport. They don't purport to be anything. Other people, publishing professionals, refer to them as industry watchdogs.

Let's see:

Ann (writing under the impenetrable pseudonym "A. C. Crispin") has sold a few more than "two" books in the past ten years. Victoria Strauss is way above "one," while Dave Kuzminski (cleverly disguised as David L. Kuzminski) has sold far more than zero.

Yes, I can see a trend here. "Sherry" is using crude, easily-disproved lies in an attempt to smear "her" critics. Maybe "Sherry" has proved that if you misspell the person's name when you search on it that you won't get many hits. "She's" also proved that research isn't "her" strong suit. Maybe "she's" hoping that no one will check?

Here's are some lists complied after only a couple of minutes of Amazon and Google searching:

For the last ten years (1997 and later, though Ann had been writing and publishing for over a decade before that):

A. C. Crispin

Storms of Destiny: The Exiles of Boq'urain (Mass Market Paperback) Eos (July 26, 2005)
Sand and Stars: Signature Edition (Star Trek) by Diane Duane and A.C. Crispin (Paperback - Dec 7, 2004)
Star Wars. Der Pilot. Die Han Solo- Trilogie 1. by Ann C. Crispin (Paperback - Jul 1, 2002)
Star Trek Sarek (Star Trek (Unnumbered Audio)) by A. C. Crispin and Nick Sullivan (Audio Cassette - Jul 2001) - Unabridged
Star Trek Sarek (Star Trek (Unnumbered Audio)) by A. C. Crispin and Nick Sullivan (Audio Cassette - Jul 2001) - Unabridged
Star Wars. Der König der Schmuggler. Die Han Solo- Triologie 3. by Anne C. Crispin (Paperback - April 1, 2000)
Star Wars: The Han Solo Omnibus: The Paradise Snare, The Hutt Gambit, Rebel Dawn (AU Star Wars) by A.C. Crispin and David Pittu (Audio Cassette - Mar 7, 2000) - Abridged
Star Trek - The Original Series: Time for Yesterday by A.C. Crispin, Leonard Nimoy, and James Doohan (Audio Cassette - Feb 7, 2000)
Yesterday's Son (Star Trek) by A.C. Crispin, Leonard Nimoy, and James Doohan (Audio Cassette - Jan 3, 2000) - Audiobook
Star Wars. Der Gejagte. Die Han Solo- Trilogie, Band 2. by Ann C. Crispin (Paperback - Dec 1, 1999)
Songsmith by Andre Norton and A. C. Crispin (Library Binding - Oct 1999)
Time for Yesterday #39 (Star Trek (Numbered Hardcover)) by A.C. Crispin (Library Binding - Oct 1999)
Time For Yesterday (Star Trek) by A. C. Crispin (Paperback - 1999)
Rebel Dawn (Star Wars: Hans Solo Trilogy) by A.C. Crispin (Hardcover - April 2, 1998)
Rebel Dawn (Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy, Vol. 3) by A.C. Crispin (Mass Market Paperback - Mar 9, 1998)
Voices of Chaos: A Novel of Starbridge (Starbridge Series) by A. C. Crispin and Ru Emerson (Paperback - Mar 1998)
The Hutt Gambit by A.C. Crispin (Mass Market Paperback - 1998)
The Paradise Snare by A.C. Crispin (Mass Market Paperback - 1998)
REBEL DAWN (STAR WARS HAN SOLO TRILOGY, NO 3) by A.C. CRISPIN (Paperback - 1998)
Voices of Chaos: A Novel of Starbridge by A.C.; Emerson, Ru Crispin (Mass Market Paperback - 1998)
Alien: Resurrection - The Novelization by A. C. Crispin and Joss Whedon (Mass Market Paperback - Dec 1, 1997)
Alien 4 (Alien) by Ann Crispin (Paperback - Nov 27, 1997)
The Hutt Gambit (Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy, Vol. 2) by A.C. Crispin and David Pittu (Audio Cassette - Aug 11, 1997) - Abridged
Paradise Snare (Star Wars) by A.C. Crispin (Paperback - Jun 5, 1997)
Alien Resurection by A. C. Crispin (Paperback - 1997)
ALIEN RESURRECTION. by A.C. Crispin (Hardcover - 1997)
La Maniobra Hutt (La Guerra de las Galaxias: Trilogia De Han Solo: Volume 2 ) by A.C. Crispin, Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing, Drew Struzan, and Martinez Roca (Paperback - 1997)
Star Wars -- The Hans Solo Trilogy: The Paradise Snare + The Hutt Gambit + Rebel Dawn by A. C. Crispin (Mass Market Paperback - 1997)
Star Wars : The Paradise Snare by A. C. Crispin (Mass Market Paperback - 1997)

Does that look like "two books in 10 years"?

Now Victoria Strauss (and again just going back to 1997, though she was publishing for years before, and books can continue to earn their authors royalties for decades):

Victoria Strauss

Awakened City by Victoria Strauss (Paperback - May 1, 2007)
The Burning Land by Victoria Strauss (Mass Market Paperback - Nov 30, 2004)
The Garden of the Stone by Victoria Strauss (Paperback - Nov 9, 1999)
The Arm of the Stone by Victoria Strauss (Mass Market Paperback - April 1998)
The Arm of the Stone by Victoria Strauss (Hardcover - 1998)

Is that "maybe one," "Sherry"? Have you sold as many books for all your authors put together as Victoria's had published?

Victoria's earlier work is listed in Best Books for Young Adult Readers Grades 7 - 12 (Best Books for Young Adult Readers, 1997) by Stephen J. Calvert (Hardcover - Jan 30, 1997)

Now Dave Kuzminski (and, to be fair, sometimes he writes and publishes as Atk Butterfly):

David L. Kuzminski

Touch of the Sea Witch
Double Dragon Publishing, Apr. 2007
Censored by Earth Command: Cavalry and Lasers
Double Dragon Publishing, Nov. 2006
Censored by Earth Command: Bullets and Lasers
Double Dragon Publishing, May 2006
Censored by Earth Command: Arrows and Lasers
Double Dragon Publishing, Mar. 2006
Mark II
Double Dragon Publishing, May 2005
Redwing, Dragon Detective
Double Dragon Publishing, Jul. 2005
Dark Unicorn
Double Dragon Publishing, Jul. 2005
Protector of Seaswams
Double Dragon Publishing, Dec. 2005
Guardians of Riverswams
Double Dragon Publishing, Dec. 2005
Knight Spirits
Double Dragon Publishing, Feb. 2004
Will Fight Evil For Food
Double Dragon Publishing, Sep. 2003
Paravoid
Boson Books, Aug. 2001
Beasts Are Us by Atk. Butterfly (CD-ROM - 2001)
Beasts R Us by Atk Butterfly (Paperback - Nov 2001)
Crystal Treasure by Atk. Butterfly and David Bowlin (CD-ROM - Dec 23, 2000)
Space Rescue One
Boson Books, Aug. 2000
Dust Bunny by Atk. Butterfly (Diskette - Dec 1999)
Witness Protection by Atk. Butterfly (Software - Jun 1, 1999)
Attack Butterfly by Atk. Butterfly (Software - Sep 1, 1998)
Rust Bucket by Atk. Butterfly (Software - Mar 1, 1998)
Bullets and Lasers (Censored by Earth Command) by Atk. Butterfly (Diskette - Aug 1999)
The Aliens Is Coming!
Professional Writer's Forum, Nov. 1997
Washout
HyperBooks Online, Nov. 97

"I don't think any," you say, "Sherry"? Something gives me the feeling you didn't even look. But still I'll have to agree: "Sherry" doesn't think any.

Be that as it might, even if they'd never published a book in their lives, these folks could still act as watchdogs. Has Roger Ebert directed any feature films? No? But people still listen to his opinion about movies.

If you went by "Sherry's" reasoning no one could join a Neighborhood Watch unless they personally were housebreakers.

These 3 people haven't made enough money to support themselves as writers and they are bitter and negative about companies that are successful but don't match their outmoded views.

On the contrary. Victoria and Ann seem to be doing all right for themselves, and Dave isn't hurting.

Now you tell me how successful you are, "Sherry" -- how many of your clients are making enough to live on from their books? Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Have you sold any books for them? Any at all?

Why won't you list them?

They also have way too much time on their hands. Time better spent improving their writing if you ask me, ha ha.

They're selling books at a professional level on a regular basis. Are you selling books on a regular basis, "Sherry"? Or any basis at all?

If you want them to be the advisors for your career please don't let me stop you.

Victoria has been quoted as an authority in:

Your First Novel: A Published Author And a Top Agent Share the Keys to Achieving Your Dream by Ann Rittenberg, Laura Whitcomb, and Dennis Lehane (Paperback - Sep 8, 2006)
Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents 2007 (Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents) by Jeff Herman (Paperback - Sep 15, 2006)
Book Proposals That Sell by W. Terry Whalin (Paperback - April 25, 2005)
Some Writers Deserve To Starve: 31 Brutal Truths about the Publishing Industry by Elaura Niles (Paperback - Jan 22, 2005)
Ten Percent of Nothing: The Case of the Literary Agent from Hell by Jim Fisher (Hardcover - May 12, 2004)
Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer: How to Win Top Writing Assignments by Jenna Glatzer (Paperback - May 1, 2004)
Creative Self-publishing in the World Marketplace by Marshall Chamberlain (Paperback - Mar 31, 2004)
Writing. Com: Creative Internet Strategies to Advance Your Writing Career by Moira Allen (Paperback - April 1, 2003)
How to Get Your E-Book Published: An Insider's Guide to the World of Electronic Publishing by Richard Curtis and W. T. Quick (Paperback - Jan 2002)
Writer's Guide to Queries, Pitches & Proposals by Moira Anderson Allen (Paperback - Aug 1, 2001)

You could do worse than to take her advice. Far, far worse. Picking a convicted swindler who's never sold a book in his life for your advisor, for example.

But, I would be very wary about listening to anyone with that kind of sales record and that kind of negaive bias.

Yeah, you wouldn't want to take advice from someone who's actually accomplished what you want to do.

They are writer-wannabes, not agents. They don't have a clue about agenting because they've never made a living at it.

Am I allowed to start laughing at you now, "Sherry"? Any of them know far more about agenting than you ever will.

Shall we talk about making a living from agenting, "Sherry"? How's that going for you? How many books have you sold? Ever? Are you bringing in enough from your commissions to buy a pack of bubblegum?

Ask them if they've ever sold someone elses work? I think you get my drift.

I'm asking you, "Sherry." Have you ever sold someone else's work? After all, you're the one pretending to be an agent, not Ann, Victoria, or Dave.

I'm sure you get my drift.

We have sent them copies of contracts of recent sales,

How about it, guys. Is that true? If they've sent you copies of contracts of recent sales maybe you can help me out, since "Sherry" isn't willing to do so -- what has "Sherry" sold? Ever? To anyone?

and we have tried to engage them in a spirited dialogue about what does constitute agenting in the new world of publishing.

I've seen Ann, Victoria, and Dave accept your supposed offer, in public, any number of times. You're the one who's the no-show.

Tell me, is this thread a spirited-enough dialog for you?

They don't reply

Liar, liar, your pants are on fire.

and they seem to enjoy creating dissension and hurting our business.

Well, yes. Saving authors from making a costly and time-consuming mistake is quite enjoyable.

We used to try to set them straight, but it was a useless task. We've tried to get these people into a dialogue.

... pants on fire.

They just keep dragging old information around. They talk about people and processes that are at least 5 years removed from what we do now.

Oh, you mean Robert Fletcher? Tell me, "Sherry," isn't that your real name?

As to your processes, how about that "Looking For Now Database," the "Professional Critique," the webpage, the "Professional editing" and the "Aggressive Agent" program. You mean you aren't using them any more to fool authors into paying you money?

Please read this and you will see what I mean. http://www.writersliterary.com/acquiretlag.html

That "Press release" has already been dealt with in detail: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1202106&postcount=333

Mainly we feel sorry for those writers such as yourself that are caught in the crossfire. Luckily our clients laugh with us at their foibles.

"Sherry," never a careful writer, trips over her antecedents again. She just said that "her" clients are laughing at "writers such as yourself." "She" doesn't appear to know what the word foible means, either. "Foibles" means "weaknesses," which is a particularly stupid thing for "Sherry" to say. I suspect "Sherry" meant to say "foolishness."

Are you quite sure you're laughing, "Sherry"? I have reason to think you aren't.

So, in general, we ignore them, and just keep working on behalf of our clients.

How's that working out for you, "Sherry"? Ready to list your sales?

Our lawyers are on this and we'll get it all straight and out in the open one day, but until them...

Yeah, how about those lawsuits, "Sherry." You've been threatening them for years. When are you going to come out of your hidey-hole and risk discovery?

in the meanwhile, would you do me a favor.. email them this.. and read below... we've seen all this before and we keep trying to get them to come out of their hiding and address the real issues, but they won't.

Any time, any where.

Eventually our lawyers will take care of them but for now, would you send this to them please.

"Eventually." Would that be before the heat-death of the universe?

=========================================================
"Dear Moderator - Once again I ask you to engage us in a public debate about these issues. I'll answer any question you want and we can both post the answers on our websites so there will be no "spin doctoring" of the answers. If your message board is all about helping writers, then why won't you debate us? The innuendo and wrong data you are promulgating are hurting writers and we think a nice public debate would help everyone.

Sheriff Sherry (grin)
"It's time to clean up dogtown"
==========================================================

That challenge has already been accepted, in public, right in this thread.

Time to put up or shut up, "Sherry."

This author said it well.
-------------------------------
"Having been with the FBI and a homicide detective, I take this type of derogatory information with a grain of salt, as anyone can say anything about anyone on the Internet".

Did you know that Ann and Victoria worked closely with the FBI in bringing down another scam agent, Martha Ivery? Martha's doing time in federal prison right now, "Sherry." Word to the wise, if you know what I mean.

Yes, we have clients that are FBI agents, lawyers, policemen, etc. Believe me, if there was any actual truth to the lies and innuendo out there, they would know it.

No, when they're newbie authors the stars are shining in their eyes as bright as anyone's. But tell you what, "Sherry," why not list the name of one of those FBI agents, lawyers, or policemen for whom you've sold a book.

What's the matter, "Sherry"? Need to go check your notes?

Here's another author (I like his use of the word unemployed).
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Sherry,

I am dually impressed by your company's speedy response time and professional mannerisms.

I like his use of the word "dually."

He really likes how fast the auto-responder pumps out form letters!

There are many writers all over the internet claiming that your agency is not legitimate and that your company falls under an umbrella co-oporation owned by a convicted internet fraud.

Which happens to be true, except that Robert Fletcher wasn't convicted of internet fraud. He was adjudged guilty of stock fraud in Washington State and forced to pay a fine and restitution.

I must admit after reading this I was quite rattled, but eventually I came to realize that in your emails you never once concealed any obvious or ominous information from me.

So, did "Sherry" sell your book, my friend? Tell you what -- if you're the person who wrote this letter originally, get in touch with me and tell me how you feel about Fletcher's operation today.

You were concise and dare I say very polite. It was my choice to divert the rumors and take the risk and I stand by my choice to this very day.

Has "Sherry" sold your book? Why not, do you suppose?

Have you paid any money to anyone? How much?

I look forward to working with your agency, because everyone should know that nothing comes without sacrifices and that things are difficult because we do not dare to endeavour their limits.

"Look forward to ..." so this guy wasn't even a client at that time?

I thank you for your kindness, "professionalism" and prolix emails (because they help a lot.) Let those unemployed writers talk, when I get my book published, I'll take your agency for the ride, because I know you stood by me all the way.

"When" you get your book published. Don't hold your breath, my friend, while the agency takes you for a ride.

And don't quit your day job just yet.

Thank You. Tyson

Tyson who? Hey, Tyson! Get in touch with me! My email address is [email protected]

Interestingly, we had a publisher make this comment
-----------------------------------------------------
The publisher said, "the more they scream, the more we know you are doing the right things and forcing discipline and business reality on these writers".

You're back into one of your older form letters now. As I've said before when you've quoted this supposed "publisher," I'd really, really like to know which publisher it was. It doesn't sound like any publisher I know (you know, the publishers who print books that the public buys).

What the publisher was telling us, was basically, "thanks, you're doing your job", which is weeding out the writers that won't get their work edited or brought to professional standards.

That isn't your job, "Sherry." Your job is finding the best publishing deals for your clients. "Get[ting] their work edited" isn't any part of a writer's necessary path. When a publisher buys the book that publisher will provide an editor who will work closely with the author, at no cost to the author.

But then, "Sherry," that's real publishing. A subject you know nothing about. (Though if you'd just pay attention when I comment on your stupid emails you might learn something.)

We get a lot of comments about how good a job we do, but of course, real writers and real publishers don't hang out on message boards.

Where are the comments that say "Thanks for selling my book!"?

Oh, and real writers and real publishers can hang out on messageboards just like anyone else. As you'd know if you knew any real writers, or real publishers.

Please, you owe it to yourself to take this one step further!

Yes! Take it one step further! Ask "Sherry" to provide the titles, authors, and publishers of five books "she" sold in the past twelve months.

The rest of this nonsense has been dealt with. "Sherry" is reusing one of her older form letters to disgruntled authors. I already did the line-by-line. Read it here:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1393662&postcount=197

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That data is so old, and so distorted by writers with an axe to grind, that I cringe when I hear a writer making a career decision from it. You've been with us this far, and I think you will agree that we have treated you professionally and in a timely fashion. Read what I say below and tell me if it doesn't make sense, and that it is worth your time to gather a little bit more info.

Let me tell you where that stuff comes from. First, we insist on working only with edited work. There is an entire camp of people that believe that we should pay for the writers' editing. If the writer's name is Hillary Clinton, we'll pay for the editing, but for a new author, we just can't afford it. Also, because the value of editing and critiquing stays with the owner/writer of the script, even if we were fired, then it would make logical sense that the author would pay for editing.

The next group is basically just upset that they can't make it as a writer and they are spiteful and generally upset with the way the world treats them. And to add to their angst, telling a writer their story isn't good enough to sell is like telling a parent that their kid is ugly. And, when a writer is upset, they write hateful things. We just toughen up and ignore them. I suggest you do the same.

Here is what I would do if I were you.
----------------------------------------------------------
1) Please spend a minute or two asking them for concrete proof of their allegations or what they say. See if they will give you anything substantial. We have asked and never received an answer. I don't think they will either answer you or give you anything concrete either. I've seen their answers, there is nothing concrete, just allegations of more complaints from internidiots.

Then, once you've weighed all the facts and done your diligence, please feel free to return to us. We are willing to work with new authors and that's what everyone holds against us (and unfortunately, new authors know less about the business than anyone.)

Good luck to you, really! I hope you will give us a chance to prove ourselves. (We won't waive our quality standards though).

And, one final thought. The people on the boards, even the moderators ARE NOT AGENTS. THEY CANNOT KNOW WHAT OUR BUSINESS IS REALLY LIKE. They are writers who think they know, but they don't know, they can't, because they have never agented someone elses work.

Do you understand that if someone hasn't gone through the tribulations of being an agent, they really can't comment accurately on what being an agent is like? John Kennedy said it best....
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"It is not the critic that counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, if he wins, knows the thrills of high achievement, and, if he fails, at least fails daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Oh yes, one final ps... email this to them for us if you don't mind...

"Dear Moderator - Once again I ask you to engage us in a public debate about these issues. I'll answer any question you want and we can both post the answers on our websites so there will be no "spin doctoring" of the answers.

Victoria had a good list of questions, and we're still waiting for the answers, "Sherry": http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1469140&postcount=395

Here are a couple of things I'd love to know:

- A list of your commercial sales since 2001, when you started in business as Sydra-Techniques (author, title, publisher). Please only list sales you initiated--not sales initiated by the author.

- An estimate of the percentage of your total agency income that comes from authors' fees--critique/editing fees, website fees, Aggressive Agent Program fees, or any others.

- The total number of writers you currently represent. Please include ALL clients, no matter what the agency name.

That'll do for starters. I'm sure others will have more questions. Thanks, Sherry!

If your message board is all about helping writers, then why won't you debate us? The innuendo and wrong data you are promulgating are hurting writers and we think a nice public debate would help everyone.

Any time, "Sherry." You're the one who's dodging, not us.

Help us help the industry, those boards are running amok and they need a good dose of reality. They won't come out of their dark little holes and debate us, but we keep trying.

You want to help the industry, "Sherry"? Go out of business.

You want to debate? Right here. Right now. Or name the time and place of your choice.

Tell 'em I said, "high noon at the OK corral" (grin).

Sheriff Sherry

Best regards,
Sherry - VP Acquisitions

You were a no-show again, "Sherry."

Our Pledge To You:
==================
* We respect what you have accomplished thus far as a writer.
* We believe that great authors are made, not born. We are willing to develop talent.
* We pledge straight talk in a confusing and old-school industry.
* We can't promise a sale. We can promise a professional relationship.

As another writer said of your "Pledge," "I find it interesting, and rather telling, that you do not pledge to submit your clients' work to appropriate markets."

See also this professional editor's commentary on "Sherry's" Pledge: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=471040&postcount=36

Our Pledge To You:

==================
* We respect what you have accomplished thus far as a writer.

"We haven't read your manuscript, nor do we plan to do so in the future."

* We believe that great authors are made, not born. We are willing to develop talent.

"We're willing to develop talent as long as you do all the work, pay all the costs, and let us charge a commission every step of the way."

* We pledge straight talk in a confusing and old-school industry.

"We make simple, false, wholly misleading statements about a complex industry we've never gotten to know."

* We can't promise a sale. We can promise a professional relationship.

"'No sale' is a foregone conclusion. We can promise you a professional relationship as long as you understand that our profession is not "literary agent"

p.s. Missed Emails, Spam, Whitelists, and other reasons for lapses in communications. There's an old joke in showbiz that asks the question, "What do you get if you cross an agent with a turnip?" The answer is "A turnip that doesn't return your phone calls." That won't happen with us. We are very, very diligent about returning every email that we receive within a couple of days. The same is true for our vendors and suppliers. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A COMMUNICATION AND YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE, PLEASE, CHECK WITH US AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENED. Please don't jump to negative conclusions. The Internet is not 100% foolproof and we are very sensitive to our clients' expectations and our promises about timely communications.

The Internet is not 100% foolproof, and "Sherry" relies on fools (of the 'A fool and his money are soon parted' variety).

Yo, Sherry! When do you want to have that debate? I'm still waiting to hear from you!

T. Nielsen Hayden · Jul 20, 2007

Ann Crispin, Victoria Strauss, and Dave Kuzminsky are real, and every bit as successful as Jim Macdonald says. The Writer Beware and Preditors & Editors sites are very reliable, and invaluable community resources besides.

Who is this idiot Sherry Fine?

Writers Literary Agency / The Literary Agency Group / LAG /TLAG

Preditors & Editors

Faro Jack

Your Genial Uncle

:P

Now departed. Rest in peace, Scott, from all of us

Your Genial Uncle

Your Genial Uncle

In the Yellow Woods

Your Genial Uncle

Cat hair collector

Preditors & Editors

Writer Beware Goddess

Your Genial Uncle

JennySays

Writer Beware Goddess

Preditors & Editors

I grow my own catnip

Your Genial Uncle

Knows her stuff