• Guest please check The Index before starting a thread.

Van Diest Literary Agency

eliza4

Registered
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Does anyone have background info on this agency:

David Van Diest
Van Diest Literary Agency
PO Box 1482
Sisters, Oregon 97759
541-549-0477

Reason: I sent requested material for Days of Elijah: A True Story to this agent.

Van Diest refused the option for the manuscript and was asked to safely dispose of the material - manuscript and marketing plan. (Days of Elijah has since been independently published - see elizaearsman.com.)

Now I find on the Van Diest Literary Agency website - under Services/Guidlines (their spelling, not mine!) - the following taken from that Days of Elijah manuscript i.e:

'The following has become the driving force for the agency.

From the cowardice that shrinks from new truth
From the laziness that is content with half truth
From the arrogance of the one who thinks he knows all truth
Oh, God of Truth, deliver me'


Now see my website http://www.elizaearsman.com/pageflipping.html for details of that wording.


I have emailed Van Diest asking for an explanation. He has not yet replied.


Any info appreciated.


With thanks.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman
Super Moderator
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
22,454
Reaction score
4,956
Location
In chaos
Can you provide a link to the agency's website, so we can see that quote in place? It would help a lot.
 

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman
Super Moderator
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
22,454
Reaction score
4,956
Location
In chaos
Aha!

There it is, with the text just as eliza4 has quoted it.

If that were direct quote from your book, Eliza, and you weren't in turn quoting anyone else, then they shouldn't have used the quote without accrediting you, and you could have written to them to demand that they took it down with immediate effect.

However, as it's the text of an ancient prayer (I know, I just Googled the first line and got 582 hits) then I don't think there's anything that you can do--anyone can quote it without infringing anything, as far as I understand it. If your worry is that they're going to plagiarise your book, then I don't think you've got anything to worry about: agents and editors get far too many submissions from writers seeking publication for them to have to scratch around and find people who don't want them to publish their work.
 

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless
Staff member
Super Moderator
Moderator
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
13,952
Reaction score
1,746
Location
Coastal Desert
Just a note that Van Diest / Christian L.A. at christianliteraryagency.com should not be confused with The Christian Literary Agency (christianliterary.com) which is one of WLA/TLAG's many scammy tentacles.
 

CAWriter

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
Messages
281
Reaction score
18
A friend of mine was represented by David. He did get her a contract with a mainstream Christian publisher.

I don't know whether he's part of the fee-charging publishing company; that could be other family members. The Van Diests have a long history in Christian publishing but they aren't all involved in all the same aspects of publishing.
 

eliza4

Registered
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
With thanks for replying.

Many of the present day 'Christian' publishers are now in fact Scottish Ritual Freemasonry (Masonic) publishers which doesn't equate at all! Some try to keep their affiliations hidden but Van Deist/s can soon be checked.

In any case, my website elizaearsman.com contains details of two authenticated nonfiction publications which have been published independently of Van Deist involvements.

5-star reviews are on amazon.com.

Have a great day and a blessed 2010.

Eliza
elizaearsman.com/images/News_PressRelease.pdf
 
Last edited by a moderator:

CAWriter

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
Messages
281
Reaction score
18
I've met David Van Diest and his father (formerly of Multnomah Publishers; I know many present and former Multnomah editors and other staff) and I can say with pretty much certainty that there is no Freemasonry connection there. That's quite an aspersion to cast.
 

eliza4

Registered
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
I am not/have not been casting asperions!

What I said was that details - including Van Deist ones - can be checked by anybody. I do know their bios are on their site. Experience has led me to be well away from them.

Is it not the case that Multnomah was sold? Is it not now part of BMG - of which further details can be found on e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertelsmann?

As for: 'no Freemasonry connection there.' Maybe David Van Deist can be asked to reply/clarify. That way no misunderstanding can be allowed.

Eliza.
www.elizaearsman.com
 

Terie

Writer is as Writer does
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 18, 2008
Messages
4,151
Reaction score
951
Location
Manchester, UK
Website
www.teriegarrison.com
Um. This is a background check forum regarding business practices, not personal beliefs. Any relationship or lack thereof with Freemasonry has nothing to do with this literary agency's business practices.
 

eliza4

Registered
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Terie,

As far as I am concerned this problem/thread is now closed. I have now no connection with Van Deist. I do not need to be informed of further messages re that topic.

FYI: Your quote: 'Any relationship or lack thereof with Freemasonry has nothing to do with this literary agency's business practices.' Masonic business practices are very much to do with others!

Have a good day.

Eliza.
www.elizaearsman.com
 

Katrina S. Forest

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
2,053
Reaction score
280
Website
katrinasforest.com
The website says that David Van Diest is now working with the DC Jacobson and Associates team. (Though it says he's still an "independent agent" so I have no idea how he's working with them.) Anyway, the thread for them is here:

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134508

If it was my book, I would personally not submit to Van Diest for the following reasons:
1) Conflict of interest, as Victoria has stated.
2) Poor spelling and grammar on the website.
3) Non-standard submission materials. They ask for a "marketing plan: How do you plan to sell this book?" in their submission guidelines. Selling the book is not the author's job.

They also ask for you to submit your work to their "Acquisitions Editor." Last I checked, that's not a job you get at an agency.

Just my two cents. I'm not sure what this agency would do for me that I couldn't do for myself.
 

CAWriter

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
Messages
281
Reaction score
18
So is it a legit agency or a front for a vanity?

I'm having a lot of trouble finding a Christian Literary Agent.

It's not a front for a vanity; they have secured regular contracts with mainstream Christian publishers.

If you're having trouble locating a Christian agent, have you checked out the "Christian Writer's Market Guide?" The names would need to be vetted like any from a market guide, but I know Sally (Stuart) does a great job putting it together (well, has done, as she sold it effective the 2012 version) and you'll get many more names to pursue than you may have found on your own.