Bestseller Society

I got a bad feeling about this too. Agents charging writers fees for services never sits well with me. Especially with a fee that high.

I got goggle-eyed at this:

Thomas Umstattd runs the Marketing Academy. He’s uniquely qualified because:

1. Thomas is still in his twenties (oh the energy!), Thomas has pioneered several successful companies.

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I couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic at first.

Yeah, I'm looking at the page on their Fiction Academy:

In summary the Fiction Academy helps you:

• Write and publish your novel
• Understand the publishing revolution we’re living in
• Join other novelists on the same path you're on
• Become a publishing insider
• Craft incredible characters
• Form irresistible plots
• Master the skills and disciplines of fictions
• Cancel at any time with 1 click

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Probably just an online version of something you could find at your local community ed or even here, but that last point really makes me want to consider it! I've never been too successful with that.

From what I've read so far, I wouldn't touch them with a ten feet pole. Sounds really shady, to be honest.

frolzagain said:

I got a bad feeling about this too. Agents charging writers fees for services never sits well with me. Especially with a fee that high.

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Is Rachelle actually involved? I'm not clear from looking at the post that she's actually part of the company.

Either way I admit to being rather shocked that she would effectively endorse them by allowing the guest post on her blog (it's not written by her), but I do want to be clear that from what I see--admittedly only a quick look--it doesn't appear that she actually stands to profit from it.

If I'm wrong though...

Somebody posted that question in the blog.

The guest blogger who post about this is one of Rachelle's long-time clients. I'm not sure I would call this "shady" but there are all sorts of graditions between shady and not helpful. I don't see anything being offered that I can't find elsewhere for free or do on my own.

Stacia Kane said:

Is Rachelle actually involved? I'm not clear from looking at the post that she's actually part of the company.

Either way I admit to being rather shocked that she would effectively endorse them by allowing the guest post on her blog (it's not written by her), but I do want to be clear that from what I see--admittedly only a quick look--it doesn't appear that she actually stands to profit from it.

If I'm wrong though...

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I can't tell if she is actually involved. She hasn't responded to the people questioning that on the post. I can't imagine why she would allow someone to post something like that unless she stood to gain something from it. The whole thing just seems strange. I had her down as one of the good guys. This kind of stuff makes me question that. I wish she would clarify things a bit. Honestly, none of the people involved have credentials that are that impressive to me and marketing their pay-to-use site as a way for a writer to become a best selling author is just not good business ethics to me.

I was surprised she had it on there as well. Glorified spam, IMHO. I looked up these folks and frankly, I wouldn't do business with any of them as individuals, let alone as a group doing nothing more than I can get here and other forums/blogs/sites/books... elsewhere. And that fee is outrageous. Claim to save you hundreds in services, etc - but after paying hundreds just to be a member? I don't think so.

frolzagain said:

I can't tell if she is actually involved. She hasn't responded to the people questioning that on the post. I can't imagine why she would allow someone to post something like that unless she stood to gain something from it. The whole thing just seems strange. I had her down as one of the good guys. This kind of stuff makes me question that. I wish she would clarify things a bit. Honestly, none of the people involved have credentials that are that impressive to me and marketing their pay-to-use site as a way for a writer to become a best selling author is just not good business ethics to me.

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I don't know if it's personal gain -- I can only speculate and that tends to annoy people -- but she might know some of the people involved and is just doing them a favor, y'know?

I think it's off the blog - I looked for it again last night, and again this morning, but couldn't find it.

Maybe Rachelle thought better of it? It seemed skeevy to me, too.

BenPanced said:

I don't know if it's personal gain -- I can only speculate and that tends to annoy people -- but she might know some of the people involved and is just doing them a favor, y'know?

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I thought about that as well, but if I had a friend doing something shady, I wouldn't let them post about it on my blog. It is possible she had a moment of bad judgement, though. Happens to everyone on occasion.

Darn, couldn't find it either and I'd been following this subject with some interest. I even posted a comment on the page. But I got this:

Sorry, the page your requested could not be found, or no longer exists.

I'd watched waiting for a comment from Rachelle. Any comment. I didn't see one before the page was taken down. I wish she had.

The fact she's taken it down says a lot. Put it down to being human.