The Old Neverending PublishAmerica Thread (Publish America)

[victoriastrauss]

Originally Posted by bikrpreacher

http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-...Fencoding=UTF8

I now have two travis tea reviews

Well, whatever else we do or don't know about the fake Travis Tea (and I have a hunch or two), we now know he/she/it reads this message board.

Sympathies, Chris--this is horrid.

- Victoria

[T42]

Originally Posted by bikrpreacher

I agree with Jaws, caution on both sides, I would say. And I don't want to step on any toes either, and far be it from me to try to stop a campaign, but it's still bothering me that I know that name...I found one of your first posts T42, and you told this post that your book is coming out in March...well, lovely paintings on that auction site, and looked up your book on Amazon, and it's listed as that it came out in January, so, whats up?
If there is a reasonable explination, then please do forgive me, but I look stuff up, can't help it, it's my nature as I've explained before. After all, you are new here.

Chris,
I was sent a letter from PA that my book would go into print Jan. the 3rd and come out in bookstores March 14th. I am going by what I was told by PA. As for my book I know it is listed at the PA bookstore and on Amazon. As for where they plan to put my book as far as bookstores I have no idea because I cannot get any response from Barnes And Noble when it comes to buying books from PA. I didn't even realize that I still had any auctions going on. I put those on before I had written PA a letter to terminate my contract.
As for putting out this letter on this forum, it seems as though people are having a problem with this so I will do what I need to do and let you all just continue to talk about it.
Thanks,
Mem

[T42]

Chris,
I didn't think it was anyone else's concern but since you keep pushing the issue on how you know me, I will tell you.
You sent me a story on research I was doing.
Mem

[tinasamuels]

Chris, My book at pa was suppose to come out in Jan and is listed on a few sites as having came out either in november or december depending on which site it is.

Doesn't matter really, I'm still actively doing my anti campaign against that book ..

[Sher2]

Originally Posted by tinasamuels

Chris, My book at pa was suppose to come out in Jan and is listed on a few sites as having came out either in november or december depending on which site it is.

Doesn't matter really, I'm still actively doing my anti campaign against that book ..

My "official publication date" was Jan. '05, but people were buying the book in Nov. '04. Which just goes to show that what PA says and what PA does are two different things. My book is being anti-promoted, too.

[Richard]

"I feel kinda bad for these people, who I'm sure aren't trying to scam anyone but obviously have no clue. I wonder how many of them have been clients of fee-charging agencies before, and are simply perpetuating the lies they were fed about how things are supposed to work."

To be honest, my sympathy usually dries up when money starts changing hands. I'd never dream of pretending to be a plumber or an electrician, because five seconds worth of research would make it quite clear that anyone who hired me would end up burned, or up to their necks in ****.

[Jaws]

Offered without further comment (anything further would constitute giving legal advice in a public forum):

Testing the network route from EASYNEWS.COM to NETCRAFTERS.NET…
Started on Saturday February 19th, 2005 at 18:23:24 GMT (1108862604)

HOST                                     LOSS RCVD  SENT  BEST  AVG   WORST
ge2-8-1000m.sw1.easynews.com               0%   10   10   0.37  1.65  11.00
ae0-4000m.core-02.phx1.puregig.net        10%    9   10  0.41  0. 61   1.13
ge0-0-0-51.jr1.phx1.llnw.net               0%   10   10 10 .34 10.55  11.06
e1-40.fr1.lax.llnw.net                     0%   10    10 10.58 18.29  49.54
???                                      100%    0    10  0.00  0.00   0.00
so-1-0-0-0.BB-RTR2.LAX01.verizon-gni.net   0%   10   10 12.28 15.16  31.29
so-3-0-0-0.BB-RTR2.PHIL.verizon-gni.net    0%   10   10 75.82 76.03  76.61
so-0-0-0-0.BB-RTR1.PHIL.verizon-gni.net    0%   10   10 75.94 76.22  77.16
so-1-3-0-0.CORE-RTR2.HAG.verizon-gni.net   0%   10   10 84.94 94.29 118.26
A5-0-0-732.G-RTR1.HAG.verizon-gni.net      0%   10   10 85.64 86.03  87.23
???                                      100%    0    10  0.00  0.00   0.00
router.2gaap.net                           0%   10    10 88.92 89.89  92.08
www.publishamerica.com                    10%    9    10 95.18 95.82  97.63

Those of you who understand what to do with a traceroute result know what you can do next. Those who don't should leave it to those of us who do.

[T42]

Originally Posted by bikrpreacher

I'm sorry because I know this hurt your feelings, and I hate it when someone hurts mine, but we are cautious, would you really want it any other way? The way I see it is that if you ask for people to write to you, anyone who reads this board can write, and that's not what you want, and that's why I don't go all over the internet requesting unhappy authors to write to me, and believe it or not, every time I get an email from someone I didn't write to, I delete it, you can't think PA won't try to get into this, because they will. I think they have fun with stuff like this, and continually look for ways to mess you up, so just be cautious, that's all.
There are a lot of us who felt just like you do when this first started with us, but give it a little time and you will see that you will calm down and it's going to be okay. Go ahead and write those letters, using your own experience before you get involved with other people and their experiences.
I think that one of the things that is good about this board is that we can combine things. You write letters and send your experience out there, on behalf of yourself, and once you calm down and read some of this thread, you will see that there are others who have already begun things, you just need to be here for a few weeks to figure things out.
Again, sorry for hurt feelings, just nothing wrong with being cautious.
I am the only one concerned with you doing this, as no one else said anything. These are just my two cents worth...

(By the way, I do remember the research you were doing, sorry about that-I remember, glad you mentioned it, if you hadn't, it would have kept bothering me)

Chris,
Not to worry. You did not hurt my feelings. I'm too old to worry about what someone says or thinks of me. I have had too many things in my life happen to worry about "words". I am not concerned about what PA see's or doesn't see. I would say the same thing to them and most likely already have! As far as I am concerned it is PA who should start being cautious, not me. I have done nothing wrong but put my trust into a company that does not live up to it's promotions.
As for my intentions and putting it out on the web, that is my concern. If I'm not worried about it then don't worry about it for me....
I'm a do it person and do not think any less of people who aren't and if you all don't want to be a part of my solution then that is fine. I will still do what I have to do and have taken down my previous post for those who are getting anxious because of it.
Mem

[T42]

Originally Posted by Jaws

I'm really not trying to be a wet blanket or paranoid lawyer (although I can't help the latter). However, I need to repeat a caution I mentioned earlier:

It's one thing (and a good one) to gather information, to analyze it, and to take it to counsel.
It's another thing entirely to publicly threaten that one is going to take specific action, especially if the information hasn't been gathered yet or requires people to possibly disclose anything that might be personal or confidential.

Please, guys, be very careful. It's probably a good idea to consult counsel before beginning these crusades, if only so that you can give yourself informed consent for any risks you may be running.

I can't be more specific than this in a public forum; and please don't take this as a personal attack, because it's not. It's a general caution; after all, I don't think you really want to be on the end of another (frivolous, unethical) letter like that Kevin received if by taking reasonable steps you can avoid it. Please, for your own sake, consider following appropriate procedure and get your facts, on paper, before calling down the fire and brimstone.

Thanks for the advice, but as far as I know it is still a free country. PA may use scare tactics on people and lawyers like yourself (full of good intentions I am sure) only make people even more afraid to stand up for ones rights but I am not afraid of PA and I have someone on my side more powerful then they will ever be or think they are anyway and so I will continue to do what I have to do.
Mem

[AC Crispin]

Hi! Has anyone checked the PublishAmerica listing for the Maryland Better Business Bureau lately? You might want to.

Apparently PA hasn't been able to keep up with the flood of complaints. The BBB also asked Writer Beware to provide them with documentation and information on PA, and of course we were pleased to comply.

PA and the PA Authors were alway so PROUD of their BBB "rating." I wonder how they will react to this?

-Ann C. Crispin
"1 of 8"
Writer Beware
www.writerbeware.com

P.S. If you are a PA author or writers' advocate who is new to these boards, and you want to get involved with my "project" to shed light into dark places, please write to me at Anncrispin@aol.com

Please cc: Writer Beware at beware@sfwa.org
As we all know, AOL can be wonky.

My project is neither illegal, immoral nor fattening. And we're getting some signs that we are being Heard.

Write to me!

[Richard]

"Thanks for the advice, but as far as I know it is still a free country"

Heh. The libel laws in England would turn your hair white.

[tinasamuels]

Thanks Ann. Using whats listed in my ever failing attempt to get my rights back. Thanks!

[KellyS.]

My book says it was published in March 2004. People were buying my book as early as January 15th, 2004.

[AnneMarble]

Originally Posted by AC Crispin

Hi! Has anyone checked the PublishAmerica listing for the Maryland Better Business Bureau lately? You might want to.

Thank you for all your hard work on getting this done!

And thanks to the people who made the complaints.

[Sheryl Nantus]

I'm still laughing over the word "anti-promoting"...

and let's not forget who the bad guys are here, eh?

the PublishAmerica owners - those without morals and without remorse that are sucking the money and the life out of hundreds of victims almost daily.

peas, out.

[KellyS.]

I want to address the fact that PA says that anyone who complains about anything is definitely just a disgruntled or negative author. While I am disgruntled and feel negative towards PA, that is not the only reason that I would like to see something done about PA's practices and implied promises.

Let it be known that there are still people who care about other people. I do care that someone else, who has the same ambition and desire for their book that I did, may fall into this trap. I believe that the people who aren't PA authors and are helping to get the word out really care about others falling into this trap as well. It's not that they don't wish to see people published, it's that they don't want these people to think that they are being published the "traditional way" and think they are receiving credit in the writing world.

None of the authors on this board have to offer any advice to people trying to be published. However, they do out of the kindness of their hearts. I have learned a lot about the 'true' publishing world from this board. Anyone who believes PA's take on these people need only to check out this board to know it isn't so.

I just felt that this needed to be addressed.

[Sher2]

Originally Posted by T42

Thanks for the advice, but as far as I know it is still a free country. PA may use scare tactics on people and lawyers like yourself (full of good intentions I am sure) only make people even more afraid to stand up for ones rights but I am not afraid of PA and I have someone on my side more powerful then they will ever be or think they are anyway and so I will continue to do what I have to do.
Mem

Feistiness and tenacity are excellent traits, and mandatory when it comes to dealing with PA. Keep in mind, though, that forewarned is forearmed. It's probably best not to divulge battle strategy publicly and give the opposition extra time to think up a defense. Catching them off-guard is a good thing.

[lucyishome]

[QUOTE=AC Crispin]Hi! Has anyone checked the PublishAmerica listing for the Maryland Better Business Bureau lately? You might want to.

All I can say is that t's about time. Thanks for the heads-up.

Anne

[Moondancer]

Originally Posted by DaveKuzminski

It appears that Larry owns NetCrafters. Because of that, I doubt that any reports to PA's ISP would be effective since he owns the ISP. This makes for some serious problems regarding copyright violations that might be useful in bringing in a Federal agency.

What I'm suggesting here is that any author whose book rights were reverted and whose book is still being sold by PA should first report that to the ISP that PA operates upon. There's a standard address for such reports. It's always abuse@ISPaddress, so in this case it would be to abuse@netcrafters.net . State your case there and ask that the ISP enforce your copyright as they are required to do by law. If necessary, the ISP should block that site until they remove your copyrighted material. If the ISP refuses, then you have something to bring up with the FTC and the FBI. Perhaps some other agencies as well.

That kind of ties into that linked thread earlier about Larry C.'s computer business that changed to web design and web hosting, doesn't it? Gosh... who posted that?

Uh... Jenna? I think that's another one you can cross off your list of potential service providers.

[JennaGlatzer]

Originally Posted by Moondancer

Uh... Jenna? I think that's another one you can cross off your list of potential service providers.

By the way guys, our techies were adding new servers today, so *maybe* (fingers crossed) we won't have any more downtime.

[Moondancer]

:Fairydust Maybe this will help. If not, maybe they can try this next:

[lucyishome]

Originally Posted by JennaGlatzer

By the way guys, our techies were adding new servers today, so *maybe* (fingers crossed) we won't have any more downtime.

Yeah thanks Jenna.

[Jaws]

Here's what Ann was talking about:

PA's BBB listing

Which, at this moment, reads:

Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to a pattern of complaints. Complaints generally allege lack of promotion of authors' books and inaccurate record keeping with respect to books sold and commissions due. The company has responded to most complaints but has not responded to others. The number of complaints increased during 2004.

Translation to English:
First, a caveat. I am no fan of the BBB. In my considerable experience, the BBB's system is so slow in responding to complaints as to be worse than useless, as all too frequently a consumer's extraordinarily short statute of limitations will run during the process. I have also found that the BBB is, in general, not responsive to verified findings of fault, such as findings of liability in contested judicial proceedings. Too often, that's just one more piece of paper in the BBB's files, even when the result of a class action.

All of that said, the last two sentences are about as damning as you'll find anywhere in a BBB company entry. The BBB system is based not on resolving complaints, but on responding to them. (What it says about American business that getting businesses to even respond to complaints requires pressure from an outside agency is not very complimentary.) Even a response to the effect that "Company X admits that what Customer Y said is true, but disclaims responsibility" will not get much notice in the BBB system. Y complained; X responded. It is also unusual to note a trend in complaint volume. Draw what conclusions you will; the only one that matters is:

Membership Status: This company is not a member.

[JennaGlatzer]

Well, it took them long enough, but Jaws is right-- that's about the worst it gets as far as a BBB rating goes. I give them credit for finally taking notice and giving a more accurate report, and I give Ann credit for her work in organizing and deploying the troops; I'm sure that's where this came from!

[bikrpreacher]

I'm glad Jaws clarified it, but I was tickled to read it, it's really awesome to see things go into place.

Renee Bagley, I saw your website, it's really nice and you are very talented.