Read Books by AWers!

Welcome! The Newbie Guide To Absolute Write

If this site is helpful to you,
Please consider a voluntary subscription to defray ongoing expenses.

Visit the AW chat room!
If you have an IRC program, just visit the #AbsoluteWrite channel on StarChat
Some helpful chat tips.

Save an extra 10% on one item with coupon C3R3URC! See site for details.


Go Back   Absolute Write Water Cooler > Discussion > Bewares and Background Check > Writers Literary Agency/AEG Publishing Group/Strategic Book Publishing/Eloquent Books
Reload this Page Florida Attorney General Files Suit Against Robert Fletcher/Writers' Literary Agency
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
Page 1 of 5 1 2345
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 09-04-2009, 01:44 AM   #1
victoriastrauss
Writer Beware Goddess
Absolute Sage
 
victoriastrauss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Far from the madding crowd
Posts: 5,364
victoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Florida Attorney General Files Suit Against Robert Fletcher/Writers' Literary Agency
More at Writer Beware's blog.

- Victoria
__________________
Personal Website: www.victoriastrauss.com
Writer Beware: www.writerbeware.org
Writer Beware Blog: www.accrispin.blogspot.com
Follow me on Twitter
victoriastrauss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2009, 01:49 AM   #2
Richard White
Writer Beware's Faithful Igor
 
Richard White's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Central Maryland
Posts: 1,031
Richard White is a splendid one to beholdRichard White is a splendid one to beholdRichard White is a splendid one to behold
Huzzah!

Only the first step, but man, what a step to finally take.
Richard White is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2009, 02:30 AM   #3
rejectME
AW Addict
 
rejectME's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 167
rejectME is on a distinguished road
Is the A.G. trying to get class action certification? If appears that this is the first step into something much larger, but I'm actually quite surprised than criminal charges weren't filed first.
__________________
WIP: Ghost Rush (Mystery) - 9,550 words
Breathe (Science Fiction/Mystery) - 43,600 words
The Lighthouse Society (Mystery) - 85,000 words, on submission

My blog about... Movies, TV, and whatever else...
Fire Still Walks With Me

"In the end, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." ~Norman McLain
rejectME is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2009, 02:31 AM   #4
mscelina
The Doom Bunny is plotting. Again.
 
mscelina's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: On the edge of my seat and my temper.
Posts: 15,430
mscelina is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmscelina is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmscelina is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmscelina is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmscelina is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmscelina is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmscelina is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmscelina is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmscelina is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmscelina is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsmscelina is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Thank dog.
__________________
Mythos 1: Bride of Death--coming February 26, 2010

Check out my books!
Elf Killing and Other Hobbies --blog
Shoot The Muse! --website



Nominee--Best Fantasy Novel of 2009--Apostle of Asphodel

Nominee--Best Novel of 2009--Apostle of Asphodel

Nominee--Best Cover of 2009--Apostle of Asphodel
mscelina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2009, 05:58 AM   #5
CaoPaux
Mostly Harmless
AW Supermod
 
CaoPaux's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Coastal Desert
Posts: 6,449
CaoPaux is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCaoPaux is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCaoPaux is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCaoPaux is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCaoPaux is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCaoPaux is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCaoPaux is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCaoPaux is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCaoPaux is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCaoPaux is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCaoPaux is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
__________________
ICAO
---------
Achievers strive for excellence. Perfectionists drive themselves to extinction. -- A Grapple A Day
I've never known any trouble that an hour's reading didn't assuage. -- Charles DeSecondat

2008: I 2009: I 2010:
CaoPaux is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2009, 06:03 AM   #6
JulieB
I grow my own catnip.
 
JulieB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Deep in the heart o' Texas
Posts: 1,598
JulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of light
As my kid would say: "EEEEEEE!!!!!"
JulieB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2009, 07:22 AM   #7
DaveKuzminski
Preditors & Editors
 
DaveKuzminski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Virginia
Posts: 4,553
DaveKuzminski is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsDaveKuzminski is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsDaveKuzminski is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsDaveKuzminski is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsDaveKuzminski is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsDaveKuzminski is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsDaveKuzminski is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsDaveKuzminski is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsDaveKuzminski is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsDaveKuzminski is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
I'm looking forward to a similar post in the subboard above.
__________________
When it comes to PA, the royalty check and the reality check arrive in the same envelope.

Remember to be kind to writers who step in PA. They really don't know how bad it smells.

The difference between PA and WLA? None. Both have the stench of dead and dying books emanating from their doorways.
DaveKuzminski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2009, 07:09 PM   #8
Queen of Swords
Can't sleep. Editing.
 
Queen of Swords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: in the shadow of winter
Posts: 4,634
Queen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Just read the news in Publishers Lunch. Very pleased.
Queen of Swords is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2009, 06:31 AM   #9
victoriastrauss
Writer Beware Goddess
Absolute Sage
 
victoriastrauss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Far from the madding crowd
Posts: 5,364
victoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsvictoriastrauss is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
I don't get the Deluxe version of Publishers Lunch (too cheap to pay for membership), so I didn't see the article. Would you be kind enough to email me a copy? Thanks a million!

beware@sfwa.org

- Victoria
__________________
Personal Website: www.victoriastrauss.com
Writer Beware: www.writerbeware.org
Writer Beware Blog: www.accrispin.blogspot.com
Follow me on Twitter
victoriastrauss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 03:52 AM   #10
The Idiot...?
Troll, stomp away!
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 23
The Idiot...? is an unknown quantity at this point
Interesting link regarding AEG...
http://www.aegpublishinggroup.com/positives.html
The Idiot...? is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 03:57 AM   #11
Cyia
Riding the Query-Go-Round
 
Cyia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Here and there and everywhere.
Posts: 6,085
Cyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Who left the troll door open?
__________________
I have gone to find myself. Should I come in before I return, please keep me here until I get back.

My Bloggish Blog Thing
Cyia is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 04:03 AM   #12
The Idiot...?
Troll, stomp away!
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 23
The Idiot...? is an unknown quantity at this point
Huh?
The Idiot...? is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 04:43 AM   #13
Duncan J Macdonald
And now, back to Plotting!
 
Duncan J Macdonald's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,380
Duncan J Macdonald should run for PresidentDuncan J Macdonald should run for PresidentDuncan J Macdonald should run for PresidentDuncan J Macdonald should run for PresidentDuncan J Macdonald should run for PresidentDuncan J Macdonald should run for President
The troll door -- it's the one under the bridge to the left.


The thing with those testimonials? There's not enough data in them for independent verification. Hence, considering the source, they are suspect.
__________________
R/
Hamster #164
Duncan J Macdonald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 04:56 AM   #14
The Idiot...?
Troll, stomp away!
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 23
The Idiot...? is an unknown quantity at this point
Well...you see....
The thing about this "lawsuit" is that these 175 authors make up less than 1% of the authors who's works are being published by AEG. Most of these 175 authors’ works were either really awful, full of grammatical errors, or they did nothing to MARKET their material and wanted AEG to do it for them. NO publishing company markets the author’s material, the publishing company only PUBLISHES it...it is the author’s job to market their material if they want to make sales. Some books are so awful but the author whole-heartedly believes their material will sell, and they have no idea about anything to do with writing. NO publishing company will say that they will market the author’s materials.


I have worked with this company and judging by the claims of these 175 authors, they did not read their contracts very well. Everything that they are claiming is stated in the contracts when the authors sign them...

...ask me more if you are interested in getting an inside look, from someone who has actually worked with AEG and has worked with a lot of these illiterate authors.
The Idiot...? is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 05:01 AM   #15
AC Crispin
AW Addict
Absolute Sage
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington DC area
Posts: 261
AC Crispin is a glorious beacon of lightAC Crispin is a glorious beacon of light
Why would any legitimate publishing company contract to publish "illiterate" authors?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks in advance for explaining this to me.

-Ann C. Crispin
AC Crispin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 05:03 AM   #16
Parametric
awesome like a ninja
 
Parametric's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Bristol, England
Posts: 4,397
Parametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsParametric is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Idiot...? View Post
...ask me more if you are interested in getting an inside look, from someone who has actually worked with AEG and has worked with a lot of these illiterate authors.
Given that it's been proved in court that Fletcher is a fraudster whose fee-charging literary enterprises are frauds, I can't imagine why anybody would listen to his shills.
__________________
THE INFERNAL FAMILY (70k UF, query, first chapter) - revising based on beta feedback
IRONBANE (85k EF, query) - first draft simmering on the back-burner
DREAD MACHINE (20k YA UF) - one dares not question the mysteries of the first draft

Reviews, rants and rambles at The University of Fantasy.
Parametric is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 05:10 AM   #17
Cyia
Riding the Query-Go-Round
 
Cyia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Here and there and everywhere.
Posts: 6,085
Cyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Aren't "illiterate" and "author" sort of mutually exclusive? Even if there are grammatical atrocities on every page, if it's written in English (or the writer's native language) the writer is - by definition - literate.

Try again.
__________________
I have gone to find myself. Should I come in before I return, please keep me here until I get back.

My Bloggish Blog Thing
Cyia is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 05:16 AM   #18
The Idiot...?
Troll, stomp away!
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 23
The Idiot...? is an unknown quantity at this point
...?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Parametric View Post
Given that it's been proved in court that Fletcher is a fraudster whose fee-charging literary enterprises are frauds, I can't imagine why anybody would listen to his shills.

Proved? oh...you must mean proven. This is one example of what I mean by "illiterate authors".

Can you please explain to ME how his work is fraud? If the authors read their contracts (which they obviously don't) they will find that there is NO fraud involved. All of you who have not had a book published with this company are only going on word of mouth of the less than 1% of authors who ARE the people either looking for a lawsuit, horrible writers, or want all the marketing services for free...
The Idiot...? is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 05:21 AM   #19
The Idiot...?
Troll, stomp away!
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 23
The Idiot...? is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by Parametric View Post
Given that it's been proved in court that Fletcher is a fraudster whose fee-charging literary enterprises are frauds, I can't imagine why anybody would listen to his shills.

Another thing...
When has it been "proved", as you say, in court that Robert Fletcher is a "fraudster"? I know for a fact that you are wrong, my friend. This is the first lawsuit he has had against him regarding this...
The Idiot...? is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 05:22 AM   #20
Queen of Swords
Can't sleep. Editing.
 
Queen of Swords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: in the shadow of winter
Posts: 4,634
Queen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Idiot...? View Post
All of you who have not had a book published with this company are only going on word of mouth of the less than 1% of authors
Actually, I'm not. I looked at Strategic Book Publishing's website, which was enough to show me it was a vanity press, and not an honest one.
Queen of Swords is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 05:25 AM   #21
Cyia
Riding the Query-Go-Round
 
Cyia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Here and there and everywhere.
Posts: 6,085
Cyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsCyia is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments

Someone needs to buy a dictionary. FYI, since you can't seem to lock down the concept:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Merriam-Webster
prove
One entry found.

* Main Entry: prove
* Pronunciation: \ˈprüv\
* Function: verb
* Inflected Form(s): proved; proved or prov·en \ˈprü-vən, British also ˈprō-\; prov·ing \ˈprü-viŋ\
Either is correct - proved, or proven... unless Mr. Webster is also an illiterate author
__________________
I have gone to find myself. Should I come in before I return, please keep me here until I get back.

My Bloggish Blog Thing
Cyia is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 05:25 AM   #22
The Idiot...?
Troll, stomp away!
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 23
The Idiot...? is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by AC Crispin View Post
Why would any legitimate publishing company contract to publish "illiterate" authors?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks in advance for explaining this to me.

-Ann C. Crispin

When I worked with the company, we tried to give EVERY author the benefit of the doubt. Imagine (if YOU are an author) how many times your book has been shot down by many different publishers... We would want to give you at least somewhat of a chance of being an author. Some books were so horrendous that we did not, in fact, contract them. there are still some though that were still pretty bad, that we gave a chance.
It was not our fault if the author couldn't sell the book... we made no gaurantee at all to sell ANY of their books, only to publish.
The Idiot...? is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 05:28 AM   #23
The Idiot...?
Troll, stomp away!
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 23
The Idiot...? is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by Queen of Swords View Post
Actually, I'm not. I looked at Strategic Book Publishing's website, which was enough to show me it was a vanity press, and not an honest one.

So, just by looking at a website, you "KNEW" that the company was NOT an honest publisher? How is this? Were you at all in conversation with ANYONE with the company? or did you just look at the site and decide it was not a legitimate publisher? LOL

pretty dumb way to go about it if you ask me.
The Idiot...? is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 05:30 AM   #24
Queen of Swords
Can't sleep. Editing.
 
Queen of Swords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: in the shadow of winter
Posts: 4,634
Queen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Idiot...? View Post
So, just by looking at a website, you "KNEW" that the company was NOT an honest publisher? How is this?
The fees it charged.

Quote:
Were you at all in conversation with ANYONE with the company?
I am now.

Quote:
pretty dumb way to go about it if you ask me.
I wasn't asking you.
Queen of Swords is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 05:31 AM   #25
The Idiot...?
Troll, stomp away!
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 23
The Idiot...? is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cyia View Post

Someone needs to buy a dictionary. FYI, since you can't seem to lock down the concept:



Either is correct - proved, or proven... unless Mr. Webster is also an illiterate author
LOL sir. It depends on the way you use it.

for example, I would say proved if I were saying to someone that "I PROVED you wrong."

If you want to use it in the context that this other dude did, it would be "it has been PROVEN..."
The Idiot...? is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 5 1 2345

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Custom Search
Bellacor - Free Shipping and Handling  Grasshopper - The Entrepreneur's Phone System MacConnection iRobot - 10% Off All Parts & AccessoriesGo Green with OfficeMax! Environmentally Friendly Office Supplies, Technology, Paper & More.


All times are GMT +4.5. The time now is 10:03 AM.

Contact Us - Absolute Write - Archive - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.