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[Publicist] PageOneLit / TheAuthorConnection / BookstoFilm.com

Greenwolf103

Books & Authors / Books-and-authors.net

Howdy, all,

I just received an e-mail to have my book, BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL: How We Survive as Writing Parents, included on Books&Authors.net ( www.booksandauthors.net/ ). For $250, they'll include an image of the book, interview, photo and link to where it can be bought. I checked the site out and it looks legit. But I want to know if anyone has had much success using them. They claim this info goes out to 11,000 booksellers.

Of course I know that any kind of publicity helps. I'm just curious if anyone here has used them and what experience you got out of it.

Thanks. :)

--Dawn
 

aka eraser

Re: Booksandauthors.net

No experience here Dawn but that seems like a lot of money. Claiming that the info "goes" to 11,000 booksellers reminds me of a certain publisher who claims their books are "available" in bricks and mortar stores.

If the info "goes" via email then its entirely possible that the delete key is being used in 11,000 bookstores at more or less the same time.

That money might be better spent buying your own domain name and hiring a whiz-kid college student to design you a really spiffy website to toot your own horn and hawk your own wares.

At the very least, I'd try to get the names and contact info from several authors who bought the service and see if they're satisfied.
 

Greenwolf103

Re: Booksandauthors.net

Thanks, Frank! :) Very helpful info.

Coincidentally, I have a Web designer waiting in the wings to design me a more professional Web site. The only thing holding us up is my ability to get a domain name. Ugh! :smack

Yeah, I agree about that delete key. I really don't think booksellers are spending too much time on the computer, hunting down new books.

Still, I'll keep an eye on that site. They have some cool articles, anyway. :grin

Take care!

--Dawn
 

ProandCon

Anybody got any feedback on this company who is emailing authors with an offer to help get their books in front of the decision makers who produce movies from the books in the catalog?

They are requesting $125.00 for placing information (ad) about your book on one catalog page or $200.00 for placement in two catalogs in one year.

Below is their answer to questions about the books / projects showing on their website. The question was "Were any of the movies listed on your website actual projects completed from books of your author clients?"

Their response:

"The local projects listed on our website were Screen Gems Studio projects.
They are also located in Wilmington, NC...which is where we are located.
We started making our many film contacts in the Wilmington area....and now
have them nationwide.

We published our first catalog in Spring 2004. We've had a lot of our
authors get contacted by the film business, but to my knowledge none are
under contract yet. I say "to my knowledge" because when you purchase an
ad in our catalog you aren't obligated to let us know if negotiations are
underway or deals are being made. When there is interest, you are
contacted directly by the studio, producer, etc. We are out of the picture
since we act only as an advertising medium for you....unless you choose to
keep us in the loop.

I hope that helps."

Regards,
Whitney Lupton
www.bookstofilm.com
"Where Literature Meets Hollywood"


P&E Investigator Dave Kuminski, Have you heard anything?
 

James D Macdonald

Re: BookstoFilm.com

They are requesting $125.00 for placing information (ad) about your book on one catalog page or $200.00 for placement in two catalogs in one year.

That's all I need to know.

Don't do it.
 

vstrauss

Re: BookstoFilm.com

A number of these catalogue services exist, targeted to various kinds of writers. From what I've heard, they are even less effective than their online counterparts (Authorlink, etc.). Look at it from an editor's or studio exec's perspective. Why, when your desk is probably ready to collapse under the weight of the paper submissions you've received, would you bother to look at a catalogue full of paid listings?

This sounds even iffier to me than the usual, because a) the vast majority of published books never get optioned for film; b) it's EXTREMELY rare for unpublished manuscripts to sell dramatic rights, and c) when either of these things happen, it's usually through an established literary agent.

- Victoria
 

AnneMarble

Re: BookstoFilm.com

Anybody got any feedback on this company who is emailing authors with an offer to help get their books in front of the decision makers who produce movies from the books in the catalog?
On top of everything else, this makes them spammers.

Somebody touting their "services" recently joined my romance reader list and sent one of those "Just saw this - looks interesting and thought I'd pass it along" messages. >:

Well I thought his e-mail looked interesting, and I think I'll pass it along to his ISP. :p
 

SimonSays

Re: BookstoFilm.com

A ridiculous waste of money. Producers are not looking through catalogues to find unpublished or self-published novels for story ideas - they are innundated with story ideas - both original and adaptations. I would be shocked if any of the books on that site were noticed by Hollywood because they were in a catalogue such as this - I'd be shocked if any of those books WERE in a catalogue like this.

Books that are commercial successes often get picked up by Hollywood - because of their commercial success (it's a built-in audience).

Most lit agents have sub agents in Hollywood who handle film rights for published works.

I know producers who have read books and then secured the film rights. But they read the books, not a catalogue that lists books. And many books (even great books) cannot be translated to film at all.
 

booktofilm

booktofilm.com not affiliated with bookstofilm.com

We have been forwarded many negative post around the web regarding bookstofilm.com, as well as some
phone calls from others asking if we are affiliated with that website.

Please note that we are in no way affiliated with that website. We are legitimate in our contacts
and tireless attempts to bring authors results via pitchfests and queried contacts to decision-makers to read actual screenplays derived from best selling authors as nominated by book clubs, reviewers, and bookstores, etc.

We have heard from someone from bookstofilm.com about wanting to attend our function in Feb. Shortly thereafter, one of our clients informed us of
their email blast. And, several persons noted that before we started our book to film project,
bookstofilm.com was simply a website that discussed everything from books to films/movies. They
were not even pushing their so-called catalog concept.

Thanks for your time.

Renee Byrd
shebamedagroup.com
booktofilm.com
houstonblackfilmfestival.org
 

booktofilm

booktofilm.com not affiliated with bookstofilm.com

We have been forwarded many negative post around the web regarding bookstofilm.com, as well as some
phone calls from others asking if we are affiliated with that website.

Please note that we are in no way affiliated with that website. We are legitimate in our contacts
and tireless attempts to bring authors results via pitchfests and queried contacts to decision-makers to read actual screenplays derived from best selling authors as nominated by book clubs, reviewers, and bookstores, etc.

We have heard from someone from bookstofilm.com about wanting to attend our function in Feb. Shortly thereafter, one of our clients informed us of
their email blast. And, several persons noted that before we started our book to film project,
bookstofilm.com was simply a website that discussed everything from books to films/movies. They
were not even pushing their so-called catalog concept.

Thanks for your time.

Renee Byrd
shebamedagroup.com
booktofilm.com
houstonblackfilmfestival.org
 

absolutewrite

Re: booktofilm.com not affiliated with bookstofilm.com

I listed Bookstofilm.com in Absolute Write's Newsletter several weeks back as our "spammers of the week," I believe. Oh, and they refused to answer any of my questions-- but felt fine about continuing to spam me almost daily.
 

RaechelHendersonMoon

Bookstofilm.com spamming

Same here. After receiving five messages from them to various e-mail addresses I asked to be removed from their list. Never received a reply and was sent several more e-mail messages.
 

ScottAJohnson

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AuthorConnection.com / Page One Lit -- SPAMMERS

Just recieved this in my e-mail...Correct me if I'm wrong, but money flows toward the author? :rolleyes:
Scott,

My name is Olivia Wilson, and I represent The Author Connection.

I want to share with you a promotional opportunity for your book
" Deadlands" or your other titles.

We are TheAuthorConnection.com - "We make the CONNECTIONS for you!"
Guaranteed Publicity or your money back. Authors and Publishers have been
demanding guaranteed publicity and marketing for decades, and finally it's
here with TheAuthorConnection.com. Are you tired of paying literary
publicists and not getting anything in return? Finally, there is a
publicity service that guarantees their services. Our goal is to provide
guaranteed and fast, impressionable publicity at an affordable price.

The current Promotion Deadline is May 20, 2005. In 15 weeks we
guarantee the following for only $550 or your money back...Your features
and interviews will stay on these sites forever except RadioGuests.com
which is a one year listing - The 15 weeks is the time we have to get the
work done for you or we return your money.

* 1 Year listing at RadioGuests.com
* Interview & Feature listing at The-Book-Works.com
* Interview & Feature listing at TheBookInsider.com
* Listing/Feature and Promotion with PathWayBookClub.com
* Listing/Feature and Promotion at BooksoftheYear.com
* Interview & Feature listing at Five-star-authors.com
* Interview & Feature listing and Promotion at Pageonelit.com
* Press Release featured at BookPressReleases.net
* Press Release submitted to PRWEB/Yahoo News
** BONUS Interview, listing and "AUDIO" at AuthorsTalk.com for those that
sign up by May 15, 2005

http://www.theauthorconnection.com

TheAuthorConnection.com is book publicity that is SIMPLE, FAST,
CONVENIENT, and most of all GUARANTEED! Guaranteed or your money back.

TheAuthorConnection.com is a one-stop publicity and marketing service for
Authors and Publishers. We have networked with many literary media and
promotional businesses online who have have partnered with us to benefit
our clients.

To sign up with TheAuthorConnection.com or for further questions, email me
at [email protected] or visit us online at
http://www.TheAuthorConnection.com

Sincerely,

Olivia Wilson
TheAuthorConnection.com
[email protected]
678-318-1717

Heh...Just thought I've give the head's up about this one going around. :Spam:
 
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CaoPaux

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ScottAJohnson said:
Just recieved this in my e-mail...Correct me if I'm wrong, but money flows toward the author? :rolleyes:


Heh...Just thought I've give the head's up about this one going around. :Spam:
Heh. My first thought was this feels like a PA author's enterprise. Don't find an Olivia Wilson though, not that it means much.
 

CaoPaux

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*returns from surfing*

Ya know, the more I dig into the “publicity” that TAC offers, the more I get the feeling that TAC owns/runs most of the sites they mention: similar site design, similar wording, same link ads….

And what few books I’ve found “press releases” for have all been vanity: AuthorHouse, Trafford, etc.

Here’s a bit from WW, FWIW:

http://forums.writersweekly.com/viewtopic.php?t=4550&sid=9a605122405b7485be1ad345011595b5
 

MartyKay

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some whois detective work reveals:


RadioGuests.com 198.66.218.229
The-Book-Works.com 204.202.252.223
TheBookInsider.com 204.202.252.223
PathWayBookClub.com 204.202.252.223
BooksoftheYear.com 204.202.252.223 (!)
Five-star-authors.com Guess?? Yep, 204.202.252.223
Pageonelit.com ... and again...
BookPressReleases.net ... and again again...
PRWEB/Yahoo News Well... not this one :)
AuthorsTalk.com but this one is 204.202.252.223!
www.theauthorsconnection.com and so is this one!

So, other than "RadioGuests.com" these are all the same IP (well, and the Yahoo! one as well). RadioGuests is also registered on the "private" network solutions database -- so no "real" information is provided in whois, just an email address of the same as the domain.
Doing a lookup of the IP address somes "THEBOOKCRITIC.COM" as the owner of the domain.. which (sigh) turns out to also be a "private" domain. The host is err.. hosted at Verio Web Hosting.

Diagnosis.... :SPAM:

:)
 

CaoPaux

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Kewl, I was right! *gloat* Thanks for the dig work, MartyKay. :Thumbs:
 

James D. Macdonald

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bookstofilm.com

So, we've got a company that advertises with spam and uses a URL that's confusingly close (booktofilm.com / bookstofilm.com) to a legitmate company's address.

That's two strikes....
 

mdin

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I just got a spam from Bookstofilm.com today (the text of which is below), and I was curious so I looked up the domain name. On the website I looked the domain up (here), I did a reverse IP lookup and saw they own the following domains:

1 A-WORLD-OF-BOOKS.COM.

2 AUTHORSINTHESPOTLIGHT.COM.

3 AUTHORSTALK.COM.

4 BOOKPRESSRELEASES.NET.

5 BOOKSANDAUTHORS.COM.

6 BOOKSANDAUTHORS.NET.

7 BOOKSOFTHEYEAR.COM.

8 BOOKSTOFILM.COM.

9 FIVE-STAR-AUTHORS.COM.

10 HAVE-YOU-READ-IT.COM.

11 LIBRARIANSCHOICE.COM.

12 LIBRARIANSCHOICE.NET.

13 LIBRARYSELECTIONS.COM.

14 ONTHEBOOKSHELF.NET.

15 PAGEONELIT.COM.

16 PATHWAYBOOKCLUB.COM.

17 READERS-CHOICE.NET.

18 THE-BOOK-WORKS.COM.

19 THEAUTHORCONNECTION.COM.

20 THEBOOKCRITIC.COM.

21 THEBOOKINSIDER.COM.

22 THECROWNBOOKCLUB.COM.

23 THEPUBLICISTSPUBLICIST.NET.

24 TODAYSBOOKSELLER.COM.

25 TOMORROWS-BESTSELLERS.COM.

26 WHATABOOK.NET.

27 WRITERSUNIVERSE.NET.

They seem to have all their bases covered.

Anyway, here's the spam:

Would your BOOK, MANUSCRIPT or SCREENPLAY make a great movie?
BookstoFilm.com can help you promote it to film makers!

Join BooksToFilm.com!
http://www.bookstofilm.com
"Where Literature Meets Hollywood"

BookstoFilm.com publishes a semi-annual catalog which is distributed to
over 2500 film producers, directors, studios, and film agents
nationwide...including those who produce educational and documentary
films. The Spring 2005 catalog was a huge success, and it is available
online now at our website for current clients and film makers. The film
industry is raving over it! More film makers are contacting us daily for
access to the online catalog and for a print copy of our catalog.

Get your full-page ad in our catalog containing book/screenplay summary,
book review, book photo, book ordering information, author bio, author
contact information, and representation information.

$250 - Fall 2005 Catalog only
$375 - Fall 2005 and Spring 2006 Catalog
(* These are Early Bird prices that expire 9/10/05)


What current clients are saying about BooksToFilm.com:

"AWESOME!!! Should I say more? Oh yes...Time and time again you have
proven to be the best there is. Your representation of our books with your
firm 'BooksToFilm.com' has surpassed all others in the industry. Let this
catalog you have created speak for itself... I'm very impressed! We look
forward to working with you on all future writing endeavors. " ---Sara
Tenaci, author of "That's Another Cup of Coffee"

"I like it, I like it. Thank you very much! That's a great ad. Between
this, and my growing book sales, I can't lose." --- Justin Oldham, author
of Politics and Patriotism: The Fisk Conspiracy.

-- read more client comments (http://www.bookstofilm.com/)


Email us today at [email protected] for more information and to get
your book, manuscript or screenplay listed in our catalog. The Early Bird
pricing expires on September 10, 2005.

Regards,

The BookstoFilm.com Staff
http://www.bookstofilm.com
"Where Literature Meets Hollywood"
** BookstoFilm.com was a sponsor of the 2005 Cucalorus Film Festival


To be removed from future mailings from BooksToFilm.com, please reply with
subject "remove."
 

mdin

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XThe NavigatorX said:
19 THEAUTHORCONNECTION.COM.

Just got this spam a couple minutes ago:

Attn: Authors & Publishers - Deadline Sept. 10, 2005

We are TheAuthorConnection.com - Get Connected or your money back!
TheAuthorConnection.com - "We make the CONNECTIONS for you!" Guaranteed
Book Publicity or your money back.

**BONUS Interview, listing and feature at AuthorsTalk.com for those that
sign up by Sept. 10, 2005

The current Promotion Deadline is Sept. 10, 2005. In 15 weeks we
guarantee ALL of the the following (see below) for only $550 or your money
back...Your listings/interviews will stay on these sites forever
except RadioGuests.com, which is a one year listing. We have 15 weeks to
complete the contracted work for you or we return your money.

Our current campaign is a 15-week online promotional package guaranteed to
be completed on time for only $550 your money back...

A 15-week online promotional package guaranteed to be completed on time
for only $550 your money back...
* 1 Year listing at RadioGuests.com
* Interview & Feature listing at TodaysBookseller.com
* Interview & Feature listing at TheBookInsider.com
* Listing/Feature and Promotion with TheCrownBookClub.com
* Listing/Feature and Promotion at BooksoftheYear.com
* Interview & Feature listing at OntheBookShelf.net
* Interview & Feature listing and Promotion at AuthorsintheSpotLight.com
*Interview & Feature listing at A-World-Of-Books.com
*Press Release submitted to and featured at BookPressReleases.net
*Press Release submitted to PRWEB/YAHOONEWS.GOOGLE
**BONUS - Interview, listing and feature at AuthorsTalk.com


http://www.theauthorconnection.com - "We make the CONNECTIONS for you!"

Authors and Publishers have been demanding guaranteed publicity and
marketing for decades, and finally it's here with TheAuthorConnection.com.
Tired of paying literary publicists and not getting anything in return?
Finally, there is a publicity service that guarantees you publicity.

TheAuthorConnection.com is book publicity that is SIMPLE, FAST,
CONVENIENT, and most of all GUARANTEED! Guaranteed or your money back.

TheAuthorConnection.com is a one-stop publicity and marketing service for
Authors and Publishers. We have networked with many literary media and
promotional businesses online who have have partnered with us to benefit
our clients.

"Author Connection is a fabulous resource for all authors looking for cost
effective ways to attract national media attention. Charles is a gem of a
guy and will work with you to find the right angle for your story." --
Lisa R. Delman Dear Mom, I've Always Wanted You to Know... Daughters Share
Letters from the Heart, Penguin April 2005

"I'm pleased... You (TheAuthorConnection.com) have consistently delivered
more than you promised."-- Brian Rouff, author of "MONEY SHOT" & "DICE ANGEL"

TheAuthorConnection.com's goal is to provide guaranteed and fast
impressionable publicity at an affordable price.

Email us today at [email protected] or visit us online
http://www.TheAuthorConnection.com.

Sincerely,

Charles Morgan
TheAuthorConnection.com Staff
"We make the CONNECTIONS for you!"
phone: 678.318.1717
 

victoriastrauss

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Yeah--it's a closed loop--you pay and they put your listing on a bunch of websites they own. Most of these online book promotion packages are garbage, but this one is a real ripoff.

- Victoria
 

roach

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TheAuthorConnection.com just spammed me with an almost identical e-mail, although they've changed the deadline for the 15 week special and some of the websites have changed.

Attn: Authors & Publishers - Deadline Sept. 30, 2005

We are TheAuthorConnection.com - Get Connected or your money back!
TheAuthorConnection.com - "We make the CONNECTIONS for you!" Guaranteed
Book Publicity or your money back.

**BONUS Interview, listing and feature at AuthorsTalk.com for those that
sign up by Sept. 30, 2005

The current Promotion Deadline is Sept. 30, 2005. In 15 weeks we
guarantee ALL of the the following (see below) for only $550 or your money
back...Your listings/interviews will stay on these sites forever
except RadioGuests.com, which is a one year listing. We have 15 weeks to
complete the contracted work for you or we return your money.

Our current campaign is a 15-week online promotional package guaranteed to
be completed on time for only $550 your money back...

A 15-week online promotional package guaranteed to be completed on time
for only $550 your money back...
* 1 Year listing at RadioGuests.com
* Interview & Feature listing at TodaysBookseller.com
* Interview & Feature listing at TheBookInsider.com
* Listing/Feature and Promotion with TheCrownBookClub.com
* Listing/Feature and Promotion at BooksoftheYear.com
* Interview & Feature listing at OntheBookShelf.net
* Interview & Feature listing and Promotion at AuthorsintheSpotLight.com
*Interview & Feature listing at A-World-Of-Books.com
*Press Release submitted to and featured at BookPressReleases.net
*Press Release submitted to PRWEB/YAHOONEWS.GOOGLE
**BONUS - Interview, listing and feature at AuthorsTalk.com

http://www.theauthorconnection.com - "We make the CONNECTIONS for you!"

Authors and Publishers have been demanding guaranteed publicity and
marketing for decades, and finally it's here with TheAuthorConnection.com.
Tired of paying literary publicists and not getting anything in return?
Finally, there is a publicity service that guarantees you publicity.

TheAuthorConnection.com is book publicity that is SIMPLE, FAST,
CONVENIENT, and most of all GUARANTEED! Guaranteed or your money back.

TheAuthorConnection.com is a one-stop publicity and marketing service for
Authors and Publishers. We have networked with many literary media and
promotional businesses online who have have partnered with us to benefit
our clients.

"Author Connection is a fabulous resource for all authors looking for cost
effective ways to attract national media attention. Charles is a gem of a
guy and will work with you to find the right angle for your story." --
Lisa R. Delman Dear Mom, I've Always Wanted You to Know... Daughters Share
Letters from the Heart, Penguin April 2005

"I'm pleased... You (TheAuthorConnection.com) have consistently delivered
more than you promised."-- Brian Rouff, author of "MONEY SHOT" & "DICE
ANGEL"

TheAuthorConnection.com's goal is to provide guaranteed and fast
impressionable publicity at an affordable price.

Email us today at [email protected] or visit us online
http://www.TheAuthorConnection.com.

Sincerely,

Charles Morgan
TheAuthorConnection.com Staff
"We make the CONNECTIONS for you!"
phone: 678.318.1717

As an excercise in wasting time I went through and reviewed the sites. I wrote about it in my journal (I'd post it here but it's looooong).
 

SLP

bookstofilm.com = SCAM

yet another bit of animate scum attacked my email with this...

"Hi,

Thank you for writing. I am not currently taking on any new clients. It's been a busy year, and I am completely full right now. I have gotten quite a few clients from the 2004 and 2005 BooksToFilm.com catalogs (www.bookstofilm.com). I would assume other agents are getting clients from here, also. So, it might be something for you to look into. I know they accept manuscripts (as well as books and screenplays) for their catalog and the catalog is sent to literary & film agents and professionals in the film industry.

Good luck to you!

Lynn Jordan"

the reviews over there are glaringly fake. you'd think books to film was jesus almighty.

of course the most obvious point is if your book was published, as well as a hot candidate for a film, then you'd have had an agent long ago. "I know they accept manuscripts" yea, as if a bigtime producer is gonna read something any schmo with $250 advertized.

there's a lot of bad people in this world.

i'm gonna research how i got "Lynn Jordan's" email, and post the results later.
 
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