WL Correspondence
Ha! So, when I found out how evil these folks are, I sent them an email, inquiring into whether or not they are legit. Here it is, and then their reply to me, and I hope this helps someone out there!
To Whom It May Concern:
First, let me tell you how utterly delighted I was to receive your email this morning asking to see my manuscript SHAPESHIFTER. For a new author, as you well know, there is no bigger ego boost. I promptly squealed and called my family.
And then I did a little more research on your agency. There is a blog out on the internet discussing your agency, and I must admit it made me nervous. One blogger insisted that she did some research that proved you were scammers (so sorry, I'm really not trying to insult you at all) who will basically take my money for editing or illustrations.
I must admit, I'm torn. On the one hand, you have listed on your website that you will only receive payment if you sell my book---hurray. That sounds right.
On the other hand, you tout the fact that you work with new authors who show promise, helping them to improve their manuscript, which sounds like editing to me, even though you insist this is not what you do.
So, I am hesitant to send my work to you, especially since you are not members of AAR, unless you can offer some evidence that you are, in fact, legit and not the evil, blood-sucking scum a researcher claims that you are.
Again, if you are legit, I do hope you understand my hesitancy and can reassure me of your honorable interest in my work.
Please feel free to email or call me.
Thank you so much for your time.
If you really want to 'research' as a good author should, start with the following questions to the people you are basing your opinions on:
1. When was the last Book Trade Show that you attended? How current is the data feeding your opinion? (We go to shows every year and we have the most current data in the industry. We will put our industry knowledge up against anyone. We just got back from the BookExpo in Los Angeles. Ask them if they attended. They didn't because they can't afford it, see next question).
2. Approximately how much money have you made as an author? (We know the answer to this one because we've done the research (it isn't very much).
Many of the authors we know and work with make more in one month, than these pundits have made their entire life. So, if you want to choose this kind of advisor, then please realize that you are choosing advisors that are a lot less successful than we are.
I think you get the point by now.. they aren't current, and they don't make money. We stay current, and we/and our clients, make a lot of money.
Now let's discuss "misleading" authors.
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WHEN WE SAY WE WANT ONLY EDITED WORK, WE MEAN IT.
WHEN WE SAY YOU CAN CHOOSE ANY VENDOR YOU WANT, WE MEAN IT WHEN WE SAY THIS IS A TOUGH BUSINESS, WE MEAN IT
Anyway, there was more, but it was basically just the whole, "we don't take anything that's not edited by a third party thing". I found it very interesting that they didn't once try to defend their legitimacy, just ended up slinging mud at whoever badmouths them.
