You'd Think Anybody Who Has Read This Blog Would Know Better Than to Send Me This Shit...

Lately, I've been getting a lot of junkmail solicitations from con artists who prey on aspiring authors.  Here are two of the latest. One is from a guy who is offering to interview me on his radio show... for a price.

ATTN: Lee G - Want to be a radio Star? I can make you a  bestseller by advertising on my radio show Call me 781/860-9548. My name is Stu Taylor. I provide a unique service for publicly traded and private companies.  I am the host of two nationally syndicated, weekly radio shows, both entitled Equity Strategies that are broadcast on Radio America Network and the Business Talk Radio Network. For a modest fee, I will serve as a host and  interview a member of your management team to achieve whichever goals matter to you. Stu Taylor will also assist your company with public relations and media relations. Your success in business is Stu Taylor's success.

That's because your money will be going into his pocket. Don't you just love people who refer to themselves in the third person? Well, let me tell you, Lee Goldberg won't be calling Stu Taylor any time soon. Lee Goldberg urges you not to, either. If your book is any good, and if have any promotional skills at all, you should be able to score some free radio interviews on your own.

The next piece of junk mail was posted here as a comment (which I deleted because my blog isn't a bulletin board for Internet scam artists).  It came from Randy Gilbert & Peggy McColl, who run a "get rich quick" scheme for writers called the "Zero Cost Bestseller Formula" (which they are also selling as "The Bestseller Mentoring Program")

Authors & Publishers – Tired of   fighting for bookstore distribution? Even if you're a complete computer   novice and have no marketing expertise, we'll coach you to follow our   proven formula and . . . We'll Help You Make Your  Book An Amazon.com Bestseller  in Just 48 Hours … Guaranteed!

They say it's the same formula that's turned folks like Robin Sharma, George McKenzie, Rick Frishman, and Andre Lara into household names. What? You've never heard of them? How can that be?  The gist of their scheme, which they are offering for "a $385 discount" from their usual price (whatever the hell it is), is:

In short, the formula involves  getting people with big email lists to send out an announcement asking  people to buy your book on a given day at Amazon. This method isn’t “spamming” because only “opt-in” email lists are used.   To motivate people to purchase  the book, you promise them a lot of  digitally-downloadable “bonus gifts” for  when they submitted their Amazon email receipt.  For instance, buy a $20  book and you could get $500 of more of extra bonuses – a tremendous   incentive to buy the book. Even better, because the formula uses email,  it  costs nothing to promote the book!

Their scheme is directed, of course, at self-published authors desperate for a short-cut to becoming the next John Grisham. ..and all too ready to hand their  credit cards  over to people like Randy & Peggy, whose come-on is:

Just think…for the rest of your life, people will hear the phrase “bestselling author” whenever you’re being introduced.

Randy & Peggy have several self-published books to their credit, including the  "Proactive Success - The Amazing New Science of Personal Achievement," "On Being a Dog With A Bone," "Success Bound: Breaking Free of Mediocrity" and "The Eight Proven Secrets to Smart Success." They also have a company called "Bargain Publishing Inc." Hmm.

Randy, who likes to call himself  "Dr. Proactive," also hosts  "The Inside Success Show" Internet radio program and, get this, he actually managed to score an interview with  Peggy! Wow.  On his website, he says he was "priviledged" to interview her and he offers you this fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity:

Gold  Member Mania!  Click here and learn how to become a Gold Member  so you can hear all our shows, plus download convenient MP3's,  plus get discounts on other products,  and  get much much more.  (All shows are now valued at over   $2,000, plus  you get two other Gold Memberships and Mega-Bonuses.)

Such a deal! But I've got to wonder...  how good can their advice be if their idea of a brilliant promotional move is  to post their get-rich-quick come-ons on my blog? Here's my key to success and I'll give it to you absolutely free (you don't even have to be a Gold Member) -- stay away from get-rich-quick schemers and Internet scammers who say they'll make you a bestselling author.  Spend your money instead on some good creative writing courses from established authors (like my brother Tod). Work on making your writing better and learning your craft.  You become a bestselling author by writing great books -- not by writing checks.

Comments

[Mark A. York]

Unbelievable.

[Mark A. York]

I spent some time purusing Ken Atchity's website yesterday. 70% of his clients cam from his pay-to-play division. He has sales, but you have to wonder if he isn't towing the scammers script here. What's your take on him Lee?

[Lee Goldberg]

Never heard of him.

[Mark]

Welcome to the internet age. Where we get scams based on stupid internet searches and bots who don't pay any attention to the page it's actually being posted on.

Face it. You're getting the equivelent of blog/internet junk mail. They don't know you from Adam or they'd know better then to post this stuff here.

[Mark A. York]

He's an agent/manager in Beverly Hills. Does screenplays, books, everything in one.

Atchity Literary

[Lee Goldberg]

I looked at the site, and while he seems to have some "name" clients, I wouldn't sign with him. I'm troubled by these clauses in his TV and Film representation agreements:

When screenplays are judged ready for the marketplace, AEI places them directly with studios or with a co-producer who can assist in assembling cast and/or director before approaching financers or broadcasters. Upon sale, AEI retains a management commission.

That's not what troubles me...though I'd be curious what his commission is...10% or what? No, here's the part that gives me pause..

AEI also serves as producer on the project, and contracts to receive producing fees. When a project moves into development, AEI refunds its commission to the writer.

I wouldn't sign with any agent who insists, from the outset, that all deals include him as a producer.

[Mark A. York]

Thanks Lee. Good advice. I've always been against him but the publishing credits make one take pause. This operation smacks of Eddie Kritzer to me.

[Mark A. York]

It may also explain why all of his pending movie deals have fallen through.

[vikk]

"You become a bestselling author by writing great books -- not by writing checks."

May I give an Amen!

[Lee Goldberg]

What have you heard about Eddie Kritzer? I thought he was a producer.

[Mark A. York]

Well, he is but he has an agency type of deal going with it that looks much like this AEI thing except worse. You get an offer of representation from a Claire Wee that wants a fee. He's officially produced but not in the way that say, you are.

[Eddie Kritzer]

My name is Eddie Kritzer, and you had a posting about Clair Wee, she worked foro me about three years ago.

Eddie Kritzer Productions does not ask for a fee, period, end of story

[marky48]

Well she asked me for one.

[Eddie Kritzer Productions]

Mark, Clair Wee may have asked you for the moon, the stars; and the sky; The point is I didn't and wouldnt.

By the way, you sound like a complainaholic, I have been reading your Blogs, is this all you have to do.
Tell me one credit; one book; one script; one anything that you have ever done?
I hope you have because, I know from other unhappy "writers" that it's hard to get quaility writing time in when your working at Kinkos.
One thing about the Internet, is that anybody can say anything, about anyone, without a shred of evidence, basicly people like you....
Why dont you write a compelling story, script, magazine article, inststead of crying like a little baby............

[marky48]

Why don't you pay more attention to your employees? I don't pay fees to anyone. Especially you. I have several books in the pipeline. My recollection is that Clair Wee wanted a fee for representation in your name. That's your problem not mine as I wouldn't have that sort of representation. Get over it.

[marky48]

"I know from other unhappy "writers" that it's hard to get quaility writing time in when your working at Kinkos."

My last employer was the US Government. I don't do "Kinko's."

[Eddie Kritzer]

This is for Lee Goldberg: Please tell me your credits, you certainly have a lot to say..IM sure you had many hits?

[Eddie Kritzer]

Mark,

I see you have several books in the pipeline, let me translate:
My job at Kinkos means I get a discount on the copy machine in the back of the store.........Your a guy with a lot of wise guy sarcasim. When you check credits try the IMDB you know the International Morons & Dummie Base

[Lee Goldberg]

Eddie,

You can check them for yourself at IMDB or at my site, www.LeeGoldberg.com.

Lee

[marky48]

I do have several books in the pipeline. Two are printed the third and forth are weaving around NY. Let me translate: the won't coming your way.

[Eddie Kritzer]

Lee, your "books" wont be coming anybody's way........
Your personal priinting press at Kinkos is working full time

[marky48]

Is this guy serious?

[Lee Goldberg]

Lee, your "books" wont be coming anybody's way........
Your personal priinting press at Kinkos is working full time

Eddie,

I think you meant that message for Marky48, not me. By the way, you may not remember this, but back in the early 80s, you once tried to option one of my books. We met in your office on Sunset (you were partnered with someone at the time... Renee Valente perhaps?) and later went to lunch at Le Dome to discuss it. I ended up selling the rights to New World Pictures instead.

Lee

[marky48]

Mine aren't at Kinkos either. Nor do I have a service industry job, or have ever submitted to this man. I submitted an online query only to a Claire Wee.

[marky48]

We were discussing Ken Atchity, but the Wee experience came to mind during the process, and she did ask for money. That's a problem, but if it wasn't with your knowledge I apologize for the misundertanding on my part. Hollywood's enough of an insult without this.

[Eddie Kritzer]

To Mark & Lee,

Thank you both, I do understand that people are always trying to separate people from their money, all I am doing is looking for compelling material for Hit TV shows and Movies.

And for Lee, I do remember that meeting, I then went on to make False Witness in partnership with the then New Line, starring Phylicia Rashad for NBC, it did a 19.9 29.9 share

[Lee Goldberg]

Ah, those were the days. It's not easy to get numbers like that today in the fragmented media environment with five broadcast networks and countless cable alternatives. When I was working with Fred Silverman, he would show me some of the staggering numbers that programs like ROOTS got -- at a time when there weren't VCRS and TiVos.

[Ron]

Lee,

I'm an established screenwriter / author. CONGRATULATIONS on your comment on the BEST SELLER MENTORING PROGRAM. I smelled a scam immediately. They ask for $2, 500.00 PLUS for their program that's "guaranteed"....of course right after the disclaimer that fills a whole page saying they are not responsible if you fail.
To make a claim that ANY book can go to the Amazon best seller ranks insults one's intelligence.
To put simply...write a great book...and they will come!

[A. T. Sayre]

I had dealings with Claire Wee a long time ago. We talked about a couple of my scripts that she seemed to think had some promise. And she never asked me for a dime. Although in fairness it never got past her talking about the improvements she felt I needed to make, so whether that was coming up later or not I don't know, the contact sort of died for some reason. But still, she didn't ask for a penny, and I was pretty sure she had actually read the scripts.

[Jaci Rae]

Excellent. I agree. I worked my butt off to become a success in my writing. I used the "trick" above and spent eight months of my life doing it and it got me less than 89 books sold, even though I was No. 99 (wooooaa!) on Amazon.

However, I started doing even more real work, without email, and a lot more work on radio and television because I gave the real deal and the more I gave away, the more I received.

After all the hard work and sweat and tears poured over the email "blast" which was a sad moment for nothing, but a meger selling and a lot of dashed hope...

Once I focused in the correct direction and started to give away my information I really and truly become a No. 1 best-selling author, WITHOUT any help from email "blasts" at all and no tricks, just plain hard work, a lot of press releases, a lot of radio and television, which I booked myself by calling up the producers and building a relationship with them.

Shortly thereafter I was signed by one of the top publishing companies (check my story about. You can research me on the net and you will see I am not saying anything that isn't true.)

If you want to get ahead and sell your goods, you must have the goods to sell. But the real trick to it is you must be passionate about your work and not see it as a paycheck. Trust me, the desperation shows through. I applaud you for showing the true story of the life of an author. Blessings! Jaci Rae