Publisher’s Pick
The Scam, The Sting,
and The Dirty Little Secret
An Insider’s View of the Book Publishing
Industry
Publisher’s Note: Thanks to the persistence of one of the three authors of
this piece, the following true-life story caught the attention of not only the
Attorney Generals of two states, but a major network news station in a large
U.S. metropolitan city. The news station was so interested in the story that
they sent a reporter on the trail of the literary agent in question, and ran a
two-day feature of the story during their prime-time news hour.
Though this story played out several years ago, it is as fresh and as
salient today as ever before. The writers of the piece you are about to read
have all gone on to become successfully published authors. Their identities, as well as the identity of
the literary agent, have been kept anonymous. The important point: they could
be anyone.
The Secret
The book publishing industry
has a dirty little secret. It is a
secret that is so well kept that few members of the book-buying public are
aware of it. In fact, most readers curl up with a copy of their latest find, or
browse the aisles of their favorite bookstore, completely oblivious to the pain
and misery that is embedded within this industry.
The book publishing industry
is really comprised of two businesses.
The first is in the business of producing and selling books to the
general public. The second arm of the
industry is in the business of theft, deceit, and fraud. This second, *scammy side* of the book
publishing industry is surprisingly large, exceedingly profitable (conservative
estimates are in the multi-million dollar range) and as protected from legal/penal
consequences as their legitimate counterparts.
The legitimate side of the
book publishing industry is a grueling one for most writers. The vast majority of writers have realities
that are nothing like the serene, confident, poised authors interviewed on
television talk shows. For most writers,
the reality is one of constant rejection, negativity, and almost totally void
of positive reinforcement. With a
business-as-usual 99% rejection rate by publishers and literary agents alike,
it is a business that can cripple the faint of heart. (Even for those writers who are fortunate
enough to have their books published, the income from book sales for the
majority of writers is usually far too meager to sustain life.) When you factor
in the piranhas who prey on the already fragile hopes and dreams (not to
mention bank accounts) of writers who have exposed their souls in their
writing, well, let’s just say the effects can be devastating. As one writer put it, “What is the most
depressing to me now is that my writing self-esteem is completely deflated
because the only agents I can land are scam artists who accept everybody!”
The book publishing
industry’s alter-ego is not just causing financial loss to writers. It is a grueling business filled with
rejection. (Overnight success stories
are rare.) This makes writers an easy target.
With so much negative response to their work, many writers have a
difficult time holding on to the hope of ever seeing their work successfully
published. Writers who fall prey to the
all too common hustle of con-artists not only lose money, but pay a much higher
emotional and spiritual price. As one
veteran writer and victim said, “I don’t remember how much she [the scam agent]
bilked me out of. It was too much. But
even as a pretty broke writer, the killer for me is the way she played with my
(and so many other people’s) hopes and dreams.
Writers, regardless of skill, invest hopes and dreams into every
paragraph...I gave up a lucrative business career to become a struggling writer
because of the hope she gave me. I
jeopardized retirement comforts, my kids’ college education, and, at times, undermined
my own self-esteem...I remember my excitement over [hearing the scam agent’s
talk of] best-seller and film possibilities, I felt vindicated. Now I know it
was all bullshit.”
The Scam
The illegitimate side of the
book publishing business is propagated by con-artists posing as literary
agents, publishers, and independent editors.
Their victims are unsuspecting writers and their methods for financially
duping and deceiving writers are very slick.
There are some commonly known
scams that have been playing out within the book publishing industry for
decades. The first type is when the
con-artist agent tells the writer that his/her work holds *a lot of potential,
but needs some editing.* In this same
communication, the scam agent typically implies that once the editing services
are sought out by the writer, the agent
will then represent the writer’s work.
These scam agents then recommend either their own editing services or an
outside editing service which offers kick-backs to agents for the
referrals. The cost for these so-called,
*editing services* often run anywhere from several hundred to several thousand
dollars. Once the editing services have
been paid for, the scam agency just ignores all future communication efforts by
the writer. A similar scam has been
popularized by unscrupulous literary agents who require a *reading fee* to
consider manuscripts; after the fee is paid, the acceptance rate is zero
percent for those who are true con-artists.
There are also scams run by a small percentage of unscrupulous
publishers who charge entrance fees for questionable *writing contests* that
never seem to be traceable.
The scam we will focus on
here is just as insidious, but far more difficult to detect until the con has
been run and the so-called agent becomes *unreachable.*
Method of Operation: (a) The scam
artist poses as a literary agent and pretends to read the potential client’s
manuscript under the guise of possible representation. (b) Next, s/he offers glowing letters about
the book and offers a contract to represent the book for publication and
requires the writer to pay a fee for (insert your favorite lie here: administrative fees, fees for so-called
*photocopies* to send off to publishers, long-distance calls with movie
producers, etc.). (c) After the check is
cashed, the so-called *agent* then disappears, moving on to the next victim.
This scam is very hard to
detect because unpublished writers are often told that legitimate agents do,
indeed, charge for expenses. In this
way, the scam artist’s request for such fees does not seem unreasonable. However, those knowledgeable in the business
can tell you that such expenses are normally charged to the writer after they are incurred and the charges
are substantiated with expense logs and receipts. Experienced writers sometimes may negotiate
having these expenses deducted from their first advance. Neither of these scenarios includes paying an
agent an undocumented, up-front fee.
Unfortunately, new writers
often do not realize this distinction.
Furthermore, many writers who have been victimized later admit that they
figured no person in their right mind would bother carrying out such an
elaborate scam just to receive a check for a couple hundred dollars. However, literary agents report receiving
approximately 250 to 500 queries and requests from writers to be represented each
and every month. Some agencies report
receiving 250-500 such requests EACH WEEK.
If only a small percentage of writers *accepted* by these scam-artists writes
a check, these so-called, *agents* may pull in $250,000.00 a year, with the
possibility of even MORE...even if the scam agent only makes $100.00 to $200.00
per manuscript. Pretty good money for
only writing a letter offering to *represent* someone!
THE STING
The Set-Up: In order to
fully appreciate the following documents surrounding the sting you will need a
little background information. We had
been busy working to inform and assist several federal governmental law
enforcement offices, state penal/legal agencies, and media organizations to
investigate certain so-called literary agents for fraud. One agent in particular, we will call her Ms.
X, who worked her scam out of the Los Angeles, California area, appeared to us
to be a master at this fraudulent technique and particularly insidious in her
method of operation.
Throughout our communications
with investigative agencies we were repeatedly reminded that they needed proof
that this agent was engaging in a *systematic effort to commit fraud and
deceive clients.* While there were numerous victims willing to step forward to
give testimony to the practices of this agency, we needed additional evidence
to clearly demonstrate our claims that this so-called, *agent* was indeed, in
the business of committing fraud.
We needed something
more. A hook. Something that could demonstrate without a
doubt that this so-called, *literary agent* does not even READ the manuscripts sent to her.
Enter Richard Hulligan…as
good a pseudonym as any.
And then…the product. Using our own money, time and resources, we
took four long nights to write the most incoherent, most absurdly ridiculous,
absolute worst piece of garbage that ever passed through a printer.
Two of us wrote straight
through from about 7:00 in the evening until 3:00 in the morning for four
consecutive nights to complete an entire manuscript of 239 pages. We used a combination of four types of
writing techniques:
(1) Bad voice-recognition software. Voice-recognition software that had
been *untrained* and recognized only 25% to 50% of the words spoken. The other 50% to 75% of the time, it printed
out a string of bizarre and
strangely-connected words and non-words that were not even remotely close to
what we had said.
(2) Plain old-fashioned plagiarism.
For the *factual* portions of the manuscript we did a direct copy-and-paste,
lifted straight from Microsoft’s encyclopedia software, Encarta. This portion
was intentionally written in such a way that even a grade school child could
recognize this most obvious *lifting* of text.
(3) Repeat, repeat, repeat. We
filled in a lot of the pages of the story by simply copying large portions of
texts, and then pasting them over and over again in random parts of the
manuscript.
(4) Good ol'-fashioned
bad story-telling. We created a story-line that rested on the
premise of the Russian Revolution, as told from the perspective of a
Cabbage. We called our epic tale, *Quoth
the Cabbage.* The plot unfolds as a poor cabbage farmer and his family enter into
desperate times as the revolution nears.
The farmer grows mad from worry, leaving his wife and ten children to
pick up the pieces.
Meanwhile, the cabbages in
the farmer’s field see they are the only ones who can save the Russian people,
and begin to create a plan. When a band
of runaway orphans escape to the cabbage field one night, the vegetables seize
the moment...as the orphans huddle together to stay warm, small dolls begin to emerge
from the center of the Cabbage Patch and tell the orphans of the cabbages'
plans.
As the story unfolds, the orphans
are instructed by the dolls from the Cabbage Patch to instigate and orchestrate
the Russian Revolution. Once this
accomplished, the orphans are caught and banished to Siberia. Coincidentally, this is precisely where the
farmer's wife has brought her children and husband she has reunited with to
start a new life. The story ends as the
orphans (who now live with the farmer and his family) guard their special dolls
from the Cabbage Patch and share hot bowls of sauerkraut.
DID WE MENTION THAT THIS MANUSCRIPT WAS REALLY
BAD??
The Good, The Bad, and the Editorially-Impaired: We sent a query for this piece-of-garbage manuscript
out to five *good* agents (agents with a long-standing reputation of being legitimate)
and five suspected *bad* (or questionable) agents, including Ms. X and her Publication
Group.
Not surprisingly, all five of
the *good* (legitimate) agents took a major pass, while all five of the *bad*
(questionable) agents requested to see either the entire manuscript or portions
thereof. Some were especially
enthusiastic. We couldn’t resist. We packaged up copies of that manuscript and
in a New York second headed for our local post office with the following:
COVER LETTER accompanying the manuscript, "Quoth
the Cabbage":
Dear Agent,
Thank you for asking to review my book,
Quoth the Cabbage. It is lucky
for me to have found an agent
who recognizes something good when it comes
along.
I am sure you are going to think it is
good. Several of the guys over
here at the VFW think it is
great, along with three of my neighbors.
The wife
thinks it is sure to be a
bestselling novel and that it is the best way to
learn about such important
history because the story is so interesting.
I have done many years of research on the
Russian Revolution and the novel
is jam-packed with historical
yet entertaining (according to the wife) facts.
At the same time, you will
note I have taken artistic license in creating a
stream of conscousness type
style to depict the insanity of the times.
I also
might say that I think I have
done an excellent job at capturing what the
thoughts and feelings might
be of a cabbage existing during these trying times.
As for the future film rights, I am
thinking that someone like that Steven
Spielberger fellow might
really take a shine to it. If you know
him, you
migght want to think about
contacting him first. Though the Disney
people
might also be a good
possibility.
I’ll close here because I am sure you are
anxious to get to reading it
right away. I have supplied a SASE for you to tell me how
you like it. I did
not put in one of those large
envelopes because I am that sure you are going to
love it and will therefore
not need to be returning it to me.
I will be looking forward to hearing what you think
Sincerely,
Richard Hulligan
Response to Our Manuscript: Three of the
questionable agents responded by referring the manuscript to an infamous
editing service. (This editing service
was later busted by the New York Attorney General’s Office.)
Even better, two of the
agents receiving the entire manuscript absolutely loved it! But of these two,
Ms. X took the cake. Ms. X and her Publication Group sent a contract offer for *Quoth the Cabbage* and wrote a rave
review. Here is an excerpt of what this
so-called, *literary agent* said holds the potential for being the next Best
Seller and Block-Buster Hit:
EXCERPT FROM THE NOVEL MANUSCRIPT “Quoth the Cabbage”
Page 9 (ms. 239
pgs.)
Starving children, to a well
who've cabbage and Leopold amazement.
Leopold
side than he called to who is
why beliefs can lock them normal room me a half
that factor. Let's see what to take that route. It calls.
" What we see what
the bizarre how can this
powerhouse so much what we absolute rule! It is there
is not right it stands now
rights of blocked astounded. Then they
had
conducted a job as a Leopold
rather
And they willing to ~
together in Moscow and the assault at a packed in army
troops of nails. But now you weep, and their guns the law's
ban. It is true.
All is easy to see what color
was up wheat belt will it. It. Why it's up and
what's it's to be? What is the Russian way of life to come
to? It's yours to
uncover, Leopold thought. For as we meet state appears to get harsher
and
harsher for the common man
just trying to put food onto the table.
Ahh, but then the rotten
colder to draw the snow in the Russian winter wheat
went by the wayside. He would recall. Leopold with that lot of vegetables;
and ten markets expect to win
the cabbage. Are cabbage happily for him
was not
to meet all was nine and the
cabbage can Play a news didn't a vegetable ago at
the wheel lock and Leopold
would be quite happy but never to retire the
vegetables rate it seemed to
want to Wall replies maybe they went to a better,
his colleagues cabbage tempo
" toward new pair to cabbage wanted to use,
vegetables perhaps weeks
Jacobs also lives. Then what's the
word. It was
beaten disappear insulted a
clever in its ability to help the czar."
(Quite a piece of work, huh?)
Ms. X’s RESPONSE TO THE MANUSCRIPT “Quoth the Cabbage”:
Mr. Hulligan,
I enjoyed "Quoth The Cabbage"
immensely. It has wit, and a charming
style, and considerable and
fascinating information. It is joyful
and exciting
reading.
Congratulations!
Contract is enclosed and self explanatory.
I will do a multiple submission to five of
the majors; it has become an
acceptable practice among my
confreres, and it also tends toward possible
negotiating benefits in the
event two or more express interest.
We have a long-term arrangement with a
copier who, at the rate of .10
cents per page, uses my
signature quality heavy paper and includes packaging,
addressing and FedEx-ing (I
pay the Fed-Ex). Five copies of this
manuscript of
239 pages (five copies = 1185
pages) at .10 cents per page is $118.50.
Adding
California's sales tax of
$9.75 raises the total to $128.25. If
this
figure is comfortable for
you, with the return of my copy of the signed
contract, please include a
check in this amount, made payable to The XXX
Publication Group.
There may be film possibilities, with a
little luck. Please--no
hurry--prepare a one page
synopsis, and a more detailed one of perhaps eight
pages, for use as a screen
presentation; we submit to both venues simultaneously.
Warmest regards,
(Ms. X’s signature)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Wow! Film
possibilities? Now that adaptation we would have paid to seen.)
Not so funny if it happens to you: Responses such
as the one from the scam literary agent featured here speak for
themselves. Less obvious are the voices
of the writers ripped off by these con-artists who pose as literary
agents. Those people whose confidence,
trust and self-esteem have been seriously damaged by piranhas who prey on the hopes
and dreams of others. As one of the
victims of the previously-mentioned agent said, *It’s not so much the money you
lose. That you can get over. It’s really the way these scam agents leave a
writer completely ‘Mind-F%&^ed’.*
A Final Word: The
proof is in the cabbage soup. As hard as
it may be to do, when somebody tells you that your work has charm, wit, and
film possibilities, don’t go writing that check and rehearsing your Daily Show
interview until you check them out thoroughly.
There are a lot of sharks out there,
and some of them are hardwired to bite at anything that moves.
©Razor’s Edge Publishing, Inc.
Publisher’s Note: Razor’s Edge Publishing, Inc. has been granted the rights to use that
brilliantly horrible manuscript, *Quoth the Cabbage* for the purposes of
uncovering other scams within the book publishing industry. If you know of a questionable agent or
publisher who you believe should get the *Cabbage Test*, send your request to: info@razorsedgepublishing.com