I deserve no sympathy

[A.S. King]

Where better to vent this than here, and I'm not looking for sympathy because it was my own damn fault.
I have done a stupid thing. I sent a great book to the Lee Shore agnecy in Pittsburgh, and guess what? They are interested. Now, I've been led up the garden path before. I've been doing this for nearly ten years. And I wasn't surprised that they replied positively, becasue this book is a clean, well written and interesting novel and I've gotten only positive replies so far. HOWEVER...Before I got too excited about Lee Shore, I came on line and searched and searched and I found out what most of you already know. Lee Shore are scammers.
I guess I've spent enough time kicking myself, and in all fairness, I don't get to talk to the CEO until tomorrow, but I have a good feeling (from what I've read) that she's going to try and get me to pay her loads of money for editing, etc. I won't know until tomorrow, but my nose tells me I am about to get scammed.
Well not really, becasue after ten years of hard work and research I know what a proper agent does and I won't allow myself to get involved. But I figured this was the place to rant a little about this situation.
What a waste of time and energy! And money, as it costs a heck of a lot to send mss. from Europe to the US. And I could have simply checked them out thouroughly before I went and sent them anything. I already knew this stuff!! SO what was I doing?
I guess I simply wasn't paying attention.
I have to say here - What are these so called agents about, really? I mean, what in the world are they doing but preying on unpublished and or unsuccessful writers for their own gains? How cheeky! And to think that they actually get some people to part with huge amounts of money is horrible.
I have to wait until tomorrow to say for sure, but presently I am pretty busy kicking myself and looking through websites to find a REPUTABLE agent to send on the ms to.
Just thought I'd put this down for anyone reading who hasn't learned this the hard way yet...DON'T EVEN BOTHER SENDING YOUR WORK TO AN AGENT WHO CHARGES FEES OR OFFERS EDITING AT A COST. JUST DON'T DO IT.

I deserve no sympathy!!

A.S. King

[Kaz]

I agree, it isn't sympathy you need. It's a pat on the back for being wise enough to investigate before signing on the dotted line. Even if you had, it wouldn't be the end of the world, just another of those tough life lessons. It's what we learn and how we react that really counts in the long run. Hang in there and continue your search for a reputable agent. Be sure to check out the Preditor/editor site. http://www.sfwa.org/prededitors
Best of luck, Regards, Kaz

[ACCrispin]

Dear A.S. King:

You can expect Cynthia Sterling to speak in glowing, but very general, terms about your manuscript. Astute writers soon notice that she seems to have only really read the first chapter of the work...not the whole thing.

She will almost certainly be encouraging, and offer representation. But first, your ms. will need editing. And of course there is a hefty charge attached to that.

Good luck with the call. Don't write any checks.

Best,

-Ann C. Crispin
Writer Beware
www.sfwa.org/beware

[Pat Cooper]

Maybe you could just send her a chunk of Cashel Blue *g*

I couldn't help noticing your dial-up ID.

Kaz and Ann have given you their expert advice. So "forewarned is forearmed". You will be able to handle the situation just perfectly, I am sure. I would be most interested to hear the next installment.

patC

[A.S. King]

Kaz, Ann & Pat -

Hey THANKS for your words of encouragement - I am feeling a bit better after looking at it from your perspective. Maybe I'm not a total moron after all!
The book is still an excellent book, and there are still plenty of legit fish in the sea. As for tomorrow and the chirpy phone call, I will just have to grin and bear it.

Thanks Again- Amy

ps - you know, I've been reading these pages for over a year now and today was the first time I wrote. It's nice to have people who know what I'm talking about around. Out here I'm surrounded by cows and swallows, mostly. You guys rock.

[Aspire]

Amy:

A final bit of advice before your call. You need to remind yourself - before the phone call - that your MS is worthy of TRUE representation by a legit agent. People wonder - even on this board - how people could fall for scam artists, especially when they already know that these "agents" have been profiled by Ann's group as scam artists.

The reason is that - after being fed a steady diet of rejection from "legitimate" agents - writers tend to leap at any opportunity presented to them whem scam artists flatter the writer with "good reviews" of their work. The fact is that you'll be wasting valuable time and money with such bottom-feeders. They prey on insecurity and desperation. Writers fall into the "maybe this person isn't so bad after all" syndrome.

Please don't take what I'm about to write as anything other than an uniformed, outsider's view of the situation. It's not meant to be mean, just illustrative. The fact that you're still going through with the phone call - which I assume is a) an international call, b) being paid for by you, is testament to the fact that it's hard to resist the siren's call of these scam artists.

Let us know what happens, and please continue to believe in yourself and your abilities!

[Joe P.]

If you know she's a scammer, you're calling her because why?

[A.S. King]

Just to say - The only reason I'm calling her is to get my manuscript back!
I am a professional, and I made an appointment...so I will keep it...but I'll keep it short, and get my work sent back to me. I guess a lot of you guys don't have the same (sometimes) six week wait for your mail, so you mightn't understand the convenience of a phone call rather than loads of letters.

Amy

[Aspire]

Amy:

Thanks for setting me straight. I didn't factor international postage costs into the equation. Could you do us a favor and let us know how the call goes? Again, good luck with placing your MS with an agent who will give your work the attention and dedication it deserves.

[Mary M.]

Be pleased with yourself for posting the details you did for others here -- to not repeat. Good luck as you continue your search for an interested and reputable agent.