Linda Rader Overman finds Publisher & Agent Scams too often!

I can't believe how many scams are still out there for unsuspecting authors like myself who should know better.

But the predatory beat continues. 

I received a stellar review of my novel after submitting it to

Faye Swetky Agency

But then I get this email telling me how an agency client of this agent's can help edit my book even better to a guaranteed "Publishable" state & get this part:

"As for pricing, my normal rate for doctoring a full-length book such as this is $15 thousand down and $5 thousand a month for as long as it takes to complete, with a cap at six months. That means a total of between $35 thousand and no more than $45 thousand. For that I’ll guarantee the quality of my work. (I’d better!) If any additional work needs to be done on the book after its completion and prior to publication, I’ll do whatever is asked for by the publisher at no additional charge.

 

I’ll also make your life a little easier by enabling you to go after that multiple-publisher offer and a bidding war by providing my own closest editorial contacts with monthly progress reports as the book doctoring unfolds, whetting their appetites for a look at (and a chance to grab) the finished project the moment the doctoring is complete.

 

Finally, I’ll put the author’s mind at rest with a money-back guarantee: either this book sells to a major conventional advance-paying publisher, or I’ll refund the vast majority of my fees. That’s how strongly I feel about this property’s future.

 

But I’m flexible on payment. I want to do whatever works for the author without stressing her out financially and without running the risk of this book failing to see its major publishing debut. So if it takes a creative payment plan—or even a percentage of the profits from the book once it’s published in lieu of some up-front fees—I’ll work with her.  I feel a strong affinity toward this book and the author, and that always works out for the best in the end."

The interesting thing about this scam of a letter is that this agency client is basically the husband of the agent (something she did not bother to disclose)

So as other blogs/forums have suggested STAY AWAY! 

Really sad.....beware beware!!!!

Absolute Write Forums Author Beware

Another Author Warns

Then some weeks later I received  an email from this publisher regarding publishing my PhD thesis --apparently another scam.  See below as to Lambert Publishing Spamming recent graduates to publish their academic works from which they claim to pay you a whole 12% of the royalties....REALLY, wow, I could get more self publishing it. 
 

Lambert Publishing Scam
A Publishing Scam to Avoid
Lambert Publishing continues to spam 

And the scam/spam beat goes on......jeesh!!!