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Our regular issue will go out on Saturday (we're crazy busy here!) but we wanted to let you know about three things:
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- Podcast Episode 4 is posted. You can choose between listening to it on YouTube, or on three different download services, on THIS PAGE. In this episode, Angela and Brian teach listeners the rights and definite wrongs (you're going to chuckle!) that freelance writers and authors do when approaching magazines and websites for writing work, or when approaching traditional publishers in the hopes of landing a publishing contract. Angela also shares how listeners can contact her to get free copies of her books:
Don't miss the funny story near the beginning of the podcast about what the pastor heard Angela say! Brian is a hilarious storyteller!
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2. BookLocker's Easter sale is in effect RIGHT NOW. Get your book published for 30% off! Only $682!! Details are RIGHT HERE.
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IMPORTANT NOTE: You do NOT need to submit your final manuscript yet. You can sign up now to take advantage of this sale, and submit your manuscript for formatting later. We will work on YOUR schedule.
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3. Angela was recently interviewed by the Associated Press after they learned of our ongoing efforts to fight the thousands of online scam websites currently targeting writers and authors through social media.
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If you want to see our updated list of "publishing" scammers, along with the sins being committed by each, CLICK HERE. We research each one (and get screenshots!) before posting a name and a website to the list so it's slow going depending on our workload. We have more than 1,000 of them on our spreadsheet now so you guys and gals be careful out there!
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IMPORTANT: If someone contacts you out of the blue through social media, by email, or by phone, do not do business with them! You can check THIS LIST OF 11 ITEMS to see if a so-called publisher, editor, ghostwriter, cover designer, marketer, etc. (the list goes on and on!) is a scammer. You probably only need to check #1 on that list.
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Top three rules about promoting your book/writing service, or when asking for advice on Facebook and other social media sites:
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A. Never respond to anybody who contacts you (or even responds to your social media post or your comment under a different post) after you post something about your book or writing services, whether you've posted to your own social media page(s) or to a group. (Did you know that scammers are actually controlling several popular author/writer groups on Facebook?!) Also, never respond to anyone who spams you or who cold calls you. They’re all foreign scammers (most are in Pakistan). And, they always use American sounding names. They can sound very convincing! Don’t be fooled! If you send your money overseas, you’re never getting it back! Don't even get us started on their fake United States addresses. They will tell you point-blank they are in the U.S. NO THEY AREN'T!
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B. If it sounds too good to be true, it always is! Nobody is going to provide editing, cover design, formatting, publishing, etc. for $199, $299, or $399! We have heard from countless authors who have lost thousands through these scams. The stories are heartbreaking! We heard from a man last week who lost $1M on a "movie deal" scam. Another man lost more than $70K. He was also interviewed by the Associated Press. A woman lost $90K to a publishing scam in the Philippines. She also contacted the Associated Press.
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How it works: They lure you in with a ridiculously low price while they dangle that non-existent book in front of your face. They then keep asking for more and more money (a couple hundred here, a few hundred there) for additional services that weren't included in the original price (of course!). If you are in this situation, do NOT send them another penny (you're never getting a published book out of the deal), and CONTACT ANGELA right away. Angela never charges authors who need help getting out of those situations. However, beware that there are also scammers (who work for the same fake "publishing" companies!) who are now online offering to "help authors get their money back" (for a fee, of course!). Never respond to those messages, either!
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C. If you have questions about a specific publisher or service, contact Angela. She never charges authors or anybody else to help research a company to see if they are a scammer. And, you will be helping us and other authors out because we will alert others about the scammer.
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Yesterday, Angela called out a scammer on a large Facebook writing group. She received two identical replies from people with different names (same person!) containing the f-word. The scammers are NOT happy with the advocacy work we and Attorney James M. Walsh have been doing in the Facebook writing groups! And, the word is spreading! More and more writers and authors on Facebook have been pointing out the scammers' posts and replies!
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4. The Summer, 2025 24-Hour Short Story Contest date has been set! Start-time will be at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Central Time on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Only 500 participants are permitted so sign up today if you want to play!
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WE ARE WISHING ALL OF YOU A BEAUTIFUL AND BLESSED EASTER! :)
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Angela, Brian, Ali, Justin, Mason, Todd, Charlyn, and the rest of the gang
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12441 N. Main Street, #38
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