YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE!!!

If you can keep track of the names and URLs, this post is about:

• Spotlight Network TV / thespotlight.network
• Spotlight TV
• Logan Crawford (a “famous personality” we’ve never heard of)
• Atticus Publishing / atticuspublishing.com

I received the following email yesterday:

Hello Angela,

I received an email as well as a voice mail from an organization on the West coast. Of course, I look at this as a scam. They said they found my book (title removed), and are very interested in it. They want me to contact them for a zoom interview to discuss the book on the “Spotlight Network” TV system. This is hosted by a guy, Logan Crawford. I pulled it up and watched their promo video on You Tube. Also pulled him up on Wikipedia but not much there.

I don’t believe any of it. I feel it is a well-orchestrated scam, but don’t know where the hook is or how they get into my back pocket.

So I don’t know if you have heard of them or had any exposure to this company. Let me know your thoughts when you can.

Thank you,

DH

COINCIDENTALLY (or not so much!), on that EXACT same day, our Managing Editor, Brian Whiddon, received a voicemail on his phone from the same company, touting the “Logan Crawford” name, and wanting to interview Brian about his book.

What these spammers and telemarketers are NOT telling authors on that first contact is that the interview is actually an “infomercial,” which will cost the author $1000 or more! How many people are actually going to hear that interview and then buy the author’s book? We bet few to none!

I did some digging and here’s what I found:

The “Logan Crawford” Interviews—Writing Scams or Overpriced Marketing? (You have to page down a few times to find that part of the article.)

READ THE COMMENTS UNDER THESE THREE POSTS FOR OTHERS’ EXPERIENCES:

Another #scam to waste authors’ precious time

The #scam strikes again?

Update to the #Scam

Vanity Radio and TV: Think Twice Before Paying for Interviews – “…most often delivered via “sponsored content” internet stations such as The Spotlight Network…”

AND

“Publishing/marketing scammers sell the services of multiple show hosts (see below), but the three personalities noted above–Kate Delaney with America Tonight Radio, Ric Bratton with This Week in America, and Logan Crawford with Spotlight With Logan Crawford–make some of the most frequent appearances on scammer websites and in their email solicitations. Crawford is primarily an actor, with the interviews seeming like kind of a side hustle…”

Here is a partial transcript of the voicemail that was left on Brian’s phone by the same company. It was difficult to understand at times because the caller seems to have an accent.

“I’m calling you because we receive information about the book you published entitled Blue Lives Matter and we are calling authors like you because we would like to offer you a possible television interview…” (BLAH BLAH BLAH…)

She continued: “…along with our host Logan Crawford. Logan Crawford is a Hollywood actor and an Emmy award winning anchor in spots like Network TV. If you receive this voicemail please call us back at 415-907-0443… (And, more blah blah blahs.)

I took Brian’s phone, and responded to “Bella Page” at “Spotlight Network TV / Atticus Publishing.” I pretended to be Brian, told her I’m too busy for phone calls, and gave her Brian’s personal email address.

THE EMAIL BRIAN RECEIVED (THAT I RESPONDED TO):

Hi Brian,

I hope you are well.

We would love to offer you an opportunity to discuss and promote your book ‘BLUE LIVES MATTER: The Heart Behind the Badge’ on our TV show.

Be featured on the show with Emmy Award-Winning Journalist and Hollywood actor Logan Crawford – attract more readers, make an impact, and grow your author’s brand.

Stand out and get in front of your readers by discussing your book/s on TV. Nothing adds credibility more than being seen on TV

BLAH BLAH BLAH, AGAIN.

The email has a professional photo of Logan Crawford sitting behind a desk. It lists the logos and names of five large companies under “Trusted by his clients.” (YAWN…)

There’s a ton more sales verbiage that made me feel like I was reading an ad written by a scammy used car salesman.

I WROTE BACK:

Hi Bella,

How much does it cost?

Brian

BELLA WROTE BACK within three minutes by copying and pasting more sales garbage…I mean jargon.

It included this: “Logan particularly endorses books to his partners to the doers and makers in the publishing industry, Hollywood film makers, book reviewers, literary agents, traditional publishers, partnered physical bookshops, librarians, media outlets, and magazines.”

Cough (bull) cough (sh*t). I challenge Logan Crawford to send us a list, with contacts, of all the books he’s had turned into movies, has had reviewed by professional reviewers, has had picked up by real literary agents, has had contracted with traditional publishers, and where he was personally responsible for purchases by bookstores and libraries. And, all of this at NO COST to any of the authors. I’m betting the number is ZERO!!!

Oh, Bella was kind enough to send a quote:

About The Author

Angela Hoy is the publisher of WritersWeekly.com, the author of 19 books, and the co-owner of BookLocker.com (one of the original POD publishers that still gets books to market in less than a month), PubPreppers.com (print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish), and Abuzz Press (the publishing co-op that charges no setup fees).

Angela has lived and traveled across the U.S. with her kids in an RV, settled in a river-side home in Bradenton, FL, and lived on a 52 ft Irwin sailboat. Angela now resides on a mountaintop in Northwest Georgia, where she plans to spend the rest of her days bird watching, gardening, hiking, and taking in all of the amazing sunrises.

WritersWeekly.com - the free marketing ezine for writers, which features new paying markets and freelance job listings every Wednesday.

BookLocker.com - According to attorney Mark Levine, author of The Fine Print, BookLocker is: "As close to perfection as you're going to find in the world of ebook and POD publishing. The ebook royalties are the highest I've ever seen, and the print royalties are better than average. BookLocker understands what new authors experience, and have put together a package that is the best in the business. You can't go wrong here. Plus, they're selective and won't publish any manuscript just because it's accompanied by a check. Also, the web site is well trafficked. If you can find a POD or epublisher with as much integrity and dedication to selling authors' books, but with lower POD publishing fees, please let me know."

Abuzz Press offers FAST and FREE book publication, but only accepts a small percentage of submissions, and only works with U.S. authors.

PubPreppers.com - "We Prep, You Publish!" Print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish. Offers formatting and design services only, and then provides simple instructions for authors on where to sign up to have the print and ebook editions printed/listed/sold. Cut out the middle man. Keep 100% of what bookstores pay for your book!

Angela's POD Secrets Revealed Series can be found HERE.

Have a POD Book with another publisher? See if BookLocker can give you a better deal. (BookLocker offers "disgruntled author discounts" to those who want to move from other POD services.)

See BookLocker's publishing packages HERE.

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