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Related websites (yes, they’re all the same company!) mentioned in this post:

• Pro Writers Network / ProWritersNetwork.com
• Bluegrass Bound Books / BluegrassBoundBooks.com
• Crescent Spring Literary / CrescentSpringLiterary.com

An author’s rep contacted me, concerned that the author was about to throw away WAY too much money.

This scammer, impersonating an actual film distribution company, wanted to “pick up” the author’s $18K payment that morning!!! Luckily, his worried rep contacted me.

FROM THE REP:
This morning’s email advised that there are no discounts from the $18,000, and urged him to rush the money to them right away and they’ll kindly pick it up.

This smells to high heaven to me, but you’re the expert. He’s simply not taking my word for it. I can’t help but wonder how any other authors are being hit with the same sort of “we can make a movie out of your book, we just need you to participate in the investment.”

MY RESPONSE:

IT’S A SCAM!!!!!! Please share this with him. They’re impersonating an actual film distribution company!!!

1. They have a feather in their logo. Many of the overseas “publishing” scam cartel websites also have feathers in their logos.

2. I googled their “U.S. address.” Their company doesn’t show up there.

3. Their website is only 9 months old. That is a HUGE red flag!! They’ve only posted to Facebook one time and that was back in 2024.

4. Book-to-movie scams are RAMPANT!! And, that is NOT how it works! Movie producers/production companies pay all of the expenses. The author of the book NEVER pays for anything!!!

5. Per Google:
“Yes, there are reported scams impersonating Focus Features, a film distribution company owned by NBCUniversal. These scams often target authors, writers, and aspiring filmmakers, promising movie deals or book publishing opportunities while demanding upfront payments for services like screenplays, book trailers, or legal fees.”

6. The FAKE Focus Features is on WriterBeware.org’s Impersonation List.

AND, Pro Writers Network / prowritersnetwork.com is in their scam archive.

7. They have the exact same phone number and address as Bluegrass Bound Books / bluegrassboundbooks.com, which also shares many characteristics of the scammers’ websites.

That website is only 8 months old yet they claim to have “98k happy clients.” Total B.S.!!! They have ZERO books on Amazon!

8. They ALSO have the exact same phone number and address as Crescent Spring Literary / crescentspringliterary.com. That website is only 2 months old.

RELATED

• WritersWeekly Podcast Episode # 7: 9 New and Nasty Scams Targeting Authors
• No, CBS Studios Did NOT Just Offer You a Movie Deal for Your Book!
• A Fake Literary Agent + a Fake Movie Studio = Another Scam Targeting Authors
• SCAM ALERT: No, Netflix did NOT just email you about turning your book into a movie!
• “Celebrity Author” Impersonators Are Fooling Unwary (Real!) Authors
• Is Your Favorite Writing Group on Facebook Being Moderated by a Scammer?
• NEW SCAM! “Pay us $26K and we’ll stock 3,500 copies of your book in 150 stores!”
• 11 Ways to Know If a “Publisher” or Other Service Provider is an Overseas Scammer (You’ll probably only need to check #1 to prove it!)
• A List of Publishers and Services That ALL Authors Should AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
• WritersWeekly Podcast Episode 1: “In Just $299” – Publishing SCAMS You Need To Avoid!! Part 1
• WritersWeekly Podcast Episode 2: “In Just $299” – Publishing SCAMS You Need To Avoid!! Part 2

HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SELF-PUBLISHING A BOOK?

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