Angela,
I am not sure how this happened, but ever since my new book hit the market, a different publisher has been calling my office, and sending emails.
Their sales representative was very much ‘to the point’ about what they wanted from me (my next book) and how much they wanted to produce it at reduced rates. Those “reduced rates” range from $2,000 to $6500!
I had a good laugh with the first sales rep — I talked her ear off about the (non-existent) “upcoming musical and movie.” They kept contacting me and, after that, I simply said ‘no’ to others that called, and hung up. I do not have the time for their crap. Why would any author want to pay $2,000 to $6,500 to a firm that bombards them with telemarketing calls and spam?
This is on-going. Have any of your other authors experienced this – the moment their book hits the market, another publisher descends upon them?
Yes, this is, unfortunately, not a new phenomenon. We call these so-called publishers “bottom feeders.”
Please see:
POD POACHERS! When Bottom Feeders Lure Authors Away from Their Existing Contracts, and Charge Thousands More!
Unfortunately, these bottom feeders can find newly released books on Amazon, and spend just a minute or two of research to find the author’s website, email address, and even their phone number. Then, the spamming and phone calls begin.
I agree with you. I never do business with any firm that uses spam or telemarketing as a sales tactic.
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It’s scary how much information about your address, phone number, etc. can be found on the Internet, even when you take great pains to keep that information off your websites and blogs and FB pages. I had a friend who had lost my phone number look me up on the Internet. He not only found my home address and phone number, but also my voter registration affiliation. Hmmm…
I had similar situations as you have just described.
In two instances — one, after publishing with Abuzz press, the other — after registering a movie Treatment.
I received calls from the publishers very soon after registering (Treatment) or publishing (book) — one was from I-Universe, the other was Archway Publishing (Simon & Schuster Partner).
I was quite surprised that anyone was mentioning the movie Treatment becasue I had only received my notification from registration about a month before the call.
In the case of the newly released ‘Highlander Imagine; Beyond Infinity’, by Abuzz press, I assume someone was scanning Amazon (or similar). In both cases the individuals tried to persuade me to publish again with them — or publish this (strange) ‘Movie Treatment’ book with them.
The sales lady clearly had no idea what a Treatment was (it is NOT a book) and no one cared what I had published before.
The prices were spelled out immediately — and they were not cheep.
“Oh, no,’ I assured her — I only planned to publish the next book if I had a whopping advance, I said.
Now, I had some fun with the last person — I launched into ‘Mary Jane’ lines about glorious advances and a romantic star-studded career with my golden pen burning down Hollywood back-lots with action.
I think the woman finally caught on because she slammed the phone in my ear!
It was fun though.
I am surprised that Simon & Schuster (a once very reputable company) is into this questionable association.
How can someone get your phone number in the first place? People are way too open on FB and elsewhere. If the number reveal says no number or private, I click the phone on and click it off, period.