tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post403441203714200165..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Please StopBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-73481837235178012022009-07-30T06:34:28.979-04:002009-07-30T06:34:28.979-04:00These spamming e-mails might be a part of a huge p...These spamming e-mails might be a part of a huge psychological project which tests peoples tolerance to certain actions. Like someone mentioned in the comment: don't reply to these e-mails, because that way you confirm that your mail is alive. What you can do is maybe to ask for advice or drop the case to some anti spam service. I don't know if it helps but some people say it does.<br /><br />Good luck, he, he.Juliettehttp://prodpromo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-26934469929681107042009-06-19T06:49:39.491-04:002009-06-19T06:49:39.491-04:00For Jimnduncan:
One piece of software (freeware) ...For Jimnduncan:<br /><br />One piece of software (freeware) that does what you suggest (looking into emails and filtering them by content) is Popfile. It's the one I use. http://getpopfile.org/ It belongs to the class "Bayesian filters." Neat thing is, it learns as it goes to sort spam from phishing from work from family from friends and tagging them in appropriate ways.<br /><br />As to sending this person to PublishAmerica, that wouldn't fulfill his needs. He wants to be represented, not published. So get him representation. Send him to the WL Writers Literary Agency. He can duke it out with their autoresponder. (And I guarantee that they will offer representation. I wonder how he missed them to start with?)James Macdonaldhttp://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonaldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-39401530476526481392009-05-14T13:38:00.000-04:002009-05-14T13:38:00.000-04:00I can state with a certainty that P&E won'...I can state with a certainty that P&E won't hold it against any agents who request a full in a situation like this where the individual has stated an intention of querying incessantly until the manuscript is represented and published. Just forward that individual's statement to P&E so we'll know in advance what's going on.<br /><br />Even a recommendation of PA probably can be stomached since they'll "deserve" each other.<br /><br />We may favor writers but there are limits to what should be tolerated.Dave Kuzminskihttp://anotherealm.com/prededitors/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-29772875501242109282009-05-07T03:46:00.000-04:002009-05-07T03:46:00.000-04:00Suddenly I regret having the first name Elizabeth ...Suddenly I regret having the first name Elizabeth while querying for my novel. <br />-I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the name 'Elizabeth' is not one of the determining factors that will land my query in the spam folder (:/)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-75425508967201080702009-05-06T13:34:00.000-04:002009-05-06T13:34:00.000-04:00I’m probably the last to ring in on this one, but ...I’m probably the last to ring in on this one, but this “Elizabeth” guy sounds a lot like a whack job we have. He constantly e-mails our campus about intimate details of his life. Just when we’ve got our spam filters set up to knock him down, he changes his e-mail address. I’ve received as many as twenty e-mails from him in one day.<br /><br />It’s a small community so we know the individual, and he has mental issues. Deleting his e-mails has just become another job responsibility. It’s all about attention, and these people don’t just stick to literary agents. I feel your pain and wish you well in trying to get rid of “Elizabeth.”Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-76322555577212931132009-05-06T08:18:00.000-04:002009-05-06T08:18:00.000-04:00Stalkers are scary!
I think you can set up filter...Stalkers are scary!<br /><br />I think you can set up filters on your e-mail to filter out key words in the query. <br />One time I had to submit an e-mail in a special format bc the person had setup his e-mail to send it to spam otherwise.S.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10637012429541938128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-34524682645511965952009-05-05T18:36:00.000-04:002009-05-05T18:36:00.000-04:00I'm a little late to chime in here. But after gett...I'm a little late to chime in here. But after getting queries from the author of "Elizabeth" for about six months, I engaged him in a bit of email conversation just for kicks. I wanted to find out once and for all what his schtick is. Turns out he's just a whack job, and I mean that in the most respectful way. You can not reason with unreasonable people, and he's most definitely operating outside of reason.<br /><br />Now he just amuses me. It's almost like a game for me every time I go through queries, wondering if he'll be there. And BTW, he has created more than a dozen different email addresses, as far as I can tell.<br /><br />Here's what I find amazing and seriously impressive: of all the times we've talked about this guy at conferences, on blogs, on Twitter, etc., I've NEVER seen a single agent mention his name. And we all know his whole name!<br /><br />See, even when being spammed and annoyed to death, agents are pretty respectful people. :-)Rachellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13987272970550279776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-21955153539685649122009-05-04T22:05:00.000-04:002009-05-04T22:05:00.000-04:00A couple agents mentioned this "mental health chal...A couple agents mentioned this "mental health challenged" person at a writer's conference I attended last week. Kinda scary if you ask me.kahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10789825860272178765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-15647644440735135192009-05-03T17:30:00.000-04:002009-05-03T17:30:00.000-04:00Wow. So not cool. I think if anyone knows this p...Wow. So not cool. I think if anyone knows this person, they should try to get him/her some serious help. Or at least take away their computer.B.J. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10767654810069240472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-64161876187572879962009-05-03T15:27:00.000-04:002009-05-03T15:27:00.000-04:00add twitter followers
The Completely Automated T...add twitter followers<br /><br /><br />The Completely Automated Twitter Growth & Money Making System for<br />People That Want to Set Up A System ONCE, Forget About It, and Have it<br />Grow and Make Money EVERY Day!<br /><br />http://cb3fa4x6-40len95yhtx4f5211.hop.clickbank.netdlldelala1http://cb3fa4x6-40len95yhtx4f5211.hop.clickbank.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-21347675282931672432009-05-02T23:29:00.000-04:002009-05-02T23:29:00.000-04:00It comes down to people thinking 'persistence pays...It comes down to people thinking 'persistence pays off'.<br />Which is does, if you work hard and do your best to hone your craft. That is the persistence.<br />You try one agent, they say no, so you try another agent. Eventually you wallpaper your office with rejection notices, finish a new book and start with the agent queries again.<br />That is persistence.<br /><br />What this writer is doing is pissing people off. The words sound a little the same, but BIG difference :-DEbony McKenna.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02724727996270658767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-10685674546929321062009-05-02T17:59:00.000-04:002009-05-02T17:59:00.000-04:00I agree with Terri. This person must have mental ...I agree with Terri. This person must have mental issues that laypeople are not equipped to handle. The suggestions on blocking the specific email are the way to go.Elissa Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10727748060605823895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-19489497353298616072009-05-02T17:49:00.000-04:002009-05-02T17:49:00.000-04:00Every so often I'll get an author sending me the s...Every so often I'll get an author sending me the same book proposal over and over until I look at it. Does it work? No. I've never published a single book from that kind of raw, annoying persistence.Alexander Fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09348112043924940744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-3354102925659082132009-05-02T11:16:00.000-04:002009-05-02T11:16:00.000-04:00One word for this author:
PublishAmerica
If you ...One word for this author:<br /><br />PublishAmerica<br /><br />If you are the writer of "Elizabeth" and seek publication from a company that will 'give your book the chance it deserves', forget all these literary agents and go to:<br /><br />www.publishamerica.com<br /><br />You will be pleased at their response . . . . I know I was . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-64192539779018092302009-05-02T09:45:00.000-04:002009-05-02T09:45:00.000-04:00This pathetic fool might not be a cyberstalker, bu...This pathetic fool might not be a cyberstalker, but he might qualify as a spammer, which is illegal.<br /><br />Classic example of a clueless wonder. And since the email costs him nothing, he has no negative aspect of querying to correct his behavior like snail mail does.writtenwyrddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02280711822302493122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-53726066287684803772009-05-02T03:46:00.000-04:002009-05-02T03:46:00.000-04:00Wow. I feel really bad for all the agents that hav...Wow. I feel really bad for all the agents that have posted here, this is just sad. When you ask someone politely to stop, they should. <br /><br />If an agent/author relationship is supposed to be based on professionalism, this guy is really getting off on the wrong foot. I wonder if he is serious about getting published or just wants to throw a wrench in the system.Aaralyn Montgomeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14595675566322720112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-74371278397127652572009-05-02T03:42:00.000-04:002009-05-02T03:42:00.000-04:00I have an idea...
1- create a new email address....I have an idea... <br /><br />1- create a new email address. <br />2- Reply to him via that email that you are the former assistant for an undisclosed agent on his query list. You would like to represent him. (use an alias of course!) Be sure to word hi agent agreement to where it is very difficult to sever the agreement (week with 3 mondays in it, letter must be signed in blood on fairy skin and delivered on a thursday by a man with thirteen toes, etc.)<br />3- represent him - to every self-publisher in town. <br />4- when he tries to reach you via the bogus email or phone number... aaah, no response. <br />5- He can't search for another agent because he cannot comply with the terms to separate, and that leaves him open to litigation. <br /><br />I know, I'm evil. <br /><br />Or, you could take up a collection, have a copy printed by a POD friend of mine, and send him a copy. The note attached would read "It's published. Now bugger off."<br /><br />Yep. Still evil.Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15715761180494476618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-79017318372044093802009-05-02T01:17:00.000-04:002009-05-02T01:17:00.000-04:00I think I'll make sure to never use Elizabeth in a...I think I'll make sure to never use Elizabeth in a title or as any character I would name in a query. Wouldn't want someone's filter to accidentally delete mine.<br /><br />I do think it's sad that he's doing this. And I hope all the targetted agents can get good filters set up.KathyFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-59491264916461534662009-05-01T21:58:00.000-04:002009-05-01T21:58:00.000-04:00Likely a troll.Likely a troll.Iko of the Shadowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07094843889155751244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-89841323130530093262009-05-01T20:44:00.000-04:002009-05-01T20:44:00.000-04:00Make an email filter containing some characteristi...Make an email filter containing some characteristic line in the query and have it sent straight to the trash. Most programs will allow you to screen for things in the body of the email.Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600030574995481267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-78445967839264351502009-05-01T18:07:00.000-04:002009-05-01T18:07:00.000-04:00Welcome to the wonderful world of mental illness. ...Welcome to the wonderful world of mental illness. I'm sorry to all of the agents, but you are liable to be in for this for awhile. Tag! You've been fixated.<br /><br />I work in public service and a lot of my clients have mental issues that range from a touch of OCD to full-blown paranoid schizophrenia. When someone fixates, there isn't much you can do except completely ignore it. I've walked out my back door and found clients sitting in my backyard. I just have to gently, but firmly, remove them, trying not to accidentally set them off.<br /><br />So, delete and ignore. Lather, rinse, repeat . . . <br /><br />verify word - cypermso (there's something cool in there, I just can't quite find it. I think I'll email endlessly until someone replies . . . )terrinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-83761346188862879222009-05-01T16:22:00.000-04:002009-05-01T16:22:00.000-04:00I'm getting it too! And I tried sending him this E...I'm getting it too! And I tried sending him this Editorial Anonymous link <br /><br />http://editorialanonymous.blogspot.com/2009/03/queryfail.html<br /><br />and got the same reply I'd gotten before about how I will be queried until the novel is published.<br /><br />--Erin MurphyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-12518683056757978922009-05-01T16:11:00.000-04:002009-05-01T16:11:00.000-04:00Okay, this is EASY to block because he's foolish e...Okay, this is EASY to block because he's foolish enough to use the same query.<br /><br />Mail readers allow you to create filters -- and it's easy to do so, not technical at all.<br /><br />In Outlook the feature is called "Rules and Alerts" and it's on the Tools menu. <br /><br />* Create a new rule. <br />* In Outlook, start from a blank rule.<br />* Check the message when the mail arrives. <br />* Check for specific words in the body of the e-mail. Enter a phrase that is clearly unique to this guy's query.<br />* When one of those queries comes in, permanently delete it (and stop checking more rules).<br /><br />Name the rule "Words in body" or something such, and if you have this problem again, you can edit the rule and add another phrase or two or two hundred. Just has to find one of the listed phrases, and you'll never be bothered by that e-mail again!Melissa Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13560125503655770461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-26586655783538397102009-05-01T14:52:00.000-04:002009-05-01T14:52:00.000-04:00Anon 1:43 - I don't think the fact that this queri...Anon 1:43 - I don't think the fact that this querier is male has a lot to do with the anger and frustration. Although I will admit I find it strange that a man wrote a novel about an abused woman, and I'm curious to see if he managed to pull it off. It's not easy to write from the perspective of the opposite sex, especially in a story that conveys a lot of emotion.<br /><br />But regardless, male or female, the reason people like this frustrate the rest of us so badly is because they're taking up a lot of time when new queries (and yes, some of OUR queries) could be read. A person like this also gives aspiring authors, and especially NEW authors, a bad name and it has nothing to do with gender.<br /><br />There comes a point when an author must "give up" on trying to get their book published and start working on the next book they have hiding inside of them. Once they manage to break into the industry, THEN is the time to pull out those old books they wrote and see if they're publishable.<br /><br />***This has nothing to do with this blog, but, with the current mania going on, I find it mildly amusing that my word verification for this post is "swineb."Jaded Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06048573356756846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-63893307068975770932009-05-01T14:47:00.000-04:002009-05-01T14:47:00.000-04:00Every agent should request a full.
That'll show 'e...<I>Every agent should request a full.<br />That'll show 'em.</I>Great idea! And request it as a hard copy Express mail. Unfortunately, then he'll start following up relentlessly. Meh. Can't win.Karen Duvallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01839711547501582977noreply@blogger.com