Scam Artists

Hello Fellow Artists,

I have suffered yet another sleepless night.

I have been searching for an agent, and have received several, "this is not what I am looking for right now," letters.

When one agency finally decided just to look at what I had, I have to admit, I felt somewhat relieved.  Because, like so many of us, we would appreciate it if someone looked at our work before declining us.  Of course, this is not always feasible.

For those of you who think that I am quite the virgin in all of this, I was for a time.  I have read several books on the subject of agents, and what to expect, etc.  Some agents report that they are accepting new clients.  The reality is that they are accepting new clients, when you come with a referral from someone who they have already published!!!

I didn't feel comfortable with the agency that was willing to read my manuscript, after they quickly agreed to represent the work, and they were too vague.  So, I did some investigating, and I found out that one ot their "sister" companies was under a blog reporting "BEWARE WRITERS."  No one mentioned this agency in particular, but when there is a "sister" company, that seems quite suspicious to me!

So, I wrote back to them last night, and told them that I would have to have much more information from them, before we can go any further.  I doubt they will respond.  I wonder why people would go out of their way to scam artists!!! There are so many other gigs they could use to scam people!  It seems like a lot of work to me.  What really got me suspicious, was when they reported that my work would have to be "critiqued."  I agree.  But, what if I go to someone you recommend, and then I never see you or my money again?  Even though they were swift enough to say that I can find my own critique person, that person had to fit into "their" qualifications.  No thanks.  I think I will continue to be rejected by real agents, and keep my head up.  I am not "Madonna," and although I think my work is great, there is a lot of great work out there.

But, I have a plan.  I think we should notify each other when we are suspicious of an agency.  I don't think we can get into any trouble for this.  There must be a way to check out an agency.  Do they all have to be AAR material, I wonder? 

The agency I am speaking of is the New York Literary Agency.  Has anyone worked with them, or know anything about them?

Does anyone have any agency that they are wondering about, and need more information on? I think we should keep track, so we are not all wasting our valuable time.