The WritersWeekly Podcast

In this episode, Angela and Brian share real stories about lawsuits that were filed against authors, and how those proceedings affected them financially…and otherwise.So many authors feel that, even if they get sued, they might win…so, no problem, right? WRONG! In the U.S., unless a case is declared frivolous by a judge, you might never get back all the money you spent defending yourself. Another problem is the tremendous amount of stress authors must endure throughout the legal process, which can take months, or even years. Listen to this episode, which is filled with examples of lawsuits filed against authors (and why), so you can hopefully avoid the legal pitfalls that could land you in court and can potentially lead to bankruptcy.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

If you hate scammers, you're gonna LOVE this episode!Angela actually convinced this scammer to write an ARTICLE telling all about how he fools people into thinking he is a book marketer/freelance writer based in the USA, and convinces them to pay him for his "services."What's best is that he have all the messages and emails between Angela and this scammer, in which he reveals his deceptive techniques. Even after Angela revealed that she was a journalist who exposes scammers, he STILL tried to scam her!We even tried to pay him the $60 we offer for article submissions to WritersWeekly via PayPal. However, he insisted on being paid through a BANK TRANSFER!!We have a ton of laughs and education in store for you in this episode as we reveal this fool's brazen attempts to convince Angela that he was a legitimate writer and book marketer, all the while trying to get money from her. And the excuses he gives for what he's doing will FLOOR YOU. Don't miss a second of this episode. You'll laugh yourself silly.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In this episode, Angela and Brian go over the latest “services” that international scammers have dreamed up to suck authors’ bank accounts dry. They will even tell you that not buying some of these services could land you in jail!Don’t be taken in by these fraudsters! No longer is it simply offering “full publishing services” for rock-bottom, unbelievable prices (the “publisher” then disappears with your money). No, they’ve taken their criminal activities to a whole new level! Now, once they reel you in as a “client,” you will then be offered things like an “international publishing license” or  “author insurance” (they’ll tell you it’s illegal to publish a book without those!), fake book-to-movie deals, a “global copyright” (there’s no such thing), premium editing services (by AI or someone who doesn’t speak English), and more completely fake “services” that will never get performed anyway. They will even tell you that they have royalties waiting for you, but that YOU have to pay a processing fee up front to get them! (Of course, the royalty numbers are fake and the author never gets paid.) They’ll also give you a fake purchase order from a large bookstore (on that store’s stolen letterhead), saying YOU need to pay THOUSANDS to print the books up front…but you’ll get paid back later. That’s not how it works, folks, and no copies will get printed anyway!!! We discuss many other creative FAKE services as well.Don’t miss this episode! Please share it with your friends and writing groups. It could save you or someone you care about THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!Be sure to contact us if you suspect you might be the victim of a publishing scam!https://WritersWeekly.com/podcasthttps://Publishing.BookLocker.comText us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Traditional publishing? Self-publishing? Hybrid publishing? What's best for YOUR book? Is your manuscript even ready for publication? Who can help you determine that, ensuring a polished manuscript, and the best possible chance for future sales? The good news is, there is no need to walk the publishing path alone!In this episode, Angela and Brian explore the benefits of hiring an Author Coach to guide you through the publishing process.They go by a number of names: Publishing Coaches, Author Coaches, Book Coaches, Publishing Consultants, Author Representatives, and more. These are people who are well-versed in the book writing/publishing business, and can help you navigate through the publishing process, removing stress, and potentially saving you a LOT of time AND money. But, you need to make sure you hire a REAL coach,one who is a professional editor, a book marketing expert, and someone who can easily guide you to the finish line. For many authors (new authors and senior citizens who may not be tech savvy), signing up with a publisher can be the beginning of an anxiety-riddled journey, filled with new terms, details, and processes they never imagined existed...much less understand. And, how do they know that the publisher they're considering using is fully working in their best interests? That's where an Author Coach comes in. A good coach has already been through the publishing process numerous times, and knows what to expect, and what needs to be done. They can break down the process, which can seem overwhelming, into manageable parts. When you're not sure what the publisher is doing, or why, they can fill you in on the details so you'll be more at ease with the journey. And, they'll get you from A to Z much faster than if you were going it alone. Would a publishing coach be a good investment for your book project? Tune in to this episode and find out.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In this episode, we are joined by BookLocker.com author, Rickey Pittman, The Bard of the South!  Rickey is an author, musician, storyteller, historian, and college professor. His major focus is on Southern America. He unearths and creatively covers old stories that tell of the South’s rich history, struggles, and unique identity. And, his fiction is AMAZING, too! (Read more about that under Episode 35 at https://writersweekly.com/podcast.)  Rickey performs all around the Southern states as “The Bard of the South,” with a style that mixes old southern ballads with even older Celtic folk music. He is just as comfortable playing for a Highland Days event as he is playing for a Civil War re-enactment. Some of his songs seem reminiscent of something one may have heard while sitting around a fire with Davie Crockett and the boys. You can find many of his songs on YouTube.   Rickey's writing interests span from biographies of little-known local celebrities (like the sea captain who became a mayor of New Orleans) to dark fiction that brings you into the mysterious underground occult world of the Big Easy. (That one is part autobiographical, by the way!).   Did you know that Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States, actually adopted a young black boy to rescue him from abusive parents, only to have the child snatched away when the South lost the war? Rickey’s book, Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House, tells the sad story.   Rickey has published twelve books with BookLocker.com, and has published 18 books in all over the years.   Rickey also puts a lot of miles on his car, AND on his guitar. He travels all over the south, performing and marketing his books.  Here, on Episode #35 of the WritersWeekly Podcast, Rickey discusses where he gets the ideas for what books to write, his writing style and schedule, and, most importantly, his marketing strategy.   Join us for a fun-filled hour with a man who can be described as an “encyclopedia” of the South. You might just find yourself craving some cornbread and crawdads!Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Have YOU, too, received a bad book review that was all about you and not about your book at all? JOIN THE CLUB! In this episode, we share several real examples sent to us by authors who have been the victims of this type of vendetta online. We also share how you can respond to these personal attacks with maturity and class. And, by doing so, you can save your book sales! ======================================================= You’ve finally gotten your book published! With pride similar to a new parent, you keep checking the various sales platforms, and watch the reviews start coming in.  Suddenly, a 1-STAR review comes in. Is someone is trashing your book? You read through the review to figure out what the person disliked about it. But, it doesn’t mention anything specific about your book at all. They didn’t even read it! What's worse than someone trashing your book without reading it? When a so-called “book reviewer” attacks you, personally, as an author. Instead of writing anything about the book, they criticize you, attack your character, and worse! It’s happening ALL OVER!!! In many instances, the authors knows exactly who posted the fake 1-star review!  But, Amazon still won’t remove those fake 1-star reviews! Welcome to the Wild West World of online book reviews in the current age! People have left the manners and morals at the door!! In this episode, we explore the issues that accompany this feature of online mega-bookstores. We share real stories from authors who have had their books maligned by family members, ex-lovers, rival authors (yes, really!), disgruntled employees, neighbors, and, in some cases, online bots! Did you know there are businesses people can PAY to bombard someone else’s book listings with bad reviews?  It’s the Internet, folks – and almost anything goes. You need to listen to this episode to prepare yourself for what is out there, learn how to counter those fake 1-star reviews, and prevent your book sales from tanking. Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In this week's episode, Brian and Angela welcome friendly and feisty Bob Wahl to the podcast!Bob is 91 years young, and is the author of five books. He contacted a company called Authors Hike / AuthorsHike.com to help promote his books.After paying them $4,000, he was shown a web page that had a graphic of more than 1400 (fake!) "orders" for his book. Author's Hike then tried to scam Mr. Wahl into paying to have those books printed. He reached out to WritersWeekly, which, of course, exposed Author's Hike's scam to the world. When Author's Hike realized they'd been exposed, that's when the threats and attempted extortion began...You don't want to miss this one!!!Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Could this publisher be a scammer???We keep receiving emails asking this exact question DOZENS of times every week. Now, in this Episode, using the examples of Ashbery.com, NYBookPublishers.com, and McGilliganpublishing.com, we SHOW you, step by step:WHERE to look for the evidence that an online publisher is potentially a scam.WHAT to look for to determine if an online publisher is potentially a scam.HOW to sort out the evidence you find and determine the likelihood that an online publisher may be a scam.Follow along on your computer, as we walk through this process, and you will walk away with the skills and confidence to determine for yourself if a potential publishing partner will rip you off!You have our promise that, with a little practice, you will be able to identify a potential scammer in less than 10 minutes. Do you have an extra $5000, $10,000, or $20,000 to throw away and donate to a scammer in Pakistan, India, Nigeria, or the Philippines? If your answer is "NO," then listen to this episode, learn the easy process weeding out these crooks, and save yourself from financial ruin.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Michaele Aldophe had a heart-wrenching but also hopeful and faith-filled story to tell the world.As a 14-year-old migrant from Haiti, Michaele (Mickka) was raised by her abusive father. She grew up, graduated from college, got married, and gave birth to a premature child who wasn't expected to live. Through prayer and the grace of God, he did! A divorce then left her raising her child alone. Then, both of her brothers were killed.Yet, one thing has kept Mickka strong through all of that - her faith in God.Mickka wanted to share her story and her faith with the world, so she wrote her book: It Wasn't for Nothing: A True Story of Faith - https://www.amazon.com/Wasnt-Nothing-Powerful-Story-Faith/dp/B0FBKT93RB/ref=sr_1_1She searched online for someone to publish her book, and found Ashbery Publishing / ashberry-publishing.com / ashberypublishing.com. They seemed so helpful, so professional, and so caring. Mickka didn't know it at the time but the female "rep" was grooming her, calling all the time, and pretending to really care about Mickka (straight from the scammers' playbook!).They were going to edit her book, and create a cover for only $499 (a ridiculous and unbelievably low price, designed to draw her in, and upsell her later...for thousands).Then they started talking about marketing. That was going to cost a little over $17,000. Mickka paid.Then, they wanted $12K more!! Mickka balked and that's when the nightmare began. They took control of HER website and HER social media accounts and she was not able to get them back. Yes, the scammer was (and still is) holding HER website and social media accounts hostage.Brian and Angela team up once again with attorney James M. Walsh to listen to Mickka's story, and hear firsthand about her experience with this online scam "publishing company" (and other websites we connected them to!).Mickka is highly educated, extremely intelligent, and a successful entrepreneur. If these highly-trained scammers could fool her, they can fool anyone...SCAMMERS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Ashbery Publishing / ashberry-publishing.com / ashberypublishing.com Click here for the warning we already published about this scammer:https://writersweekly.com/this-weeks-article/i-was-scammed-by-ashbery-publishing-ashberypublishing-comMcGilligan Publishing / mcgilliganpublishing.com (Exact same website as Ashbery Publishing, and even the same book covers!)Ghostwriting Hub / ghostwritinghub.comSee 1-star reviews on TrustPilot:https://www.trustpilot.com/review/ghostwritinghub.com?stars=1New York Publishers / NY Publishers / nypublishers.coSee 1-star reviews on TrustPilot:https://www.trustpilot.com/review/nypublishers.co?stars=1  Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

It was all coming together. His five-book series were going to become a movie!A "literary agent" had reached out to him via email just last month.  Then, in emails shared with the author, that agent was negotiating between a “Fox Entertainment” executive, and a famous screenwriter (a member of the Writers Guild of America) who is currently in California, working on the next season of "NCIS." The names checked out. The Fox executive and screenwriter were real people. The author had even seen a business card in the emails. And, he also had a Zoom video conference with the Fox executive. He'd been copied on every conversation between the three people who were going to launch his books into Hollywood fame. The pieces were quickly coming together but there was just one sticking point: They wanted $50,000 dollars from the author to get the project started. That was just for the film treatment by the “screenwriter.” The author’s attorney thought it looked legit. So did the author’s friend, who was a banker for more than two decades. It looked so legit that the author’s investor friend offered to pay the fee. There was only one problem. All three people, the agent, the executive, and the screenwriter, were one person - a scammer! And, Angela and Brian were able to connect them to a known publishing scammer that was previously featured on WritersWeekly.com! They were STRONGLY pressuring the author to pay RIGHT AWAY or the project would get cancelled! Their offer, on official letterhead, promised him millions of dollars in the future! What would YOU do if you were in this author’s shoes? Lucky for him, he reached out to his publisher, Angela Hoy at BookLocker.com. Angela only had to ask the author one question. And, his one-line answer proved it was an elaborate and sophisticated scam. You’ll hear how he responded, and what cracked the case! The pieces came tumbling down and it was AWESOME! In this episode, we will explain how Angela uncovered the clues that the author, a lawyer, AND a banker with over 20 years’ experience didn't see.  She reached out to the REAL Fox Entertainment and the REAL screenwriter, who is a celebrity himself. He responded to Angela. You’ll hear what he said in this episode. Angela and the BookLocker.com team saved this author from a $50,000 trap!You don't want to miss this disturbing episode!!UPDATE: After the episode was recorded, Angela Hoy was contacted by the REAL screenwriter’s law firm and agent. They’re going after the scammer. They asked for all of the emails and contact information for the three fake individuals and, of course, we provided it.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

We've heard it a thousand times: "I KNOW my mother (father, sister, brother, Uncle Cletus, Aunt Ethel, etc.) bought my book! Where are my royalties?!"And, a thousand times over, we've had to break it to an author: "We're sorry but your relative actually did not buy your book. They lied to you to keep the peace." And, we provide proof to the author that the sale never occurred. In every single instance, the author's relatives refused to send the author copies of their receipts proving they actually bought the book (because the receipts didn't exist). This is an awkward situation that we run into over and over again, especially around the holidays. We get it. You wrote a book. More than anyone else in the world, you want your family and closest friends to read your book, and be proud of what you've accomplished. That's human nature!But, are your expectations realistic?The reality we've seen is that most people who are closest to an author actually do not purchase or read the author's book for a variety of reasons. We'll tell you why in this episode.And, to be perfectly honest, it doesn't matter that much. If you want to impressive book sales, it's a matter of marketing. Market to the masses, not your friends and family. We discuss that in this episode as well with our special guest, book editor and marketer, Clayton Jones, who is also an English Professor at the University of Tennessee.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Please excuse the audio quality on this episode. You can hear and understand the conversation perfectly, but we had a technical glitch with the microphones. As a result, our audio went through the computer microphone rather than our professional grade exterior mics. This is still a wonderful and VERY intriguing story and we know you will enjoy it.******The year was 1971. A young, twenty-something couple fresh out of college with their teaching degrees accepted a job at an international school in Nairobi, Kenya.The new job, foreign land, and unique culture was challenging. However, they embraced the adventure, exploring their new surroundings, meeting new people, and taking in all that Kenya had to offer. A year later, the father of one of their students befriended them. Unbeknownst to them, he was the CIA station chief for the region…and he’d been watching them! In the 70s, there was a lot happening in Africa and the CIA was trying to stay ahead of it all. The agency needed "normal" people who could get in close to other foreigners, and find out what America's rivals were up to Africa.Their new friend approached the young couple with an offer to serve their country, and make the extra money they needed to supplement their teaching income. They accepted, and the ride began!With expert story-telling talent, Linda Shields Allison shares the stories that define the precarious balancing act that she and her husband lived through as they monitored listening devices, and attended cozy neighborhood parties...with potential enemies. While teaching young children by day, they were also hosting shadowy agents in their home, who trained them in the arts of secrecy and subversion. They glided casually through their social circles while their family home doubled as a safe-house for mysterious men, with no names, who would appear one night, and vanish the next. They lived two lives - one of which they couldn't even tell their own families about.Lower the blinds. Pour yourself a martini - shaken, not stirred. Then listen to this tale of espionage and international intrigue told by a woman you could easily mistake for just the gal next door ... because she IS the gal next door.Join us as Linda Shields Allison gives us the backstory behind her spy memoir: {Code Names} Betsy and Babe.Find Linda's book HERE: https://booklocker.com/books/13738.htmlAlso available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever books are sold.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

THIS IS PART 2. DON'T MISS PART 1!Please share the links to these episodes with your friends and family members. MORE IMPORTANTLY, listen to these episodes and then sit down with your children to educate them! We know it will be uncomfortable but The Yahoo Boys and other scammers are responsible for not only financial devastation, but also for deaths all over the globe. WE MUST PROTECT OUR CHILDREN! And, the way to do that is through education. In this episode, Part 2 of our YAHOO BOYS segment, we review the training, capabilities, and reach of these Nigeria-based scammers (they've also expanded around the globe). They're not just contacting victims through social media. They've even infiltrated videogames. Also, we will share the stories of some of the victims.Several of these victims' stories end in suicide. And, some of those were children.Lies, deception, extortion, and even SEXtortion - there is no limit to what these monsters will use to take their victims' money, and some even encourage their victims to commit suicide! These monsters don't care what kind of devastation they leave behind.Nobody online is safe from these criminals. This is why you need to hear this episode, and tell your friends, family, and especially your children! Understand the risks. You may help save not only someone's life savings, but even their life.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Facebook owner, Meta, projected $16B in revenues from SCAM ads – and it was POLICY.Reuters conducted an investigation covering 5 years’ worth of confidential documentation by Meta Platforms, Inc. (the parent company for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) that described the company’s attempts to figure out how much the company would PROFIT from advertising purchased by the scammers. According to Reuters' investigation, this year, an internal report by Meta’s safety staff indicated that ONE THIRD of all successful scams in the United States involved Meta’s platforms. Meta’s safety staff also pointed to communications between scammers that indicated, “It is easier to advertise scams on Meta platforms than Google.” So, Meta knew how bad the problem was.Even more documents by Reuters demonstrated that Meta WEIGHED THE FINANCIAL COST OF GOVERNMENT REGULATORY FINES AGAINST THE PROFIT THEY WOULD MAKE BY CONTINUING TO RUN SCAMMERS’ ADS.Other evidence shows that Meta restricted their advertisement vetting team’s ability to kick scam advertisers off the platforms to PROTECT THEIR PROFITS!We are in an age where scammers run rampant over the Internet. Scam victims can lose everything they own. Some even commit suicide. Online scammers have also been linked to human trafficking, child sexploitation, and more. In the midst of all this evil, Meta (the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp) has decided to PROFIT from paid advertising from the scammers rather than protecting the users on their platforms. You MUST hear this episode. No one is going to protect you and your loved ones from online scammers except YOURSELF. We work tirelessly, at no charge whatsoever, to educate you about their tactics and methods so that you can protect yourself. All we ask is that you share this episode with your friends and loved one. Only through education can we protect ourselves because, obviously, Meta is putting profits above the safety of their platform users.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

They started the original "Nigerian Prince" email scam, but have expanded into so much more!Join Angela and Brian as we slog through the grimy slums of Nigeria and Ghana - home of one of the oldest, most sophisticated, and most successful scamming organizations: The Yahoo Boys.In this episode, we discuss the broad diversity of scams these techno-theives are involved in, their extravagant and lavish lifestyles, scammer universities, and so much more.We also explore what may be the most disturbing aspect of these criminals: their involvement in bloodthirsty cult rituals and murders.If you are on the internet, have an email account, are on social media or an online dating site, or even have TEXT ON YOUR PHONE, chances are you have been contacted at least once by one of the Yahoo Boys.Don't open another email from an unknown sender or answer a flirty message from a sexy little tart saying "hello" on Facebook until you've listened to this two-part special episode of the WritersWeekly Podcast.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Sorry about Brian's voice on this episode. He was in the preliminary phase of COVID, and now he's totally laid up and miserable. In this episode, we discuss a new scamming technique that combines the old with the new. Scammers are now using AI to create convincing-sounding "reviews" of authors' books, while using spamming software to send out these email scams by the thousands.We've been shocked at how many authors are fooled by these "cold call" emails - most of which are coming from GMAIL accounts. Seriously, how many well established companies use GMAIL for their email needs?If you've ever received an email from from a Gmail, Yahoo, or other public-use email service, singing praises for your book and offering to market your book for you, it's very likely you're being scammed.Don't miss this episode. Find out what to look for to protect yourself.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

THEY VIOLATED THE FIRST AMENDMENT!That’s what we’re hearing about the suspension of the Jimmy Kimmel Live show from ABC’s lineup. Did they, in fact, violate the 1st Amendment? Who exactly are “they?” CAN “they” violate the 1st Amendment? Is our “democracy” in peril if we can’t watch Kimmel on ABC? What does the 1st Amendment actually say? What does the 1st Amendment actually protect? Whether you want to believe that Kimmel’s suspension is the first trumpet of the Apocalypse, or if you think Kimmel deserved this humiliation and then some, you’re likely to find something in this episode to p*ss you off.As publishers, we wrangle with “free speech” questions every day. So, who better to break down the 1st Amendment, what it means, and – more importantly – what it DOESN’T mean?Prepare to have your feathers ruffled, because we are going to hold up the TRUTH, no matter where the chips land. We will explore Kimmel’s comments regarding the motives of the Charlie Kirk assassin. We will look at the facts and reality surrounding the assassin’s radicalization and world view. We will explore the history and origins of the 1st Amendment. We will ask the hard questions concerning what exactly the 1st Amendment says. Then, we will present actual violations of the 1st Amendment in recent history, and compare them to the Kimmel situation.Have YOU read the First Amendment lately? Do YOU know what it says? Regardless of what side of this fight you’re on, you’ll probably learn something from this episode. Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Amazon KDP.Do you, like many other authors, believe that, for the best chance at sales, you need to use Amazon's KDP book publishing program? That's NOT true at all but there's something else you probably don't know. Have you read the fine print before clicking “I Agree?” Did you know that Amazon can shut down your account for anything they deem a “violation” of their policies? And, they don't even have to tell you exactly what you've done wrong! In many cases, authors have done nothing wrong at all! And, they don’t terminate just one book. They terminate ALL your books. Oh, it gets worse. They can withhold whatever royalties they owe you when they shut you down. SIXTY DAYS OF ROYALTIES EARNED ON ALL OF YOUR BOOKS! Any money they haven't paid you when they terminate your account is kept by Amazon KDP. Your account, your book, and your money are all gone without reason or explanation.Don’t open an Amazon KDP account without listening to this episode! Angela and Brian review several KDP customers’ reports of what happened to them...out of the blue.If your book means anything to you, and if your MONEY means anything to you, you MUST listen to this episode.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

She spoke to them on the phone. They sounded like publishing experts! They knew all the lingo! But, one year and $20,000 later, she discovered that they had been stringing her along, and scamming money out of her.Jennifer Westecott decided to let Brilliant Books Literary (AKA "Leap Write Literary") publish her book, Heartbreak Falls, after talking with their "representative" on the phone. They promised to help her with EVERYTHING: formatting, editing, cover design, distribution, and marketing. Their "team" would be there for her every step of the way. However, that's not how things worked out. Then, they kept selling her additional "services," promising BIG returns. Those other "services" cost her thousands. They even tried to get her to pay $4K for an interview with a radio host who had previously been convicted of theft!By the time she was alerted by a popular online scam fighting team that all of this was bogus, Jennifer was $20,000 in the hole. Jennifer found Angela Hoy and BookLocker while in an online authors' forum. She agreed to let us publish her book, and to sit down, and tell us her story. You will be SHOCKED at the complex and devious actions of these scammers!Most people picture a publishing scam as paying money for a book, and never getting one. However, many scammers are going after the "long con" - doing a minor amount of work while stringing the author along for more and more money. By the time the author figures out how much money they have wasted on undelivered promises, they have no hope of selling enough copies to make up the loss. Not even close!Listen to this episode to learn what to look and listen for to avoid being scammed out of TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars!Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Today, more than ever before, society is dependent on a fragile electrical grid, a vulnerable supply chain, and a delicate medical system to survive. All of these critical systems are plugged into the Internet, which has proven to be crawling with malevolent actors, constantly looking to disrupt civil societies and their ability to function.We’ve already seen how our systems fail when confronted with pandemics, civil unrest, or major natural disasters. Now imagine what would happen if a cyber-terrorist or a rogue nation were to collapse our power grid. How would we function if multiple storms ripped across the land, causing widespread wind and flood damage over vast areas? God forbid a hateful regime like the one in Iran were to detonate a nuclear weapon on (or above) our land. Now, ask yourself how you would treat a medical condition in such a scenario. How would you deal with a broken limb, or a serious laceration, or a snakebite? What if you get sick? Do you have what it takes to heal yourself without antibiotics, advanced pain killers, or body altering medications? Would you be able to survive if there was no electrical grid or public water supply to rely on?In this episode, we interview Dr. Ralph "Doc" La Guardia, the author of THE DOOMSDAY BOOK OF MEDICINE. Dr. Laguardia attended the oldest medical school in the world, has been in private practice since 1988, worked as an ER doctor, a prison doctor, and has run multiple medical facilities.THE DOOMSDAY BOOK OF MEDICINE addresses how you can survive, stay healthy, and heal yourself even in a “grid-down” situation. Dr. La Guardia delves into deep knowledge on how the human body works, what it needs to function at its peak, and how our “modern” lifestyle has degraded our bodies to a fraction of the heartiness that our ancestors possessed. THE DOOMSDAY BOOK OF MEDICINE: What Will You Do When There Are No Doctors or Medicine?https://www.amazon.com/Doomsday-Book-Medicine-There-Doctors/dp/1959621696THIS BOOK COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! Learn 10 to 20 ways way to treat most illnesses and injuries when there are no drugs or doctors.Don’t be fooled. This book is not just for “Doomsday.” This information can help if you’re stuck for days in a storm-ravaged area, if your area gets “locked down” over a virus scare, or if any other major event prevents you from getting to a doctor or hospital.Doctor La Guardia is a leading expert in cutting edge, natural, life enhancing medicines and unusual treatments that are virtually unknown. He knows which ones work and which are empty promises. He has compiled the most effective of these treatments, many of which you will find nowhere else.ALL EPISODES!https://writersweekly.com/podcastGET YOUR BOOK PUBLISHED!https://publishing.booklocker.comTHE DOOMSDAY BOOK OF MEDICINE: What Will You Do When There Are No Doctors or Medicine?https://www.amazon.com/Doomsday-Book-Medicine-There-Doctors/dp/1959621696THE BIBLE OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: Hundreds of Natural Remedies for Nearly Every Ailmenthttps://www.amazon.com/Bible-Alternative-Medicine-Ralph-Guardia/dp/1959620320INFECTED: Secrets from the Medical Underground - How You Can Prevent and Treat Any Infection - SECOND EDITIONhttps://www.amazon.com/Infected-Secrets-Medical-Underground-Infection/dp/1958892327https://substack.com/@medicalundergroundText us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

*What disappointing truths shock authors today when they land a traditional publishing contract? Things aren't like they used to be!  *What does the term "self-publishing" REALLY mean today? (There is lots of confusion online!) *What exactly is "hybrid publishing" and how have foreign scammers hijacked the term?  In this episode, we delve into the details, and discuss the pros and cons of different book publishing methods. Most importantly, we expose the shocking truths of how the traditional publishing industry operates now, and share quotes from authors who have been extremely disappointed in their traditional publishers.  Who gets the rights to your work? What will your royalties be? How much help will you get in marketing? What’s the up-front cost? Will your book be in bookstores? Will your publisher send you on a book tour? Could your publisher go out of business, and leave you with no book and no royalties? What in the world is "hybrid publishing" anyway? We cover all of this, and so much more!  For more than 25 years, we have heard from hundreds of authors who have tried more than one of these options, and shared their experiences with us. The truths may shock you. What type of publishing partnership would be best for YOUR book? Listen to this episode, and get all the information you need to make an educated decision.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Did you know that there is a whole generation of people who simply will not read books? But, they do LISTEN to books! Audio storytelling is a booming medium! Tens of thousands of people listen to audiobooks and podcasts while driving, working, exercising, cooking, and even just relaxing.For years now, converting a print book to an audiobook required either thousands of dollars to hire a professional voice artist (narrator), a hefty investment to purchase or rent quality audio equipment and/or a sound studio, and hours upon hours of editing work to get everything just right.This means that not only has it been expensive to create audiobooks, they have been expensive to PURCHASE as well!However, BookLocker.com was recently invited to participate in Amazon’s new “Virtual Voice” Audiobook program. Now, authors can have their books converted to audiobooks (with high quality voice selections!) for the affordable introductory price of $199.00.Join Angela and Brian as they discuss the details of what has been, up until now, a very expensive and labor-intensive endeavor requiring extensive sound engineering know-how. Today, it’s extremely easy and your audiobook can be put up for sale by BookLocker in just a couple of days!We are extremely excited to tell everyone about this new opportunity. How many more sales can YOU make to the “I don’t have time to read books” crowd?https://Newsletter.BookLocker.com/Audiobookshttps://WritersWeekly.com/podcast  Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Why do Chris Emery’s books sell so well? Because, he is not only warm and friendly to everyone, but he’s also HILARIOUS! If you want to crack up, don’t miss this episode! Here are a few teasers:- Chris Emery served under three presidential administrations, and was the only White House Usher to get fired in the 20th Century. Find out which first lady fired him, and why! And, find out how that first lady’s secretary tried to control the narrative to the media after he was let go. News crews were on his front porch!- Which FORMER first lady called Chris the night he got fired?- Nancy Reagan routinely (accidentally) set off the panic button.- What happened when, late one night, Chris decided to test Gerald R. Ford’s old wheelchair, going FAST down a ramp, and heading toward an antique table with an ancient Ming Dynasty vase on it???- Why did Ladybird Johnson frequently call Chris?- Chris’ phone conversation with famous author Tom Clancy!- Chris chose to refuse a six-figure advance from a major publisher in order to self-publish his book with BookLocker. Find out why in this episode!- Was Chris able to sign 170 books in 20 minutes when he was the Keynote Speaker at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library?- The Department of Justice didn’t want Chris publishing one of his books but he did! Learn why!- Which famous singer was wearing a scarf that got caught in the wheels of the wheelchair Chris was pushing her in?- Dancing at the infamous White House Halloween Party!- Did you know the private residence in the White House has 132 rooms?!- The White House is actually eight stories tall! Most of those are underground.- Back then, White House Ushers were not required to sign NDA’s.- Generations of White House Butlers have been related to each other.- How did Chris do eight interviews in only seven hours in January of this year? And, why was the press so interested in talking to him? These included The Today Show, CNN, and other major news outlets.- How does Chris keep selling copies of his books long after they’ve been published?- And, what new book is Chris working on now?!?!Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Think your family members will play nice once you kick the bucket? THINK AGAIN! TRUE STORY: A BookLocker author who earned more than $200K in royalties died. Extended family members then took his widow to court. More about that story is under this podcast episode on https://WritersWeekly.com/podcast. TRUE STORY: One author’s relatives went to court, and spent thousands, not even knowing the paltry amount of unpaid royalties that were due. We share that amount in this episode!TRUE STORY: In an attempt to steal his dad’s royalties, an author’s adult son falsely claimed his dad had died. How did Angela figure out the author was still alive and what did the dad do next?   TRUE STORY: One relative, who was not the beneficiary, claimed to be the author’s only living relative. The author’s living, breathing spouse was very surprised to hear about that! AND, THERE ARE MORE! When an author dies, what can happen to their royalties and rights?In this episode, Angela and Brian share several examples of the lengths some people have gone to in an attempt to steal (yes, that’s what they’re doing!) the rights (and royalties) of an author’s work once they are gone. Their greed can cause years of turmoil and legal battles for surviving friends and family. You’ll be shocked at how devious some people can be! And, think it’s just relatives? Nope! Some “author reps” and “editors” have been caught trying to steal from authors’ heirs as well!In this episode, we not only provide egregious examples of greed, but we also present you with the steps YOU can take (and pitfalls you should watch out!) for when assigning beneficiaries for your work. YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE!Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In this episode, Professional Editor and Book Marketer Clayton Jones joins Angela and Brian to discuss what authors need to know when vetting and hiring a professional editor for their book.What are the different types of editing? How does the editing process work? How long does it take? How do you know if your editor even speaks English as a native language? (Yes, there are ways foreign scammers can trick you, even over the phone!) And, what is the #1 THING YOU SHOULD NEVER DO when you receive your manuscript back from your editor? Most importantly, you will understand what YOU, the author, will be expected to do during the editing process. Editing is a collaborative effort that the author must be actively involved in.Clayton Jones is not only a professional editor and book marketer, but he's also an English and Creative Writing Professor at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, as well as a songwriter, musician, and the owner of a media production company.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In this episode, Angela and Brian review emails they have received from authors who lost anywhere from thousands, to tens of thousands of dollars, after signing up with what they thought were legitimate online publishing companies. Unfortunately for many of them, when they realized that these entities were not what they claimed to be, it was too late and the money was gone. Don’t be one of the thousands of writers and authors who are being bilked out of their hard-earned money! Listen to this episode and learn how to research and detect when a flashy website and slick talking phone “representative” is nothing more than that. Don’t pay a penny of your money for publishing until you listen to this episode. It could literally keep you out of bankruptcy!WritersWeekly.com, as part of its mission to help authors and writers succeed in their chosen fields, has been exposing scams in the industry for over 20 years. As the internet has evolved, the problem has continued to get worse. Don't get scammed! Be sure to listen to this episode. The WritersWeekly Podcast is provided by the operators of BookLocker.com. Booklocker.com is a full-service book publishing company that has been in business for over 25 years and has a stellar reputation in the publishing industry. Helping authors and writers realize their dreams has always been our passion. Find out more at BookLocker.com  Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

This week, Angela and Brian interview the author of SEVEN books, two of which have received literary awards.Thomas Berry is a history enthusiast and has used this interest to craft a combination of Historical Fiction and Biographical stories that immerse the reader in some of humanity's greatest struggles.Did you know that Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark expedition was found dead at an inn under suspicious circumstances? The official explanation was suicide. However, even William Clark, who had spent almost two years in America's wilderness with Lewis, insisted that this was impossible and that his former explorer companion must have been murdered. Tom Berry weaves this mystery into a historical fiction account of Clark, as well as 4 others from the original expedition setting out to uncover the truth in "Lewis and Clark - Murder on the Natchez Trace."Tom dives deep into the facts your history teacher never told you in "Texas Freedom: Last Stand at the Alamo." In this book you'll learn unique details about the famous, and even not-so-famous characters who played roles in one of America's episodes that symbolizes both tragedy and heroism. Tom's writing also takes you up close and personal with real personalities from WW2, the American Civil War, and even the Peloponnesian War. Tom shares his research methods, creative techniques, and even his writing schedule with Angela and Brian to help listeners understand what it takes to consistently turn out exciting and historically accurate books. We even explore how Tom avoids "writer's block." He has written and published seven of these works with Booklocker in 15 years. He is currently working on two more historical page-turners.If you want to know what it takes to churn out quality books and overcome life's obstacles to "finding time" to write, you need to listen to this episode!Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Back from a bout of COVID, Angela and Brian sit down to tackle legal questions from our listeners and readers with the help of James Walsh, Esq.James is an attorney in Pennsylvania with a background in criminal and contract law. He has also been instrumental in helping Angela track down and identify over 1500 online scammers who target the writing/publishing industry.In this episode, we discuss copyrights, trademarks, invasion of privacy, and other legal aspects of the publishing industry, prompted by questions submitted directly from our readers and listeners. Join us and learn how to avoid legal pitfalls when publishing your writing.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In this episode, Angela and Brian discuss book marketing with author Gary Sturgis, who is BookLocker's #1 best-selling author.In 2014, Gary suffered a devastating loss that shook his world. After years of working his way to his "new normal" Gary wanted to help others find their way out of the dark pit that the death of a loved one can often leave us in.He wrote his first book Surviving: Finding Your Way From Grief to Healing in 2020. The response proved to him that there was a great need for "grief coaches" - and a very short supply. This led him to become a grief coach, and write two more books, plus a workbook on the subject.Now, Gary is an internationally recognized and respected voice in the field of grief, loss, and recovery. He provides individual coaching for those struggling with grief, as well as facilitating seminars for groups.What new path could YOUR book put you on? Listen to Gary explain how he saw doors opening for him as he delved deeper and deeper into the realm of helping others through their losses. But the real magic happened when he had the guts to walk through those doors. Join us for a heart-warming account of success through service to others. Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In our 10th episode, Angela Hoy tells us the interesting circumstances that led to the creation of WritersWeekly.com, how she later created a successful book publishing business, and about the oftentimes stressful (but sometimes funny) personal and professional struggles she had along the way. We learn how WritersWeekly.com went from being almost a side hobby to make a little extra money, to a means of survival during hard times, to a proven marketing tool, as well as a FREE source of help for writers and authors everywhere!Did you know that BookLocker.com started out as a small, ebook-only online bookstore that Angela acquired after one of her ebooks instantly became that website’s #1 best seller? BookLocker.com has since published more than 16K print and electronic titles! Hear how the company grew, and listen to the challenges of running an online business while traveling across America in an RV for years. Angela has endured dire financial times, sleepless nights, corporate bullies, stressful legal battles, and even threats against her family and life! And, she raised 5 kids (and then some) throughout it all. This is truly an amazing story of endurance, courage, and a strong will to succeed.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In this episode, Angela and Brian go over general points of advice on how to win short story contests, with a narrower focus on best methods to win the WritersWeekly 24 Hour Short Story Contest.First, in the "News From the Home Office" segment, listen to a run-in Brian had during a fishing trip. What would you do?Then, Angela and Brian explain how best to plan your short story for a writing contest. What are common mistakes people make? What are the most common themes that emerge when we review hundreds of stories that get turned in for each contest? Avoid these, and YOUR story can stand out above the rest.Finally, listen to the 1st and 2nd place winning stories from the Spring 2025 24-Hour Short Story Contest, read by Brian, complete with background music and sound effects.If you love a good short story, you won't want to miss this episode!www.24hourshortstorycontest.comText us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Have you ever wondered what goes into getting a book published? Do you have a manuscript that you're holding onto because you're afraid of not knowing what to expect? How can you make sure someone won't take advantage of you? How long should the process take?In this episode, Angela and Brian go through the book publishing process from start to finish. From submitting your manuscript, to formatting and editing, cover design, copyright, printer feeds - all the way to dropping the first copy onto your doorstep - we cover it all.If the publishing process mystifies (or terrifies) you, then THIS is the episode you need to hear!Bonus Content: Hear about Randy the Rooster's unfortunate demise and what Angela and Brian are currently up to in our "News From The Home Office" segment.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In this episode, Angela and Brian cannonball back into the cesspool of online scammers who target authors and writers. Joining them is James M. Walsh, Esq. James is an attorney from Pennsylvania, and has been assisting in the research to uncover how foreign criminals are scheming to steal your money. He also has an interesting story of his own.We expose just how bold and brazen these thieves are, and how far they will go to convince you to hand over your hard-earned cash. There is even a whole class of weasels who will offer to “help” you AFTER you've been scammed…in an attempt to steal even MORE of your money. Don't get caught in these scammers' traps! Learn what you need to know to steer clear of the schemes. Every writer and author needs to know what to look out for. You can't miss this episode!Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In this episode, we have a special guest.Clayton Jones is a professional writer, editor, ghostwriter, and a college professor who teaches English and writing at the University of Tennessee.  He will be joining us to explore the role of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the writing world.IS there a role for AI in professional writing? How are people currently using it? What are the ethical and unethical ways for AI to be used?We discuss what we've seen from authors and writers as publishers ourselves, and Clayton gives us insight on AI's place in the education world. Is AI just a cheater's shortcut? Is it a helpful tool? A hindrance? We will also be looking at some ways AI has been used that have gotten people into some pretty big trouble, along with a study that sheds some light on AI's effects on student learning.Join us for a lively discussion on Artificial Intelligence and its influence on ALL aspects of creative thought and production.You can hire Clayton for writing and editing services at https://southwindliterary.comText us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Angela and Brian explore the potential liabilities and pitfalls of publishing "tell-all" memoirs. Many people want to publish accounts of their lives, recounting experiences that negatively affected their lives, and exposing people who "wronged" them. Unfortunately, such declarations have opened many an author up to civil litigation, initiated by the very people they criticize in their memoirs. Even if the claims in one's life accounts are true, they can still lead to a legal nightmare for the person who publishes such accusations.Our hosts list several ways someone can find themselves in legal jeopardy. They review steps you can take when writing your memoirs to mitigate the risk of getting sued for libel or defamation, and list several examples or authors who have found themselves in legal battles over the claims they made in their autobiographies about other people. You may be surprised at just how little ammunition someone needs to come after you in court.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

Query Letters and Book Proposals are very important tools for those who want to earn money from their writing. If you aren't landing as many contracts and book deals as you'd like, it may be because your "pitching" isn't as polished as it could be. Angela and Brian lay out how query letters and book proposals work, explain what publishers and editors are looking for, and how they should be written.You'll hear examples of what to do in your writing pitches and, more importantly, what NOT to do.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In this episode, Angela and Brian do a deep dive into the non-profit organization known as "NaNoWriMo" (National Novel Writing Month), and their recent announcement that they would be shutting down. Did financial mismanagement bring about their demise? Or was it a failure to address alleged accusations that a child groomer was on their forum? Could it have been their stance on AI being used in writing that caused a rebellion among its faithful disciples? Or, did the organization simply "WOKE" itself into irrelevancy?We look at where the organization's money went, NaNoWriMo's core culture, controversies between the organization and its followers, and how it responded (or didn't respond) to concerns about its online forums. Join us as we explore why a benevolent and praiseworthy movement seems to have turned into a huge, mismanaged social experiment that collapsed under its own weight.Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In this second part to our scam episode, Angela and Brian discuss steps the WritersWeekly team have been taking to combat the prolific rise in international publishing scams, and specific steps YOU can take to make sure that a 'publishing company' you may be looking into isn't a scam operation. Also, something odd happened during the recording of this episode. Listen carefully around the 14 min 5 second point. What do you think you hear? We'll be telling the whole story on Thursday in the "From The Home Office" column of WritersWeekly.com!Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com

In our first episode, Angela and Brian tackle the astronomical rise in scams that target writers and authors. These criminals from outside the US are using professional looking websites, social media, and direct messaging to lure people in with the promise of writing related services at bargain-basement prices. But look out! Once they have your money, you're not getting it back - or any of the promised services. These scammers are claiming to offer book publishing, ghost-writing services, editing, website and SEO services, cover design, interior formatting ... the list goes on and on. In this pilot episode, Angela and Brian discuss:The scope of the problemStories from victims they have personally communicated withWhat tactics these criminals are using to steal your moneyThe efforts the WritersWeekly team have been making to fight this problemHow Facebook is involved, (and, in our opinion, complicit) in the problemSigns you can look for to know if a "publisher" is actually a scam artistThings you can do to protect yourselfThis podcast episode might very well save you from losing THOUSANDS of dollars!Text us directly and tell us what you think of this episode!Learn more at https://www.WritersWeekly.com