PublishAmerica Scam: Curious Blog Stats

Blogger.com provides us with a way to see what search engine people are using to find this blog and what key words they are using to find us. Over the last few days, we have seen a dramatic increase in the searches for "Sinthyia Darkness" who if you know anything about PublishAmerica at all, you will know that this is a very well known detractor. What is even more curious, is all the searches for "Sinthyia Darkness killed." Yes, killed as in murdered. The post that they are finding is this one http://publishamericascam.blogspot.com/2012/07/man-with-known-terrorist-ties-threatens.html . Man with known terrorist ties threatens PublishAmerica detractor in the name of PA. There is evidence to suggest that this rumor which is strong among the authors Published with this company is substantiated. This blog has gotten numorous comments from those who were about to sign with PA but read this post about one Brian Smith of Orlando Florida. After reading it, they chose to steer clear of PA. Nobody would ever believe that anybody's real name would ever be SD and there is also evidence to suggest that this blogger was a man. Nevertheless, Sinthiya Darkness hasn't been heard from in nearly two years but clearly, there is still interest in her and the work this person did for writers who would have otherwise been scammed by this publisher.

PublishAmerica JK Rowling Drama

Maryland publisher, PublishAmerica is no stranger to soliciting sales from their authors on the backs of celebrities, authors and well known publishing houses, like Random House.

This time, PublishAmerica has managed to step on the really big literary toes of J. K Rowling. As a matter of fact, this is just more controversy in connection with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, in which PublishAmerica had also solicited book sales promising its authors exposure. The organizers of the festival however have stated that PublishAmerica had been deceptive in it's claims.

“We have no relationship with @publishamerica. We have asked them to cease and desist making promises involving us.”

What was said on PublishAmerica's website that angered J.K Rowling and set off a firestorm of bad press?

“We will ask the world’s very bestselling author to look at all of your books next week. We will bring your book to the attention of Harry Potter’s author next week while our delegation is in her hometown, and ask her to read it and to tell us and you what she thinks. Tell her what you think: in the Ordering Instructions box write your own note for JK Rowling, max. 50-100 words. We will include your note in our presentation for her!”

Delegation? Not only did they promise that for 49.00, not only will Rowling look at your book but would also offer some sort of review.

J.K Rowling and the lawsuit that her manager eluded to would no doubt be the end of this publisher. PublishAmerica who is well known for filing frivolous SLAPP lawsuits on their critics will certainly be wearing out their keyboards typing up C and D Letters to international media who have reported on this story and labeled their business practices as deceptive.

PublishAmerica: Up Up and Away

The Kiwanis club held a charity raffle. The winners recieved a prize of a helicopter ride...guess who shows up as the pilot? It's Alice Meiners in a chopper owned by Willem Meiners. When the winners return they speak of going up in the clouds, much too high for Alice to have been flying. Here's the clincher, during the time of this ride, her license did not permit her to have passengers.


ALICE MARIE RUSH

Address

Street 208 Crestview CT
City Frederick State MD
County Frederick Zip Code 21702-4031
Country USA

____________________________________________________________________________________________

MEDICAL

Medical Class: Third Medical Date: 4/2/08

____________________________________________________________________________________________


Certificates
1 of 1

DOI: 9/16/08
Certificate PRIVATE PILOT
Rating(s):
PRIVATE PILOT
ROTORCRAFT-HELICOPTER


LIMITS

ENGLISH PROFICIENT


She did not have any rating that would permit her to do anything other than fly solo, visual flight rules only and she could not carry any passengers. This is the second documented incident of Alice taking passengers that we were able to find.

We have a short film that documents the incident with the Kiwanis raffle winners. This is one of the goofiest take-offs ever and the two passengers, mother and son, are really lucky to have made it back alive. They are oblivious to the potential danger. I am not a pilot. However, military pilots have reviewed this video and have confirmed that Alice did not have control of this helicopter.

What's more, Alice and Willem live in Whiteplains, which is a community built on a runway. DespiTe this, they do not currently own an aircraft and have not since July 24, 2009. Alice Meiners obtained her license on Sept 16, 2008 and the helicopter crashed ten months later (much more about that later.)

Alice Meiners does not have a current license and we are still investigating to find out why.

PublishAmerica: Send your book to Hollywood Sale

PublishAmerica is at it again.. maybe they are in need of extra holiday cash. Who knows. For the price of 99.00 you can have PublishAmerica do what you could very well do yourself. I would never give a publisher permission to act as my agent and I wouldn't pay them the 99.00 because in the event that you did win (provided your book was ever entered on your behalf) PA would get a chunk of your earnings!


Dear author:

Amazon.com has done it again. Now they have started Amazon Studios, and they want to see if your book's manuscript is their (and Warner Bros. Pictures'!) next movie.

Basically, Amazon is now also entering the movie business, and they are crowdsourcing it, shopping among original story tellers like yourself. They have given Warner Bros. the right of first refusal.

From Tuesday's Amazon Studios announcement:

"We are excited to introduce writers, filmmakers and movie lovers to Amazon Studios [...] It is the goal of Amazon Studios to produce new, full-budget theatrical films based on the best projects and it will give Warner Bros. Pictures first access to the projects Amazon Studios wishes to produce in cooperation with an outside studio."

The Amazon Studio deals include rights payments of $200,000 for winning submissions, and a $400,000 bonus "if the movie makes over $60 million at the U.S. box office". It also awards prizes of $20,000 for the two best scripts in a month even if they don't become a movie.

See for all details http://studios.amazon.com/.

Here's how it works: Together with you we'll rework your manuscript a littlethen we submit it to Amazon Studios for their contest, following their guidelines. They award prizes monthly.

Activate your entry for Amazon Studios today: go to http://www.publishamerica.net/AmazonWarnerBros1.html, click Add to cart, choose a shipping option to start the activation. In the Ordering Instructions box be sure to mention the title of your book. If your book has not yet been released, add "Pre-release!"

By activating your book's submission to Amazon Studios you authorize PublishAmerica to act on your behalf and you agree that this constitutes your consent in writing.

After we have received your activation you will be contacted about adding your book's list of characters and a film synopsis.

See you in Hollywood!

--PublishAmerica Bookstore

The PublishAmerica Investigation

Drum roll please..Tuesday, I posted about rumors of a sting on PublishAmerica. Now this would not be the first time PA has been the focus of a sting (remember Atlanta Nights?). This is the first time that members of the news media have gone under cover to investigate them. The wait is over. You can read the first article in this special series at the Examiner.

Love that graphic by the way. I just had to borrow it.