Writing. Reading. Events

Notes on a Scam

When I launched this site, my first contact was from a literary agent who extolled the virtues of my talent by meticulously dissecting one of my books. And they really seemed to know what they were talking about because they appeared to have read it and thought about it and found a niche where they claimed I had a bigger public than I do now.

Promotionally, I'm pretty low-key. I don't put myself out. I write. Isn't that enough? (Short answer, no). As sales figures show, my first books were a secret. But reviews were good. A critical success, I told myself. I can live with that. Suddenly, I couldn't. Now I was being sought after by an agent who, among the millions of books being left hung out to dry, had chosen mine.

Sure, I asked questions. Sure, I wanted proof. And presto! I got it. A link to a publisher's website with names and qualifications and lists of books by best-selling authors they claimed to have published. Only later did I notice the lack of contact info or physical address. My only contact was that literary agent with a gmail email. Of course, I should have known better. But that's the nature of flattery. Somewhere, I knew it was over the top. But I believed. Faith can be very seductive.

Then, as if on a clock, the subject of money came up. Mine. Not much, they said. Just enough to cover initial expenses. All it would take was my credit card, and we were off to the races! Fame and fortune awaited! All I had to do was keep writing. They'd do the rest. That's when I stopped responding. But each day they came back. So, I stuck their email in spam and moved on, wiser but embarrassed as hell. This wasn't a talent scout. This was a scam.

Then a couple of weeks later, another literary agent contacted me. And about the same book. They were just as knowledgeable about the story and just as passionate about my future. I've admitted to being stupid, but clearly, they thought I was stupider still.

Now, here's the clincher. The day before first contact, I'd come across a site offering a free database listing to indie authors. I won't name it here. Who knows? Maybe it's legit. Since it was free, I put one in. And it was the very book all the 'agents' had gone on and on about.

I'm not saying the site is anything other than it claims to be - a helping hand for independent writers - but the coincidence is striking. I enter a title in their database, and the next day, I'm scammed. Not scammed, actually. I didn't go all the way. But there was some heavy petting.

The Gaily Show
The Gaily Show is a radio show/podcast dedicated to all things queer. The other day they invited me for a chat about my upcoming book, Bill & The Kid. Here's the Youtube link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6dBBRTE27s&t=1411s

This Queer Book Saved My Life

In his podcast, John Parker talks to people whose lives were changed by a queer book. Here, we talk about the book that changed my life, as well as Bill & The Kid, coming out soon. The interview gets personal and took me places I didn't expect to go. Select 'All Episodes' and there it is.
podfollow.com/thisqueerbook.

Van Alone on Sale

"Doyle’s writing is textured and evocative, and the story is all very deftly woven together, like a well-made Chinese puzzle, letting us savor each little surprise, every tiny reveal."

Ulysses Deitz, author of Growing Up Grant