It's just as I suspected

[cornerofmadness]

The agent is not quite on the level. I suspected as much when I had to remind them they were past their time limit with my sample chapters (No that wasn't the tip, that's common) and they responded with an enthusiatic 'we want this. Call us.' Call YOU? Shouldn't you be calling me?

Thanks to several friends (especially A2Z Mom and Betty S) I picked up a few new ways of researching an agent that I DIDN'T know when I submitted in Novemeber. Let me pass on something from Betty and the RWA

RWA just posted the website for Association of Authors’ Representatives, the master list of agents. These people have a code of ethics that they are required to adhere to, so members are likely to be more reputable than most.

www.aar-online.org (USE THIS. It tells you exactly what to ask an agent)

They say you should still screen them carefully for terms in their contracts/policies that you may have a problem with, and be careful to find a good fit for your personality and for what you expect from your career. One thing they made note to watch out for: a lot of agencies, even very reputable ones, are now inserting clauses that give them exclusive representation of your book FOR THE LIFE OF THE COPYRIGHT, which means even if they part company with you and/or have no part in subsequent sales (ie movie or foreign rights) you still have to pay them their percentage (and so do your heirs). So that’s something to look out for.

Using tips from this (and a few other online sites that popped up this time when I googled as compared to last time) I took a good hard look at the 52 clients listed on the site (www.robins-agency.com) I used a combo of google, amazon and barnes and noble and found exactly FIVE of them. Three of that five were self published (authorhouse is one, a company that's suffered a lot of bad press lately and another that was being sued) and one won a script contest under that book's title and the last was just a bio on a man's criminal past.

Going back to the 'about us' section I found a newsletter claiming she was pulitzer nominated (she may well have been but I can't find it) and some 2000 publications to her name (I put her to the same acid test and found nothing) then I found two 'search here' for complaints and came up with this. http://forums.writersweekly.com/viewtopic.php?t=3539
Go, read. In fact, I'm considering joining. It looks like a helpful tool. At least you can see other people's mistakes and learn from them. The Robins agency looks very legit. They have everything you're told to look for. You have to look beyond the smoke and mirrors. Am I outright saying they're frauds? No, because I'm not giving them the chance to defraud me (look at the forum for those very much willing to call them that and why). I'm just quietly emailing them back and saying no thank you.

oh and from 50thousandtearz

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Comments

[mzzgoddessblue.livejournal.com]

That's a fascinating forum. Spent an hour or two reading the 'whispers and warning' forum, even tho' I'm not publishing or trying to. And can I just say good on ya for checking them out instead of just going with them, as a lot of people would do! Must be that cynical streak in ya! LOL

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I'm not new to this. THat's the difference. I'm exceedingly wary especially since I didn't find them in LIterary Agents guide

[lejlkwiet.livejournal.com]

Ouch, tough luck on the agent, I read some stuff in the forum and I guess you can never be to careful. I've bookmarked it to show to my mum in fact, as she's trying to find an agent for a book she's writing.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, I've been saying all along I've had a bad vibe. Yes, do show it to your mom. It's so easy to get taken in. Glad i could help

[lejlkwiet.livejournal.com]

There was a publisher she was interested and I wondered what you'd think of it:

the downside is that they DO ask for money even though it's a relatively small amount

but when she searched for them on Amazon she did find books published by them, and they repeat a hundred times that all copyrights remain yours and you can terminate your contract with them whenever you want.

If you want to take a look their site is www.trafford.com

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I'm adding this to my LJ memories for future reference.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

feel free. THat's why I posted everything. I know too many people who want to go pro not to arm them with every tool I can

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I nsoory that the agency didn't work out, but I'm glad you realized before anything serious occurred. You can't be too careful.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Thanks and exactly. Also learned how they make up the bible from the Writers Digest for LIterary Agent, a questionarre with little to no background checks. Well, whee. Still, I need to go buy it for this year.

[marenfic.livejournal.com]

Well, that's certainly dissappointing. Still, you did the research even when faced with the possibility that you weren't going to find what you wanted to find. So many people get defrauded because they don't want to look past those smoke and mirrors and it takes a lot of ego-strength to put as much work into finding out the real story as you did.

I have *no* doubt you will find a reputable agent soon Dana. Good luck.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the support Maren. I appreciate it. It does take a lot of work and energy to look past the veil and this woman was good. She looks very professional and she almost got me. Her first mistake, NOT calling me. That sent up the red flag