tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post5072895014889993884..comments2023-08-20T07:54:09.292-07:00Comments on The Looking Glass Of Carroll Bryant: Internet Scams: Absolute WriteUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-50886451891019265052017-01-10T04:11:29.760-08:002017-01-10T04:11:29.760-08:00I can't think of anything to say in AW's f...I can't think of anything to say in AW's favor. From my experience, they are all pretty rotten at heart with dark souls. <br /><br />They call out people they do not like, and they do not like anyone that calls them out. They get called out a lot.<br /><br />It's hard to tell which agents / publishers are legit or not. Best advice is to always do your research. Carroll Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14491035669373430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-66707545973101158582016-12-26T11:01:09.571-08:002016-12-26T11:01:09.571-08:00Carroll, can anything be said in AW's favor? I...Carroll, can anything be said in AW's favor? I am just curious about their Bewares and Background Checks. It seems they do a lot of calling out publishers and agents that they think are scams (which seems to be everyone in their book) but have no tips on which agents and publishers are legit. Any thoughts?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17090769599883369932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-62962914617829865802016-12-17T09:13:46.429-08:002016-12-17T09:13:46.429-08:00Thanks. I tend to notice Absolute Write/Victoria S...Thanks. I tend to notice Absolute Write/Victoria Strauss/McAllister Stone is kind of 'every agent/contest/ publisher' is a scam place. I first took them at face value, but the longer I looked online, the more suspicious I got. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17090769599883369932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-6614643805186776982015-01-17T16:12:54.443-08:002015-01-17T16:12:54.443-08:00There are a couple more of anti- "Absolute Wr...There are a couple more of anti- "Absolute Write" blogs located on the right-bar of my blog. One is called "Absolute Wrong" and the other is "Write Absolute Reviews of Bully Board". Check them out if you get time. They know a lot more about "Absolute Write" than I do. They would be of more help. But yeah, AW is bad. Very bad. All would be wise to stay away and keep your distance. Carroll Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14491035669373430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-1502077553753415732015-01-16T09:50:24.117-08:002015-01-16T09:50:24.117-08:00I'll have to look into bookbaby, thanks! Unfor...I'll have to look into bookbaby, thanks! Unfortunately I never seen this post before. But what an awesome thing to find though! I might direct friends to this, if they are curious about Absolute Write.LWFlouisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-84352158922855259822014-08-19T07:55:07.076-07:002014-08-19T07:55:07.076-07:00Thanks Kitty. Thanks Kitty. Carroll Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14491035669373430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-59549017639667436422014-08-19T04:34:56.659-07:002014-08-19T04:34:56.659-07:00Thought you'd be interested in this, especiall...Thought you'd be interested in this, especially the comments from readers: http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2014/08/query-question-absolute-write.htmlKittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11772310179223546476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-14470354638089248012014-05-07T13:11:13.940-07:002014-05-07T13:11:13.940-07:00It wouldn't surprise me where my name might be...It wouldn't surprise me where my name might be posted. LOL There are so many bad people (or bullies) on the internet that I have lost count a long time ago. And everyone knows I am not favored very well amongst the bad people. That's only because I stand up to bad people. <br /><br />I only post facts and my personal opinions on this blog. If I do happen to get something wrong, I own it and apologize for it. As for "Absolute Write", I haven't seen where I got anything wrong. It's a shady operation over there with some highly questionable folks involved. All writer's, new or otherwise, would be best advised to stay away from them. <br /><br />Thanks for the comment Martin Brown Publisher's. Here's wishing you all the success in the world. Carroll Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14491035669373430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-17490146646429877252014-05-07T12:09:42.468-07:002014-05-07T12:09:42.468-07:00Thank you Carroll for your very informative post. ...Thank you Carroll for your very informative post. Didn't know until lately that McAlister Stone is actually Lisa L. Spangenberg. If figures that he/she is not real. Over the years I too have been accused of being a sock puppet on Absolute Write--or as you call it, Absolute Wrong.<br />Their Bewares, Recommendations and Background Checks board have brow beat us for years. We have never scammed or taken of anyone but if you go on those boards, you would think we were related to Al Capone. I see you didn't mention Writer Beware, Preditors and Editors or the SFWA. If you are in any way associate with publishing, your name will also appear on these boards as they are very closely related. Might be fun to explore this further. Thanks again for a great post. <br />Robert Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-5891155712314482112014-02-25T08:23:38.723-08:002014-02-25T08:23:38.723-08:00Thanks for pointing this out. It's good to be ...Thanks for pointing this out. It's good to be able to put a real name - Melodi Sherman - to a bully face. I have been debating within myself to do an "update" post regarding Macallister's real identity. <br /><br />I will agree that it is enough to give one a migraine. How people like Melodi can sleep at night is beyond me. As far as I am concerned, she is nothing but a criminal. But you know, that's just my educated opinion. Carroll Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14491035669373430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-44748127629119944492014-02-25T06:37:59.570-08:002014-02-25T06:37:59.570-08:00Macallister Stone isn't Lisa L. Spangenberg, h...Macallister Stone isn't Lisa L. Spangenberg, her name is Melodi Sherman and she owns a farrier business in Seattle as well as AbsoluteWrite. Her business license for AW expired in 2009 and she has no business license for her farrier business. "Macallister Stone" is a living, breathing sock puppet. Lisa L. Spangenberg is just as complicated. All evidence points to the fact she lives in Seattle as well but likes people to believe she lives in CA or it might be too separate people. The whole thing is enough to give you a migraine!Chris Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14002580588619700058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-45636793575278390922014-01-02T22:47:00.112-08:002014-01-02T22:47:00.112-08:00Sock puppets are the best weapon for a cyber bully...Sock puppets are the best weapon for a cyber bully. Thanks for the tip. Carroll Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14491035669373430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-64260999340074836202014-01-02T04:27:10.658-08:002014-01-02T04:27:10.658-08:00The Absolute Write forums is just a ego trip for t...The Absolute Write forums is just a ego trip for the owner/mods who have lost control over themselves. The tragic part is that this stops discussions about the writing craft as soon as they start getting good. An even bigger tragedy is that many new prospective buyers see the size and age of the forum as credentials of its authority. here's a tip to writers visiting them - take everything with a pinch of salt and be aware that owners, mods and several member profiles are one and the same person.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-42296273002034455852013-11-09T02:23:24.016-08:002013-11-09T02:23:24.016-08:00I don't know anything about it being a money s...I don't know anything about it being a money scam other than the rumour that they hired some people to teach classes freelance and then didn't pay them after the classes were run. But it is a confidence scam, in that they lure people in with the lie that their main rule is "respect your fellow author" and then powertrip on surprise dogpiling and insult slinging and then they play this game of "Oh no we didn't say anything rude, we aren't bullying wink wink" and then put some nasty subnic on the person. This is stuff I've just observed, not what was done to me, I've lurked and watched it happen to dozens of people. It's gross and disturbing. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13383678743839762482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-83162553067763208172013-11-09T01:16:03.110-08:002013-11-09T01:16:03.110-08:00"ABSOLUTE power corrups absolutely." is ... "ABSOLUTE power corrups absolutely." is the phrase that really sums it up which is funny and ironic. The head admin Spangenberg that has the sock puppet Stone is on a huge power trip over having that big board that looks great, that people want to join, but it's so insidious because it looks harmless and super fun but any of the mods that are nuts like that OldHack and Spangenberg will just randomly attack people and people can't even defend themselves their either banned or have some humiliating subnic, <br /><br />And I'm not talking about the small publishers and scam publishers that they bash, I'm talking about just writers trying to talk about any issue if a mod agrees with ANYTHING on ANY topic then they can insult, belittle and degrade that member to their hearts content and the member will be banned if they say one word in their defense or even if they say anything perceived as "snarky" back and they just play these nasty little mind games that they think are so clever, but anyone can see through them, it's just that people can't do anything much about them because it is a private business, but yes, the crazy power trip is ruining a magnificent concept and something that could be so good. <br /><br />She really doesn't have to act so crazy and nasty to keep control of her board and it's really hypocritical to let certain mods spew misinformation and throw around insults like that Old Hack. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13383678743839762482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-6206907223274690452013-11-05T06:43:34.258-08:002013-11-05T06:43:34.258-08:00That's been the word I've been hearing. So...That's been the word I've been hearing. Sounds like you know them well. <br /><br />I don't know about you, but for me, I hate seeing websites with such great potential only to be ruined by the greedy people in charge of it. I guess this is where we get the phrase "great ideas by not so great people".<br /><br />That is a phrase isn't it? Carroll Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14491035669373430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-85102937150894157672013-11-04T23:45:36.018-08:002013-11-04T23:45:36.018-08:00The super mods on Absolute Write tell people repea...The super mods on Absolute Write tell people repeatedly to learn about publishing by reading a book published in 1999. One of them probably wrote it. All the place does is bully authors of all stripes, published, unpublished, New York published or self published they WILL be bullied there if they don't agree with the crazy head admin weirdo and her multiple sock puppets and her old biddie best friends. They bully and ban anyone who disagrees with them on any point or even defends themselves against attacks. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13383678743839762482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-77710162810116962482013-09-10T07:36:40.928-07:002013-09-10T07:36:40.928-07:00Thanks. Good thing I have my riot gear on. LOL Thanks. Good thing I have my riot gear on. LOL Carroll Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14491035669373430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-2369885279535143042013-09-10T07:35:23.633-07:002013-09-10T07:35:23.633-07:00It left a smile on mine too when I was writing it....It left a smile on mine too when I was writing it. I mean, trying to gauge my age by the books I read. What nonsense.<br /><br />I made it public fact that when I was a young man, I started reading books based on my mothers selections. I would borrow her books. The first book I ever read was "Gone With The Wind". I saw it sitting on my mothers dresser. I also snuck into her "library" and read other books of hers that she had. One of them was "Jonathon Livingston seagull". I totally related to that story. The seagull who was different and tested his limitations. I really enjoyed it. But it was my mothers book so .... I don't know. But for Violetta Vane to come to the conclusion of my age based on the fact that I read a book? Yeah, hilarious. Carroll Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14491035669373430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-52749035658652346102013-09-09T23:24:13.392-07:002013-09-09T23:24:13.392-07:00A true rock of ages. 10,000 you say? You left a sm...A true rock of ages. 10,000 you say? You left a smile on my face with this one.matriarchShenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07684058360125931809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268099387414126120.post-76176514585064787512013-09-08T16:45:16.528-07:002013-09-08T16:45:16.528-07:00You're a riot, Carroll! I really enjoyed this ...You're a riot, Carroll! I really enjoyed this post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com