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Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Warning to Beginning Writers
Review: As one of the writers scammed by the Deering Literary Agency, I read Jim Fisher's book with great interest. I was shocked and disgusted at how Dorothy and Charles Deering had bilked money out of aspiring writers through reading fees, contract fees, and joint venture deals. I was particularly disturbed at how Dorothy had even used the death of her son to swindle more money. Did this parasitic creature know no shame?I'm awfully glad Jim Fisher had written this book. He had thoroughly researched and greatly detailed the rise and fall of this bogus literary agency. His writing is crisp, sharp and very readable. I also liked his little touches of humor. This book should serve an excellent warning to beginning writers. If any writer out there is thinking about signing up with a fee charging agent or a vanity press, please read this book first. I guarantee that this tome will make you think twice before signing a contract with one of those slimy parasites.
Rating: 
Summary: Let the Buyer Beware
Review: Because of the fraudulent operations of a significant number of fee charging literary agents, most writer's source books and references have decided not to list these agencies. Publishers of these books received far too many complaints from writers seeking bona fide agents. Jim Fisher's book underscores the disadvantages of entering into an agency agreement where fees are charged. Aspiring authors need to seek out agencies that derive profits solely from commissions on sales (i.e., advances and subsequent royalties). By exposing the chicanery of the Dorothy Deering Literary Agency, and her associates and cohorts, Fisher demonstrates the precautions that new authors need to exercise in their quest for effective representation. Deering and company, Fisher avers, collected various fees and offered virtually nothing in terms of trying to sell manuscripts to publishing houses offering advances. His narrative describes the incredible naivete of authors being scammed on multiple levels. Thanks to the investigative efforts of an FBI special agent, Deering and her associates were finally brought to justice after bilking millions from unwary victims. While the narrative has some engrossing passages, I found the work somewhat repetitive and verbose reflecting the style of a university press. Overall, the book presents a strong message to authors seeking to have their work marketed through literary representation. The book holds particular interest for me as a literary agent representing published authors.
Rating:
Summary: Let the Buyer Beware
Review: Because of the fraudulent operations of a significant number of fee charging literary agents, most writer's source books and references have decided not to list these agencies. Publishers of these books received far too many complaints from writers seeking bona fide agents. Jim Fisher's book underscores the disadvantages of entering into an agency agreement where fees are charged. Aspiring authors need to seek out agencies that derive profits solely from commissions on sales (i.e., advances and subsequent royalties). By exposing the chicanery of the Dorothy Deering Literary Agency, and her associates and cohorts, Fisher demonstrates the precautions that new authors need to exercise in their quest for effective representation. Deering and company, Fisher avers, collected various fees and offered virtually nothing in terms of trying to sell manuscripts to publishing houses offering advances. His narrative describes the incredible naivete of authors being scammed on multiple levels. Thanks to the investigative efforts of an FBI special agent, Deering and her associates were finally brought to justice after bilking millions from unwary victims. While the narrative has some engrossing passages, I found the work somewhat repetitive and verbose reflecting the style of a university press. Overall, the book presents a strong message to authors seeking to have their work marketed through literary representation. The book holds particular interest for me as a literary agent representing published authors.
Rating:
Summary: A necessary and compelling read for any prospective author..
Review: I just finished "Ten Percent Of Nothing," and let me tell y'all, if you haven't bought this book and read it, you should. Classic true story of one of the biggest scams in the literary business, that of the Deering Literary Agency/Sovereign Publications.
The people that ran DLA/SP were Dorothy Deering, her husband Chuck, her brother Bill Richardson, and Chuck's son, Daniel Deering (he ran the literary agency, was a ninth grade high school drop out, who also had a drug addiction problem). These people started out running a fee based literary agency, then branched over into subsidy publishing when they saw how profitable that could be. They never published anything, took literally millions of dollars from hopeful authors, and ended up serving some jail time for all the agony they caused. It's a fascinating read, and I want to publicly thank Uncle Jim (James McDonald) for referring the book over at Absolute Write. Very much appreciated, Jim.
Something interesting to point out to everyone that reads this - here are some of the techniques the Deerings used to lure writers into their web. Some of them may sound familiar to those of you who have been affiliated with a certain "traditional publisher"...
1. They greatly emphasized how hard it was to break into traditional publishing, portraying it as a "we vs. they" type situation. Very strong emphasis on your book "deserving to be published."
2. All the Deerings ever sold were "services" to authors. On account of that, there was no need to produce catelogues or to have sales reps push the books, as that was not where the money came from. The Deerings lived to extract as much money from authors' wallets as they possibly could, they could've cared less about marketing, or even producing the books. Among the services they sold were:
*Expensive editing services.
*"Buy ups" for authors who wanted their books published in trade paperback rather than mass market paperback.
*Authors were periodically told that the Deerings would be making trips to New York to hawk manuscripts to the major publishing houses. If an author was interested in having theirs pushed, they had to pay $500 for the privilege.
3. When authors approached them about why their books were not published when they were told they would, they were treated as unobedient children whose wrists needed to be slapped. The Deerings knew best, and they made sure that their authors always knew that.
What struck me most about this was that there are some basic commonalities regarding literary scams and how they operate. The thing that makes them thrive is the passion new authors have for seeing their books get into print. This passion blinds them to the obvious realities of the scam. It's almost like a seduction, the seducer say all the right lines, does all the right things, then, when it is over, someone has gotten screwed and then comes to realize it when it's all over and too late.
This is a great read, and for any prospective author out there, compare the practices of the publisher "wooing" you with what the Deerings did. If you see similiarities, run, and run quickly! This is especially true for those of you considering publication by a certain "traditional publisher" who, in reality, is actually a POD outfit that exists by selling books to its own authors.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling expose of literary fraud
Review: In this engrossing true crime narrative, former FBI agent and Edinboro University professor Jim Fisher tells the sordid tale of Dorothy Deering, who, posing as a literary agent and a publisher, stole millions of dollars from inexperienced writers and ran one of the longest con games in US history. Fisher does an admirable job of revealing not just the story of this particular scam and its downfall, but the methodology by which such frauds operate and the psychology both of those who run them and those who fall victim to them.
Sadly, Deering's story is neither isolated nor unusual. From fee-charging literary agents to dishonest vanity publishers to fake independent editors, hundreds, if not thousands, of fraudsters like her lie in wait for unwary writers, capitalizing on publishers' closed-door policies and writers' resulting desperation. It's a huge and growing problem, a parasitic shadow industry that mimics the real world of publishing but in fact has nothing to do with it (the only point of connection is the writers themselves)--which perhaps is why the legitimate publishing industry doesn't feel it needs to pay much attention.
One of the strongest conclusions to be drawn from this book is the importance of education. Writers need to study the publishing industry before they throw themselves into it. If you know the way things are supposed to work, you can more easily avoid the scams and pitfalls. Unfortunately, plenty of aspiring writers want to skip this step, and this as much as anything keeps the fraudsters in business.
"Ten Percent of Nothing" is an eye-opening book not just for writers who might fall victim to such frauds, but for publishing professionals who need to take a closer look at what's going on just outside their view.
Victoria Strauss
(...)
Rating:
Summary: Truth is stranger than fiction.
Review: Jim Fisher weaves a story that reads like a novel, but is sadly and chillingly the truth. One should not forget that the story told by Mr. Fisher is an accurate account of how easily we are fooled by what we want to hear. Every day I hear accounts of people's lives and how easily they believe without facts what they want to believe regardless of the pain it causes; and how easily they doubt that there are those who opererate out of their own wishful thinking as if it were the only truth, without regard for those lives that are damaged in the process. Man is not born with a conscience, it is developed through the process of learning compassion and understanding the impact of one's behavior on others. The con run by Dorothy Deering in the world of publishing is a classic manifestation of the narcissistic power of the infant in an adult's body. She didn't violate her conscience, she never developed one. She was brought down by her own greed, the belief that hers was the only world view, and by an FBI agent who understood that view. How could she believe she would ever get caught if she believed she would never get caught. The story told by Mr. Fisher transcends the world of the writer and educates us all about the real world of "bad guys". The lesson learned from this story is an essential one. This book is well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Astoundingly accurate
Review: This extremely accurate depiction of this con artist group displays the greed and lack of conscience by which some criminals operate. Fisher thoroughly researched the circumstance and weaves a complex, long-running conspiratorial scenario into a very readable book. His years as an FBI agent served him well in this reporting format. This subject clearly deserves publicity. Being affiliated with the investigation, I can vouch for Fisher's authentic presentation.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent---very readable true crime!
Review: This true-crime book is excellent and highly compelling. A real page-turner that is essential reading for any aspiring writer. A peek inside the "genteel racket" of phony literary agents. Fisher has a keen sensibility into the sociopathic mind of Dorothy Deering and her partners-in-crime. Definitely worth a look!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent---very readable true crime!
Review: This true-crime book is excellent and highly compelling. A real page-turner that is essential reading for any aspiring writer. A peek inside the "genteel racket" of phony literary agents. Fisher has a keen sensibility into the sociopathic mind of Dorothy Deering and her partners-in-crime. Definitely worth a look!
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