Every once in a while, I do a web search to find out where my name is posted. I’m hopeful it’s on sites where my books are located or any positive (or negative) news about the L.A. Black Book Expo is found. Amazingly enough I discovered I was a topic of discussion (or part of it) on a literary watchdog web page. I prefer not to rehash the incident which led to my name being mentioned, only to state that after reading the comments of the ‘watchdogs’, I was left with the impression that aspiring authors must prepare and do their homework on the various scams and false promises of those predators of the written word who pray on them. Plus, they should also be prepared when the arrows are slung by individuals who mean well, but just as harsh.

If we didn’t have these watchdogs in the literary business, plenty of fake companies would run rampant ripping off the hard earned dollars and dreams of aspiring authors who want to release that first book, but find they are scammed nonetheless. Since my first book’s been published, I’ve come across folks who produced a novel only to find they weren’t being paid what’s due or their rights taken away. Whatever the ethnicity or creed, the authors I’ve come across weren’t the same afterward. So literary watchdog sites are essential to educate the new author about publishing and agent scams that pervade the writing business. However, one must ask if their words are the final words?

The business of literacy changed long before the recession with Amazon and Sony gaining more influence over their electronic reading devices, the younger generation not interested in reading books compared to those in the past, and the guidelines of the Big Six companies of the types of books and authors they desire to promote their product. Of course the Big Six (Simon & Schuster, Random House, Penguin Group, Macmillan, HarperCollins, and Hachette) have subdivisions available for the less affluent, well-known writer.

However, most of the attendees I’ve spoken with in the writers workshops I’ve conducted in the past – let’s be honest here – don’t possess the income of the authors who are published by these subdivisions. Knowing that fact, they have gone on to self-publish their works. Let’s say a couple of authors from the workshops do decide to give the bigger companies a try. It’s their right to do so, but hopefully they have done enough research on royalties, advances and other requirements of the companies they seek to submit their work to. Picking the right agent, if they go that route, is also a must.

You know, I’ve only published two books (thus far) but I’ve written a long time and if money were not a factor, I believe there wouldn’t be so many false companies popping out of the woodwork, or the severe critiques of other writers in the same field. Wishful thinking I know, but to the retired grandmother who only wanted to write a book before she passes away, that means something to her. She only wants a legacy to give to her children and grandchildren so they can be inspired and write a book just like her. That book means something to the former crack addict or gang member who writes to the new generation of the dangerous lifestyles they’ve lived. I could go on and on and I’m assured the cynic, will always never understand what writing a book means to those who don’t have a voice….and the money to reach out to the masses unlike the Big Six or Little Six or Medium Six, whoever.

The craft of writing should always be for the person with a story to tell. That we can agree on. What is debatable and not concrete is the surefire path we reach to get there. Again, I appreciate the watchdog sites for keeping aspiring authors on the right path, but the eventual journey to their dream must always be their responsibility and should be respected, no matter what.

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