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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1041
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 08, 2008 - 10:14 pm: | 
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Caleb Alexander is: True to the Game
http://www.theurbanbooksource.com/articles/features/caleb-alexander.php
From the Urban Book Source
T.U.B.S.: Rumors have been circulating for a while that you are the man behind Teri Wood's work? Is this true? When and how did you become acquainted with Teri Woods? What is your relationship with her now?
Caleb: Okay, here’s the fifty million dollar answer. I did write Deadly Reigns I, Deadly Reigns II, and Deadly Reigns III. I also wrote True To the Game 2, and True To the Game 3. I have the notes, the e-mails, the contracts, and everything else to prove it. So if she ever denies it, she’s going to look really silly, when I’m sitting here with a notarized contract that says different.
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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1042
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 08, 2008 - 10:25 pm: |
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Dayam do I need to change the name on my Teri Woods profile page(http://www.aalbc.com/authors/teri_woods.htm) to Caleb Alexander?!
I really do hope these "Urban" publisher don't self destruct.
Now shadiness is not limited to the "Urban" Publishers ALL the majors houses have been sued and pissed off an author or two. But Caleb is saying that he has not been paid. If that is true, then that is just crazy...
Many popular authors have had books ghost written. I can't recall one ever complaining about not getting paid -- if you pay anyone, you pay your ghost writer...
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Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 622
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 07:02 am: |
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Just when you thought it was over - a few TCP (Triple Crown Publications) authors have reported that their royalty checks bounced... |
Jmho
Veteran Poster
Username: Jmho
Post Number: 325
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 11:18 am: |
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I don't even know where to begin with this, but given I am one who is so "worried about vocabulary, and depth, and story lines", then I shouldn't have a thing to say. ROFL
Let's see, on one hand, you have a person who writes a book, that sales very well, but don’t put their name on it, and let another person take the credit as author, yet on the other, you have a person who knows they haven't written one word in a book, yet go around claiming to have written the book.
Given all this book awards talk lately, if such a book wins an award, then should the ghostwriter or the name on front cover get the award? |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1043
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 01:32 pm: |
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Jmho, The ghost writer should always remain just that a ghost writer. The award should go to the person whose name is on the book. The ghost writer is a non-entity after the book has pubed.
It just seems odd to me that the "author" of a ghost written book would do readings and go around spouting off as if they actually wrote the darn thing... I don't think I would want to do it.
I could do the co-author (ala Karen Hunter, David Ritz) thing, but take complete credit -- I would feel too guilty.
If you are interested in more literary drama, check out a radio program featuring a dispute between QBR Co-founder Max Rodriquez and Soild Gold Travel: http://archive.wbai.org/files/mp3/080107_070001wuc.MP3 (Scroll to the 34:00 minute mark in the 1 hour program). This radio program is hosted by author, jounalist Esther Armah (http://aalbc.com/authors/esther_armah.htm)
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Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 482
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 03:07 pm: |
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Ghostwriters should get their money up front. It's not just payment for writing but also hush money. I wouldn't take a ghostwriting job based on future royalties.
Regarding the interview, you would think there was some sort of confidentiality agreement so that the ghostwriter wouldn't let the truth be known. Sounds like lawsuits going both ways. Personally, I wouldn't want any dealings with any ex-con publishers (don't know if this one fits that category). It's some ruthless shyte going on.
Problems aren't just happening with urban authors though. Seinfield's wife is being sued for plagiarism and there was a big hoopla last year about an Indian, Harvard student who also plagiarized a book that was supposed to be made into a movie.
Whenever money is being made they'll always be somebody trying to find a way to get it from you. |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 623
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 03:23 pm: |
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Regarding the interview, you would think there was some sort of confidentiality agreement so that the ghostwriter wouldn't let the truth be known.
Actually, that's supposed to be part of the contract a ghostwriter signs. They agree to give up all rights to the work and never talk about it for whatever compensation they were paid. Obviously, people are cutting deals and they don't know the half.
Ghostwriting is a lucrative part of the publishing industry. You'd be amazed by how many bestsellers are rumored in the industry to have been ghostwritten, and I'm not just talking about UF or celebrity-authored books either.
Teri should have had it in writing, ie, in the contract that her ghostwriter would not discuss that he actually wrote the books. He should have been compensated upfront (hush money) and not received any royalties, a sum that he was comfortable giving up his work and his rights to his work. If Teri failed to have a gag order clause in their contract, then she doesn't have a legal leg to stand on. If there was such a clause, then Caleb is about to lose his shirt.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11128
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 04:02 pm: |
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Well, if all a ghost writer does is whip an author's idea for a story into readable prose then, he's not the creative force, he's just a technical tool for producing a product. Yes? No? In any case, ghost writers deserve to GET PAID. And, in today's publishing world, apparently the "art for the sake of art" aesthetic has become a lost art. |
Nafisa_goma
Veteran Poster
Username: Nafisa_goma
Post Number: 324
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 04:03 pm: |
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Urban,
I just found out that Stephen King's wife Tabitha (he and she are both white) is going to come out with a line of "black horror novels" and they and their publisher are going to let the public believe she's a creepy black woman who lives in a cemetary and refuses to be interviewed or photographed.
They're not going to tell anyone.
They're going to just let black readers believe
that there's this black hag in a Georgia cemetary
writing all these books.
They stand to make millions.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11131
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 04:15 pm: |
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The obvious question is how do you know all of this, if it's such a big secret?? |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2053
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 04:16 pm: |
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If they are not going to tell "anyone" how in de heyall did YOU find out? |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2054
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 04:17 pm: |
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Cynique,
I wrote mine first! I wrote mine first! You're just quicker on the send button than me! |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11133
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 04:23 pm: |
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 It was such an obvious question to ask, a_womon, and so typical of the unreliable information Nafishy puts out, who could resist making a comment. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2055
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 04:27 pm: |
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Yeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppp! HAHAHAHAHAHA! |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 624
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 04:37 pm: |
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Nafisa, I haven't heard this rumor. But Tabitha King is an established writer. She has about 10 published books to her credit, and she does write gothic horrors and mysteries and a good portion of her work is set in the South. Her most famous work is Candles Burning, which she finished after Mike McDowell passed away. McDowell started the work but the ms was never finished, due to his death, until TKing decided to take on the task. I think it's her best book to date. The whole King family writes. Joe Hill is the pen name of their son, Joe King. Joe didn't want to use the King name because he wanted to make it on his own and not on his parents' fame. He writes mysteries. His brother, Owen King is also an author. All the Kings (including Joe Hill) have phenomenal book deals with major houses. They never have to write another word again if they don't want to. I really don't see the point in TKing doing what you described according to rumor. She's a famous, established, bestselling, wealthy, and award-winning author using her own name. Then again, you never know with the Kings... |
Nafisa_goma
Veteran Poster
Username: Nafisa_goma
Post Number: 326
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 05:17 pm: |
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This isn't a "rumor", Urban.
My sources are impeccable.
Tabitha has signed to do a line of "black
horror novels" using a different identity.
Now how many "black" female horror authors
are there out there?
Tananarive Due and L.A. Banks?
I am certain that in summer 2009 when the
"new" one comes out with an avalanche of
publicity and hype, you will see that I
told you so.
Anyhoo...
I look forward to reading "The Devil's Day In Church" by Tabitha King masquerading as a black author.
It should bring her MILLLLLIONS!!!!!
Well, at least now you know something that you
didn't know before.
Happy industry chat. 
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11135
Registered: 01-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - 06:52 pm: |
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Ahhh, but the hundreds of posters and lurkers who frequent this site, most of whom are readers, will know this secret which will be further spread by word of mouth. So, how big of a deception will this be?? It's comparable to how everybody knows the truth about kola boof.  |
Jmho
Veteran Poster
Username: Jmho
Post Number: 326
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 03:03 pm: |
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Troy wrote:
It just seems odd to me that the "author" of a ghost written book would do readings and go around spouting off as if they actually wrote the darn thing... I don't think I would want to do it.
Can you imagine, on the book signing tour, the question being asked, about the inspiration behind or the development of characters, plot lines, etc.? You can't say, I don't know. In school, putting your name on someone else's work is known as cheating, even if money exchanged hands.
Troy wrote:
I could do the co-author (ala Karen Hunter, David Ritz) thing, but take complete credit -- I would feel too guilty.
It rubs me the wrong way, too. For those books that are truly co-written, I can understand, say DeBerry and Grant, but when one of the co-author is a 'star' or famous person, I can't help but wonder, how many lines or pages did they write in the book. |
Jmho
Veteran Poster
Username: Jmho
Post Number: 327
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 03:07 pm: |
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Emanuel wrote:
Regarding the interview, you would think there was some sort of confidentiality agreement so that the ghostwriter wouldn't let the truth be known. Sounds like lawsuits going both ways. Personally, I wouldn't want any dealings with any ex-con publishers (don't know if this one fits that category). It's some ruthless shyte going on.
Yeah, they need to save all that drama, for the storylines, in those books. This man is taking claim for writing any- and everything -- screen plays, TV pilots, books, hundreds of magazine articles, even the woman's daughter college homecoming speeches. There is no way I believe all of that. It reads like a publicity stunt. Why didn't he seek counsel, and take legal action, since he claims that he got e-mails, notes and signed contracts, and if he has filed a suit, then I can't believe they would approve or allow him to say what's he saying publicly. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2060
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 04:32 pm: |
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Start out with someone shady you end up gettin' shaded! |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 485
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 04:47 pm: |
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I think ghostwriting and co-writing are beautiful things when it's on the up and up because writers get paid. There are far too many writers writing for free, for bylines, and for pennies. I'd ghost write a book if the money was right and paid up front. Same with co-writing. I'd be glad to share the spotlight and the money with the celebrity.
There's this classified ad I've been seeing in my local area where a business man is looking to hire a ghostwriter for a business publication. When I read the only payment is a portion of future royalties, I laughed. This guy is unknown. It's highly unlikely there will be many royalties to share. Had he been paying a hefty advance, I might have inquired.
Ghostwriting and co-writing can definitely work to an author's advantage. Just look at Neil Strauss and Karen Hunter for example. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 6101
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 11:42 am: |
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If Teri Woods did not pay up
Then she is in breach and an argument exists that there is no agreement.
Unless of course the contract stipulated what was to happen in event of breach. |
Hen81
Regular Poster
Username: Hen81
Post Number: 26
Registered: 09-2007
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 03:59 pm: |
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All of these things sound like the early days of the record business. Excited artists signing bad contracts. Some of them became world famous, but were broke, while the record company and executives got fat.
This type of thing will not come to a good end and smacks of a kind of underbelly in publishing where the fights take place while the mainstream part of the business looks the other way. The mainstream publishing arm only cares that they are paid for distribution of these titles.
These multi-layered setups only work if the controls are tight because the entire arrangement is by multiple contract agreements. If the publisher is not an imprint of a major then editing, distribution, artwork, etc. are line items that have to be paid on a book by book basis. That arrangement changes the economics compared to a major house that have some of those functions in-house as salaried positions.
It's easy to come up short on the back end if money came out too soon for "other" purposes. The author is in a back end paid position. If the profit line shows $0 or negative for the prior period, then current period money may be used to pay authors for past sales. When that happens, the dominoes start falling, new title introductions get delayed and the games begin.
www.DTPollard.com
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Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 628
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 05:12 pm: |
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Y'know, there are courses and degrees in Publishing and Publishing Law at many colleges throughout the country. I find it mind-boggling that people who pursue careers in publishing, never think to take a publishing course. Scary... |
Yukio
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 2472
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 13, 2008 - 11:36 am: |
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hmmmm....if any of you creative story tellers need a "technical tool," my services are available.
Just jokin; . . . writing well is really difficult, and often painful.
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Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 6107
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 10:32 am: |
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All of these things sound like the early days of the record business
(The EARLY days? The Muz biz is still rippin' em off.
Also sounds like the comic book biz) |
Caleb_alexander
First Time Poster
Username: Caleb_alexander
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 09:06 pm: |
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The floor is open for questions. Instead of speculation, you can hear it from the horse's mouth. LOL |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2065
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 10:19 pm: |
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Ok let's start with the obvious ones if you're really Caleb.
Did Teri really cheat you out of your paycheck? Did you co-write or ghost write Terri's books?
Did she write ANY of the books? More later...thanks for the opportunity! |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2066
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 10:24 pm: |
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Oh yeah, was that really you in the clip Troy posted in the opening thread. The clip has now been removed from the site, so I'm curious. |
Caleb_alexander
Newbie Poster
Username: Caleb_alexander
Post Number: 2
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 02:41 am: |
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A_Womon - Teri breached the contract that we had, by not paying me the amount that was on the contract. Thats the legal issue. But the issue goes way deeper than that. It was a situation where I was tired of going through the emotion ups and downs of dealing with her. I never knew from month to month, whether I was going to get my money from her, if any. I allowed her to pay me monthly. And being that we had an exclusive ghost-writing contract, she was my primary source of income. So, when she don't pay, or don't pay enough, my bills don't get paid. There is an emotional toll, as well as a psycological toll that's extracted when you're stressing about making ends meet. It was about fairness. I write and turn in books, then she has an obligation to pay for those books. I didn't ask for a lot, just what was fair.
To answer the second part of your question, no, she did not cop-write anything. I wrote those books, turned in completed manuscripts. Now, in all honesty, she did go behind me and ruin them, by adding a lot of irrelevant nonsense. That is why True 2 seems so choppy and disjointed. It reads like it was written by two different people. I haven't read it since its publication, but I've heard about it. She added some crazy back story about Gena's family, and her father, and some things that were not material to the story.
As far as if she wrote ANY of the books. Well, I wrote Deadly Reigns 1,2,and 3. True To The Game 2,and 3. Kwame wrote Dutch 1,2,and 3. Anthony Fields wrote Angel 1, and 2. I forgot the guy's name who wrote Predators. Melvin did Double Dose. All of those guys are incarcerated.
And all are suing her, with the exception of Anthony. He's just started dealing with her though. LOL
And the clip that I believe you're referring to, is the Urban Book Source article. UBS received a letter from Teri's lawyer, and decided to remove the interview from their site to avoid litigation. Again, the letter was from Teri's lawyer, not from a judge, so me... I would've tossed it in the trash. Their decision, they have to protect their site, and I support them fully.
Sorry to be so long winded, but I hope that I was able to give you some really good answers.
Feel free to ask away if you have any other questions. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2069
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 07:17 am: |
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Caleb,
Thank you for being so open! Youre obviously a prolific writer. Why didn't you just write novels under your own name? |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 634
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 08:38 am: |
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Caleb, don't you think you and Teri should settle this through ARBITRATION, and not on public message boards?
Airing your dirty laundry, as it relates to business, on Internet forums/blogs not only makes you look unprofessional, imo, but it can hurt your case. Remember: Anything you say can and will be held against you.
Your contract and copies of your checks (you did make copies, yes?) are all the proof you need. While public support/sympathy may feel good and may be nice to have, it ain't gon' pay the bills. Only a decision via arbitration, in your favor, will do that.
IANAL, more important, I'm not YOUR lawyer; but if I were, my advice to you would be to put a lid on it. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2070
Registered: 05-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 09:11 am: |
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Oh for Heaven's sakes! If the man wants to answer questions that are ALREADY floating around in cyberspace So WHAT?
He Obviosly has already obtained COMPETENT LEGAL COUNSEL and if they don't object why in the world should that be anyone else's concern? |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 635
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 09:14 am: |
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A_womon, was I talking to you? There you go picking again...
I would like CALEB's response. Thank you. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2071
Registered: 05-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 09:17 am: |
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You mean like how I was talking to CALEB when you jumped in? Just like you can jump in and comment on a public forum so can I! Thank you. |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 636
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 09:31 am: |
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EXCUSE YOU? Can you NOT read? Caleb's opening post was, and I quote:
The floor is open for questions. Instead of speculation, you can hear it from the horse's mouth. LOL
I guess you thought he was just talking to you exclusively.
I understood that to mean that ANYONE here who has a question or comment regarding this matter, now was their chance to ask and receive a first-hand reply.
How the hell are you having a PRIVATE conversation with him on a public forum? For crying out loud! |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2072
Registered: 05-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 09:40 am: |
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NO I think that would be EXCUSE YOU. Can YOU not COMPREHEND? With all of your "INSIDE" industry knowledge and connections YOU obviously can't I believe Caleb's last post began "A_Womon and ended with AND I QUOTE
"Feel free to ask away if you have any other questions." I believe CALEB was talking to me. HOW THE HELL could you not see that, for "crying out loud" And YOU called it private not me. It's no different than you stating you were waiting on CALEB'S response as if no one else could respond on a PUBLIC FORUM NO? |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 637
Registered: 05-2006
Rating:
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 09:55 am: |
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I REPEAT: Caleb's opening post was: The floor is open for questions. Instead of speculation, you can hear it from the horse's mouth. LOL
I see nowhere where he changed that and wrote: I will now only take questions/comments from A_womon.
It's no different than you stating you were waiting on CALEB'S response as if no one else could respond on a PUBLIC FORUM NO?
It's very different because, while everyone here is free to comment and ask questions, the question I posed to Caleb can only be answered by Caleb. Therefore, I await his response. Meanwhile, I gotta run out and pickup my son's new glasses. Hopefully when I return, Caleb will have had a moment to address my question/comment.
With all of your "INSIDE" industry knowledge and connections
What does that have to do with this? Somehow, you always manage to bring that up. I wonder why...
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A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2073
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 10:05 am: |
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Oh whatever. I will continue to ask Caleb questions, and I hope that he will continue his candid responses despite what you think about it. |
Caleb_alexander
Newbie Poster
Username: Caleb_alexander
Post Number: 3
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 10:51 am: |
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A_Womon - The Deadly Reigns series was supposed to have my name on it. The other titles were not. The True titles were done under a work for hire agreement. I do write under my own name also. I have two wonderful titles out thus far, and a third coming out later in the year. |
Caleb_alexander
Newbie Poster
Username: Caleb_alexander
Post Number: 4
Registered: 01-2008
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 12:02 pm: |
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Urban Scribe, you're absolutely right. It does make me look unprofessional. At this point, my ghostwriting career is over with. It was over with when I signed the exclusive ghostwriting agreement with her.
A couple of things I want to address. It would be the professional way to go. But when you're in a very public industry like publishing, things are going to get out there. Instead of the wrong information getting out there, why not let the facts get out there? And in this industry, public perception matters. Right now, we are in an election cycle. Everyone is talking about Swiftboating, and about how Kerry's campaign was sunk, when he didn't respond promptly to false allegations. I took that lesson to heart. I have the truth on my side, and I was brought up to believe, that there is nothing wrong about the truth, and telling that truth.
Another thing is, I don't think that people understand this issue on a personal level. It's not just about contracts, or money, or revenge, or anything like that. My life is real. And I am in financial ruin from dealing with this woman. I am about to lose my home. As a father, and a husband, the hardest thing in the world for me to do, is to pack up my family, and move them out of our home. My three year old is at an age where he uses the term, "Daddy's room, My room, my house, etc..." It's going to kill me, to go into his room, take down his Lightening McQueen stickers, pack up his Transformers, and carry them out to a moving van.
I thank you very much for your legal advice, and it is sound legal advice. But for a man who has lost everything...
I feel like, this is my story, please learn from it. And to all of the people just breaking into this industry, PLEASE go with reputable publishing house, and please get an agent to represent you and handle your relationship with your publisher.
You know, I'm not embarassed by the truth. I've always been told, "Don't do anything that'll embarass the old ladies at church." I haven't; Teri has. People can say, "This is dirty laundry, you're being unprofessional, etc..."
I'm human. And this is a human story. I've never felt that the truth could be something that could be damaging or wrong. All of the time, judges, attorney, etc... talk about the "Truth seeking function of the trial process." I'm going to walk into a courtroom, with a contract written in black and white. I'm going to walk in there with emails, bank statements, etc... That case is going to be relatively easy to prove. In a pristine courtroom environment where everything in aneseptic, and impersonal, the rule of law will prevail. But outside of that courtroom environment, I have a story to tell. One has but to examine the title of this thread to understand the significance of that story. 'More Ghetto Lit Drama' Is this what I am? Is this what I have been reduced to? Is that who WE are? How WE are viewed? Is this how WE are going to deal with one another, and treat one another. Is this the kind of industry that WE are going to be? Are we going accept these types of practices? If so, then that title is appropriate.
What makes some peoples work African American fiction, and what makes others Ghetto Lit? The content? The shady publishing? The bad editing?
I hope that authors who write in my genre, look at my story, understand the significance of it, and began to ask some hard questions about the industry. And even more broadly, about how we deal with one another as a people. I loved the fact that I was working for an African American owned business. It's unfortunate that my enthusiasm was tempered and then destroyed, by unsavory business practices. I'm sorry for going off on a tangent, but I will say this. How we deal with one another, is extremely important. The uplift of any people, depends on that people's economic advancement. If we can't work for one another, or be wage payers to our own community, then we are doomed. |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 638
Registered: 05-2006
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 12:14 pm: |
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Thx, Caleb. You've more than addressed my question/comment, you also raised issues about "Black Publishing" that I've wrestled with over the years. I, like you, hope aspiring writers breaking into this industry will take heed. Yours is indeed a cautionary tale about the bottom-feeders in this industry.
So sorry to hear about your financial problems as a result of less than savory industry practices. If what you say is true, and my gut tells me it is, I certainly hope you prevail in court and are compensated and recognized not only for your work, but for all the unnecessary headaches you and your family are enduring.
Kudos to you for moving on to bigger and better! You're with S&S now, correct? May your literary career be smooth sailing from here on out. Be well. |
A_womon
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Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2074
Registered: 05-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 12:46 pm: |
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And to all of the people just breaking into this industry, PLEASE go with reputable publishing house, and please get an agent to represent you and handle your relationship with your publisher.
AMEN CALEB! This is what I tell all who come to me for advice. Self publishing may seem like an easy fix to avoid the inevitable rejection notices from agents and editors, but it offers short term gratification at best. While I'm not knocking those who choose to go this route, it seems to me that we are hearing more and more stories where those who offer "pie in the sky" dreams of selling your own books and getting rich quick are for the most part selling pipe ,dreams. Because it appears that the ones making all the money and living the high life are those who have all these writers (some from behind bars as you and others point out) churn out book after book for them which the purveyors of these dreams then turn around and sell to publishers. They then take most(or all) of the money and live lavish lifestlyes while those who have labored many, many hours writing these books get little or nothing! Its a real shame.
This can all be avoided by getting a GOOD agent! |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2075
Registered: 05-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 12:56 pm: |
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It's unfortunate that my enthusiasm was tempered and then destroyed, by unsavory business practices. I'm sorry for going off on a tangent, but I will say this. How we deal with one another, is extremely important. The uplift of any people, depends on that people's economic advancement. If we can't work for one another, or be wage payers to our own community, then we are doomed.
This is so very sad but true as well Caleb. But all is not lost. I am sure you can make a comeback with your new titles. In fact I just ordered Two Thin Dimes from Amazon and I'm looking forward to reading your unadulterated novel.
One solution to helping breakdown these unsavory practices is for writers who have had horrible experiences like yours to tell it LOUDLY and OFTEN in any venue you can.
Another is for those of us who are fortunate enough to land legitimate contracts with legitimate agents, editors, and publishers to give a hand up in ways that we can and share whatever information that we have garnered along the way with those aspiring to break in. Maybe if we all do what we can more writers can truly realize their dreams of becoming authors without falling into predatory traps of others who only think of themselves.
I applaud your bravery in speaking out and I'm praying for you and your family! |
Caleb_alexander
Newbie Poster
Username: Caleb_alexander
Post Number: 5
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 01:19 pm: |
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Thank you so much for your well wishes Urban Scribe. May the Almighty's Peace and Blessings be upon you and your endeavors as well.
And for those who are interested, I have been chronicling some things in a blog.
http://diariesofaghostwriter.blogspot.com/
You're also invited to leave your questions and comments there.
Peace and Love,
Caleb |
Hen81
Regular Poster
Username: Hen81
Post Number: 34
Registered: 09-2007
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 01:25 pm: |
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Caleb, all a man can do when he is staring a bleak situation like yours in the face is fall back on his resolve to overcome. I have had to start over before myself, but had faith that I could recover and did over a long period of time.
Sometimes I went through long periods of darkness but kept the faith and fell back on my belief that as a man I could pull myself and my family through if I did not lose my will. People that are able to live lavishly off the rightful effort of others without remorse are the cause of many of the ills we have in our community today. It really is a form of being sociopathic except they leave financial ruin in their path instead of bodies.
If we don't strive to deal equitbly with each other then the current crop of black owned publishing labels will become a blip on the publishing timeline. Authors will cease being exploited and with disclosures such as yours, new writers will steer clear. Once the current reservoir empties and no new talent flows in, it will cease to exist.
www.DTPollard.com |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 492
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 02:32 pm: |
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Just a few questions Caleb:
1. How did the person you did ghostwriting for handle questions about plot and character development at booksignings and on interviews?
2. Are you currently under contract with any other publishers to write books under your own name? Has this experience helped or hindered you in that process?
3. Do you have a court date yet? |
Caleb_alexander
Newbie Poster
Username: Caleb_alexander
Post Number: 6
Registered: 01-2008
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 03:04 pm: |
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As far as Teri, she would ask questions, and I would try to prep her. It's funny, because I recall one particular incident where she kept calling El Jeffe, El Jeff. I'm from Texas, so I understand that in Spanish, the J is pronounced like an H. (El Jeffe means 'The Boss' in Spanish. He was a character in Deadly Reigns) El Jeffe is prounounce 'El Heff-ay'. But she kept saying El Jeff.
I just released a title under Strebor about two weeks ago. I am not currently under contract, so I'm curious as to how things will affect future contracts.
I have been reassured by many in the industry that what happened won't affect my career.
If you're a major publisher, and it is now public that you have an author that wrote a bunch of hit novels, would you not want to sign that person? I have been reassured that I did nothing wrong, legally, or morally.
In the end, it'll be interesting to watch. I'm almost finished with another novel, so I'll know by next month if this has hurt or hindered, and I'll keep you posted! LOL
I don't have a court date as of yet. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1062
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 05:43 pm: |
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Caleb,
"More Ghetto Lit Drama" Is this what I am?
Of course this is not what you are. Sorry to make light of your situation. It was nothing personal; but more a reflection of how many people view the "urban lit" publishers and authors.
Some even liken the recently popularized beefs to "...chickens coming home to roost."
I agree with A_woman in that if a business entitiy (yes, even a Black one) does you wrong you should spread the word, so that others do not continue to be burned.
"El Jeff" that is too much.
So Urban Book Source received a letter from Teri's lawyer, and decided to remove the interview from their site to avoid litigation.
Litgation for what?! UBS published an interview presumably they did some due dilligence and you provided documenation to support what you said.
If this is true, Woods' attorney got over. Man there would be no articles on the web it all one had to do was say, "I don't like it take it off."
Has anyone heard or read anything on Teri Woods side of the story?
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11245
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 06:43 pm: |
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Caleb should change his name to "Celeb", and this might help him sell more books because folks will think the author is a famous person, and not a ghostwriter.  |
Caleb_alexander
Newbie Poster
Username: Caleb_alexander
Post Number: 7
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 07:05 pm: |
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A_Womon - I sincerely thank you for your support. I hope that you enjoy TTDimes. And I thank you for your prayers - They are felt.
Hen 81 - Thank you for your words of encouragement. They are greatly appreciated.
Troy - I didn't take the title personally. I am pained that there is so much division in African American Literature. I just wish that we could all celebrate with width and breadth and depth of African American literature, and its wonderful diversity. We come from many diverse backgrounds, and we clearly are not a monolithic people with a singular experience. I believe there is room for each of us to tell our stories. We face enough challenges in this world, without dividing ourselves over something as subjective as art. The great issues of the day for us, are not half dressed women on a book cover. There are so many other things that we should be expending our energy on.
And you know, Troy, I just want to say that I support Urban Book Source one hundred percent, I love what they've accomplished, and I applaud their support of urban literature.
But I do agree that if all it takes is a letter from an attorney, there would be no articles on the internet. You are one hundred percent right about that.
Also, Teri hasn't spoken out since I've gone public. I'm really interested in her first interview, and if the reporter is going to ask her the really tough questions. |
Caleb_alexander
Newbie Poster
Username: Caleb_alexander
Post Number: 8
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 07:08 pm: |
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Cynique! YOU MEAN I'M NOT FAMOUS?
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Celebs are rich handsome people. I'm only handsome... LOL |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 640
Registered: 05-2006
Rating:
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 07:29 pm: |
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...if a business entitiy (yes, even a Black one) does you wrong you should spread the word, so that others do not continue to be burned.
I have a different take on this. For instance, I know of a certain publisher that paid a certain AA site for a banner ad to promote their authors' books, and has the invoice indicating that the price they paid would cover 30k unique impressions to the publisher's website. The AA site guaranteed the publisher would receive 30k unique impressions. Well, the publisher received SIGNIFICANTLY LESS than the 30k unique impressions to their site. In fact, the publisher received less than 200 impressions, (out of 30k, mind you), and has the site activity report to prove it. Just as the publisher has a site activity report, so does the AA site to track the banner ad. Otherwise, how would the AA site know when the ad met its limit? So the publisher knows that the AA site knows they didn't give the publisher what the publisher paid for.
Did the publisher pout, start a smear campaign against the AA site that didn't live up to its promises, hold a grudge, air their dirty laundry in public? NOPE! The publisher's accountant wisely wrote-off the whole cost of the banner ad as a business expense. So after the tax deduction, it's like the publisher got the ad, and what little traffic it generated to the publisher's site, for free.
To me, that's how you conduct business. That's the way the big boys play. I try to teach authors over and over and over again that their relationship with their publisher is LEGALLY a BUSINESS-to-BUSINESS relationship, and they should act accordingly. But, to each his own... Sometimes, I just have to throw my hands in the air and let them find out the hard way.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11247
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 08:33 pm: |
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Glad you kept your sense of humor in tact, Caleb. It's a sign of good character to be able to laugh at yourself. Stay strong. You'll be fine. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1065
Registered: 01-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 10:53 pm: |
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"... celebrate with width and breadth and depth of African American literature", Caleb_alexander you've come to the right place my man!
Urban_scribe I absolutely disagree. For example, if a customer paid AALBC.com for 30K impressions and that customer believed they only got 200 -- that is essentially saying that they did not get any impressions.
The first thing I would do is try to understand the discrepany. A simple inquiry should siffice. AALBC.com, for example, can provide a report.
If the explaination exposes some type of fraud, I would inquire with other advertisers for similiar experiences -- and if there is a pattern, as there seems to be in Caleb's case I would defintely go public.
At the same time we have folks that go off half-cocked, ignorant and unprofessional with their complaints. Often these folks got what they paid for, but for some reason are still dissatisfied. There are some customers that can never be pleased. So the knife can cut both ways.
Of course there are always disputes between reasonable parties that are both behaving honorably -- but these disputes are typically handled without airing dirty laundry.
Based upn what you've said however. It sounds like the person was tracking the clicks on the ads sending visitors to their web site rather than the impressions (how frequently the ads was displayed on the other web site).
The ratio between the numbers 30,000 ad impressions (times it was displayed) verus 200 clicks on the ads; while lower than the an average web campaign is not unreasonable.
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Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 641
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 - 08:33 pm: |
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(interesting article by Jarold Imes)
Lately, I’ve been thinking about 2Pac and Biggie. How what started out as a friendship turned into a bitter rivalry that pitted the East Coast against the West Coast; how what started as an all-star rap war ended with a slew of dead rappers, two unsolved murders, one company in bankruptcy and the lingering feeling that rap will never be the same again. I wonder sometimes what really went wrong with those two, yet I am amazed that those two seemed to have done what many black leaders since the Civil Rights movement have yet to do; bring together people under a common cause to debate and articulate what they believe in.
As Street Fiction authors who are on the rise and taking our rightful place as royalty, I caution that all readers, publishers, and affiliates, all of us, to take a look at ourselves. I would like to think that our literary beefs will stay between lawyers, personal emails, and the occasional diss article or message board post, however, at the rate we are going, if we aren’t careful, we could have our own 2Pac and Biggie.
When I think about the time, I, and other writers, and industry insiders spent defending this genre, pointing out the substance, leadership, and potential growth and benefits this genre can contribute to the literary landscape as a whole, I did not picture publishers outright robbing authors of their royalties. Our current literary leaders letting their personal issues with an author, for a moment, rule over the professional reputation they are supposed to build and maintain. I didn’t envision publishers having to resort to hunting, negotiating, and sometimes using other tactics to make sure the thieving and the conniving honored our invoices so that we could in turn pay our authors what is due. It’s a shame that an author can’t even announce the title for their upcoming publication before another author or publisher outright steals it for his own, knowing that the author spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars promoting the title. Sleeping with another author or a publisher to get a deal was almost non-existent before, now it seems to be a trend.
There used to be a time when readers could read one author’s book one day and another author’s book the next and not have to worry about the drama going on behind the scenes. There was a time when black authors could put their egos to the side, band together and contribute to a critically acclaimed and timely anthology.
Times have definitely changed us, and not for the better.
When I think about the authors who can lay claim to being responsible for the Urban Books and Triple Crowns of today, I often wonder what would have happened if Omar Tyree or E. Lynn Harris had parlayed their success to building successful publishing houses? What kind of literary leaders could Michael Baisden or even ZANE be molding? Many times, I dream that our whole outlook and perspective on publishing would be different. We need to take a look at ourselves before we become extinct. So many people outside of this genre would love to see us blow up and destroy ourselves; let’s not give them the satisfaction.
http://www.theurbanbooksource.com/articles/editorials/cautionarytale.php |
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