GROUPMVP publishing
- Thread starter PAUL C
- Start date
sachiaiko
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2002
- Posts
- 466
Yes, I have. They wanted to use some of my stories a while back for their magazine which i suppose is located in canada.
However, they did it in a really shady way, and i ended up decided not to work with them. Not only was their "contract" So insanely open ended it gave them legal right to use *any* of my stories at *any* time that they wished, but they sort of "half threatened" me by saying "Well, we're only doing a curtesy, since your work is online anyone could take it anyhow." And i was so frightened i almost pulled all my work offline and quit posting! Thankfully, i did some research and found out that little scare tactic was absolute bullshit and i didn't have to worry.
Last i heard, they didn't even have a proper website, and they were paying "crumbs" for stories to add to their erotica magazine. If i was you, i'd not work with this company. I think they're shady, and they WILL try and steal your work if at all possible. I think they'll use scare tactics to make you accept their terms, and honestly i have very little respect for them - at least the member of the company i personally spoke with, whose name i can't remember off the top of my head.
Luckily, i asked the same question here when they contacted me, actually, do a search for it and you'll see the copies of some of our letters and interactions in my old thread regarding them (it should be in this area of the boards, but its older, just do a search) but i really really advise you to be seriously careful when deciding to work with this company.
Hope i helped, and don't let the negative review of the company itself make you feel any less proud for being approached on one of your stories! That's a compliment anyday!
Nikki
However, they did it in a really shady way, and i ended up decided not to work with them. Not only was their "contract" So insanely open ended it gave them legal right to use *any* of my stories at *any* time that they wished, but they sort of "half threatened" me by saying "Well, we're only doing a curtesy, since your work is online anyone could take it anyhow." And i was so frightened i almost pulled all my work offline and quit posting! Thankfully, i did some research and found out that little scare tactic was absolute bullshit and i didn't have to worry.
Last i heard, they didn't even have a proper website, and they were paying "crumbs" for stories to add to their erotica magazine. If i was you, i'd not work with this company. I think they're shady, and they WILL try and steal your work if at all possible. I think they'll use scare tactics to make you accept their terms, and honestly i have very little respect for them - at least the member of the company i personally spoke with, whose name i can't remember off the top of my head.
Luckily, i asked the same question here when they contacted me, actually, do a search for it and you'll see the copies of some of our letters and interactions in my old thread regarding them (it should be in this area of the boards, but its older, just do a search) but i really really advise you to be seriously careful when deciding to work with this company.
Hope i helped, and don't let the negative review of the company itself make you feel any less proud for being approached on one of your stories! That's a compliment anyday!
Nikki
sachiaiko
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2002
- Posts
- 466
In fact, i found the thread for you - Please do read it before you do anything with these scammers.
https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=346813&highlight=Group
This is the thread, but here are a few quotes from it.
**
This was posted by me, including her (Her name was Carol) letters to me:
Okay, so let me show you what she said to me. Maybe you guys can see something I'm missing -
Hi!
We are publishers...It's great for an author to be published. We offer the
subscription to the magazine you are in! I also need to know if I can use
your assumed name! So I am putting in attachment the letter....check it
out!
Talk to you soon!
Carol
-----
I responded with this - since she wanted me to sign something that didnt seem to give me a right to back out ever -
:nods: I'd be interested. but i want to make certain that you we do this in a safe way for me. Its a non exclusive right to publish one of my stories? And i think we should put a timeline on it - so its not open ended as in forever - i dont want to ruin any of my chances for future publication that i may be paid for.
-----
And her response was this -
Hi Kerian!
It's a safe way for you. You can put a time-line, but as long as you put
stories on the web, anybody can use them really! As far as future
releases, if you write stories, that you don't post on the web....we pay
for those. Right now we are at the stage discovering authors! Also, the
fact that those stories are on the net for free, any publisher can use
them without permission. we just like to work fairly ! I might need you in
the future, and you might need the money...I totally understand your point
there!
The magazine is published my MVP Group, in Montreal, Canada. They are
digests dedicated, of course, for Adult Audience! I will let you know
which story I would use as well.
-----
It really freaked me out when she said this! I work hard on my stories - you guys are sure this isnt the truth?
Nikki
***
I did eventually decide that it was NOT worth my time to persue this. She was dangerous, and the fact that nearly a year later they still haven't done anything to their 'website" tells me that they really are just trying to steal peoples legit work. but hon, seriously, I just got my FIRST real book deal today. Everyone who replied to me told me good stuff would happen for me, and look it did!! And i'm SURE if she wanted your work there is a reason for it, and she will NOT be the last person to want it. Keep yer chin up, and stay possitive because baby you'll get published if its what you really want
Good Luck, and please DO read that thread, she is shady and a liar. Who is writing you, anyhow? Is it Carol? Same person? Just curious.
Nikki
https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=346813&highlight=Group
This is the thread, but here are a few quotes from it.
**
This was posted by me, including her (Her name was Carol) letters to me:
Okay, so let me show you what she said to me. Maybe you guys can see something I'm missing -
Hi!
We are publishers...It's great for an author to be published. We offer the
subscription to the magazine you are in! I also need to know if I can use
your assumed name! So I am putting in attachment the letter....check it
out!
Talk to you soon!
Carol
-----
I responded with this - since she wanted me to sign something that didnt seem to give me a right to back out ever -
:nods: I'd be interested. but i want to make certain that you we do this in a safe way for me. Its a non exclusive right to publish one of my stories? And i think we should put a timeline on it - so its not open ended as in forever - i dont want to ruin any of my chances for future publication that i may be paid for.
-----
And her response was this -
Hi Kerian!
It's a safe way for you. You can put a time-line, but as long as you put
stories on the web, anybody can use them really! As far as future
releases, if you write stories, that you don't post on the web....we pay
for those. Right now we are at the stage discovering authors! Also, the
fact that those stories are on the net for free, any publisher can use
them without permission. we just like to work fairly ! I might need you in
the future, and you might need the money...I totally understand your point
there!
The magazine is published my MVP Group, in Montreal, Canada. They are
digests dedicated, of course, for Adult Audience! I will let you know
which story I would use as well.
-----
It really freaked me out when she said this! I work hard on my stories - you guys are sure this isnt the truth?
Nikki
***
I did eventually decide that it was NOT worth my time to persue this. She was dangerous, and the fact that nearly a year later they still haven't done anything to their 'website" tells me that they really are just trying to steal peoples legit work. but hon, seriously, I just got my FIRST real book deal today. Everyone who replied to me told me good stuff would happen for me, and look it did!! And i'm SURE if she wanted your work there is a reason for it, and she will NOT be the last person to want it. Keep yer chin up, and stay possitive because baby you'll get published if its what you really want
Good Luck, and please DO read that thread, she is shady and a liar. Who is writing you, anyhow? Is it Carol? Same person? Just curious.
Nikki
G
Guest
Guest
I remember those, sachiaiko, and there have been even more recent threads concerning the dangers of becoming involved with this group, as well.
IGNORE THEM!
RUN AWAY!!
And tell everyone you know. Most important. We'll have to keep threads like this one alive to get the word out.
IGNORE THEM!
RUN AWAY!!
And tell everyone you know. Most important. We'll have to keep threads like this one alive to get the word out.
Stella_Omega
No Gentleman
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2005
- Posts
- 39,700
I could never trust an editor that ends every sentence with an exclamation point ! 
PAUL C
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2001
- Posts
- 413
group mvp
i had contact from a lady called Francine.
she seemed genuine but i always think these things are to good to be true. i probably won't persue it but it would be interesting to see if the contract she says agrees with the emails she sent.
francine@groupmvp.com wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. We are a small publishing
> company in Montreal, Canada. We publish adult magazines and digests,
we
> plan to start publishing novels at the end of February, this is where
you
> come in. I have been combing the internet looking for authors. We
would
> like to start by publishing the work you already have on the net. I
will
> be sending you a sample of one of our magazines and digests so you
can see
> who we are and what we do as well as a an authorization letter
permitting
> us to publish the story in question. You always maintain the
copyright to
> your stories, we just want the right to publish them, you are free to
> republish them with whomever you choose. In terms of compensation
because
> your story is on the net I would like to offer you 50 copies of your
book,
> published and printed. The canadian selling price for the book will
be
> $6.99, therefore if you sold your books at that price you could make
about
> $350.00. If we pay you, we can offer you between $100 and $200 per
story.
> The choice is yours, the stories should be no more 45 000 words, so
expect
> some editing. I would like to start sending out the samples and
> authorization letter so if you could e-mail me your full name,
address and
> telephone number, will send them out today or tomorrow. I hope this
> answers some of your questions, please feel free to call or e-mail
me. I
> look forward to working with you.
>
> Take care of you,
>
> Francine
>
i had contact from a lady called Francine.
she seemed genuine but i always think these things are to good to be true. i probably won't persue it but it would be interesting to see if the contract she says agrees with the emails she sent.
francine@groupmvp.com wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. We are a small publishing
> company in Montreal, Canada. We publish adult magazines and digests,
we
> plan to start publishing novels at the end of February, this is where
you
> come in. I have been combing the internet looking for authors. We
would
> like to start by publishing the work you already have on the net. I
will
> be sending you a sample of one of our magazines and digests so you
can see
> who we are and what we do as well as a an authorization letter
permitting
> us to publish the story in question. You always maintain the
copyright to
> your stories, we just want the right to publish them, you are free to
> republish them with whomever you choose. In terms of compensation
because
> your story is on the net I would like to offer you 50 copies of your
book,
> published and printed. The canadian selling price for the book will
be
> $6.99, therefore if you sold your books at that price you could make
about
> $350.00. If we pay you, we can offer you between $100 and $200 per
story.
> The choice is yours, the stories should be no more 45 000 words, so
expect
> some editing. I would like to start sending out the samples and
> authorization letter so if you could e-mail me your full name,
address and
> telephone number, will send them out today or tomorrow. I hope this
> answers some of your questions, please feel free to call or e-mail
me. I
> look forward to working with you.
>
> Take care of you,
>
> Francine
>
Boxlicker101
Licker of Boxes
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2003
- Posts
- 33,665
I have heard from them also but they didn't make me as concrete an offer as that. $100 to $200 seems awful low for what is a short novel. They also said they were interested in short stories, between 1,500 and 3,000 words.
sachiaiko
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2002
- Posts
- 466
Okay, Paul, now that i see what she's doing - NO do NOT allow her to publish a BOOK without paying you royalties. You tell them if they will publish a paperback book then you will gladly remove your stuff offline, but you wont be allowing them to make 6.99 per copy without getting royalties. THAT is dispicable.
This company is nothing but a scam. yes, its common for short stories to get published with no payment but a copy of the magazine its in or something. But we're talking about a book of short stories, a compilation of your work to date. This is unacceptable, you should be getting royalties, and honestly. I want to see a copy of the so called contract they will send you when they do. This sounds just the same to me as Carol did when she contacted me.
They come off real real nice, but when it comes right down to it they're just basically stealing your work. Just because it's online does not mean that its not worth money. If they think its worth enough to put in a book and publish then its worth enough for you to make royalties on, and 50 books is just ridiculous to send you as "payment"
Paul. Please, honey, stay away from this company! I know you're excited, but imagine, if they want you then maybe its time to start submitting to some REPUTABLE companies because they will likely be happy to have you as well. Maybe it will take you a few shots, but you will do by far better self-publishing through lulu.com your own book in paperback or ebook if you want then you would working with this company. At least on Lulu.com you can see your sales, you can self promote, you make all the money yourself and you can show any future publisher how hard you worked on your own promotion which believe it or not really does have an effect on some of the smaller companies. They want PROACTIVE folks.
I would say self publish is better then GroupMVP by a freaking Long shot. I beg you not to work wit this company as i'm seriously worried you will end up screwed and royally so. Once they have rights to publish your work, most other publishers will not accept the stories you sold them, so this is not a "what do i have to loose" situation that they want you to believe it is.
Just... at very least... contact a lawyer who handles LITERARY cases and pay for a half hour of his/her time to have them look over any contract before you sign. At very least. Please... :sighs gently: I know you wanna do this... but after reading that letter i am even more disgusted with this company then i alredy was.
Nikki
This company is nothing but a scam. yes, its common for short stories to get published with no payment but a copy of the magazine its in or something. But we're talking about a book of short stories, a compilation of your work to date. This is unacceptable, you should be getting royalties, and honestly. I want to see a copy of the so called contract they will send you when they do. This sounds just the same to me as Carol did when she contacted me.
They come off real real nice, but when it comes right down to it they're just basically stealing your work. Just because it's online does not mean that its not worth money. If they think its worth enough to put in a book and publish then its worth enough for you to make royalties on, and 50 books is just ridiculous to send you as "payment"
Paul. Please, honey, stay away from this company! I know you're excited, but imagine, if they want you then maybe its time to start submitting to some REPUTABLE companies because they will likely be happy to have you as well. Maybe it will take you a few shots, but you will do by far better self-publishing through lulu.com your own book in paperback or ebook if you want then you would working with this company. At least on Lulu.com you can see your sales, you can self promote, you make all the money yourself and you can show any future publisher how hard you worked on your own promotion which believe it or not really does have an effect on some of the smaller companies. They want PROACTIVE folks.
I would say self publish is better then GroupMVP by a freaking Long shot. I beg you not to work wit this company as i'm seriously worried you will end up screwed and royally so. Once they have rights to publish your work, most other publishers will not accept the stories you sold them, so this is not a "what do i have to loose" situation that they want you to believe it is.
Just... at very least... contact a lawyer who handles LITERARY cases and pay for a half hour of his/her time to have them look over any contract before you sign. At very least. Please... :sighs gently: I know you wanna do this... but after reading that letter i am even more disgusted with this company then i alredy was.
Nikki
sachiaiko
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2002
- Posts
- 466
Oh yea...
And furthermore, :bloods boiling: why haven't they done anything to their website in over 7 months? NOTHING done on their website in 7 months since they contacted me. This company is doing nothing but tricking good authors who really really dream of being published into giving up the rights to their stories for free and so they can make money off of them.
In fact. MODS? can we please post a "BEWARE OF THIS PUBLISHER" STicky Thread where we can post "Beware" experiences in so future authors have something to look through to make sure they aren't being screwed!? That's what we really need as some one inthsi thread mentioned. We need this to Go sticky, or to post a Beware Sticky thread that can stay at the top so that we dont have to go looking.
Paul, the contract they tried to get me to sign was so bad it was disgusting. It gave them the rights to everything i ever wrote ever had i signedit. So even later if i'd published a book, they would have had the right to re-publish it themselves without giving me a cent. That is really terrible. And i am worried, and i fear, that they will give you a similar contract.
If they were reputable, they'd have a website.
Carol was nice to me at fist too. Thsi company is shady in all its forms,i do not trust francine, and i am tempted to contact them and tell them to leave the literotica peole alone that we know they're scamming liars and wont work with them as we have a thread posted about it.
:grrs: I feel so angry that they are doing this to people whos dreams are to be published, and they are good writers, really good writers, but alot of them dont believe that they could ever be published so this is like dream come true.
I should mention also, that it is *almost* unheard of (almost, but not always.) for a publisher to contact writers. Most legit companies do not have time to troll for talent, they are busy reading submissions and doing their jobs of editing the works in progress. I say almost because i have experienced one exception when an editor was reading for pleasure on lit, read my work and contacted me and she happened to be legit, but it almost absolutely unheard of and almost anyone will tell you so.
Please, please listen to me i just dont wanna see you get hurt.
Nikki
And furthermore, :bloods boiling: why haven't they done anything to their website in over 7 months? NOTHING done on their website in 7 months since they contacted me. This company is doing nothing but tricking good authors who really really dream of being published into giving up the rights to their stories for free and so they can make money off of them.
In fact. MODS? can we please post a "BEWARE OF THIS PUBLISHER" STicky Thread where we can post "Beware" experiences in so future authors have something to look through to make sure they aren't being screwed!? That's what we really need as some one inthsi thread mentioned. We need this to Go sticky, or to post a Beware Sticky thread that can stay at the top so that we dont have to go looking.
Paul, the contract they tried to get me to sign was so bad it was disgusting. It gave them the rights to everything i ever wrote ever had i signedit. So even later if i'd published a book, they would have had the right to re-publish it themselves without giving me a cent. That is really terrible. And i am worried, and i fear, that they will give you a similar contract.
If they were reputable, they'd have a website.
Carol was nice to me at fist too. Thsi company is shady in all its forms,i do not trust francine, and i am tempted to contact them and tell them to leave the literotica peole alone that we know they're scamming liars and wont work with them as we have a thread posted about it.
:grrs: I feel so angry that they are doing this to people whos dreams are to be published, and they are good writers, really good writers, but alot of them dont believe that they could ever be published so this is like dream come true.
I should mention also, that it is *almost* unheard of (almost, but not always.) for a publisher to contact writers. Most legit companies do not have time to troll for talent, they are busy reading submissions and doing their jobs of editing the works in progress. I say almost because i have experienced one exception when an editor was reading for pleasure on lit, read my work and contacted me and she happened to be legit, but it almost absolutely unheard of and almost anyone will tell you so.
Please, please listen to me i just dont wanna see you get hurt.
Nikki
Last edited:
sachiaiko
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2002
- Posts
- 466
Hey guys,
I PMed Lauren Hynde about making us a "beware of publisher" Thread that's sticky so when we get contacted by these company or companies we will be able to look in there n see if they've gotten bad "reviews" from the literotica.com members. I made a good case for us, saying it wont be a free-for-all-bash of any company we don't like, but that folks will provide reasons as to why they feel as they do. Quote letters and contracts they were asked to sign and be really serious and sincere about why they feel this particular company is not a good deal.
If you guys thinkthat we should have this please PM Lauren as well and make your case to her. The more folks who agree and make this point the better for all of us. I think a "Beware" sticky here in the Authors Hangout is really important, especially if these vultures are preying hard core on Literotica members, which it seems they are after reading this thread and hearing how many folks did get contacted by them. It seems they are trolling here and i think Lit staff probably want us to know about how negative these people are for our safety.
So just send a brief PM to Lauren and ask to add yourself in for the vote for the "beware of publisher" sticky thread to keep us all aprised of scammers and theives.
Thanks guys. :sighs: People like GroupMVP make me so mad....
Nikki
I PMed Lauren Hynde about making us a "beware of publisher" Thread that's sticky so when we get contacted by these company or companies we will be able to look in there n see if they've gotten bad "reviews" from the literotica.com members. I made a good case for us, saying it wont be a free-for-all-bash of any company we don't like, but that folks will provide reasons as to why they feel as they do. Quote letters and contracts they were asked to sign and be really serious and sincere about why they feel this particular company is not a good deal.
If you guys thinkthat we should have this please PM Lauren as well and make your case to her. The more folks who agree and make this point the better for all of us. I think a "Beware" sticky here in the Authors Hangout is really important, especially if these vultures are preying hard core on Literotica members, which it seems they are after reading this thread and hearing how many folks did get contacted by them. It seems they are trolling here and i think Lit staff probably want us to know about how negative these people are for our safety.
So just send a brief PM to Lauren and ask to add yourself in for the vote for the "beware of publisher" sticky thread to keep us all aprised of scammers and theives.
Thanks guys. :sighs: People like GroupMVP make me so mad....
Nikki
gauchecritic
When there are grey skies
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2002
- Posts
- 7,076
There is one thing to consider though which hasn't been mentioned so far.
Even though they don't want to pay having a whole book of your stories actually on sale is probably a great way to get noticed by an entirely other audience.
You've already done the work and didn't expect payment by posting them to Lit. so having any kind of other reward is bonus.
Just something to bear in mind.
My experience with MVP was wary to say the least and I just let it die, although I kept the mails.
Another publisher (who have a decent web site) contacted me a while ago and asked if they could publish a specific story of mine with payment being a copy of the book (which I haven't yet sent for). But it certainly feels good having a book listed on Amazon with an isbn number and everything.
Even though they don't want to pay having a whole book of your stories actually on sale is probably a great way to get noticed by an entirely other audience.
You've already done the work and didn't expect payment by posting them to Lit. so having any kind of other reward is bonus.
Just something to bear in mind.
My experience with MVP was wary to say the least and I just let it die, although I kept the mails.
Another publisher (who have a decent web site) contacted me a while ago and asked if they could publish a specific story of mine with payment being a copy of the book (which I haven't yet sent for). But it certainly feels good having a book listed on Amazon with an isbn number and everything.
Last edited:
sachiaiko
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2002
- Posts
- 466
Yea, that's true, and if they really do have a real contract and he's safe and wants to go ahead and do that, thats fine. But i sincerely doubt they're a company who will be getting ISBN numbers. They way they put it to him was that they have a small audiance and so on and so forth. But hey, he should ask about the ISBN Numbers.
I just got my contract from the real publisher i'm now working with, its over 11 pages long and all lawyer speak (though it looks great) and i'm definately having some one look at it to protect me, just out of my own desire to be protected you see. When GroupMVP sent me a 'contract' it was one paragraph, so open ended they could use all my work, as i've stated, with zer time limit on it. So basically, the way they set it up was that they OWNED my work. My current contract is much different, 2 years all the rights revert back to me if i choose not to re-do my contract. Now, one is real, one is not. This is my big concern with Group MVP. That they will try and screw him with a ridiculous open ended and false contract.
That scares me for him. My biggest concern is for HIS work. HIS safety. If everything checks out, and he can get some information on the company from some one BESIDE its members, and they explain why they have no website, and the contract is legit and he doesnt care about royalties, then ... well, go for it. But i still think that if its a whole book its ridiculous not to get royalties and i think thats theiving, personally. A story or few, sure, but not an entire book.
Anyhoot :shrugs:
Nikki
I just got my contract from the real publisher i'm now working with, its over 11 pages long and all lawyer speak (though it looks great) and i'm definately having some one look at it to protect me, just out of my own desire to be protected you see. When GroupMVP sent me a 'contract' it was one paragraph, so open ended they could use all my work, as i've stated, with zer time limit on it. So basically, the way they set it up was that they OWNED my work. My current contract is much different, 2 years all the rights revert back to me if i choose not to re-do my contract. Now, one is real, one is not. This is my big concern with Group MVP. That they will try and screw him with a ridiculous open ended and false contract.
That scares me for him. My biggest concern is for HIS work. HIS safety. If everything checks out, and he can get some information on the company from some one BESIDE its members, and they explain why they have no website, and the contract is legit and he doesnt care about royalties, then ... well, go for it. But i still think that if its a whole book its ridiculous not to get royalties and i think thats theiving, personally. A story or few, sure, but not an entire book.
Anyhoot :shrugs:
Nikki
sachiaiko
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2002
- Posts
- 466
Amusingly....
Amusingly.... Group MVP's new talent seeker contacted me today. :laughs: Oooh boy did she get one helluva response from me.
Paul, you never did update us on what was happening with this - If they are truly trolling for talent in Literotica.com's site then i feel very strongly that we should do somethin' to let Artists know, at very least, how to protect themselves from unfair contracts and unreasonable payment policies.
I'm waiting for Francine to contact me back after everything i wrote to her, and i suggested if she were genuine and legit she would make a Forum name and come and interact with the authors here especially since the general concensous is that they are a negative company and don't work with them. It'd serve her quite a bit to speak to the auhors here if she's really interested in keeping things reasonable and possitiv and showing she's legit. I also stated that if she is real she will hire some one to finish their website, make a way to order a copy of their magazine from their website, have a submissions page as well as some excerpts from their magazine and maybe from a few of their current writers.
Anything, but i mean hell, in 9 months they haven't managed to make a website for themselves, originally way back before, i had thought it was because they were new and still under construction, now i just dont think they care. I also made mention of the fact i would be sharing my experiences here with you folks, and if she was to not respond to me, then it would simply prove my point that they were just out to steal peoples work. Sad, but unfortunately true. I showed her the last contract that i recieved from their company, and asked for a copy of the current contract, and told her that i recently signed a legit contract which consisted of 11 pages and now knew how to spot a fake from a legit dealie.
We shall see. I replied to her very quickly, there is no reason the woman could have of not replying to me within the next day or so, so hopefully she will give a great response, i am looking forward to it. She did actually leave a phone number and email addy too... which was different then my first go around.
Over all feeling? It's still the same deal, i wouldn't work with them if you paid me because i feel like why work with some one who'll steal from you if given a quarter of a chance, and i truly do hope that she ends up showing up here. All authors should be notified about how to deal with these people, and how to walk away from companies and offers like this even ifthey really want to be published.
The thing to remember is this - if THEY WANT YOUR WORK then you hae to trust that they WONT BE THE LAST T O WANT YOUR WORK!! You will get published if you keep on, keep trying, and keep doing your best. You do not have to sell yourself short to sell your work. you're worth more then that.
Anyhoot, das my 2cents. Lets see if they actually come and post here in the message boards, and lets hope she actually replies to my email. heh.
Nikki
Amusingly.... Group MVP's new talent seeker contacted me today. :laughs: Oooh boy did she get one helluva response from me.
Paul, you never did update us on what was happening with this - If they are truly trolling for talent in Literotica.com's site then i feel very strongly that we should do somethin' to let Artists know, at very least, how to protect themselves from unfair contracts and unreasonable payment policies.
I'm waiting for Francine to contact me back after everything i wrote to her, and i suggested if she were genuine and legit she would make a Forum name and come and interact with the authors here especially since the general concensous is that they are a negative company and don't work with them. It'd serve her quite a bit to speak to the auhors here if she's really interested in keeping things reasonable and possitiv and showing she's legit. I also stated that if she is real she will hire some one to finish their website, make a way to order a copy of their magazine from their website, have a submissions page as well as some excerpts from their magazine and maybe from a few of their current writers.
Anything, but i mean hell, in 9 months they haven't managed to make a website for themselves, originally way back before, i had thought it was because they were new and still under construction, now i just dont think they care. I also made mention of the fact i would be sharing my experiences here with you folks, and if she was to not respond to me, then it would simply prove my point that they were just out to steal peoples work. Sad, but unfortunately true. I showed her the last contract that i recieved from their company, and asked for a copy of the current contract, and told her that i recently signed a legit contract which consisted of 11 pages and now knew how to spot a fake from a legit dealie.
We shall see. I replied to her very quickly, there is no reason the woman could have of not replying to me within the next day or so, so hopefully she will give a great response, i am looking forward to it. She did actually leave a phone number and email addy too... which was different then my first go around.
Over all feeling? It's still the same deal, i wouldn't work with them if you paid me because i feel like why work with some one who'll steal from you if given a quarter of a chance, and i truly do hope that she ends up showing up here. All authors should be notified about how to deal with these people, and how to walk away from companies and offers like this even ifthey really want to be published.
The thing to remember is this - if THEY WANT YOUR WORK then you hae to trust that they WONT BE THE LAST T O WANT YOUR WORK!! You will get published if you keep on, keep trying, and keep doing your best. You do not have to sell yourself short to sell your work. you're worth more then that.
Anyhoot, das my 2cents. Lets see if they actually come and post here in the message boards, and lets hope she actually replies to my email. heh.
Nikki
drksideofthemoon
West of the moon. . .
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2005
- Posts
- 4,778
I have been contacted twice by Francine of MVP. I replied to her first email, she told me that she would be will willing to pay 200.00 CDN for my series Montana Summer, which at this time is still ongoing, and over 100,000 words. I never did reply back to her.
I got a second generic email from Francine the other day that was a carbon copy of their first contact with me. It got deleted.
I would sooner continue writing for free here, than basically give my work away to some publisher...but thats just my own opinion.
I got a second generic email from Francine the other day that was a carbon copy of their first contact with me. It got deleted.
I would sooner continue writing for free here, than basically give my work away to some publisher...but thats just my own opinion.
SEVERUSMAX
Benevolent Master
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Posts
- 28,995
Okay, just another of those businesses that operate on the margins of legality. I haVe dealt with such companies, and they are NEVER anything but a headache. The only difference was that my experience was with a certain vaccuum-cleaner sales firm. That's all I will say about THAT experience.
Boxlicker101
Licker of Boxes
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2003
- Posts
- 33,665
I first heard from them almost a year ago and the offer they made was too open-ended. They said they wanted to print stories of mine and they would provide me with a copy of the mag that included anything I had written. I said they could print five stories but no more and they would provide me with the mag like they said. I thought I might could get some exposure that way, and something might come of it. So far, nothing has.
I have received another email and I hafen't answered yet. I think I will, but ask them what, if any, comments they have received on what they have printed., They didn't choose the best, going more by length than any other criteria.
I wouldn't mind getting some money but I want it to be worthwhile. That may seem strange because I am basically writing for free, but I don't consider it to be the same thing.
I have received another email and I hafen't answered yet. I think I will, but ask them what, if any, comments they have received on what they have printed., They didn't choose the best, going more by length than any other criteria.
I wouldn't mind getting some money but I want it to be worthwhile. That may seem strange because I am basically writing for free, but I don't consider it to be the same thing.
SEVERUSMAX
Benevolent Master
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Posts
- 28,995
Makes sense to me. I could write for money or for free, but I want nothing to do with something so "shady".
sachiaiko
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2002
- Posts
- 466
This company really is just using the excitement and hope of authors wanting to see themselves in print to get them to sign contracts that are way open ended. As Boxlicker said, the contract was SO open ended its the reason i didn't ever work with them. And when i told them i wouldnt sign th e"contract" which was a paragraph, or less, long as it was, they lied and said that they could take my work whenever they wanted anyhow they were just being nice" basically.
Point is, this company is trying to get folks to sign their rights away. The agreements are SO insanely open ended, its nearly painful, honestly. I mean the contract that they sent me gavethem use of any story i wrote, ever, during the entirety of my life. No time limit, no story limit. Just any story i wrote they could use. Of COURSE i wouldn't sign that, no one who was thinking logically would But some one so excited, thinking it was their only chance for publication, they might and sell themselves short when they shouldnt.
The contract my REAL publishing company gave me is 11 pages long, has an out clause which means if i pay a fee at any time i can get out of the contract. ANd the fee isnt giant. I know out clauses aren't normal but my company wants ME To feel super safe which is nice. And on top of it, i get ten percent more eBook royalties then normal, 45 percent, and 10 percet hard copy, AND in two years, all rights revert back to me unless i CHOOSE to resign with them.
Now that's a real contract, it also only indicates a single story being published, n that i have no obligation to write then anymore without a new contract for my protection. Now that i know what a contract is spost to look like, one thats safe for me, i know GROUPMVP is just a lying, evil company, and we really need a STICKY note here in this forum to make many other authors aware.
:sighs: Nikki
Point is, this company is trying to get folks to sign their rights away. The agreements are SO insanely open ended, its nearly painful, honestly. I mean the contract that they sent me gavethem use of any story i wrote, ever, during the entirety of my life. No time limit, no story limit. Just any story i wrote they could use. Of COURSE i wouldn't sign that, no one who was thinking logically would But some one so excited, thinking it was their only chance for publication, they might and sell themselves short when they shouldnt.
The contract my REAL publishing company gave me is 11 pages long, has an out clause which means if i pay a fee at any time i can get out of the contract. ANd the fee isnt giant. I know out clauses aren't normal but my company wants ME To feel super safe which is nice. And on top of it, i get ten percent more eBook royalties then normal, 45 percent, and 10 percet hard copy, AND in two years, all rights revert back to me unless i CHOOSE to resign with them.
Now that's a real contract, it also only indicates a single story being published, n that i have no obligation to write then anymore without a new contract for my protection. Now that i know what a contract is spost to look like, one thats safe for me, i know GROUPMVP is just a lying, evil company, and we really need a STICKY note here in this forum to make many other authors aware.
:sighs: Nikki
G
Guest
Guest
johnmvp said:
Interesting.
You do understand the high level of mistrust that exists around here as quite a few people have already had unfortunate dealings with your company.
I'm not too certain what you can do or say now to change that opinion.
G
Guest
Guest
johnmvp said:
How will you manage that?
Boxlicker101
Licker of Boxes
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2003
- Posts
- 33,665
I think most people are concerned about payment. What do you pay for something like a 5,000 word story or a series of ten such stories? Certainly, for me that kind of thing would be the bottom line.
G
