It’s summer, a time when stinkbugs, mosquitoes, snakes, and the Legion of Nitwits all make a reappearance. Here are two new warnings for writers and readers everywhere.*
1. By now, you should all be familiar with Anthony ‘Tony G’ Giangregorio. If not, peruse this first. He is apparently back, now operating under the name Open Casket Press. But while he may have a new name, he’s still playing the same old tricks. Stant Litore has all the details here, and it’s especially required reading for you newer authors. (No word yet on whether or not Tony G will once again threaten to show up at the homes of single female authors to discuss their complaints with him).
2. I know you’re all familiar with the horror genre’s favorite nitwit, Nickolaus Pacione. If not, Google is your friend. Although I can’t possibly conceive that there are any readers left who are naive enough to actually purchase one of his books, just in case there are, Nicky is back to pulling one of his favorite scams — waiting until a national tragedy occurs and then claiming proceeds from his books will go to various charities. By his own admission, this then fails to happen. This time, he says the proceeds will go to the folks in Oklahoma. They won’t, so don’t fall for it. I mean, I guess you could, if writing like this — “From this that eludes me which I pen this as what I say what eludes me is sleep, and from the sleep becomes the etchings where the dreams begin.” — really turns you on, but just be aware that your money isn’t going to help storm victims.
*Hat tip to Monica O’Rourke and Val Botchlet for making me aware of these.