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Airleaf / Bookman Marketing / Bowker Book Club

Lauri B

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I received 5 spam emails from them on Monday alone, so I called the company and told them to cut it out. Brien emailed me back and said he's taken me off their list.
 

popmuze

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popmuze said:
Anyone have an information about this company? They seem to be some kind of vanity publisher, but they also offer book selling services for (I think) books already in print through other publishers?

Anyway, for some reason, I now get emails from them every other day, offering to sell my book for $99.


Sorry for this post. Wonder how I missed the whole conversation going on above my head. But thanks for the information.
 

robertpauljuser

Has Airleaf Contacted You?

In the last two months, I've recieved 7 letters from a company named Airleaf begging me to let them promote a story I published through Lulu. If I give them between $3,000 to $7,500, they promise to make my story a bestseller, and my name a household name. Problem is, the story in question is an 8-page short story. This company is preying on inexperianced writers trying to make a name. We need to keep each other informed about companies like Airleaf. Please read my blog below for the whole story.

http://people.lulu.com/blogs/view.php?user_id=124947
 

Aconite

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It would be worthwhile to post this on the Bewares and Background Check board.
 

blacbird

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I can go even one better than that. For the past year+ I've produced 17 old public-domain hard-to-find books via Lulu, in association with a free public literature site I run (planning a similar number this year). It's basically a fun hobby project, I made about $50 from it last year, which helps defray cost of the site. Anyhow, Airleaf must mine the Web for people having any association with POD, and they hit me up, promising to make "my" novel (Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc) a best-seller. You suppose Mark Twain could ante up the Airleaf fee for me?

Oh, and I get a mailing from them about every two months now. I haven't even opened any since that first one, so I'm not sure which other book from the list (H. Rider Haggard? Algernon Blackwood?) they want to promote.

caw.
 

James D. Macdonald

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Airleaf is the new name of Bookman Marketing. Under their old name they had a record of spamming and scamming, promising the moon in return for a pile of dollars and selling services that writers don't need under the promise of results that they couldn't deliver.

POD authors are a desperate bunch ... I suppose it works. For Airleaf.
 

DaveKuzminski

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A writer on another site claimed that Bookman Marketing changed its name to Airleaf because Bookman was already in use by another publisher. Anyone have any information on whether that's even remotely true?

In fact, a Bookman site can still be found. Okay, forget that. I found a redirection at their main page. Google sent me to one of the back pages.

Airleaf is at URL http://www.airleaf.com/index.asp
 
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victoriastrauss

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Possibly they changed their name to escape their reputation as a relentless spammer?

Most of the services Airleaf offers--which depend heavily on ineffective methods like press releases, spam, and vanity radio--are worthless.

- Victoria
 

AnneMarble

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victoriastrauss said:
Possibly they changed their name to escape their reputation as a relentless spammer?
That's the first thing I thought of. Devious minds work alike. ;) Bookman Marketing has been in the spam filters at sff.net for what seems like eons. Now, they'll have to update the filters. Again. I'm sure many other spam filters include these twits.

Also, it's possible they hope to fool new hosts into thinking they are a decent company. It seemed that every time I reported Bookman Marketing spam (and I was getting it on multiple addresses), I was reporting to a new web host. They started out on a respectable host and then had to move to another and another, and finally, they ended up with some company I had never heard of.
 

realitychuck

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Airleaf Publishing/Bowker Book Club

Oh, I know they are a scam. I got a letter from them the other day (real postal mail, not an e-mail), talking about their new "Bowker Book Club."

Yes, they use the name "Bowker," including the paragraph, "Founded in 1872, Bowker is the biggest, most pretigious name in publishing. Bowker is also the parent company of booksinprint.com and bookwire.com, two of the five websites that will feature your book's reviews."

I note that they did NOT say that Bowker has any involvement with this Bowker Book Club, other than featuring reviews. I'd be very surprised if they have ever even heard of this.

They're offering a ten point program:

1. A telemarketing program to bookstores.
2. An e-mail campaign to 500,000 opt-in book club members
3. A comprehensive book review by Bowker.
4-6. Featured position on the home page of www.bowkerclub.com, www.airleaf.com, and www.bookatron.com
7. One 10-minute radio interview on a nationally syndicated AM/FM radio show.
8. "Bowker Book Club" stickers for all books.
9. Ten face-to-face meetings with feature film producers and directors about your book.
10. Placing your book in 10 retail stores.

Ten whole stores. I'm overwhelmed.

It only costs $3300.

And it will include more services, at no additional charge, to be announced later.

I've sent an e-mail to Bowker to see if they want to do something. I'm guessing their trademark lawyers might be a bit concerned.
 
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CaoPaux

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*snort*

They're shelling out for postage? Dare we hope all the spam reports forced them into such dire straits? :D
 

TwentyFour

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LOL...look at it this way, at least it's retail stores and not a discount bin...(sarcastic wit included in this post)!
 

Gillhoughly

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realitychuck said:
They're offering a ten point program:

1. A telemarketing program to bookstores.

Oh, yeah, bookstores just LOVE telemarketing calls, same as the rest of us!

2. An e-mail campaign to 500,000 opt-in book club members

What joy! Spam I signed up for! Think we'll all hear the click when half a million people hit the delete key at the same time?

3. A comprehensive book review by Bowker.

Not like they've got any conflict of interest thing going on here, right?

4-6. Featured position on the home page of www.bowkerclub.com, www.airleaf.com, and www.bookatron.com

One of those pop-up ad things or a box thing that most people ignore anyway?

7. One 10-minute radio interview on a nationally syndicated AM/FM radio show.

Is it AM or FM?? Which show? When? "Howard Stern," yes, "Nosy Cosy Book Nook" hosted by Granny Murgatroyd airing at 3am, no, not so much.

8. "Bowker Book Club" stickers for all books.

So everyone can SEE what a dope one is by going with this bunch!

9. Ten face-to-face meetings with feature film producers and directors about your book.

:ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL:


Names, dagnabbit! Gimme NAMES! Will it be with Roger Corman, James Cameron or Steven Spielberg? Or maybe Ed Wood, Jr.? Oh, wait, he's dead. Mel Gibson--uh--no, better not. Ahh, the suspense! The suspense!!!​


10. Placing your book in 10 retail stores.

Ten stores. Ten. The number ten as in 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 followed by T-E-N, 10?

Okay, I'm clear on that now.

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll::roll: :roll:

What the bleeping, bleep kind of tin pot jackbleep operation are you bleeping losers trying to put over on people? Why, you ____ ____ ____ing ____ ____s!

And yes, sadly, some poor bleep will be reaching for the plastic even as I type this.
:Shrug:
 

CaoPaux

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Yup. Funny how number and frequency of names changes correlate to the sliminess of the operation. Cause or effect, I wonder....
 

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One of our authors was sent this email from Airleaf. At Jim's recommendation, I'm posting this here to show all their various names and scams. And, yes, I told our author to run. Quickly.
Lynn
-------------

[FONT=&quot]For two years we have been working hard to get our author's books made [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] into movies. We have made many trips to Hollywood, so many in fact [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] that we opened an LA office with our partner Cinemagic![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] What started it all was our Filmmakers service. We are offering that [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] service today, but now we have 1000 brand new producer/ director [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] contacts![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] What we do first is design a special promotion for Producers and [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Directors(called a treatment)about your book. While we write the [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] treatment, you can make any changes you want(no charge.)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Once you approve it, we send it to 2000 Filmmakers.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] We follow up responses whatever way is necessary including visiting in [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] person. I personally have been to Hollywood six times in the last 9 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] months.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] As always, you will reserve all the rights to your book.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] The regular price for this unique service is $350[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] TODAY AND TOMORROW, THE PRICE IS JUST $199[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] To save over $150 on this unique service call me now at 1-800-342-6068 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] or email [email protected]![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Krystal Hatfield[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Author Consultant[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] PS. Check out our ads this month in Oracle Magazine and Veterans [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Reporter, and our new websites http://www.airleafeuro.com/ and [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.bowkerclub.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.airleaf.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.airleafclub.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.authorsspeakout.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.doctorauthor.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.airleafeliteclub.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.airleafselect.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.thebigbooks.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.marquisbooks.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.bookatron.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.signedbytheauthor.net/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.airleafeuro.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.bowkerclub.com/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] http://www.brienjones.com/[/FONT]
--------------------------
 
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Heitkemper

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Book Selling Companies???

Hi Everyone,

When I was I younger, I published my first book through, yes, Publish America. (sigh) I was young, and I got my first good reply so I ran with it. I soon found out that they weren't the greatest publisher out there, and that I was doing near to all of the advertising and publicity myself. This is really hard for a guy that has a full time job, and trying to start a family. However, I did manage to sell quite a few books door to door, and I was even able to get my book into two local book stores. I keep wondering if I had more time to work on selling my books, they might actually go somewhere.

So here's my question: I've run across some, what I call, book selling companies. Basically, for a price, they set up a big campaign for your book and sell it to book stores and submit it to reviewers. They also set up interviews and TV commercials. Has anyone here ever used one of these companies, and are they legit? One that actually went out of their way to contact me is www.airleaf.com Thanks for your help.

Heitkemper
 

LloydBrown

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You already know the litmus tests: does your local bookstore carry any of these books? Have you heard of any of the books on their website? I'm pretty sure I know the answer to those.

Not to mention that the outright lie on their website (we have no competition, none!), their prices are ridiculous ($500 for a website?), and the things they offer don't sell books. And they contacted you? Businesses don't generally go out of their way to attract business partners. It makes sense for them to pursue *customers.*

You're overthinking this: write another book and sell it to a real publisher. There's the magic formula.
 

icerose

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You can see my efforts and how good they did me on the thread PA Messageboard and it's quotes, or something like that. Everyone who has broken away has been stomped into the ground by none other than PA itself. Write a new book, a better book, and get published with a company that really wants you to succeed.
 

PVish

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I received the Airleaf email spam a few minutes ago. Here it is for those who want to pick it apart (and note some errors):

Our bookstore clients have asked for a bigger variety of books and we plan to deliver! That's why we're offering our Introductory Bookselling
Package at half price until Monday, October 30! You pay just $199 to
contact 2000 bookstore owners. (The regular price is $399)

Step one is featuring your book on our bookselling websites, airleaf.com
and bookatron.com. That happens the day you sign up.

What we do next is write a custom promotion about your book and then
send it directly to the owner's of 2000 independent bookstores. Youapprove the promotion, and can make any changes you want. You also help choose what part of the country and what kind of bookstores to target. We follow up all responses by mail or telephone.

We will also sell your book in our stores in Harrison, Ohio, Martinsville, and Nashville, Indiana.

As always, we will sell your book even if you publshed with another company--and we can have your book for sale on our websites TODAY!
Just give me a quick call at 1-800-342-6068!

Craig Gustafson
Author Consultant

If you don't want any more emails about selling your book just hit
<REPLY> and type "Remove."

PS. Check out our ads this month in Oracle Magazine and Veterans
Reporter!

PS. Check out our ads this month in Oracle Magazine and Veterans
Reporter, and our new websites http://www.airleafeuro.com/ and

http://www.airleaf.com/

http://www.airleafclub.com/

http://www.authorsspeakout.com/

http://www.doctorauthor.com/

http://www.airleafeliteclub.com/

http://www.airleafselect.com/

http://www.thebigbooks.com/

http://www.marquisbooks.com/

http://www.bookatron.com/

http://www.signedbytheauthor.net/

http://www.airleafeuro.com/

http://www.brienjones.com/

I'm assuming that all those URLs are links to other equally scammy sites.
 

James D. Macdonald

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More Airleaf spam (fresh!)

Reach 400 Decision Makers at Traditional Royalty-Paying Publishers!
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 3:23 AM
To: [withheld]
Subject: Reach 400 Decision Makers at Traditional Royalty-PayingPublishers!

Selling a book to a royalty paying, traditional publisher is always along shot for unknown authors. However, Airleaf Publishing & Book
Selling Services has developed a unique list of Senior Editors at the
biggest publishing houses, and we also know how each publisher accepts
new submissions. This puts you at least two steps ahead of the
thousands of authors submitting books every week.
What we do is compose a special full-page release about your book. While
we write the promotion, you approve it and have final authority. Once
you are satisfied with the promotion we send it directly 400 Senior
Editors at Traditional Publishers. Then we follow up whatever way we
can to try to secure a contract and an advance.

If we are successful, we will not charge any commission. As always, you
will reserve all the rights to your book.
The regular price for this unique service is $499

RIGHT NOW, THE PRICE IS JUST $270

As always, we will sell your book even if you publshed with another
company--and, more importantly, we can have your book for sale on our
websites NOW! Don't miss the best time of the year to sell books. Just
give me a quick call at 1-800-342-6068!

Brien Jones
Author Consultant

If you don't want any more emails about selling your book just hit<REPLY> and type "Remove."
PS. Check out our ads this month in Oracle Magazine and VeteransReporter!
PS. Check out our ads this month in Oracle Magazine and VeteransReporter, and our new websites http://www.airleafeuro.com/ and
http://www.airleaf.com/
http://www.airleafclub.com/
http://www.authorsspeakout.com/
http://www.doctorauthor.com/
http://www.airleafeliteclub.com/
http://www.airleafselect.com/
http://www.thebigbooks.com/
http://www.marquisbooks.com/
http://www.bookatron.com/
http://www.signedbytheauthor.net/
http://www.airleafeuro.com/
http://www.brienjones.com/
 

AnneMarble

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Who gets reports for spam from Airleaf

This freakin' company has been spamming me since their Bookman Marketing days. Who should I forward spam reports to? I'm particularly interested in reporting their website, http://www.airleaf.com.

SpamCop lists an IP contact, but the IP contact (choiceonecom.com), but the abuse address redirects to SpamCop. Is Choiceonecom a black hat?
:guns: