A little clarifying, again.
OK, gang, I’ll try to shed some light on the “ignorance” of the PA writers. From my own experience, this is what I can tell you. While I was still an active PAer, I actually had a duel personality. One was on the PA fence rooting PA on, hoping against hope that what my heart was saying was not true, because I did not want to admit, I had been the victim of fraud, or my book doomed to failure because of my poor choice. The other side of me was over here lurking and cheering AW on because I knew that it was the right thing to do. Being a person that prides herself in doing the right thing I eventually, even though it hurt to admit I had been duped, decided to join the team over here.
I am, by nature, a strong and confident individual; but because of my experience with PA and the temporary “death” of my hard work, and the love of my craft kicked in the butt so to speak, I have days that are pure heck. Some days are spent in depression, and it seems that my muse has died. Other days I am my old confident and strong self, on the AW board, offering opinions and encouraging others. This is part of the “grieving” process of a dream that is near death, but reviving. I know it is just a matter of time and the whole ordeal will be at an end. But in the interim the going gets rough at times and I know without a doubt that many of those authors who are so vigorously cheering on the PA boards are going through the duel personality war.
I know it is hard for some of you to realize why and how we were duped so easily. I have no answer for that, except for all the answers that have been given already and I won’t bother repeating. Don’t forget for one moment that most of those caught in the fraud, are or have potential to be good authors; they are no less good writers than those published by traditional publishers. For some, the chance for the published dream has been stolen. The more you think of the whole thing, the more hurtful it becomes and the more evil.