Overview

Former FBI agent Jim Fisher upends the genteel racket of fee-based literary agents and vanity publishers in this searing look at the rise and fall of one bogus entrepreneur who systematically swindled thousands of would-be writers out of millions of dollars with promises of having their work turned into salable books. In divulging the details of this colossal and shocking confidence game, Ten Percent of Nothing: The Case of the Literary Agent from Hell exposes a growing and serious crime against writers and a dark, ugly secret about the American publishing industry. In 1989, Dorothy L. Deering, possessing a high school degree, a recent embezzlement conviction, and no experience as a professional writer, editor, or publisher, began operating a fee-based literary agency out of her garage in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Over the next ten years, she racked up a fortune in reading and marketing fees, learning the business of sham publishing as she went along. Later, as the owner of a vanity press, she bilked 1.5 million dollars out of her clients, masterfully manufacturing dreams of literary success until she was brought to justice by Fisher's investigative journalism, an FBI probe, and the retaliation and testimonies of numerous victims. Deering never sold a single manuscript to a major publisher. With the money in her pocket and her clients' hopes and hard work wrapped up in fraudulent contracts, Deering produced a few copies of four cheaply printed, poorly edited paperbacks. These she used as bait to hoodwink more clients. She was abetted by her husband, Charles, a former car salesman; his son, Daniel, a drug user with a ninth-grade education; and her brother, Bill, a fugitive from the law at the time he headed her vanity press. By successfully impersonating a literary agent for ten years, Deering operated one of the longest-running confidence games in American history. The financial loss for her clients was devastating, and the heartbreak was extreme. Drawing on victims' experiences and documents recovered from the Deering venture, Fisher shows how Deering engineered and executed her scam, emphasizing the warning signs of sham agents, crook book doctors, and mendacious publishers. Ten Percent of Nothing provides essential information for aspiring writers and publishing professionals. Fisher's findings also prompt new inquiries into the potential licensing of literary agents and the prosecution of interstate scam artists. The volume's gallery of illustrations includes reproductions of correspondence, newsletters, and advertisements used by the Deering operation.

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Reviews

A unique book and an in-depth look into the psychology of a con-artist's mind. Any writer seeking a literary agent should read this before signing (much less paying any money!) The complex and convoluted nature of the con game perpetrated by Ms. Deering and her ilk is highlighted by the clarity of writing in which it is detailed. Fisher is a pro and it shows. -- John H. Irsfeld, University of Nevada Las Vegas In telling the story of Dorothy Deering, Jim Fisher exposes the slimy underbelly of the agent trade. I work with new writers every day and hope every one of them reads this book before setting out to find a literary agent. -- Bill Martin, president, Agent Research & Evaluation, Inc. The complex and convoluted nature of the con game perpetrated by Ms. Deering and her ilk is highlighted by the clarity of writing in which it is detailed. Fisher is a pro and it shows. --John H. Irsfeld, University of Nevada Las Vegas In telling the story of Dorothy Deering, Jim Fisher exposes the slimy underbelly of the agent trade. I work with new writers every day and hope every one of them reads this book before setting out to find a literary agent. --Bill Martin, president, Agent Research & Evaluation, Inc. Ten Percent of Nothing will fascinate anyone who wants to understand how a real-life big con is put together and executed, and it is also vital reading for everyone connected to the book business. It is heartrending to see the numbers of new writers who fall for the siren songs of the Dorothy Deerings of publishing. In the effort to be well published, nothing is more vital than the right agent; nothing can be more devastating than to realize that the person you were relying on to accomplish that has scoffed at your dreams and trashed your hopes. Bravo, Jim Fisher, for this great service to your fellow writers. --Beverly Swerling, author of City of Dreams and Shadowbrook A unique book and an in-depth look into the psychology of a con-artist's mind. Any writer seeking a literary agent should read this before signing (much less paying any money!). --Ann Crispin, author of Rebel Dawn and the Starbridge series In telling the story of Dorothy Deering, Jim Fisher exposes the slimy underbelly of theagent trade. I work with new writers every day and hope every one of them reads this bookbefore setting out to find a literary agent. Bill Martin, president, Agent Research & Evaluation, Inc. The complex and convoluted nature of the con game perpetrated by Ms. Deering and her ilk is highlighted by the clarity of writing in which it is detailed. Fisher is a pro and it shows. John H. Irsfeld, University of Nevada Las Vegas Ten Percent of Nothing will fascinateanyone whowants to understand how a real-life big con is put together and executed, and it is also vital reading for everyone connected to the book business.It is heartrending to see the numbers of new writers who fall for the siren songs of the Dorothy Deerings of publishing. In the effort to be well published, nothing is morevital than the right agent; nothing can be more devastating than to realize that the person you were relying on to accomplish thathas scoffed at your dreams and trashed your hopes.Bravo, Jim Fisher, for this great service to your fellow writers. Beverly Swerling, author of City of Dreams and Shadowbrook A unique book and an in-depth look into the psychology of a con-artist s mind. Any writer seeking a literary agent should read this before signing (much less paying any money!). Ann Crispin, author of Rebel Dawn and the Starbridge series Ten Percent of Nothing will fascinate anyone who wants to understand how a real-life big con is put together and executed, and it is also vital reading for everyone connected to the book business. It is heartrending to see the numbers of new writers who fall for the siren songs of the Dorothy Deerings of publishing. In the effort to be well published, nothing is more vital than the right agent; nothing can be more devastating than to realize that the person you were relying on to accomplish that has scoffed at your dreams and trashed your hopes. Bravo, Jim Fisher, for this great service to your fellow writers. --Beverly Swerling, author of City of Dreams and Shadowbrook A unique book and an in-depth look into the psychology of a con-artist's mind. Any writer seeking a literary agent should read this before signing (much less paying any money!). --Ann Crispin, author of Rebel Dawn and the Starbridge series Ten Percent of Nothing will fascinate anyone who wants to understand how a real-life big con is put together and executed, and it is also vital reading for everyone connected to the book business. It is heartrending to see the numbers of new writers who fall for the siren songs of the Dorothy Deerings of publishing. In the effort to be well published, nothing is more vital than the right agent; nothing can be more devastating than to realize that the person you were relying on to accomplish that has scoffed at your dreams and trashed your hopes. Bravo, Jim Fisher, for this great service to your fellow writers. -- Beverly Swerling, author of City of Dreams and Shadowbrook A unique book and an in-depth look into the psychology of a con-artist' s mind. Any writer seeking a literary agent should read this before signing (much less paying any money!). -- Ann Crispin, author of Rebel Dawn and the Starbridge series

Ten Percent of Nothing will fascinateanyone whowants to understand how a real-life big con is put together and executed, and it is also vital reading for everyone connected to the book business.It is heartrending to see the numbers of new writers who fall for the siren songs of the Dorothy Deerings of publishing. In the effort to be well published, nothing is morevital than the right agent; nothing can be more devastating than to realize that the person you were relying on to accomplish thathas scoffed at your dreams and trashed your hopes.Bravo, Jim Fisher, for this great service to your fellow writers. Beverly Swerling, author of City of Dreams and Shadowbrook A unique book and an in-depth look into the psychology of a con-artist s mind. Any writer seeking a literary agent should read this before signing (much less paying any money!). Ann Crispin, author of Rebel Dawn and the Starbridge series

Ten Percent of Nothing will fascinate anyone who wants to understand how a real-life big con is put together and executed, and it is also vital reading for everyone connected to the book business. It is heartrending to see the numbers of new writers who fall for the siren songs of the Dorothy Deerings of publishing. In the effort to be well published, nothing is more vital than the right agent; nothing can be more devastating than to realize that the person you were relying on to accomplish that has scoffed at your dreams and trashed your hopes. Bravo, Jim Fisher, for this great service to your fellow writers. --Beverly Swerling, author of City of Dreams and Shadowbrook A unique book and an in-depth look into the psychology of a con-artist's mind. Any writer seeking a literary agent should read this before signing (much less paying any money!). --Ann Crispin, author of Rebel Dawn and the Starbridge series

<p> Ten Percent of Nothing will fascinate anyone who wants to understand how a real-life big con is put together and executed, and it is also vital reading for everyone connected to the book business. It is heartrending to see the numbers of new writers who fall for the siren songs of the Dorothy Deerings of publishing. In the effort to be well published, nothing is more vital than the right agent; nothing can be more devastating than to realize that the person you were relying on to accomplish that has scoffed at your dreams and trashed your hopes. Bravo, Jim Fisher, for this great service to your fellow writers. --Beverly Swerling, author of City of Dreams and Shadowbrook <p> <p> A unique book and an in-depth look into the psychology of a con-artist's mind. Any writer seeking a literary agent should read this before signing (much less paying any money!). --Ann Crispin, author of Rebel Dawn and the Starbridge series

Author Information

Jim Fisher, a professor in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, is the author of The Ghosts of Hopewell: Setting the Record Straight in the Lindbergh Caseand Fall Guys: False Confessions and the Politics of Murder, both of which received Edgar nominations. He was a special agent for the FBI from 1966 to 1972.

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