I’ve had enough.

To think that for a moment, that anyone, under any circumstances is unjustly done and that for even one slight second I found it funny, would make me question my own self-worth, honor and integrity. And, if the day ever came where I found myself miserable enough to wish bad on anyone else, for the sole purpose of fulfilling some twisted mental victory of my ego, I’d hope that someone with a better spirit reminded me that what I give out is what I receive and that at that time, I was wise and grounded enough to heed their advice, ask for forgiveness and pray that my negative affirmations and thoughts never cause harm to anyone.

I haven’t done anything immoral to anyone here. I haven’t encouraged anyone to go into business or work with LCP. I’ve stated my own feelings and beliefs based on what I know and my own life experiences. The same way each of you have. But because my views and opinions differ from yours, I deserve to be unjustly treated?

Last night I spent over 2 hours on the phone with my minister’s prayer circle, praying for each of you who feel unjustly done to be guided to God’s unlimited supply of abundance, to earn recourse if you are justly entitled to such and if not, to find peace with this and gain wisdom and prosperity from it. And to come on here after that, knowing that my heart is good and intentions are pure and read that, is disheartening. Not disheartening for me, but for you. I feel sad for you. Sad that you’ve allowed the negativity of this situation to multiply through you and through a direct result of that, you’re blocking the wealth of good that is in store for you.

i would guess.

I emailed her yesterday, after I got the rejection letter, to ask her why she had told me I would be paid, and THEN decided that all articles would be scrapped.

I got a reply TODAY, which was not a reply at all, but was an exact copy of the email we all got yesterday. It appears that this has been set as an Auto Response – meaning if you email her, that is what you get.

Or, it could have been that she didn’t want to deal with me, so she just resent the exact email she had sent yesterday.

I did send my emails to Stephanie, and she told me that she would bring it to the attention of Laray Carr himself. I will be waiting to see if I ever hear back from them. Meanwhile, I will sell my articles to AC or somewhere that will let me put them up for sale, and then decline the offer if I feel it isn’t high enough, or if something else were to happen with LCP.

Also, I plan on keeping my eyes on the LCP sites. If any of those magazines do launch, I plan on ordering the ones that I wrote for. If any of the stories in those magazines even resemble the dated files that I have, than I will have much greater recourse.

Otherwise, I will cut my losses and be content with what AC gives me for the articles. I will also take comfort in knowing that if LCP is a scam, it is going to be pretty hard for them to get anyone ever again, because of all of the messages.

And I will continue to be kind and gentle with everyone on here and everywhere else – out of respect for Deb, as well as the other writers. You catch more flies with honey… as my mom always says.

Stephanie, some questions for you include:
1. If this is not a scam, how do you explain Quincy Carr’s relationship to the company? Surely a startup with THAT much money has enough sense and cash to run a background check, correct?
2. Can you please suggest to LCP that editors have access to their writers? I have been in contact with people who I thought were writers, but apparently were/are editors for LCP. All said they had no access to their writers, which seems a bit odd.
3. Will you advise them NOT to attempt to launch so many magazines at once? This is a severe red flag for investors.

I would also like to add that while my contract is the same as others (stating pay will come upon publishing), I do have correspondence with Hope in which she says something to the extent of, “Payment will be made with our launch October 5th.” I have others that coincide with the September 20th date, and yes, all say we will pay you when we launch. This leads me to believe that I will be paid should they ever launch, and I have several emails using the two specific dates above. If the intention was to never pay (as seems to be the case) and they blatantly lead me on, that is illegal. There is never mention of my articles not being good enough, or any sort of rejection, which also leads me to believe all of my articles made the cut and were to be published (thus I would be paid).

Yes, Stephanie got to me last night. Finding out this morning that she called me a liar — when it was obviously a misinterpretation of her email, which Nicole made too — didn’t help. Perhaps I should not spend so much time on something that does not involve me at all. But at the same time, I keep thinking that when I was a newbie I would have appreciated anyone who went out of their way to make sure I didn’t get screwed.

Whether you choose to think LCP is a scam, or isn’t a scam, or is possibly a scam is up to you. I still think it’s highly suspicious, and I still think it was wrong not to pay those writers. I still advise the writers to Google their articles occasionally, and keep an eye on Laray Carr to determine if they do go to press.

Whatever you choose to do, or choose to believe, is up to you.

I’ll be glad to back off this thread now, because I do respect Deb and I don’t want to tur this into any more of a problem than it already is. I am already in touch with several of the LCP writers personally, and anyone else who wants may feel free to contact me.

And yes, it is a scam. I’d already been informed by Hope that my work was going to be published, suddenly I get a complete 180 and it isn’t good enough. I was told that my check would be sent out. It has not.

at the risk of being crude, Sod Laray Carr.

-

Sorry for jumping on your quote, Tenley. I just feel for all of the writers who may have been counting on the money from this gig who will never be paid.

“The only thing suspicious here are random people that never post on this blog jumping up to defend this company and attack someone who is trying to help, the rest is obvious scam in my opinion.”

For the record, Tenley is a good friend of mine. she’s not much of a joiner but she has posted at FWJ once or twice before.

Honestly guys, I’m getting ready to shut this thread down. Really, some people are carrying it too far. All of this suspicion and finger pointing is starting to wear thin.

Unless I misunderstood, Stephanie asked to be contacted when writers actually didn’t get paid, so she essentially requested the contact.

Secondly, with fake mock-ups and not one single writer coming up to say he or she has been paid, I think it’s pretty obvious this is a scam.

The launch of that number of magazines at once with zero publicity makes it a scam. With circulation numbers already listed when they haven’t even been launched is more than suspicious as well, it’s flat out lying.

The only thing suspicious here are random people that never post on this blog jumping up to defend this company and attack someone who is trying to help, the rest is obvious scam in my opinion.

It appears the majority of you were rejected. sucks but that’s the way it appears. I’m not trying to minimize what you’re going through. Some of it may have to do with what is going down here but we don’t know for sure, just as we don’t know this is really a scam. It’s suspicious but it’s not a scam. I feel for all of the good people who worked, but I do believe some people here have crossed the line.

Katherine, I’m sure you’re well intentioned but for someone who didn’t write for LCP, you’re certainly stirring up the pot. In fact, there was absolutely no reason for you to contact Stephanie tonight. Nor was there any reason for you to come running back here to report againsit her. You told Stephanie you don’t wish for newbies to get screwed but she’s right in that you’re taking it to the extreme.

In fact Katherine, of all the people posting here, you’re stirring up the most trouble and you didn’t even write for them. You’re like the junuior high school gossip who stirs up trouble on the playground by running to each different clique and telling them what everyone said to them.

In other words, MYOB Katherine. I don’t know if you realize that what you did to Stephanie is considered bordlerline harrassment and it’s the sort of thing that can get Deb’s blog shut down. This has nothing to do with you and you may have cost other writers their chance to get paid.

Stephanie was nothing but professional but your confrontational nature has put her on the defensive, and rightly so. Katherine, you probably can’t see the forest but the trees, but read back each comment. Notice how you’re incing the crowd?

I’m sure you’re trying to help everyone out and I can see it’s appreciated but in your glee over this possibly being a scam you’re losing site of several things:

- This may not be a scam. Indeed it’s odd, but it is so far not a scam.

- You are being oblivious to what all of these unfounded accusations can do to Deb’s blog and her reputation.

- You many very well be wrong.

- This is none of your business.

MYOB, Katherine.

because they were full aware that the contracts for them said they get paid to do the work, not if it is used, published or not.

And yes, without having any knowledge that people were “promised” payment regardless of whether or not their articles were published- I full well told them to ditch all the articles, editorial visions, editorial calendars and design templates and start from scratch. Because that was in the best interest of my client. Without having any knowledge that people were “promised” payment regardless of whether or not their articles were published, I could not understand why anyone would be sitting around waiting for a check, when they did not know if the articles they submitted would be published or not.

Does that make sense??

I’m going to bed.

I won’t be back responding to any more posts.

If anyone has a contract or emails stating anything they are definitely getting paid regardless of their article being published or not- please email me that information.

If not, I’m sorry you feel misled and I wish you the best of luck.

If anyone feels they may have a case against the company, please seek legal advice.