As a self-published author and victim of an elaborate publisher scam out of the UK, I’m attempting “Plan B” to avoid the avalanche of scammers posing as readers, authors, agents, and even publishers who appear to troll virtually every author networking site.
This post is intended to promote second-level, two-way discovery with a legitimate agent, marketing expert, or interested reader without the time-wasting routine of doing the twenty-question Q&A dance on messenger apps.
The following Q&A list should answer most preliminary discovery questions for an interested party. Prepare to be vetted, and bring evidence that you are human, not a bot trolling and chumming for a bite. I need links to your company website and links to your profile. Read my profile if you are serious; do some homework before asking the questions that are answered here. Save us both some time… Peace! G.
- Are you an author?
Yes, I’m a redeployed, unsupervised, unfiltered, and occasionally undisciplined, free-range Writer of Things and am currently crushing the rankings in the category of Unknown Author… so far.
- Are you published?
Yes, self-published nine times. One non-fiction, seven fiction, and one anthology of short stories. A new book #6, “Undaunted,” of the Dreamscape Conspiracy series is in development for later in Summer 2026. Question #11 lists all the book links, video trailers, and reviews to date. My Author Page, where all the bodies are buried, is located on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uuONzj
- Why is the number of reviews so low?
I have not been successful in reaching an audience because I am a Writer of Things, not a promoter or marketer of things I write. I’ve only recently begun engaging with promoters, and the reviews are starting to stack up; they are mostly five stars, with a few four stars. Other reviews shared in question #10 are positive, telling me the stories I write are good quality, but readers are missing. I’ve been told it is a discoverability issue, not a book quality issue. I’ve intentionally avoided scams to get hundreds of reader reviews from mysterious sources for a price, who will never read anything beyond the back-cover abstracts. Good stories deserve quality reviews.
- What are you doing to market and promote your books?
Good question. In March of 2024, I fell victim to a false Agent and Publisher scam and am still recovering my losses. Because of the fraud, I am currently without upfront financials to outsource. I need help with discoverability. I want to write, not run a marketing business. That fact points me toward an Agent relationship since previous marketing “experts” have only delivered false promises to date. We should connect if you are a legit agent interested in building a relationship with a new author.
- What Genre of books do you write?
A recent interviewer said I was a Genre-Bender, and I liked her description because I write engaging stories that are hybrids of suspense, mystery, sci-fi, paranormal, technological, and psychological action-thrillers, and, according to one reviewer, I’m a horror writer. These influences may not all be presented in a story within the story, or even the same book. Personally, I don’t care how my writing is labeled as long as it delivers an engaging storyline. That’s the genre, and it can bend and blend genres in different ways to different readers and still produce an engaging story.
- How long have you been writing?
I’ve spent over 35+ years writing and editing professionally in the corporate world and have been blogging since 2009, sharing short stories, posts about the perils of corporate chaos, and other random thoughts. My first nonfiction book, “Confessions of a Performance Ninja,” was published in 2022, and I have since written seven fiction books, with more in development.
- What are your greatest challenges as a new author?
I want to distinguish legitimate service providers and potential agents from the avalanche of scammers I mentioned earlier. I also want to reach and be available to readers who want to know more about the journey and the stories I write.
- Where do you get your story ideas?
I have a Relentless Wench Muse in my head who manages to remain just out of reach. It is an absolute rush when She is on; I listen to Her whispers and write. Sometimes, we argue over a storyline’s direction or a choice of words, but She is rarely wrong. Maybe I’m just a sucker for Her Western Australian accent; regardless, it’s a blessing to have Her in my head where She belongs, because if She looks anything like She sounds, we’d both be at risk of a felony.
- What authors influence you?
I’m a fan of storylines by Jonathan Maberry, John Sandford, Lee Child, Greg Hurwitz, Mark Greaney, and others who are master storytellers. They all use 3rd person POV with robust dialogue among their characters. As such, none of the authors I follow ever tell a good story; instead, they enable their characters to show a good story by what is said, done, or thought about…or not said, not done, or never considered. They all write their stories from within their character’s heads and hearts. I aspire to be that kind of storyteller.
- Do you have a website?
Yes, my primary web presence is a FREE blog where I post writing activity, sample snippets, book chapters, and welcome dialog with readers. The blog is titled by the exact methods we learn – Learning by Living
https://www.learningbyliving.blog
Author Email – gdogwise@live.com
- Do you have a link to a book you are willing to share?
Sure, here they are, including video trailers and most recent reviews…
Book #1 – Dreamscape Conspiracy – Video – Review
Book #2 – Beyond Dreamscape… – Video – Review
Book #3 – Fear the Jump – Video – Review
Book #4 – Dead Thoughts – Video – Review
Book #5 – Untethered – Video – Review
Book #6 – “Mirror Mirror Halloween Party of the Century” – https://bit.ly/3C4qWqK
Video Trailer – https://bit.ly/3GTztmG
Mirror Mirror Goodreads Reviews – bit.ly/4sSgsn5
Book #7 – “Puye Prophecy”– bit.ly/44euZzV
Video Trailer – https://bit.ly/3JAantV
Puye Review by Jill Rey – https://bit.ly/4fPqa49
Goodreads Reviews – https://bit.ly/4rqIdTF
Book #8 – “Always a Story” – https://amzn.to/4n7zOSe
This is an anthology that is a mix of short stories where “stupid” shows up, confirming the Grim Reaper missed his chance. Random thoughts, lies, embellishment of truths, and other anomalies are included.
Book #9 –
“Confessions of a Performance Ninja” https://amzn.to/3RH25C8
This is a field guide for the Performance Consulting profession, based on 35+ years I survived in Learning & Performance Consulting roles. I share hard-fought wins and epic failures that uncover where land mines are buried to limit reader failures should they decide to pursue this Godforsaken discipline.
- Are you on social media?
Yes. I wanted places to build a following and communicate with readers efficiently and effectively.
Author Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Gdogwise
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/gdogwise/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/garywiseprofilemyca/
Bookshelf on Quora – https://garywisesbookshelf.quora.com/
Dreamscape Conspiracy Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557152147000
- Do you have an Agent or a Publisher?
Not yet, but I am very interested in establishing a legitimate Agent relationship. I want to write, not run a book promotion and marketing business. I know there are more knowledgeable professionals than myself, and I seek to make a connection if that path is meant to be.
- Where do you live?
I’m blessed to have enough and am comfortably planted between corn and soybeans in the rolling hills of southeastern Indiana, where I live with two beautiful and quite feral women, and the Relentless Wench Muse, who manages to remain just out of reach and often hurls me into storylines I had not considered. I often become temporarily uprooted when She pulls rank and replants me into our characters’ heads and hearts. Did I mention She was relentless?
Peace! G.
