Dan Alatorre's Blog, page 9
February 7, 2020
The importance of having some OTHER person review your manuscript
Whether your betas catch them or a proofreader, an editor – let’s face it: when you write 50,000 words (or 80k or 100k) THERE ARE GOING TO BE TYPOS.
I looked at the following passage after the proofreader sent it back with an error flagged.
I looked at it a few times – I couldn’t see the error.
It was only because she pointed it out with a comment that I saw what I’d written.
Time wrap up this party
should be
time to wrap up this party
[image error]
Well sure, YOU can see it – but I didn’t. Because I knew what I wrote. My eye saw the right words and my brain read them, even though they weren’t there.
That’s … annoying.
But it’s a lesson for all of us. OTHERS can see our mistakes better than we can, so encourage people to find them in your MS and point them out – including readers. Why not? We’re all human. I’ve seen typos in traditionally published paperbacks of major authors’ works. It happens.
It’ll happen less if you get people to help you.
Get ready to go terminal. Preorder now for just $0.99 – for a limited time. The price goes up to $4.99 with no notice sometime before release day, February 28, 2020
[image error]
Authors, Beware of this online scheme from convicted felon Wid Bastian
Hey, Dan.
This is the email that I got from him. He sent me some messages on LinkedIn and said that he had an offer for me, to check my email. Just so that you know what his most recent pitch is as of yesterday. If it helps in some way, I’m all about it. Feel free to use this anyway that you want.
I blocked him, and checked off the reporting scam box. Not sure what happens next.
Best,
Non victim
Message from convicted felon Wid Bastian as he canvasses LinkedIn for new victims. (Note how he misattributes a quote to Ben Franklin when it is actually from  Xun Kuang.)
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
Hi (NAME)
I’m Wid Bastian. The quote in the title bar is from Ben Franklin. It conveys a profound truth – the best way to impart knowledge is to not only teach someone what to do but also to meaningfully engage them in the process of learning.
Do you have an effective, repeatable system for marketing your eBooks? If so, congrats and ignore this message. But if you’re still searching for an eBook promotion method that produces results then I can help.
I saw your profile on Linked In so I reached out. I sent you a Linked In connect request. I’ve peeked at the three books you have published on Amazon. Great reviews on Etched in Granite. I can help you, MJ. You have the talent to build a solid literary brand.
Since 2014, as a promoter, I’ve helped dozens of authors just like you build their literary brands and increase their income by applying proven, core principles that work long term. Ready to learn these principles and techniques and put yourself on a path to success?
Here’s how it works…
I promote four books for you over two weeks. I’ll share with you exactly how I promote – the SEO involved (book descriptions, keywords, categories) – where I promote (the best online blogs and platforms to use and how to rank these platforms) – and exactly what to do to bolster your promotions on social media. My promos will result in thousands of downloads, a nice boost in sales and great exposure. But far more importantly, by participating in the process you’ll learn exactly how to do this on your own.
While I still promote for a few select clients, my focus now is on teaching authors how to promote themselves. No one is more invested in your success than you are. I’ll show you how to immediately increase your downloads, sales and KENP income. Not in theory, not through some longwinded lecture or complicated online course, but rather by applying simple and powerful strategies to your book lineup.
Your net cost for this program could be zero. Why? You’ll definitely earn income from the promotions I run for you. For most authors, their net cost ends up being $300 or less for me to teach them how to build a literary brand and make money long term through doing what they love, writing books.
Want to know more? Message me back. I’ll provide all the details. This is me – Wid’s Linked In profile .
Best,
Wid Bastian
During this process, you’ll be required to turn over your passwords and other information for your Amazon account, which includes things like your address, bank account, Social Security number. Phone number, contacts…
You should never turn these things over to anyone.
Dozens of authors have complained about being ripped off by this individual, Who served over 10 years in prison.
Complaints on this individual have been referred to numerous state attorney generals around the United States, as well as complaints for fraud filed with the FBI and income tax evasion to the IRS.
He is currently filing for bankruptcy in Utah and has been ordered to pay over $3 million to clients he embezzled from in a prior scheme. 

February 6, 2020
Convicted Felon Wid Bastian Crawls Out From Under Rock To Beg For Mercy While Still Soliciting Victims On LinkedIn
I receive the following email and “letter” from convicted felon Wid Bastian on February 6, 2020. Both contain a number of inaccuracies and outright lies by Wid, which I will signify by replying line by line IN ALL CAPS. Later I will post the contract that convicted felon Wid Bastian blatantly and fraudulently violated, despite his assertions otherwise.
Please beware.
Contents of email received from convicted felon Wid Bastian on 2/6/2020:
Dan;
WELL, AN ALLEGED WRITER WOULD NORMALLY KNOW A LETTER ISN’T STARTED WITH A SEMICOLON, BUT WITH A COMMA, SO WE ARE OFF TO A GREAT START
Do not email me again.
DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO; YOU HAVE NO JURISDICTION OVER MY ACTIONS IN TELLING THE WORLD ABOUT YOUR LAWBREAKING
You are a named creditor
AMONG DOZENS OF OTHER VICTIMS
in my
LATEST
bankruptcy. Act responsibly.
YOU HAVE TO LOVE THE IRONY IN A CONVICTED FELON AND CON ARTIST TELLING OTHER PEOPLE TO “ACT RESPONSIBLY”
Attached is a statement I’ve sent to anyone who asks.
WE WILL SEE THE STATEMENT MOMENTARILY, BUT IT IS NOT SIGNED NOR WAS IT SWORN OUT UNDER OATH, SO IT’S REALLY A PIECE OF MEDIA PROPAGANDA A.K.A. LIES.
On top of what I say in that statement, let me assure you of this: the Do No Harm and the other two Collabs were, in a legal sense, handled properly.
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH; ALL REVENUES FROM THE SET WERE EMBEZZLED BY WID BASTIAN AND THE CHARITIES WERE DEFRAUDED
My reports
NO REPORTS WERE GIVEN TO ME AND NO COSTS WERE EVER VERIFIED
are accurate
THEY WERE NOT ACCURATE AND WERE NOT SUBSTANTIATED IN ANY WAY, WITH RECEIPTS OR OTHERWISE, NOR WERE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS VERIFIED BY ANYONE
(I UNDERSTATED the costs).
THE COSTS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN MADE UP AND WERE IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE CONTRACT
For you in particular, you became a USA Today Bestselling author for $750.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE; MY COSTS WERE MORE THAN THAT AND CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN ASKED FOR MORE MONEY BUT WHEN WE REVOLTED HE WITHDREW THE REQUEST, NOT TO MENTION HE VIOLATED THE TERMS OF SERVICE OR AMAZON
Read the DNH report.
TO DATE, NO REPORT WAS GIVEN TO ME BY CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN
I could only distribute “net income”, to either the charity or the authors.
THAT WAS NOT WHAT WAS AGREED; THE CHARITIES WERE TO RECEIVE 100% OF THE PREORDER PROCEEDS, AND THERE IS NO MENTION OF REVENEUE FORM PAGE READS IN KUNDLE UNLIMTED; YOU ALSO ATTEMPTED TO ALTER THE CONTRACT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION
There was no net income
THIS ALLEGATION IS FRAUDULENT BECAUSE CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN ALLEGEDED THAT HIS COSTS WERE MORE THAN THE REVENUES BUT PROVIDED NO PROOF OF ANY EXPENSES OTHER THAN INFLATED AND ARBITRATY SALARIES FOR HIMELF AND TWO ASSISTANTS, ONE OR MORE OF WHICH MAY NOT HAVE EVER BEEN PAID OR EVEN EXISTED.
I didn’t invent GAAP rules
NO ONE ALLEGED A CONVICTED FELON INVENTED ACCOUNTING RULES
I just followed them – explicitly
GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES REQUIRE RECEIPTS BE MAINTAINED AND LEDGERS KEPT, REPORTS BE SIGNED OFF ON MY AN ACCOUNTING FIRM, CLIENTS NOT BE EMBEZZLED FROM, CONTRACTS BE FOLLOWED, ETC – BASIC THINGS WHICH WERE NEVER DONE.
How can you even begin to say that I ripped you off?
BECAUSE YOU TOOK ALL THE MONEY FROM OUR SET, INEXCESS OF $20,000, AND BECAUSE YOU DO THAT IN EVERY SET YOU MANAGE, THAT’S HOW.
Genius Media
POSSIBLY A FICTITIOUS COMPANY
collapsed due to being over leveraged
THAT’S A NICE WAY OF SAYING HE TOOK ALL THEM MONEY BUT DIDN’T DO THE WORK HE WAS PAID TO DO.
That’s bad enough, but your posts give the impression that I was ripping people off, which is a lie
MY POSTS ARE 100% TRUE AND ARE MUCH CLOSER TO THE TRUTH THAN ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVER SAID.
All this smoke you’re putting out cannot hide the facts
I AM TRYING TO GET THE FACTS OUT THERE AND NOT FURTHER THE LIES YOU ARE STILL TELLING.
The fact is that I could no longer support my debt burden, that’s why I declared bankruptcy. Go ahead and keep sending letters to State AGs or whomever
THANK YOU, I WILL: IRS, FBI, STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS, ETC.
When they see the facts, not the BS you and your friends are spouting, your nonsense complaints will go nowhere. I have the facts on my side (and all of the documentation)
THEN WHY DIDN’T YOU / DON’T YOU PROVIDE IT? BECAUSE WE BOTH KNOW IT DOESN’T EXIST.
From now on direct your comments to my lawyers.
YOU DON’T GET TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO, ASSHOLE – THE TRUTH IS ON MY SIDE AND THE OTHER 19+ AUTHORS YOU LIED TO, EMBEZZLED FROM, AND CHEATED, AS WELL AS POSSIBLY ANOTHER 30 AUTHORS THAT I HAVE HEARD ABOUT
Stop harassing me
TELLING THE TRUTH PUBLICLY IS NOT HARRASSMENT, STUPID.
Get a life
OF THE TWO OF US, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE ONE WHO DIDN’T SPEND 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, DIDN’T RUN OUT ON MY 4-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, DIDN’T USE MY FIRST WIFE’S HOUSE AS COLLATERAL TO RUN FROM THE LAW, I’M THE ONE WITH A LIFE; YOU HAVE A SERIES OF VERY STUPID MISTAKES AND SERVED TIME IN FEDERASL PRISON – FOR COUNTERFEITING, OF ALL THINGS! THAT’S SOMEONE WITH NO LIFE – AND NO CLUE.
Wid Bastian
POSSIBLY NOT EVEN HIS REAL NAME BECAUSE HE HAS UPWARDS OF 6 ALISES ACCORING TO THE FBI WANTED POSTER
THE STATEMENT FROM CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN REFERRED TO ABOVE, FOLLOWS. PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NOT SIGNED, IS NOT SWORN UNDER OATH, HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED BY ANY OUTSIDE SOURCE, AND CONTAINS A NUMBER OF INACCURRACIES, MISSTATEMENTS, AND OURIGHT LIES:
From 2014 through the end of 2019, I owned and operated a company called Genius Media.
TO DATE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED VERIFICATION THAT ANY SUCH COMPANY EXISTED, ONLY THAT CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN SAID IT DID
I was forced
ODD WORD; HE TOLD US IT GOT ACQUIRED. I GUESS HE LIED
to cease operations of Genius Media for several reasons
TO MY KNOWLEDHE IT DIDN’T CEASE; HE CONTINUED TO SOLICIT VICTIMS
first and foremost because my firm was overleveraged.
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THAT SPECIFICALLY MEANS HERE; WHAT HE MAY MEAN IS, HE TOOK A LOT OF MONEY FROM CLIENTS AND DIDN’T DO THE WORK
The responsibility for any business failure ultimately rests with the owner.
NOTE HOW HE DID NOT SAY “ME” HERE
However, misinformation
HE CANNOT BE REFERRING TO MY POSTS BNECAUSE THERE WAS NO MISINFORMATION IN THEM, ONLY THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW HE INTENTIONALL AND WITH MALICE STOLE FROM CLIENTS WITH THE INTENT TO DEFRAUD, INCLUDING STATEMENTS RECEIVED THAT HE TOOK APPROXIMATELY $10,000 FROM ONE AUTHOR TO TURN A BOOK INTO A SCREENPLAY AND DID NO WORK
was publicly posted about me and Genius Media
AGAIN, A CORPORATION THAT MAY NOT EVEN EXIST
in December 2019 and January 2020.
PRIVATELY, A LOT MORE WAS SAID BUT DECORUM PREVENTS ME FROM POSTING IT HERE
Let me set the record straight.
GET READY FOR THE LIES
In the 1990s, more than 25 years ago, I owned an investment company that
YOU EMBEZZLED FROM AND WERE ORDERED TO PAY $3 MILLION IN RESTUTUTION TO THE VICTIMS
experienced serious problems.
AKA THEFT AND EMBEZZLEMENT
ALSO, ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS REPORTS, WID BASTIAN WAS SENT TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR COUNTERFEITING, ALSO FOR TAKING MORE THAN $800,000 FROM A CLIENT
I am an ex-felon
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, YOU ARE CURRENTLY A CONVICTED FELON; NO COURT HAS WAVIED YOUR CONVICTION NOR EXPUGNED YOUR RECORD NOR ANY GOVERNOR GRANTED YOU A PARDON
based on my involvement with that company
EMBEZZLEMENT, FROM DOCUMENTS, PUBLIC RECORDS I RECEIVED AND INTERVIEWS I CONDUCTED
As a legal matter, the case has been over for 15 plus years.
THIS IS NOT TRUE; CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN WAS REMANDED BY A FEDERAL JUDGE TO NOT HANDLE MONEY FOR ANY CLIENTS EVER AGAIN, WHICH HE VIOLATED WHEN HE INSISTED THE REVENUES FROM AMAZON FOR THE BOX SETS BE PAID TO HIM ON BEHALF OF THE AUTHORS
I never told anyone who asked me anything but the truth about my history
ACTUALLY YOU APPEAR TO HAVE LIED ABOUT IT TO MANY PEOPLE AND LIED ABOUT IT IN THIS VERY DOCUMENT
but I also did not advertise it.
BECAUSE ADVERTISING ISN’T SOMETHING YOU EVER DO, EVEN IF PEOPLE PAY YOU TO DO IT AND YOU PROMISE YOU WILL
This company had nothing to do with the arts (eBooks, films, etc.).
UNLESS YOU CONSIDER EMBEZZLEMENT AN ART FORM
From 2014 through 2019, I promoted hundreds of authors at Genius Media.
PROMOTED, STOLE FROM; POTATO/POTAHTO. INFORMATION INDICATES HE SOLICITED MANY AUTHORS AND SUBSEQUENTLY EMBEZZLED AND DEFRAUDED MANY OF THEM; TO DATE HE HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY RECORDS TO INDICATE HE DID ANY OF THE REQUIRED WORK HE WAS CONTRACTED TO DO
Did every author do well under my eBook promotion system? Of course not.
BOY IS THAT THE TRUTH; DID ANY DO WELL IS A BETTER QUESTION
Did most authors make money
NO, ACCORDING TO 100% OF THE AUTHORS I SPOKE WITH
and/or
THAT AND/OR IS A CUTE WAY TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE AUTHORS MADE MONEY WHEN THEY DIDN’T
substantially build their brand
THAT’S IS A VAGUE AND UNMEASURABLE TERM, BUT IT IS INRTDNDED TO MAKE THE RESDER THINK THE AUTHORS MADE MONEY. THEY DIDN’T. MADE MONEY AND/OR BUILT THEIR BRAND” WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN IN DEFINABLE TERMS? IT IS INTENTIONALL VAGUE HERE TO IMPLY THEY MADE MONEY WHEN THEY DIDN’T.
under my system?
NO PROOF HAS BEEN FURNISHED TO SUBSTANTIATE THIS CLAIM, BUT A LOT OF PROOF HAS BEEN OBTAINED THAT DIRECTLY DISPUTES IT
Absolutely.
ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT
I have documented results with Amazon sales charts, screenshots, emails, etc. to prove this claim.
NO SUCH VERIFIED REPORTS, SCREEN SHOTS, OR EMAILS WERE GIVEN TO ANY CLIENTS THAT I AM AWARE OF; SEVERAL ITEMS WERE CREATED BY CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN BUT WERE UNVERIFIABLE AND APPEAR FRAUDULENT
I have many emails in possession
YOU SHOULD SHARE THEM; A LOT OF PEOPLE YOU ROBBED ARE UPSET THAT YOU HAVE FAKE TESTIMONIALS FROM THEM ON YOUR WEBSITE DESPITE THEM ASKING YOU TO TAKE IT DOWN
some from the same, few authors
VERY FEW
who are now accusing me of deliberately harming them
YES BECAUSE YOU EMBEZZLED FROM THEM AND HAVE FAKE TESTIMONIALS ON YOUR WEBSITE FROM THEM
in one way or another through my 2019 Collabs (see below), telling me how well they did and how happy they were with my eBook promotional services.
ACTUALLY, SEVERAL WENT ONTO KBOARDS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT YOU AND YOU METHODS, TO WARN OTHERS, AND TO ASK QUESTION ABOUT YOUR TACTICS; TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ALL OF THOSE COMPLAINTS WERE TOLD YOU WERE NOT BEING FORTHRIGHT AND WERE SOMEONE TO STAY AWAY FROM; CONVERSELY, YOU APPEAR TO HAVE TRIED TO STEM THE TIDE OF NEGATIVE CRITICISM OF YOUR TACTIC AND WERE BURIED IN COMPLAINS, ULTIMATELY LEAVING THE SITE
I have recorded video testimonials from some of these same authors.
SAYING YOU HAVE THEM DOESN’T MEAN YOU DO, BUT YOU SHOULD SHOW US THOSE AND WE’LL SEE IF THOSE AUTHORS STILL FEEL POSITIVE ABOUT THEIR EXPERICNCE WITH YOU; TO DATE, I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED ANY THAT ARE HAPPY WITH YOU STEALING FROM THEM
Yet somehow, if a few recent posts are to be believed, I morphed into an “eBook Frankenstein”
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT IF YOU ARE WILLING TO REFER TO YOURSELF AS A MONSTER, I WILL CONCEDE YOUR POINT; MONSTER IT IS
and became a bad actor in late 2019
ACTUALLY, WE BELIEVE YOU WERE A BAD ACTOR / MONSTER FOR MUCH LONGER THAN THAT, AND DESPITE TEN YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON YOU SEEM TO HAVE GONE RIGHT TO EMBEZZLEMENT UPON BEING RELASED; YOU COULDN’T STAY CLEAN AT ALL, LOSER
Industry websites who posted or reposted these rants
A RANT IS WHAT THIS DELUSIONAL FANTASY LETTER/STATEMENT IS
should have done their homework
YOU WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THEY DID OR DID NOT DO THEIR HOMEWORK BUT ANYONE WHO LOOKS INTO YOUR METHODS OF STEALING FROM CLIENTS AND VIOLATING AMAZON TERMS OF SERVICE – WHICH CAN GET AN AUTHOR BANNED FROM AMAZON – WILL NO DOUBT BE LABELED AS NOT DOING THEIR HOMEWORK WHEN THEY DECIDE YOU AREN’T HONEST. IT’S NOT THAT YOU’RE A THIEF, THEY JUST DIDN’T DO ENOUGH HOMEWORK. PLEASE PROVIDE US ANY PROOF TO THE CONTRARY SO WE CAN SEE WHAT A SHINING BEACON OF TRUTH AND HARD WORK YOU ARE
if their goal was to provide an accurate and complete picture of my eBook promotion business.
UNLIKE YOUR GOALS WHICH HAVE, FOR UPWARDS OF 20 YEARS, BEEN TO STEAL FROM CLIENTS
In late 2019, when Genius Media
A COMPANY THAT MAY HAVE NEVER EXISTED AND ONE THAT WAS 180 DEGREES MISLABELED; NO GENIUS THERE
was nearing its end
AKA, WID COULDN’T KEEP THE TRUTH FROM COMING OUT, CHECKS WERE DUE AND HE NEEDED TO KEEP THE MONEY HE EMBEZZLED
I filed reports on three Boxed Set Collabs
I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS; MOST AUTHORS IN THE SETS WERE NEVER GIVEN AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FROM CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN OR ANY REPORT AT ALL FROM CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN, BUT THEY WERE REPEATEDLY TOLD ACCOUNTANTS WERE COMPILING IT; NO ACCOUNTANT SIGNED OFF ON ANY INFORMATION TO DATE RECEIVED FROM CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN – COINCIDENCE? MORE FRAID AND DECEPTION? ARE YOU HOPING WE’D FORGET YOU SAID ALL THOSE THINGS? WE HAVE IT IN SCREEN SHOTS FROM FACEBOOK PAGES
I ran in 2019. Two of those three Collabs were successful
INVESTORS BELIEVE A SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT IS ONE THAT PAYS ITS INVESTORS; WHEREAS CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN SEEMS TO BELIEVE A SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT IS HIM KEEPING ALL THE MONEY AND NOT DOING THE WORK AS PER THE CONTRACT
all of the authors involved became USA Today Bestselling Authors
THAT’S DEMONSTRABLY NOT TRUE, AND MANY WERE ALREADY USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHORS
(for a fee of $750 per author, not a penny more)
THAT IS ALSO NOT TRUE; ANY LEGIT READING OF THE CONTRACT WILL SHOW THE FEE WAS $750 AND THAT $750 FEE WAS FOR ALL MARKETING EXPENSES AND SALARIES; 1005 OF THE PREORDER REVENUES WERE TO BE PAID TO CHARITIES, 1005 OF THE REVENUES FROM THE SET WERE TO BE PAID TO THE AUTHORS – WHICH NEVER HAPPENED, IN VIOLATION OF THE CONTRACT, WHICH I SAID TO YOU AT THE TIME. YOU BEGGED FOR MORE TIME, DURING WHICH YOU DECLARED BANKRUPTCY – AFTER HIDING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND NOT TALKING TO ANYONE IN THE SET
One Collab did not reach that goal.
IT IS ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS FOR CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN TO STATE WHAT THE GOALS OF THE AUTHORS WERE, SINCE MANY WANTED TO MAKE MONEY ON AN INVESTMENT AND DID NOT MAKE MONEY BUT WERE EMBEZZLED FROM
I was legally obligated to wrap up the affairs under the terms and conditions as stated in the signed Collab contracts
ACTUALLY, CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIN VIOLATED THE TERMS OF THE CONTACT AND THE TERMS OF SERVICE OF AMAZON INC, AS WELL AS MISSING DEADLINES FOR SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE IN SAID COINTRACTS
I did just that.
NO, YOU STOLE ALL THE MONEY AND DID NOT PERFORM THE WORK AS PER THE CONTRACT
A few of the authors in these Collabs got angry
I AM NOT CERTAIN ANY WERE ANGRY WHEN THE ALLEGED REPORTS WERE ISSUED, BUT CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIN CANNOT KNOW THE STATE OF MIND OF THE VICTIMS; BUT CONCEDING HIS VICTIMS WERE ANGRY, ONE MIGHT THINK HE WOULD PROVIDE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RECIPTS OR OTHER EVIDENCE TO SHOW HE DID THE WORK, WHICH WAS ASKED FOR BUT NEVER PROVIDED
when those reports were issued. They published false statements about me
I AM UNAWARE OF ANYONE PUBLISHING FALSE STATEMENTS ABOUT CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN
that were picked up by a few industry websites
I AM UNAWARE OF ANY INDUSTRY WEBSITES PICKING UP FALSE STATEMNETS; RATHER, SEVERAL THAT I BECAME AWARE OF DISCOVERED ADDITION VICTIMS OF CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN
and bloggers.
The final Collab reports were prepared under the supervision of legal and accounting counsel.
THIS IS DEMONSTRABLY NOT TRUE AND APPEARS TO BE A COMPLETE FABRICATION; NO REPUTABLE ACCOUNTING FIRM OR LAWYER HAS SIGNED OFF ON ANY FINANCIAL REPORTS THAT CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN SENT OUT, AND MOST AUTHORS RECEIVED NO STATEMENTS FROM CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN AT ALL
I also provided revenue and expense documentation to the authors along with a report. Here are three determinative provisions of these reports. One, I was only allowed, by the terms of the contracts, to distribute “net income.” There was no “net income” to distribute.
BY ARTIFICIALLY INFLATING WAGES CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN CREATED FAKE EXPENSEDS IN EXCESS OF ALL REVENUES, WITHHELD REVENUE INFORMATION FROM THE INVESRTORS, AND PROVIDED NO VERIFICATION OF ANY EXPENSES, SO THE STATEMENTS ARE FALSE AND FRAUDULENT ON THEIR FACE; ADDITIONALLY, CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN NEVER PROVIDED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO THE INDIVIDUAL AUTHORS IN THE SET AS HE ALLEGES, BUT RATHER GAVE A SUMMARY OF SEVERELY INADEQUATE REPORTING TO ONE AUTHOR AND TOLD THAT AUTHOR TO GIVE IT TO EVERYONE ELSE, DESPITE CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN HAVING THE EMAIL ADDRESS OF EVERY AUTHOR IN THE SET
Two, each contract began at a specific time and ended at a specific time.
NONE OF THE CONTRACTS I WITNESSED STATED THAT
Revenue or expenses outside of the contract period could not be included in the reconciliation.
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT HE’S BABBLING ABOUT HERE
Three, Genius Media was the sole determiner of expenses – no other person or entity had the right to determine expenses.
EXCEPT THAT PEOPLE CANNOT CONTRACT TO PERFORM ILLEGAL ACTIVITOES, WICH YOU DID WHEN YOU KNWINGLY ACTED TO DEFRAUDE THE VICTIMES; THAT STATEMENT (ABOVE) IS THE KEY RIGHT THERE, CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED EXPENES AND THEN SAID HE WAS THE SOLE DETERMINANT OF THE EXPENSES, A MOVE DECIDEDLY NOT WITHIN GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, NOT AN ARMS LENGTH TRANSACTION, ALLOWS FOR MONETARY MANIPULATION IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW, AND IS DECEPTIVE ON ITS FACE
All expenses were conservatively calculated
NO, THEY WERE GROSSLY EXCESSIVE
and documented
THEY WERE NOT DOCUMENTED AT ALL.
Lastly, I’ve seen reference to a provision in these contracts stating that “expenses cannot exceed fees.” Author fees were paid for “participating” in the Collab, not as a determiner of expenses (this exact language is found in each contract). What this provision prevented was a “cash call” – asking authors for more money than their $750 fee to promote the Collab. No author, in any of my 2019 Collabs, paid one dime more than their $750 fee.
THAT’S NOT TRUE
Two of the three Collabs made the USA Today Bestseller list – that means those 30 authors achieved this USA Today goal for the price of $750.
TO IMPLY THAT IT MIRACULOUSLY HAPPENED WITHOUT MANY NEWSLETTER SWAPS, CONSTANT POSTING IN Facebook groups, swaps, and the efforts of two separate charities is a willful misrepresentation of the facts
I did nothing wrong
UNLESS YOU CONSIDER LYING AND EMBEZZLENET WRONG, PREDATORY PRACTICES, AS WELL AS FRAUD, THEFT, VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, VIOLATING AMAZON’S TERMS OF SERVICE, AND PRETENDING TO HAVE YOUR COMPANY GET ACQUIRED BY ANOTHER THAT YOU THEN SAID YOU OWNED
from a legal perspective
IT WOULD BE BEST FOR ALL TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE FROM PERSONS OTHER THAN A CONVICTED FELON AND ALLEGED SOCIOPATH, THANK YOU
on these Collabs.
I did not communicate well
BECAUSE YOU WERE LYING TO THEM ABOUT REVENUES EARNED AND MAKING STATEMNTS ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY WOULD MAKE
with the authors from October 2019 forward.
YOU DROPPED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH, STOPPED RETURNING CALLS, REFUSED CERTIFIED LETTERS, BLOCKED THE AUTHORS FROM THE SET ON FACEBOOK, AND REFUSED TO RETURN THEIR EMAILS, WHILE TAKING THEIR MONEY AND DEFRAUDING THE CHARITIES THEY PLEDGED – WITH YOU – MONEY TO
I could and should have done better in that area.
IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE HOW YOU COULD HAVE DONE WORSE, EXCEPT WHEN ONE REALIZES YOU WERE INTENTIONALLY STEALING FROM THEM AND TRYING TO GET AWAY, THEN IT MAKES TOTAL SENSE
That said
THAT GROUP OF LIES SAID
my legal obligation was to wrap up the affairs of each Collab properly.
NO ONE BELIEVES ANY LEGAL COUNSEL WAS SOUGHT BY CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN EXCEPT TO DECLARE BANKRUPTCY
The allegation that I “scammed” authors in these Collabs or filed false reports is not only false; it is defamatory.
NOT ONLY IS IT TRUE, IT IS THE BEST WAY TO SUM UP YOUR ACTIVITIES, LACK OF EXPLANATIONS, EXCESSIVE FEES, LACK OF DOCUMENTATION, AND SUBSEQUENT MANIPULATION OF THE BANKRUPTCY LAWS
As I said in the first paragraph, I am ultimately responsible for the demise of Genius Media.
WE ALL SAW GOODFELLAS; THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF LIGHTING A MATCH TO THE COPA
Despite my best efforts and intentions
TO NOT GET CAUGHT
I did not succeed.
YOU SURE DID NOT! PRISON AWAITS AGAIN, JAIL BIRD
This failure
OR FRAUD, DEPENDING ON YOUR POINT OF VIEW
has not only hurt me
NO ONE BELIEVES YOU WERE HURT, WID; IN FACT, PROFESSIONALS FEEL YOU ARE A SOCIOPATH INCAPABLE OF FEELING
my family
SPEAKING OF FAMILY, YOU ALLEGEDLY WALKED OUT ON YOUR FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, LEVERAGED YOU FIRST WIFE’S HOUSE TO PAY YOUR WAY OUT OF PRISON SO YOU COULD GO ON THE RUN, AND DID YOU REALLY TELL THE KID YOU HAD ANOTHER FAMILY WAITING IN UTAH? MEANWHILE,
and friends
ALL OF WHOM YOU STOLE FROM AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER, MY REPORTS SAY
it also negatively impacted my clients
OR YOU ABILITY TO PROCURE NEW ONES AKA VICTIMS, AND ONE CAN ONLY HOPE SO
some far more than others.
NO MENTION OF THE CHARITIES YOU DEFRAUDED/ HOMELESS VETERANS AND PET SHELTERS? THEY CAN GO SCREW THEMSELVES?
Dealing with this matter is tough enough
FOR US, IT IS!
but when a few
MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY
people post unsubstantiated
THE TRUTH
Defamatory
THE TRUTH
Allegations
TRUTHS
about me and Genius Media and those false
NONE OF IT IS FALSE
statements are then picked up by industry sites
YOU WISH; THE INDUSTRY STILL DOESN’T KNOW YOU EXIST
and given a false aura of legitimacy
IT IS COMPLETELY LEGIT AND VERIFIABLE
substantial harm has been done
BY YOU, FELON
that cannot be undone, even with a clarification
LIE
or retraction.
FEEL FREE TO RETRACT ANY OF YOUR LIES AT ANY TIME, MAKE RESTITUTION, ADMIT WHAT YOU DID TO YOUR VICTIMS, REPORT YOUR EARINGS TO THE IRS, REPORT YOUR ACTIONS TO THE FBI, AND TAKE YOUR PRISON TIME LIKE AN ADULT.
Wid Bastian
UNSIGNED, AND ONE OF MANY ALIASES
February 3, 2020
THE DATE IS POSSIBLY THE ONLY CORRECT THING HE PUT IN THIS STATEMENT
February 5, 2020
Wid Bastian Declares BANKRUPTCY (Again)
Convicted felon, con man, and alleged marketer Wid Bastian has just filed for bankruptcy – again.
Guess he messed with the wrong people.
But don’t worry. Prison still awaits, Wid! It seems the Utah state Attorney General (I spoke with their office again this morning) has a real dislike for people who defraud charities, which Wid did when he embezzled over $20,000 from our box set and the two charities we pledged the money to.
And check out his old Wanted poster – I think a new one will be coming soon!
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If you see this very ugly, very stupid felon and con man, hold on to your wallet and run!
Is he UGLY or what???
For more about convicted felon, alleged sociopath and marketer Wid Bastian, click HERE
February 4, 2020
Advanced praise for “Terminal Sequence:” mind blowing!
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“Just finished Terminal Sequence. Mind blowing to say the least. My favorite of the 3 books so far.”
– A loyal reader who got an advance copy
Is Wid Bastian a SOCIOPATH? Decide for yourself with this handy checklist
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Recently I wrote about an alleged marketer con man named Wid Bstsian, who served time in prison for fraud – and then got out and went right back to ripping people off, including me and 19 of my author friends
A source who was previously close to convicted felon Wid Bastian indicated that during court proceedings professionals stated that Wid was a sociopath – a condition known previously as “morally insane.”
Is convicted felon and con man Wid Bastian a sociopath? Using this handy checklist, decide for yourself.
Here are some of the common features and descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.
Glibness and Superficial Charm
Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as “their right.”
Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.
Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
Incapacity for Love
Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.
Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others’ feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.
Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet “gets by” by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.
Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others’ lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.
Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.
Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.
Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.
Other Related Qualities:
Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
Authoritarian
Secretive
Paranoid
Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
Conventional appearance
Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim’s life
Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim’s affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
Incapable of real human attachment to another
Unable to feel remorse or guilt
Extreme narcissism and grandiose
May state readily that their goal is to rule the world
(The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare. and ere taken from https://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html)
I’m not a mental health professional, but if you look at that list, people who have met Wid Bastian would agree – he displays almost every one of those items.
Sleep well, Widstoe Bastian, while you can.
The Attorney General of the State of Utah will be calling upon you SOON.
February 3, 2020
Wid Bastian RIPPED ME OFF, TOO! More victims come forward.
By now you have seen my post about convicted felon Wid Bastian (below), a “marketer” who I believe is nothing but a thief and con man.
Why do I say that?
Well, he DID TIME IN PRISON for that very thing!
Nic pic. Did they snap the camera on “two” and you were waiting for “three”?
This post will add additional information to the original. Scroll down for updates, highlighted in red.
I recently became a USA Today bestselling, something I’m very proud of. But in the process, Wid Bastian, an alleged marketer and convicted felon, stole more than $20,000 from me and other authors I worked with.
That’s not okay.
(I have no concerns about what follows because the truth is the best defense. Here goes.)
The idea was…
cross market between 17 authors, our fan bases, our newsletter subscribers (some of these authors have 30,000 subscribers!), buy ads, AND – this is big – get a few big charities to work with us: we’d give 100% of the preorder money to the charities if they advertised our book to their donor list (that’s tens of thousands of people, gang).
So… we did.
The charities, contacted by authors in the group, advertised our books to their donor list.
The authors cross marketed.
We networked.
We tweeted and posted and a bunch of other stuff, to build a critical mass to get our books the recognition necessary to sell enough copies to make the USA Today bestseller list.
We worked hard.
We helped others who had less experience.
The set manager/marketer, convicted felon Wid Bastian, did very little as far as we can tell.
February 2020 UPDATE: Wid Bastian aliases:
Wid Bastian
Widstoe Bastian
Widstoe Bastion
Bastian Widsoe
Ted Giady
Paul J. Hutson
Glenn Alan Taylor
Widstoe T. Bastian
and more
(Some of these are said to be identification thefts)
Good grief, this loser has played more characters than Harrison Ford!
His co-conspirators like Cameron Davis and others used to work for Genius Media and now work for Kairos Phoenix, but there could be dozens of shell companies, so you have to stay alert.
According to my sources, Wid went to prison for ten years for fraud and stealing over $3 million dollars.
My sources also allege:
CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN walked out on his four year old daughter because “I have a new family in Utah” and she never saw him again
CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN converted religions four times in efforts to gain favor with whatever audience he was in front of
CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN stole over $800,000 from one client
CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN likes to hang out in Las Vega and Utah with high school friends. He allegedly lives in Providence, Utah
CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN is a fan of Facebook, so public posts about him would probably eventually be seen by him or friends of his, who would share it with him
CONVICTED FELON WID BASTIAN was said by professionals during court proceedings to be a sociopath (like we didn’t know that already) NOTE: In the 1830’s this disorder was called “moral insanity.”
According to MyLife, Wid Bastian has a consumer safety rating of “bad.” The site shows multiple red flag warnings indicating
Widstoe Bastian “DOES have arrest or criminal records” and
“DOES have lawsuits, liens or bankruptcies.”
We now know a lot of that is true.
This isn’t sour grapes. We EACH paid $750 for ads to promote our books. 17 x $750 = $12,500, which was to buy ads and pay expenses. We made a TON of royalties in a short period, adding up to over $20,000 combined.
But apparently, Wid Bastian and Cameron Davis had other ideas for him and his co-conspirators. It seems
they decided their expenses were magically going to equal JUST a little more than the total of ALL the fees the authors paid AND ALL THE ROYALTY MONIES EARNED.
THEY KEPT ALL THE MONEY.
EVERY CENT.
They kept the fees. They kept the royalties. They kept the money the promised to charities.
All of it.
Well, gang, in my opinion, that’s just fraud.
(Seems the Florida Attorney General agrees with me, too, as does the AG in half a dozen other states.)
The contract says he can’t keep all the money.
But it gets better! Before he told us that lie, he kept telling us he needed to file a report or get with an accountant to make sure the numbers were right, DELAYING the payment deadline.
That’s a big old red flag.
Then, on the DAY OF deadline, he said his company got acquired that day and he was really busy. Like, he tripped of this acquisition in the dark – whoops! how did that acquisition get there? – and had no idea it was about to happen. Because that makes total sense. (I’ve done a few acquisition when I was at a Fortune 500 company working my way toward President’s Circle. Acquisitions just happen out of the blue! Uh huh.)
Here are some other fun facts.
Wid has engaged with dozens of other authors, writers and filmmakers, pulling the same scam.
But…
We aren’t stupid.
Criminal complaints have been filed by more than half a dozen state Attorney Generals regarding the founder of this company, Wid Bastion and his aliases, among them Cameron Davis, formerly of Genius Media. The IRS has been contacted, as well as the FTC and FBI, as well as a criminal attorney who instructed us to file certain notices to Wid via email and certified mail…
My advice is: DO NOT do business with this company. Duh.
How Wid and his scammers operate:
Method 1: The Box Set Marketing Scam
In early 2019, Wid Bastion and his associates via Genius Media targeted authors, entering into contracts with more than 17 individual authors for book marketing services, and defrauded each of them, as well as defrauding at least two charities he encouraged them to use as network partners. Wid violated the terms of his agreements, paying none of the more than $20,000 in fees and royalties generated from these contracts.
Allegedly, Kairos Phoenix company took over “Genius Media” on the very day that the checks were due to the set participants. Wid Bastian gave numerous excuses for delaying the payments, in what appears to some to be a Ponzi scheme. His plan appears to be to create a company, bilk the customers out of their royalties and fees, and then fold the company and create a new one.
BEWARE. Widtsoe Bastian is 59 years old and was born on 04/06/1960. Widtsoe Bastian lives in Providence, UT; previous cities include Saint George UT, Las Vegas NV and Reno NV. Sometimes Widtsoe goes by various nicknames including Widtsoe T Bastiam, Widstoe T Bastian, Bastian Widtsoe, Wid Bastian and Widsoe Bastian. He currently claims to work as a Publisher, Editor and Writer at Genius Media, Inc., and now Kairos Phoenix company.
Wid Bastian’s scheme appears to involve sending UNSOLICITED letters to authors, writers, and filmmakers stating “My name is Wid Bastian and I own Genius Media, an eBook promotion company. I’m reaching out to you today because you are a well branded Indie author. Your (genre) books are fantastic! I wish that I had time to read all of them. I have peeked at a couple, read reviews of your work and scanned your author bio…” However, Wid Bastian has repeatedly been labeled on K-Boards as someone authors should stay away from.
His form letter appears to contain “positive” references from at least one author who is suing him for breach of contract and fraud.
How Wid and his scammers operate
Method 2: The Screenplay Scam
Sources tell me Wid allegedly met with authors in person or by email and told them he had connections in Hollywood, had written many screenplays, and would get their book turned into a major motion picture or TV series
All they had to do was hire a screen writer and Wid would get the wheels turning!
Of course, they didn’t know a screenwriter, but Wid did – so he collected a fee to get the screenplay written and then start showing it around to Hollywood people.
In one case that was reported to me, Wid is alleged to have taken over $6000 from the author but did no work
In another case an author told me of, Wid allegedly took over $10,000 from her to produce a screen play and did none of the work
In another case, it is suspected that Wid took a substantial fee and promised a TV series but so far… only a bankruptcy filing for a company that may or may not have even existed!
Remember: in the past, Wid stole money from family and friends totaling approximately $3,000,000 to fund his schemes and lavish lifestyle, resulting in a 10-year prison sentence
There are a LOT of people who will rip you off in this business. You have to be careful. I wasn’t.
I achieved USA Today bestseller status because I networked and cross marketed with 16 other authors and two charities. We aren’t sure Wid bought ANY ads.
We actually aren’t sure what “marketers” Wid Bastian and Cameron Davis he did – except keep all our fees and royalties.
The fees were supposed to be an investment to buy ads and pay the salaries for managing us, but they kept OUR ROYALTIES, which we were supposed to get – and there were a LOT of royalties!
He kept it ALL.
So, in my opinion, Wid Bastian is a piece of shit, and so is Cameron Davis and their cohorts. Avoid them, and tell your friends to avoid them.
He offers to give you something you want – USA Today, networking, interaction with other authors who sell tons of books, better exposure – but you can do that without him (as we did), and without losing a lot of money to a thief.
How to protect yourself:
Hey, Google any marketer you think about using. Ask friends. 99% of the time that will tell you what you need to know. K-Boards had a TON of warnings about Wid Bastian, by reputable authors who asked questions no one could answer.
Usually, the thief wins because they take advantage of people’s good natures and the embarrassment and shame that comes from being ripped off.
Ha! Not in this case! I have no shame. And I have author friends who I will protect from you.
Wid, you ripped me off. I’ll do my best to make sure you don’t rip off anyone else.
Check out this video interview I did with two law enforcement officers about Wid.
The good part (about getting ripped off by Wid) starts at around 30 minutes into the video.
I’ll get satisfaction on my terms.
This post is just one small, itsy bitsy step.
Oh, and by the way, I was able to TELL the piece of shit Wid Bastian weeks ago on Facebook that I was on to him and that I knew he was a thief. (That felt good.) He replied, which means he read the comments I made calling him out. Each reply was basically a delay tactic – a request to be nice and give him more time, like this one, which came in an email after he’d had enough of Facebook (I cut some parts out to keep it to the relevant stuff):
Dan;
I have fully explained to you what’s going on. Everything I’ve said in my posts is 100% true. You have no reason to believe otherwise. What you’re doing now is inappropriate and will help no one…
Why will you not give me a few days to get all of this done? I am not asking for weeks, just a few days… I’ve been in this business for years.
Please calm down and give me a few days. This will be handled.
Wid Bastian, Piece Of Shit
(I added that last part after his name)
A few days later, he stopped replying to all of us – and about 10 days after, that
we got an email saying his salary ate up all the fees and royalties.
Who could have seen that coming?
Oh, we did.
So, we’re going through the channels to stop this thievery, and you can help by reblogging, posting this on social media, etc., so whenever anyone does a search for Wid Bastian, this is what comes up. The courts and state Attorney Generals will do the rest, but sharing this info with your friends might keep them from wasting time and money with a thief.
BTW, I have not lost one bit of sleep over this. I gambled and lost, and I’ve sought legal representation to ensure Wid Bastian and Cameron Davis are stopped. So have at least 25 other victims of these assholes.
They get to lose sleep, not me.
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January 28, 2020
How to show nervousness in a character
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Things you can see a character do when they are nervous (as in, show don’t tell).
1. Make a list and add them to your story
2. Keep the list handy when you need to replace an overused word or phrase.
It make crutch word removal slightly less mind-numbing.
Swallow hard
Sweat (a bead of sweat rolled down her neck)
Traveling fingers
Tapping toes
Fidgeting with your clothing
Knees knocking
Shift from one foot to the other
Tug at your collar
Sweat appears on your armpits
Tremble
Wet their pants
Hands are shaking
Glance around
Stammer
Use words like um, uh
Breathe hard
Inhale to calm your nerves
Panting
Gasp
Eyes go wide
Jaw/mouth hangs open
Look down
Look away
Avoid eye contact
Stare at the floor
Stare at the ceiling or wall
Purse your lips
Put a finger to your lip
Chew your lip
Possibly grit your teeth
Create a nervous habit like they rub their fingers together and have the same person do it when they are nervous
Run your hand through your hair
Wipe their hand across their face/mouth
Others (can’t see these but in a character’s POV they feel them)
Heart raced
Heart pounded
pulse throbbed in her ears
gut aches
stomach jolts
January 25, 2020
5 stars is NOT enough!
THE GAMMA SEQUENCE
I received this book for an honest review.
I can’t say it any better than the five star reviews.
The action reminded me of a Jason Bourne movie. In fact if this book were made into a movie I would be the first to buy a ticket.
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The character development for even minor actors was excellent. The dialog pithy and believable. Some might say the plot borders on science fiction but it is closer to the truth than any would want to believe. Evil, greedy, power hungry people will take something scientists can use for good and pervert it. It touches on human trafficking and organ harvesting, both a reality already. Many exciting twists and turns. I could hardly put it down, even to sleep.
You WILL NOT be disappointed.
I was satisfied with the ending. Dan is now a new favorite author. Too bad I could only give 5 stars!!
– Amazon review
Get your copy of The Gamma Sequence here!
January 21, 2020
Watch me on YouTube- I get interviewed about books, marketing scams, and More!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6siY_17Gek&feature=youtu.be
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