The Screen-L moderating system slipped up recently and allowed two posts from Woodside International Literary Agency to slip through (see below). Unbeknownst to us, Woodside is a frequent sender of bulk e-mail (spam) and has been accused of many improprieties. As a "literary agency," their business practices have been called into question. In addition, they have been accused of using the Internet to merciless harass one individual (Jayne Hitchcock) who complained about their operation. The story of this alleged harassment has been covered by The New York Times, Dallas Observer, Houston Press, and other sources both online and off. For the full story, visit Hitchcock's Web page: http://www.geocities.com/~hitchcockc/woodside.html Moreover, ccording to an article by Jack Mingo, a lawsuit has been filed against Woodside by Hitchcock: On January 13 of this year [1997], in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, [Hitchcock's lawyer] Young filed a lawsuit against Ursula Sprachmann and any other "John Does and Richard Roes...of the Woodside Literary Agency," asking for actual and punitive damages totaling $10 million. Explains Young: "The suit charges that Woodside and its cohorts have terrorized and harassed Jayne Hitchcock through a pattern of racketeering which includes forgery, libelous defamation and other criminal activity by which the defendants wilfully and maliciously have caused her acute emotional distress and placed her in fear of sexual or other physical assault and of her very life." ( http://www.dallasobserver.com/extra/cyberstalk.html ) The Woodside incident illustrates once again that if you are a writer, especially one just starting out, you should ALWAYS be suspicious of an agency that asks for money to read a manuscript, as is Woodside's practice. -- Jeremy Butler [log in to unmask] Woodside International Literary Agency post: Now*accepting <new> and <previously published> writers for publication. We are a NEW=YORK based international literary agency with three offices: 2 in NEW=YORK and one in <FLORIDA.> <Please follow guidelines for submission:> For ALL fiction, including screenplays for TV & Movies: Send us a <brief synopsis>, the first chapter, and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope=S.A.S.E. Short Stories: Send brief synopsis, 3 pages, S.A.S.E. Poetry: Send 3 poems, S.A.S.E. For ALL nonfiction: Send us a <brief synopsis>, the first chapter, and include a S.A.S.E. Do not send complete manuscript unless invited. <WOODSIDE=INTERNATIONAL=LITERARY=AGENCY> <Thirty Three Twenty Nine 58 St.> <Wood-Side, New York> <zip: 1.1.3.7.7> <(Tel)=={718}=651=8145> AFTER MAY 10, 1997, please submit your material to our branch office at: Woodside International Literary Agency 1190=North=Collier=Blvd. Marco Island, Florida zip: 34145 Tel: 941-642-9660 ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama.