It all started out so innocently. All I did was send “book marketing expert” Siani Stuart a link to last week’s post, where I exposed them as being a scammer with no idea what they were talking about. And then matters took a surreal turn. I could tell you about it. Or I could do what the writing teachers are always urging and show you. Buckle your seat-belts. I guarantee you’ve never seen it go down like this before!
Siani Stuart: hi madam
Alina Adams: Thank you for this: https://alinaa.substack.com/p/3-book-marketing-terms-we-guarantee
SS: What this for You sent
AA: Read it
SS: Why I don't have the time
AA: Oh, ok, then. I thought you'd be happy that I shared your unique marketing services with all my writer friends. Are you not happy with the free promotion?
SS: I am
https://www.amazon.com/Five-Wishes-Mr-Murray-McBride/dp/1684330408/ref=sr_1_20?adgrpid=160760771251&hvadid=678787779256&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1010297&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=7124419066193094013&hvtargid=kwd-1981808424222&hydadcr=21242_13332211&keywords=best+selling+books+2023+paperback&qid=1708135190&sr=8-20
here is the author i help you can check out
AA: Great, what's his email, I'll ask him about you.
SS: abdulsamadooeyemi7@gmail.com message him
AA: That's the email of the author? Why is it different from his pen name?
SS: this what he use
AA: Oh, wait, I found a different contact number for him at his home page. I think I'll use that one, it's the one he tells readers to use.
SS: okay but you can first chart here on the email
AA: How do i know you're telling the truth? What if the email you gave me is somebody who works with you and will lie to me?
SS: miss am not the kind of person
AA: Oh, and I found his agent's email, too. Will contact the agent, since this is a business inquiry, after all.
SS: alright
AA: What should I tell the agent you did for him, so I can confirm you work, and how much did he pay you for it?
SS: tell him my name and the price is $250
AA: Great, will do. and i'll let you know what he says.
SS: will you talk to him now
AA: I just emailed both the author and the agent. I sent them a screenshot of our conversation, so they'll know what we were talking about. And a link to your Facebook
SS: you can message the mail so that he can answer you fast
AA: Oh, I have an idea. why don't you just have him contact me directly on here. You seem to really want me to speak to him, ASAP.
AA: okay give me your mail for contact
SS: Oh, no, just have him contact me here. He has a FB page, I saw it.
(Later that day)
AA: Great news, I heard back from the author you said you promoted this morning!
SS: So what did he say
AA: It was very strange, he claimed he never heard of you or your services. How could that be?
SS: It a lie He deny me
AA: Oh, and I got an email back from the author, too. He says you didn't work for him, either. Want me to forward it to you?
SS: Okay let me see it
AA: I forwarded it to that email you sent me earlier.
SS: So what did he say
AA: I sent it to your email, the one you sent me above. Did you get it?
SS: i don't get it i will tell he to message you on Facebook now
AA: Haven't gotten anything yet. Are you two not in constant touch?
SS: have not get anything from him
AA: Weird, since he's a client and you did so much for him. Think he'd jump on the chance to tell me how terrific you were and made him a best-seller.
SS: so are ready for your books promotion now
AA: As soon as I hear from your last client, sure.
SS: i will tell him to message you now but you can also message the mail send to you
AA: I did. Didn't you get it? I sent it yesterday. It was the email you gave me.
SS: that one of my author i work for
AA: I was nervous that it wasn't really his email, since it didn't have his name in it, but somebody else's name. So I sent it to him, now have him forward it to you, since he is one of your authors. That way I'll know for sure you guys worked together.
SS: did you trust me now or not
AA: Of course not. You haven't done even one of the things I've asked you to do.
SS: but he side no body message him
AA: You asked him? I thought you said you hadn't heard from him. Which is it?
SS: send me your mail so i can send it to him
AA: He just friended me on Facebook. He can use that.
(And now we switch to my conversation with best-selling author Joe Siple)
Joe Siple: hello am from siani
AA: You are the best-selling author? He worked for you? What did he do for you?
JS: she help me with my book alot
AA: How?
JS: and today am the one of the best seller
AA: Of what book?
JS: by using some plan to promoter it
AA: And it was because of her plan that you became a best-selling author? And this is your Facebook page that you are writing me from?
JS: yes
AA: You are a best-selling author, but your page was just created today and you have no friends except for me?
AA: yes this my second account i don't chart any how on my first account \
AA: So you created this whole account just to chat with me?
JS: no
AA: So why am I your only FB friend, then?
JS: pleas what did you want from me now i don't have time for this
AA: I wanted to make sure you were Joe Siple, the best-selling author who got your marketing done by Siani Stuart.
(At this point, Siani pops back up.)
SS: what did he say
AA: Hasn't said anything yet. Won't answer any of my questions. Are you sure he's your friend? Because he isn't saying nice things about you. I would be very careful about using him as a reference. He is making you look bad.
(Now Joe is back!)
JS: my first promotion he did was $250 and the second one is about $305 and i will do book promotion this week and i will still have to give him now
AA: How many books did you sell for that promotion?
JS: I sell many books
AA: How many for $250 promotion?
JS: only one book for $250
AA: You paid $250 and only sold ONE book?
JS: yes all the book promotion i did that i paid $250
AA: So you paid $250 and all you managed to sell was one book? How is that a good deal, I don't understand.
JS: because people buy from me
AA: So how many books did this promotion help you sell?
JS: i sell many books
AA: How many? If I am going to pay $250 I want to know how many books I will sell so I will know if it's worth it.
JS: Siani he is a good promoter
AA: I thought you said Siani was a she. If Siani is a good promoter, how many books did Siani sell for you?
JS: in a mouth i sell about 400 books in a mouth
AA: So you became a best-selling writer even though you can't write in English very well?
JS: so are you going try her or not
AA: Is Siani a her or a him, you keep changing your mind.
JS: her
AA: Oh, one more question. I contacted your agent, and he said you never used Siani as a promoter. Can you explain that?
SS: the agent did not remember her name
AA: Oh, that makes sense. Final question, I promise: I have this device on my computer that can track where messages are coming from. Why does it show that you and Sinai are writing from the same place? Will you admit you’re the same person?
JS: what are you saying i don't understand you we are not same person
AA: Then why are you writing me from the same place? You are supposed to be in America, and Sinai is supposed to be in Africa, but the computer shows you are writing from the same place.
JS: yes this my African account madam
AA: You are in Africa? Even though your website says you live in America. But you are in Africa. In the same room as Sinai?
JS: hey what all this i don't live with her stop all this
AA: Oh, but the computer says you're together now. Does your wife know? Oh, no, did I discover your secret affair?
JS: i don't your computer is good madam
AA: I don't want to be mixed up in your affair. How awful. I'm sorry, I can't work with someone who would do something like this! This is terrible, your poor wife! How could you cheat on her?
(Because Joe strangely stopped engaging, I went back to Siani.)
AA: Joe says he is in the same room with you right now! Is this true???
SS: same room what all this we are not tougher
AA: Oh, but he says you are. He says he's with you in Africa and you are having an affair. I cannot be part of something so awful!
SS: i don't know you can do this to me
AA: I am emailing Joe's wife right now, she needs to know!
SS: if you don't trust me you can block the both of us
AA: OK, this is bizarre. I just emailed Joe's wife, and she emailed right back to say Joe is in the hospital, so he couldn't be messaging me right now. What is going on here????
SS: the person that is emailing you is fake
AA: Joe is a fake? But you were the one who connected us? So you're a fake too?
SS: you told me that is wife say joe is in hospital that a lie
AA: So when I contacted Joe's wife through Joe's website that's not his wife? Joe's website has an email for his wife that's someone who isn't his wife?
SS: Joe is not in the hospital
AA: His wife says he is. How would you know he's not unless he was there with you right now and you were having an affair?
SS: who is with me
AA: Joe! The only way you would know he isn't in the hospital is if he was with you instead of his wife.
(Look who is back! It’s Joe!)
JS: am not in the hospital
AA: Then why does your wife say you are? And how do you know what she said? I only told Siani?
JS: siani told me now
AA: So you ARE together!
SS: we are not she chart me now
AA: This is so awful. Your poor wife. How can you do this to her? I am going to tell everyone on-line about this, make sure no one buys your books or uses Siani's services ever again. You are horrible people! Your poor wife thinks you're in the hospital, and you are cheating on her, instead!
JS: you can do that because am not a horrible person
AA: You're making me cry, this is so sad.
JS: making you cry for what
AA: You lying to your wife, cheating on her, putting me in the middle.
JS: i don't lie to my wife hey lady why are you layer you are a layer
AA: I don't think someone who can't spell liar should be claiming to be a best-selling author. Might make me think you're the "layer."
And this is where I left things, despite further messages from both. Sinai was willing to negotiate, writing, “I don't know maybe he in hospital because he don't tell me anything about that.” Tell me, should I keep this soap-opera going or have we all had enough? If you want to know what happens next, I suggest using the email they sent me. The one that belonged to the author. That had a completely different name. Maybe you can contribute the next episode of this riveting saga!
From the real Joe Siepe (shared with his permission):
Alina,
Thank you so much for sending this. Unfortunately, you're not the first. The other day, a reader sent me a link to a Facebook page where someone was pretending to be me. Seeing pictures of my books on a page where someone else claimed to write them was a surreal experience, I can tell you.
I just spoke with a lawyer friend of mine about what I can do about this. Unfortunately, it sounds like it'll be a game of "whack-a-mole". But I wouldn't even know it was going on without people like you informing me, so I really appreciate you taking the time to do that. If you happen to run across anyone else pretending to be me, please let me know.
Thanks again and take care,
-Joe
This could be an SNL skit... hilarious