Ten Percent of Nothing: The Case of the Literary Agent from Hell

by Jim Fisher

Former FBI agent Jim Fisher upends the genteel racket of fee-based literary agents and vanity publishers in this searing look at the rise and fall of one bogus entrepreneur who systematically swindled thousands of would-be writers out of millions of dollars with promises of having their work turned into salable books. In divulging the details of this colossal and shocking confidence game, Ten Percent of The Case of the Literary Agent from Hell exposes a growing and serious crime against writers and a dark, ugly secret about the American publishing industry. In 1989, Dorothy L. Deering, possessing a high school degree, a recent embezzlement conviction, and no experience as a professional writer, editor, or publisher, began operating a fee-based literary agency out of her garage in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Over the next ten years, she racked up a fortune in reading and marketing fees, learning the business of sham publishing as she went along. Later, as the owner of a vanity press, she bilked 1.5 million dollars out of her clients, masterfully manufacturing dreams of literary success until she was brought to justice by Fisher’s investigative journalism, an FBI probe, and the retaliation and testimonies of numerous victims. Deering never sold a single manuscript to a major publisher. With the money in her pocket and her clients’ hopes and hard work wrapped up in fraudulent contracts, Deering produced a few copies of four cheaply printed, poorly edited paperbacks. These she used as bait to hoodwink more clients. She was abetted by her husband, Charles, a former car salesman; his son, Daniel, a drug user with a ninth-grade education; and her brother, Bill, a fugitive from the law at the time he headed her vanity press.              By successfully impersonating a literary agent for ten years, Deering operated one of the longest-running confidence games in American history. The financial loss for her clients was devastating, and the heartbreak was extreme. Drawing on victims’ experiences and documents recovered from the Deering venture, Fisher shows how Deering engineered and executed her scam, emphasizing the warning signs of sham agents, crook book doctors, and mendacious publishers. Ten Percent of Nothing provides essential information for aspiring writers and publishing professionals. Fisher’s findings also prompt new inquiries into the potential licensing of literary agents and the prosecution of interstate scam artists. The volume’s gallery of illustrations includes reproductions of correspondence, newsletters, and advertisements used by the Deering operation.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

232 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2004

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every writer should read this book. A great cautionary tale.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten Percent of Nothing is the story of a family of con artists who, for ten years, posed as literary agents and publishers. They made millions swindling writers out of thousands of dollars each. No product was delivered. All they did to support their lavish lifestyle was to feed the dreams of aspiring writers and take their money.

There are three really frightening things about this book. First, it shows just how easily an accomplished crook can bilk people using the simplest of tools: a telephone, a printer, and a few postage stamps. Second, even reported in a tone that sometimes borders on sarcasm, these phony agents' pitches and promises sound plausible to me. Third, they were caught and convicted almost by accident. If it weren't for a particularly tenacious FBI agent who happened to have time on his hands, the public might not know yet about the deceptive practices of this bunch and others like them.

Dorothy Deering and some of her family members were convicted of fraud and related charges and served jail time starting in 2000. They're all out now, so writers beware!

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strangely enough, a literary agent recommended this as the model for a book I'm revising. Ten Percent's a great/interesting story. As one reviewer mentioned, the author's tone is sarcastic, which I liked. After all, the crooks deserve it.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reveals the story of the most "successful" false agent/publisher. I have personal experience observing this type of mess unfold. And the lies, lies, lies. A very well-documented and snappily written book!