Done.

Posted April 20, 2006 12:42 PM by Elaine

Link to the 20 Worst Agents list.

List posted complete with links. Let the word be spread far and wide...

Posted April 20, 2006 12:46 PM by James Goodman

Good grief. Why do people imagine that Making Light is a corporate site? Must be because they're stupid.

Sorry that happened!

Posted April 20, 2006 12:58 PM by beth meacham

And if I poke him this way, he goes Waahh!

Posted April 20, 2006 1:03 PM by Greg London

It's okay, Beth. It's been a while since anyone's phoned my superiors, trying to get me fired. It used to happen a lot oftener.

Posted April 20, 2006 1:06 PM by Teresa Nielsen Hayden

Who knew she reads Making Light?

Your "On the getting of agents" link in your last para is blank, btw. I think you wanted it to go here. (That's the URL I filled in when I reposted that para at my blog.)

Posted April 20, 2006 1:08 PM by Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little

Okay, try it now.

Posted April 20, 2006 1:16 PM by Teresa Nielsen Hayden

All linked.

Do they have a special person at Holtzbrinck to deal with complaints about you and Patrick and any other outspoken editors, they way the Barrayarans have on Beta Colony? I have this image in my head of an exec-secretary type with a headset and a manicure and an advanced degree in dealing with weirdos.

Posted April 20, 2006 1:28 PM by jennie

Please to understand that by weirdos I meant "folks who think that Making Light is a Tor website, or that a corporation can or should have any say over what its employees say on their personal websites and call said corporation to try to get said employees fired," not "the people about whom the calls are being made."

It just occurred to me that one could read my post above either way.

Posted April 20, 2006 1:32 PM by jennie

Jennie: Nah, we roll our own.

Posted April 20, 2006 1:43 PM by Teresa Nielsen Hayden

Your helpless mind slave at Ansible, unable to resist the steely thrust of the Making Light engrams, has updated our links page....

Posted April 20, 2006 2:01 PM by Dave Langford

Jennie: I think that sounds like a nifty story idea...

Posted April 20, 2006 2:05 PM by Rebecca

Linked in both of my sites.

Posted April 20, 2006 2:53 PM by Patrick Connors

It's got its own special spot on my sidebar -- no rolling of the front page for this one.

Come on, Google!

Posted April 20, 2006 3:05 PM by Claude Muncey

Linked.

Posted April 20, 2006 3:30 PM by Adam Rice

linked

Posted April 20, 2006 4:00 PM by Joel Wideman

While linking to the list of the twenty worst, here are another couple of places y'all can link to.

Miss Snark

Writers Net

Posted April 20, 2006 4:46 PM by James D. Macdonald

Linked.

Re: Barbara Bauer - Aside from her allegedly unethical practises, why would you want a woman as your agent who showed such a poor grasp of legalities, acted clearly unprofessionally, and made a habit of pissing off editors and others in the writing communities?

Posted April 20, 2006 4:50 PM by PiscusFiche

Done.

Posted April 20, 2006 5:27 PM by Harry Connolly

But are you going after her with malice of forethought?

Posted April 20, 2006 6:12 PM by Arthur D. Hlavaty

Done, and gladly.

Posted April 20, 2006 6:39 PM by Darice Moore

Now on my place-keeper index page at my ordinary webpage for ordinary people

Posted April 20, 2006 6:47 PM by Dave Bell

Teresa: Yep, that works. (The shout-out in the title attribute made me blush.)

Miss Snark is teh awesome. I think y'all pointed out her own response to the 20 Worst list already (and how she added a dishonorary 21st), so I won't go hunt that post up at this time.

Posted April 20, 2006 6:54 PM by Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little

Sounds like somebody is a few commas short of a copyedit.

Posted April 20, 2006 7:44 PM by mythago

Teresa:

It's not libel if it's true. Which it was: Barbara Bauer is on the list, and she does (manifestly!) threaten legal action against sites that post it. All of which can easily be confirmed using outside sources; so what's her gripe?

Actually, that's not strictly accurate. Libel is (loosely speaking) text that's untrue and defamatory to character. Barbara Bauer might be able to show that she's been libelled because you said she's on a list of worst agents if she can demonstrate--which she might be able to do--that, in doing so, you were saying she is a crook.

But she would have to demonstrate that she doesn't deserve to be on that list, which is a whole 'nother thing entirely.

In most American jurisdictions, the person who repeats a libel is also guilty of libel, even if they attribute the libel to the initial source.

All of this is an oversimplification, but it's true enough for the purposes of this discussion. If you're taking Ms. Bauer's threats at all seriously, talk to a libel lawyer, don't listen to me.

Posted April 20, 2006 8:33 PM by Mitch Wagner

Funny, isn't it, how people who are doing wrong in the first place are so quick to attack and threaten when they are caught? It's the old "blame the victim" mentality, like the burglar who, when caught by the police that the homeowners called, yells, "I'll get you for that!"

If the lovely Barbara had just done right in the first place, no one would be saying these things about her.

Posted April 20, 2006 9:26 PM by Writerious

Thank you for the links and the warnings. I find them very helpful.

Posted April 20, 2006 9:55 PM by Bianca MarOu

In other news, Writer Beware is reporting that Melanie Mills, aka The Mother Squasher, plead guilty to charges and was sentenced. Too bad those charges weren't for her activities as an agent and she was given credit for time served in a Canadian prison, but at least she's being deported and the Canadians have already convicted her for fraud, if I recall correctly, for her activities in a fraudulent literary convention scheme. Hopefully, they'll keep a close watch on her.

Posted April 20, 2006 10:37 PM by Dave Kuzminski

IAAL, and under either New York or New Jersey law Bauer has no claim for libel (or slander per se). "Crook" is, as a matter of law, not defamatory without more, and more context (such as concerning a politician or other person of "special trust in the eyes of the public," to quote a leading New York appellate opinion).

And that's before one gets to the truthfulness (or not) of the underlying statement. I'm satisfied that what was stated is accurate, and more probably an understatement. (I'm mean to Victoria and Ann about that.)

Posted April 20, 2006 10:43 PM by C.E. Petit

have link, will warn. thanks for keeping everyone up to date on this!

Posted April 20, 2006 10:44 PM by claire

Mission accomplished.

Dave Kuzminski - that's good news, thanks for the update.

Posted April 20, 2006 11:02 PM by Georgiana

A libel suit threat!

I feel such a kinship with you guys right now. Good luck.

Posted April 20, 2006 11:10 PM by Rivka

I linked too. yay everyone!

Posted April 20, 2006 11:33 PM by Rebecca

I'm late to the party (hey, it was a four hour drive to this conference), but I've linked from my blog too.

Posted April 21, 2006 12:49 AM by Larry Kestenbaum

C.E. Petit: Interesting. Thanks.

"IAAL" = "I Am A Lawyer"?

Posted April 21, 2006 1:57 AM by Mitch Wagner

That's just what I want. An agent that runs around throwing hysterical, unfounded complaints toward large publishers.

Posted April 21, 2006 5:33 AM by Matt D

Mitch: Yes. FWIW, IAAL, too.

Posted April 21, 2006 7:28 AM by Larry Kestenbaum

Tor Books and the First Armored Division!

Is it always vanity press type people (fake agents, that R*ckoids guy) who try to get you fired? Is there something about them, perhaps that leads them to hate the thought of real editors doing their real job?

Posted April 21, 2006 8:51 AM by Jo Walton

A little more GoogleJuice added...

Posted April 21, 2006 10:50 AM by Julia Jones

Tor Books and the First Armored Division!

Now I'm picturing Teresa in her fedora commanding that tank in the pink cozy and the pompom on the barrel. I am quite enjoying her maniacal glee.

Posted April 21, 2006 1:18 PM by TexAnne

I only ride 'em, I don't know what makes 'em work.

Posted April 21, 2006 2:27 PM by Greg London

The links I didn't already have, I added. Must dash....

Posted April 21, 2006 4:06 PM by Karen Funk Blocher

Barbara Bauer might be able to show that she's been libelled because you said she's on a list of worst agents if she can demonstrate--which she might be able to do--that, in doing so, you were saying she is a crook.

As I understand it, the list was compiled based both on the number of complaints the site received about different agencies and the agencies' track record for successfully representing writers and their books with publishers.

Both the number of complaints received and the track record are verifiable. I don't see how it could be considered libellous to report them.

Posted April 21, 2006 5:08 PM by julia

Another Barbara Bauer story:

heehee AMEN BROTHER! I spent 3 months working for a scam agent -- the Barbara Bauer Literary Agency. I should have known it was sketchy when she held my interview at Newark Airport. o.O

Crazy tales abound, but my favorite has nothing to do with scamming. Her "office" was really her garage. There was no heat. To keep me warm, she would do laundry, and the dryer exhaust would vent into the garage. When she ran out of laundry, work was over for the day.

Posted April 21, 2006 7:18 PM by James D. Macdonald

So the wages of sin are lint?

Posted April 21, 2006 7:25 PM by Graydon

Rather contradicts "Cleanliness is next to Godliness".

Posted April 21, 2006 8:38 PM by Mez

Wasn't Joe Gordon nominally fired from Waterstones over comments he made in his private blog? Totally different legal system, of course, and he was vindicated in the end, but still, it made the blood run cold to think a workplace felt it had the right to dictate what its employees did in their copious free time. I'm glad Tor is more sensible about the whole thing.

Of course, the fact that a union rep was fired here yesterday for allegedly smirking at his boss, and another union rep was fired for defending him made my blood run pretty cold to start with. It generated a good headline though; Where there's smirk there's fire.

Posted April 21, 2006 11:22 PM by Vian

Joe Gordon was fired for criticizing his employers on his blog. It was a bonehead move on Waterstone's part, but the situation is not analogous to what's going on here, since Teresa is not criticizing Tor.

Posted April 22, 2006 2:01 AM by Mitch Wagner

Sounds like what God made Typepad Typelists for. My site is rebuilding just now. Shortly these important links will appear on the lower right sidebar of all 1200-odd pages of my very Google-juicy site.

Posted April 22, 2006 7:35 AM by Kathryn Cramer

. . . and then blogged.

Posted April 22, 2006 8:02 AM by Kathryn Cramer

Thanks for the links. They are going on the writers workshop page of my website. I'm adding you to my favorite links.

Irene

Posted April 23, 2006 11:46 AM by Irene Radford

Links posted here.

(Hi! ::wave wave::)

Posted April 23, 2006 12:30 PM by Janna Silverstein

linked

Posted April 23, 2006 5:04 PM by john

Up to nine threads, now!

Posted April 25, 2006 1:01 PM by P J Evans sees still more comment spam

Are all nine of them marked with flags like yours?

Posted April 25, 2006 4:02 PM by James D. Macdonald

James: No, but the spam messages are all of the same form. I only marked three. I believe a few more have been tagged. They all came in within a period of maybe half an hour, and mostly on older threads.
Walter on 'Dumbest of the twenty worst'
Gunnar on 'Seizing countrol of the debate'
Tristin on 'April Fools, 2006'
Isaac on 'The post with the most'
Darryl on 'Roomba costumes'
are still there

Posted April 25, 2006 4:18 PM by P J evans

They're all gone now.

If anyone sees comment spam, please flag it. That'll make it easier for the roving moderators to find and delete it.

Posted April 25, 2006 5:33 PM by James D. Macdonald

Blarg

Posted May 1, 2006 2:58 AM by protected static sees comment spam

NEWS FLASH: Holy shit, Barbara Bauer has temporarily shut down Absolute Write, thanks to my big mouth and my big mouth alone (except for Jim unfortunately, Jenna told me). I know it was me because I was the one who wrote a long post just yesterday with many uses of the word "scam" in connection with "Barbara Bauer, Ph.D." and "The Barbara Bauer Literary Agency." I thought it was quite clear that this woman has a very short fuse and is not very well-versed or convincing, but Jenna's web hosts don't seem to see that. I thought Barbara Bauer's threats were so baseless and hollow that NO ONE would believe her, but apparently not so. So now I have a personal loathing for BB.

So everybody who hasn't posted the Writer Beware Top 20 Worst Agent List on their website yet, right now is a good time to be like me and post this to your own blogs.

WARNING: If you do so, be prepared to be threatened by her. She hasn't done it to me yet, but she will, as I've just posted the Top 20 list to my blog.

Posted May 23, 2006 11:05 PM by Alan Yee

Any one know where Bauer got her Ph.D. ?

And in what?

Posted May 24, 2006 12:14 AM by Lisa Spangenberg

No clue.

Somehow, based on all the remarks on how dumb she is, and her total lack of logic, I have my doubts that she even has a Ph.D.

Usually, someone with a Ph.D. has ways of showing how intelligent and knowledgable and competent they are.

There's also this: it seems like she spends all her time on this "literary agency." I haven't learned of any other job she has. And I'd think a person with a Ph.D. in anything shouldn't have too much trouble finding a job.

She does seem fond of adding the "Ph.D." after her name.

Posted May 24, 2006 12:26 AM by Alan Yee

Alan: Excellent idea. I've just posted the list to my livejournal.

Posted May 24, 2006 8:01 AM by Beth

According to Bauer's website, she received her PhD in 1979 from St. John's. Doesn't say what in, however.

Posted May 24, 2006 9:12 AM by bonniers

Just added it to my links on the front page of my blog.

Bring it on, Barbara!

Posted May 24, 2006 12:34 PM by Richard White

Judo is the art of turning the attacker's energy against him. Or her.

Top 20 posted on my livejournal.

Posted May 24, 2006 3:04 PM by slobbit

I just added an LJ entry with a bunch of links to the Top 20 list; each time I mention the name of Barbara Bauer, that's where it links to.

Posted May 24, 2006 4:47 PM by Xopher

Beware the bloggers, for they are subtle and quick to anger--especially when provoked but a scam artist acting like a total arse. I have added two more blogs to the counter movement. How long before Barbara Bauer's own site no longer clings to google #1 if you search for her name?

Posted May 25, 2006 3:03 PM by Emily

Posting it now and good work.

Posted May 25, 2006 5:24 PM by Shayne Smith

I've found, and requested her dissertation.

I can't believe someone who misuses common words the way she does has a Ph.D.

Posted May 25, 2006 5:39 PM by Lisa Spangenberg

http://digg.com/technology/DMCA_Shuts_Down_Message_Board_for_Posting_Agent_s_Email_Address

Front page would be nice for her. ;)

Posted May 26, 2006 12:19 PM by Guest

She really is doing herself more harm than good.

Posted May 26, 2006 11:56 PM by Benjamin Solah

I don't usually get involved in this kinda stuff, but whats she and many other agents are doing is pissing me off greatly. I will gladly assist you guys in your campaign against such people.

Done

Posted May 30, 2006 3:25 PM by Peter Sturgess

I've just posted the 20 Worst on the front page at Speculations, and also dropped a link into the standard footer, so every page in The Rumor Mill should show a link. Hope this helps ... sorry to be so slow on the uptake!

Posted May 31, 2006 1:43 AM by Kent Brewster

And done.

Posted June 1, 2006 1:57 PM by Robin

I think when it comes down to basics you need to ask yourself, would a professional agent go around and personally send e-mail threats to any writing site or individual. Of course not, a professional agent would have their attorney contact those concerned, which shows you what these threats really are just mere air and gas.

Hasn't this agent every heard the saying ' me thinks she protests too much'. The more fuss she causes, the more writers become interested in the facts rather than the fiction. Doesn’t she realise that my making an enemy of writer sites and writers she is damaging her so called legitimate business.

‘Some people use their brains, while others merely sit on them’

Posted July 3, 2006 4:17 PM by MorningDew

This seems to be a problem many people are facing all over the world. The laws are very weak when it comes to the internet. I don't know this Barbara Bauer, but I will do a little research concerning her legal issues. The question is for everyone who has an opinion concerning internet law and those who actually know what they are talking about. I think an internet attorney would know the “LAW,” concerning freedom of speech, harassment and connection to Blogs, YouTube, MySpace and other ISP’s.

In addition; I am curious to see the opinions of a Criminal Attorney and of course a Defamation Attorney. If this Barbara Bauer is not selling a product that is worth the toilet paper we all use, this is fine. However; it is up to the consumer to determine what is real and not real. Hence; free society offers everyone the ability to conduct business anyway they choose within the law and whatever governs that subject area. It is up to the consumer to research the person in question and make a decision to purchase the product or services offered. I am sure if this person is a fake or has no credentials someone will come down and pull her card.

Just a thought.

Posted July 1, 2008 7:31 AM by zordom