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The WritersWeekly Podcast

Brian Whiddon

25 episodes

4 days ago

They started the original "Nigerian Prince" email scam, but have expanded into so much more! Join Angela and Brian as we slog through the grimy slums of Nigeria and Ghana - home of one of the oldest, most sophisticated, and most successful scamming organizations: The Yahoo Boys. In this episode, we discuss the broad diversity of scams these techno-theives are involved in, their extravagant and lavish lifestyles, scammer universities, and so much more. We also explore what may be the most dist...

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They started the original "Nigerian Prince" email scam, but have expanded into so much more! Join Angela and Brian as we slog through the grimy slums of Nigeria and Ghana - home of one of the oldest, most sophisticated, and most successful scamming organizations: The Yahoo Boys. In this episode, we discuss the broad diversity of scams these techno-theives are involved in, their extravagant and lavish lifestyles, scammer universities, and so much more. We also explore what may be the most dist...

Show more...

Episodes (20/25)

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E_025 - YAHOO BOYS - Nigerian Scammers with Worldwide Reach (Part 1)

They started the original "Nigerian Prince" email scam, but have expanded into so much more! Join Angela and Brian as we slog through the grimy slums of Nigeria and Ghana - home of one of the oldest, most sophisticated, and most successful scamming organizations: The Yahoo Boys. In this episode, we discuss the broad diversity of scams these techno-theives are involved in, their extravagant and lavish lifestyles, scammer universities, and so much more. We also explore what may be the most dist...

4 days ago

1 hour 31 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

AI Generated SCAM Emails - Don't be Fooled!!

Sorry about Brian's voice on this episode. He was in the preliminary phase of COVID, and now he's totally laid up and miserable. In this episode, we discuss a new scamming technique that combines the old with the new. Scammers are now using AI to create convincing-sounding "reviews" of authors' books, while using spamming software to send out these email scams by the thousands. We've been shocked at how many authors are fooled by these "cold call" emails - most of which are coming from ...

1 month ago

48 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

Jimmy Kimmel and the 1st Amendment - What is the TRUTH?

THEY VIOLATED THE FIRST AMENDMENT! That’s what we’re hearing about the suspension of the Jimmy Kimmel Live show from ABC’s lineup. Did they, in fact, violate the 1st Amendment? Who exactly are “they?” CAN “they” violate the 1st Amendment? Is our “democracy” in peril if we can’t watch Kimmel on ABC? What does the 1st Amendment actually say? What does the 1st Amendment actually protect? Whether you want to believe that Kimmel’s suspension is the first t...

1 month ago

1 hour 32 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

Amazon KDP Continues to Terminate Innocent Authors’ Accounts, and KEEP THEIR UNPAID ROYALTIES!

Amazon KDP. Do you, like many other authors, believe that, for the best chance at sales, you need to use Amazon's KDP book publishing program? That's NOT true at all but there's something else you probably don't know. Have you read the fine print before clicking “I Agree?” Did you know that Amazon can shut down your account for anything they deem a “violation” of their policies? And, they don't even have to tell you exactly what you've done wrong! In many cases, authors have done noth...

1 month ago

1 hour 11 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

$20K Publishing Scam Victim Shares Her Own Story

She spoke to them on the phone. They sounded like publishing experts! They knew all the lingo! But, one year and $20,000 later, she discovered that they had been stringing her along, and scamming money out of her. Jennifer Westecott decided to let Brilliant Books Literary (AKA "Leap Write Literary") publish her book, Heartbreak Falls, after talking with their "representative" on the phone. They promised to help her with EVERYTHING: formatting, editing, cover design, distribution, and marketi...

2 months ago

1 hour 21 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

The Doomsday Book of Medicine - Dr. Ralph (Doc) La Guardia

Today, more than ever before, society is dependent on a fragile electrical grid, a vulnerable supply chain, and a delicate medical system to survive. All of these critical systems are plugged into the Internet, which has proven to be crawling with malevolent actors, constantly looking to disrupt civil societies and their ability to function. We’ve already seen how our systems fail when confronted with pandemics, civil unrest, or major natural disasters. Now imagine what would happen if a cyb...

2 months ago

1 hour 33 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

EPISODE 19: Traditional vs. Hybrid vs. Self-Publishing - WHAT TO EXPECT!

*What disappointing truths shock authors today when they land a traditional publishing contract? Things aren't like they used to be! *What does the term "self-publishing" REALLY mean today? (There is lots of confusion online!) *What exactly is "hybrid publishing" and how have foreign scammers hijacked the term? In this episode, we delve into the details, and discuss the pros and cons of different book publishing methods. Most importantly, we expose the shocki...

2 months ago

44 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

Episode 18: Audiobook Production - Would you rather pay $199 or $4,000???

Did you know that there is a whole generation of people who simply will not read books? But, they do LISTEN to books! Audio storytelling is a booming medium! Tens of thousands of people listen to audiobooks and podcasts while driving, working, exercising, cooking, and even just relaxing. For years now, converting a print book to an audiobook required either thousands of dollars to hire a professional voice artist (narrator), a hefty investment to purchase or rent quality audio equipment and...

2 months ago

1 hour 16 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E17: Former White House Usher, Chris Emery, Spills HILARIOUS Secrets!

Why do Chris Emery’s books sell so well? Because, he is not only warm and friendly to everyone, but he’s also HILARIOUS! If you want to crack up, don’t miss this episode! Here are a few teasers: Chris Emery served under three presidential administrations, and was the only White House Usher to get fired in the 20th Century. Find out which first lady fired him, and why! And, find out how that first lady’s secretary tried to control the narrative to the media after he was let go. News crews were...

3 months ago

1 hour 9 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E16 - When an Author Dies, the Vultures Arise!

When an author passes away, what happens with the rights to their book? What happens to their copyrights and royalties? The answer depends heavily on what steps the author took ahead of time to positively document their wishes. Naming beneficiaries clearly with their publisher is an important act that helps ensure that the right people receive the author's intellectual properties, based on that author's desires. However, that doesn't always stop others from trying to grab those things away fr...

3 months ago

54 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

EPISODE 15: How Choosing the RIGHT or WRONG Editor Can Make or Break Your Book Sales

In this episode, Professional Editor and Book Marketer Clayton Jones joins Angela and Brian to discuss what authors need to know when vetting and hiring a professional editor for their book. What are the different types of editing? How does the editing process work? How long does it take? How do you know if your editor even speaks English as a native language? (Yes, there are ways foreign scammers can trick you, even over the phone!) And, what is the #1 THING YOU SHOULD NEVER DO when you rec...

3 months ago

1 hour 6 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E14 - Real Stories from Publishing Scam Victims

In this episode, Angela and Brian review emails they have received from authors who lost anywhere from thousands, to tens of thousands of dollars, after signing up with what they thought were legitimate online publishing companies. Unfortunately for many of them, when they realized that these entities were not what they claimed to be, it was too late and the money was gone. Don’t be one of the thousands of writers and authors who are being bilked out of their hard-earned money! Listen t...

4 months ago

1 hour 24 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E13 - How to Be a Prolific AND Award Winning Writer - featuring author Thomas Berry

This week, Angela and Brian interview the author of SEVEN books, two of which have received literary awards. Thomas Berry is a history enthusiast and has used this interest to craft a combination of Historical Fiction and Biographical stories that immerse the reader in some of humanity's greatest struggles. Did you know that Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark expedition was found dead at an inn under suspicious circumstances? The official explanation was suicide. However, even William C...

4 months ago

1 hour 20 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E12 - Publishing Legal Questions from YOU - Answered by an Attorney

Back from a bout of COVID, Angela and Brian sit down to tackle legal questions from our listeners and readers with the help of James Walsh, Esq. James is an attorney in Pennsylvania with a background in criminal and contract law. He has also been instrumental in helping Angela track down and identify over 1500 online scammers who target the writing/publishing industry. In this episode, we discuss copyrights, trademarks, invasion of privacy, and other legal aspects of the publishing industry, ...

4 months ago

1 hour 10 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E11- BookLocker's Best Selling Author Spills His Book Marketing Secrets!

In this episode, Angela and Brian discuss book marketing with author Gary Sturgis, who is BookLocker's #1 best-selling author. In 2014, Gary suffered a devastating loss that shook his world. After years of working his way to his "new normal" Gary wanted to help others find their way out of the dark pit that the death of a loved one can often leave us in. He wrote his first book Surviving: Finding Your Way From Grief to Healing in 2020. The response proved to him that there was a great need fo...

5 months ago

1 hour 19 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E10 - How a Single Mom Built a Successful Publishing Company…With Many Personal and Professional Challenges Along the Way!

In our 10th episode, Angela Hoy tells us the interesting circumstances that led to the creation of WritersWeekly.com, how she later created a successful book publishing business, and about the oftentimes stressful (but sometimes funny) personal and professional struggles she had along the way. We learn how WritersWeekly.com went from being almost a side hobby to make a little extra money, to a means of survival during hard times, to a proven marketing tool, as well as a FREE source of ...

5 months ago

1 hour 20 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E9 - How to Win Writing Contests (and winners of the latest 24 Hour Short Story Contest)

In this episode, Angela and Brian go over general points of advice on how to win short story contests, with a narrower focus on best methods to win the WritersWeekly 24 Hour Short Story Contest. First, in the "News From the Home Office" segment, listen to a run-in Brian had during a fishing trip. What would you do? Then, Angela and Brian explain how best to plan your short story for a writing contest. What are common mistakes people make? What are the most common themes that emerge when w...

5 months ago

1 hour 17 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E8 - How Does The Book Publishing Process Work?

Have you ever wondered what goes into getting a book published? Do you have a manuscript that you're holding onto because you're afraid of not knowing what to expect? How can you make sure someone won't take advantage of you? How long should the process take? In this episode, Angela and Brian go through the book publishing process from start to finish. From submitting your manuscript, to formatting and editing, cover design, copyright, printer feeds - all the way to dropping the first copy on...

5 months ago

50 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E7 - Nine New and Nasty Scams Targeting Authors

In this episode, Angela and Brian cannonball back into the cesspool of online scammers who target authors and writers. Joining them is James M. Walsh, Esq. James is an attorney from Pennsylvania, and has been assisting in the research to uncover how foreign criminals are scheming to steal your money. He also has an interesting story of his own. We expose just how bold and brazen these thieves are, and how far they will go to convince you to hand over your hard-earned cash. There is even a wh...

6 months ago

1 hour 13 minutes

The WritersWeekly Podcast

E6 - How AI (Artificial Intelligence) is Getting Writers, Students, and Even LAWYERS into Trouble!

In this episode, we have a special guest. Clayton Jones is a professional writer, editor, ghostwriter, and a college professor who teaches English and writing at the University of Tennessee. He will be joining us to explore the role of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the writing world. IS there a role for AI in professional writing? How are people currently using it? What are the ethical and unethical ways for AI to be used? We discuss what we've seen from authors and writers as publish...

6 months ago

1 hour 10 minutes