-------- Original Message --------
Subject: COMPLAINT about theWAHMmagazine / Erika Geiss / Erika-Marie S. Geiss et. al.
Date: Sat, 08 Nov 2008 11:52:49 -0500
From: angela at booklocker <angela@booklocker.com>
To: editor@thewahmmagazine.com, info@thewahmmagazine.com

November 8, 2008

Erika-Marie S. Geiss, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief -
editor@thewahmmagazine.com / info@thewahmmagazine.com
theWAHMmagazine / theWAHMmagazine.com / the WAHM Association
25680 Greenlawn
Taylor, MI 48180

WritersWeekly.com has received a complaint about:
theWAHMmagazine.com / theWAHMmagazine / the WAHM Magazine / Erika-Marie S. Geiss - owner of The Red Pencil Editing
Services, LLC / redpencilediting.com and the Vice President of The WAHM Association / wahmassociation.org

WritersWeekly.com is a publication that publishes information for
and about freelance writers. The publication is the
largest-circulation freelance writing ezine in the world.

As part of that information, WritersWeekly.com publishes a Warnings
section on its website and in its newsletter. This warning section
contains reports about publications that are unprofessional in
dealing with writers, haven't paid writers money that is owed to
them, who have not abided by their contracts, or who have unfair
contract terms. These reports are used by WritersWeekly.com's
subscribers
to decide which publications they should and should not work with.

Your firm has been submitted to us for inclusion in the
WritersWeekly.com Whispers and Warnings section.

Step one of our investigation of this report is to gather all
relevant correspondence between your publication and the person
submitting the complaint so that we can piece together that person's
side of the story. Step one of our investigation has been completed.

-------------
THE COMPLAINT
-------------

[DS] alleges you owe $150.00 and that you're ignoring
correspondence.

See complete allegation under my signature.

-----------------
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
-----------------

The second step in our investigation is to send this communication
to your firm to get its side of the story. If you have evidence
disputing these allegations, or would like to make your own
statement about these allegations for publication in our report, please
email angela@writersweekly.com within two business days.

***All correspondence for our investigations must be in writing and
is subject to publication.***

If you do owe this person money, we strongly suggest you read
this article before responding:
http://www.writersweekly.com/the_latest ... 32006.html

Our report on your firm is scheduled for inclusion in our
publication next Wednesday, though it may appear in our Whispers and
Warnings forum before that time.

If there is no response to these allegations, WritersWeekly.com will
still publish this complaint, but our readers will not be able to
read your side of the story.

We appreciate your prompt response in this matter.

Angela Hoy
Publisher
WritersWeekly.com

~~~~~~~~~~~
ALLEGATION
~~~~~~~~~~~

From: [DS]
Date: October 29, 2008 5:20:37 PM EDT

Jodee from freelancewritinggigs.com suggested I write to you and ask you
for help regarding a payment issue from WAHM Magazine, which I applied for
through freelancewritinggigs.com some months ago and I think your
readers should be aware of a recent payment problem. I don't know how to
deal with the issue and how to get the word out to other potential
writers who may be working for WAHM so that this doesn't happen
to them.

Erika Geiss, editor of WHAM Online still hasn't paid me $150.00 (after
more than two months) for the second article she's commissioned for the
July 2008 live digital edition. An author's agreement was signed, mailed
and confirmation was acknowledged. Payment was to be remitted within 60
days since the live date of the article and so far, it's been almost two
months more - total of almost four months.

I've emailed the editor three times and sent a second author's agreement
(out of my own initiation) and so far, nada.

By the way, your online newsletter is the best one I've encountered on the
web. So professional. Please keep up wth the good work!

Thanks,
[DS]

PUBLISHER RESPONDS

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: COMPLAINT about theWAHMmagazine / Erika Geiss /
Erika-Marie S. Geiss et. al.
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 02:44:09 -0500
From: Erika-Marie Geiss <editor@thewahmmagazine.com>

Hi Angela,

Thank you for the e-mail and for the chance to respond to the complaint,
which I fully acknowledge. Ironically, prior to reading your e-mail, I
was drafting a letter not only to the individual who made the complaint
but to other writers affected explaining the situation in full,
apologizing for the delay and informing them that payment will be made
by the end of November. (The letter has since been sent including to [DS].)

I understand [DS]'s frustration and ire, as a writer myself--in
fact, I have invoices that I need to submit, and I too have been on the
side of having to wait longer than originally expected for payment to be
remitted. (My writing and editing income support the magazine.)

I fully agree with [DS] about Writer's Weekly and the work that
you're doing, and again, appreciate being given the opportunity to
respond to the complaint. Hopefully, as I work on restructuring the
magazine, it will eventually recover from this.

Sincerely yours,

Erika-Marie S. Geiss
Editor-in-Chief
theWAHMmagazine

P.S. Is there any way that you can remove The WAHM Association from the
complaint? I completely understand that [DS] is trying to involve
everything that I may be associated with in the complaint, but the
publication in question (theWAHMmagazine) is tangentally related to the
WAHM Association, and while I may be involoved with the non profit group
that has yet to launch officially, it does not control the magazine in
any way, so, having it as part of the complaint is unfair to the WAHM
Association and to the others who are involved with trying to set it up.

~~~~~

WRITERSWEEKLY RESEARCHES THE ASSOCIATION: On The WHAM Association's website (http://www.wahmassociation.org), it specifically states:
"WAHM Magazine - The Official WAHM Association Magazine"

Erika-Marie S. Geiss is listed as the vice president of the organization.

PUBLISHER RESPONDS

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: complaint follow-up question-UPDATE
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:34:31 -0500
From: Erika-Marie Geiss <editor@thewahmmagazine.com>

Dear Angela,

I just wanted to update you on the situation with the complaint from [DS].
As of this morning, [DS] has been paid in full for the
article referenced in her Nov. 8 correspondence with you. The payment
was sent to the e-mail address that she indicated she wanted payment
sent to. Payment
has also been sent to others who may have been affected either
electronically or by check depending upon which method of payment was
indicated.

Please also note, that during the time when the complaint was initiated,
I was listed as the V.P. of the WAHM Association and that
theWAHMmagazine was listed as "the official magazine" for the WAHM
Association. Despite the update included in the post made after my
response noting that based upon your research, theWAHMmagazine was
listed as the organizaiton's official magazine, the WAHM Association on
the whole has never had any decision-making responsibilities for
theWAHMmagazine. I would really appreciate it if you could please
update the posting by removing them from the complaint, especially
since, in an effort not to have the complaint undermine the work that
the organization is trying to do and my request for its removal from the
complaint being denied, I have stepped down from my post with the
organization.

Sincerely yours,

Erika-Marie S. Geiss
Editor-in-Chief
theWAHMmagazine

WRITERSWEEKLY RESPONDS

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: complaint follow-up question-UPDATE
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:05:46 -0500
To: Erika-Marie Geiss <editor@thewahmmagazine.com>

I will post your note as an update.

Your magazine is still listed on the association website as:
"The Official WAHM Association Magazine"

Angela Hoy
WritersWeekly.com

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: COMPLAINT about theWAHMmagazine / theWAHMmagazine.com / the WAHM Association / Erika-Marie S. Geiss, et. al.
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:02:40 -0500
To: editor@thewahmmagazine.com, info@thewahmmagazine.com, erikamarie.s.geiss@gmail.com

February 20, 2009

Erika-Marie S. Geiss, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief -
editor@thewahmmagazine.com / info@thewahmmagazine.com /
erikamarie.s.geiss@gmail.com
theWAHMmagazine / theWAHMmagazine.com / the WAHM Association
25680 Greenlawn
Taylor, MI 48180

WritersWeekly.com has received a THIRD complaint about:
theWAHMmagazine / theWAHMmagazine.com / the WAHM Association /
Erika-Marie S. Geiss - owner of The Red Pencil Editing Services, LLC /
redpencilediting.com

WritersWeekly.com is a publication that publishes information for
and about freelance writers. The publication is the
largest-circulation freelance writing ezine in the world.

As part of that information, WritersWeekly.com publishes a Warnings
section on its website and in its newsletter. This warning section
contains reports about publications that are unprofessional in
dealing with writers, haven't paid writers money that is owed to
them, who have not abided by their contracts, or who have unfair
contract terms. These reports are used by WritersWeekly.com's
subscribers
to decide which publications they should and should not work with.

Your firm has been submitted to us for inclusion in the
WritersWeekly.com Whispers and Warnings section.

Step one of our investigation of this report is to gather all
relevant correspondence between your publication and the person
submitting the complaint so that we can piece together that person's
side of the story. Step one of our investigation has been completed.

-------------
THE COMPLAINT
-------------

NL (name not published here but was, of course, provided to the publisher) alleges you owe her $325 and that you owe others money as well.

See allegation under my signature.

-----------------
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
-----------------

The second step in our investigation is to send this communication
to your firm to get its side of the story. If you have evidence
disputing these allegations, or would like to make your own
statement about these allegations for publication in our report, please
email angela@writersweekly.com within two business days.

***All correspondence for our investigations must be in writing and
is subject to publication.***

If you do owe this person money, we strongly suggest you read
this article before responding:
http://www.writersweekly.com/the_latest ... 32006.html

Our report on your firm is scheduled for inclusion in our
publication next Wednesday, though it may appear in our Whispers and
Warnings forum before that time.

If there is no response to these allegations, WritersWeekly.com will
still publish this complaint, but our readers will not be able to
read your side of the story.

We appreciate your prompt response in this matter.

Angela Hoy
Publisher
WritersWeekly.com

-----------------
THE COMPLAINT
-----------------

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: registering and Whispers and Warnings question
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:49:58 -0500
From: NL

Hi Angela:

I would like to have you investigate an editor. I
resigned in November in frustration with her overall lack of
professionalism.

BTW, she was recently investigated by you in Nov. 08.

Contact:
Erika Geiss, editor-in-chief, erikamarie.s.geiss@gmail.com

I was a contracted staff column writer for her since March, 08. She has
been consistently late with payment, which contractually is due 60 days
after publication of the bimonthly magazine. I wrote two columns for the
Nov/Dec 08 issue and was due $325 on Jan 1, 2009.

I sent an invoice upon acceptance of my articles in Nov. I
re-invoiced (adding new amount due) when payment for the Sept/Nov issue
was overdue in Dec. A third invoice marked "past due" was sent 1/12/09.

I have sent multiple emails to Erika with no response. I finally did
receive a response when I told her I would be reporting her to WritersWeekly if I
did not receive acknowledgment that she had received my invoices and
emails and would be paying me immediately. She sent an email on 2/3/09
saying that she had sent both my 1099 and check. I did receive the 1099.

As of yesterday's date, I have not received my check and subsequent
emails have been ignored.

Please let me know if you will be investigating this complaint and what
additional information you require.

Thanks,
NL

FOURTH COMPLAINT ABOUT Erika Geiss / theWAHMmagazine / the WAHM magazine

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: ANOTHER COMPLAINT about theWAHMmagazine / Erika Geiss / Erika-Marie S. Geiss et. al.
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:14:07 -0400
From: angela at booklocker <angela@booklocker.com>
To: editor@thewahmmagazine.com, info@thewahmmagazine.com
March 12, 2009

Erika-Marie S. Geiss, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief -
editor@thewahmmagazine.com / info@thewahmmagazine.com
theWAHMmagazine / theWAHMmagazine.com / the WAHM Association
25680 Greenlawn
Taylor, MI 48180

WritersWeekly.com has received ANOTHER complaint about:
theWAHMmagazine.com / theWAHMmagazine / the WAHM Magazine / the WAHM
Association / Erika-Marie S. Geiss - owner of The Red Pencil Editing
Services, LLC / redpencilediting.com

WritersWeekly.com is a publication that publishes information for
and about freelance writers. The publication is the
largest-circulation freelance writing ezine in the world.

As part of that information, WritersWeekly.com publishes a Warnings
section on its website and in its newsletter. This warning section
contains reports about publications that are unprofessional in
dealing with writers, haven't paid writers money that is owed to
them, who have not abided by their contracts, or who have unfair
contract terms. These reports are used by WritersWeekly.com's
subscribers
to decide which publications they should and should not work with.

Your firm has been submitted to us for inclusion in the
WritersWeekly.com Whispers and Warnings section.

Step one of our investigation of this report is to gather all
relevant correspondence between your publication and the person
submitting the complaint so that we can piece together that person's
side of the story. Step one of our investigation has been completed.

-------------
THE COMPLAINT
-------------

HY (name not published here but was, of course, provided to the publisher)
alleges you owe $150.00 (+ NSF fees) and that you wrote her
a bad check.

See complete allegation under my signature.

-----------------
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
-----------------

The second step in our investigation is to send this communication
to your firm to get its side of the story. If you have evidence
disputing these allegations, or would like to make your own
statement about these allegations for publication in our report, please
email angela@writersweekly.com within two business days.

***All correspondence for our investigations must be in writing and
is subject to publication.***

If you do owe this person money, we strongly suggest you read
this article before responding:
http://www.writersweekly.com/the_latest ... 32006.html

Our report on your firm is scheduled for inclusion in our
publication next Wednesday, though it may appear in our Whispers and
Warnings forum before that time.

If there is no response to these allegations, WritersWeekly.com will
still publish this complaint, but our readers will not be able to
read your side of the story.

We appreciate your prompt response in this matter.

Angela Hoy
Publisher
WritersWeekly.com

~~~~~~~~~~~
ALLEGATION
~~~~~~~~~~~

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Whispers and Warnings, re: theWAHMmagazine
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:53:21 -0400
From:[HY]

Dear Angela,

I wanted to add my complaint to the growing number I've seen on Writers
Weekly about theWAHMmagazine and its publisher, Erika-Marie Geiss. An
article of mine was published in the July/August issue, for which I was
owed $150. Belatedly in December (possibly spurred on by the first
complaint from a writer and appeared on WritersWeekly) I did receive
a check, which subsequently bounced. On January 14 I e-mailed Ms. Geiss
about the bounced check, and I heard back from her on January 19,
claiming she would mail a replacement in two days. Needless to say she
did not! I contacted her again in February 11 and February 25, but have
received no response.

Many thanks for the hard work you do on Writers Weekly to help stick up
for writers in this boat!

Sincerely,
[HY]

UPDATE SENT BY WRITER

NL REPORTS SHE HAS FINALLY BEEN PAID!