Communication is vital before things go viral... #RB4U #MFRWAuthor #RomFantasy @SenusousPromos

Once in awhile, you have to step up and make a statement. We, as authors, generally support each other and those who help make our jobs easier. One of the greatest assets any of us can find is a promotions company that is trust-worthy, reliable, and reasonably priced. I was lucky, a few years ago a wonderful lady named CJ Dennis started her promotions company, Sensuous Promos, and more recently The Book Pub. I think I was probably one of her first clients, and to this day, I retain her services and count on her company to help me with promotions. She takes on that burden so I can continue to write. Ideal for any writer, of course. So, I’m afraid it really DOES annoy me in a major way when a good person’s reputation is put up for shredding.

CJ’s integrity is as much a part of her company as any service she provides. She is honest, caring of her clients, and very good at the job she is hired to do. As the company has expanded over the past few years, she’s added a wide range of great services, and I’ve used pretty well all of them. Apparently, someone has decided that because they can’t read instructions, she has failed to provide the service she was paid for. I call bullshit. And, once again, I suggest if you want to be a writer, learn to READ. Instructions are clear, and if you don’t care enough to supply requested materials for your project, and accept the terms of service and the time line provided, then that is your issue, NOT the fault of the company you’ve wronged.

CJ contacted me today, upset about something brought to her attention, and frankly, I’m not going to name names, but I do hope the author who has apparently decided it’s the fault of her promo company not herself that she can’t read properly, decides to be an adult and makes a public apology for this mess. If any of you are looking for a company that you can rely on, Sensuous Promos or The Book Pub is the place to go. Just remember that a 7 day timeframe when presented to you means at least a week to wait for your service to be delivered. Screwing up someone else’s reputation and financial stability is not only unconscionable, it’s speaks directly to your lack of professionalism and your lack of character.

To those of you who are looking for a company that goes above and beyond for their clients, contact CJ and check out her services here: Sensuous Promos and The Book Pub

This is the note I received about this issue, reprinted here with permission from CJ Dennis:

VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ: 

I don't normally make public statements of this nature, but as a business owner who does her best to make sure her clients are happy, I am tired of some clients being unreasonable with their expectations. There is an author who went on a very public rant this morning claiming that she was "ripped off" by a "promo company" to the tune of almost $100. And it has come to my attention that this author is also naming my company as the culprit. So, let me be clear on a few facts: 

1) This particular author paid me $35 for a video trailer. 

2) This was paid for on Apr 27, 2015 9:22 am

3) An email requested the applicable information was sent to the client on that same afternoon.

4) Our standard request for information states in bold letters "we need 7 days to prepare everything"

5) I explained to this particular author in private messaging before she even purchased the trailer that we are currently running closer to 2 weeks and to be aware of that if she needed a quicker turn around time. 

6) This author emailed me the requested information on April 28th at 7:55 pm (minus the music file as clearly requested) 

7) I contacted the author that same night to request the music file once again. 

8) On April 29th at 9:42am I received an email from this author stating the name of the music and telling me how many seconds into the song to begin the trailer, but no music file. Thus making it my responsibility to locate the music and perhaps pay for it which is against our very clear instructions. 

9) Regardless of this, later that day (April 29th) I located and paid for the music file in order to make the author happy and get the ball rolling. *This was out of pocket cost that was not part of our agreement. 

10) Over the May 2-3 weekend I began work on the book trailer as I wanted to show a draft of the project to the client by Tuesday (May 5th).

11) This morning at 8:12 am I received a complaint/dispute from PayPal because this author submitted a ticket to them claiming she "never received the item." I never received an email of concern from her asking where her trailer was. 

12) Because she disputed the item, PayPal automatically reversed the transaction (without giving me a chance to explain the facts of what actually happened) thus making my account (which is tied to my debit card) decrease in available balance and making one of my bills bounce. I paid all of my monthly bills over the weekend and was happy to just have a tiny bit left over after grocery shopping and everything else, but now I am in the negative with bank charges! 

13) Now I have done work for free, I have paid out of pocket for a music file, and I owe a $35 overdraft fee to my bank, not to mention the $20 my account is overdrawn. So, if anyone has been ripped off to the tune of almost $100 it is me! This author has her money back. I'm the one out of time and money!

14) The worst part is that she paid for her service on the evening of the 27th, the 7 days time frame which was in writing (in bold letters) wouldn't even hit deadline until tonight! And technically the 7 days doesn't begin until I receive ALL of the information from the client. Which was never even done either. I had to go find and purchase what she wanted.

So, in the end I would like to ask that anyone being fed the garbage that she was wronged by this "promo company" to consider the fact that I have a paper trail to back up what I'm saying and all she is doing is taking the money that I have EARNED and causing me more financial hardships by going about things in the unprofessional manner that she has. If she had changed her mind and/or wanted a refund perhaps she could have asked instead of draining my bank account! 

So, in conclusion, I think a rational exchange with the company would have been a damn sight more productive and less damaging to everyone had this author chosen not to blast off on her Facebook page over an issue that PayPal will ultimately see as her wrong, not the fault of the company she is defaming. Once again, I'd like to add that CJ Dennis is not only a fabulous promotions person, she is honest above all, and that says a great deal when so many people are quick to steal or defraud. And, as a final word, I'd like to reiterate my earlier point - learn to read and count - 7 days means a week, and when you're asked to supply what is needed, don't expect someone else to pay for your expenses then complain because they didn't deliver your work fast enough to suit you.