Dear Readers,

I had sent one of my poems to Famous Poets Society for their free online contest. Hoping that I would win i was excited. I recieved a letter in the mail from them saying that i had been choosen by 'Judging Committee' as a semifinalist. They also said that they liked my poem so much that they wanted to publish it into thier 'most eminent anthology of the year!'. Which was named 2001-A Poetic Odyssey, all they needed was my permission to be published. They said it would be a in a 'large artbook format, luxuriously hardbound and gold-embossed, and beatifully illustrated by our noted Art Director Michael A. Anderson.' But who was this letter from? The one and only Martha French (thier poetry editor)who I later found out does not exist. Yet still how is she writing??

The anthrology copies were only the special price of $20.00 each but the Deluxe Hardbound Edition for only $39.95 and extra copies for $30.00. A special didication add $10.00, Photograph of yourself $20.00, Illustration $20.00, Extra poems $25.00 each, Special Biograpy $20.00, PLAQUE $38.00. Wow that made me think are they interested in my writing or in SELLING and taking my money?

Of course the very curios person that I am i just HAD to research on them. Here listed are things that i found out:

-Martha French their Poetry Editor (who sent me the letter even though it seemed more like advertisement to sell things than a letter) does not exist
-EVERYONE who enters the contest recieves the same computer generated letter from Mark Schramm or Martha French
-www.famouspoets.com, www.freecontest.com, and friendlypoets.com's poetry submissions are all taken into Famous Poets Society free poetry contest. It is identical to the poetry scheme called 'World of Poetry' in the 80's.
-the above website are registered to a John Campbell or John Cambell (i looked it up in www.networksolutions.com)and they all have the same adress yet different email adresses to contact this John guy.
-Famous Poets society has done business under 12 names and 13 different adresses.
-A NEW adress 105 W. Valley View Rd., Suite 4 Talent, Oregon 97540

So in conclusion all of the above is something that i am happy i found out and hopefully you will to do some research of your own and not get caught into thier scam!