Howard Ely - International Library Of Poetry howard ely In 1999 I wrote a poem and recieved notification I was being published. I have been gone alot since then doing Army stuff, Recently I tried to find and buy the book only to find it was a ripoff, NICE owings mills, Maryland

  In 1999 I submitted a poem to the National Library of Poetry contest in an attempt to be published. After sending in my poem I recieved a reply back stating I had been selected and that after I reviewed the proof which they sent back to me ( which was wrong) letting me know I could purchase the book once published for only $50.00. I thought it was cool but did not have the money to spare at the time. Over the past eleven years I have been telling people that I had been published only to find out I apparently have not. I searched the internet to try and find the book for purchase only to find it was a ruse. I feel like crap here, have I or have I not been published? I was going to use my poem as a referance in a college paper I'm writing and tried to locate the book online to no evail. What can I do at this point? I don't want to get in trouble for useing someone ealses material even though I wrote it. I would be willing to participate in any leagal action that may be pending as I am feeling robbed. I wrote and submitted the poem in good faith. I guess I should have known better. Disheartened.