Showing posts with label agents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agents. Show all posts

November 12, 2014

Mysterious Romania (VII)Official Hush-Hush PART TWO


If you missed Part one of this post, here's a link to it:
shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/  
Informing authorities
The adrenaline pumped with power in professor's body. Bewildered and frightened, the professor ran back outside and  informed the police about the unbelievable discovery and his worker's disappearance. With trembling hands and a voice he hardly recognized as his own, he called higher authorities in Bucharest. He had to repeat several times his insistence for someone to be sent on the site of the diggings. The person on the other end of the phone thought him to be drunk, at first, and only after talking to the Police chief who confirmed the professor was sober and frightened, he talked to the professor again. 
 Special agents disappear
 Later, that same day, three special agents came to the site. They looked skeptical and their faces displayed the disbelief in the professor's story. They exchanged glances and shook their heads believing the professor was a bit crazy. The professor led them underground. He advised them to stay close to him and not venture  alone along the mysterious tunnels. Nevertheless, one of the agents wouldn't listen to his warning. He disappeared the same as the boy had done early morning. The following day, another special agent came from Bucharest. Baffled by what was underground and unable to cope with the situation, the special agents ordered the entrance to that odd place to be walled. After the entrance was sealed, the professor remained at the police station to fill a report. The agents returned, by car, to Bucharest to report the mysterious discovery. Surprise! They never arrived in Bucharest. They all died in an unexplained car accident! In fact, little by little, all witnesses of the discovery - and they were not many - vanished one way or other in the following weeks. The archeologist himself spoke very confused. It was clear he was affected by what he saw underground. He stood staring in the void and shook his head. The next day, he was taken, nobody knows up to this day, where.

 Underground secret inhabitants
 A second version on what triggered the discoveries in Sureanu Mountains  claims that the basement area of Sureanu Mountains was scanned by a Russian satellite. The images displayed a huge underground settlement.
 Whoever initiated the research is less relevant. Still, what was discovered there remains a great mystery because, officially , not all the results were released. Unofficially , it is said that the satellite discovered ancient and prehistoric sites in the area. Then, specialists in magnetometry, hydraulic problems, archaeologists, engineers , architects and professionals in geodesy carried out a thorough activity and many of the results proved amazing. Devices detected many rectangular enclosures that communicate with each other. It was a natural enclosure modified by man. Many of these enclosures communicate with the plateau above, with the ancient roads.One can even go from here, following the underground tunnels, to the sanctuaries of Sarmisegetuza Regia. The results data, which were not officially released, were astounding. The fortifications belong to a mega – settlement; a military- civilian settlement with multiple cores, spread over an area of 200 square kilometers. An underground predacic city, the size of Bucharest. Researchers used special equipment to detect buried walls and objects
 Secret blueprints handed to white-collar thieves
 Romanian specialists have compiled some detailed plans and maps of the underground sites. These were gathered in a file sent to the Ministry of Culture and were supposed to be kept secret. However, the secret  maps, copies of them, came in the possession of treasure thieves, of illegal treasure seekers who had strong relationships in the political class. Here  I must mention the already famous scandal of the fifteen stolen Dacian golden bracelets ( you can see pictures of the precious objects both here and in Part One of this article on 20th October). 
 Romanian VIPs involved
VIPs of Romanian political class were accused of having initiated the theft and paid quite a sum to own the patrimonial objects. The bracelets arrived in the United States, sold on the black market. Later, Romanian state recovered them and started an investigation. It led to caliber politician  names like Dan Iosif, or the former prime minister Nastase.Thieves knew exactly where to look for and find the treasure. It remains a very important question : who gave the robbers the secret plans of the complex and thus planned robbing the treasures ?
 Incompetence, fear or ignorance?
At first some studies were published regarding the discovery and then, suddenly, everything stopped. The lack of funds- something usual in Romania- was given as an excuse for not going on with the research and diggings. In fact, the discovery is considered as State Secret now. Authorities forbid any further research in the area. 
                  CASE CLOSED!











May 12, 2014

Writing Tips (III)



6 Publishers Accepting Unsolicited Manuscripts from Writers - No Agent Needed

Reblogged from Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity
These publishers accept manuscripts directly from writers. As is the case with most publishers that don't require an agent, they have a narrow focus. But, if your work falls into the categories they publish, you will have a good chance of having your proposal read. As always, go to the website, look at their other publications to see if yours will be a good fit, and follow all of their submission guidelines carefully.
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Small Beer Press
Small Beer Press was founded in 2000 and is run by Gavin J. Grant and Kelly Link. It publishes books as Small Beer Press, Big Mouth House, and Peapod Classics, and occasionally chapbooks and a zine - on recycled paper.

They also have an ebooksite for indie presses: Weightless Books.

Generally, they publish 6-10 books per year. They pay a small advance and standard royalties. Their ebook royalty rate is 40% of net receipts. While their catalog is not extensive, they do have two short story collections by Ursula LeGuin.

What they are looking for: Fiction (leaning toward the speculative), both short story collections and novels. No poetry.

How to submit: Print format by post only.

Please send a query with the first 10-20 pages of the book (not the full manuscript) in standard manuscript format, and an SASE (with a Forever Stamp or an international reply coupon) by mail to:

Small Beer Press

150 Pleasant St., #306

Easthampton, MA 01027

Phone: 413.203.1636413.203.1636

Email: info at smallbeerpress.com
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Allworth Press

Allworth Press publishes business and self-help information for the general public and creative professionals.  They share distribution with Skyhorse Publishing, using W. W. Norton in the United States. Allworth Press titles are now distributed in Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Southern Africa, the Philippines, Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Books from Allworth Press have been translated into many languages, including Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Japanese. Allworth Press currently has 300 titles in print.

What they are looking for: Graphic Design, Business, Performing Arts, Interior Design, Art, Theater, Web Design, Book Arts, Photography, Crafts.

How to submit: Prospective authors should submit a book proposal that includes a query letter, synopsis (1-2 pages), annotated chapter outline, market analysis, sample chapter (or two), bio, and SASE.

Send all submissions to: allworthsubmissions @skyhorsepublishing.com. If they are interested, they will get back to you within 4-6 weeks
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City Lights
City Lights Publishers is famous for launching several poets, including Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Allen Ginsberg, but this press also specializes in literary fiction and nonfiction. City Lights publishes 12 books a year.

From the website: For over fifty years, City Lights has been a champion of progressive thinking, fighting against the forces of conservatism and censorship. We are committed to publishing works of social responsibility, and to maintaining a tradition of bringing renegade literature from other parts of the world into English. In our function of discovery, we will continue to publish cutting-edge contemporary literature and brilliant new non-fiction.

What they are looking for: Fiction, essays, memoirs, translations, poetry, and books on social and political issues. They do not publish New Age, self-help, children’s literature, how-to guides, or genre works such as romance, westerns, or science fiction.

How to submit: City Lights does not accept unsolicited manuscripts, but they do accept proposals. Prospective authors should submit the following: 

    A one to two-page letter that describes your book and includes your resumé, with a list of any prior publications and information about your relevant writing and professional experience.

    A sample (10–20 pages maximum) of your work.

    An additional outline and table of contents for a nonfiction work.

To receive a response, you must enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). You will receive a reply from our staff within six months letting you know if they want to see a complete manuscript. Telephoning or e-mailing will not speed up the review process.

City Lights takes no responsibility for the loss or damage of submitted materials. Please do not submit irreplaceable materials.

They do not accept proposals by e-mail or at the front desk at City Lights Bookstore.

Please mail proposals to:

Editorial Department

City Lights Publishers

261 Columbus Avenue

San Francisco CA 94133

Chicago Review Press

Academy Chicago Publishers is one of the oldest publishing houses in Chicago. They publish both fiction and nonfiction and have more than two hundred published titles on their list. Academy Chicago publishes about 60 new titles yearly under five imprints: Chicago Review Press, Lawrence Hill Books, Ball Publishing, Zephyr Press, and Academy Chicago.

What they are looking for: Chicago Review Press publishes general nonfiction on a wide range of subjects including history, popular science, music, film, biography, autobiography, DIY, craft, and travel, as well as an award-winning line of children's activity books and young adult biographies. Lawrence Hill Books publishes nonfiction on topics of African American interest, progressive politics, Middle Eastern studies, and feminism. Ball Publishing specializes in gardening books, and Zephyr Press publishes professional development titles for teachers. Academy Chicago publishes memoirs, mysteries, and other exciting, new, and well-crafted fiction and nonfiction.

How to submit: For non-fiction send:

    A brief synopsis of your proposed book in 1–2 paragraphs

    The estimated word count of the final manuscript

    The estimated completion date

    Author biography or resume specifying credentials and publication credits, where appropriate

    Approximate sales of previous books published, if any

    A complete table of contents and/or a complete outline of the proposed chapters

    1–2 sample chapters

For children's activity books, include a few sample activities and list the others

    Any information regarding photographs or artwork for the book

    A description of the target audience and any information about the market

    A list of competing and comparable titles and how your book differs—be sure to tell us what makes your book unique

Please e-mail your proposal to frontdesk@chicagoreviewpress.com

Their turnaround time on reviewing proposals is about 4–6 weeks.
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