AIRLEAF UPDATES, October 20, 2007

October 20, 2007
Dear Airleaf Friends,
First, welcome to our three new members this week. You have joined a wonderful group of authors who are fighting back. People are seeing our efforts through the Google advertising which I am happy to sponsor to get our word out. Please let me know if you are willing to share a few lines about your story on the website because this gives us more credibility, especially in the weeks ahead when the press will be viewing us.
Well, it's a great time for all of us as we start to watch Airleaf unravel from the fraudulence that has been perpetrated on us and so many more. When I first contacted you this summer, I promised you that I would see this through until we won our battle against the crooks who have stolen our money, hopes, and dreams. Thanks to all of you, this is becoming a reality.
Most of the people on this list received the letter from Detective Buskirk yesterday. I had spoken to him on Thursday to ask what I could tell you, the members of our group. He gave me the specific details that he shared with you. After asking him some specific questions, I feel very confident that things are moving along in a positive direction.
I know that it's been nearly three months since we started our group, and I, too, was becoming impatient. But please keep in mind that it takes time and work to put together the pieces of this puzzle. Then, it took time for you to write to the detective and file the complaints with the Attorney General's office, and this had to be coordinated. Then it took time to get the whole investigation plan in place. So, all things considered, I think things are going well.
In case you weren't on the list for Detective Buskirk's email, I'll reprint it here:

Update 10/19/07
Dear Airleaf Friends,
First, welcome to our four new members this week. You have joined a wonderful group of over 80 authors who are fighting back from being scammed by Airleaf Publishing. People are seeing our efforts through the Google advertising which I am happy to sponsor to get our word out. Please let me know if you are willing to share a few lines about your story on the www.AirleafVictims.com website because this gives us more credibility, especially in the weeks ahead when the press will be viewing us.
Well, it's a great time for all of us as we start to watch Airleaf unravel from the fraudulence that has been perpetrated on us and so many more. When I first contacted you this summer, I promised you that I would see this through until we won our battle against the crooks who have stolen our money, hopes, and dreams. Thanks to all of you, this is becoming a reality.
Most of the people on this list received the letter from Detective Buskirk yesterday. I had spoken to him on Thursday to ask what I could tell you, the members of our group. He gave me the specific details that he shared with you. After asking him some specific questions, I feel very confident that things are moving along in a positive direction.
I know that it's been nearly three months since we started our group, and I, too, was becoming impatient. But please keep in mind that it takes time and work to put together the pieces of this puzzle. Then, it took time for you to write to the detective and file the complaints with the Attorney General's office, and this had to be coordinated. Then it took time to get the whole investigation plan in place. So, all things considered, I think things are going well.
In case you weren't on the list for Detective Buskirk's email, I'll reprint it here:
Update 10/19/07
Hello All,
Just wanted to give you an update on the Investigation. We served a Search Warrant on Airleaf Publishing last Friday. We took computers and paper records from the office. Mr. Lau and staff were cooperative. The computers were copied by computer forensic experts and returned to them this week. We now have available to us all of their records on each of you as well as their company financial records. The process of analyzing all of these records will take a few weeks and then we can see what, if any criminal charges will be filed. I also advised a Postal Inspector that I may have a good fraud case for them to, but we will meet sometime this next week.
The part of the investigation we just completed was very important and time consuming. My computer experts say they are retrieving items on most of you and it seems to be going well. Once I get all the records from the computer people, then I will be able to see where we stand, what, if any additional records we need, and who else to bring into the investigation, i.e.: Postal Inspectors, State Revenue people, etc. Please be patient.
I might add, that the Indiana State AG's office also was present for the Search Warrant. Mr. Tolliver and I are trying our best to make this as painless as possible for you all.
I will send you another update as things progress.
Thank you,
Capt. Jeffrey C Buskirk% Martinsville Police Dept PO Box 1415Martinsville, Indiana 46151 765-342-6614 Office 765-342-6725 FAX
If you were not included on the detective's email, it's because he doesn't have your complaint. Please let me know if you need his email address because it is vital for him to have as many complaints as possible. When we spoke on Thursday, Detective Buskirk said there were close to 70 complaints! Great going group!
I am very encouraged by all of the activity that is going on. The issues start with the printing, but include:
1. Selling media packages for large sums of money and not providing the services.
2. Selling packages to take your books to England/Germany and never going.
3. Selling you reviews through Kirkus but never sending your book to be reviewed.
4. Putting your books in bookstores that never happened.
5. Selling tickets for cruises that never took off.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
This week, some of you were contacted by Airleaf. One member of our group said that Airleaf was willing to sell him his own books back. These were the books that were supposed to be given to him with the original publishing package. So they agreed to give him those 50 books and only charge for postage. This means that Airleaf is sitting on your books and now looking to get rid of them either by selling them back to you or in desperation, giving them to you so they aren't sitting around their offices. They also may feel that this will satisfy you enough to not continue with our case against them.
Let me say this: No amount of last minute services should stop you from proceeding with our group. We are all fighting to stop "Predatory Publishing." Unless Airleaf is willing to give you all of the money you believe you are entitled to, stay in the fight. Feel free to take whatever they offer you, but that doesn't negate what you have had to go through to get it. This is the only way we can all win.
As far as last week, I told you about speaking to Art Aryes regarding his movie "The Touch." I sent you his response to my accusations which stated that: Yes, I am going to be sending a note back with the contract that I will not be doing a book with Airleaf until this case and suit are settled. Will also be sending them a letter to take The Touch off their site.
Well, I guess Airleaf was able to make Mr. Aryes an offer that he didn't want to refuse. By Monday, the Airleaf site still had "The Touch" upfront on the site, but the wording had been changed. It now said:
Airleaf has been contracted to produce the book for the re-release of The Touch.
Well, that is true. He has contracted with Airleaf through Litestone Entertainment to produce the book "The Touch." However, Mr. Aryes knows the truth about Airleaf since I've sent him all of the information, but he still chooses to work with them. However, since he did state in his letter that he wouldn't work with Airleaf until the case is settled, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. He may not realize the enormity of this case because most likely Airleaf is denying it. Since he will be receiving this update, I'm hoping he will do the right thing and keep to his original statement of waiting until the case is settled. Within a short time, there won't be an Airleaf anymore, so it will become a moot point. Mr. Aryes, please feel free to send me a response, and I'll be happy to share it with the group.
I am starting to get together some publicity ideas so that we can take our message to the public. I've contacted a local television reporter who does national expose stories about criminal fraud. Yesterday he replied to me:
Thanks for info. I'm looking into it and will also pass info to our consumer reporter.
I also contacted a director at Oprah's show yesterday whom I worked with in late April on a show about straight/gay marriages, the area of expertise that I have. I will wait to hear from him on Monday and then pitch him our story. I feel it is very news worthy, and I am focusing in finding interest.
I have also contacted my former publicist from iUniverse. Her name is Jessica, and she was an excellent publicist who was able to set up many shows for me before she left the company three years ago. I have asked her to see what kind of package she could set up for our group members who truly want to do public shows or events. I'll keep you posted as I move ahead with her.
I had the pleasure of speaking to four more of you live on the phone this week. I appreciate that opportunity, and I'd be happy to speak to you all whenever you have a moment. Just let me know!
Well, my Airleaf Victims No More, we are marching on to victory. We are doing it as a group, and as a group, we will win. Thank you for allowing me to lead this march with you because we are all soldiers in this battle against thievery of innocent people.
I will update you next week. Please make sure to fill out the Attorney General's report if you haven't done so yet. If you need the link, write to me.
With love and hope, Bonnie