Airleaf Victims and Supporters, December 22, 2007

Dear Airleaf Victims and Supporters,

This has been a victory week for all of us because Airleaf Publishing has finally closed down. This means that Carl Lau and his crew can no longer defraud new people and many of his established authors who are still unaware of the Airleaf’s non-existent status. Word is getting out daily as frustrated authors try to contact the Airleaf offices with no success; as a result, as of today, December 22, 2007, we have 288 people in our group of Airleaf Victims. Without all of your support and persistence, this would never have happened.

I would like to thank all of you who have sent me loving, caring messages throughout this week since the announcement by Detective Buskirk. We have accomplished our first goal of shutting down Airleaf. Now we need to focus on our next two goals:

1. Retrieving our money and materials due to us
   
2. Making sure that criminal charges are brought against Carl Lau

These two steps will require some action on your part as far as sending in letters and reports to the proper authorities. Next week, I will send you an updated list of where to send your letters as we start applying pressure on the government resources that should be doing their jobs in resolving this disaster. You may want to put together a standard “mini-story” that you can cut and paste into a complaint form rather than writing a new one each time. If you need help in composing this, please let me know, and I will be happy to help you.

This week, I had a positive conversation with the Washington FBI who referred me to the local FBI in Indiana. The agent I spoke to was very kind and encouraging. He reemphasized how important it is to fill in the form that I sent you two weeks ago. Some of you have filled it out, but if you haven’t, please take a few moments to do this because this will create a case in our favor. If you have trouble filling it out, please have someone help you. In case you are not sure of the information, I have cut and paste the bulk of the form at the end of this email with the proper information filled in so you can print it out and copy it. I hope that helps. After you send in the form, please email me at Bonkaye@aol.com so I can track the complaints.

Here is the FBI link:

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

As you all know by now, Detective Buskirk offered to help you retrieve your disks and other materials back from Airleaf. He requested that you email him with your information. By today, two of you wrote to me that his email was not going through. This could be due to the wrong email address. His email address is: jbuskirk@rnetinc.net. To the naked eye, the r netinc.net looks like an “m” when you put r and n together. Make sure you are sending it to rnetinc.net. But for those of you who prefer to mail your information, here is the mailing address:

Captain Jeffrey C. Buskirk Martinsville Police Department
PO Box 1415 59 S. Jefferson Street Martinsville, Indiana 46151

As we look to move ahead into the future seeking responsible solutions to our publishing problems, I am checking out every lead that is sent to me. At this time, I am exploring those companies that you, our authors, are recommending. I will not make any recommendations until I complete this research to give each of you the best alternatives for your particular need looking at the positives and negatives. However, I did want to give you one good lead that will help some of you.

I spoke with iUniverse on Thursday about their “Back in Print Publishing Program” for authors who currently have books in print. This is NOT for authors who are looking to get their books into print for the first time. Those services at iUniverse are offered at a much higher price. But if you have a book published by Airleaf, you can have it republished by iUniverse for the price of $299.00. They would become your new publisher and their publishing seal would be on your book.

I do have three books published by iUniverse. In fact, my first book was the last book the company bought before they went POD in 2000. Although I have gone in a different direction for my new publishing to a company that I prefer, I think this is an excellent alternative for those of you who have books in print by Airleaf. For that money, they are willing to design a new book cover, give you an ISBN number, and put your book on the traditional book outlets such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble on line. They also say they can do it in four weeks. I think this is extremely reasonable to have your book back in print. You do have to send iUniverse two copies of your book, and they make copies of each page. They cannot do this from a disk. If you are interested in pursuing this, you can write to Kaitlyn Hartman at this email address: kaitlyn.hartman@iuniverse.com. I would like to thank author Willard Gray for pursuing this information.

Here is the link for iUniverse’s republishing information:




iUniverse is a reputable Print On Demand book company. They are very reliable with their royalties, and I receive royalties from them like clockwork on the quarterly schedule as well as monthly book sales reports that you can look up on the website at any time. You can read about their royalty structures, and other information on this site:

Link to iUniverse royalty site:
Discounts, Royalties and Pricing

As I mentioned earlier, I have gone with a different publisher for my new book that was released several weeks ago. I believe there are publishers who are more reasonable and effective than iUniverse when it comes to publishing new work. Also, iUniverse does not have a return policy for those of you who want to do book signings in traditional book stores. Please keep in mind that any company that offers promotional packages promising you fame and fortune needs to really be questioned closely. We all made mistakes with Airleaf. Let’s try not to repeat them again. If you have had a positive publishing experience that you would like to share with me so I can explore it for a future update, please write to me and let me know.

One of our authors, Charles Gaskins, sent me this good news earlier in the week:

I just got off the phone with AARP credit card services and they are returning my $400.00. They are filing a dispute with them through VISA and if all goes well I will see my money in 7-10 days. It will work as they closed their doors, and shut their phone off so they can't answer that they are an operating company now. Thank the good Lord. Tell the rest to contact their credit card companies and do the same to dispute the charges since services were never rendered.Charles

I know some of you have tried calling your credit card companies, but it wouldn’t hurt to try one more time AND EXPLAIN that the company has closed their doors and left you without your book and/or promotional services. Please let me know if you have any positive results so I can share this with our others.

In last week’s Reporter Times news article, this was one statement that Carl Lau made to the reporter:

Lau said the company has been hurt by "lies" about the company. He said a report that two people had lost their homes because of the money they paid Airleaf for publishing and marketing expenses was untrue.

Kaye said at least two people who sent Airleaf money lost their homes. One invested $10,000 for a book and its marketing and another one $14,000, she said.

I like to make it clear that I have nothing to gain by making up stories since our campaign is based on exposing fraudulence, not creating it. To show how Carl Lau has no clue about the damage he has done to authors, I asked my dear new Airleaf Victim friend, Fred, if he would respond to this story for our authors. He is one of the two people I spoke about. In his own words:

I cannot believe it! Carl Lau now has the unmitigated audacity to deny our pain and suffering? Let me tell you, so that filth like him could know, that our pain and suffering is all too real, and some of us risked all and lost all. To me, it was a “give it all or nothing” proposition, and I ended up with nothing. As a result of my naiveté, if only to reiterate an all too familiar tale to fellow victims of Airleaf, I placed my trust in Carl Lau and his henchmen, risked at least $10,000.00 on a dream to get published and recognized, and indeed, as all of you know, lost it all. In addition, I ended up without a home, ostracized by my family, and had to flee to Mexico to accept the aid of some compassionate relatives. It was either that, or end up in the streets of Los Angeles, and have no contact whatsoever with Bonnie Kaye or anybody else. Here, far from my old home, at least I can use a computer, click on the Internet, and keep abreast of this grand crusade against the fraudsters, and I am heartened by the progress being made.

But my welcome is wearing thin, I fear, and my health, already on the decline for many months now, and certainly accelerated as a result of the stress and anxiety caused by the fraudsters, is getting worse, and I have no way of redressing the circumstances of my situation. And this is what Carl Lau calls lies fabricated by Bonnie Kaye? I am bleeding internally and urinating blood (pardon the graphic details) with fear my kidneys are deteriorating. I have trouble breathing again, and because of Lau I have no money, no hope of anything, never mind any access to simple medical help. I cannot think straight, have no options or opportunities, and am humiliated by circumstances this outrageous fortune has flung at me. Yes, and Lau is responsible!

When I first wrote my “story” regarding my involvement with Airleaf, I feared the worst, resigned myself to the prospect that I would not share in the victory against Airleaf, and thought I´d just take the easy way out and kill myself. The flight to Mexico, which made me feel like I was slipping out like a thief at night, seemed propitious at first, and I hoped would open new opportunities, restore calm to my soul, give me a new outlook on what´s left of my miserable life. But, I´m back to fearing the worst. If I sound like I´m talking nonsense, so be it, and wish that Carl Lau could walk in my shoes for a week, and then ask himself if all of this is a lie.

I´ve tried to do my part, as all of you have, and written to the detective, the attorney general of Indiana, the governor thereof, and Senator Lugar, and even requested of the miserable Lau to formally terminate my association with Airleaf. But, I am making myself even sicker trying to contain the anger and panic that Lau all the rest of them who worked at Airleaf have caused us. This issue, obviously, cannot leave my side, and so there is the constant mental and spiritual tug of war between reason and despair raging in my conscience... a war that reason is losing. Oh, and urinating blood and suffering excruciating pains in and around the groin area ain´t helping matters!

For the present, all I can do is pray for the rest of you, fellow Airleaf Victims, that you may rejoice in the victory that our beloved Bonnie is leading you towards.

Damn Lau and the wretched crooks of Airleaf! Why, why are people like this allowed to prosper? Are we fools for not being more judicious with our business choices? No, no! Even the best of us are misled by these hateful types. We expect evil to be transparent, black and white in a manner of speaking, and we so often forget that dishonesty is always dressed in the clothing of innocence or decency. We saw decency for what it was worth, and were slapped by the hard reality of insidious fraud.

In closing, I beg all victims of Airleaf to make Lau aware of just how much anguish and suffering he has caused, and better yet, let Senator Lugar, Governor Daniels, and all the bureaucrats in Indiana who are dragging their asses, know exactly what Lau and his accomplices have done. And, if they don’t do something, the whole nation will know of the thieves they are nurturing within their state borders, and see how they like it! Blessings to you and yours,
Sincerely, Frederick Martin-Del-Campo

Thank you, Fred, for sharing your story with our group.

After the beginning of the year, I will start putting together our media plan to expose what has happened with Airleaf. I am still working with FOX NY to get this story together. I will also have a plan of action that you, our victims, can use for the media if you are interested.

Final Personal Note

I would like to take this opportunity to wish our group a happy, healthy, and peaceful holiday season. As a relationship counselor, I know for some people, this is a difficult time of the year, including me. Although I rarely speak about my own life because I like to focus on our cause, I will share with you that I have lost both of my precious children within the last five years. My beautiful daughter, Jennifer, passed away in 2002 at the age of 22; my beloved son Jason died at the end of 2005 at the age of 23. Even though I have the support of a wonderful family, an extraordinary soul mate of 14 years, loving friends and co-workers, and an amazing support group from my counseling of straight women with gay husbands, there is still a void in my own heart that surfaces each year at this time. Thanks to you, my wonderful new Airleaf Victim family, I feel a new sense of inspiration, fulfillment, and purpose. Many of you have been there from the start of our fight in August with words of support, praise, and encouragement. I have met some of the finest people with the most integrity ever imaginable and formed some new friendships that will last long after this battle is over. Please know that I appreciate your support as much as you appreciate mine. I thank you all and admire your determination NOT to be a victim of one of the greatest publishing scams in history. Happiest of all holidays!

Love, Bonnie Kaye

"Airleaf Publishing, Self-Publishing Company, Closed Their Doors for Good."

Dear Airleaf Victims and Friends,
Many of you have received the following notice from Detective Jeff Buskirk of the Martinsville, Indiana police department. If you haven't, I am sending it to you so you can take the proper action. Please see my note at the end.

Good day,

This is to inform you I have talked to Carl Lau this date. He has closed down. However, he and his attorney has assured me that if I provide them with a list of items to be returned, they will make them available to return disks, galleys, books etc. Carl told me he has 60,000 books in his facility, of which he owns only about 10,000 of. The rest is yours and others who have published with him. When he receives an authors permission, he is donating books to Goodwill.

Here is what I need from each of you. I need a list of any items you want returned to you in a separate email sent directly to me. This email will be given to the attorney, so please only list what you are needing from the company. You may also indicate how much you feel they owe each of you, so that that can be recorded by the attorney too. Please keep the negative comments to another day, as we are trying to get each of you what we can get as we can get it. I will also need to know if you are willing to pay for shipping as I don't believe there will be funds to ship anything out from Airleaf and probably not from our agency. If you want to drive to Martinsville, please indicate this and I will try to set up a time in January to have a day or two where we can get this accomplished.

This does not stop the criminal investigation. Some of you have also asked about the class action or civil suit. You will have to talk to Bonnie Kaye about that issue as I have no involvement in civil matters at this time.

Finally, this is my last day of working this year, but I will be available thru email. Starting January 1, 2008 I will be working the streets and no longer a detective. Political change. As of today, I have continued to inquire as to how this case will be handled or if I will be allowed to continue this investigation, but the new Chief and administration has chosen to keep me in the dark. Therefore, I will just say I will do everything in my power to make sure this case is not forgotten nor ignored. Hopefully, I will be allowed to continue to work on this case as I change positions.

Thank you all for your assistance in this matter and I will be looking forward to hearing from all 150+ of you in the next couple of days as to what you need from Airleaf and what to do about your books if they have them.

Finally, in a total unofficial matter, I am on the Board of directors of the Boys/Girls Clubs of Morgan County which serves Martinsville and Mooresville communities. We currently have two clubs which are up and operational. If any of you have books which are appropriate for children ages 6-18 and wish to donate them to us, you can do so my sending them to me at the PD address. This is not a demand by any means, it's just a way for us to build up our libraries which we are just now putting together.
Sincerely,

Capt. Jeffrey C Buskirk
% Martinsville Police Dept
PO Box 1415
Martinsville, Indiana 46151
765-342-6614 Office 765-342-6725 FAX

It is with deep regret that Detective Buskirk is leaving his job. I had an extensive conversation with him this afternoon expressing our concerns for when he is reassigned. He has requested that he be allowed to finish up the investigation with Airleaf, but depending on the new mayor who starts after January 1, this will be determined later. We may need to write to the new mayor to express our concerns at that time, but I will keep you posted.

Although this isn't the final victory for us, it is a major victory. Authors will be able to get their valuable work back as well as books. Airleaf is out of business so that Carl Lau can't hurt anyone else like he has done to us. Although Lau is pointing the finger in my direction, I hope you all know that this fraudulence was taking place long before my Airleaf Victims campaign. I was not the cause of his fraudulence--he has to take the responsibility on himself.

We must continue our campaign with renewed energies after the New Year in order to see what money can be returned to authors as well as making sure that criminal charges are pressed against the man who was in charge of collecting our money. I will update you with more information on Saturday.

With love and hope,

Bonnie Kaye
Authors and friends,
We need you to continue blogging and sharing your stories so that justice can continue to all those parties involved in this horrific scandal.

Airleaf Victims Update, The Attorney General, FBI and the Governors are now Taking Notice.

December 15, 2007

Dear Airleaf Victims and Supporters,

Welcome to our new members which brings our group to 262. As authors tried to call Airleaf this week pleading for their “before Christmas books” promises only to find the phone disconnected, there was a large number of people who looked on the Internet for information and found our group listed on the Google search engine through the Google advertising link and the high ranking of our stories on that search engine.

For all intents and purposes, Airleaf has shut down its doors. The sign has been removed from the door, the website is no longer functioning, the phone has been shut off, and the employees are gone.

There has been much speculation as to whether or not this is the final drag-out death of Airleaf or if it will be bouncing up again under a different name. Carl Lau has claimed that he has investors that are going to bail him out. Not to sound cynical, but I say “No Way.” Now that the fraudulence has been exposed, any investor who has an ounce of sense would see the major legal, criminal, and civil woes facing Lau.

Even when everything was falling down around Airleaf, people were still getting letters as of Friday, December 14, from Dawn Rogers asking them to buy their books at a special reduced rate of $1.50 plus shipping. All they had to do was give her their credit card to make the purchase of buying back their own books. Go figure!

I started receiving a slew of email from new authors when the Airleaf phones went down. People panicked about their promised Christmas deliveries that were assured by Dawn as recently as three days ago. One author told me that Dawn just promised to turn her book into a DVD, and production would begin in April through Lite Stone Entertainment. Too bad that victim didn’t have a chance to read our update last week when Al Smith, President of Lite Stone, disassociated himself with Airleaf. And incidentally, he did take down his site—it is still under construction. Thank you, Mr. Smith.

Two authors wrote to me concerned because they won’t be able to sell books on Amazon or similar outlets anymore. A former employee told me that Airleaf had not been sending any books to Amazon for a while. Amazon keeps a few books in stock of your titles, but when they are sold out, there is a posting of “out of stock.” On the bright side, if you have copies of your book, this gives you the opportunity to sell them yourself through Amazon which is a definite good thing. You can charge whatever you want for the book—including the full price—and Amazon only takes a couple of dollars. If you need help in learning how to do this, please contact me.

But the question remains of what you are going to do now that Airleaf isn’t publishing anymore. I wrote to expert Victoria Strauss who has been helping us through this ordeal. I asked her:

Question: If Airleaf is out of business, does the printer still send copies to Amazon etc. when books are ordered? How would the printer get paid if Airleaf isn't paying them?

Response: It's up to the individual printer, but I should think that if Airleaf owes them money, they're not going to print books that are ordered. Whether the books are listed on Amazon as being available is a different issue, and the fact of the publisher being out of business may not make a difference. It's hard for me to make guesses about that, since I don't know Airleaf's procedure for getting its books listed. If a publisher uses Lightning Source, for instance, its books are listed at Amazon through the Ingram catalog. To get them de-listed, the publisher would have to cancel the book with Lightning Source. Publishers that aren't in the Ingram catalog may sell via Amazon's Advantage program--again, to get a book removed from the program, the publisher would have to cancel it.

I think if it were me, I think I'd contact Amazon directly and try to get it to de-list my book, or at least to show it as unavailable. This may not work, but it could be worth a try. At least you might be able to discover the source of the book's Amazon listing.

Another issue: Amazon lists books even if copies are only available through its Amazon Marketplace listings. Unfortunately, Marketplace sellers often list books for sale even if they don't actually have them, in order to draw orders.
- Victoria

Based on this lead, yesterday I called Lightning Source. I had a lengthy conversation with the representative. She informed me that Airleaf did not use Lightning Source as a printing source. What was very interesting to learn is that any one of us can become our own publisher through Lightning Source. Of course, you have to submit the book to them in ready-to-print form. You have to have the cover designed. Even if you have a disk from Airleaf, you would have to have the name removed before you publish it yourself. The representative suggested you could have it formatted at a store like Kinko’s. You can then submit your book to Lightning Source for printing, and they work with Ingram to get your book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You still have to give these outlets a 55% discount, but theoretically, if you had a 6 x 9 200 page book, and you had a $20.00 price tag on it, you would pay less than $4.00 plus shipping to buy your own copies. If it sold on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, you would make approximately $5.00 off of each sale. And guess what? They actually pay YOU!

There are a number of small set up charges including the title setting and the proofing, but the cost seemed pretty minimal—under $200.00. So for ambitious people, you may want to consider this as your way to go.

Here is the link to Lightning Source where you can read all of the information:

Lightning Source ... The Power of One

Airleaf was certainly in the Martinsville news this week. It appears as if Carl Lau is having a hard time sleeping. Umm. He keeps blaming me and Brien Jones for the Airleaf problems. As stated to all of you in an earlier email, I am not working with Brien Jones. I am working with all of you. Brien is not my issue—Carl Lau is my issue. He may be the issue for some of our authors, but this is the forum to end the fraudulence at Airleaf under the ownership of Carl Lau. To set the story straight, I did contact Brien Jones last spring in my frustration after he left Airleaf. I never knew him during his time at Airleaf. He was not my representative—Krystal Hatfield was. When I couldn’t get a response from Airleaf after numerous attempts, I was willing to talk to anyone who could give me answers. Former employees seemed to be a good place to start. And there were many of them I spoke to as the months progressed in order to find out what was really going on at Airleaf. The irony is that Brien Jones did not support my Airleaf Victims campaign nor did he encourage it. I personally didn’t care because I was fighting for myself—and as each day passed, for you. And yet, I have been described by Carl Lau as Brien Jones’ “puppet.” It’s sad he thinks that I would allow anyone to pull my strings. He obviously doesn’t know me at all.

There were two very interesting statements in the latest story published about Airleaf by the Reporter on Friday. This was the story when Lau claimed he’s not out of business—yet. The next day, his phone was disconnected as I reported to Ron Hawkins.

When Ron questioned him about why the sign was taken off the door, this was his response:

Lau said he took the sign down because of "the crazies out there. I have to protect our employees."

Now, I find that statement amusing. What criminal offense have I committed against his business? What can the law enforcement agencies take action against me for? Organizing the people scammed by Airleaf? I guess that’s why he is unable to get them to take action. Oh well!

Here’s the link to the updated story where you can once again, post your comments to Lau’s pity party:

Publishing company still conducting business Reporter-Times.com

The one thing that I can commiserate with Carl Lau about is the lack of being able to get the law enforcement agencies to take action. The wheels of justice in Indiana are moving very, very slowly. Some of you received this response back from the Governor’s office this week after you sent Mitch Daniels a complaint:

Thank you for your e-mail to Governor Daniels. The Governor is grateful for the time you took to share your thoughts with him. However, with the information you have provided, we believe this to be a Federal issue.
As such, for your convenience, we are including Senator Lugar's contact information with this e-mail and would suggest forwarding your comments to the Senator's office. Again, we would like to thank you for your correspondence, and wish you the best of luck in addressing this matter.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please be sure to contact Governor Daniels in the future.
Sincerely,
Amanda Lewis Constituent Services Office of the Governor
Senator Richard Lugar (317) 226-5555

As soon as those notes starting coming to me, I immediately called Senator Richard Lugar’s office. I gave the story to the assistant answering the phone. He promised me that someone would call me back later on Wednesday morning. There was no call. On Thursday morning, I called again. He informed me that the Senator’s office was looking in to the complaint and would get back to me as soon as they had all of the information. So, I am asking you, our Airleaf victims, to please send a note to Senator Lugar at his email address senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov.

If you have any trouble with that address, here’s the direct link to his website where you can hit into the “contact” information.

Link to Senator Lugar:

Richard G. Lugar, United States Senator for Indiana - Contact Dick Lugar

This is the note that I sent to him on Friday:

Dear Senator Lugar,

I represent a group of over 250 victimized authors throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. We have been victimized by a company called Airleaf Publishing in Martinsville, Indiana. Our website is at www.AirleafVictims.com where you can read some of the stories first hand.

Senator Lugar, please understand that we are all very frustrated at the moment. People have lost thousands of dollars of their hard earned money to a scam that promised numerous services but never delivered. The Attorney General's office has been very uncooperative with us. I contacted the Governor's office this past week, but they have put this in your court and said to contact you.

I contacted your office on Wednesday, but they have not been very cooperative as far as getting back to me. Could you please have someone from your office contact me as soon as possible with some answers about who can help us? This will become a national news story within the next few weeks, and I would be happy to say that your office was responsive to our pain and suffering. At the moment, I can't say that about the AG or Governor's office.

With hope,
Bonnie Kaye, M.Ed., Organizer

www.AirleafVictims.com

www.AirleafVictims.blogspot.com

"post your opinions and comments"

If you would prefer to call his office rather than email him, please feel free to do so and let me know what the response was.

For those people who haven’t contacted the FBI yet, please try to do so as soon as possible. If you prefer to call instead of filling out the link, call your local FBI office and tell them you want to report “wire fraud.” If you have any difficulty, please let me know.

As I mentioned earlier, Airleaf had its website shut down last week. They started constructing this one under a new domain name, www.novelfilmco.com. It will be interesting to see what happens in the days ahead as far as this site being developed to scam new authors. We’ll be watching, and I’ll be keeping you informed.

Although the wheels of justice are turning very slowly for us, please keep in mind the great accomplishment we have made in just a few short months.

Thank you all for your continued support, friendship, and information. Please keep me informed whenever you are contacted by Airleaf or receive a response to an email so I can track the continued fraudulence.

I would just like to share with you one last statement Carl Lau made in the article on Thursday:

Lau said many of the other claims by critics of Airleaf are false as well.

Amazing—isn’t it! I guess many of us are liars! Let’s keep the heat moving. In the end, justice will prevail.

With love and hope,
Bonnie Kaye

Continue posting your opinions and comments to our blog to show others that were not alone. Our voices in print matter. I look forward to reading all your posts...

Publishing company still conducting business. Workforce feduced to three.

Dear Friends,

This is from the Martinsville paper today. Please see my post, and please feel free to post your own comments.

I want to make one issue very clear. I am going to blame or defend Brien Jones because my issues are with Airleaf. Carl Lau blames all of the Airleaf problems on Brien who left there nearly a year ago. Much of the fraudulence, including mine, had nothing to do with him. I never dealt with him at Airleaf and had never heard of him until after he left and Airleaf sent out notices to authors.

I started this campaign because I was victimized by Airleaf. I tried every legal measure to have them give me my money, including having a high profile law company request the money owed to me. When they refused to respond, I decided to start this campaign. At that point, I already knew some of the other horror stories. As the weeks went on, I started finding more of you, and you started finding me.

Airleaf did try to pay me off, but I refused to allow them to do so because I felt I had a mission--to help all of you get back what you had lost. There will always be "detractors" trying to throw us off base by discrediting my motivations or accusing me of working with Brien Jones, but we know the truth. Together, we will make sure that the truth prevails, and the criminals find justice.

More on Saturday.
Love, Bonnie Kaye

Publishing company still conducting business. Workforce reduced to three
By Ronald Hawkins
rhawkins@reportert.com Thursday December 13, 2007

Martinsville

Embattled Airleaf Publishing and Book Selling has not gone out of business, owner Carl Lau says.
"We're still here working," Lau said Wednesday.

The name of the business was removed Friday from the door of the company's home at 35 Industrial Drive and from a sign in front of the building listing its tenants.

Additionally, two of the company's five full time workers and one part-time worker have been laid off, leaving the company with three employees. The remaining workers include Lau, the business' accountant and an outside production coordinator.
"I laid them off because I can't afford them," Lau said.

Lau said he took the sign down because of "the crazies out there. I have to protect our employees."

The Indiana Attorney General's office, the Martinsville Police Department and Better Business Bureau of Central Indiana have all received complaints about the company's alleged failure to pay royalties, publish books and deliver other promised services. Airleaf is a vanity publishing and marketing firm that started 5-1/2 years ago as Bookman Marketing in Martinsville.
The business has financial problems, but Lau said the remaining employees are working on its commitments.

Asked if the firm would fulfill all of those commitments, Lau said, "I don't know. We'll do the best we can. We're trying. ... I'll do all I can until I run out of money."

Philadelphia-based author and counselor Bonnie Kaye launched a Web site, www.airleafvictims.com, as a network for people who've had problems with the company.
Lau said the company has been hurt by "lies" about the company. He said a report that two people had lost their homes because of the money they paid Airleaf for publishing and marketing expenses was untrue.

Kaye said at least two people who sent Airleaf money lost their homes. One invested $10,000 for a book and its marketing and another one $14,000, she said.
Lau disputes that saying, "Nobody lost their house over this."

He said he had "built a nice business" and that he hopes he can someday justify the company's actions.

Lau said he is planning lawsuits against Kaye and Brien Jones, his former business partner. He said there were criminal offenses committed against his business, but he has been unable to get law enforcement agencies to take action.

Martinsville Police Department Detective Jeff Buskirk, however, said he's received at least 120 individual complaints against Airleaf. He said he's trying to determine if the case is a criminal or a civil matter.

The state attorney general's office and the Better Business Bureau of Central Indiana also have received complaints about the business.

The attorney general's office in some cases has helped the authors get their money back.
"The attorney general's consumer protection division has civil authority, not criminal and will assist with criminal investigations if asked or needed," said Staci Schneider, a spokeswoman for the attorney general.

The Better Business Bureau has warned consumers about doing business with Airleaf.
"Based on BBB files, this business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB due to a failure to respond to complaints," according to the BBB's Web site. "This company has an Unsatisfactory Record due to a pattern of complaints. Specifically, consumers allege the contract to publish books were never fulfilled. Consumer also allege contracts to market and advertise books were not fulfilled. Files also indicate a pattern of consumer allegations that the company does not return phone calls or respond to letters or e-mails."

Post a comment to this story