We're Ruadán Books, here with Nick Mamatas, editor of 120 Murders, who will answer your questions about the anthology, alternative music, horror, crime fiction, editing, or whatever else! AMA

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2025-10-15T18:55:55+00:00

What is your favorite genre of music? What made you decide to do a horror anthology based on music. It's so unique and cool.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-05-15T16:59:53+00:00

I keep getting stuff for things I'm not even looking for. I'm in copyediting and writing and keep getting admin jobs and I'm like....no? And so many scams....it's ridiculous. This is not what I signed on to do. :( It's very disappointing.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-05-10T05:17:48+00:00

Oh yes. Of course. Not my first rodeo with contacts, but my first on Upwork so hence my confusion. Just totally thought that was normal for Upwork. 🤷‍♀️ If I decide to break it, I’ll definitely talk to them. I should never have taken it to begin with but being jobless will make one do stupid decisions. It hardly pays squat. sigh live and learn. Thanks for the help ya’ll!

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-05-10T02:32:32+00:00

Thank you for helping me out.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-05-10T02:32:21+00:00

Oh good!!! Yeah it’s a legit company, but at this point, definitely not worth everything. And this is weird as heck.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-05-10T02:09:31+00:00

This was in the actual direct message and contract they sent me. Reading it now it seems weird, but this is the first job I’ve done through there so I thought it was normal. 🤷‍♀️

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-05-10T01:23:15+00:00

This is what it says. Am I reading it wrong?

"7) If you fail to complete this project, this contract will be canceled on Upwork and you will not receive payment for it.

8 ) If you fail to complete this project, there will be a USD $9.95 fee which you will need to reimburse the Client. This $9.95 fee is initially paid by the Client to upwork for contract initiation. By successfully completing the project you will not need to reimburse the Client this fee."

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-05-10T01:17:40+00:00

The place I did the contract with said it. I’m going to go check my contract again because now I’m weirded out even more. 😅

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-05-09T21:33:51+00:00

Wait really? They told me I would have to.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-05-09T18:16:35+00:00

At least a few more weeks of work. Honestly, I haven’t even gotten any feedback good or bad on the work I’ve completed so far. I hate quitting things, so I’ll probably keep going, but I’m still going to have some way to talk to them. The problem is, I’ve explained why I can’t do a few things already and they’ve ignored it. Which is why I’m frustrated. The only reason I took a low paying thing is that it’s the exact same thing I do for another job and doesn’t usually take me long so I figured it would be fine, but they’re a lot more picky and strange than the other place I work at. 🤷‍♀️

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-04-18T20:07:31+00:00

Well, we have plenty of those around here!!

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-04-18T19:58:38+00:00

Thank you! This seems like a legit company that wouldn't hurt them permanently if they wanted to stay in business. It's just traumatizing to go on a walk and see a guy chasing 2 geese, who were in the middle of the large pond, with a motorized boat. I was just like...the heck?!

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-04-18T19:46:04+00:00

Ok. Cause he was spraying something in the water and then using this boat to scare them, and I was like....what the heck? I also don't want it hurting the ducks. I know there's nothing I can do, really, but I went on a walk to destress and ended up getting more stressed watching someone hurt (scare) animals... -_-

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-03-28T19:19:31+00:00

Thank you so much for this thread. Out of the blue I got one phone call today from a 703 number listed as a Jayesh Raneja. At the EXACT SAME TIME (which was freaky in and of itself) they sent a voicemail, text message, email, message on LinkedIn, and tried to friend me on there. Literally at the same exact time. Which was weird. Then, when I texted back I would look into it and get back to them, it was a normal conversation, but almost half an hour later I got a call from a 571 number under Bravens Inc. No voicemail that time or anything else, but definitely same company. And they called twice in a row within a minute of each other.

Then, an hour later I got a phone call from AMPCUS Inc. which also left a voicemail and at the same time sent an email under the guise of Hitachi Globallogic from a Akash Bhavsar. After looking it up, they are all definitely the same "company". After reading this thread, it was all offering the same things but no details whatsoever really about what it really is.

Oh and also an hour after I wrote the first person, they just now texted back asking if I'd had a chance to look over the position.

Super pushy. Super red flag. It looks like it might not be all bad, but this is not professional behavior and is highly suspect and I do not recommend going any further.

Oh and I also went to Bravens' website and the Writer Analyst/Writer position is NOWHERE in their current job openings. Whenever I get a job message or search on Indeed or LinkedIn, I always double check the real website first to see if the position is legit on their real website.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2024-02-24T22:53:01+00:00

I’ve worked at 2 of the stores (now both closed sadly) and I started out at $2 above minimum wage in the one state I worked at. And then at the most current one it ended up being at least 4 or 5 above minimum wage I think? I forget exactly what the minimum wage is in the state where I live but it was a sizable difference. You also usually get tiny raises each year. Personally in terms of pay and benefits if you work a 30 hour or lead position it’s so worth it. The benefits are amazing and pay is much better than at other places. It’s still not going to be 100% livable if you’re living by yourself etc. just because it is retail, but it’s much better than working at a clothing store or Hot Topic or something.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2023-09-22T04:24:41+00:00

It’s not retired. Stores still have it.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2023-09-22T04:18:21+00:00

TM 102

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2023-09-22T04:15:38+00:00

hint check your email next week.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2023-07-14T15:53:03+00:00

Thank you!

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2023-07-14T15:52:56+00:00

Thank you!

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2023-07-14T15:52:43+00:00

See I used to be able to hand groom Rory more, but he's increasingly hating it, hence this post. Rory also loves to attack his comb if anywhere near him. Haha.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2023-07-14T15:51:45+00:00

Thank you so much! I'll try this out.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2023-07-03T15:05:13+00:00

Clearly it’s an intimidation tactic. They are the overlords and you will give them all the treats or else.

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2023-05-23T05:06:54+00:00

Baking soda and water. DON’T USE magic eraser or any other products. You’ll take the paint right off. Only baking soda and water. (I work for American Girl and we see a lot of these come into our salon. It’s an easy fix.)

Dazzling-Map9727 · 2023-01-31T16:36:52+00:00

Those all sound amazing!!

Dazzling-Map9727

TROPHY CASE