Victoria Strauss -- News of the Weird: BOOKBEAT TV
Our continuing series of dispatches from the fringes of the writing world.
Recently a promotional opportunity was posted to one of my writers' email loops. A brand-new project called BOOKBEAT TV, a television show focused on writers and reading, was looking for input via a questionnaire on its website. Interesting, thought I, and went to take a peek.
Right away, I got a bad feeling. The ugly, homemade look of the site (certainly not proof of disreputability, but not what you'd expect to see with a professional organization) struck an off note--as, once I began to read, did the poor writing and the many spelling/grammatical/typing mistakes. For instance, here's the first paragraph of the Mission page, reproduced with all errors intact (though you'll have to imagine the double space after the periods):
The hope and aspirations of BOOKBEAT is to excite Society about the wonderment of the imagination through reading! After all, a book is a free flight to anywhere in the universe and were about to take viewers on some of the most fascinating journeys ever told. It can be accurately stated that BOOKBEAT intends to be a catalyst for a counter-revolution of the instantaneous digital media spectrums society has embraced and reawaken the amazing experience that is reading.
Based on the above, I'd have been inclined to tag BOOKBEAT as a pipe dream or possibly a con of some kind (for instance, bait for a dodgy contest). But there was a puzzler--namely, the opening sentence on the website's Welcome page: The Producers at Orion Entertainment have created a television program unique to the world, one that embraces the imagination while empowering individuals everywhere to read! Orion Entertainment? A familiar name indeed. Could it be associated with Orion Pictures, the production company responsible for such films as Caddyshack and Amadeus? Or with Orion Publishing, the UK-based commercial book publisher? The fact that Orion Pictures was acquired in 1998 by MGM, which no longer uses the trademark, makes the former seem unlikely. The mention on BOOKBEAT's website of "our live-audience stage in Burbank" suggests that the latter is out of the running as well.
When in doubt, Google. A search on "Orion Entertainment" turns up the website of Orion Entertainment Group, which is indeed the parent of BOOKBEAT TV. Check out the Orion logo in the flash intro! If you're a film buff like me, it'll probably look familiar. If not, here's something to compare it with: a screenshot of the logo used by Orion Pictures when it was still making films (note the stern copyright warnings). The two seem identical.
So what gives? Can BOOKBEAT TV, with its cheesy-looking, badly-written website, really be a project of a major production company, resurrected (a significant word in the context below) from conglomeration oblivion for just this purpose? Certainly at least some people are taking it seriously--Library Journal recently made it a news item, and it has been picked up by a number of blogs and newsfeeds.
Not so fast.
The Film page of Orion Entertainment Group's website mentions an upcoming production called Cloning Christ. (See? I told you resurrection was involved.) Turning once again to Google, we find a website for a book of that name, authored by Peter Senese and Robert Geis. Described as "in development to be made into a major motion picture," Cloning Christ is "a brilliantly written theological thriller which provokes the question of how genetic science and faith may co-exist in today's world." (This review of the book from UK ezine Infinity Plus has a rather less positive assessment, which can be confirmed by reading--if you can bear it--this excerpt from Chapter 1.) A familiar company name appears on the opening page of Cloning Christ's website, which is "copyright Orion Entertainment Group Inc." Familiar too is the name of Cloning Christ's publisher, which isn't present on the website, but appears on Amazon (where the book has attracted a very large number of five-star reviews, many of them by people who haven't reviewed anything before or since--hmmm) as Orion Publishing & Media. No, not that Orion Publishing. But I bet Mr Senese wouldn't mind if you thought so.
Are things starting to sound a little circular? A visit to Mr. Senese's personal website brings it all the way around. There's a section on BOOKBEAT TV, which reveals that Mr. Senese is the man behind the project. (Edited on 1/23 to add: Mr. Senese seems to have let his domain name lapse in the past few days, but the various pages of his website can still be accessed via Google cacheing.) Given all the Orions in his life, I think it can be inferred with reasonable certainty that he's the man behind Orion Entertainment Group, with its plagiarized logo, and Orion Publishing & Media, with its ever-so-close-to-a-real-publisher's name, as well. (Also, if you read the Cloning Christ excerpt linked in above, it will be plain to you that of all publishing options available for the book, the only viable one was self.)
In fairness, Mr. Senese isn't exactly trying to hide this stuff--if you can follow the breadcrumbs to his website, the connections are all there. But there's certainly misdirection in his appropriation of names and logos, and it's hard to imagine that this is accidental.
Will BOOKBEAT actually ever hit the airwaves? The info on Mr. Senese's website certainly suggests that he has put money and time into the project. Possibly a cable access channel is in the show's future. Or maybe, like the still-pending Book Millionaire Reality Show, it will fall back on Internet broadcasting. Writer Beware will be keeping watch.
(Mr. Senese has apparently been the object of Internet discussion before, and hasn't liked it. See this post from WritersNet.)
93 Comments:
Man, that looks like some SERIOUS trademark violation by Orion Entertainment Group. Their logo is a clear copy of the Orion Pictures logo which is owned by MGM/UA. I rather doubt that Orion Entertainment Group is in any way connected, and the only reason that there haven't been lawyers knocking on the door is that nobody has noticed yet.
The fact that there are are Orion Publishing Group (the British publisher) and Orion Publishing (which is apparently an American publisher of religious tracts) (neither of which are Orion Entertainment Group), likely leaves a bit of a hole for OEG to get away with having a similar name in that space, but it seems obvious that there's an attempt to make OEG look like Orion Pictures which is a clear and blatant trademark violation.
There might be another "resurrection" attempt going on. Some might think this is the "TV" version (like MadTV) of the old Don Swain CBS radio show, Book Beat. But I don't think there is any connection.
That name sounded so familiar; I knew I'd seen it before.
Swaim. Don Swaim, not Swain. Sorry.
And the book exerpt? Man, that guy is buying his adjectives wholesale, isn't he?
Some might think this is the "TV" version (like MadTV) of the old Don Swain CBS radio show, Book Beat.
Unbelievable. Yet another "borrowed" name! Thanks for the link, Diana.
I have so enjoyed my trip through this site; as a poet and an avid reader, I found it both enlightening and enriching...Thank You!
BOOKBEAT intends to be a catalyst for a counter-revolution of the instantaneous digital media spectrums society has embraced and reawaken the amazing experience that is reading
:Pat reads that several times, then her head explodes.:
Ouch.
BEWARE OF PETER SENESE!! The actors hired for the show were sent contracts. The show was never filmed! Infact, some received bad checks from him. It was rumored that he signed a rental contract with Universal for a soundstage. Universal was never paid. The whole thing was a scam!
He must make his money off of so-called writing contests with entrance fees. Some have suggested that he receives sponsor money, and disappears into the sunset. Writers.net had people write in that he was imprisoned in Northern California for fraud charges in 1996. Newspaper articles back that story up. If he enters your path, run for your life.
Anonymous, I'm doing some followup on Peter Senese, and I've already run across some things that parallel what you're saying. Could you please contact me via Writer Beware's email (beware@sfwa.org)--I would like to know more. All information shared with Writer Beware is held confidence; names and contact info are never disclosed without permission.
I peeked at the excerpt. I persevered through an entire paragraph and a half. It burns! It burns!
I should have listened to the warnings.
I tried!!! Honestly, I tried... to read the entire excerpt. I was laughing out loud through most of what I read, but, in the end, it was still just too painful to finish.
My husband compared it to reading mad-libs with his niece. Do ya' think that's how it was written?
interesting things written here. do you people have a life?
Do they have a life? Sure they do.
Rooting out frauds and scumbags is a valid pastime in my book.
After some research, it is pretty much as suspected. Strauss is like every other "wanna-be" writer who publishes and nobody reads her books and she gets pissed off and throws stones at others. Go ahead, visit her Barnes and Nobel Book site and read the reviews... Mainly one woman named "Harriet" read and reviewed all of her work. (Harriet is most likely her mother). Anyway,
my advice before you pick on credible authors is to take your fingers out of your ass - and perhaps your work won't smell like... well... you know. After reading your blog today, I went and viewed Mr. Senese's site - very endearing man with what looks like a large vision - and unlike the half truths you tell, he is transparent.... oh, but then again, he doesn't write just "fantasy" - (sorry Harriet). His site was very easy to find and from what I read, he is genuine. Also... a red flag went up when I found out that you are probably only one of three blog bashers making accusations without substantiated evidence... (jail in California in 1996???? Please... read the history of yellow journalism and realize that you were born a hundred years too late) If the claims and bashings you make are true, then perhaps this man would have a more intensive "internet rap sheet" - but I found, rather a sexually repressed woman who writes blogs and has two fingers on the "alt/tab" key taking her back to porn sites where most likely some of the writing in her novels is inspired. (does your room smell like oatmeal???)
I hope that this Bookbeat comes out and then you can be jealous because he'll never interview you as a credible author. But even if it doesn't... here's a man with a great idea for a show that is not based in mindless fantasy or pornographic reality - and you help to blast it.
Seems to me... that if people have noble dreams of bringing to reality shows and ideas that will help writers, then you as a "would-be" writer would want to support it and champion the project.
From what I've read, this is just the show this country needs to take our young people back to the creative and away from the mindless electronic video games and media hype that they are so drawn to.
You want to seriously help writers??? Get off you blog-butt and get behind endeavors from people with good ideas. Look into the sites for what comes from the heart and not from your "style book". Time to help someone carry a vision... not a time to be a sniper at something you don't understand and don't know anything about.
Go ahead - waste your time here... but you're not fooling anyone - you're trying to build a name for yourself in this media because you can't make it as an actual author.
Yeah, we will all be jealous, Mr. Senese. I've seen better writing from 7th graders, get a grip.
Better writing than 7th graders??? Son... put the crack pipe down and go get some help. Obviously you have never written a book. Read the concept idiot... it's not a show interviewing "Mr. Senese" - it is a show that not only enables new writers - but gives us valuable information from real writers. You too are uninformed... but perhaps you are really "the strauss" who has to monitor this site to keep people interested or perhaps...could it be??? Are you Harriet???
Sorry to disappoint you, but no I am not Harriett. I was directed to this blog from a writers group website.
It seems pretty obvious who you are, Mr Senese. Cloning Christ is a steaming pile of excrement, good job.
Ah... gotcha. Again. You are the product of another witch hunt. I am not "Mr. Senese" - but because you are duped by writers such as this, you "assumed" I was. Good job you just proved my point. Now... if you want to debate me further, get me your email address and I will go toe to toe with you - and will prove you wrong as to MY identity. You are pitiful... so easily swayed to make assumptions and accusations when YOU ARE WRONG. Never read Cloning Christ - but perhaps you never have either.
Ok, you got me. My name is Johann Strauss. There's no point emailing each other, since you now know who I am, and I don't really care who you are. I've already wasted enough time debating with self published hacks that have no clue what editing is.
Good luck
Well... aren't you a breath of fresh air. Actually, you need to speak for yourself, because I AM published - and credible. And yes, you have wasted too much time here debating. Sorry if I hurt your feelings, but these web writers influence other writers to do just as you did... assume based on partial truth and shadows. Real journalists write objectively - SHE took a stance without all the facts. Save the word "hack" for your mother or whoever relation she is to you. Go read something worthwhile... stay away from these "gossip columnists"
Wow, did this post explode today! I would love to see people be bold enough to put a name to their ramblings on here, anonymous. I am not an author and I'm only here because I'm checking from time to time for updates since Ms. Strauss emailed me to confirm information she found online about a scam that Mr. Senese tried on us. Seems to me there is an internet trail that is not too hard to find and Ms. Strauss is being very careful to find facts, not mud sling. My personal experience with Mr. Senese is one that I found him to be a man of no integrity and a user of others for personal gain. I believe Book Talk will become a TV show on the same day "Cloning Christ" becomes the movie it claims it will be with stars who say they never heard of the book who have supposedly been filming the movie for over three years. By the way, this is the same day that hell will freeze over. Anonymous....I do assume you are either Mr. Senese or one of his flunkies who spend most of their time typing up fake reviews for his books on Amazon or posing for the pics on the web-site. It's time to stand up and stop bottom feeding on other people. If I am wrong and you are some innocent bystander....wow, what passion you have for something that has nothing to do with you. However, I do apologize and ask you to be kind enough to give a name instead of hiding behind your blog. I speak from personal experience, do you?
Peter Senese's multiple anonymous appearances on the Writer Beware blog seem as good a reason as any for me to request that anyone who has had an experience with him, or with Bookbeat TV, get in touch with me via Writer Beware. Information shared with Writer Beware is held in STRICTEST confidence; names and contact info are never revealed without permission. Thank you!
Sorry, screwed up the email link, and the comments function won't allow me to edit an existing comment. Writer Beware's email address is beware@sfwa.org.
So, anonymous has never read Cloning Christ. This may be because it's unreadable.
To repeat my comment from upstream:
Well, this guy has been nasty, so gloves are off.
I read the first few pages of his book. The writing style reminded me very much of a truly immortal story penned in my field -- a story that has rung down through the annals of science fiction and fantasy for decades now, and is known to most True Fans.
This story is so famous that at science fiction conventions fans gather to pay homage and read pages aloud from this masterpiece.
It's called The Eye of Argon.
(vbeg)
-Ann C. Crispin
Chair, Writer Beware
www.writerbeware.com
Hello, Johann Strauss here. Thought I would share something I found humorous. Was checking the Syracuse University alumni page and saw an entry for Peter Senese:
"Peter Senese ’87 (VPA) of Brooklyn wrote Cloning Christ: A Challenge of Science and Faith (Orion), which was produced into a motion picture by Orion Productions."
http://alumni.syr.edu/ArchivedClassNotes/Winter2004.htm
Listing on Syracuse University alumni page for Peter Senese:
"Peter Senese ’87 (VPA) of Brooklyn wrote Cloning Christ: A Challenge of Science and Faith (Orion), which was produced into a motion picture by Orion Productions."
http://alumni.syr.edu/ArchivedClassNotes/Winter2004.htm
Mr. Senese made numerous promises of prizes at the presentation he was part of at the San Francisco Learning Annex in June 2006. He failed to follow through on any of them, and he his personal behavior to several women who "won" prizes their was outrageous.
After a query about Book Beat was posted to another writers' list several persons who had similar experiences with Senese, e.g. job promises, promises of free edits or book publishing, wrote to the list with their stories. Sad to say, Senese strong-armed the webmaster to remove the entire thread.
His history of deceit is long. Here're some tidbits, from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19193594.html "N.Y. theft suspect probed in healthcare scams.(New York, Peter T. Senese)
From: Modern Healthcare | Date: March 3, 1997 | Author: Jaklevic, Mary Chris | More results for: peter senese fraud
Thirty-one-year-old Peter T. Senese has been arrested by law enforcement authorities in Long Island, NY and charged with third degree grand larceny. Senese had passed himself off as a healthcare venture capitalist and claimed to be the managing partner of Corinthian Investment Management. Senese was arrested after a Long Island insurance agent that he tried to defraud notified Suffolk County police who set up a sting to arrest him.
In an industry flush with business opportunities, Peter T. Senese appeared to be a healthcare venture capitalist with millions of dollars to dish out to eager ... "
About 2000, Senese entered a plea bargain with the Sonoma County DA for bad cheuques to pay for his WEDDING and HONEYMOON! He'd asked his fiancee to open a chequeing account for him and then paid all expenses from that account. The swept-up girl was too young to know, and ended up arrested, jailed, and ultimately pregnant, and abandoned with her baby to raise alone.
Go here for a blog from someone that drank his bug-juice http://www.collegerecruiter.com/weblog/archives/2006/06/
under "The Amazing World of Writing and Publishing" "A New Show: Book Beat
First, a new television program is coming this Fall that's about writing and publishing and books and many other insider newsy news and insights. It will be on a major network station but can't be announced until later this month. However, the name of the show is "Book Beat" and the host will be author Peter Senese.
You'll want to watch this show. There'll be discussions published authors who will be interviewed at the place where one of their books was born (the inspiration for it originated). There'll be discussions of what makes a good plot, editing know how, the importance of punctuation and good grammar, marketing. It will emanate from the Algonquin Hotel in New York, from the Dorothy Parker Room. That in itself should be inspiring."
Mr Senese told all listeners that he would have Truman Capote on Book Beat as a guest. (Really!)
If these aren't enough, try the movie scam he runs lately, described here: http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=7048&page=2
Correction: the first guest on BookBeat TV was to be JD Salinger; almost as unlikely as Capote. ;^)
But regarding the quality of this scammer: here's the poop regarding his wedding rip-off, from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat (Sonoma Cty, California)
WEDDING CHECK SCAM NETS 9 MONTHS
Article 1 of 8 found.
Article ID: 9808220023
Published on August 22, 1998
BYLINE: Clark Mason
Staff Writer
A New York man who paid for his Sonoma Valley honeymoon with $5,800 worth of bad checks was sentenced to nine months in jail Friday at the same time charges were dismissed against his bride.
Peter Thomas Senese, 33, expressed remorse prior to sentencing by Sonoma County Judge Mark Tansil, saying his life was like a carousel ride that ``looked so beautiful. It moves faster and faster and you can't get off.'' Senese and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Mecher, 33,
Click here for complete text of article 1
NEWLYWEDS MISSING FOR BAD-CHECK SENTENCING
Article 2 of 8 found.
Article ID: 9806260021
Published on June 26, 1998
BYLINE: Clark Mason
Staff Writer
A newlywed couple who paid for their Sonoma Valley honeymoon with $6,800 worth of bad checks did not show up for their sentencing Thursday, threatening to unravel an earlier deal in which the husband pleaded guilty to avoid state prison.
Peter Thomas Senese, who was in New York on Thursday, told his attorney he will undergo surgery there next week to remove a tumor behind his heart and therefore could not make it to court. But both the judge and a prosecutor handling the case expressed
Click here for complete text of article 2
NO PRISON IN HONEYMOON FRAUD CASE PLEA BARGAIN REACHED JUST BEFORE TRIAL
Article 4 of 8 found.
Article ID: 9804280112
Published on April 28, 1998
BYLINE: Clark Mason
Staff Writer
A newlywed couple accused of running up almost $6,800 in bad checks for their hot-air balloon wedding and other indulgences -including a month-long stay at a private ranch -- will avoid a prison sentence as a result of a court agreement reached Monday.
Peter Thomas Senese pleaded no contest Monday to one count of burglary with intent to commit larceny, in exchange for 10 other theft-related charges being dropped against him. Senese's attorney, Walter Risse, said his client has
Click here for complete text of article 4
COUPLE IN FRAUD CASE WAIVE INITIAL HEARING MONEY TRANSFER PROBLEMS CITED
Article 5 of 8 found.
Article ID: 9712040083
Published on December 4, 1997
BYLINE: Clark Mason
Staff Writer
The bride and groom accused of writing more than $70,000 in bad checks for their Sonoma County wedding and related investments decided to waive their right to a preliminary court hearing and go directly to Superior Court for a possible jury trial.
Peter Senese and Mary Mecher reaffirmed their pleas of not guilty to various counts of fraud and grand larceny, but decided to forego the usual hearing in which a judge hears testimony and decides if there is probable cause to hold the defendants
Click here for complete text of article 5
NEWLYWEDS DENY FRAUD CASE BAFFLES SONOMA-MARIN MERCHANTS
Article 6 of 8 found.
Article ID: 9710100033
Published on October 10, 1997
BYLINE: Jody Kleinberg
Staff Writer
The bride and groom who wrote more than $70,000 in bad checks for their Sonoma County wedding and related investments insist they are innocent of fraud and are merely the victims of poorly-timed money transfers.
Peter Senese and Mary Mecher appeared in court Thursday and told Superior Court Judge Mark Tansil not only have they paid off all their debts, but they never intended to leave town without paying the group of Sonoma and Marin county merchants who helped plan their lavish Wine
Click here for complete text of article 6
SCAM SUSPECT RECENTLY CONVICTED IN N.Y. HEALTH CARE FRAUD PROMPTED WARNING
Article 7 of 8 found.
Article ID: 9710030021
Published on October 3, 1997
BYLINE: Jody Kleinberg
Staff Writer
The bridegroom who spent thousands for a glamourous Wine Country wedding and then stiffed everyone involved is no novice to crime and has a record of fraud across the country, police officials said.
Peter Senese, who was arrested in Sonoma County on Monday, has been suspected in cases in Kansas, Florida and Sacramento and was arrested in New York in February for a scam involving a phony investment management firm, New York police officials said. By July, his health care management scams had
Click here for complete text of article 7
NEWLYWEDS ACCUSED OF SCAM VACATION COUPLE OWE THOUSANDS
Article 8 of 8 found.
Article ID: 9710020007
Published on October 2, 1997
BYLINE: Bob Klose and Tobias Young
Staff Writers
A vacationing couple, who spent most of September enjoying the grape harvest and exchanging vows 5,000 feet above Sonoma County, now face felony charges for allegedly bilking a Kenwood winery, a Windsor hot air balloon firm and a Napa wedding photographer.
The alleged scam came down to earth when the photographer, Jana Russon, followed the instincts of a seasoned small business person. She said the male half of the couple -- a man identified as a retired multimillionaire -tried to dodge her
Click here for complete text of article 8
PS: another prominent tear-jerker lie that Mr Senese trots outs is the statement that his son, Tyler, "was recently in an auto accident" or "abducted", or has a life-threatening illness. In fact, these claims are ALL fictitious to date, and Tyler is a happy, healthy boy in the custody of his mother (who's being run through a legal wringer as PTS runs his lies in fighting a custody battle).
For another version of the PTS scams, go here: http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=7048&highlight=senese
If the thread is incomplete, go to http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/ and search on Senese.
You must have quite a record, Mr. Senese judging from all the valid links other bloggers around here have supplied us to reveal what a sick individual you are. More power to those of you who have brought this information out in the open.
I'm glad I've never met you in person, Mr Senese because it would probably be 50 years bad luck if I did. We all know that those long posts earlier were from you because no one else would talk you up like that. You also seem to have an extremely vulgar writing style from what I've seen here from your rash and totally childish replies to your pitiful attempts at creating literature which seems nothing more than flowery garbage with no real meaning behind it. "Writers" like that are a dime a dozen and rarely ever amount to anything. Curious, did you ever actually attend an English course or learn proper grammar? Granted we all make mistakes from time to time especially in informal settings, but I've never seen someone who claims to be a writer make so many obvious grammatical blunders that any responsible grade schooler would know how to correct. Someone who claims to have such a passion for the subject doesn't seem to know the first thing about it. I think you're the one who needs to take his fingers out of his ass and realize that with your reputation and the things people say about you around here, I doubt you'll amount to anything.
Read the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and search your last name in their online archives. Those articles are REAL. Either that newspaper had nothing better to do than to make up those allegations (which is probably what you would claim to cover yourself), or those publishers received actual evidence and had every right to make those articles because you scammed a lot of people. I tend to support the latter. Honestly, how do you sleep at night?
"At 1/23/2007 12:01 AM, Anonymous said...
Obviously you have never written a book. Read the concept idiot..."
What is "The concept idiot..." about? Is it like one of those "... for dummies" series? If so, I would like to see about getting my hands on a copy, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. If anyone has any information for a budding novelist, please post. Thanks!
Sitting at my gray metal graduate student desk in a dark corner of the poorly lit office I share with three others, I attempted to peruse the on-line exerpt of "Cloning Christ" on the antiquated PC the department has supplied me. Alas, by the termination of the introductory paragraph I found myself decidedly confused by the preponderence of descriptive adjectives. By that point my green, hazel-flecked eyes had become glazed and unfocused, feeling as if they were melting and sending red-hot stabs of molten fire through what precious little remains of my thesis-addled gray matter. I must say that, in my never humble opinion, I have unquestionably found in Peter Senese an author who cannot adequately express himself in succinct wordage giving him a ranking on my personal scale well below even that of the wordy and over-rated Steinbeck and his so-called great masterpiece of literature, "The Grapes of Wrath". Perhaps the self-important Senese should promptly acquire and read "The concept idiot..." as well.
P.S. Please don't take offense or flame me for slamming Steinbeck. I know he's one of the great 20th century authors, but I truly don't care for his work. As a dyslexic, his writing style is cumbersome to read (for me, at least) and the subject matter simply doesn't hold my attention long enough for me to labor through his works.
Cloning Christ isn't even an original concept. Children of the Shroud, by Garfield Reese-Stevens, published by Warner back in 1988.
Wow... I just ran into this website. You would not believe some of the dirt I have on this guy... I have about 4 - 5 months worth of promises and plans that never came through. Ha!
Author Scam Alert - May 2004
Tom Hypes, owner of The Shepherd's Nook in Marion, OH, writes:
"There is a book called 'Cloning Christ' by Peter Sinise. He contacted us a while back about his book and what all is going on with it. He told us he was the cousin of actor Gary Sinise and that a major motion picture company just signed him to a $100 million budget to make it into a film. The film was being filmed in Italy now and starred his cousin, John Malcovich, and Viggo Mortenson (from The Lord of the Rings). We set up a book signing for this past weekend, ordered in a lot of books, and started publicizing it.
"We confirmed the event with Peter two weeks out. However, when we tried to get in touch with him to give directions a week before, he did not return calls, and we did not hear back from him. He did not show up for the book signing.
"An hour after we apologized to our cusotmers, we got a call from another customer who's son-in-law (a buyer for Borders books) was in town. He thought it would be fun to meet a new author. However, when he found out that the author was Peter Sinise, he told me that Borders is pressing charges against him and that he is a fraud.
"He is not related to Gary Sinise and there is no movie deal. He had set up book signings with them and not showed up. It is all a ploy trying to get stores to showcase his book until the stores find out they were lied to. We did accumulate costs that we can not get back and are sending back a lot of books. I know he has called other stores in our association and is trying to do this as much as he can. I really wish for the stores to be warned."
One of these days, this subhuman creature and pitiful excuse for a writer will try to pull this scam garbage with the wrong person, and he'll end up in more trouble than he could have ever imagined. Though it may take time, filthbags like Senese usually get back a taste of their own medicine and then some. And even if he doesn't, he'll have to live with himself and what he's done. That alone is a pretty big punishment. Just imagine what he could've accomplished if he was the real deal.
Not only is that a serious trademark vio, but for some strange reason, I get the feeling that this Book Millionaire Reality Show is something ripped right out of that recent Jay Leno skit--where the audience gets sold on "Author Pitch Night".
(Keep in mind--I was laughing my collective butt off when I saw this. How can wanna be authors be so good at their writing, but so HORRIBLE with their pitch schemes? Some of it made me groan with embarassment.)
I don't believe the "anonymous" person above was Peter himself because the comments did not contain the number of grammer and spelling mistakes that Peter would have made. It is probably someone who is in denial that he or she has done business with a con man. Con men like to take on the names of familiar companies. It is easier to fool people that way. Peter cannot answer questions directly. So if anyone is doing business with him or meets him, just ask REAL production related questions, and you will see that he cannot answer. He does not know the first thing about production or making a tv show. He cannot back up his lies. Just ask him questions! Ask who the crew is and where they are. He does not have a full crew and he does not even know what type of people he would need to have working for him to get a tv show off the ground. He is easy to see through if you look and are not blinded by the promises and fantasies. Never give him your books, never give him your money, never give him your time. There are similar shows on the air. Watch those shows and watch the credits. It is never just ONE man with five "good friends" supporting him! Does he know what "Field Producers" are? No. Does he know what a "Location Manager" does? No. All you "Anonymous" people who believe in him, just ASK!
All the while, the man continues to show off his clearly insane and psychotic side on his own 4th grade designed personal website at www.petersenese.com. You can smell the bulls**t for miles even by looking at his latest 3/5 entry. And I do agree with the fact that the man's writing truly makes one's head want to explode, and I don't mean with joy.
He's still convinced that BookBeat is going to happen? The man has lied to pretty much everyone who's come into contact with him yet where a real psychotic disconnect seems to exist is how much he claims to be in love with the world. He may be in love with everyone and full of so much joy and love, and more love, and how much he loves everyone who's offered him so much love and support, but reality has presented a much different picture of the man. Any miniscule portion of the world that has come across the man would probably LOVE to see him thrown in jail for a good couple decades at least because that's exactly what he deserves. Let the inmates love him.
It is amusing and satisfying to read all the comments posted in regards to Peter Senese. I too, was one of the many "casted" actors to "report" for BookBeat. Though the audition notices were submitted through a reliable casting source it quickly became discernable when Peter would schedule inappropriate - late houred rehearsals, etc. Although the contracts were well written and appeared legitimate... in the end it was merely a piece of paper binding NOONE to the agreement. Yes, our paychecks BOUNCED; yes through my roommate - an employee of Universal - it is a fact that Peter TRIED to submit a fake check for studio use - Gate 28 to be exact; yes, it is a fact that Peter LIED to (and successfully) brilliant authors - whom I have met! Finally, yes, he is STILL trying to con everyone. I recently received yet another LONG-WINDED email from him. If it is of any interest to anyone I will post the ignorant letter on this site. There can be no justice served where this man is involved because he is psychotic... he doesn't get it. Oh, and yes, he has (I have numerous text messages & emails to attest to this) claimed his son has been abducted - twice - and is now returned... Until the next abduction. Can somebody contact Child Welfare services... if he has a kid!?!
While I appreciate all the comments in this thread, anonymous comments don't carry the weight of those with names attached. How can anyone tell, for instance, that they're actually from different people?
I would still very much like to hear from anyone who has had dealings with Peter Senese. I urge anyone who has posted here, or who is thinking of doing so, to get in touch with me at beware@sfwa.org. I promise you confidentiality.
Who uses the term "casted?" Does the 'reporter' for BOOLBEAT mean soundstage 28, instead of Gate 28?
Does anyone use Microsoft Word spelling and grammar checker anymore?
Excuse me! I just typed 'BOOLBEAT' instead of BOOKBEAT! Sorry.
I actually met this guy a couple of years ago while staying at a B&B in upstate New York with a group of friends. Very charming , told a great story, BUT his stories were so far fetched that he left you with a feeling of being conned. I can see how some people might get sucked in by him. My dad always told me "you never met a con man you didn't like".
My friends and I still share a good laugh over all the fantastic stories he told us.
We may not be checking our spelling here on a blog, but Mr. Senese doesn't check ANYTHING in his books. Have you tried to read one? I doubt you have, because they aren't good and you can't really find them. But if you have, don't get on us for our spelling when he is the WORST writer! Try reading his website!!! Is he STILL at it? Is he still telling people he is producing this show? What is he doing and why? Does he get joy in seeing how many people he can fool ? Is he stealing money from somewhere? I'm curious what he has to gain in making false promises. Wouldn't you rather gain admiration from being honest and hard-working rather than having it for brief moments ONLY because you lied? Come on, Peter, tell us!!! What motivates you? And where are you??? What kind of role model are you to this son you love so much?
I seriously doubt he ever had his son. From what I've heard, his ex-wife was the one who had a restraining order on HIM! All those stories about traveling all over the world or fighting in court for his supposed kid that he loves so much, in actuality, he was probably running from his own parole. Judging by the overly affected and dragged out tone on his personal blogs and the unnecessary dedication to how much he loves his son, I doubt any of it is true. If it was, he wouldn't need to say it over and over again nor lie through his teeth about everything.
And I do relate to what you said above. Truly, I'd like to know exactly what he's had to gain by this BookBeat scam.
Peter Senese’s latest scam is particularly unfortunate because the idea was a good one. Whether or not BookBeat could have made it in this era of anything-goes reality shows is yet another discussion.
Like so many others who had the misfortune of actual interaction with P.S, looking back with clear vision and perspective often afforded by hindsight, one is taken back to an undergraduate course in Abnormal Psychology realizing that what you are dealing with here is a guy who “gets off” on the scam. When one of his countless promises fails to materialize, he pulls out the catastrophic illness, car accident, or child abduction stories to get him out of the latest hot spot. The same old stories are recycled “ad nauseum.”
The only reason so many people got scammed this time around was because the entertainment industry has a rather substantial level of BS to begin with. So it bought P.S. some time to slither around, pretending to be a real player. Somehow, the day of reckoning always arrives. Mr. Senese is SO OVER with this scam! He can wax poetic with his flowery garbage writing style and his 3rd grade grammatical expertise and spelling, pontificating on the state of his life and the world but I fear no one is listening, at least not seriously.
I'd like to share a couple passages from Peter's impressive novel, Cloning Christ. Those who have questioned his writing skills will most assuredly be put to shame when they behold the beauty of a master at work. . .
"The white full moon was still high in the early dawn sky as the two stood concealed by a large tree in Riverside Park, down from the Cathedral where construction, begun in 1892 is still not completed, and whose interior walkway of 601 feet is the largest of any Cathedral in the world. Three ton bronze doors, and its famed Portal of Paradise limestone carvings of biblical figures, stand out to any of its visitors whose voices at religious services can sometimes be heard in song accompanied by the famed 8,035 pipe Aeolian Skinner pipe organ."
Do I have to wonder what kind of moon it is? Not with Peter at the helm, I don't! I know that it was full. I know that it was white. I also know that the sky was a dawn sky. An early dawn sky, to be precise, and I like making sure I'm getting the whole picture when it comes to the important things.
Here's another. . .
"A few kilometers into the ride, taking advantage of a sudden absence of cars ahead of him, the driver of the blue van sped towards the Volkswagen, and smashed head on from the left lane on to the driver's side of the attacked vehicle. Schemmizzi's driver, not expecting the blue van to hit him, struggled to take control of the spinning car. The blue van hit it a second time, knocking the car off the road down a deep ravine. The Volkswagen rolled vilently, until it came to a stand still 150 feet below the highway and suddenly exploded. The blue van continued on its way, not paying any attention to the demolished car's dead occupants."
Sometimes chase scenes can get confusing, but thanks to Peter's deft use of clever descriptions, I was never lost. It was like I was there!
If you people aren't convinced of his authenticity yet, let me know and I'll find more passages like these to help change your mind. Really, all I have to do to find gems, true gems of prose, is randomly open to any page in the book.
Okay, I have a lot to say here. First of all, you haven’t convinced me at all, Mr. Senese, and I doubt you’ve convinced anyone else around here either. Those quoted passages don’t prove anything, really. Most anyone with a few English courses under their belt and some very basic knowledge of writing could describe their environment like that. Let me also point out a couple things about those passages that seem off to me. When you describe the Cathedral and its construction not having started until 1892, you go on to say “is still not completed,” and “is the largest of any Cathedral in the world.” One of the first major rules of making literature flow smoothly, whether you’re talking in prose or not, is to have tense agreements, my friend. The description of the church was in the same passage as your past tense descriptions of the characters. Whether a Cathedral’s construction has been completed or not, you don’t start out in the past tense and then jump into the present. It distracts the reader and doesn’t make a lot of sense, especially if you are describing what your characters WERE DOING and their setting. You could make side notes in the present tense, but within the story, you don’t jump around with tenses like that. Middle schoolers are taught that lesson, as does any reputable grammar book. Secondly, unless you’re mentioning the full and proper name of a specific “cathedral” each time you talk about it, there’s really no need to capitalize the word. For example, St. Mary’s Cathedral, yes, do capitalize. “The cathedral across the street,” there is no need to capitalize.
As for the moon description, fine. We know the moon is still out. So what? I doubt it’s a major point to the story anyway. I’ve never read Cloning Christ so I wouldn’t know about that completely, but the fact remains that your quotes don’t make me want to read the story anymore than I did before (which really wasn’t at all). I find the descriptions of the environment to be very formulaic and predictable. There’s nothing all that impressive about them. Many writers describe things like that, and many still do it much better than Mr. Senese.
As to the second quote, unless it was just a typo for this particular post, I’d be afraid of seeing the word “vilently” in Mr. Senese’s novel since I know of no such word. I assume he (or you???) meant to say "VIOLENTLY." Spell check should be your best friend. Continuing on, “stand still” is one word in the context you describe the Volkswagen here. A person can “stand still,” while the car is coming to a standstill. Anyway, I hardly consider any of Peter’s descriptions “clever.” Not quite the words I’d choose to describe them whether those typos I mentioned are indeed in the finished product not. The content itself isn’t engaging to me and that’s what’s most important.
I reserve the title of “master at work” for very few writers, be they fiction writers or no. However, if you want to play that card, then observe one of the few authors who I’ve come to regard as being as close to “master” as possible, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, most widely known for his Sherlock Holmes stories and are a shere joy and…just…fun to read!
"You see," he explained, "I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones."
Sherlock Holmes, in "A Study in Scarlet"
“I cannot agree with those who rank modesty among the virtues. To the logician all things should be seen exactly as they are, and to underestimate one's self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one's own powers.”—from The Greek Interpreter.
“Some of you rich men have to be taught that all the world cannot be bribed into condoning your offences.”-- from The Problem of Thor Bridge
“Watson, if it should ever strike you that I am getting a little over-confident in my powers, or giving less pains to a case than it deserves, kindly whisper "Norbury" in my ear, and I shall be infinitely obliged to you.” -- From The Yellow Face ...end quotes!
There are tons of quotes like that which I could pull out that blow anything Mr. Senese could conjure up out of the water one hundred times over! Now, you might feel it unfair to compare a “modern” writer with the likes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but you asked for it when you describe Senese as a “master.” I would never presume to refer to myself as a master either, though I write decently.
I’m still pretty convinced that you are Mr. Senese since few would ever talk up a filthy scam artist in the way you have. I’ve seen The Cloning of Christ compared to something along the lines of a “steaming pile of excrement” if my memory serves me correctly? Again, though I haven’t read it, I don’t consider many comments like that one to be flattering and your quotes don't change anything.
At this point, Senese’s writing style has almost become irrelevant to this topic since what we have been discussing is the man's amoral personality and the fact that he enjoys conning the hell out of people. He truly is a sick individual who still pretends that he’s some kind of literary prodigy. If that last post was you, Peter, then I guess I'm glad you will have read that. Few would disagree with me. You may be a "master--something," but a master of writing, you are most definitely NOT, Peter! Take a few English courses, Mr. Senese, and then get back to us.
Anonymous, I think you're a bit irony-challenged. The Anonymous before you had his/her tongue firmly in cheek.
I'm monitoring all these comments. I'm also still collecting information, and I do intend to do a followup post. Anyone who wants to contact me to share experiences, information, etc., please do: beware@sfwa.org.
Well, with this blog, you never can tell if Senese decides to post. I meant no disrespect to the anonymous before me if he indeed was not Senese, but I'm sure he has posted on these blogs as anonymous. Perhaps I mistook a joke for Senese's disturbing belief that he actually believes that he's a master. Usually when someone jokes about it, I pick up on it. Hmm. Sorry about that.
I think that person was being sarcastic when describing Peter's writing !!! Those passages were put up so we could see how bad the writing is. If you post a very confusing, poorly written passage and then tell me it isn't confusing at all, I know you are being sarcastic... and kinda funny. COme on people! For more reading pleasure, go read his website. And when I say "pleasure," I mean, "pleasure in seeing how BAD he is!"
Tongue in cheek? I think not. Don't let Mrs. Strauss mislead you. In her own devious way, she's trying to belittle my efforts at defending Peter by using a kind of reverse psychology on you.
And it seems you disagree that Peter is a master. Would anybody other than a master be able to come up with the following?
"The expansive parlor room he entered was bare but for a lone large rectangular walnut wooden table placed in the center of the room. Six hardened chairs around the table, whose grain matched the deep mahogany of the darkened floor and ornate walls gave the distinct feeling this room was a meeting place. A series of antique flickering candle visconces moving at the beckoning of the faint wind provided hints of light that the four large window shutters attempted to prohibit from entering the the room."
I'd like to see your motley gang of dead poets come up with something comparable to that. A lesser writer might have called the table in the room a large table. Maybe even a large, wooden table. But Peter isn't a lesser writer. Hardworking genius that he is, Peter went the distance and came up with five adjectives that described the table. FIVE!
If you don't think that's the work of a master, then I guess there's no use trying to convince you anymore.
My point in all this? It doesn't matter to me what the quality of his character is, as long as he keeps writing with a pen that was clearly bestowed upon him by an exceptionally brilliant muse. He's the literary equivalent to Michael Jackson, whom I'm sure everybody agrees gets a free pass for any indiscretions he may (or may not!!) have committed.
You don't have to waste your money on one of his books to enjoy his writing skills. His websites are full of wonderment. Also, you can read his reviews at amazon.com. Let me supply you with some examples from his book reviews.
This is a fun sentence... (and this is his actual writing!)
"You know, K'wan's Harlem wasn't the beauty that it is returning to . . . his, is filled with the gang-bangers, the street thugs, the narrow-barred windows where glimmers of light seldomly shine -- but there is more to these streets, K'wan's streets: there exists souls that simply won't give up, that become strong while wondering when that light will reappear, there is hope for better tomorrows coupled with belief that you can sustain yourself till you grab that light or it grabs you.'
And the following is another fabulous sentence from yet another review.
"There's nothing like laughing when you wake up . . . so beside my ritual of hopping three or four times as soon as my feet his the floor by my bed, I will look forward to seeing my calender soon to be hanging by by expresso machine."
Want to laugh when you wake up? Read Peter's writing. Oh yes, the man is a master.
He is so brilliant that on the Bookbeat website he is asking the public for feedback as to what the format of the show should be. Maybe if enough of us respond, we can come up with a show for him so it is no longer just an idea. And what about the contest information that is going to be posted in January of 2007? My bets are that soon the site will read, "contest information will be updated in January 2008," and, "Thank you to my five friends and production crew who have stood by me and waited another year through more of my personal drama and have worked so hard at casting and creating the show which is finally underway...again."
Heh. More like "Thank You for all the love and support of all my friends and a special thanks to my dear friend, and this incredible friend, and my wonderful angel, godly, son whom I love and adore so much! A big special thank you to all who have stood by my lies, deceipt, and failure to come through with anything solid or legitimate. You were my light in the dark since I was able to successfully con a lot of people. Thank you so much!"
We're almost due for another entry into Senese's pitiful excuse for a blog on his website letting everyone know how wonderful he sees the world and all his "friends" in it while at the same time, remarking again how he's ready to get started with Bookbeat just like he was the last hundred times he mentioned it. Oh yes, Peter. We're convinced that you arw a true master. If we ever want to learn how to pray on people looking for a break, how to evade the popo, ditch parole officer check-ins and lie to anything on two legs, we'll be in touch.
That last post is hilarious! Love it! Love it all! I have been laughing for weeks reading this stuff! Ah, Peter, you have accomplished success in being notorious - notoriously, brilliantly, dumb. Oh, one more thing, if I may, you're sweaty.
Please keep this blog going about Senese. It is very helpful to anyone who happens to meet him. Hope that he does not pressure you to remove the blog.
Even if Senese DID try to pressure someone, he's all over! Nothing he could do or say would get this information removed. It's all truthful. Him screaming and whaling like the mentally unstable person those who have dealt with him know him to be, would not get anything accomplished. Seriously, Senese is delusional.
He still writes about how much he loves his son. You know, if you ask me, I think Peter likes his son a little TOO much. Probably overcompensating writing to cover up the reality that he probably doesn't even have his son in his possession. And Peter, if I were you, I wouldn't blog on your website telling people to go and hug a tree. You weird me out, pal.
well I've been hanging out at the tribeca film festival and I think I've been seriously scammed. I don't even want to get into it - it's so upsetting. I only wish I had done my google research earlier. Now honestly people, how screwed am I if I've handed over a full manuscript without an agent attached? What should I do? The script is registered.
Anonymous, please contact me at beware@sfwa.org to tell me more. All information shared with Writer Beware is held in confidence.
Peter Senese is definitely posting in these comments as he ALWAYS tries to deflect the horrible facts about himself (his many scams, his criminal record etc) by telling his victims to "get over it" and blame them. You know, rather than taking responsibility for his own actions, he'd rather lash out at those who have the guts to spill the beans about him. You reveal that he did time in prison for grand larceny and he totally ignores that and moves onto his next line of drivel. He turns himself into a little victim. That is his M.O.
Why does a talk show like this alleged BOOKBEAT need actors?
If you read Peter Senese's website and his over-the-top love for his son Tyler and how much he kisses him, the first thing you'll think is "pedo". Seriously. Reading it made me want to vomit and take a shower.
Is he hanging out at film festivals now? He is NOT a producer!!! Repeat-- NOT a producer! His books are not in production to be movies right now. And he is not an agent, and he would be a horrible manager. He has not produced anything and does not have the contacts to do so. Please do not give him books or scripts. Who knows what he will do with it, but he can't produce it and he can't get it in any doors. He will just make you feel good and hopeful, but nothing will come of it. Better to leave the cheers and support to your friends. Don't let him have your ideas and don't let him in on any profits or business deals. Test him-- make him meet you in his office, not out at a restaurant. If he tells you his offices are in Los Angeles, that is bull. When he is in Los Angeles he says his offices are in New York. Supposedly he has homes AND offices in both locations. Maybe he'll fly you out with him on his pricate jet. Get the names and numbers of his "production team." Follow him home! No doubt it will lead to a hotel that he is scamming.
Peter Senese scams everyone. That is all he knows how to do! I have no respect for the "few friends" who enable him in his scamming. They are just as guilty. And, if you are reading this Peter, that goes for Raul and Wayne. The jury is still out on the New Zealand casting director who came to Los Angeles to cast BookBeat. If there is any justice, Senese will go to jail someday for a very long time.
Yes, this will be another anonymous post about Peter Senese. My reason for not giving my name is this: I feel an obligation to prevent others from being deceived by him, as I was, and yet I also know that he is a vindictive person (who suffers from pathological narcissism and confabulation) and I don't want him in my life ever again.
What follows are two news stories regarding two criminal scams Peter perpetrated (and anyone who has read "War On Wall Street," or the re-written version "Den of The Assassin" will recognize the first scam). I know for a fact that he was convicted on a felony count for the first scam. Peter is NOT a millionaire. He is NOT ever going to make a film. Do NOT give him the fruits of your creativity without getting compensation first -- he will never actually pay you what he promises; he will always stall.
The articles follow:
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ARTICLE 1
Newsday (New York)
February 16, 1997, Sunday, NASSAU AND SUFFOLK EDITION
SECTION: NEWS; Page A30 n LENGTH: 475 words
INSURANCE AGENT FOILS ALLEGED SCAM
By AL BAKER, STAFF WRITER
A Brooklyn man, who police say conned countless victims into thinking he ran a $400 million investment management firm that bought out doctors’ practices, was arrested after a Commack insurance agent became suspicious of the scheme and called police, authorities said Friday.
Peter Senese, 31, of 1625 E. 55th St., set up and advertised for a phony firm he called Corinthian Investment Management to foster his elaborate heists targeting doctors and insurance executives, said Lt. Thomas O’Hare of Suffolk’s Fourth Squad.
O’Hare said Senese would set up an office on Wall Street, Park Avenue, or Madison Avenue and hire temporary secretarial staffs and rent furniture and computer equipment. “He could probably be a top legitimate salesman if all his transactions were legitimate,” said O’Hare. But, he added, “he came up against the wrong insurance agent.”
That agent, Robert Alese, owner of Alese Life Associates Inc., thought Senese’s offer on Dec. 31 was too good to be true.
“He was very smooth, very charming, very likable, but there were aspects that didn’t smell right,” said Alese, 56, of Smithtown. “He said he got my name from the Million Dollar Roundtable for high-volume sales agents. He said he had a home in Italy, a penthouse on West 67th Street, near Lincoln Center, and a home in Boca Raton, Florida.”
Senese wanted Alese to pay $4,200 in partial fees for $48 million worth of life insurance for executives of his bogus firm, Alese said. Senese said he was willing to pay $1.2 million for the deal, on which Alese could collect large commission fees.
Nina Pozgar, head of the Suffolk district attorney’s White Collar Crime Bureau, said Senese was able to run his scam under the current medical climate because hospitals’ large corporations are indeed buying up smaller medical practices and insuring them.
“Most scams work on partial truth,” she said. “I think what he did is he is a good con man so he is using people’s knowledge that yes, medical practices are being bought out right now. But he Alese is one of the rare victims who says, ‘It’s too good to be true.’”
Since police began investigating Senese in late January, after being tipped off by Alese, they have had complaints on him from other jurisdictions, including Kansas, California, and Florida. A New York City warrant has also been issued on Senese for a third-degree assault case, police said.
Senese, who was charged Thursday with third-degree grand larceny, a class D felony punishable by up to 7 years in prison, pleaded not guilty at arraignment in First District Court in Central Islip, said district attorney’s office spokesman Drew Biondo.
Senese, who posted bail of $25,000, was held on the city warrant. Anyone with information on similar schemes or incidents can call Suffolk police at 516-854-8452. All calls are confidential.
[anyone with LexisNexis can also search for Peter's name in connection with "Modern Healthcare," 03/03/97 and 10/06/97]
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ARTICLE 2:
AP, April 28, 1998
MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN HONEYMOON FRAUD CASE
Santa Rosa, Calif. -- A man accused of writing $6,800 in bad checks to finance a hot-air balloon wedding and monthlong honeymoon avoided a trial for himself and his bride with a plea bargain.
Peter Thomas Senese pleaded no contest Monday to one count of burglary with intent to commit larceny in exchange for dismissal of 10 other theft-related charges.
The plea came as trial was set to begin for Senese and his wife, M--- E-------- M-----, both 32.
Charges against Ms. M-----, who said she didn't know there were insufficient funds to cover the checks, will be dropped.
His sentencing is set for June 25. Although the plea bargain means he avoids state prison, he could be sentenced to up to a year in Sonoma County jail.
Senese is on probation in New York for fraud and could serve more time there because of his California problems, said Deputy District Attorney Ann Ghallagher-White.
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I am utterly amazed that someone could defend Mr. Senese. Those of us who have been scammed by him understand that he is the quintessential poster boy for a pathologic liar! I have had personal dealings with Mr. Senese. Don’t attack the anonymous for knowing that Mr. Senese is “sick.” We’ve already been burned. He will sit with you and make promises he has no intention of fulfilling; he will have fake phone calls; he will claim large estates in Malibu, California; he will regale you about his multitudes of cancer operations and treatments and every other disease about which he has recently read. Plus, the stories that go on ad nauseum about “Tyler abductions.” Every time he promises to PAY you, once again, “Tyler” was abducted. He will even kill off members of his own family with fake diseases. He is truly demented!
He is a master of “the con!” He sniffs out people that are devoted to their craft or art, takes what he can get for free and then takes THAT and uses it for the next step of his con.
Come on! Movies that never get made? TV shows that never get aired? Books of questionable authorship? All of these situations come from someone who writes like a 3rd grader, was convicted of fraud in New York state, a plea bargain from his wedding scam in California, and countless others. Just read his rap sheet!
The anonymous are “anonymous” because we KNOW with whom were are dealing. He is a dangerous person who will do anything and say anything to keep his lie going. That’s how he gets off!
Someday, when he is ultimately backed up against the wall for the final time, what is he capable of doing? He needs to be put away in jail or a mental hospital. Take your pick!
Michael Stentin here. I'm not invisible like others who have posted against Mr. Senese. What is very interesting, and frankly, I think unusual is the fact that the anonymous writer(s)? continue to harp on Mr. Senese's past of what appears to be 10 years ago. Furthermore, according to my source and friend two things seem to stand out: the first is that Mr. Senese has openly shared his past, and secondly, clearly he is part of some ongoing production that is filming. What has been made very clear to me is that whatever is being done has serious individuals involved, my friend included, and there is a very happy crew working on a production. So with that said, it sure sounds like whoever has decided to post negative statements about Mr. Senese have a grudge against this man. Any reader who comes to this blog should review it with a grain of salt.
When I questioned my friend about the information posted, I was told that every person involved with Mr. Senese are aware of what has been stated, and all think it is quite ridiculous. I simply put the question "have you been paid?" The answer given to me was 'like clockwork'. I further asked about Mr. Senese's son, and was told that for nearly eight months Mr. Senese was involved with a major Hague issue, and that the matter has been settled and Mr. Senese's son is a beautiful little boy very attached to his father. Now I do not have a child, but I can't imagine having to deal with any issue involving an abduction. The fact that Mr. Senese was able to deal with what clearly was his first priority - his son, is quite amazing.
Where am I going with this? Its pretty simple - whoever it is that has nothing better to do with their time but to write slanderous statements about Mr. Senese should think about doing something else.
Mr. Stentin, Mr. Senese, Donald Duck, or whomever you are--
Mr. "S" was never honest about anything. This new production must be the film adaptation of "The Con Man," written, produced, directed, and starring Peter Senese. Can't wait for the Oscar nominations this year!
The defense of what you call "slander" is THE TRUTH. I understand that in the language of "Peter Speak," the concept of truth is alien, but rest assure his time will come. One day, he'll con the wrong person.
By the way, you seem to be the embodiment of "Peter Speak." He was never honest about anything and as for "thinking about doing something else," back at ya, buddy! Don't criticize people who were burned by him. Those are the people writing these blogs so that other bystanders are aware of him, his antics, and will hopefully deplete his ammo for wrecking other lives thus rendering him impotent. Why would anyone waste their time blogging about this "con man" unless they were scammed? The truth is, as we have come to realize too late, Peter was NOT an investment banker; he is NOT a publisher; he is NOT a producer; he is NOT a Hollywood mogul; we know that he can't write and it is questionable as to whether or not he is even human.
As for your statements about dwelling on the past, it is necessary that we not forget the past (the TRUE past) because it can serve to direct our future in a positive way. And 10 years ago? Try a year ago or a little more than 10 days ago at the Tribeca Film Festival! Peter ALWAYS attempted to criticize others who had found him out, and tried to portray himself as the victim. You seem frighteningly similar to Mr. Senese himself.
Ta Ta for now, Mr. Stentin. Peter is so fortunate to have you as a friend even if you are one of his multiple personalities.
See you in the blogosphere.
Mr. Stentin must be Peter Senese! If you want to check production charts for television and film, buy Variety or go to the union (SAG, AFTRA) websites. That will say what is being 'filmed'. Last ten years? Senese was scamming everyone about BOOKBEAT in 2006! Now, he's making his rounds at film festivals. Look at his clothes! His jeans, worn out loafers, no socks, a stupid straw hat for sun. His button down shirts are usually starched at the hotels where he stays while running his scams. Wonder who is paying the hotel bills? Could it be identity theft??? Just wondering..... Mr. Stentin, if you are not Peter Senese, you are truly delusional.
Interesting concept here which I was required to check on: Bookbeat is 'filming'.
True statement. The State Insurance Fund verified an assortment of various production and liability insurances taken out by Orion for a show titled Bookbeat. The policies are active.
Anything and anyone that promotes literacy in my book are doing something very important. And Orion surely is since I and several of my associates have met on numerous occassions with key individuals involved with the program. One thing was very evident: they know there stuff and they know the market.
Granted, there was a delay in this program. However, anyone who knows Wayne Giordano, Jim Westman, Fred Price, Peter Senese, Ben Parkinson, Darby Snell, Lisa Bustalk and the many others working on Bookbeat know how close this team is and furthermore know how they all pulled together during a child-related tragedy that occured nearly a year ago.
Seems like whoever has been attacking Orion and Mr. Senese have a lot of bent up anger.
On a seperate note, I wonder if one day Internet protocal will require for anyone who posts on a blog site to be required to identify themselves. The previous poster made an interesting observation.
As for me, I work with one of the large publishing houses in NYC. In-house policy required that we check on the production insurance and other related insurances regarding Bookbeat for an assortment of reasons. They all checked out fine.
My best wishes to all the Bookbeat team . . . leading by doing is the best example anyone can teach.
From Uptown,
GT
Well, Mr. S. (a.k.a Uptown GT, Michael Stentin, and Paul H)…
Come on! You can do better than this, Peter. I would know your grammatical mistakes and sentence sense anywhere! They are legendary:
I. “Mental Institute” SHOULD be “mental institution.”
II. There is no such thing as “bent up anger.” It is “pent up anger.” Don’t you have a thesaurus or spell check?
III. “The slander that has been said” should read “the libelous statements made against me…”!! Slander is speech. Libel is written, Mr. “Famous Novelist.” All famous writers know that. Truth, however, is also the answer to libelous statements. All I see is a pathetic attempt to once again cast blame onto people who see right through you by repeating the same attacks back. You really sound childish when you do that, very unbefitting of a so-called “novelist.” Now, play nice with the other children and learn your grammar lessons, or you’ll get no lollipop at the end of the school day.
Sometimes a dog is just a dog, Peter, and a scam artist (even one who attends the Tribeca Film Festival) is just a scam artist. You really can’t blame those of us who have been burned by you, can you? I mean really! Put yourself in the shoes of one of the many victims that have shared their thoughts on this topic. If you were lied to, taken advantage of, scammed, and then criticized for raining on the parade of the person who was responsible for those devious acts, wouldn’t you feel upset? No, actually, I can’t imagine you would since you obviously have no conscience. Otherwise, you’d be spending your time and efforts trying to do these things legitimately.
I must say this again. Stop harping on people for exposing you while trying to make yourself the victim here. Trust me. It WON’T work! People walk away from you when they realize you’re a fraud. You promise the world, then you don’t follow through with anything. You lash out at those who dare to rightfully criticize you by throwing an insult (meant for you) back onto them, and then you drop off the face of the Earth never to be heard from until you’ve finally been able to form a think tank to concoct another dirty lie about how your son was kidnapped. Someone who claims to be so filled with love for God and His teachings yet defies faith and honesty in every way possible should be weary of his own Judgment Day.
Talking about those you have helped financially is just ugly and low class even if it were true, but since it’s YOU, it’s just a lie! A real human being does good deeds anonymously and walks away. The gift is that you have helped someone in need and expected nothing in return.
And please, enough with the child-related tragedy already! It’s all garbage and lies…the mind of a criminal.
P.S. Take an evening class in writing. It would serve you well since you try to portray yourself as both writer and publisher. By the way, someone with a real company would have a kick-ass website instead of some narcissistic exposé of a megalomaniac. Get help! Also, PLEASE get a ghostwriter for your entries to this blog so that you don’t sound like you.
This is just too easy. It’s not fun.
Michael Stentin here once again. In response to the person who continues to post untruthful statements about Peter Senese, you really need to get a life!
You state in your ranting posts that Senese is not many things, but why is it then that he is working on multiple productions? Why is it that he has the support of those that matter?
It is easy for you to say that I, like others who have come to this post to rebute Peter Senese, are actually Peter Senese. Well, I am not Peter. And to Peter's credit, he doesn't bother to be effected by your nonsense. The fact is very clear: whoever you are, you have decided to mock someone who is simply doing what he intends to do: positively alter the world of reading. Your continual bantering shows how little of a person you are. As a previous commentor stated, you need to get some serious help.
Mr. "Stentin" -You are Peter - this is what you wrote - "So with that said, it sure sounds like whoever has decided to post negative statements about Mr. Senese have ...(should be "HAS") a grudge against this man. Also, "When I questioned my friend about the information posted, I was told that every person involved with Mr. Senese are (should be "IS") aware of what has been stated, and all think it is quite ridiculous."
Obviously your writing style.
Thanks to all the people who continue to write so that others will not be conned.
As for Mason Fox - he is correct about Peter. This is his post which Peter had removed:
Beware Of Orion Publishing & Media!
Author: Mason Fox
Date: 03-27-05 16:52
"Orion Publishing & Media isn't a real company and it is run by a con artist out of a spare room in his parent's townhouse in Brooklyn.
Beware!
I speak from personal experience and know of others who have unfortunately wasted their time with Peter Senese and his company. Peter spent four years in prison for fraud and for the past few years has been passing himself off as a publisher.
Yes, he has published a couple of books (the first was a book that someone else actually wrote but which he stole and put his own name on, and the second was a book that he co-wrote with some poor sap who still hasn't been paid two years after the book was published) but he is all talk and no action (especially when it comes to paying people - he just doesn't).
Peter pretends to be a millionaire but is broke and has no real job. He just preys on people with dreams and takes advantage of them. He will not pay you for your hard work. He will even get you to pay for his dinner when he invites you out. There was a big discussion on him and his evil ways on a website called Footle where several people were keeping tabs on him and sharing horror stories of having been conned by him (someone even went to the trouble of hiring a detective and posting his LONG criminal record on the site) but Peter and a friend of his came across the site and had it shut down.
He also claims to be a producer, saying that Gary Sinise (who is not related to him but whom Peter told so many people was his cousin) and John Malkovich were going to star in the film version of one of his novels and that he was producing it. I spoke to Gary's attorney myself as well as various other people (the studio in question and an audio company called Oasis Audio which Peter owes thousands of dollars to) and the whole thing is a scam. In fact, Gary's attorney threatened to sue Peter Senese for using his client's name in his con game.
I was taken for a ride by this smooth-talker and just want to warn the rest of my fellow writers not to waste time with Peter Senese or Orion Publishing & Media."
To Victoria Strauss - there are MANY of us who have been burned by Peter Senese. Perhaps we could meet through you.
As for you Peter - your time is coming.
Mickey Mouse here, Mr. Stentin,
I’m writing to you from Fantasyland where fiction is legitimate. Peter, get off the computer and go help Mom clean the house! By the way, please do not begin a sentence with “and.” It’s a conjunction. Remember when you said “Read the concept, idiot”? This is called, “Read the dictionary, idiot.”
I might make a writer out of you yet, Peter!
As for your criticism of “ranting,” ranting is meaningless banter. That’s not what’s going on here. We expose YOU for who you are and what you are, and that serves as a warning to other people. That’s meaning in my book.
Your “multiple productions”? Sure! In your mind!
Even though the world is beautiful, God is good, and your son is hopefully in the custody of your ex-wife, (which is probably the truth) you are a con man and those of us who keep this blog alive will put people like you out of business.
This is REALLY bothering you isn’t it, Peter?! Otherwise you wouldn’t be responding to all of these various comments. We’re so glad. You say it makes one of the previous posters a small person to be harping on you (justifiably so I might add). You seem to have quite a bit of time on your hands yourself to be responding to what you won’t admit to as the truth. I love how you always dance around the real issues and NEVER bring them up. All you know how to do is say the exact same thing back to someone who criticizes you. You need to do an honest day’s work!
You might have to get a real job, tossing burgers. Oops! Do they hire ex-cons? Actually, you could probably scam a burger out of its bun.
By the way, is your friend Wayne Giordano the same Wayne who was disbarred from practicing law in Louisiana or any other jurisdiction because of giving false information to the FBI? Tell me, was that false information related to you? Is your entire posse of “dear friends and colleagues” nothing but ex-cons? Why don’t you do what you always do and ignore this inquiry and blame us for needing to get a life. You’re so predictable.
Until next time…
Regards from The Magic Kingdom,
Mickey
Michael Stentin said,
Where am I going with this? Its pretty simple - whoever it is that has nothing better to do with their time but to write slanderous statements about Mr. Senese should think about doing something else.
To Mr. Stentin (if that's your real name) and others (if there are others) posting in support of Peter Senese: my own research, as well as phone and email interviews with people who've had contact with Senese in various capacities (mostly involving BookBeat), fully supports and confirms all those "slanderous" (even if you'd used the correct word, libel, I'd have put it in quotes, because the truth is not libellous) statements.
Hmmm. Orion Entertainment. Orion Publishing. Orion Publishimg & Media (not a typo, by the way, as the jacket cover of Cloning Christ honestly makes that mistake).
Certainly if these are legitimate businesses, there are phone numbers or addresses? Does anybody defending Peter have any non-internet based contact information? Will a receptionist answer the phone if I call? Perhaps an automated switch board directing me to the many different departments that a publishing company must have?
I once saw a telephone number with a New York area code, but when called it was out of service. Shocking, I know.
Try again, Senese. Think California.
Hello,
I wrote a while back about the Tribeca Film Festival and then put the whole thing to rest and never returned to this site. A slow day at work and time to heal made me revisit today.
Yes, I was scammed and was upset with myself for being so naive and so eager. So many things didn't make sense yet the pace of the festival is so fast that I didn't have time to question. I had tried to google him the night before I went out for dinner with him but didn't have his full name. It seemed odd that Orion wasn't coming up on IMDB and was sold to MGM ten years ago but again, I was too crazed to fully question it. Silly me.
He talked so fast that honestly, I was so bored and really didn't pay attention to all the details or maybe I would have picked up on it faster. Actually, I thought he was a little cheesy - never creepy though - just annoying. Had he been creepy, I would have been out of there so fast, but his eyes never wandered and I was even in his car alone with him. Maybe that's his deal - how he earns trust. He said he was there for acquisitions yet wasn't seeing any films or was trying to get last minute tickets. This struck me as odd as surely someone in that position would have tickets to everything and be running to 3 films a day at least.
Night one that my friend and I met him, he was with two older women that he introduced as friends. I guess this is where he seemed to have credibility. Yet, he was mostly alone - no dinner meetings, no work buddies. (I think one of those women was in on it) He kept saying things, making promises that didn't happen - you all know the routine. Scripts he wanted me to read which he would email later, people to talk to but they would call back... I would mention names of programmers at Tribeca and he said that they wanted to work for him. Well, I met them and asked about it: all lies!
Anyway, I may be naive but I can also fight and I "outed' him to every programmer, festival director and staff member I could meet. They all had their doubts but were also too busy to deal with it.
When I meet someone with an industry badge, I don't assume that s/he is a good person. Maybe a creep or maybe someone who will make a lot of promises. I do however, assume that the label guarantees that that person is that person - name and title are true. Now, I will always be more skeptical. Anyway, I have an entertainment lawyer if he ever dares to claim my script and let me tell you, he can never return to Tribeca!
Dear "naive,"
Don't beat yourself up over this. This man knows how to pray on people. You are correct that anyone he has with him is always in on the scam. He thinks people won't question his legitimacy that way.
If people blog his name, they will come to this website. I only wish I had blogged him before it was too late.
The most crucial thing that anyone who has been burnt by him can do is to write about it. Don't allow him to get away! Keep rubbing his nose in his lies and in his misrepresentations! Unfortunately, this man gets off on "the scam" making people believe, even for a short while, that he is the "real thing." He's real alright; a real, honest to goodness "Con man!"
It doesn't help to sit back, feel badly that you were taken, and ignore what happened. We'll put him out of business yet!
I hope you read that, Peter.
Not everyone with him is in on the scam -- some of them are being scammed themselves, just like you. In my brief, painful experience with him, my biggest regrets are: 1) that my abilities (and the creative output that I blindly gave him, allowing him to claim as his own) may have given him artistic legitimacy in some peoples' eyes, and 2) that my obvious belief in him and his plans may have helped assuage other peoples' doubts.
The fact that I may have inadvertently helped him beguile others even as I was deceived myself shames me.
If the Hindus are right, and if there is such a thing as karma, Peter Senese is in for a tough time.
I know that in an industry where so much is done “on spec,” a revolting character such as Peter Senese finds fertile territory to scam, particularly if he gets over the initial hump of trust and legitimacy.
As a word of advice from a fellow burn victim who should have known better: If someone claims tens of millions of dollars in funding for his “project du jour” with many high profile companies on board and you can’t get costs covered or a real contract, be worried. Be very worried!
To the previous blogger, I understand your profound pain for being an enabler for “Peter Scam 2006-2007,” but remember, we all learn from our mistakes. We are all a great deal more savvy in our perceptions of con men, now. That is a positive outcome.
Today, I investigate everyone thoroughly after the initial meeting before I take another meeting or even another phone conversation. Having said that, you are always taking some kind of a chance. The leap of faith, however, should be less leap and more calculation. Doing your homework, I have painfully learned, helps a great deal.
As for Peter, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: one fine day, he will try to con the wrong person. Of course, he will wax poetic about how beautiful the world is and how his dear, dear friends support him through thick and thin. Only, they’ll be his friends behind bars and in the exercise yard where no one will care how much he loves his son, and his next project will be “Staying Alive.”
Peter Thomas Senese conned thousands of dollars from someone I know. I was looking him up and came cross this site. I am so angry for what my friend is going through - still paying back the loan. This had just about destroyed my friend's life. This low-life should not be allowed to get away with this. I would like to find a way to tell everyone about him, not just the people who are reading this site.
All of us who are active on this blog and need to tell our stories should join forces, compare notes, do adequate investigation (lawyers at hand), do something substantial with our anger and fervor, and produce a documentary called "Anatomy of a Con Man." It's just a thought. What's your opinion?
Yes, Time to Get Even, that is a good idea. I was also thinking that perhaps we could begin a class action lawsuit against Peter. If anyone knows the law (except you Peter, because after your many arrests I'm sure you've absorbed some)perhaps we could find out exactly what is illegal, such as money that was given to him, bad checks, time wasted, emotional distress, etc.
As a burn victim from BookBeat, I think the documentary would be a great idea. (A class action law suit might work.) Just because someone is seen with him, doesn't mean they are in on his scams. They are being scammed, too. However, if you go to his website, the "friends" that he has posted are believed to be part of his scam network. He claimed that the sponsors of Bookbeat were WallMart and Starbucks. He, also, knew all the legitimate names of the heads of publishing houses, Amazon, WallMart and Starbucks etc. He would have phone conversations in the presence of people with these so-called corporate leaders! Senese had intricate drawings of the set for the show. Some set designer is out there who, probably, has not been paid along with the cast and crew. He is as slick as a greased pig! Artistic people are vulnerable. That vulnerablity makes them good actors, writers, artists etc. Do not beat yourself up. Be thankful for your gifts, and wear a hard hat and high rubber boots when dealing with the business end. There are scavengers that prey on our eagerness and our dreams.
To Snow White:
Peter seems to have answers to everything until his name dropping is challenged by someone who "in reality" knows that person. You have never seen someone change the subject faster. We, too, saw the set drawings and heard the stories associated with them. Sadly, we all played an integral part in weaving the fabric that helped to facilitate the scam.
At the end of the day, thankfully, we are in possession of our gifts and abilities. Peter has his RAP SHEET.
I do think that we all need to go into the documentary business. We would be doing a great service to all who have been prayed upon by the likes of P.T.S.
--Mickey Who Wants To Get Even
RE: BOOKBEAT - This is from Senese's website: "Words of thanks can't be expressed enough to Raul E. Sanchez, BOOKBEAT's Production Manager; your tireless effort to making our show a reality is so greatly appreciated. I can't thank Ben Parkinson, one of the show's Producers for handling the thousands of applications and inquiries from individuals seeking to participate on the show, to assisting in creating a dynamic program format and directing the development of our fabulous, thought provoking set. Wayne Giordano . . . what can I say to you, other than without your guidance, this show would not be the reality it is. And to Jim Westman - as you know, without your assistance these months, we would not be in the position we're in. I would also like to thank my friend and fellow best-selling author K'wan Foye: for your tireless effort when we started nearly a year ago - you better stay off those dune-buggies!" Are these the people in on his scams, or just victims? I know one of these people and really would like to know.
Questions about who is part of Peter's 2006-2007 BookBeat Scamathon? My own knowledge and experience with some of these people leads me to an educated guess that they are definitely part of and complicit in the scam. After all, they allegedly sit in meetings with Peter and Steven Spielberg if you believe that shit!
If you are close to Peter, you are not innocent in this cam. Trust your gut! It usually speaks the truth. Peter's name dropping is lie after lie. He keeps most people he scams divided and far apart so that they cannot compare notes. He and his "scampals" lie through their teeth.
--Food for Thought
If this person did all these things, stole all this money, and left people in ruins, then WHY is he still doing it? Can't anyone stop him?
Peter Senese a.k.a. Peter Thomas is a pathological liar with absolutely no conscience. That's why he won't stop until someone finally puts a bullet through his skull. What helps him get by on his scams is that he surrounds himself with fellow scammers (or people he's scamming and are deluded enough to think they're really about to hit the big time with him) and has a tendency to move around. He's lied and cheated and scammed his way from New York to Los Angeles and most places in between. A couple of years ago he was even trying to pass himself off as some kind of philanthropist here in the Florida Keys.
Here is a gentle dose of reality regarding why he hasn’t been put away yet another time:
You need to catch him having committed a felony as was the case with his grand larceny conviction. The “little devil” has wised up since then. Promises are not delivered in written format. He is surrounded by his “scampatriots.” By this point, he has probably accumulated enough con men to start a think tank and can probably figure out a way to get it funded. Believe me! I’m not being glib. This is serious stuff, and none of the devastation that he has caused in peoples’ lives (myself included) should be trivialized.
I just want someone to figure out how to get him, once and for all! I’ll make dinner and host everyone left in the destructive wake of his evil deeds. Wouldn’t you all love to have a “Peter is in The Pokey Party”?
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