The Time A Grifter Got Me

In 2020/2021, I was one of the writers abused by the person masquerading as Carrie Jade Williams. She was extremely manipulative. She told me I was shortlisted for a major bursary and was likely to receive an office makeover, including a new desk and chair, and a better computer. Based on her assertions I would definitely be getting funding, I did not apply for other educational opportunities which actually were legitimate.

I sent her several pieces of my writing which were to have been workshopped by professional editors, and when I asked her the status, she did not answer. When I went to the forums set up for us writers to ask if anyone knew what was going on, she sent me accusatory messages saying I was not respecting people's privacy and was endangering them. Though I had done nothing of the sort, the accusations triggered past trauma and gave me panic attacks and put me in a terrible paralyzing anxiety spiral which lasted for weeks.

I never did find out what became of the writing I sent her, and that included several deeply personal pieces of memoir.

Finding this article today was both troubling and validating. I was not the only person she hurt. How many did she hurt? And is she still doing it now?

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In much better news, Bitter Become the Fields, a horror anthology I have been published in, has had its official release. You can get your copy here.