Margaret Seltzer (pseudonymously Margaret B. Jones, born 1975) is an American author who wrote a fake memoir about growing up in South Central Los Angeles in February 2008. The book, entitled Love and Consequences: A Memoir of Hope and Survival,[1] chronicled her alleged experiences growing up as a foster child half white half Native American and Bloods gang member in South Central Los Angeles. Almost immediately after publication, the book was proven to be completely fictitious. Seltzer was actually fully white and had grown up with her biological parents in the San Fernando Valley community of Sherman Oaks. She had also attended Campbell Hall, an Episcopalian day school in the North Hollywood area of Los Angeles.[2][3][4][5]
While promoting the book during in radio interviews with WBUR's On Point and NPR's Tell Me More, Seltzer spoke with an African American Vernacular dialect and frequently referred to alleged gang friends as "homies" and "my home girl".[6][7][8] The book received a number of prominent reviews in various publications including the New York Times.[9]Kakutani, Michiko (February 26, 2008). "However Mean the Streets, Have an Exit Strategy". New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
Following the revelation of the deception, the book's publisher, Riverhead Books, recalled all copies of the book and audiobook from booksellers. Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble pulled the purchase page for the book from both of their sites, and Riverhead offered refunds to those who purchased it. The hoax was discovered when the publisher was contacted by Seltzer's sister.[2] Speaking to the New York Times, Seltzer later admitted that the personal details of her memoir were fabricated, but claimed that some details were based on the real experiences of friends.[3]
^Jones, Margaret (2008). Love and consequences: a memoir of hope and survival. New York: Riverhead Books. ISBN 9781594489778. OCLC 180576296.
^ abRich, M (March 4, 2008). "Gang Memoir, Turning Page, Is Pure Fiction". The New York Times. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
^ ab"Memoir a fake, author says". Los Angeles Times. March 4, 2008.
^"Author of Hoax Book Created Elaborate Backstory". ABC News. March 4, 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
^Pilkington, Ed (March 5, 2008). "Memoir of life on mean streets proves a fraud". The Guardian. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
^Ashbrook, Tom (February 29, 2008). ""Love and Consequences" in South Central LA (RealAudio file)". On Point. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011.
^Martin, M (March 5, 2008). "Margaret Seltzer Joins List of Fabricating Writers (RealAudio file)". Tell Me More. National Public Radio.
^Margaret B. Jones / Seltzer's Lie-All Gangsta Video—Exposed!. Media Assassin. April 29, 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2024 – via YouTube.com.
^"Love and Consequences, Margaret B. Jones, Book - Barnes & Noble". Search.barnesandnoble.com. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
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