Judging by the reaction my previous post received I’d say we’re in the midst of an author scam epidemic. Thanks a lot AI for making these emails so much more believable.
Here’s what I received today:
A scammer is posing as a legitimate book club, even using actual photos. And as much as I would love to have my novel featured in this book club, sadly this is all fake.
Since the image is hard to read, here is the text:
My name is Jessica, and I organize the Oakland/Berkeley New Fiction & Emerging Authors Book Club, a thoughtful community of readers who love powerful, environmentally conscious stories that blend emotional depth with a strong sense of place and purpose.
Your novel Where Oceans Hide Their Dead deeply resonated with us for its poignant exploration of loss, activism, and the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. It’s exactly the kind of story that inspires meaningful discussion among our members, which is why we’d be honored to feature it at our upcoming gathering on November 3rd.
As part of our featured author highlight, we offer:
- A promotional spotlight of Where Oceans Hide Their Dead shared with our members and across our platforms,
- Engaging discussion questions to enrich the reader experience,
- An optional author message or Q&A (participation is welcome but not required),
- Post-event reader impressions or reviews that can be shared on platforms like Goodreads or Amazon.
Everything is fully coordinated by our team; there’s no need to attend live. Our goal is simply to celebrate your work and introduce it to readers who will truly connect with it.
Would it be alright for us to feature Where Oceans Hide Their Dead on November 3rd?
If you’ve received a similar email beware.
Once again, it’s a real shame that authors are being preyed upon. We are predisposed to respond to readers and book clubs which is why these emails are so dangerous.
John is co-author, with Midge Raymond, of the mystery Devils Island. He is also author of the novels The Tourist Trail and Where Oceans Hide Their Dead. Co-founder of Ashland Creek Press and editor of Writing for Animals (also now a writing program). More at JohnYunker.com.